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MAY 14-20, 2020 Volume 31 - No. 19 • 12 Pages

T H E F I L I P I N O –A M E R I C A N C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R

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DATELINE Fil-Am student accepted to all 8 Ivy League schools commits to Yale University FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

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 Stanford and chose [it] a few minutes before the deadline, but I felt so much regret and sadness 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

137 Filipinos in the US die of COVID-19 “Filipinos are very much appreciated and recognized internationally for their remarkable contributions in the work that they are doing here,” RomualOVER 130 Filipinos in the United States have died dez said. from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coroMeanwhile, 253 Filipinos have tested positive for navirus, according to data released by the Philippine COVID-19, the embassy said.

Embassy in Washington, D.C. this week.

“There are Filipino frontliners here who carry the Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Ro- heavy tasks in fighting the coronavirus. The Amerimualdez reported that 137 Filipinos have died since the cans are really appreciative of Filipino health workvirus outbreak hit the country. Of that number, 40 were ers here in the United States,” he added. reportedly health care workers.

In the 10 Northeast states covered by the Philipby RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

A FILIPINO American registered nurse has been appointed director of global standards and qualifications of CGFNS International, Inc., the world’s largest credentials evaluation organization specializing in the nursing and allied health care professions.

Jasper Tolarba, a Fulbright scholar, will assume the new position responsible for the oversight of global standards and qualifications for nursing and other health care positions.

“I am hoping that in my expanded role as director of global standards and qualifications, I would be able to contribute to the improvement of international nursing education by looking at best practices and evidence in the field,” Tolarba told the Asian Journal.

He is hoping to translate these global standards into useful instructional concepts that nursing institutions globally can reference and adopt with the unified goal of developing caring and competent world-class nurses.

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As Nevada’s economy reopens, casino workers wonder when they can get back to work

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

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Nurse credentialing group appoints Filipino Fulbright scholar as director of global standards and qualifications

pine Consulate General in New York, 90 Filipinos fatalities have been reported and 30 of them were front-liners, as reported by the Asian Journal.

Among the Filipino medical workers in the U.S. who succumbed to the virus include the head nurse at Kings County Department of Emergency Medicine in Brooklyn, NY. Maria Guia Cabillon — described as the “number one ally, caregiver and mom to the nurses and staunchly protected all the techs” and “a legend”

RAMADAN DURING ECQ. A lady carries some groceries while going inside the Manila Golden Mosque Cultural Center in Quiapo, Manila on Thursday, May 14. For 2020, Ramadan starts on the evening of April 23 up to May 23. It is a month of fasting, prayer, giving, and self-evaluation observed

by Muslims.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

PARTS of Nevada are back in business, but the fate of casinos and gaming stations remains in limbo.

Governor Steve Sisolak announced the first phase of reopening the state at the end of April, however, missing was guidance on the hospitality and entertainment industries that draw over 40 million visitors to Las Vegas each year.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board has yet to release a timeline for when gaming operations will resume, but has approved guidelines for reopening casinos across the Silver State.

For nearly two months, the closure of the famous Las Vegas Strip has left thousands of workers without jobs, including many Filipinos who help keep hotels clean and running.

Filipinos, who comprise the largest Asian group in Nevada, over the years have flocked to Clark County for job opportunities, especially in the hotel and gaming sector.

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Over 71,700 overseas Filipino workers expected to be displaced by pandemic

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

AROUND 45,000 overseas Filipinos are expected to return home to the Philippines over the next two months, following the over 20,000 who have been repatriated since the coronavirus outbreak, according to a new report.

As the coronavirus continues to affect industries globally, including tourism and hospitality, the Philippines is anticipating Filipino workers coming back to the country in May and June, Bloomberg News reported.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Hans Cacdac said Filipinos working abroad in cruise ships, hotels, restaurants and retail establishments have been hit the hardest by

the pandemic. He added that the construction sector is starting to report some job losses, as well.

The agency is asking for $50 million (P2.5 billion) in additional funding from Congress since it has been shouldering the temporary shelter, food and transport of displaced overseas workers, who are required to undergo COVID-19 testing and the obligatory 14-day quarantine.

“We need to preserve our budget for reintegration, reskilling and livelihood programs for the post-lockdown scenario,” Cacdac told Bloomberg News.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday, May 11 resumed its repatriation efforts, welcoming home 299

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From the 1904 World’s Fair to the Filipino farmworkers: PBS’ new docu-series ‘Asian Americans’ also includes history of Filipinos in the US

have never been the way it is today without the efforts and exploits of immigrants and people AS Asian Pacific American of color.

The series, which premiered Heritage Month continues on during a time of unprecedented on Monday, May 11, follows the fear and tension, a new docu- journeys of early Asian Amerimentary series from PBS cel- cans from the mid-19th century ebrates the complex history of when Chinese immigrants, who Asian Americans through sto- built half of the transcontinental ries of resilience in the face of railroad, became the first racial group to be banned from impersecution.

The five-episode docuse- migrating to the United States. ries — simply called “Asian This was a period when Asians Americans” — is the result of a had no political leverage or ground-breaking program that representation in government, spans the incredibly tumultuous rendering numerous uphill legal Filipino labor leader Larry Itliong (right) talks to Cesar Chavez in front of the National Farm Workers 150-year history of Asians in battles in immigration and equal Association headquarters in Delano, California on July 28, 1967.

AP photo by Harold Filan America, a country that would u PAGE 3

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim

Philstar.com photo

US envoy warns of terrorist threats during pandemic

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

UNITED States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim urged public officials to stay vigilant against terrorists who may exploit the coronavirus pandemic to execute attacks.

“No country can fight the battle against terrorism alone because terrorists recognize no borders, and they honor no laws,” Kim said in his opening remarks during a virtual workshop on counterterrorism on Monday, May 11.

He added, “Terrorists view a global crisis as an opportunity.

So public officials must be vigilant against this threat, even in the midst of a public health crisis.”

The workshop focused on

collaboration and coordination on terrorist investigations and prosecutions, proper handling of explosives and other battlefield evidence, training police and military on chain of custody issues, and the use of digital evidence. It was hosted by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training in the Philippines.

Sixty-five participants reportedly attended the virtual workshop, including officials from the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, Department of Justice in the Philippines, as well as a Philippine judge.

“We are thrilled to be able to build on our strong counterterrorism cooperation,” Kim said,

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May 14-20, 2020 • LaS VEGaS aSIaN JOURNaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 14-20, 2020

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137 Filipinos in the US...

PAGE 1 — spent more than three decades of her life as a nurse. She died of COVID-19 on April 26.

Another was Celia Lardizabal Marcos, a telemetry charge nurse who worked at CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital in Los Angeles for 16 years. She died on April 17, two days after she was hospitalized.

The Asian Journal has reported on the lives of several other health care workers including Erwin Lambrento, ER nurse at NYC Health + Hospitals Elmhurst; Imelda Tangonan, a

nurse at Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, NY; Audie de Leon, a registered nurse at Bellevue Hospital; Ali Dennis Guillermo, an intensive care unit nurse at Long Island Community Hospital; Louis Torres, director of food services at a nursing home in Woodside, Queens; Susan Sisgundo, who worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan; and Lemuel Sison, a medical laboratory scientist who lived in Fresh Meadows, New York.

Physicians who have died included Dr. Arthur Tayengco, 81,

From The FronT Page

an OB-GYN, from Las Vegas, Nevada; Dr. Tomas Pattugalan, 70, a primary care physician in Queens, New York; Dr. Alejandro Albano, 74, a doctor at Clove Lakes Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Staten Island, NY; Dr. Jessie Ariel Ferreras, 62, of New Jersey; and Dr. Leo Dela Cruz, 57, a geriatric psychiatrist at CarePoint Health in Jersey City, NJ. The Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, May 12, reported that the total number of overseas Filipinos infected with COVID-19 passed the 2,200 mark with 669 recoveries and 261 deaths.

As Nevada’s economy reopens, casino workers...

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Among the furloughed workers is Regina Wright, a Filipina guest room attendant who has been at Paris Las Vegas for the last 10 years.

While Wright deemed the temporary shuttering of casinos as necessary to protect the health of workers and families, she said the initial weeks were frustrating as she and her colleagues were not getting clear answers from hotel management about pay and other benefits that would be extended during the furlough period.

“I am so worried about where we’re going to get our money to pay for bills because we’re not working,” Wright told the Asian Journal. “At the same time, money from unemployment has been delayed.”

Another worker Kim, who declined to give her last name, has been a cocktail server at Flamingo Hotel and Casino for 21 years.

She said that her supervisors also recommended filing for unemployment insurance but she has not heard from them about when she can return to work.

“The company didn’t offer us anything,” Kim told the Asian Journal. “All I know is ‘You got laid off, Saturday is your last day.

We’ll call you when we need you.’”

Kim and her husband, who also works on the Strip and was furloughed, have been staying at home, but mortgage and utility bills continue to pile up.

“It’s been really depressing and it’s stressing us out because

we have no income coming in, but the bills are still there,” she said. “We don’t even know what we’re supposed to do next… I have to take care of my family.

Nobody knows when this city is going to reopen so it’s kind of scary for everybody.”

Caesars Entertainment, which has eight properties in the city including Paris and Flamingo, since then announced that it would continue paying employees through June 30 and has set up a program funded by executives to offer assistance to the hardest-hit employees.

This week, the company said it would reopen its hotels in phases before the end of May based on demand and capacity, and would implement safety measures in line with recommendations from health agencies.

“How companies have treated their workers has been really shameful. Of course, people feel betrayed,” Culinary Union representative Bethany Khan told the Asian Journal. “The system is overrun and checks haven’t come in from the government so people are struggling.”

Close to 419,000 Nevadans have filed for unemployment since March, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Of that number, about 40% are food and service industry workers, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Hundreds of members of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 & Bartenders Union Local 165 — which represents 60,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno — held a car caravan rally along

the Strip on Tuesday night, May 12 to demand that more casino companies be transparent about reopening plans that include the safety of workers and tourists.

“Nevada has a chance to be a leader in the hospitality industry,” said Geoconda ArgüelloKline, secretary-treasurer for the Culinary Union. “If casino companies will not release their plans and be transparent before reopening how can customers and workers know they will be safe?”

The union has its own set of public health guidelines for gaming companies to follow, such as screening workers and guests on entry, providing adequate protection, and enhanced cleaning. Members called on the state Gaming Commission to incorporate the union’s guidelines when evaluating casino companies’ individual plans.

Representatives from the Culinary Union said members continue to have their jobs protected after the shutdown is over so they don’t have to reapply and they will have the same pay rate and benefits.

Already, several companies have released their new rules, including MGM Resorts International, which operates 10 properties along or around the Strip.

In a seven-point safety proposal, the resort giant said it would implement employee-screening measures like temperature checks and training on wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and other sanitization PAGE 5

From the 1904 World’s Fair to the Filipino...

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protections.

“These Asian immigrants arrived at a time of great upheaval, reinvention and expansion.

Asians will play a crucial role as a new America is being forged,” esteemed Korean American actor and co-narrator of the series Daniel Dae Kim says in the first episode “Breaking Ground” which details the late-19th century to the early 20th century, an important period in American history when Asian Americans helped set precedents in U.S. courts.

Five hours is certainly an iota of time if the objective is to recount the epic battles and achievements of Asian Americans, but the documentary makes good on its attempt to illuminate the complicated cultural, legal and political history of Asians in America.

As expected, the docuseries shares a bevy of stories of Asian American resilience and the strides early Asian Americans had to endure to ensure the equity and safety of future generations.

But the most stark moments of the docu-series lie in the stories of exploitation, the blatant examples of racism and the unnatural belief that certain races held rights and privileges that others do not.

The series opens up with the story of Antero Cabrera, an Igorot man from the Philippines who was taken to the St. Louis World’s Fair in Missouri in 1904 as a part of the Philippine exhibit. Designed as a display of America’s imperial force, the Philippine exhibit wasn’t so much a true reflection of the Filipino people but a carefully curated interpretation of a “barbaric,” racially inferior community that needs the U.S. in its development.

This was a time when scientific racism was widely accepted among renowned anthropologists, who used pseudoscience to declare certain races inherently primitive — and would remain so without the help of American colonialism. By showcasing Cabrera and other Igorots acting in ways that would be considered subhuman — like a live eating of a canine in front of fair-goers — it was visual proof

Black and White photo of Antero Cabrera (Ba-Long-Long) and weapon as Igorot villager in the “Living Exhibits” at 1904 St Louis World’s Fair.

Courtesy of “Asian Americans” / PBS

of this pseudoscientific myth.

“Anthropology at that time had an evolutionary aspect to it where they believed that there were races that were inherently barbaric and races that were inherently enlightened, and they rated according to skin colors,” said Mia Abeya, Antero Cabrera’s granddaughter, adding that the exhibit was “a way for Americans to show that they were superior to the rest of the world.”

Despite the humiliation, Cabrera soldiered through the exhibit and other like anthropological displays to make money to send to his family in the Philippines, eventually making enough to live a stable life. But the project created a lasting impression of this “exotic” country in Southeast Asia, a way to show

people that “[t]hese are savages.

This is how they look and this is how they live. Americans just saw them as objects of display in those human zoos.”

Landmark immigration and education cases — like Tape v.

Hurley in 1885, which declared the exclusion of a Chinese American student based on her ancestry from a public school unlawful — offset the many, many personal stories of descendants of early Asian Americans and those who lived to tell their experiences.

The docuseries then flows to the labor movement of the 1930s led by Larry Itliong and Filipino farmworkers, the internment of Japanese Americans during the Second World War and legislative achievements like the VotPAGE 4

May 14-20, 2020 • LaS VEGaS aSIaN JOURNaL

Nurse credentialing group appoints Filipino...

PAGE 1 Tolarba, who received his doctorate in nursing practice with specialization in leadership and health policy from Yale University in 2015, returns to CGFNS after completion of his research as a J. William Fulbright Scholar at the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) in the Kingdom of Jordan. He first joined CGFNS in 2016 as director of credentials evaluation services.

“I’m pleased to welcome Dr. Tolarba back to our team and know that his Fulbright experience, combined with his previous depth of knowledge and expertise, will go far to further strengthen our role in the global standards and qualifications sector,” said Dr. Franklin Shaffer, president and CEO of CGFNS International. “Having migrated from the Philippines and used CGFNS’ services in his own journey to practice nursing in the U.S., Dr. Tolarba’s experience in these areas provides personal insights that enhance our leadership team.”

Journey to CGFNS Tolarba joined CGFNS International, Inc. (formerly known as the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) in the summer of 2016 as the director of credentials evaluation and was in charge of various programs such as VisaScreen® service and Certification Program. Prior to this, Tolarba was the director of nursing at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.

At CGFNS, he has helped thousands of foreign-educated nurses and other health care profession-

als (e.g. Physical Therapists, Medical Technologists, Clinical Psychologists, etc.) with their goal of migrating and practicing their profession in the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world.

In his new role, Tolarba will lead CGFNS’ programs around global standards and qualifications for health professionals by collaborating with global leaders in the fields of education, regulation, accreditation and practice to promote innovation and the advancement of harmonization to enhance cross-border mutual recognition.

Nursing milestone Last year, the World Health Organization declared 2020 as the International Year of Nurses and Midwives coinciding with the 200th year of the birth of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

“We never expected that this year would also catapult the role of nurses to the limelight with the onslaught of COVID-19 pandemic. Nurses, along with doctors and other healthcare professionals, are deemed modern-day heroes, putting their lives on the line,” Tolarba said. “It is indeed a very challenging time for nurses around the world especially those who are in the front line.”

The virus, considered by many now as the treacherous enemy, has taken the lives of many people around the world including those nurses in the frontline fighting this war.

This is the reason why he would like to personally call for nurses around the world to be vigilant in the frontlines to make

Dateline USa

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Fil-Am student accepted to all 8 Ivy League...

PAGE 1

Jasper Tolarba

Contributed photo

sure they are taking the proper precautions to protect themselves.

“They also need to speak up if they feel that they are unsafe going to their patient care assignments,” Tolarba said. “Always wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for patients afflicted by COVID-19 and demand to have proper PPEs.” “Nurses’ lives are priceless, and they too have families. Losing one more life in the fight against COVID19 is too many. The whole world appreciates the work and dedication of all frontline nurses fighting this battle against the coronavirus,” he added.

Reluctant nurse “Quite honestly, I never

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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 College, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton university — as well as highranked 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 Fil-Am student Craig McFarland has committed to Yale University after being accepted to all 8 Ivy all the Ivy League schools, which League schools and nine other universities across the country. Photo courtesy of Craig McFarland have between a 4 to 8% accepThe pandemic prevented him he took the SAT, he went through tance rate.

As the May 1st deadline to from visiting schools in person a break-up right before and was decide approached, McFarland so he resorted to virtual tours, crying on the way to the testnarrowed down his choices to watching YouTube videos, and ing center, for instance. He was Florida State University, Har- connecting with current students named homecoming prince, and loves driving around listening vard, Stanford and Yale, which and alumni for insight. to music, getting frozen yogurt “I often ask them the worst are among the schools that extended full-ride scholarships. questions, like ‘What do you with friends, watching “Game of Other institutions said he could hate?’ or ‘What would you Thrones,” scrolling through Insqualify for a scholarship on top of change?’ because no one neces- tagram for memes, and watching sarily wants to talk about the bad TikTok videos. (Though he promthe private ones he’s received. unless prompted but that bad ises he’s not glued to his phone stuff was what was going to de- like most Gen Zers.)

“I wanted to emphasize that termine how much I truly love an yes, I’m a student, but above all, I institution,” he said.

Then, the final round came be- am a person,” he said. “I’m more tween the latter two universities. proud of the fact that I was able His mother Donabel Santiago to accomplish all of that despite said the only advice she gave everything in a single-parent McFarland was to “pick what- household and never having a lot ever feels right” and where he of academic resources.”

McFarland has risen above would thrive as a student and his circumstances when the sysindividual.

“I told him that he’d be happy tem is typically stacked against [with] whichever he chose as someone with his background. they’re both amazing…but one He credits his mother for instillmost likely [felt] more right than ing the importance of education the other, and that one so hap- and hard work.

Santiago, who obtained a nurspened to be Yale,” Santiago, who is originally from Nueva Ecija, ing degree in her home country, Philippines, told the Asian Jour- raised McFarland and his two nal. “When he told me he chose siblings, an older brother and Yale, I just could tell he was younger sister, by herself while not only relieved, but happy as she went back to school for sonography. well.”

“Craig knows the struggles As evidenced by his academic record, McFarland has excelled we’ve had to go through with me and enjoyed every subject he’s as a single mom, and I hope my taken and can’t be boxed into experiences have helped drive either a humanities or math and him to be great,” she said, addscience student. For now, he is ing that education “is our wealth leaning towards studying bio- that nobody can take away from chemistry and linguistics in col- us.”

The family moved around 12 lege.

“I’ve genuinely been interested times in the Jacksonville area in everything,” he said. “I want a and lived in a small house with college experience that provides extended relatives for several the freedom to explore myself years. Santiago was able to find a because I’ve been able to do job as a registered cardiac sonoggreat things in math and science rapher, though she commutes but also in foreign languages and about two hours each day.

“It was pretty much being left law competitions.”

During his four years at Stan- to our own devices so we often ton College Preparatory School had to find out how to cook for — which has been rated among ourselves and just mature on our the top public high schools in the own for the times in our lives country and from where he will when my mom was out working be graduating valedictorian — or at school,” McFarland said.

McFarland hit the benchmarks “That independence, while a bit that made him appear extraordi- sad at times, was undoubtedly useful, even today.” nary on paper.

Santiago never worried about He maintained a 4.98 grade point average, received near whether her son finished his perfect standardized test scores, homework or studied for exams studied 48 courses when only 24 because of his self-discipline. are required at school, took 20 Whenever she did ask, he would Advanced Placement and eight say he did it days before.

“He honestly pushes himself International Baccalaureate exams, and mastered several lan- harder than anyone has pushed guages, including French, Span- him, and I say that as his mother,” she said. Since McFarland ish, Arabic, Italian and Tagalog.

Outside of the classroom, he was young, he has been curious boasts a long list of extracurricu- and compassionate, and always lar activities from debate club to wears a smile on his face.

“I always see him looking out varsity track and field, and has won numerous accolades, such for his friends and even people as a top award in the local Ethics he barely knows,” she said. “I’ve Bowl and first place in column heard him spend hours on the writing for The Florida Times- phone helping friends with their Union’s high school journalism homework or spending whatever small amount of money he has competition.

Early on, McFarland created a saved up on gifts for friends.”

McFarland admits that he was regimented routine so he could manage his academic workload “incredibly shy” as a child, but started coming out of his shell and activities.

“I would do my homework around middle school and exright away and pay attention in- plored activities to fill his time, tently in class because the more especially those that tested his I paid attention, the less I would knowledge on subjects or chalhave to study after,” he said. “It lenged him to defend a position was out of necessity that I need- on a social issue.

“Any competition that involved ed to manage my time because I would have track practice, a club, a requirement of being well-spoa competition, or a tutoring ses- ken and reaching an audience, I sion, and then try to make time ended up really loving,” he said.

Being raised in a single-parfor family and friends.”

He has been able to take ad- ent household meant that there vantage of the opportunities at was only one source of income his high school, but the down- for the family. Since his mom is side was being in an environment not familiar with the U.S. college where students are “competitive, process, he researched financial cutthroat and only care about aid opportunities and was able to get the application fees waived. test scores and class rank.”

What the Fil-Am student tried Whatever extracurricular activito illustrate in the college appli- ties McFarland wanted to particications was that he is more than pate in, he had to raise the monstraight As and high marks and ey himself by taking on a private that he has a personality and life tutoring job.

“A lot of people don’t underapart from school.

Burying in schoolwork hasn’t stand the privilege of being able deprived him of the experiences to access things, such as a private that come with the teenage years. tutor or a review book, or even He recounts that on the morning u PAGE 7

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Int’l body asks Sinas: No double standards? How Presidential Security Group asks come you get to party while others face restrictions? public not to threaten Duterte

by GabRiel

Pabico Inquirer.net

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

lalu

MANILA – If there are no double standards, why does National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas get to celebrate his birthday while people are facing tight restrictions due to the pandemic?

That was the question posed by international rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday, after Sinas stood firm that the “mañanita” thrown by his subordinates for his birthday does not show double standards.

Instead, HRW said that Metro Manila’s top cop should be disciplined for his actions.

“Metro Manila’s police chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas should be disciplined for his flagrant violation of the Philippines’ strict quarantine and lockdown regulations,” HRW Deputy Asia Director Phil Robertson said in a statement.

“His superiors should not allow Sinas to play this double standard game, where he celebrates his birthday with friends all around like there’s no pandemic, but the ordinary people of Metro Manila face tight restrictions enforced by his officers, whose disproportionate strictness has resulted in rights abuses,” he added.

Earlier, Sinas played down claims that the government was again showing its double standards when several individuals have been penalized due to violation of quarantine regulations, which were set up in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Just this April, former Army Cpl. Winston Ragos, who was said to be suffering from a mental illness, was shot by police officers near a quarantine control point. Prior to that, several hu-

Photo, which has since been taken down, shows Police Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas celebrating his birthday at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

Photo courtesy of NCRPO

man rights issues, such as inhuman penalties for quarantine violators, was pointed out by human rights groups and the Commission on Human Rights.

A large concentration of the COVID-19 cases in the Philippines is in Metro Manila, which falls under the NCRPO’s jurisdiction. The Department of Health (DOH) COVID-19 tracker website says that of the 11,618 cases nationwide, 7,464 are from the National Capital Region.

There are 5,315 active cases in the capital area, while 558 deaths and 1,591 recoveries have been recorded.

As of Thursday, DOH says that there are 258 new cases nationwide, bringing the total to 11,876 — with 790 casualties and 2,337 recoveries. Worldwide, over 4.347 million persons have been infected, 297,170 of whom have died while 1.548 million have recovered.

Sinas also previously said that some of the photos which showed him and other NCRPO officials sitting on a table with beer cans and bottles were ma-

nipulated, and were taken just last December. As for the shirt, Sinas claimed that he was only wearing the same shirt in both photos.

While Sinas stressed that physical distancing regulations were followed, the Philippine National Police’s Internal Affairs Service is now looking into the incident.

HRW also blasted NCRPO for trying to cover up the issue and for their vindictive attitude, after removing a Rappler reporter from the NCRPO’s Viber group.

“Responding to a public health emergency means all Filipinos should cooperate with officials, but it also imposes a burden on those officials to be exemplars of the conduct they expect from the citizenry. Maj. Gen. Sinas abysmally failed that test and he should be publicly disciplined for his actions,” Robertson added.

As of now, Sinas stays as NCRPO chief, saying that he would not take a leave unless ordered to do so by PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa or President Rodrigo Duterte himself. n

The Presidential Security Group on Wednesday, May 13 warned that there will be consequences for Filipinos who issue threats against President Rodrigo Duterte.

PSG Commander Col. Jesus Durante in a statement urged the public to not threaten the president “ especially with the use of social media.”

“Anybody could be held liable if he threatens to harm or kill a person, what more if the one that is threatened is the President of the Republic,” he added.

Durante’s statement came after a public school teacher and a construction worker were separately arrested for offering reward money to anyone who would kill the president.

Ronnel Mas, who teaches at the Taltal National High School in Zambales, faces charges of inciting to sedition and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials despite having apologized for his post.

Construction worker Ronald Quiboyen, who doubled Mas’ offer of P50 million, was arrested in Aklan after his post was discovered by police cybercrime operatives last May 12.

Another individual, Catherine Ceron, is also facing charges for

inciting to sedition and violating Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act for posting an offer of P75 million to whomever assassinates the president.

Malacañang, for its part, said that Mas will have a chance to de-

fend his innocence at the proper venue.

Durante also vowed that the PSG will be coordinating with law enforcement agencies to “monitor and apprehend those who are responsible for such acts.” n

US envoy warns of terrorist threats during...

PAGE 1

adding “I am confident that the initiatives like this workshop will continue to strengthen our shared fight against terrorism.

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Bruce Swartz of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division explained how critical the use of battlefield evidence in criminal prosecutions and cooperation among governments is.

“Police and prosecutors need

to work collectively around the world. This is a worldwide partnership to identify terrorists that threaten citizens of all nations. I look forward to the work we continue to do together in fighting terrorism,” he said.

Meanwhile, Philippine Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento pointed out that terrorist activities continued despite the pandemic.

“Clearly, COVID or no COVID,

terrorists have no agenda for peace. Their aim is (the) destruction of lives and properties,” he said.

“It is but fitting that we face these enemies with the full force of our laws. It is imperative for PSG chief Jesus Durante ManilaTimes.net photo us to collaborate with our citizens, law enforcement agencies, and other important partners in combating these terrorist groups SOUTHERN and their activities,” Malcontento added. n

Over 71,700 overseas Filipino workers...

PAGE 1 Filipino crew members of the MV Azura from London, United Kingdom.

The agency has repatriated a total of 24,422 overseas Filipinos — of which 16,936 are sea-based, and 7,486 are land-based.

“Why should we allow 400 to 800 Filipinos or even 3,000 to

return home every day? Because they have the constitutional, absolute and total right to come home that no power can suspend, slow down or, in any way, restrict,” said Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. “Government has only one power: To bring them home,” he added.

The DFA has brought home “tens of thousands of overseas Filipino workers the instant they became jobless,” the secretary said.

“It’s strained our quarantine and testing capacities back home, but I don’t care [that it did because] I won’t leave our people to die in deserts. Period,” Locsin added. n

reopening plan kicked off last week, allowing restaurants to have the dine-in option once again, retail locations to permit shoppers inside at half capacity, and nail and hair salons and barbershops to take customers by appointment.

Some restaurants across Clark County have implemented measures, such as only allowing 50% capacity, requiring reservations beforehand, and putting Plexiglas to create separation between tables. At salons, some

owners have reported spacing chairs six-feet apart and constant sanitization. Retail stores are encouraged to continue curbside pickup methods to prevent crowding.

Phase 1 does not cover nightclubs and taverns that don’t have a license to serve food; gyms and fitness facilities; spas, tanning salons, massage studios and tattoo parlors; entertainment and recreational venues, such as bowling alleys, movie theaters, sporting event venues and arcades. n

As Nevada’s economy begins reopening, casino...

PAGE 3 measures.

On the guest side, expect contactless check-in and keyless access to rooms, handwashing stations in prominent areas, and the requirement to wear masks in all public areas. Buffet-style food service will be suspended, and instead, employees will be required to serve guests. On gaming floors, slot machines will be placed 6 feet apart, and “guests will be asked not to stand beside or behind players.”

The first phase of the state’s

Nurse credentialing group appoints Filipino...

PAGE 1 planned on becoming a nurse.

I was really planning to take up architecture or journalism in college,” Tolarba told the Asian Journal.

When he was in high school, he realized that he had a knack for writing and drawing. Tolarba comes from a modest family and his mother singlehandedly raised him and his five siblings since his father died when he was still a small child.

“So, my mother, a public school teacher in the Philippines, asked me (more like told me) to take up nursing instead because my older brother was a senior nursing student that time and this way, I could use his books, old uniforms, and clinical paraphernalia, in order to save money,” Tolarba shared.

So despite being less than thrilled, he soldiered on. On the side, he dedicated his time still doing what he loved, i.e. writing and campus journalism and ended up being the editor-in-chief of the Bicol Universitarian, the official student campus paper of Bicol University.

He graduated but still, he

didn’t want to become a nurse so instead of taking the board exams for nurses he went to enroll for his second degree, this time in journalism. After two years, he was still unemployed so his mom gave him an ultimatum to take his board exams.

To appease his mom, he did and even though two years have passed since he obtained his nursing degree, he passed the board.

However, the prospects of landing a job as a nurse in the late 1990s was dim because that was the time when the United States was on retrogression and there was an oversupply of nurses in the Philippines.

While waiting for better prospects, Tolarba went to graduate school, finishing a master’s degree in education. He went on to the University of the PhilippinesDiliman and got admitted to the doctorate program for education, where he spent the next three years, until his immigration papers arrived.

“It was a hard decision to abandon my Ph.D. studies but beginning a new life in America in 2004 was something I looked forward to because my wife was

already in the US at that time,” he said.

In the U.S., his first employment was as a staff nurse at a local hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio.

While working full-time, he also received a master of science degree in nursing. After graduating, his family moved to Connecticut, where he spent more than a decade working before pursuing further studies.

Tolarba was one of the 14 inaugural doctoral students accepted to the Yale University Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, among the many achievements he has amassed throughout his career. He has become an international expert in the topics of international nursing education, nursing mobility and migration, and nursing curriculum evaluation.

“I am humbled by the opportunities that come my way and I have to thank my mother for showing me the right path even though nursing was not my initial choice. It only proves the old adage, ‘Mother knows best!’” he said. (Momar G. Visaya/AJPress)

NEVADA REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Procurement Dept.

TH 340 N. 11 Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101

INVITATION FOR BID - IFB NO. B20023 ROOF REPLACEMENT & REPAIRS FOR 20 SCATTERED SITE HOMES SNRHA CONTACT PERSON(S) ONLY: Note: Contact with any other SNRHA staff other than the named within this document is prohibited and will result in your Proposal being rejected. This also includes contact with SNRHA’s Residents and Board of Commissioners.

HOW TO OBTAIN THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS ON THE APPLICABLE INTERNET SITES:

Wanda Beckett, Contract Administrator Telephone: (702) 477-3145 TDD: (702) 387-1898 Email: Procurement@snvrha.org –orLinda Price Simpson, Contract Administrator Telephone: (702)477-3144 Procurement@snvrha.org Bidders must register or log into: Nevada Government eMarketplace (NGEM) https://www.ngemnv.com/ type in Bid Number IFB# B20023 to access this solicitation and to submit their proposed cost.

Download Only: Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority www.snvrha.org click on “Procurement” then “Current Bid Invitations” and proceed to the appropriate solicitation number.( Problems downloading the document, notify our IT Department at (702) 477-3160).

PRE-BID MEETING & SITE VISITS SITE VISITS: Site Visit will on be conducted on May 26, 2020 & May 27,2020; The full schedule has been issued in the solicitaton.

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Pre-Bid Meeting: MAY 21, 2020 @ 8:30 a.m. (PST) The Pre-Bid Meeting will be conduct on Cisco Webex Meeting.

Join the meeting by phone. Call 1-408-418-9388 Meeting number (access code): 626 004 939 Meeting password: 67764653 from phones and video systems

QUESTION SUBMISSION DEADLINE Questions received after this date and time will not receive a response.

June 5 , 2020 @ 5:00 p.m.

Questions shall be submit thru NGEM and or emailed to SNRHA at Procurement@snvrha. org; All questions will be answered in the form of an Addendum and issued in NGEM and posted on SNVRHA.org website for download only.

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All Proposed Cost must be submitted in the Nevada Government eMarketplace (NGEM) https://www.ngemnv.com/ & Hard Copy Proposal must be received at this location by the date and time noted below:

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No Public Bid Opening Bid results will be posted on SNVRHA. org website and emailed to all bidders participating in this process.

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Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority Procurement Department 340 N. 11th Street, Suite 180 Las Vegas, NV 89101 Thursday, July 16, 2020, 12:00 NOON SNRHA Commissioners Chambers

6

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

MAY 14-20, 2020 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

OPINION

Modifying the quarantine

FEATURES

WALKING a tightrope between lives and livelihoods, the government has decided to extend the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and Laguna, with the fate of two other provinces to be known later this week. The ECQ, however, will be “modified” after May 15, to allow the gradual reopening of the economy in the National Capital Region after two months of quarantine.

So far, various degrees of quarantines and lockdowns nationwide to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic have rendered 2.5 million Filipinos jobless, according to the Department of Labor and Employment.

Overseas Filipino workers, forced out of jobs by the COVID-19 crisis in other countries, are also arriving in droves, looking for alternative sources of livelihood.

With the start of the modified ECQ in Metro Manila, the country’s most densely populated region, the biggest danger is complacency. Wuhan City in China, where the COVID-19 virus originated and which became the epicenter of the pandemic in that country, reported six new infections over the weekend – the first cases since the city lifted its lockdown. New cases have also been reported in countries such as South Korea and Germany after they eased restrictions. France, which began eas-

ing lockdown measures last Monday, also recorded at least nine COVID cases linked to a funeral.

In Metro Manila, its police commander himself has set a bad example of complacency if not outright flouting of quarantine rules even before the ECQ is modified. Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas entertained a large gathering for his birthday celebration on May 8 at Camp Bagong Diwa.

Photos of the party showed guests – clearly numbering more than the ECQ limit of 10 persons – digging into the food, unmindful of physical distancing.

As in the earlier case of a COVID-infected Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III visiting the Makati Philstar.com photo Medical Center, those tasked to enforce quarantine rules prefer to see no evil in the case of Sinas.

Philstar.com photo Little wonder that the killer disease is spreading among members of the Philippine National Police, with Camp Karingal, headquarters of the Quezon irresponsible behavior gives urgency to warnings cipline to fight the contagion as the country reCity Police District, placed under lockdown. Such against easing restrictions and relying on self-dis- opens for business. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS SCARED to go back to work in fear of being infected by the deadly COVID-19? This is what is happening now in the White House after two people working close to President Donald Trump have tested positive for the virus this past week.

Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary Katie Miller — who is married to one of Trump’s closest aides, Stephen Miller — and one of Trump’s personal valets have contracted the virus, TIME reported.

As a result, the White House has implemented new safety measures: every staff member in close proximity to the president and vice president is being tested DAILY for COVID-19 as well as any guests. Contact tracing is also now being conducted to help patients recall everyone with whom they have had close contact with during the timeframe while they may have been infectious — a laborious and elaborate measure that helps mitigate the spread of the virus.

The fear and worries of the people working in the White House are the same concerns of people all over America, especially after President Trump has been pushing to relax social distancing and other safety mea-

Street Talk GREG B. MACABENTA ABS-CBN signed off after its franchise expired on May 4, 2020.

Actually, the franchise was left to expire by the Philippine House of Representatives that preferred to second-guess President Rodrigo Duterte rather than do its job. Duterte had made it clear that he didn’t like the network and its owners. Too powerful for their own good. Their source of power had to be crushed. So, the country’s largest broadcasting network had to be knocked off the air.

For millions of television viewers and radio listeners all over the Philippines, that is like being deprived of their daily victuals — as much of a habit as kape and pan de sal for breakfast, and kanin, ulam and merienda, the rest of the day.

For journalists and civil rights activists, the closure of the network is a brass-knuckled assault on press freedom. To the marketing industry, it is a loss of a potent sales and promotional vehicle. For my colleagues in the advertising agencies, a loss of commissions.

What is good for the White House should be good for all of America before asking people to safely return to work sures and re-open America for business. Many governors from Republican states allied with Trump warned people that either they go back to work or they lose their unemployment benefits.

For many Americans, this order from Trump and the Republican governors was like a death sentence, especially since health officials, scientists and many Democratic governors have been warning that to safely re-open the country for business, widespread testing combined with contact tracing need to be implemented as they are still the most effective ways to slow the spread until a vaccine is available.

Additionally, protective equipment should be available to ALL Americans returning to work.

We would think that after having firsthand experience with the threat of the coronavirus pandemic in the White House, Trump would finally heed the advice of health officials and be more aggressive and proactive in conducting widespread testing, contact tracing, providing protective equipment, making sure social distancing orders are still being followed wherever warranted, to the degree required by their specific circumstances and COVID-19 infection cases in their states.

Unfortunately, Trump does not think what is good and safe for

the White House is something he will push and support for the rest of us.

As of press time on Tuesday, May 12, the total confirmed cases around the world was recorded at 4,178,156 and counting, killing more than 286,353 people. The United States leads the world in the number of confirmed cases with more than 1,382,630 and a death toll of more than 81,779.

The number of cases per 1 million people in the U.S. is now at 4,195 and counting.

Despite the death toll and continued threat to infect more people, Trump continues to deny the scientific facts and evidence about COVID-19 and insists that the pandemic will disappear on its own.

ABC News reported that during a White House meeting with Republican House lawmakers last week, Trump again said, “I feel about vaccines like I feel about tests. This is going to go away without a vaccine.”

Trump has been touting that no other country in the world has been testing like the United States, but this claim is misleading because he is boasting based on the absolute numbers without reference to the overall total population of the nation. A country as big as the U.S. would require more testing. It still lags behind coun-

tries like Italy and Denmark in per capita [per how many persons] tests performed, ABC News reported. How can he address the need for more testing if he denies the fact?

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top epidemiologist, has been pushing for more testing, something that Trump undermines.

Dr. Fauci said in a National Geographic interview, “I don’t think there’s a chance that this virus is just going to disappear.”

“Shame on us if we don’t have enough tests by the time this socalled return might occur in the fall and winter,” he said, suggesting that the U.S. needs to make sure there’s an adequate supply of tests and a system for getting those tests to the people who most need them before a second wave of the virus hits.

“It’s going to be around, and if given the opportunity, it will resurge.”

Response coordinator for White House Coronavirus Task Force Deborah Birx estimated that about 2.5% of all Americans have been tested, adding that the number is increasing by half a percent every week. As ABC News reported, she agreed with many experts, stating that testing and contact tracing are proven to be critical to helping identify cases locally and contain the spread.

Birx also stressed in the report the importance of “being proactive about testing,” and monitoring high-risk places with vulnerable populations such as prisons, long-term care center and inner city communities after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, announced required twiceweekly testing for nursing staffers in his state.

Even more important numbers to consider: According to the COVID Tracking Project, testing for the coronavirus in the U.S. has steadily improved to around 264,000 tests a day — nearly 9 million tests total as of Monday — but the U.S. is still below proposed benchmarks from several experts.

Researchers at the Harvard University, for example, calculated that the U.S. would need to do approximately 500,000 tests per day, as a bare minimum, by May 1 — a figure they have since revised to 900,000 for May 15 as more states ease restrictions.

WHY is Trump doing this? It is all about POLITICS. “I will tell you, you look at some cases, some people think they’re doing it for politics,” Trump was quoted by ABC News, suggesting some Democratic governors are moving slowly to undercut him politically. “Here we go again.

But they think they’re doing it because it will hurt me the lon-

ger it takes to — to hurt me in the election, the longer it takes to open up.”

“The media likes to say we have the most [coronavirus] cases, but we do, by far, the most testing.

If we did very little testing, we wouldn’t have the most cases.

So, in a way, by doing all of this testing, we make ourselves look bad,” Trump said last Wednesday, May 6.

What is worse than being attacked by the COVID-19 pandemic? It is to have a president who denies science and facts, misleads people, just because to him, his personal interests and political survival are more important than saving the lives of the people he has sworn to defend and protect.

SPEAK OUT! Do not wait for you and your family to be casualties of this invisible enemy before you call out this president for the dereliction of the duty and betrayal of public trust under the United States’ highest office. ***

And for ABS-CBN’s thousands of employees, talents, production staffers and stars, the loss of jobs and income.

For its business rivals and political enemies, ABS-CBN’s going off the air means one pain-in-theneck gone. For its allies, one platform for gaining prominence and visibility lost.

But not for Pinoys in America and the OFW enclaves in the Middle East, Asia and Europe.

They will continue to have their daily serving of news, tear-jerkers, action serials, fantasies and showbiz tsismis that remind them of home.

For the Lopez family, owners of the network, the closure is just one more chapter in the corporate complex’s storied existence in Philippine business and politics. Just one more predictable consequence of being in and out of power.

It is déjà vu. But, as in the past, ABS-CBN will go on the air again.

Indeed, old networks never die.

They get resurrected.

In 1972, following the declaration of martial law by President Ferdinand Marcos, the network was forced to close down — its assets taken over by business and political rivals and its executives jailed and subsequently forced

into exile in the U.S. This was the same Ferdinand Marcos whom the Lopezes helped in winning the presidency in 1965, along with the vice presidency of one of the family patriarchs, Fernando Lopez.

The same Marcos that the family helped to depose in the 1986 People Power revolution, en route to resurrecting the network and reclaiming its dominance I have no doubt that ABS-CBN will outlast Rodrigo Duterte, just as it outlived Marcos. And, as sure as day follows night, Duterte’s current allies will become Lopez allies when the Davao cartel’s time has come. In Philippine politics, there are no permanent enemies or friends, just ongoing interests.

Don’t be surprised if even ABSCBN’s arch tormentor, Solicitor General Jose Calida, will become a member of the Lopez cheering squad at the network’s resurrection.

I have a unique affinity for ABSCBN. For me, the network is like an old rich neighbor, whose family members I have known most of my life, whose kids I practically grew up with, befriended, and even fought and competed with.

Can one ever avoid fighting with the neighbor’s kids?

As a boy in Manila, fresh off the boat from Leyte, I performed in soap operas aired on the network’s DZAQ Radio, broadcasting from the Republic Supermarket Building on Avenida Rizal. I was also among the earliest on-camera talents when television was introduced in the Philippines by Alto Broadcasting System, the ABS part of ABS-CBN. This was in 1954.

As an ad agency producer in 1960, I wrote and co-directed a weekly radio show on DZXL Radio. Located in the Chronicle building on Aduana, it was owned by the Chronicle Broadcasting Network, the CBN part of what would become the Philippines’ largest broadcasting network.

And then in late 1965, the merged ABS-CBN, housed in a huge broadcast complex on Roxas Boulevard, hired me as a manager for program evaluation and development. I also became head of script quality control and executive producer of the network’s prime TV property, Buhay Artista (which starred the comic duo, Dolphy and Panchito).

It was presidential election season. On the instruction of network chairman Geny Lopez, Jr. I produced a daily satire that helped defeat reelectionist President

Diosdado Macapagal and helped catapult Ferdinand Marcos to Malacañang. The title of the daily satire was Alis Diyan!

I had a great admiration for Geny Lopez, whom everyone reverently referred to as Capitan, although I only worked for ABSCBN for less than a year. In the early 1990s, I was retained by the network, this time, under Geny’s son, Gabby or Eugenio Lopez III, who had begun laying the groundwork for ABS-CBN’s expansion to the United States.

However, as luck would have it, it was ABS-CBN’s rival, GMA Network, that I eventually helped to break into the U.S. market.

Did I say that I fought and competed with ABS-CBN, just like fighting with the neighbor’s kids? I did. The Lopezes are fierce competitors and dislike business rivals with a passion. Because I was associated with rival GMA, I was also disliked. ABS-CBN top management even had me “disinvited” to a special event despite receiving a formal invitation from the network’s middle managers in my capacity as National Chairman of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA).

Of course, being an equally fierce competitor myself, I also

had ABS-CBN expelled from a FilAm community festival that I had cornered exclusively for GMA. Those were just two of the many instances when ABS-CBN and GMA, which I used to represent, pre-empted each other, in dealings with the Fil-Am community. But these things I have never taken personally against the network and its people. I have a lot of respect for them as industry colleagues. Besides, many of them are friends.

However, I take personal offense over the closure of ABSCBN in the Philippines. I consider it an assault against things I hold dear. Press freedom, particularly.

And the freedom to speak out for or against a country’s leaders, as well as the freedom to compete in business with a passion.

I do not grieve for the fortunes of the Lopez family and their business empire. The family has enough wealth to last many generations and the corporate complex can outlast several presidential tenures and political enemies.

Will the network lose money with the closure of its Philippine operations? For sure. But it will continue to make money from its worldwide operations. The owners of the network are savvy en-

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.

Old networks never die, they get resurrected

PAGE 7

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Fil-Am student accepted to all 8 Ivy League...

PAGE 4

just having a parent there with you to advocate for your success at a counselor meeting,” he said.

“I didn’t want to ask my mom to pay for the SAT or all these dues for activities.”

He also acknowledges teachers 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

Donabel Santiago (left) with two of her three children, Craig, 18, and Mary Alice, 15.

Photos courtesy of Donabel Santiago

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 With a 4.98 GPA and other academic accomplishments, McFarland has enjoyed entering competitions outside of the classroom. Photo shows an awards ceremony for the Scholastic Art and Writing similar to mine.” (Chrstina M. Oriel/AJPress) Competition during which he won multiple awards, including one for visual artwork.

Karagdagang kaalaman sa Filipino (Tagalog) ay makikita rin sa website ng Lalawigan ng Clark Kagawaran ng Halalan sa: www.clarkcountynv.gov/vote.

NOTICE TO ELECTORS OF CLOSE OF REGISTRATION FOR ALL-MAIL PRIMARY ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY JUNE 9, 2020 IBINIBIGAY ANG ABISONG ITO na ang Tagapagtala ng mga Botante ng Lalawigan ng Clark, Nevada, ay magsasagawa ng pagpaparehistro ng mga karapat-dapat na mga manghahalal para sa Pangkalahatang Koreo na Pangunahing Halalan na gaganapin sa Martes, Ika-9 ng Hunyo, 2020.

Sino man ang karapat-dapat na manghahalal na ang pangalan ay hindi nakikita sa opisyal na talaan ng pagpapatala ay maaaring humiling para sa pagpaparehistro sa pamamagitan ng koreo o online sa paraan na pinagtibay ng batas ayon sa mga huling araw na nakatala sa ibaba..

Ang mga huling araw upang isapanahon ang iyong umiiral na pagpaparehistro ng botante sa pamamagitan ng koreo o online sa oras para sa Ika-9 ng Hunyo, 2020, Pangunahing Halalan at makakatanggap pa rin ng isang pangkaraniwang koreong balota ay nasa ibaba. Pagkatapos lumipas ang mga petsang iyon, ang mga botante na ninanais na gumawa ng mga pagbabago sa kanilang impormasyon ng pagpaparehistro ay kinakailangang gawin sa pamamagitan ng magkaparehong araw ng pagsasaahanon na pamamaraan, alinman sa online o sa personal, at sila ay maaari lamang bumoto ng isang papel na pansamantalang koreong balota ng personal sa Lalawigan ng Clark Kagawaran ng Halalan. Kami ay mahigpit na naghihikayat sa iyo na gumawa ng kahit anung kinakailangang pagsasapanahon sa lalong madaling panahon upang ikaw ay makaiwas ng pagpunta sa Tanggapan ng Kagawaran ng Halalan. Tingnan ang bahagi ng “Pagsasapanahon ng Iyong Umiiral na Pagpaparehistro” para sa karagdagang impormasyon.

2020 PANGKALAHATANG KOREO NA PANGUNAHING HALALAN MGA HULING ARAW AT ORAS NANG PAGPAPAREHISTRO NG BOTANTE Pamamaraan ng Pagpaparehistro Ipadala sa pamamgitang ng koreo ang iyong aplikasyon ng pagpaparehistro ng botante sa: Lalawigan ng Clark Sentro ng Halalan 965 Trade Drive, Suite A North Las Vegas, NV

Online lamang www.registertovotenv.gov

Petsa

Oras

Martes, Ika-12 ng Mayo

8 n.u. – 5 n.h.

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 14-20, 2020

From the 1904 World’s Fair to the Filipino...

PAGE 3

ing Rights Act of 1952 which gave Asian Americans the right to vote. Cultural landmarks like the increased representation of Asian Americans in Hollywood following the regular practice of yellowface) and the rise of Asian American entrepreneurship.

And it wasn’t just the legislative victories that initiated the emergence of the growing and hustling Asian American community. From the construction of the transcontinental railroad, to the cultivation of California’s farms, to the technological innovations in the auto industry, Asian Americans are inextricable from the overall narrative America.

Simply put, the docuseries Larry Itliong, who is originally from San Nicolas, Pangasinan, rose to prominence after he and proves that America wouldn’t several Filipino farmworkers demanded for better pay, an effort that became known as the Delano grape strike.

Photo courtesy of “Asian American”/PBS be what it is today without the labor and assimilation of Asian nese Americans at the turn of for very different reasons,” she immigrants who underwent the century as well as the grue- remarked.

It’s a point that the docuenormous trauma and sacrifice some murder of Vincent Chin in to cultivate a life for the Asian 1982. However, although it may mentary series illustrates in its American. It redefines what it seem dampened by the expand- final episode called “Breaking means to be American, that it ing awareness of social justice Through” that progress isn’t a isn’t based on race or what a and activism, the Asian Ameri- linear journey. There are going piece of paper dictates: it is a can community faces a new to be pitfalls, and even though we’re living in a time of unprecmindset and unyielding work wave of discrimination.

The only difference between edented success and increased ethic that makes you American.

But the struggles faced by then and now, however, is a awareness of social justice, early Asian Americans are not vigorous, outspoken commu- times like these prove that sonity of lawmakers, celebrities ciety isn’t a perfect construct, exclusively things of the past.

As films about slavery and the and other Asian American pub- and there will be periods upon 1960s civil rights movement at- lic figures who are leading the which resilience and strength of tempts (and often, fails) to pro- charge against anti-Asian rac- character will be tested.

As journalist and activist Helvide a distant memory of Amer- ism propped up during this panen Zia put it in the final episode ica’s ugly past — as if to say, demic.

“I cannot think of a more im- of the series: “History has a way ‘’Look how far we’ve come from blatant racism and discrimina- portant conversation to be hav- of moving in cycles, and if we tion — it may be grating to cel- ing right now,” PBS Newshour can learn from history, even a ebrate the victories and achieve- correspondent Amna Nawaz little bit, we can avoid repeatments of the Asian American said last week during a digital ing it. But even better than that, community while undergoing town hall. Nawaz added that we can find the things that have a new wave of anti-Asianism in “2020 was supposed to be a moved civilization forward and consequential year for Asian have led to greater progress, the age of COVID-19.

The current generation of Americans” noting the crucial and if we learn from that, we can really move ahead.”

Asian Americans, millennials 2020 election and the census.

“But as we know, the pandem“Asian Americans” is availand younger, especially, were fortunate enough to be born af- ic changed everything, and now able to stream now on PBS apps ter the regular lynchings of Chi- 2020 stands to be consequential as well as its website. n

Old networks never die, they...

PAGE 6 trepreneurs and it will take more than a Duterte and a Calida to sink them.

I do not grieve the loss of the tear-jerkers, action serials and fantasies of the network. They can always be revived when friendlier times come. Show business, like the Phoenix, will always manage to rise from the ashes.

But I grieve for the staffers of the network, especially the jour-

Ang Nevada at batas na pederal ay inaatasan ang mga unang beses na nagpaparehistro na magbigay ng isang pagkilala na numero (Nevada lisensya sa pagmamananeho o ang huling apat na numero ng kanilang social security na numero). Kung ito ay hindi nagtugma sa talaan na pinapanatili ng Kagawaran ng Sasakyan o Social Security Administration, ang nagpaparehistro ay kinakailangang magpakita ng pagkakakilanlan bago bigyan ng pahintulot na bumoto. Mga uri ng umiiral at wastong pagkakakilanlan kabilang ang Nevada Lisensya sa Pagmamaneho, Nevada Pagkakakilanlan na Kard, Pagkakakilanlan na Kard ng Militar, O isang kopya ng kasalukuyang pahayag ng kagamitan, pahayag ng bangko, tseke para sa sweldo, o kasulatan na ibinigay ng isang sangay ng pamahalaan, na nakatala ang pangalan ng nagparehistro, at direksiyon ng tirahan. Ang mg taong ito ay nabigyan ng pahayag sa pamamagitan ng koreo sa pangangailangan na ito.

PAGSASAPANAHON NG IYONG UMIIRAL NA PAGPAPAREHISTRO Pagsasapanahon sa Pamamagitan ng Online: Kung hindi ka maaaring magsapanahon ng iyong umiiral na pagpaparehistro ng botante sa pamamagitan ng koreo sa Ika-12 ng Mayo, 2020, ikaw ay maaari pa rin magsapanahon sa website ng Kalihim ng Estado sa www.registertovotenv.gov hanggang Ika-4 ng Hunyo, 2020 (Huwebes).

Ika-13 ng Mayo hanggang Ika-21 ng Mayo: Kung isinapanahon mo ang iyong pagpaparehistro sa pamamagitan ng online sa pagitan ng Ika-13 ng Mayo (Miyerkles) at Ika-21 ng Mayo, 2020, (Huwebes), sa loob ng isang linggo ikaw ay makakatanggap ng isang pangkaraniwang koreong balota kasama ang naisapanahon mo’ng pangalan, presinto, partido, at iba pa, gaya ng naaangkop.

May 22 to June 4: Kung isinapanahon mo ang iyong pagpaparehistro sa online sa pagitan ng Ika-22 ng Mayo (Biyenes) at Ika-4 ng Hunyo, 2020, (Huwebes), ikaw ay maaari lamang bumoto ng isang papel na PANSAMANTALANG KOREO NA BALOTA NG PERSONAL SA LALAWIGAN NG CLARK KAGAWARAN NG HALALAN, NA KAILANGAN MO’NG IBIGAY KAAGAD-AGAD. Ang direksiyon ay 965 Trade Dr., Suite F, North Las Vegas, NV. Hindi mo maaaring dalahin ang iyong balota papalabas ng gusali. Ang iyong papel na pansamantalang koreo na balota ay magkakaroon ng lahat ng labanan at kandidato na mayroon sa isang pangkaraniwang balota. Ito ay naiiba mula sa pangkaraniwang balota na mabibilang lamang pagkatapos ng pagpapatunay na: (a) Ikaw at karapat-dapat na bumoto ng isang balota sa kasalukuyang halalan; (b) Ikaw ay hindi bumoto ng higit sa isang balota sa magkaparehong halalan; (c) Ikaw ay nagpakita ng katanggap-tanggap na pagkakakilanlan nuong ikaw ay bumoto; at (d) KUNG kinakailangan, ikaw ay nagbigay ng katanggap-tanggap na pagpapatunay ng paninirahan.

PUB: Ika-23, 30 ng Abril at Ika-07, 14 ng Mayo, 2020 Las Vegas Asian Journal

staffers are still in harness and I hope that those who have lost their jobs in the Philippines will be employed again. They are professionals who have nothing to do with corporate and political power struggles.

I regard them like good neighbors. And, to paraphrase the slogan of an insurance company, like a good neighbor, they can count on me to have their backs. (gregmacabenta@gmail.com)

SOUTHERN NEVADA REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Procurement Dept.

TH 340 N. 11 Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101

INVITATION FOR BID - IFB NO. B20021

ROOF REPAIRS AT JAMES DOWN TOWERS 5000 ALTA DR. LV 89107 SNRHA CONTACT PERSON(S) ONLY: Note: Contact with any other SNRHA staff other than the named within this document is prohibited and will result in your Proposal being rejected. This also includes contact with SNRHA’s Residents and Board of Commissioners.

HOW TO OBTAIN THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS ON THE APPLICABLE INTERNET SITES:

Wanda Beckett, Contract Administrator Telephone: (702) 477-3145 TDD: (702) 387-1898 Email: Procurement@snvrha.org –orLinda Price Simpson, Contract Administrator Telephone: (702)477-3144 Procurement@snvrha.org Bidders must register or log into: Nevada Government eMarketplace (NGEM) https://www.ngemnv.com/ type in Bid Number IFB# B20021 to access this solicitation and to submit their proposed cost.

Download Only: Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority www.snvrha.org click on “Procurement” then “Current Bid Invitations” and proceed to the appropriate solicitation number.

Problems downloading the document, notify our IT Department at (702) 477-3160).

PRE-BID MEETING & SITE VISITS SITE VISITS: Site Visit will on be conducted on May 28, 2020 at 10:00 after the pre-bid meeting.

Bidders may view the site only on this day & time. SNRHA will not provide a ladder.

Pre-Bid Meeting: MAY 28, 2020 @ 8:00 a.m. (PST) The Pre-Bid Meeting will be conduct on Cisco Webex Meeting.

Join the meeting by phone. Call 1-408-418-9388 Meeting number (access code): 620 534 508 Meeting password: 47727224 from phones and video systems

QUESTION SUBMISSION DEADLINE Questions received after this date and time will not receive a response.

June 12 , 2020 @ 5:00 p.m.

Questions shall be submit thru NGEM and or emailed to SNRHA at Procurement@snvrha.org; All questions will be answered in the form of an Addendum and issued in NGEM and posted on SNVRHA.org website for download only.

BID PROPOSAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

All Proposed Cost must be submitted in the Nevada Government eMarketplace (NGEM) https://www.ngemnv.com/ & Hard Copy Proposal must be received at this location by the date and time noted below:

No Public Bid Opening Bid results will be posted on SNVRHA. org website and emailed to all bidders participating in this process.

NAPETSAHAN APRIL 14, 2020

JOSEPH P. GLORIA Tagapagtala ng mga Botante

nalists and production people who have lost their jobs and their means of livelihood. Many of them are isang kahig isang tuka.

Most of all, I grieve for the loss of the freedom to criticize and hold accountable the leaders of my beloved Philippines. I resent the raw use of power and the way the law has been bent and used as a weapon of oppression.

In this regard, I am glad that the network’s U.S. and overseas

Miyerkules, Ika-13 ng Mayo hanggang Huwebes, Ika-4 ng Hunyo 24 oras hanggang 11:59 n.g. sa Ika-4 ng Hunyo

Approval by SNRHA Board of Commissioners, if required

Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority Procurement Department 340 N. 11th Street, Suite 180 Las Vegas, NV 89101 June 22, 2020 @ 10:00am; Late submission will not be accepted.

Thursday, July 16, 2020, 12:00 NOON SNRHA Commissioners Chambers

VEGAS&STYLE

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

May 14-20, 2020 • LaS VEGaS aSIaN JOURNaL

Journal Award-winning Fil-Am author Erin Entrada Kelly releases sixth ‘Float,’ Pixar’s first-ever short novel about famous space shuttle incident, family dynamics featuring Filipino characters,

By Christina

M. Oriel

AJPress

ERIN Entrada Kelly is a product of 1980s pop culture, from having names for each Cabbage Patch doll to collecting sticker books to rewatching “E.T.” countless times.

But what the author — who was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana to a Filipina mother and a white father — remembers the most from her elementary school days was when the space shuttle Challenger launched on January 28, 1986 and subsequently exploded, killing all seven astronauts on board.

Decades later, Kelly revisited news about the incident and delved deeper into the stories of the astronauts. With that research, coupled with how the incident has been almost forgotten by subsequent generations of young students, she knew this historical moment would be the backdrop of her sixth middle-grade novel, “We Dream of Space.”

Released on May 5, “We Dream of Space” brings readers into the lives of the Nelson-Thomas siblings, 12-year-old twins Bird and Fitch and their older brother Cash, and the weeks leading up to the Challenger launch.

Along the way, we read about Bird’s dreams of being NASA’s first female shuttle commander and the dynamics of this middleclass family in Delaware. We also get introduced to their science teacher Ms. Salonga and see the recurring themes, such as loneliness, found in Kelly’s work, namely “Hello Universe” (2017), for which she received the 2018 Newbery Medal, the most prestigious award in children’s literature.

Kelly, a former journalist who is now a full-time author based in Delaware, spoke to the Asian Journal about how her upbringing as a Filipina American has shaped her writing, the development of her latest release, and what’s next Kelly’s spring book events have turned virtual. Photo shows the author delivering the keynote

earns Peabody nod

by AJPress

Photo shows Entrada Kelly (center) as an infant held by her mom, Virgilia Sy Entrada, while her older sister Anna stands to the left.

PIXAR’S first-ever short film featuring Filipino characters has been nominated in this year’s Peabody Awards.

Filipino American storyboard artist Bobby Alcid Rubio took to social media to share that his seven-minute short, “Float,” is one of the nominees in the award ceremony’s entertainment category.

“So honored to have @Pixar #PixarFloat to be nominated for the #PeabodyAwards. I am grateful that our #SparkShorts #ShortFilm about Acceptance and Celebration of our Differences is Bobby Rubio photographed on August 20, being recognized. I share this 2018 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar achievement with my wonder- Calif. ful producer, Krissy Cababa @ 2019. cababapalooza, my amazing crew “Float,” written and directed #TeamFloat and the entire Pixar by Rubio and produced by fellow Family!” Rubio wrote in an Insta- Fil-Am Krissy Cababa, tells the gram post on Thursday, May 7. story of a father trying to keep his The organization on Wednes- infant son’s special ability to fly a address for the Pocono Mountain Retreat organized by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Photos courtesy of Erin Entrada Kelly/Instagram day revealed this year’s 60 nomi- secret. nees, chosen by a board of 19 juThe animated short is based on only mapping I really do. I write rors from nearly 1,300 entries, for Rubio’s relationship with his son for her award-winning novel.

Asian Journal (AJ): You’ve several chapters in the notebook the most compelling and empow- Alex, who is on the autism specwritten and released six novels and then I’ll type it out. Then I ering stories released in broad- trum. He submitted it to Pixar’s in the past five years. How do print the whole thing out and go casting and digital media during PAGE 11 by hand and that’s when I use a you begin developing a story?

Erin Entrada Kelly (EEK): The lot of sticky notes for revisions I story kind of grows and blossoms. need to make.

AJ: It’s interesting to ask that For several months, I’ll spend time just thinking about the characters question to writers and authors and the story. Once I feel like I because everyone handles it have it kind of fleshed out in my differently. You seem so orgahead, then I’ll get a notebook nized.

EEK: I am completely disorand start writing things down longhand. I’ll just write down the ganized and a mess in every characters’ names and the seeds other aspect. I never know where of the idea that I have and let it go anything is and I lose things. But when it comes to writing, I am from there.

AJ: Once you’ve filled the pretty organized.

AJ: Going back to your first notebooks, do you have sticky notes or other tools to help map novel “Blackbird Fly,” what was the process of pitching that and organize the story?

EEK: I’m a very linear writer to a publisher and finding an so I write in order by chapter. editor?

EEK: After I published a series Usually I’ll do a chapter outline, but it changes so I’ll cross things of short stories and decided to “Float” tells the story of a Filipino father who discovers his infant son has the ability to float. out and add things. This is the PAGE 10 Photo courtesy of Pixar

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Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS MORE than 90,000 The total global cases of COVID-19 in 212 countries (Antarctica zero case) is about 4,300,000, and almost 300,000 deaths. The healthcare front liners infected with COVID-19 worldwide is about 250,000, killing more than 15,000 of them, The U.S. leads the list with almost 1.4 million cases of COVID-19 and 83,000 deaths; New York is at the top with about 348,000 cases and more than 27,000 deaths. China has almost 8,300 cases and more than 4,600 deaths. The Philippines has almost 11,500 cases and nearly 800 deaths.

Depression deaths The number of “despair deaths” in the United States could go higher than 150,000 (double the earlier projection) by alcohol abuse, drugs, and suicide, induced by this COVID-19 pandemic, if nothing is done, according to the Well Being trust and the Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care (MMN).

COV-Idiots fanning the flame Irresponsible, selfish, and reckless members of society, are fanning the flames of this COVID-19, delaying its end and making the crisis worse by not complying with the government guidelines to stem the spread of SARS-CoV2, and some even protesting on the streets, without masks and gloves. The civil rights of the individual must be weighed against the civil rights of the majority, of society as a whole. If we let our guards down too soon, we shall lose all the progress we have made so far in defeating this pandemic and kill thousands more. The economy is very important. And so are people’s lives. Wisdom and prudence are essential at this time.

COVID-19 cardiac damage The SARS-Cov2 virus does not only targets the lungs, but the heart also, and other organs eventually. Cardiac dysfunction is the common cause of death among confirmed COVID-19 patients, where inflammation of the heart muscles (myositis, with ST segment elevation in EKG) leads to heart failure,

Community Journal

COVID-19 update heart attack, and cardiogenic shock that kills the patient, besides the pneumonia.

Hydroxychloroquine update Experiences around the world now shows hydroxycholoroquine is not effective to prevent or treat COVID-19. As a matter of fact, some studies showed that this anti-malarial drug had caused cardiac deaths among some patients. A Veterans study in the USA has reported the same. Those COVID-19 patients who claimed to have been saved by this drug, obviously, would have recovered without it, and were healthy enough not to have had the fatal torsades de pointes.

Remdesivir not game changer The world was rejoicing when Gilead announced its antiviral drug, remdesivir won the FDA’s emergency approval for use in COVID-19. But a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study in ten hospitals in Hubei, China among 237 patients reported by The Lancet journal found no significant statistical benefits among those patients treated with remdesivir compared to those on placebo. There were some numerical reductions in some clinical parameters but not enough to make a statistical difference in recovery and survival. More studies are ongoing around the world.

Children toxic shock from COVID-19 When the novel coronavirus outbreak started, everyone thought it only affected seniors, especially those with health issues and people with compromised immune system. Now, we know more about this SARSCoV2 virus and have found out that young people (below 50, teenagers, and young children) could also be infected and die from COVID-19. Lately, in London, as in China earlier, reports came out in The Lancet medical journal about COVID-19 pediatric patients who developed hyper-inflammatory shock similar to deadly Kawasaki Disease shock syndrome in the United States.

Beware of Quack Hack As we have warned our readers in our initial write-ups about COVID-19, various forms of scams and fraud are being perpetrated by the unscrupulous and greedy, taking advantage of this crisis where panicky misinformed people are

groping for any means of protecting themselves from this killer virus. There are dishonest practitioners around the globe prescribing their own “ingredients” as preventive or curative potion or lotion, or even injection, against COVID-19. These quack hacks are the snake oils of the past centuries. Thieves of every kind seem to exploit this current human tragedy, all in the name of money. The U.S. FDA has started to crack down on these fake products and price gouging. So far, 29 out of 42 fake products (drugs, testing kits, etc.,) investigated are no longer sold. People are requested to report any scam or fraud to the FDA. WARNING: At this time, there is still NO effective drug, herbals, substance, beverage, food or injectables that will effectively prevent or cure COVID-19.

Nothing. So, don’t waste your precious money.

The preventive strategy The only proven and free tactic in this war is to Fight COVID-19 with C-O-V-I-D, as we advocated with this acronym a few weeks ago in this column: Cover face to scratch, sneeze or cough; Omit non-essential travels anywhere; Voluntary quarantine; Intensive handwashing; Distancing is now social.

Blood thinner improves survival One of the clinical observations with COVID-19 infection is that it promotes coagulation (thickening of blood, blood clots, and blockage of arteries and veins) which complicates the illness and contributes to the mortality. The expert recommendation now is for “all hospitalized COVID-19 patients to receive prophylactic dose of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), unless they have contraindication.”

Pepcid and SARS-CoV2 Gastric acid suppressor drug famotidine (Pepcid), used to treat stomach acid reflux, was recently touted to inhibit replication of SARS-CoV2 virus (COVID-19) and decreased by two-fold the COVID-19 deaths.

The observation is still anecdotal and needs double blind randomized clinical trials to confirm or refute these claims.

Obesity increases COVID-19 The risk to acquire the COVID-19 infection and the mortality rate among obese patients are much higher than those with

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 14-20, 2020

WGU funds $10-M funds in emergency aid to support students impacted by virus Funds will go toward scholarships, tuition assistance, and non-tuition emergency aid for qualifying students

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — has set aside $10 million in emergency aid funds to help current and new students experiencing financial and healthcare hardships as a result of COVID-19.

In addition, the online, nonprofit university is working to raise another $10 million in matching donations.

“WGU students, most of whom are learning while they care for families and fulfill job responsibilities—and many of them on the COVID-19 frontlines—need and deserve our help and support,” said WGU President Scott Pulsipher. “Our hope is that this emergency aid will lessen their burden as they continue on their academic journeys.”

A financial disruption of just a few hundred dollars can often derail a student’s academic progress, and 70 percent of WGU’s students come from one or more historically underserved populations: low-income earners, rural residents, students of color, and/or firstgeneration college students.

WGU’s emergency aid fund will help mitigate those financial disruptions with the following: • Non-tuition emergency aid: Support for current students with expenses that threaten their academic progress, such as rent, groceries, medical bills, internet service, and other essential needs.

• Enhanced Financial Support Fund: Hardship scholar-

ships for current students who need tuition assistance due to financial disruptions.

• Funding for interrupted terms: Support for eligible current students, such as those who cannot complete in-person demonstration teaching and clinical rotations.

• Bright Future Scholarship: 1,000 need-based scholarships of up to $3,000 each for enrolling students or those newly enrolled since March 1.

• Additional financial support: Help with restructured payment plans or tuition and fee credits for some eligible students.

“Fundraising to support emergency aid for our highneed students is our top priority,” said Annalisa Holcombe, President of WGU Advancement, the university’s official fundraising arm. “As COVID-19 continues to disrupt the communities in which our students live, many will need immediate assistance in order to gain the skillsets required to support our national and local economies as we get through this difficult time.”

Organizations and individuals can visit wgu.edu/emergencyaid to make matching contributions to WGU’s Student Emergency Aid Fund. Students can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply for aid by visiting wgu.edu/emergencystudentaid. Applications for non-tuition emergency aid are currently processed in seven to 10 days, but through a part-

nership with Edquity—a leading emergency aid technology platform—the process for requesting and receiving aid will be shortened to three days, on average. WGU is working with Edquity to offer its platform to all students by the end of the month.

WGU largely serves nontraditional and underrepresented students. With a median age of 35, its students are primarily working adults, with 85 percent employed—mostly full time—while enrolled. The university has awarded more than 183,000 degrees, including nearly 65,000 bachelor’s or master’s degrees in nursing. Its current student body of more than 121,000 includes approximately 27,000 working nurses across the nation.

WGU students live, work, and participate in every major community in the U.S. Its online, competency-based, independently driven learning model has always given students the flexibility to access coursework and assessments 24/7, from home or wherever it’s convenient for them. This flexibility has enabled many WGU students to continue their studies uninterrupted, even as college students at most other U.S. institutions have found their academic year significantly impacted by the pandemic. WGU set a new single-month record for graduates in April, with more than 4,300 students earning degrees.

normal weight. This includes the “healthy obese,” overweight individuals without other health issues (high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, etc). Exercise and diet are vital.

Potential resurgence The experts believe a second or more waves of COVID-19 is possible, as was the case in the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic that wiped out more than 50 million people around the world, and the other pandemics thereafter.

In Singapore, which had aggressively dealt with COVID-19 very early and had strict measures and contact tracing, there was a strong resurgence in

crowded dormitories. The same recurrence took place in Japan and Korea.

Days after North Carolina relaxed some of its stay-at-home rules, a new high of 443 cases in one day occurred. The potential waves of COVID-19 will totally depend on people’s behavior, discipline, and compliance. We, the people, are the transmitters/spreaders of this killer virus. This current pandemic might go beyond this year and early 2021 before it ends. In the meantime, it behooves each one of us to be wise, responsible, and prudent in following the guidelines, and

staying safe. We cannot simply leave it to the government.

Each of us has a vital role to play to defeat this invisible killer. And our personal behavior and action will impact the lives of countless others. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Public Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com; Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.

10

May 14-20, 2020 • LaS VEGaS aSIaN JOURNaL

EntErtainmEnt

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Fil-Am Francisco Martin makes Derek eyes golf as post-showbiz career it to ‘American Idol’ Top 7

by Josef

Ramos ManilaTimes.net

By Ritchel

mendiola AJPress

FILIPINO American singer Francisco Martin advanced to the next round of ‘American Idol’ Season 18 as he secured a spot in the top 7.

For the penultimate episode of the season, the contestants had to perform twice, with the first performance being centered around Disney songs.

Martin, a 19-year-old student from Daly City, California, performed his own version of “You’ll Be in My Heart” from the movie “Tarzan,” impressing judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan.

“We’re witnessing here a transformation of Francisco,” Richie said.

He added, “I saw several times of that performance. You’re smiling at yourself when you perform.

In other words, what you’re doing now is just giving us confidence and enjoyment. And by the way, we as an audience, we’d love to see that kind of emotion. Francisco, congratulations on being on the Top 7, man. I’m really, really proud of you.”

Perry, meanwhile, said: “Francisco, I thought that performance was amazing. I agree with Lionel,

you looked relaxed. All that selfdoubt has been really stripped away.”

“What you gave us at the end is kind of what I wanted from Louis Knight. This is a competition. Let’s get real. There’s only one Idol and you were spot-on with your performance and then at the end, you let us have it with the talent of your voice. Good for you. You are a good bet,” she added.

Bryan, for his part, dubbed him as the “King of American Idol.”

“My man! Great job. Just in that performance, you were like the King of the jungle and you felt like the King of American Idol in my opinion,” he said.

For Martin’s second performance, he dedicated a heartfelt performance of Leon Bridges’ “River” to his mom.

“From Tarzan to singing ‘River,’ I don’t know what happened but you have grown even more,” Perry noted.

“This set of Mother’s Day songs is really separating the pack. It’s showing who deserves that top position and you are making it difficult for all these other contestants because that performance was so soulful and beautiful and real… it was so heartfelt, what you just did,” she added.

Bryan went as far as to say

Francisco Martin of Daly City, California continues to impress judges on Season 18 of “American Idol.”

Photo courtesy of ABC

that Martin “beat the original record.”

Meanwhile, Richie praised the singer’s confidence.

“The thing I love the most is your confidence is front and center. You’re no longer in your head.

Congratulations because you have a career and that is what’s important,” he said.

The season finale will be held next Sunday, May 17, starting with two contestants being eliminated based on audience votes. The five remaining hopefuls will perform two songs each as real-time voting will help determine who gets the “American Idol” title.

Dawn shows how homeschooling has turned her hair gray by cha lino Inquirer.net

ACTRESS Dawn Zulueta became the latest addition to celebrities who are embracing their silver locks while in quarantine.

Zulueta joked that homeschooling her children has made her hair turn “white,” as schools are still closed due to the threat of COVID-19. The 51-year-old actress looked radiant while posing for a selfie, as seen on her Instagram account last Tuesday, May 12.

“Almost 3 inches of my silver hair is visible now,” Zulueta said.

“I’m challenging myself not to do hair color while under #quarDawn Zulueta Photo from Instagram_@dawnzulueta antine #lockdown Let’s see how

long I can bear it.”

The actress declared that she was unbothered with her white hair through the hashtag #silverhairdontcare. Zulueta also advised fans to stay home and stay safe.

Zulueta is the proud mom of two children, Ayisha and Jacob, with her husband, businessmanpolitician Antonio Lagdameo Jr. Zulueta and Lagdameo have been married since December 1997.

Similarly, Zulueta’s fellow actress Judy Ann Santos has embraced one of the realities of lockdown life when it comes to grooming, by displaying her “uban.”

DEREK Ramsay regrets not taking golf seriously before his active years in sports.

The 43-year-old Filipino-British hunk actor said he would definitely pursue a career in golf locally and abroad — not because of money and fame but for personal satisfaction and challenge.

“To tell you the truth that is my dream. I really want to become a professional even in the Asian circuit,” Ramsay told The Manila Times in a phone interview Monday evening.

But Ramsay has to put his dream on hold, as he signed a contract with media network GMA 7.

“I really wanted to do that in 2019 but I signed with GMA 7, so na-hold na muna ‘yung dream ko na ‘yun. So after may contract, let’s see kung kaya pa ng katawan natin,” said the actor who knows a thing or two about injuries from playing competitive frisbee, football and basketball.

He explained he admires the mental aspect of golf.

“Again if you’re going to play competitive, maraming magagaling diyan na humampas ng bola.

Kaya nga ang golf is all mental — kung kaya mong humampas ng bola under pressure gan’un ‘yung labanan diyan, it’s mental,” said Ramsay, who sees himself playing golf for the rest of his life.

“Yeah, I will definitely. Even if I don’t get to become a professional [golfer], I am going to really push na maging scratch golfer ako. Zero handicapper talaga.

Kung hindi aabot sa pro level dahil sa age ko, well maraming competitive amateur tournaments diyan na gusto kong salihan here and abroad.”

Ramsay is no newbie golfer with significant wins under his name. He won the Jack Nicklaus Invitational Tournament in June 2017 together with fellow actor John Estrada at the New Albany Country Club in Ohio, United States.

He was also a Class A champion in Orchard Club Championship early this January.

Actor Derek Ramsay is keen on becoming a pro golfer.

Photo from Instagram/@ramsayderek07

Even under quarantine in Alabang, Ramsay was practicing his swing — in his room.

“I have won a lot of amateur events. I practice kahit ngayong quarantine I’m always swinging my golf club here in my room. ‘Yung timing lang ayaw ko mawala sa akin. Palo lang nang palo sa kuwarto,” said Ramsay.

Pushing the limit Ramsay described golf as the most challenging sport he ever played — more challenging than frisbee, football and basketball.

“It’s the competitiveness. In basketball and frisbee, it’s a team effort, right? So I grew up playing team sports, but this is the accomplishment that you beat everybody else. You can say, you did,” Ramsay explained.

“I started playing golf seriously when I was in my 30s,” said Ramsay, who picked up the golf clubs while recovering from injuries from playing frisbee and basketball. “Golf is my No. 1 sports now.”

“This game is awesome, and it is better than all my other games kasi wala kang sisihin kung hindi ‘yung sarili mo eh.”

Ramsay played competitive

Award-winning Fil-Am author Erin Entrada Kelly releases...

PAGE 8

joy “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.” I’m not huge on book to movie adaptations because I always, of course, prefer the book.

But that’s the first recent one that comes to mind.

AJ: Shifting to your latest novel, “We Dream of Space.” It takes place in Delaware, where you currently live, and goes back to the 80s when you were growing up. What led to the development of this story and creating this family?

EEK: The Challenger disaster, I think for a lot of people of my generation and my age group, was one of the biggest events of adolescence. It really stayed with me as it did with other people as well so I knew I wanted to write about it at some point. Also, partly because I feel like it’s been forgotten in a general sense. For example, when I go to schools, I ask students if they’ve heard of the Challenger disaster and almost none of them have. It was a huge news event that has kind of been lost. I knew I wanted to revisit it and have a book set in the 80s because I was a child of that era.

AJ: The central characters are the three Nelson-Thomas children. Though they’re not of Filipino descent, our community can likely relate as they’re from a big family too and we see similar dynamics play out among the siblings and even in their relationships with their parents. For example, we read about the only daughter Bird receiving passive aggressive comments from her mother about her appearance and role as a girl. How did this family come about?

EEK: The idea started with Bird and I thought it would be interesting to have siblings who are all in the same grade. When I was thinking about Bird and her story and I thought, “Okay, she has these siblings.” Then I thought, “Well, how are they all going to be in the same grade?” So then she became a twin to Fitch and has an older brother, Cash. It’s really underrepresented in literature to see children that fail grades so I thought it was important to have Cash in there.

I’m really glad you mentioned that with Bird because you never quite know what’s getting across or if your intentions are coming through. But my intention with Bird is that she’s the glue of the whole story. Number one, she feels responsible for whatever reason for the tenor of the house so she tries to interject when she can and to manage the mood of the home, which is an unfair and large responsibility for a 12-yearold girl.

She also gets conflicting information from her mother because Research for “We Dream of Space” included her mother tells her that looks newspaper clippings of the Challenger aren’t important but she also

focus on middle grade and wrote my first middle-grade novel, I had a pretty conventional journey. I queried agents and found my first agent — she’s no longer my agent — and she brought it to editors.

It probably took almost a year or two for an editor because I had to do more revisions and such. Then about after a year, I got the offer from HarperCollins, who I’ve been with ever since.

AJ: It’s been two years since “Hello Universe” received the Newbery Medal. How has this award helped your work and how has it been to be among this roster of authors we grew up reading and learning in school?

EEK: It’s surreal every single day. Even two years later, it’s very, very strange, but in a great way, of course. It’s very surreal because you never think that’s going to ever happen. I think the greatest benefit has been a larger platform.

The book has been translated into many different languages, which is cool. But honestly the greatest benefit has been the wider readership — and I don’t mean that from a business royalties standpoint — and being able to connect with even more readers, librarians and teachers. I was working full-time when “Hello Universe” first came out and not long after it won, I was able to leave my job. Now I write full-time and do some teaching.

AJ: Also to mention what the book has done for Filipino American representation in literature. You have a Fil-Am central character, Virgil. The book illustrations were done by a Filipina artist [Isabel Roxas].

EEK: Definitely, thank you, yes.

That was absolutely a benefit because when I was growing up, I didn’t really have access to any books that had Filipino characters, and even Asian characters or minority cultures of any kind were not really depicted. Next year, actually, I’m working on a chapter book series now that will have a mestiza — half Filipina,

half white girl — as the main character so I’m really excited about that too. I’m doing the illustrations as well.

AJ: “Hello Universe” has also been picked up by Netflix to develop it into a movie with Fil-Am screenwriter Michael [Golamco].

Did you ever imagine any of your work would be translated to the big screen?

EEK: No, never! Again, it’s been really surreal. I think right now, they’re still in the script development stage so the production hasn’t gotten started yet.

But when that all starts up, I’m really looking forward to it. One of the things they asked me at the beginning was, “What is most important to you about this story?” I said, “The representation!”

Virgil’s Filipino American and then Ori is Japanese American. I didn’t want any of that to change.

I didn’t anticipate that they were going to but I wanted to make sure it was important that the representation stayed the same. For Virgil, it’s a very important part of the whole narrative because he has his lola and Filipino folk tales woven in there. They said that was one of the things they loved about the book and it wasn’t even in their mind to cast it any differently.

AJ: How involved are you going to be during the production?

EEK: I will probably not be very involved. I know different writers are involved in different ways but I prefer to not be that involved only because I don’t know anything about making movies and I trust them. I trust Michael [Golamco] — he’s great and very talented. He gets it. I trust that they’re going to do well by the material so I don’t necessarily need to be involved.

As long as I know what’s going on and when things are happening, that’s all I really need to know.

AJ: Are there any screen adaptations you’ve particularly loved that did justice to the stories?

EEK: I have to say I did en-

A copy of Erin Entrada Kelly’s award-winning “Hello, Universe” and her notebooks that contain early drafts of the novel.

tragedy.

harps on her about gaining weight and not eating that kind of cereal.

The three siblings together get conflicting information as well because their parents correct them and tell them to be kind but they’re not kind to each other as they argue all the time and use certain language. That was something I wanted to explore too because adults are very often critical and they operate under this view of “do as I say, not as I do.” It’s a very dangerous way to bring up young people because they can see those contradictions.

Bird, Fitch and Cash are getting different information but they’re also not getting the emotional support that each of them needs.

AJ: Through this book, what did you learn about yourself as a writer and what aspects of your childhood and upbringing did you revisit and tap into?

EEK: Of course, on the fun side, I got to explore things like the arcade, a phonebook and cassette tapes — all these things I have nostalgia for. One of the things all my books have in common is that they explore loneliness on some level. In this book, I thought it would be interesting to explore that there are these three siblings and there’s five of them in this fairly modest home.

Even though they’re surrounded by family, they’re still very lonely.

This concept of loneliness, being within and not without, is something that I wanted to explore because I often felt like that when I was young.

Also this feeling of family floating in its own orbits was something important to me. When I was growing up in south Louisiana, my father was white and his family all lived in the Midwest. My mom’s entire family was in the Philippines so I had so many relatives that I didn’t know or would never meet. They’re all far away so it was a strange, insular experience when you’re connected to your family, but not really connected to them.

AJ: Since you mentioned your two family backgrounds, how did your mom end up in Louisiana?

EEK: They met in the Philippines because my dad was stationed there. He ultimately had a job transfer. He’s originally from Kansas so she moved there from the Philippines in the middle of a blizzard and obviously she had never been around snow before.

Then he got transferred to Louisiana.

AJ: And how did you find your way to Delaware?

EEK: I moved to Pennsylvania like eight years and my partner now is in Delaware so we bought a house here together.

AJ: Since the book takes place there, what do you want people to

frisbee internationally, representing the Philippines in other countries almost a decade ago.

He also spent time playing competitive baskeball in the defunct Philippine Basketball League under the Toyota team of coach Louie Alas in 2004.

Last year, he also suited up for Batangas Athletics Tanduay team in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) of Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao. But he didn’t commit full time in basketball because of his showbiz commitments.

“Actually matagal na ako kinukuha. Nag-uumpisa pa lang ang MPBL pero hindi ko pwedeng pasukan “yan nang hindi 100percent [ready]. Nag-aartista pa ako. If I join, I will quit showbiz.

May respeto ako sa dreams ng mga players na ito na who want to become professional and want this to make their livelihood.”

He said he would only disrespect those basketball players and it wouldn’t be fair at all.

Then, he thought of playing serious golf. “’Yung seryosong golf? Siguro mga seven or eight years ago. I PAGE 11

Kelly holds a copy of “We Dream of Space, which was released on May 5 by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Photos courtesy of Erin Entrada Kelly/Instagram

take away from the small state?

EEK: What’s fun about living in Delaware is that when I travel and people ask where I live, I tell them Delaware and they always look at me as if I said I lived on Mars. But the point I wanted to explore as well is that there’s a line where Bird’s brother tells her, “You’re just a girl from Delaware.”

Delaware is this underdog state that people seem to forget about.

I wanted to show that it doesn’t necessarily matter where you’re from and you don’t have to be from some big exciting place to do amazing, incredible things.

When you grow up as I did in Louisiana, there were very few immigrant families or any firstgeneration parents and you’re kind of going up against being an “other,” whether you’re an other ethnically, culturally or religiously.

Whereas in Bird’s case, she feels like an other because she’s interested in all these things other people don’t seem to be interested in. It really shapes who you are. So the fact that she’s from Delaware, it doesn’t matter. You can be from anywhere.

AJ: This book comes out as students and families are learning from and staying at home.

How is the story fitting for this time to get lost in this universe you created?

EEK: I’ve met at this point thousands of young people from traveling and they tell me about their own life in some situations.

This book explores a non-ideal family situation — it’s not that the parents don’t love their children, but they’re caught up in their own toxic dynamic that’s permeating the rest of the family. It was important so that young people who are in that kind of family can see their dynamic on the page. My hope is that families can use it as a jumping off point to talk about family dynamics and other things

mentioned.

AJ: What’s something surprising readers may find in the book?

EEK: The teacher, Ms. Salonga, in “We Dream of Space” is never explicitly mentioned to be Filipina American but a lot of Filipinos have written to me to ask because she has a Filipina name. For the audio book, which is read by Ramon de Ocampo who also narrated “Hello Universe,” I didn’t speak to him before he read it. But when I listened to the audio book, he speaks in a Filipino accent doing her sections, which I love!

AJ: Advice for aspiring writers and storytellers?

EEK: My advice is definitely to read — a good writer is a good reader. It sounds kind of cliché but just keep writing because like with anything, it’s practice. That’s how you perfect your craft.

AJ: What are you reading right now?

EEK: I am in between books. I just finished a book called “The Blackbird Girls” [by Anne Blankman], which is very good. Now I’m trying to figure out what to read next. I read about two to three books a week.

AJ: There are so many options out there, especially in Filipino American literature alone coming out from major publishing houses.

EEK: Oh yes. Most notably, Randy Ribay’s book “Patron Saints of Nothing” was a National Book Award finalist and was on all these lists. I know the landscape for not just Filipino authors, but people from all kinds of marginalized groups, has opened up and will continue to do so because literature needs to reflect our entire society. That’s what our world and bookshelves should look like.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Features

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 14-20, 2020

11

Success of debut single a ‘wow moment’ for Maine After initial anxiety attacks, Eula now enjoys quarantine life by allan

PoliCarPio

Inquirer.net

MAINE Mendoza’s debut single, the wistfully mellow pop song “Parang Kailan Lang,” has been sitting at the top spot of the Myx Hit Chart for the past five weeks now. And seeing her own music video on the said channel—and on various music streaming apps—will never not be a “wow moment” for the 25year-old star.

“I’m happy I got to release a song in my time here in the industry. But I’m happier at how some people appreciate the song for what it is. I hope I get to release some more soon!” she told the Inquirer in an e-mail interview.

Composed by singer-songwriter Eunice Jorge of the pop-rock band Gracenote, the single tells of love’s fickle and unpredictable nature, coming into one’s own, and moving forward.

“It’s about reminiscing and moving on from the past. To be more specific, it’s about a girl reminiscing about her past with someone—hence the title,” Maine said.

Though she didn’t have a direct hand in the songwriting’s more technical aspects, she made sure to give her creative input and expressed her vision on how to make the material suit her personality and achieve the mood she was hoping to give off.

“Eunice and I met a couple of times to talk about the collaboration, and I just told her what I wanted the song to be felt. I’m into chill-vibed songs. I’m more focused on the melody and the

Maine Mendoza

feeling the song can give to listeners,” said Maine, who gave the Gracenote lead vocalist full liberty with the lyrics.

“I told her the song may be about anything under the sun.

She writes so well, and I trust her enough with basically everything. I am glad the song turned out well!” she said of Eunice, whose band also provided the song’s instrumentation.

Released by Universal Records, “Parang” has been streamed around 353,000 times since it was put up on Spotify last April 3. On YouTube, the music video has been seen 611,000 times and the lyrics video, 164,000.But despite the single’s success, Maine doesn’t really see herself becoming a full-fledged recording artist because, admittedly, she doesn’t think her voice is good enough for it.

“To be honest, no. I don’t see myself pursuing it. I have never really dreamed of becoming one—I just wanted to have something new to offer to the people who have been supporting me

“Float” made history as the first Pixar animation featuring Filipino characters.

Photos courtesy of Pixar

‘Float,’ Pixar’s first-ever...

PAGE 8 SparkShorts, an immersive storytelling program that gives studio employees six months and a budget to develop animated short films.

“I’m a storyteller at heart. I was thinking of doing this story about my son and me…I’ve been holding onto this story for eight years and I finally felt like it was time to tell it,” he told the Asian Journal in an interview last year.

The short was screened at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood last October before it made its Disney+ debut a month later when the streaming platform was unveiled.

Rubio has worked as a traditional artist and storyboard artist on films like “Pocahontas,” “Tarzan,” and “Treasure Planet.” He was also an assistant director and storyboard artist for “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” before moving to Pixar, where he has worked on “Up” and has since included “Brave,” “Monsters University,” “Inside Out” and most recently, “Incredibles 2” and “Toy Story 4.”

“At the end of the day, [‘Float’] is about the bond between father and son. It’s about unconditional love, especially amongst family members and amongst every-

body. I want that to be the end thing that people get. It’s about love and acceptance and hopefully, that will resonate,” Rubio said in his Asian Journal interview.

“Float” is up against shows, such as “Chernobyl,” “Stranger Things,” “Succession,” “Fleabag,” and “Watchmen.” Apple TV+’s original comedy series starring actress Hailee Steinfeld — who is of Filipina descent — also garnered a nomination in the category.

“Float” and “Dickinson” mark the first Peabody Awards nominations for Disney+ and Apple TV+, respectively, since the two streaming platforms debuted last year.

“Peabody is proud to champion this year’s nominees who inspire our connection, provoke our thinking and delight our senses.

From the communal strength of black women to the eminence of science to the conviction of those who speak up, these stories and their creators celebrate the diversity of human experience and of our democracy,” Peabody Executive Director Jeffrey P. Jones said in a statement.

“Amidst the challenges of our present moment, we can find empathy, entertainment and truth in these nominees,” he added.

Derek eyes golf as post...

PAGE 10 regret na hindi ko agad naging passion ‘yung golf,” Ramsay said, adding, “Noong time na ‘yun parang gusto ko na lang mag-golf kasi na-accomplish ko ‘yung mga ibang bagay sa sports then this one is the hardest to master. All the other sports that I played, the team sports, heto I could focus on myself, no one else to blame, no one else to take care of, and na-hook talaga ako.”

Best golfers in showbiz For Ramsay, there are only three entertainers who play competitively in golf — actor John Estrada, singer and actor Ariel Rivera, and singer/composer Lito Camo. Others who play golf recreationally are Ogie Alcasid, Tonton Gutierrez, Glydel Mercado and GMA7 news anchor Arnold Clavio.

“Nanalo pa kami ni John Estrada when we represented the Philippines in Ohio. Magaling

disinfected the entire house and my car. I felt so much better afterInquirer.net ward. I also isolated myself from ACTRESS Eula Valdes, who my kids,” the actress recalled. plays Christopher de Leon’s first “I likewise called the hospital to wife in the ABS-CBN drama se- ask if I could have myself tested. ries “Love Thy Woman,” admit- I was told that the best thing to do ted that she had suffered from was to go on self-quarantine.”

After successfully getting past anxiety attacks shortly after she learned that the actor had tested that hurdle, Eula said she now enjoys being stuck at home. “I positive for COVID-19.

Christopher has since recov- am actually able to save money because I can’t go out to shop. ered from the illness.

Eula said she and Christopher Online shopping doesn’t work for last worked together on March 14. me because I want to be able to “There were only four of us (cast fit stuff before buying them,” she members) on the set, and on that explained. “In order to make my day, our scenes were so intense. free time more productive, I also We had to work really close to researched on what skills I could each other,” she recalled. “That’s learn online and practice at home.

It had to be something simple, why I got worried—slightly.”

Eula also said that, shortly af- something that would make use ter learning that Christopher was only of whatever resources I have infected, their ABS-CBN bosses at home.”

She also donated to charitable had arranged for the cast and production staff to have a video organizations and fundraising efcall with doctor and former health forts organized by colleagues in undersecretary Susan Mercado the business.

Eula admitted that she felt sad to discuss all that they needed to about ABS-CBN’s decision to disknow about the disease.

“That night, I experienced continue the taping of “Love Thy body aches and chills. I didn’t Woman.” She explained: “This have fever—I kept checking, and was because we have no idea each time, my temperature was how long [the work stoppage] normal. My guess was that it was would last, but it was a necessary a really nasty case of anxiety at- thing in order to help stop the tack,” she told Inquirer Entertain- spread of the virus.”

Inquirer Entertainment’s inment. “While in bed, I kept asking myself, ‘What if I’m that special terview with Eula happened only person who catches the disease a few days before the broadcast and dies really fast? Should I start network went off the air in rewriting my Last Will and Testa- sponse to the cease and desist order of the National Telecomment now?’”

Eula said she had to psych munications Commission after its herself up so she would not suc- legislative franchise expired on cumb to depression or really get May 4.

Asked for her reaction to the sick physically. “I had to fight the feeling. The following day, I possibility of resumption of work

by Marinel

‘yun. He (Estrada) is about the 12 handicap,” said Ramsay, noting that just like any other sports, recovery and mindset are very important in golf.

“Recovery and mindset are very important even in golf. After a round of golf, you can be mentally tired.”

Ramsay doesn’t even like to ask for handicap during tournaments.

Golf for Ramsay is a constant source of joy.

“I can also play with my father.

Masaya na ako na Olympic sports na ‘yung golf. Masaya na ako to reach the level of pros. If I can get a license, that’s a bonus.”

Ramsay admires international golfers Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as well as homegrown talent Miguel Tabuena.

After the quarantine, don’t be surprised if Ramsay will head directly to the golf course.

GMA photo

from the beginning.”

But still, Maine intends to continue to release songs once in a while. In fact, given the opportunity, she would love to work with Juan Karlos and Ben&Ben someday.

“I have varied taste in music, and I would say that there are songs that have left an impact on me,” said Maine, who found it hard to pinpoint which artists have had the most profound effect on her life. “It depends more on the song, not the artist.”

Regardless of what she chooses to do after “Parang,” one thing’s for sure: Maine’s love for music.

“I love how I get to feel so many things just by listening to music. It’s amazing how it evokes a lot of memories and emotions. It also has the ability to change our moods, from sad to happy and vice versa,” explained Maine, who also loves attending concerts and festivals.

“I love how powerful a song can get, and how it can affect us deep within,” she said.

Cruz

Eula Valdes

ABS-CBN photo

on May 15, when the government’s order for an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) finally gets lifted, Eula said: “I don’t think we will resume taping immediately. I’m sure the Management will not force everyone to go back to work without implementing precautions just so it would have new episodes to air.”

The actress added: “I’m sure that, as early as now, the bosses are already meeting to figure out how to go about this. We can’t act with our faces covered, unless it’s OK with them for me to put ‘Eula Valdes’ on my face mask.

“This also doesn’t mean we can all go out already and hang out at the malls or watch in movie houses. We still have to test the situation. The government can still order another lockdown if people would not behave properly, if they would not practice social distancing,” she declared.

12

May 14-20, 2020 • LaS VEGaS aSIaN JOURNaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678