051620 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

MAY 16-19, 2020 Volume 30 - No. 38 • 2 Sections – 18 Pages

LA County urges AAPI community to stay united DATELINE USA White supremacists and report hate crimes during reopening process hack Fil-Am community FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

virtual town hall meeting, use Nazi salute On Monday, May 11, the Philippine Workers Center (PWC) in Los Angeles was conducting its fourth virtual town hall meeting on the video-conferencing software Zoom — something they’ve been doing since safer-at-home measures were put in place in LA County.

The meeting covered COVID-19 resources and community updates with community members and staffers in their 20s to their 60s listening in.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) even joined the call to give federal updates to the community.

But as the group began its question and answer session, they were interrupted by blatant racial remarks.

One young white man wearing sunglasses spoke into a microphone using profanity and said things like, “All immigrants should be deported. That’s why you have a home. That’s why you have a computer. Because the white man built it, you [expletive].” u PAGE A4

by RAE

ANN VARONA AJPress

LOS ANGELES County officials on Thursday, May 14 urged the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and greater county residents to stay united and report hate crimes as the reopening

137 Filipinos in the US die of COVID-19

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

FTC warns of COVID-19 scams, provides tips to avoid fraudsters As the country continues to be rocked by the coronavirus pandemic, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is making sure that vulnerable Americans avoid the numerous COVID19-related scams that are making their way through various communities.

It’s not that there is an uptick in scams but that many of the most prevalent scams that are preying on a public fearful of the COVID19 virus, said Monica Vaca, associate director for the FTC’s division of consumer response and operations.

“What we’re seeing at the FTC is what’s true, always: scammers follow headlines, and what’s in the headline right now is COVID-19 all the time and scammers are following that,” Vaca said during a Zoom press conference with ethnic media outlets on Friday, May 15.

In relation to the $1,200 stimulus check that most American taxpayers should have either received or will be receiving, Vaca warns of fraudsters masquerading as government offiu PAGE A5

TAKING SHELTER. A family chooses to temporarily take shelter inside a large hollow post along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City on Friday, May 15 as Typhoon “Ambo” (Vongfong) wreaks havoc in Metro Manila. This family is among the homeless who live in the streets of the metropolis.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

MEDENILLA

AJPress

WITH the extensions of shelter-in-place orders and the collective apprehension for the dangerously unforeseeable future, the coronavirus pandemic continues to ominously rage on like a slow burn of normal life.

For teenagers and high school students who now must live their formative years during a zeitgeist-defining crisis, the anxiety is amplified as traditional classroom time is reduced to virtual meetings and the prospect of higher education feels hazier than ever.

But in between the strains of distance learning and merely staying healthy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of mostly Asian American juniors from West Ranch High School (WRHS) in Santa Clarita, Cali-

OVER 130 Filipinos in the United States have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, according to data released by the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. this week.

Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez reported that 137 Filipinos have died since the virus outbreak hit the country. Of that number, 40 were reportedly health care workers.

“Filipinos are very much appreciated and recognized internationally for their remarkable contributions in the work that they are doing here,” Romualdez said.

Meanwhile, 253 Filipinos have tested positive for COVID-19, the embassy said.

“There are Filipino frontliners here who carry the heavy tasks in fighting the coronavirus. The Americans are really appreciative of Filipino health workers here in the United States,” he added.

In the 10 Northeast states covered by the Philippine 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 u PAGE A2

Typhoon Ambo weakens into severe tropical storm

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration on Friday, May 15, said typhoon Ambo has weakened into a severe tropical storm as it moves northwest at 20 kilometers per hour.

Ambo now has maximum winds of 110 km/h from the previous 125 km/h as well as gustiness of up to 150 km/h from the previous 165 km/h, according to PAGASA. Ambo has already made six landfalls — San Policarpo, Eastern Samar at 12:15

West Ranch High School juniors create, donate face shields to community’s essential workers

by KLARIZE

ing. A disease of hate and prejudice and discrimination against Asian Americans at this time,” said Robin Toma, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, during a media briefing on Thursday.

“We are concerned because of the stories many u PAGE A2

process continues.

Anti-Asian racism and discrimination, based on the myth that Asians are more likely to have or infect people with COVID-19, have been on the rise across the United States. This includes LA County where 1.5 million AAPIs live.

“There is another kind of disease that is spread-

fornia have chosen to use what free time they have to strengthen the community and help out those most vulnerable to being infected.

On April 7, Open-Source Print and Protect (OPP) was established by WRHS juniors Matthew Chan, David Gee, Kevin Gillespie, Rachel Gim, Tristan Manalang and Shaden Nasr to design and distribute face shields using their own 3D printers to implement “concepts of value engineering, optimizing convenience and reusability,” the students wrote in a letter.

OPP is a 100% student-run and initiated organization with the mission to contribute to the community and be a solution to the problem of dwindling personal protective equipment among frontliners.

In a Zoom interview with the Asian Journal, the group took time from a hectic week u PAGE A3

p.m. Thursday; Dalupiri Island, Northern Samar at 10:15 p.m. Thursday; Capul Island, Northern Samar at 10:30 p.m.

Thursday; Ticao Island, Masbate at 12:00 a.m. Friday; Burias Island, Masbate at 3 a.m. Friday; and San Andres, Quezon at 7:45 a.m. on Friday.

Many areas in Luzon continue to be under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal Nos. 1 and 2.

Those who are experiencing Signal No. 1, which has winds of 30 to 60 km/h include Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Batanes, Zambales, Bataan, Oriental Mindoro, Burias Island, northern part of Alu PAGE A3

SUSPENDED FLIGHTS. Commercial planes are parked at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City on Thursday, May 14, as operations are still suspended from May 16 to 31, 2020.

This in line with the implementation of the modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

PH airlines extend flight suspensions to May 31

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippines’ major airlines have all announced that their flights are canceled for the rest of May, in compliance with the government’s new quarantine guidelines.

Budget airlines AirAsia Philippines and Cebu Pacific said all domestic and international flights are canceled from May 16 until May 31.

“All Cebu Pacific and Cebgo domestic and international flights remain canceled from May 16 to 31, 2020. This is in line with the The face shield design — meant to be worn over a mask — provides implementation of Modified Ennecessary protection against the virus. The OPP team has been hanced Community Quarantine printing the masks with their own 3D printers at home and over Metro Manila,” the airline distributes them to community partners. announced.

Photo courtesy of Open-Source Print and Protect

Meanwhile, flag carrier Philippine Airlines canceled its domestic flights to and from hubs in Manila, Clark and Cebu.

“We confirm that all Philippine Airlines domestic and international flights to and from our hubs in MANILA, CEBU and CLARK will remain cancelled up to May 31,” PAL said in a statement.

It added, “The continued pause in our Manila, Cebu and Clark hub operations is in compliance with the Philippine Government’s declaration of the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine and related local restrictions for the period from May 16 to 31.”

According to PAL, it is planning to operate a reduced number of weekly flights for most domestic u PAGE A2

A May 16-19, 2020 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOURNaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

From the Front Page

137 Filipinos in the US die of ...

PAGE A1 t

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” — 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, 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. n

PH airlines extend flight...

PAGE A1 t

routes and on selected international routes by June 1, but it will depend on COVID-19 conditions, such as community quarantine restrictions, travel bans imposed by various governments and their impact on passenger demand, and above all on the public health and safety situation in each of the countries that the airline serves.

PAL also said it will announce that the list of operating flights and routes for June 2020, once the details are finalized.

“PAL will continue to operate occasional special flights to repatriate stranded passengers and to transport urgent cargo such as medical equipment and supplies to help sustain critical supply chains across the Philippines and on selected international routes,” it said. n

ECQ TRAFFIC. Traffic builds up near the intersection of General Luna Avenue and Batasan-San Mateo Road in San Mateo, Rizal on Wednesday, May 13. More areas, including Rizal, will be placed under less stringent general community quarantine (GCQ) from May 16 to 31 after being under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed all over Luzon in the last two months to contain the spread COVID-19.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

LA County urges AAPI community...

PAGE A1 t

of us have heard about people being targeted with hateful remarks or threats, or discrimination because they are Asian,” said Toma, adding that the spike in anti-Asian hate and discrimination has targeted not only Chinese, but those who appear to be Chinese.

The STOP AAPI Hate Center, a project by Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON), Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) and San Francisco State University’s Asian American Studies Department, has received over 1,700 reports of coronavirus discrimination since mid-March from across the U.S. LA County officials said they’ve received more than 100 reports between February and April.

In response, the county has come up with a three-part strategy that involves focusing on uniting residents against hate, exposing hate incidents where they are happening, and expanding networks to help victims fight hate.

Toma emphasized the importance of reporting not only hate crimes, but any acts of hostility based on race or ethnicity to

trusted community agencies and law enforcement by dialing 2-11.

“This is needed now more than ever right now. We are still in a stay-at-home period, but we are now moving into a period when people are returning to common spaces,” said Toma. “It’s all that much more important for us to be prepared and vigilant and supportive of one another around these cases of hate and discrimination.”

Gradual reopening The county most recently entered stage two of its five-stage roadmap for a phased approach to recover and reopen, allowing many retailers, manufacturers, and recreational facilities to operate with appropriate safeguards in place.

On Wednesday evening, County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer extended the county’s stay-at-home order, which has been put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. Ferrer said that there was no end date to the health order, but emphasized the importance of staying home as much as possible to reduce the spread of the virus.

“This virus did not get any

less dangerous while we stayed at home, and that’s why we have extended the safer-at-home orders,” said Supervisor Hilda L. Solis on Thursday. (Solis represents the county’s first district which spans Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Historic Filipinotown, and the San Gabriel Valley.)

As of Friday morning, there have been a total of 36,359 reported cases of which 1,755 are deaths. Of daily new cases, 962 were reported and 47 were deaths. The county accounts for half of California’s COVID-19 counts in both cases and deaths, making LA the state’s epicenter.

In terms of fatalities, Solis said that 38% of COVID-19 deaths are among Latinos, 18% among AAPI residents, and 13% among African-Americans.

Free testing has been made available for anyone showing symptoms like coughing, fever, chills, headaches, sore throat, and loss of taste and smell. Those not showing symptoms may also be tested, however, those over the age of 65 with underlying chronic conditions, as well as healthcare and other essential workers will be prioritized. u PAGE A5

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Dateline USa

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 16-19, 2020

A

LA makes face coverings mandatory in public

So far, the team has collaborated with and donated to local medical centers and is looking to expand beyond Los Angeles County and help out a variety of communities and essential workers.

Photo courtesy of Open-Source Print and Protect

LOS ANGELES Mayor Eric Garcetti this week issued an order requiring Angelenos to wear face coverings outside their homes.

The order will help the fight against COVID-19, as restrictions are gradually eased to allow more people to return to work and outdoor recreation.

“We all have to recognize that we’re not moving beyond COVID-19 — we’re learning to live with it. That means taking every reasonable precaution, so we can continue taking careful steps forward to safely begin reopening the economy and getting some of our lives back,” said Garcetti in a statement. “Face coverings help stop the spread of the virus.

Wearing them whenever we’re away from home will create a meaningful layer of protection for people we might come into contact with, and that makes sense at this stage of our response to

the crisis. It’s simple: wear one whenever you go out.”

The mayor has also modified the city’s “Safer at Home” emergency order to allow all retail businesses except those in indoor malls to resume limited operations with delivery and curbside or doorside service, and to open beaches and more public recreational space for outdoor exercise.

New guidelines on face coverings exempt children under 2 and people with certain disabilities, and build on previous action by the mayor requiring non-medical essential business workers and customers to wear face coverings.

Garcetti also reassured Angelenos that while the end date has been removed from the Safer at Home emergency order, the City, County, and partners across the region and state are working continuously to get people back

to work and their lives as safely and quickly as possible.

The City of Los Angeles is working in close coordination with public health professionals to chart the course forward in the fight against COVID-19, and will modify the Safer at Home order whenever public health and safety circumstances allow or demand.

“We will continue to adjust the order gradually — to safely allow more activities, more businesses to operate, and more Angelenos to get back to work,” said Garcetti. “This is a process. We are constantly assessing how to take steps forward whenever we can or backward whenever we have to. No matter what, we’re guided by science and committed to transparency — and I’ll keep doing whatever is necessary to keep people safe, healthy, and informed every step of the way.”

(AJPress)

West Ranch High School juniors create, donate...

PAGE A1 t of studying and taking AP exams to share their experience starting and successfully running a growing start-up company.

“Basically I stumbled upon a face shield design, and I just noticed things in it [that] I thought I could maybe improve, so I made my own design based on those improvements,” Gillespie told the Asian Journal, adding that the designs were based off the Prusa RC3 and 3DVerkstan face shield designs.

Resembling a visor, Gillespie explained that the design is meant to be a more comfortable model of existing shields.

Using personal 3D printers, the students create the frames themselves and then attach a flexible sheet of plastic that covers the entire face.

Chan said that wearers still have to wear a cloth covering, surgical mask or any other nose and mouth covering along with the mask, but the shield provides a needed barrier for medical workers who come face-to-face with the virus on a daily basis.

So far, OPP has fulfilled more than 30 orders and created and distributed about 600 shields since beginning the project a little more than a month ago, the students said during the Zoom meeting. They have an overall goal to distribute at least 1,000 shields to essential workers across the LA area.

Currently, it takes a little less than an hour to create one mask at the price of $1.70; in an effort to help raise funds to keep the project going, the group has started a GoFundme that they hope will lower the cost of the shield and help them produce more. (The group has raised more than $4,500, as of press time.)

With the help of Manalang, the group has also partnered up with Skye Bottle, which has devoted a portion of its profits to OPP. OPP’s design has been delivered to area hospitals like LA County+USC Medical Center, Cedars-Sinai and Kaiser Permanente as well as the LA County Health Department, providing necessary protective gear for emergency room personnel, urgent care workers, caregivers and private practitioners.

Hospital workers, in particular, are in dire need of any solution that’ll help with the scarcity of equipment.

Gim, who is in charge of OPP’s PR, shared that many of her family members are health care workers, so she’s acutely aware of the meager supplies available to those who work directly with infected patients.

“I’m really glad that we can do what we can and use the free time that we have to give back.

I think it’s the least that we can

do for our community and keep everyone safe,” Gim said.

The group has also donated about 100 face shields to a corrections facility, and they are looking to expand their distribution to include essential workplaces like grocery stores and community shelters, said Gim. They also aim to reach Native American reservations as well as foreign embassies for developing countries like Ecuador where “crew supplies of personal protective equipment may be more scarce” and more aid may be needed, said Chan.

“Our intention is to keep doing this for as long as it’s necessary and can benefit others than need us,” he added.

They felt like they had “to do something to help during this time” but another reason they wanted to go forth with this project had to do with their own productivity.

“It helps keep us going and organized and it gives us something to learn from and do because we can learn, and have learned, a lot from doing a project like this and it can apply to a lot of things in the future,” Gillespie shared.

Sharing their hopes of expanding the company’s reach and brainstorming other designs for personal protective equipment, the OPP team’s enthusiasm for providing solutions during a time of mounting catastrophe no doubt puts into sharp relief a society’s inability to provide the bare necessities during times of crises.

Teenagers studying and taking AP tests and preparing for college shouldn’t feel the need to fill a void that companies, governments, agencies and other bureaucracies have failed to cover.

The scarcity of personal protective equipment among medical workers has become one of the biggest scandals of the pandemic in a country that is on the verge of re-opening prematurely and where people have been assaulted for not having a face mask.

However, the OPP team, and other Generation Z-ers who have also kickstarted their own COVID-19-related projects, are perhaps one of the brightest silver linings to come out of this crisis that has so far infected more than 1.4 million Americans.

The quickness, creativity and tenacity with which these individuals acted to become an essential business themselves is remarkable from a business standpoint; it’s all the more extraordinary that the individuals in question are teenagers in the age of quarantine.

It’s no doubt that these students have bright futures ahead of them (a few of them expressed dreams of working in STEM), but right now, their focus is ensuring

Because of physical distance measures, the teenage team has been meeting virtually over Zoom.

Typhoon Ambo weakens into severe tropical...

PAGE A1 t bay, and parts of Pangasinan and Camarines Sur. Meanwhile, areas experiencing Signal No. 2, which has winds of 61 to 120 km/h are Ilocos Norte and Sur, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, La Union, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Ben-

guet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Tarlac, Aurora, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, and Metro Manila.

Ambo, the country’s first tropical cyclone for 2020, is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday, May 18. n

that there is a future, period.

“One of the biggest things about this is not necessarily feeling like we’re ‘essential’ but feeling like we’re kind of doing a small thing because small things add up to huge things, and we’re kind of like a piece of a huge puzzle because there are other groups producing shields, too,” Gillespie said. “There’s this whole network of people who are doing a lot to keep the community safe, and it’s a nice feeling to be a part of that.” n

Photo by Vera Davidova on Unsplash

A May 16-19, 2020 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOURNaL

Dateline USa

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White supremacists hack Fil-Am community... Elmhurst Hospital ER nurse dies from coronavirus PAGE A1 t

Another individual, without showing his face began saying, “I am a racist. I am a misogynist.

I [expletive] hate immigrants. I only support the whites.”

Off the camera and microphone, the “Zoom bombers” taunted the virtual town hall attendees by typing the Nazi salute, “Seig Heil” in the Zoom chatbox.

Pro-Trump messages were also made with one of the Zoom bombers asking the others to “click hand to support Trump.”

The racial attack went on for about three minutes, but felt longer to those who witnessed it.

“It made it a not very safe space, and that’s why it was also very alarming,” PWC Executive Director Aquilina Soriano-Versoza told the Asian Journal.

She added that she’s heard of other communities of color experiencing similar attacks, including the Chinese Progressive Association in the Bay Area.

Hate crimes against Asian

Americans and Pacific Islanders have been on the rise across the United States with the STOP AAPI Hate Center, a project by Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON), Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), and San Francisco State University’s Asian American Studies Department, receiving over 1,700 of COVID-19 related hate reports since mid-March.

In LA, where over 1.5 million AAPIs live, concerns over antiAsian hate crimes and discrimination have also been on the rise with county officials saying they know of over 100 incidents between February and April. Those are just of reported incidents.

Alex De Ocampo of the Filipino Voter Empowerment Project, an organization that works closely with PWC to promote civic engagement in the Filipino American community, said he’s seen discrimination hit those close to him.

“In my family, a lot of them are nurses and they’ve mentioned

The Pilipino Workers Center in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown is a non-profit organization addressing the needs of workers and their families.

AJPress file photo

that even after their shifts, that people have said some very harsh rhetoric to them that have been borderline racist,” De Ocampo told the Asian Journal.

He added that it hasn’t been uncommon for people to see borderline or outright racist comments or posts on social media platforms like Facebook.

“It’s not the algorithm that is bringing up these instances onto your feed,” said De Ocampo.

“Asian Americans — Filipino, Indonesian, Chinese, among others — have seen or heard some type of remark from backhanded comments to extreme violence, and it’s an epidemic that is spreading like a virus.”

While attacks on Asian Americans aren’t new with incidents tracing back to the 19th century, many have found the lack of federal concern on the issue alarming given the increase in attacks during the current pandemic.

As one NBC article reported, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Justice have before worked together to prevent bias incidents and hate crimes during the SARS outbreak and 9/11 terrorist attacks. However, no such efforts have been made during the current pandemic despite the growing reports.

In March, the FBI even warned about a possible increase in hate crimes against AAPI during coronavirus and predicted that a “portion of the U.S. public will associate COVID-19 with China and Asian American populations.”

“This is a virus and for anyone to tie it to any Asian American or any specific group and start pushing conspiracy theories is definitely wrong,” said De Ocampo. “This is not some political game we’re playing. These are people’s lives and livelihoods.”

President Donald Trump received criticism for referring to the virus as the “China virus,” despite it being named COVID19 by the World Health Organization, which put rules in place in 2015 to avoid using names of people, places, and animals when naming diseases to avoid problematic stigmas.

“It really matters who is in leadership and what framework has been coming from the top and from the president’s own words,” said Soriano-Versoza.

The DOJ’s lack of concern, she added, is reflective of the current administration.

u PAGE A5

by MoMar

G. Visaya

AJPress

THE Filipino American community in New York and New Jersey continues to lose frontliners, mostly nurses, to the coronavirus in the last couple of weeks.

Over the weekend, emergency room nurse Erwin Lambrento, 58 lost his life after a month of battling the virus. Lambrento was a nurse at NYC Health + Hospitals in Elmhurst, the hospital in the New York epicenter of this pandemic.

His death was announced on Saturday, May 9.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of nurse Erwin Lambrento. He served our patients and community for over two decades at NYC Health + Hospitals Elmhurst,” NYC Health + Hospitals said in a statement.

“As we continue to respond to this unprecedented global public health crisis, we remain forever grateful for his service on the front lines.”

According to the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, 53% of registered nurses, 61% of nursing care facilities personnel, and 78% of home health care services workers in New York City are foreign-born.

Erwin Lamberto

In the ten northeast states covered by the Philippine Consulate General in New York, 90 Filipinos have been reported to succumb from the disease, 30 of them frontliners like Lambrento.

Testimonials from co-workers calling themselves ‘Hurst Crew, friends and relatives have poured on social media. Some of them also attended a vigil outside the hospital to express their gratitude to their fallen colleague.

“Please remember Erwin. He just

died of COVID-19. He was a world class nurse at Elmhurst Hospital in NY,” Dr. Jeremy Faust wrote on Twitter. Dr. Faust used to work with Lambrento at Elmhurst Hospital.

“When I was a resident physician there, he worked triage. When he said, ‘Doc, come take a look at this patient,’ I knew I’d better get over there,” he shared.

According to his nephew Ernesto Ebuen, Lambrento fought the virus for more than a month. The disease severely damaged his lungs and kidneys.

Lambrento, a doctor in the Philippines, is survived by his wife Au and children Sigmund and Cara and his parents Macario and Dominga Lambrento.

“At an early age, he recognized the importance of education in his life, thus he put his focus on his education and he succeeded by graduating as a physician. As a doctor in Philippines, he served a lot of sick people in the hospital and in the community,” Ebuen said. “He happily and generously gave his professional services for free to his community. Prior to migrating to the U.S. to join his wife Tita Au, he also studied to become a registered nurse.” n

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

by Christina

M. oriel

AJPress

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.

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 Argüello-Kline, 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 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 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

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Dateline USa

Kai Sotto NBA G League deal worth $200K–report

by Bong Lozada Inquirer.net

Residents are encouraged to contact their primary care provider for testing, or visit coronavirus.lacity.org/testing.

Officials acknowledged that the pandemic has also been an economic crisis as many businesses remain closed. This has been especially true for immigrant-owned businesses that account for more than half of the businesses in the county, such as corner stores, retailers, professional services, contractors, and other micro-businesses.

While roughly 400 businesses were opened last weekend, 162 failed to follow safety rules. Sixty businesses face criminal charges for violating the county’s stay-athome order, including car washes, gyms, and hair salons.

“I do want to remind you that we need to operate under a new normal,” said Azusena Favela, deputy director at the Department of Consumer and Business Kai Sotto

Inquirer.net photo

FTC warns of COVID-19 scams, provides tips...

PAGE A1 t

cials who may try to reach out to recipients and ask for personal information.

They may reach out via email and texts which may include links to malware sites, often with domains that include “coronavirus” as a way to disguise itself as a credible source.

Reported emails and texts have also featured doctored letters using logos from the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States Dept. of Health and Human Services or other public health agencies, but Vaca stressed that “the federal government will not reach out to you by email or phone or social media to give you your economic relief payments.”

“If you come across someone who tells you to pay for a service — whatever it is with a gift card, money transfer, cash or Bitcoin — and tell you that they’re going to help you with some coronavirus-related problem, that’s a scam,” Vaca said.

Additionally, clicking on any links provided in these fraudulent emails or texts may install malware onto your device.

“Do not click on links from sources that you don’t know [because] it could download a virus

onto your computer or onto your devices so please be careful with that,” Vaca shared, adding that “[s]cammers are going to go to pretty much any length to make their message look real, but there are little signals you can look out for” like misspellings in the text or poorly imposed graphics.

The scams also involve snake oil salesmen marketing supposed miracle cures, vaccines and home test kits that are targeting those most vulnerable to the pathogen as well as those on Medicare, Vaca shared.

Currently, there is no known cure or vaccine for the COVID19 virus and tests are only administered at mandated testing sites, so the FTC is warning consumers about any wellness or nutrition brand that is marketing any so-called cures, which the FTC said have “no solid scientific backing.”

The FTC has been combatting these scammers through law enforcement and filing complaints to companies, like the dietary supplement company Whole Leaf Organics, which made fake claims that their Vitamin C and herbal extract products were “scientifically proven” to treat the COVID-19 virus.

“We are warning companies that are pitching cures and treatments with no scientific backing,” Vaca said. “Right now there is nothing on the market that’s proven to cure COVID-19 so that’s an important thing to know.”

She added that the FTC is also reaching out to multi-level marketing companies that have purported unproven cures and misleading claims “about the earnings that you might get by joining that company.”

The FTC also recently sued a company for claiming to be affiliated with the Small Business Administration that lured businesses into applying for the paycheck protection program, but “in fact, there was no tie to the Small Business Administration.”

Vaca emphasized that these scammers were able to be found and dealt with because of public reporting of these scammers and encouraged the public to question the credibility of outlandish claims like miracle cures or unexpected messages claiming to reward relief checks.

To report potential scams and for more information, please visit the FTC website. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress )

A

LA County urges AAPI community...

PAGE A2 t

KAI Sotto’s decision to jump to the NBA G League instead of going to college could also be beneficial to his bank account.

As per Evan Daniels of 247Sports which specializes in reporting U.S. college sports, Sotto is expected to receive at least $200,000 (P10 million) in the deal to join the developmental league.

Sotto, a 7-foot-2 center from Ateneo High School, became a sensation in the Philippines and was able to lead the country in several junior Fiba competitions.

After graduating high school, Sotto moved to the United States and enrolled at The Skills Academy in Atlanta, Georgia en route to the NBA G League.

Sotto joined Jalen Green, who is of Filipino-American descent, as high-profile recruits to forego college and instead join the NBA’s developmental program.

Green, the no.1-ranked prospect in ESPN’s rankings, is reported to receive $500,000 in his G League contract.

Sotto was ranked 62nd in ESPN’s rankings and received interest from Kentucky, University of Southern California, Georgia Tech, Auburn, and DePaul. n

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 16-19, 2020

White supremacists hack Fil-Am...

PAGE A4 t The attack was reported to authorities as well as to Zoom, but PWC is asking people to help fight hate crimes by signing a petition addressed to the Attorney General Bill Barr to hold perpetrators of hate crimes against the AAPI community accountable.

The petition can be found onwww.change.org/no-API-hate.

They’re also asking that people share the YouTube video that shows portions of the attack along with the hashtag #RacismIsAVirus to help raise awareness of what’s happening and to join in solidarity. The video can be found on PWC’s Facebook page atwww. facebook.com/PWCSC. “People are being exposed right now — front line workers, caregivers, [and] delivery people.

And there are many other vulnerable people in our community like those with underlying chronic illnesses and seniors,” said Soriano-Versoza. “We don’t want [the attackers] to win by scaring us, so it’s important we get together and be able to address all these different tissues and make sure that no one in our community is falling through the cracks and suffering needlessly.”(Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

Affairs.

Through a partnership between the County’s Department of Public Health and the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, Favela said LA is working on guiding businesses through the reopening process with protections for workers and customers, and an emphasis on enforcing appropriate distancing in businesses.

“It is important to me and our department that we provide

immigrant businesses information that will help them reopen quickly and safely and get their businesses back on track with the intent of protecting their employees and their families,” said Favela.

Business owners are invited to visit LACountyHealthCenter. org or call the health center at (833) 238-4450 where they can speak with a real person about their business and how they can safely reopen. n

A6 MAY 16-19, 2020 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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O PINION Above the law?

FEATURES

CRIMINAL charges are being readied against Metro Manila police chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, for violating the law on the response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

This will be on top of administrative charges that may be filed against the chief of the National Capital Region Police Office in connection with a gathering of dozens of people to celebrate his 55th birthday on May 8.

The guests will be included in the charge sheet.

Sinas said it was not a “party” but a “mañanita” – a serenade traditionally given by Philippine National Police personnel to their commanders on their birthday. One photo posted by the NCRPO on its website showed the celebrant and his guests with beer cans, although Sinas claimed this was taken last December.

Mañanita has swiftly become part of the COVID pandemic lexicon of Filipinos, alongside physical distancing, hard lockdown, and the ever-growing abbreviations of community quarantine permutations: ECQ, MECQ, GCQ, MGCQ. The birthday non-party is also threatening to be used as a model of those who are chafing against COVID quarantine restrictions, notably against gatherings of more than 10 people for any reason, wearing of masks in public, and social or physical distancing.

Those featured in the photographs that the

Editorial

NCRPO itself posted on its website, after all, are the very persons tasked to enforce the law outlining the quarantine rules: Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as

One Act. In the early days of the quarantine, President Duterte had instructed state enforcers who encountered people who violently defied the rules to “shoot them dead.” A former Army soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder has since been shot dead at a police checkpoint. Other quarantine violators have been arrested, held in cages, and made to swelter in the scorching summer heat.

Sinas, as of late yesterday afternoon, still had his post. Support from his superior, PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa, appeared to be crumbling as Malacañang ordered the filing of administrative charges against the NCRPO chief, with criminal charges expected to follow today.

The charges were filed amid outrage expressed particularly on social media. People have been prevented by quarantine rules from even holding family gatherings of more than 10 people. A foreigner was chased into his driveway for shouting at a cop

Philstar.com photo

who had accosted the foreigner’s househelper for not wearing a mask while watering the plants outside the house. Another cop had a shouting match with residents of a condominium building who were taking in the sun around the common pool.

Now the cops’ commander himself is seen flouting the rules. How can people be expected to “heal as one” when those tasked to enforce quarantine laws are the ones blatantly violating them? (Philstar.com)

Study: Areas in the US that do not adhere to any social distancing policies face 35 times more cases of COVID-19

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS WHAT should Americans do when the very leader of our nation goes against the facts, scientific studies, and the advice of health officials as the nation and the world continue to fight the war against the deadly COVID19?

The mixed messaging has been causing a lot of confusion, misinformation, and division when President Donald Trump denigrates the very people with knowledge and training to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and save lives.

Consider the case of social distancing, testing, contact tracing, use of protective equipment, and development of vaccine and treatment — these are all proven to be the best way we have so far to slow down the spread of the virus as we await a vaccine that will provide immunity against infection, albeit the disruption in our everyday lives and livelihood.

But what could be more important than saving lives? As far as President Donald Trump is concerned, money and good economic numbers he is hoping for are more important, even if it means more Americans will be

sick and die as he pushes for the re-opening of the economy, contrary to the advice of scientists and health officials.

Worse, he uses his power accorded to him by public trust and abuses the bully pulpit of the presidency to denigrate health officials’ credibility, downplay the threat of the virus by inventing his own unscientific theory, including malicious conspiracy theories that have now been killing more Americans as a result.

Consider this recent peer-reviewed study published in the journal Health Affairs on Thursday, May 14, which found out that “areas in the United States that do not adhere to any social distancing policies face 35 times more cases of the novel coronavirus.”

This study comes out as more states start the process of reopening, easing restrictions and social distancing guidelines, as pushed by President Trump himself.

Researchers from the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville and Georgia State University employed a scientific method of research and looked at confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States between March 1 and April 27, totaling about 1 million reported in-

stances at the time. The study illustrated “the potential danger of exponential spread in the absence of interventions,” the Washington Post reported.

The researchers also found that the longer a safety measure [such as social distancing] was in effect, the slower the daily growth rate of COVID-19, the virus’s disease.”

“For social distancing policies that lasted at least 16 to 20 days, the daily rate of infection dropped by more than 9 percentage points, according to the study. Policies lasting 15 days and less also saw declines in the daily infection rate, researchers found. Such social distancing measures, mandated by 95 percent of the country, include shelter-in-place orders, school closures, bans on large events and the closure of gyms, bars and restaurants.”

On the other hand, the study determined that places with no social distancing orders were at substantially higher risk for infection.

“Holding the amount of voluntary social distancing constant, these results imply 10 times greater spread by April 27 without [shelter-in-place orders] … and more than 35 times greater spread without any of the four

Where are we now?

Demand and Supply BOO CHANCO AFTER 60 days of lockdown, where are we now? For sure, we are nowhere near being set free.

And it seems we have wasted two months because we had a health secretary who did not understand the importance of mass testing.

Rep. Joey Salceda had the patience to crunch the numbers and study experiences in other countries. In a very informative paper, he shared his conclusions on where we went wrong: “Our analysis of comparative data shows that success stories among countries used their lockdown periods to expand testing and tracing, as in Vietnam, Taiwan, New Zealand and South Korea, and adopt an approach that exhausts contacts and turns around test results quickly, such that those who are tested are contact-traced, their contacts are tested and traced, ad infinitum, are able to successfully bring down cases to manageable levels.”

An early advocate of the tough lockdown for NCR, Joey sounds

sorry it didn’t work as he envisioned.

“ECQ was necessary, but not sufficient. ECQ was a policy designed to help us meet minimum health standards and set up a system of testing and tracing. It was a necessary input to our COVID-19 policy toolkit, and a necessary first stage to a long-haul fight against COVID-19…”

Joey thinks it could have worked for us too, except that we failed to mass test.

“For Asian countries where the test-trace-test-trace systematic approach worked, testing results turnaround time appears to be within 48 hours… The use of digital technology to contact tracing is most appropriate, but would be challenged by weak telecom systems and worse by a DOH bureaucracy that’s pretty successful in undermining the acquisition of PPEs and test kits.”

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez agrees. In his latest report to the President, he said: “We should hire contact tracers en masse to boost our efforts to defeat the virus, and provide jobs. We have lost 1.2 to 1.5 million jobs. This can temporarily replace them.”

There are other problems that made us fight the virus blindly… the most basic is absence of reliable data.

The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team, in a Facebook post, emphasized that “the availability of accurate, relevant, and timely data is a basic requirement in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Decisions depend on data, and any analysis is only as good as the data at hand…”

The UP scientists pointed out “alarming errors” and “inconsistencies” in the data provided by the Department of Health. They cited important unaddressed issues: • Continuing mismatch between DOH and LGU numbers.

• Alarming errors in patientlevel data.

The UP scientists who had been working with DOH also made the following observations: • Science cannot exist in a vacuum. Any scientific output benefits from cross-validation from peers, which can only happen in an environment where government data is made available to all relevant stakeholders.

• Entrusting government data to select private entities only is

measures,” the researchers wrote in “Strong Social Distancing Measures in the United States Reduced the COVID-19 Growth Rate.”

Trump has been very adamant and unapologetic in his quest to downplay this information vital to our safety and pushes laughable illogical statements that belong only to comedy shows like Saturday Night Live (SNL) and other late-night comedy shows.

You think Trump’s theory that COVID-19 will just disappear even without a vaccine and his prescription that people should ingest or inject disinfectant to treat or prevent infection were crazy?

He topped himself again this week when he flaunted that he does not believe in testing and vaccines and has been the number one violator of wearing protective masks, shaking hands and social distancing orders.

“If we did very little testing, [America] wouldn’t have the most cases,” Trump said Wednesday. “So, in a way, by doing all of this testing, we make ourselves look bad.”

Calling testing “overrated” on Thursday, Trump also said, “And don’t forget, we have more cases than anybody in the world,” he added. “But why? Because we

do more testing. When you test, you have a case. When you test, you find something is wrong with people. If we didn’t do any testing, we would have very few cases.”

This made people scratch their heads in disbelief that these words are coming from the president of the United States.

Memes have been shared on social media following the stable genius Trump’s logic on his argument against testing.

Example: “Remember, kids. You don’t want a baby? Stay away from pregnancy tests.” - Quinn Cummings “If we never check peoples’ glucose and A1C, we’ll put an end to diabetes.” - Miranda Yaver His political opponent in the 2020 Presidential polls in November -- Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee Joe Biden -- said this week, “With his statement...President Trump has once again demonstrated that he is more concerned with his poll numbers and his reelection than he is with safeguarding American lives and delivering real economic recovery — both of which every expert tells us can only happen with adequate testing capacity to track and

stop this disease.”

WHICH brings us back to January 2020. Trump was warned about this virus that may be a pandemic. He ignored the warnings from health officials and scientists and punished people who were shouting out about it and were calling for action. He refused offers to produce more N95 protective masks. Many of out front liners in the hospitals have died because of the shortage of PPEs. He fought with and demonized governors who were asking for more proactive measures to acquire and/or produce more hospital equipment and beds in anticipation of the worst-case scenario.

He downplayed warnings for the need for more wide-scale testing and has been intentionally boasting that we conduct more tests than any nation in the world but did not explain that such is the case only in absolute numbers, not for every million of the population.

He refused to have the cruise ship dock in Oakland, California in March because he did not want it to add to the “numbers” of the US because we will look bad.

He did, however, pushed

inimical to public interest.

• Making all data sources open, while also being mindful of the same data privacy protocols that DOH is following, can further empower stakeholders in our collective fight against COVID-19.

• Data must be used to generate knowledge. Keeping information in silos limits our understanding of the problem, thus limiting our chances to maintain and preserve public health and security.

• Data issues must be resolved as soon as possible to secure public trust in the plans, decisions, and pronouncements of the government and its private partners.

The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team is composed of around 200 professors, researchers, alumni and students from various fields such as epidemiology, emergency medicine, public health, and computer science.

Specific examples of data problems with DOH were cited by the UP scientists: “For instance, a patient reported by the DOH as dead on April 24 was no longer among the fatalities listed the next day.

“Comparing data releases from these two days alone, the UP experts said at least 45 of the coronavirus cases went from male to

female or vice versa, 75 patients became younger or older overnight, while 516 cases were reclassified ‘either to another city or a completely imaginary city.’

The team added that there continues to be a mismatch between the numbers disclosed by the DOH and that of local government units. It cited as an example that on May 3, the DOH reported seven deaths and 28 recoveries in Laguna – short by 22 deaths and 65 recoveries from what was recorded by the provincial government.

The DOH had a similar issue when the Cebu City Jail first reported infections among inmates, something that was not reflected on case bulletins released by the agency daily. The DOH explained that its daily reports, including the number of new cases, are not real-time data since all information has to be validated before reporting.

Sec Duque’s claim the number errors are not significant is not credible, given his and DOH’s track record in managing this epidemic.

This is why I suggested to a senior Cabinet member to let the statisticians of the Philippine Statistics Authority handle COVID data. Not only do they know what to do, they represent an independent, uninterested view

that will make the numbers credible.

Actually, it is a good idea to assign data handling for future epidemics to PSA. The DOH will always be suspected of using data to cover up for failure to prepare for the epidemic as well as for mishandling the epidemic response.

Were the last two months a waste?

Yes and No. It must have helped reduce number of patients with the reduction in contacts. But, yes, a waste because our officials didn’t use the time productively to test, isolate and treat. Isolation facilities remain largely unused.

Nikkei Asian Review observed that “Duterte’s lockdown is the strictest in the region…

“The effective way to contain the spread of the new coronavirus are not repressive measures, but reliable health and medical interventions, including testing.”

We are nowhere near controlling the virus, but we are paying a big price for the failure of our health officials to handle the epidemic the way the Taiwanese, Vietnamese and South Koreans did.

u PAGE A9

*** Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is bchanco@ gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @ boochanco

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

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 16-19, 2020

Dateline PhiliPPines

Supreme Court set to tackle ABS-CBN cases by aJPress The Philippine Supreme Court will start tackling the cases of media giant ABS-CBN on May 19, according to a new report.

Members of the high court will decide if it is possible to consolidate all cases regarding the network’s renewal into one, the Manila Times reported.

The cases include: the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida, the petition of lawyer Lorenzo Gadon opposing the renewal of the franchise, and ABS-CBN’s own petitions to nullify the cease and desist order by the National Telecommunica-

tions Commission ABS-CBN’s petition seeks “to nullify and set aside the 5 May 2020 order of the NTC in NTC Adm. Case No. 2020-008, entitled National Telecommunications Commission vs. ABS-CBN Corporation, insofar as it ordered ABS-CBN to immediately cease and desist from operating… radio and television stations’ identified by the NTC…” The network also said that NTC’s CDO was issued “without any prior notice or hearing in violation of the firm’s right to due process.”

“There is no urgent or paramount necessity for the issuance of a CDO. On the contrary, it is

the closure of ABS-CBN that will cause serious and irreparable damage not only to ABS-CBN but, more importantly, to public interest,” the petition read.

An SC source also revealed that the justices still haven’t read the petition.

“The ABS-CBN petition vs.

NTC on the cease and desist order will be taken up by the en banc not tomorrow, Tuesday, May 12, but Tuesday next week,” the source told the Manila Times.

“Nobody has read the petition yet, [it will be deliberated next week] to give time [for the] ponente and others to read the petition,” the source added. n

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

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim

Philstar.com photo

a Philippine judge.

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

tinue 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 us to collaborate with our citizens, law enforcement agencies, and other important partners in combating these terrorist groups and their activities,” Malcontento added. n

A

A May 16-19, 2020 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOURNaL

Dateline PhiliPPines

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Presidential Security Group asks public not to threaten Duterte

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

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

PSG chief Jesus Durante

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 defend 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 ManilaTimes.net photo responsible for such acts.” n

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

Go renews call for OFW department MANILA — Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go again recommended on Friday, May 15 the establishment of a separate Department of Overseas Filipino Workers to address the problems of migrant workers amid a health crisis.

Go reiterated his proposal, saying that OFWs are greatly affected by layoffs and salary cuts due to the expected shutdown of companies abroad caused by the coronavirus disease pandemic.

“Mas lumala pa ngayon dahil sa hirap na dulot ng COVID-19 crisis. Kung mayroon pong DOFWs, mas mapapadali sana ang koordinasyon ng mga ahensya at may iisang departamento na tututok sa mga pangangailangan nila,” the senator said.

The creation of the Department of Overseas Filipinos, which is among Go’s priority bills, is part of the legislative agenda of the Duterte administration.

In March, the House of

Representatives approved the bill creating a department for overseas Filipino workers while its Senate version is still pending in the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development.

Senate Bill 202 or the Department of Overseas Filipinos Act of 2019 aims to create a separate department for migrant workers to serve as the umbrella agency to address all the issues and concerns of Filipinos abroad.

If passed into law, the functions of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas and the International Labor Affairs Bureau will be transferred to this department.

At present, OFWs need to go to different government agencies to secure needed documents and report their con-

cerns.

“Nalilito ang ating mga OFWs sa pangkasalukuyang sitwasyon. Sa oras na kailangan nila ng saklolo, hindi na nila alam sino dapat lapitan kaya sa media o Facebook sila nananawagan,” Go said.

“If mayroon na tayong department for OFWs, iisa na lang ang lalapitan at iisa na lang ang makikipagcoordinate na departamento. Magiging mas maayos ang pagresponde sa mga krisis at mas mabilis nating matutulungan ang ating mga kababayang humihingi ng saklolo,” the senator added.

Go emphasized the need to streamline services for the modern day heroes, especially in a time of pandemic.

“Nakita po natin ang mga pagsubok na pinagdaraanan ng ating mga OFWs dahil sa COVID-19. Napapanahon na talaga para magtatag tayo ng departamento upang mas maprotektahan ang kanilang kapakanan,” Go said. (Philstar. com)

KatReena Philstar.com

cabico

MANILA — The government must put climate action and the vulnerable sectors at the center of its plans for social and economic recovery from the novel coronavirus pandemic, an environmental group said on Friday, May 15.

The call of the Greenpeace Philippines comes as the threat of COVID-19 overlaps with Severe Tropical Storm Ambo (international name: Vongfong), which has sent tens of thousands of Filipinos fleeing their homes to guard themselves from strong winds and heavy rains.

Due to the country’s location in the tropical Pacific, the Philippines is hit by an average of 20 tropical storms annually, putting people in disaster-prone areas in a state of constant poverty.

“The ‘new normal’ is supposed to make our communities more

liveable after the pandemic, but even when the COVID-19 crisis ends, Filipinos’ livelihoods, health, access to basic needs, and safety will remain threatened by more intense and frequent typhoons, droughts and rising sea levels,” Virginia Benosa-Llorin, Greenpeace campaigner, said.

Instead of going back to old business-as-usual systems, the country’s recovery plans must aim to transform the economy and society to tackle climate crisis and promote positive environmental and health outcomes, the organization stressed.

The virus that emerged from China late last year has so far infected 11,876 in the Philippines and forced the government to place millions under lockdowns, effectively paralyzing the country’s economy.

‘Better normal’ Greenpeace Philippines said the country’s transition to a “better normal” should integrate the

Will Robredos be arrested too?

by GabRiel

Pabico Inquirer.net

lalu

MANILA – Vice President Leni Robredo and her office would rather put their efforts into solving problems brought by the COVID-19 pandemic than paying attention to threats and bashers, her spokesperson said on Thursday, May 14.

According to lawyer Barry Gutierrez, Robredo has already endured different forms of insults in her almost four years at the office and was never distracted by it.

Gutierrez’s statements came after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) assured that they will also go after people who have threatened Robredo — after arresting a high school teacher who offered a bounty of P50 million to anyone who would kill President Rodrigo Duterte.

“VP Leni is focused on working to help our fellow Filipinos struggling to cope with the hardships brought about by Covid-19 and the ECQ. We would rather spend our time and energy helping, rather than paying any attention to mean posts on

social media,” Gutierrez said in a statement.

“She’s endured this many times in the last four years, and she has never let it distract her from the real work that needs to be done. And this holds true even more during this time of crisis,” he added.

NBI made this declaration on Wednesday after people on social media asked why only Duterte was given protection when it appeared that Robredo endured more harsh messages — from Duterte’s supporters.

Gutierrez said that they would not stop the bureau from conducting investigations.

“If the NBI believes that this is really the time to go after people posting on Twitter and Facebook, that is their decision,” he explained.

Law enforcers appeared to be on a crackdown on people criticizing government officials including Duterte and his long-time aide and now Senator Bong Go. Earlier, a salesman in Agusan del Sur was arrested by police personnel for saying on social media that Go is playing hero and that Duterte is a “crazy” person.

OFWs can leave for abroad, but health workers can’t by catheRine

Valente ManilaTimes.net

THE government has once again allowed the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), except those who are health care professionals.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque announced on Thursday, MAy 14, that land-based or seabased workers could seek employment abroad so long as they sign a declaration acknowledging the risks they would be facing.

Medical professionals were still banned from leaving under the deployment ban enforced by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Roque said.

The policy came as most of the country prepares to shift to a

more relaxed quarantine on Saturday.

The exemptions are Metro Manila, Laguna province and Cebu City, which have been placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

Roque said the government also allowed recruitment and placement agencies to operate in MECQ and general community quarantine areas.

Government offices and agencies involved in the processing of OFW deployment were directed to establish “green lanes” to enable prompt processing and deployment, he added.

Last month, the POEA banned medical workers from working overseas because of the coronavirus emergency. But the coro-

navirus task force revised the guidelines following opposition from migrant workers and some government offic ials.

Doctors, nurses and other health care professionals with signed overseas employment contracts as of last March 8 have since been allowed to return to their jobs.

Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte said he would discuss with Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra the legality of stopping health workers from leaving since he was concerned about their health and safety.

Out of the 11,618 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Philippines, more than 2,000 are health care workers, while 35 died from the disease as of May 12. n

Sinas, 18 police officers charged over lockdown violations — PNP by daRwin

Pesco ManilaTimes.net

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) on Friday formally charged Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, Metro Manila police chief, for allegedly violating guidelines under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

BGen. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesman, said the Intelligence solutions to the coronavirus panGroup (IG) and the Internal Afdemic and the climate crisis. fairs Service (IAS) filed the case It stressed that infrastructure before the Taguig City Prosecuinvestments must be climate and tors Office at about 4 p.m. community responsive and must The criminal and administraexclude fossil fuel, nuclear, large tive charges were filed against hydro and similarly destrucSinas and other police officials tive power plants, and that the who attended a birthday party for country must not enable policy Police Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas Philstar.com photo the Metro Manila police chief last measures allowing fossil fuel exploration, extraction and intensive use, including industrial agriculture and fisheries market shares.

The organization said that money for recovery must go to the vulnerable sectors and systems that will lead the country to travel demand rebounds over

by Rosette adel a carbon-free society. the next five years.”

Philstar.com “This is why the government It forecasts airline mergers, must put them (vulnerable MANILA — Dollar Fight Club, reduction of commercial flights communities) at the center of a website that delivers cheap and increase of advertised recovery plans and ensure that flight alerts, recently released a flights. all projects and initiatives be- report on its analysis on airfare “Airlines will significantly cut ing planned right now reshape “to predict how the COVID-19 back on available capacity by the economy and society to outbreak will affect travels and reducing the number of flights lead us to a better normal,” airlines when the world opens and routes to increase load Llorin said. n back up to travel in 2020 and factor. This will help increase revenue but will lead to ticket beyond.”

It particularly compared past prices increasing,” the study airline industry data from both read.

During a Senate Committee the 9/11 attack in 2001 and the on Public Services inquiry on great recession of 2008.

Monday, Air Carriers AssociaThis move from the governAirline industry downturns ment earned the ire of netizens Based on its report, airfare tion of the Philippines execuand opposition groups, with prices globally for both inter- tive director and vice chairman ACT party-list Rep. France Cas- national and domestic flights Roberto Lim cited the data from tro slamming supposed double will decrease by 35% on av- International Air Transport Asstandards as Duterte — who has erage through 2021 and then sociation that losses for the openly talked about killings and sharply increase 27% on aver- local airline industry this year disrespecting women — has age (above 2019 levels) through could hit as much as P250 bilnever been made accountable.

2025 as demand rebounds. The lion.

Last month, IATA estimated Earlier, the Commission on DFC used the assumption that Human Rights said that the travel will resume by May 31 that revenue amount and passenger demand in the Philipright to free speech of people this year. must be ensured even durThis year until the next, the pines may drop by 47% this ing a pandemic, although they DFC said holiday flights and low year compared to last year. This may result in a revenue loss of also warned the public that free fares up to 65% are available. speech is not absolute and has The search engine for cheap $4.48 billion.

IATA in March only estimated limitations. flights said the 2008 great reOn Robredo’s part, her Of- cession passenger traffic did a 36% year-on-year decline in fice of the Vice President has not return to what it was in 2007 passenger demand or a revenue loss of $3.51 billion. their hands full with helping until the end of 2013.

Aside from this, the airline the government with its COVIDDuring which, the DFC said 19 response, crafting several that the airfare prices dropped association also estimated a poprograms during the enhanced by 21% on average from that tential 548,3000 job loss in the community quarantine over Lu- year until 2009. Airfare in- local airline industry.

What it means for passenzon due to the outbreak. creased by 24% in 2012.

They mounted donation Meanwhile, during the 9/11 gers Meanwhile, the DFC said that drives to fund personal pro- attack, airfare prices went down tective equipment (PPEs) for by 18% on average in 2001 passengers are seen to have health workers, while provid- while airfare hikes by 25% in less travel options, more bag fees and miscellaneous charges ing them free shuttle and free 2003. dormitories. OVP also worked With the COVID-19’s mas- experience fewer flight delays with other private organiza- sive impact on the airline indus- and cancellations.

In its outlook for passengers, tions in providing food packs to try, the DFC said airlines must street dwellers and other front- “adapt drastically to restore the DFC noted that the short liners. n profitability and revenue once term outcome of the pandemic

Greenpeace asks PH gov’t to put climate action, vulnerable sectors at core of recovery plans

by Gaea

MEN AT WORK. Workers of the MRT-7 assemble a scaffolding staircase along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City on Thursday, May 14. The government allows limited works in 13 railway projects even during enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

week despite the lockdown.

Also involved were six brigadier generals, seven colonels, one lieutenant colonels, two majors, two corporals.

Based on the document filed

by IAS, particularly, the charges filed were for violation of Republic Act (RA) 11332, “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, and the ordinance of Taguig City on wearing face masks and observing physical distancing.

Administrative cases were filed against Sinas and the police officials for neglect of duty.

IAS was assigned by PNP Chief Archie Francisco Gamboa to investigate the incident. n

Study: Low airfares seen until 2021 amid travel uncertainty

is that the flight prices decrease significantly due to the airline industry shocks.

However, in the long term, it said the airlines are about to get smaller.

“Customers will have fewer choice of airlines, flight times, and available routes and markets. All of that means passengers will pay more when they return to the air,” the DFC said.

With the loss of double its revenue, airlines are expected to ramp up additional fees to get back to profitability as travel demand returns.

This occurred during the great recession when airlines made $3.4 billion in 2011 for charging checked in baggage when it only earned $464 million in 2007 prior to the recession.

The extra charges include, additional seat fees, charges for snacks and drinks and increased ticket changed fees.

Future travel plans Despite this, its survey conducted in March, showed that over 60% of the 20,000 respondents, still feel comfortable traveling over the next six months if restrictions are taken down.

Around 80% of them have canceled trips scheduled for April or May departure dates while 44% have a trip scheduled for June to December.

More than 40% of the respondents said they would only travel domestically due to COVID-19.

The DFC surveyed 20,000 of its 1 million most active members to get the insights on how COVID-19 is affecting the travel demand in the short and long term. n

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 16-19, 2020

A

Mocha Uson summoned by NBI over fake news

by Kristine Joy

Philstar.com

PataG

MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation is conducting probe into Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Deputy Administrator Mocha Uson for posting fake news.

NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin confirmed to reporters that the NBI-Cybercrime Division is investigating Uson for fake news.

A subpoena has also been sent to the OWWA official.

“There was an order of [Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra] before for NBI to investigate fake news, we included her in the investigation re: posting of PPEs,” Lavin said.

Lavin added there are private complainants against the OWWA official.

On April 2, Uson posted photos of new sets of personal proPhoto, 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 tective equipment supposedly purchased by the government, but one of the photos came from SM Foundation.

Uson’s Facebook page has 5.96 million followers.

The OWWA official later changed the photo and apoloEarlier, Sinas played down died while 1.548 million have re- gized for the “misleading content

by Gabriel Pabico lalu Inquirer.net claims that the government was covered. on the meme” she attributed to Sinas also previously said an article posted by Philstar.com again showing its double stanMANILA – If there are no dards when several individuals that some of the photos which entitled “First Batch of 1 Million double standards, why does have been penalized due to vio- showed him and other NCRPO PPEs Delivered.”

National Capital Region Police lation of quarantine regulations, officials sitting on a table with “The photo used on the meme Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. which were set up in response to beer cans and bottles were ma- was taken directly from Philstar.

Debold Sinas get to celebrate his the COVID-19 pandemic. nipulated, and were taken just com which has since been updatbirthday while people are facing Just this April, former Army last December. As for the shirt, tight restrictions due to the pan- Cpl. Winston Ragos, who was Sinas claimed that he was only demic? said to be suffering from a men- wearing the same shirt in both That was the question posed tal illness, was shot by police of- photos. by international rights group ficers near a quarantine control While Sinas stressed that PAGE A6 Human Rights Watch (HRW) on point. Prior to that, several hu- physical distancing regulations for anti-malaria drug and misThursday, after Sinas stood firm man rights issues, such as in- were followed, the Philippine led the people by saying it has that the “mañanita” thrown by human penalties for quarantine National Police’s Internal Affairs already been approved by the his subordinates for his birthday violators, was pointed out by hu- Service is now looking into the Food and Drug Administration does not show double standards. man rights groups and the Com- incident.

(FDA) only to be fact-checked by Instead, HRW said that Metro mission on Human Rights.

HRW also blasted NCRPO for the FDA’s commissioner and by Manila’s top cop should be disciA large concentration of the trying to cover up the issue and the country’s top epidemiologist plined for his actions.

COVID-19 cases in the Philip- for their vindictive attitude, af- Dr. Anthony Fauci that the drug “Metro Manila’s police chief pines is in Metro Manila, which ter removing a Rappler reporter has been approved for malaria Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas should falls under the NCRPO’s jurisdic- from the NCRPO’s Viber group. treatment but NOT for COVIDbe disciplined for his flagrant tion. The Department of Health “Responding to a public health 19, and that many more trials violation of the Philippines’ strict (DOH) COVID-19 tracker web- emergency means all Filipinos following scientific would have quarantine and lockdown regula- site says that of the 11,618 cases should cooperate with officials, to be done to make sure it works tions,” HRW Deputy Asia Direc- nationwide, 7,464 are from the but it also imposes a burden on and that its side effects are far tor Phil Robertson said in a state- National Capital Region. those officials to be exemplars less dangerous, instead of just ment.

There are 5,315 active cases of the conduct they expect from relying on a few anecdotal ac“His superiors should not allow in the capital area, while 558 the citizenry. Maj. Gen. Sinas counts.

Sinas to play this double standard deaths and 1,591 recoveries abysmally failed that test and he He downplayed contact tracgame, where he celebrates his have been recorded. should be publicly disciplined for ing. He did, however, use this birthday with friends all around As of Thursday, DOH says that his actions,” Robertson added. and other safety measures in like there’s no pandemic, but the there are 258 new cases nationAs of now, Sinas stays as the White House including testordinary people of Metro Manila wide, bringing the total to 11,876 NCRPO chief, saying that he ing daily, wearing masks, social face tight restrictions enforced — with 790 casualties and 2,337 would not take a leave unless or- distancing when two members by his officers, whose dispropor- recoveries. Worldwide, over dered to do so by PNP chief Gen. of their staff tested positive for tionate strictness has resulted in 4.347 million persons have been Archie Gamboa or President Ro- COVID-19. BUT he would not rights abuses,” he added. infected, 297,170 of whom have drigo Duterte himself. n implement these to all of Amer-

Int’l body asks Sinas: No double standards? How come you get to party while others face restrictions?

ed with a new image by the said website,” she added.

NBI fake news probes Early in February, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra directed the NBI to conduct a case build up against people “on the alleged deliberate spread of misinformation and fake news about... and false reporting of the [COVID-19].”

The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, signed late March, also prohibits the spread of false information regarding the COVID-19 crisis on social media.

The NBI said early April that they sent out dozens of “invitations” to individuals under its fact-finding probe into social media posts bearing false news.

The bureau has yet to respond to Philstar.com’s repeated requests for data on fact-finding investigation and complaints filed over fake news posts since the declaration of a public health emergency.

Mocha and fake news This is not the first time Uson has been accused of peddling fake news.

In May 2017, Uson shared an unverified photo of supposed Filipino soldiers kneeling in prayer and asked for prayers for government troops as they fought against local terrorists in Marawi City.

Those who were in the photo that she shared were not Filipino soldiers as it was discovered lat-

Former Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson Photo from Facebook_Mocha Uson Blog

er on that the image was taken in Honduras.

In January 2020, Uson also posted an article about Vice President Leni Robredo’s relief aid to victims of Taal Volcano eruption.

The write-up featured a comment accusing Robredo of handing out only five pieces of pandesal and water to the victims. Uson said the vice president was merely giving aid for photo opportunity.

The vice president slammed Uson’s post as fake news. n

Study: Areas in the US that do not adhere... ica as he pushed to re-open the economy and even force people to go back to work or they will lose their unemployment benefits.

He downplayed the need for a vaccine and reiterated that COVID-19 will disappear on its own and likened it to the seasonal flu, despite experts saying otherwise.

He called it a hoax. He just started to act on it in March. Reluctantly. And then he used his taxpayer-funded daily briefings as a platform to broadcast his unscientific knowledge, theories and prescriptions about the pandemic, and to rewrite history on his (in)action and incompetence in responding to this health emergency.

It was either Trump was that stupid and anti-science, or he has tunnel vision toward winning in his re-election bid, editing out information and numbers not in

congruence with his narcissistic view of the universe and the fulfillment of his own political and personal agenda, no matter what the cost, sparing not even the lives of the American people he has sworn to defend and protect as president of the United States.

TELL ME AGAIN: What should Americans do when the very leader of our nation goes against scientific facts, studies and experts as the nation and the world continue to fight the war against the deadly COVID-19? *** 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.

A10 May 16-19, 2020 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOURNaL

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B Saturday, May 16, 2020

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 16-19, 2020

The Asian Journal

WKND ‘Secret evidence’ denials are unconstitutional

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ ON April 14, 2020, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (which is one level below the U.S. Supreme Court) ruled it is unconstitutional for the USCIS to deny a petition or application based on secret or undisclosed evidence. This case is very important for people who had their cases denied based on USCIS’s claims that it had obtained an affidavit or confession from some unnamed witness or ex-spouse, or it uncovered some undisclosed record or evidence, but never provided the statements or evidence to the person, in order to give the person a chance to rebut or challenge the incriminating evidence.

In that case, a U.S. citizen’s petition of his alien spouse was denied on the grounds that the alien spouse’s prior marriage to a different U.S. citizen was fraudulent or fixed. (By law, if a person is ever caught in a fixed marriage, no future petition can be approved.)

Apparently, USCIS had relied on an apartment-rental application the alien’s former husband had previously submitted to USCIS, which required him to list his past addresses. However, none of the prior addresses he listed included the residence he and the alien supposedly lived together at. Therefore, USCIS concluded the alien did not live together with the first spouse.

However, in denying the second U.S. citizen spouse’s petition, USCIS never told the couple it had used that rental application

in making its fraud determination about her prior marriage.

It was only when her case finally made its way to the federal court that USCIS submitted the rental agreement as part of the record. That was the first time the alien was ever made aware of this derogatory or negative evidence. Had they been given the derogatory evidence sooner, they could have been able to refute (or at least attempt to refute) the accusation that she had not lived together with her first husband.

The Ninth Circuit held that the government’s use of undisclosed records in making its marriage-fraud finding violated the person’s constitutional right to due process, as it denied her a meaningful opportunity to respond.

This case is important because many times, a person’s case is denied because USCIS states it has obtained certain records, documents, or affidavits, but fails to produce or provide that evidence. Other times, the USCIS may have obtained a “confession� of someone, such as an ex-spouse, but quotes only portions of that statement, when other parts of that confession or statement exonerates the alien, or demonstrates their eligibility.

The ruling is not limited to only marriage cases. Other times, USCIS or the embassy will deny a case but never really explain the basis for the denial, or they give some general explanation, such as the person “does not have the required relationship,� or they committed fraud, but don’t explain what the fraud was, leaving people guessing.

This case confirms a person has the right to be provided with the evidence being used against them, so they have the opportu-

nity to defend themselves and refute the claims. Many times, there is a reasonable explanation for discrepancies, or there was a spiteful ex-spouse who lied in an affidavit, by claiming the marriage was not bona fide.

I’ve encountered many such cases, and was able to clear my client’s name.

If your case was denied based on secret or undisclosed records or statements, and you believe you are legitimately entitled to that immigration benefit, you should consult with an attorney, who can require the government to produce the derogatory evidence and give you the constitutional right to due process and an opportunity to be heard. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York.

All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories�, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

By Grace O

What to do with them? Actually, persimmons are quite versatile in every course and meal occasion.

There are several varieties of persimmons, which interestingly are botanically related to Brazil nuts, blueberries and tea. They fall into two categories: astringent (Hachiya), which must be properly ripened and are soft when ready to eat; DQG QRQ DVWULQJHQW )X\X ZKLFK DUH FULVS DQG sweet even before fully ripe. Both are at their peak from October through January.

Their bright orange color provides a clue to SHUVLPPRQV¡ KHDOWK EHQHÀ WV 7KH\ FRQWDLQ ‡ RI WKH 'DLO\ 9DOXH '9 RI YLWDPLQ $ (also found in carrots and other yellow/orange vegetables and fruits), which is important for supporting eye health. ‡ RI WKH '9 IRU PDQJDQHVH ZKLFK VWUHQJWKHQV ERQHV VFDYHQJHV IUHH UDGLFDOV DQG helps control blood sugar. ‡ RI WKH '9 RI YLWDPLQ & WR KHOS À JKW infection and support the immune system. ‡ RI WKH '9 IRU FRSSHU D WUDFH PLQHUDO WKDW helps the body absorb iron, produce red blood cells and regulate blood pressure.

Jo Koy to debut new Netflix special in the PH by ritchel

MenDiola AJPress

FILIPINO American stand-up comedian Jo Koy announced that his latest Netflix special will take place in the Philippines. “I’m so excited to announce that my 3rd @netflix special ‘In His Elements’ premieres June 12.

We brought Netflix to the Philippines! Let’s go!!� he revealed in a Twitter post on Thursday, May 14.

The 48-year-old comedian’s new special will be about showing the world what it’s like in the Philippines. “It’s a very special moment for me. This is that one special where I was like I need to go back home, the Philippines,� the comedian said.

He added, “I need to show the people where my mom is from. I had this crazy idea; I was like let me bring a bunch of my friends that are Filipino that live in America that haven’t even been back to the Philippines.�

He enthused that ‘Jo Koy: In His Elements’ will show how

7KLV UHFLSH FRPHV IURP RXU )RRG7ULHQWV friend, Lisa Wilford. It was her grandmother’s recipe and a family favorite.

Persimmon Cookies

Ingredients

½ cup shortening or butter 1 cup sugar 1 egg beaten 1 cup persimmon pulp 1 teaspoon baking soda (add to pulp) FXSV DOO SXUSRVH à RXU Ÿ tsp. salt ½ tsp. cinnamon ½ tsp. nutmeg ½ Tbs. cloves, ground 1 cup raisins 1 cup nuts (walnuts or pecans)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Directions

1. In a large bowl, sift together dry ingredients. In a separate large mixing bowl, cream together shortening/butter and sugar. Add beaten egg and pulp to butter mixture and combine well. Add sifted dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Fold in raisins and nuts.

2. Drop tablespoons of dough onto ungreased or parchment-lined cookie sheets.

3. Bake at 350 F for 8-10 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

4. Top with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting if desired

ABOUT GRACE O

GRACE O is the creator of FoodTrients, a unique program for optimizing wellness and longevity. She is the author of two award-winning cookbooks—The Age Gracefully Cookbook and The Age Beautifully Cookbook, which recently won Gourmand’s ‘Best in the World’ Award for Innovation. She is a fusion chef with a mission to deliver delicious recipes built on a foundation of anti-aging science and her 20 years in the healthcare industry.

Visit FoodTrients.com to learn more. Email us at info@FoodTrients.com

Fil-Am comedian Jo Koy

beautiful the Philippines is, and how beautiful the people are.

Jo Koy also expressed confidence that his mom will be proud of what he’s done. “Everything about this special is Filipino, the cameraman, the people in the audience, the people that own the venue,� he said. “We need to embrace our culture and have a great time. I can’t wait for the world to see it. Love

Photo courtesy of Netflix

you guys! So proud of this one. My mom is going to be more proud ‘cause I finally brought Netflix to the Philippines,� he added.

Jo Koy, whose birth name is Joseph Glenn Hubert, first took the stage in Las Vegas in 1989 and has been working as a stand-up comedian ever since.

His two previous Netflix specials are “Comin’ in Hot� and “Live from Seattle.�

Betong levels up singing with debut single

by Jerry

Donato Philstar.com

BETONG Sumaya has taken his budding singing career to the next level by releasing his debut single titled Nang Minahal Mo Ang Mahal Ko. Last year, the Kapuso comedian-TV host mounted his firstever show Betong’s Amazing Concert: Try Ko Lang Ha?, which (Advertising Supplement) formally introduced himself as a

Way To Grow! A Passion for Power-Packed Persimmons They arrive in a corner of the produce section each fall. Or maybe they adorn your neighbor’s tree like small, orange lanterns. Beautiful, VPRRWK à DPH VNLQQHG SHUVLPPRQV

LifestyLe Consumer Guide Community marketpLaCe

singer. Using his signature word or punchline, the GMA artist is making “amazing� baby steps towards a newfound entertainment path. “I’m very thankful and I feel blessed because I have found katuwang (collaborators) in GMA Artist Center, GMA Music and GMA Network to fulfill my dreams,� said Betong in an interview arranged by GMA corporate communications team, “they

have been guiding me. Sobrang thankful ako kay Lord dahil pangarap ko lang ito.�

Given the fact that all are quarantined due to the pandemic, Betong hoped that his single will somehow brighten up everyone’s day. “Amidst all this, I think people need to be happy (or find a way to feel one),� he said, “at sana itong kantang ito ay makatulong PAGE B2

B May 16-19, 2020 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOURNaL

EntErtainmEnt

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Asian Americans #MakeNoiseToday through social movement New thought leader-driven social media campaign changes the narrative around Asian Americans

Kathryn Bernard and Daniel Padilla (left) and Frankie Pangilinan

Photos from Instagram/@imdanielpadillaofc, @frankiepangilinan

KathNiel fans, Frankie Pangilinan, more celebs launch fight vs trolls with #WeBlockAsOne

By Cha Lino Inquirer.net

A CALL for mass blocking of online trolls has been made by some celebrities and the fans of actors and real-life couple Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla using the hashtag #WeBlockAsOne on Twitter.

Bernardo and Padilla, known as KathNiel, have been recent targets of bashers after giving their two cents on media giant ABS-CBN’s shutdown, during an online protest last Wednesday, May 13. The hashtag, attributed to the loveteam’s fans, is currently one of the most trending topics on the social media site after KathNiel fans defended the actors from a vlogger named “Banat By.” The TV network left the airwaves on May 5 to comply with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) cease and desist order, released after the media company’s legislative franchise expired on May 4.

Since then, actors and other TV personalities have been participating in an online protest while the franchise is being discussed in Congress.

KathNiel fans’ mass blocking During the online protest, Bernardo and Padilla made statements that did not only concern

the TV network’s franchise renewal but also freedom of information, labor issues and more. Padilla also defended their fellow stars who have been vocal about opposing the TV network’s shutdown.

After KathNiel’s statements went viral, the vlogger “applauded” Bernardo and Padilla for their good “acting” via his Facebook live on yesterday, May 14. He also criticized the points made by the two actors during his live stream.

A few hours later, KathNiel’s fans began an online campaign to report, block and mute trolls through the hashtag #WeBlockAsOne and #StarveTheTroll via KathNiel’s Twitter fan page, KN Social Media Moderators.

“Refrain from mentioning the name of the person who’s going live on FB,” @KNSMModerators said. “Let’s not give him the chance to be on the trending list.”

Banat By’s Facebook page is still active, as of this writing.

“DDS Trolls maligning Kathniel, MASS REPORT then BLOCK the page!” a certain Rod Magaru (@rodmagaru) said, linking to the vlogger’s Facebook page.

“We really have to give it to the #KathNiels for being a progressive fanbase & to Kath & DJ for having the courage to speak up against the injustices,” one

@vinceliban said via his Twitter account on the same day.

“But Banat By is still alive.

Hindi na lang dapat KN fans ang magreport,” he added. “We all need to #BlockAsOne!” Celebrities use #WeBlockAsOne Spokenword artist Juan Miguel Severo, the couple’s close friend, also lauded Bernardo and Padilla’s fan base through his Twitter account.

“So not only do these fans organize relief drives in their idols’ names, they also have their own anti-troll campaign?” Severo said. “Iba kayó, KathNiels. Go get them.”

Musician Frankie Pangilinan likewise addressed the trolls and all the negative messages she has been receiving since last year on her Twitter page. “[For] all the times you managed to make me question my [self-worth,] for all the times you threatened to find me, hurt me, kill me,” she said. “[For] all the times you tried to silence me, and for everyone who’s felt the same — for everyone who deserves better. #WeBlockAsOne” TV host Robi Domingo also used the hashtag via his Twitter post on Friday.

Domingo said that now is the time to “end bashing, trolls [and] fake news/misinformation.”

Betong levels up singing...

PAGE B1 sa kanilang kalungkutang nararamdaman.”

“Nang Minahal Mo Ang Mahal Ko” revolves around the story of a man and two of the most important persons in his life: His girlfriend and his best friend. He introduces them to each other and little does he know, they become an item.

“Ang ending, ikaw ang naiwan, ang sakit noon,” Betong shared.

“The narrative presents what one goes through (also mentally) when one’s lover decides to (get

out of the relationship) and start a new one with another man, na malapit din sa’yo… Bawat lyrics tagos talaga.” The song also tackles the theme of moving on.

Asked Betong if he got into the same predicament in the past, he replied: “Yes, many times, pero iba’t ibang level at masakit talaga. You need to learn how let go for yourself and for your peace of mind.”

“Nang Minahal Mo Ang Mahal Ko” also continues the novelty music tradition and reminds one of Michael V/Bitoy’s some

works.

“In a way, yes, especially Kuya Bitoy’s song Sinaktan Mo Ang Puso Ko,” he said. “The melody is serious but (when you go over the) lyrics, nakakatawa. (My song and Kuya Bitoy’s) are delivered in a painful rendition (way) but the two songs are different. We know how Kuya Bitoy’s song became successful.”

For this musical endeavor, Betong worked with GMA Music’s Kedy Sanchez, who made the creative process easy for the comedian, “dahil inalalayan niya talaga ako. Mahirap (itong) kantahin,” he shared. The work commenced at the time Betong signed up with GMA Music in July and was asked to give the song a listen. This led him and the music team to wrap their head around it. They tweaked the original song of Jerry Olaguer. The actual recording session saw Kedy and Betong study the tune stanza by stanza. From the two-hour work, Betong learned singing techniques, in which some are similar to acting approaches. “He (Kedy) mentioned several times that I needed to put myself in the situation (where) the voice in the song (is coming from) to (express or tap) the right emotion.”

Although releasing another single could be in the offing, Betong would also like to focus on Betong’s LabaSerye on Instagram. In the video series, the actor sings familiar songs but he changes their lyrics, “(So far,) I have done seven songs na nabago ko yung lyrics dahil sa paglalaba and more to come.”

With the rate his singing career is going, Betong has found his foothold; fans can look forward to more musical surprises from the amazing comedian.

From acting, doing concerts to recording, Betong Sumaya simply wants to entertain people. Proof to that is his debut single, “Nang Minahal Mo Ang Mahal Ko.”

GMA photo

LONG BEACH – #MakeNoiseToday launches a social movement encouraging Asians to stand up, stand out, and speak up. The COVID-19 crisis has propagated a surge in racism and attacks toward Asian Americans and now is the time to organize and stand together.

This May, multicultural communications agency Intertrend is tapping its in-house nonprofit Creative Class Collective to honor Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by kicking off #MakeNoiseToday to combat racism and hate through the power of authentic storytelling and social good. With a partnership with Good Morning of Portland, the organizations have collaborated on this historic social media campaign to elevate the celebration of Asian stories and accomplishments meant to create empathy, educate, and unify.

The stories shared by Asian Americans from all walks of life through #MakeNoiseToday are anything but one dimensional.

Each story builds an economy of narrative plenitude and informs the public at large on the rich texture of Asian American history, culture and identity. ”When Asian Americans take our individual or collective stories out of the silo, we

strengthen the discourse that is so needed at this moment to fight back against the rise of xenophobia and racial attacks against Asians,” said Julia Huang, president of Creative Class Collective and Intertrend Communications. “Making Noise Today is just one way of encouraging Asians to speak up and be heard.” #MakeNoiseToday kicks off with the ‘Recipe for Change’ social media campaign, including videos, posts, and live sessions with familiar faces such as jeffstaple, Aerica Shimizu Banks, Hudson Yang, AJ Rafael, and dozens more. This campaign aims to defy typical stereotypes while highlighting the impact Asian Americans have made today and throughout history.

Creative Class Collective, Good Morning and Intertrend are encouraging anyone who would like to show support for #MakeNoiseToday to join the movement by creating a post and tagging it with the #MakeNoiseToday hashtag and or follow along on Instagram.

To learn more visit #MakeNoiseToday on Instagram: @ makenoisetoday Or visit makenoisetoday.org for more information.

Creative Class Collective is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) that facilitates, supports and en-

Chito Miranda (left), Neri Naig and their son Miggy

courages new and innovative ideas in the realm of arts, music, education, and other creative outlets with the goal to aid in elevating community planning and economic viability. Their goal is to establish a creative movement with a positive civic impact and strengthen cultural equity by focusing on communities in need.

Good Morning is a minority-owned communications strategy consultancy. We focus on taking creativity into culture with precision by studying how people behave and reflecting that into how brands should behave. We strive to launch and sustain world-class brands by cutting through today’s complex media and cultural landscape.

Intertrend is a multicultural agency that understands the intersection of cultures, emerging trends, and the interaction between brands and consumers.

Based in both Long Beach, CA and Plano, TX, the agency has worked with leading brands and also houses a family of entrepreneurial brand units that build to its core expertise across digital, content and experiential. Interpreters and interrupters, interdisciplinary and international, Intertrend is where culture and content meet.

(Advertising Supplement)

Photos from Instagram/@chitomirandajr

Chito lauds stay-at-home moms like wife Neri during quarantine

By Cha Lino Inquirer.net

MUSICIAN Chito Miranda has found time to appreciate stay-at-home moms, especially his wife, actress Neri Naig, during this time of quarantine brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The frontman of the rock band Parokya ni Edgar talked about some of his realizations during this lockdown via his Instagram post yesterday, May 14. Accompanying Miranda’s message of appreciation is a photo of Naig and their son Miggy’s bonding moment while baking at home.

“One thing na na-realize ko during this lockdown is sobrang hirap pala talaga ng ginagawa ni Neri bilang [stay-at-home] mom (One thing I realized during this lockdown is that what Neri does as a stay-at-home mom is indeed very difficult),” Miranda said.

Miranda added that he loves

spending time at home with his son, especially now that he is in a “long break from work” as a performer.

“Pero I must admit, sooobrang nakakapagod pala talaga makipag-sabayan kay Miggy day in, day out,” he said. “[Iisa] pa lang sya nyan a!”

(But I must admit, it is very exhausting to keep up with Miggy day in [and] day out. And there is just one of him.)

The singer-songwriter expressed that “Neri makes it look so easy” despite the fact that the actress has work and deadlines to meet in addition to the household chores such as cooking and gardening.

“Kaya ngayon, lahat ng pwede ko ibawi, ginagawa ko,” he said. “Gusto ko makapagnap [siya] tuwing may chance.

Gusto ko nagkakaroon sya ng ‘me time’ whenever possible.

Pinagsisilbihan ko din [siya] hangga’t maaari.”

(So now, everything I can do to give back, I do it. I want her

to catch a nap when she gets the chance. I want her to have more ‘me time’ whenever possible. I serve her whenever I can.)

Miranda stated that he has developed a better understanding of and a deeper appreciation for what Naig does. He also salutes all the moms and all momfigures taking care of others.

Naig showed how she and her little “helpers” made homemade pandesals while the enhanced community quarantine is still in place in their area, as seen on her Instagram post on May 12.

“More bonding time with our family. Maraming pwedeng gawin sa bahay na sama sama kayong gumagawa (There are plenty of things that people can do at home if you work together),” Naig said.

Aside from tending to her vegetable garden and taking care of their child, Naig has also been busy contributing to COVID-19 relief efforts by distributing food and face shields to frontliners.

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 #quarantine #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,

Dawn Zulueta

with her husband, businessmanpolitician Antonio Lagdameo Jr. Zulueta and Lagdameo have been married since December 1997.

Similarly, Zulueta’s fellow

Photo from Instagram/@dawnzulueta

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

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Korina defends Coco, Kim from bashers: ‘Their hearts are in the right place’

by Ian

BIong Inquirer.net

VETERAN journalist Korina Sanchez has rushed to the defense of Coco Martin and Kim Chiu from bashers over the ABS-CBN shutdown issue.

Sanchez is joining other celebrities who have shown their support for the two for speaking up and actively calling out the government for the move.

“Coco Martin and Kim Chiu are under attack from bashers.

Majority of the bashers are paid trolls which supporters of this administration have heavily invested in,” the journalist said on Instagram yesterday, May 14.

Martin and Chiu are among the most vocal celebrities who have condemned the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) cease and desist order to shut down the media giant’s operations on May 5, a day after its franchise expired.

While other celebrities encourage netizens to ignore trolls and bashers, Sanchez offers the additional option of engaging them.

“To engage is to simply speak back for everyone else to see what trash they are. Otherwise, deadma,” she noted.

She also joins fellow celebrities such as Xian Lim, Angel Locsin, Kim Atienza and many others, in supporting Chiu and Martin for protesting.

Korina Sanchez

“Coco and Kim may not be perfect in language or expression but, clearly, their hearts are in the RIGHT place. Right meaning, opposite of wrong,” she stressed.

“And you know whats wrong?

The [ABS-CBN’s] sudden — unceremonious, possibly illegal, immoral, sinister, unethical, despicable, abhorrent, inconceivable, wicked — closure.

Sanchez emphasized that given the said circumstances, Chiu and Martin are winners

Photo from Instagram/@korina

in the face of both the laws of men and of God. Sanchez, who is among the many personalities who have spoken up against the shutdown, yesterday called on lawmakers to stay true to their word on processing the franchise renewal bid of ABS-CBN by the end of October.

Her message came after a bill granting the media company a provisional license was passed on second reading in Congress.

LEADING U.S. IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL EXPEDITES CASE TO ENSURE “CHILD” LANDS ON U.S. SOIL BEFORE HIS 21ST BIRTHDAY. One of Atty. Gurfinkel’s favorite cases is from 23 years ago, but the lessons are timeless and valuable to the present, where the family’s efforts to save money resulted in extra delays and a child who was about to age out in a matter of days. This was before the Child Status Protection Act, and back then, the child must arrive in the U.S. before midnight of his 21st birthday or the case would be lost. Time was running out for Steve (2nd from left) when the family realized that “Miracle Worker” Atty. Gurfinkel (right) was their only hope. As soon as the family agreed to retain the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel, the latter worked non-stop to ensure that Steve would land on U.S. soil before his 21st birthday. Watch the events unfold on an all-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

An amazing race to beat the deadline before eldest son aged out on an Derek eyes golf as post-showbiz career all-new Citizen Pinoy this Sunday THIS success happened 23 years ago, but the lessons resonate until today.

Steve was 10 years old when his parents migrated to the U.S. and left him and his siblings with their grandmother. It was almost 11 years later, when Steve was about to turn 21, that the parents got their green cards. The couple immediately flew back to Manila in December 1996 to help process Steve’s papers as he was turning 21 on January 30, 1997.

In an attempt to save money, the father tried to handle his case on his own, took a while in

by Josef

T. Ramos ManilaTimes.net

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

T he 43-year-old Fi l ipi noBr it i sh hu n k ac tor sa id 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 injur ies from play ing competitive frisbee, football and basketball.

He ex plai ned he adm i res the mental aspect of golf.

“Aga i n i f you’re goi ng to play compet it ive, 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 gol fer ako. Z ero ha nd icapper talaga. Kung hindi aabot sa pro level dahil sa age ko, wel l maraming compet it ive amateur tournaments diyan na gusto kong salihan here and abroad.”

Ramsay is no newbie golfer w it h signif icant w ins under h is na me. He won t he Jack Nicklaus Invitational Tournament in June 2017 toget her with fellow actor John Estrada at t he New A lbany Count r y Club in Ohio, United States.

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

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 q ua r a nt i ne I’m a lways 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 t he compet it iveness.

In basketball and frisbee, it’s a team effort, right? So I grew up playing team sports, but t h is is t he accompl ish ment that you beat everybody else.

You can say, you did,” Ramsay explained.

Actor Derek Ramsay is keen on becoming a pro golfer.

Photo from Instagram/@ramsayderek07

“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.” “ T h i s ga me i s awesome, and it is better t han a l l my ot her games kasi wala kang sisihin kung hindi ‘yung sarili mo eh.”

R a m say pl ayed compet it ive f r isbee i nter nat iona l ly, representing the Philippines i n ot her count r ies a l most a decade ago. He also spent time play i ng compet it ive 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 At h let ics Tanduay team in t he Maharlika Pi lipinas Basketbal l League ( M PBL ) of Sen . E m m a nuel “M a n ny” Pacq u i ao. But he didn’t commit full time in basketball because of his showbiz commitments.

“Act ua l ly matagal na ako k inuku ha. Nag-uumpisa pa lang ang MPBL pero hindi ko pwedeng pasukan “yan nang h i ndi 10 0 -p er cent [ r ead y].

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 regret na hindi ko agad naging passion ‘yung gol f,” 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. A ll 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 t hree entertainers who play competitively in golf — actor John Estrada, singer and actor Ariel Rivera, and singer/composer Lito Camo. Others who play gol f recreat iona l ly are Og ie A lcasid , Tonton Gut ier r ez , G lydel Mer cado a nd GM A7 news a nchor A r nold Clavio.

“Nanalo pa kami ni John Estrada when we represented the Philippines in Ohio. Magaling ‘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 ver y important even in golf.

After a round of golf, you can be mentally tired.”

R amsay doesn’t even l i ke to ask for ha nd icap du r i ng tournaments.

Golf for Ramsay is a constant source of joy.

“I ca n a lso play w it h 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.”

R a msay ad m i res i nter national golfers Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as well as homegrown talent Miguel Tabuena.

After the quarantine, don’t be sur prised if Ramsay will head d i rect ly to t he gol f course.

making decisions, and was still taking advice from well-meaning friends while precious time was running out. With barely a week to go, the family finally resolved to retain and trust the services of “Miracle Worker” Atty. Gurfinkel.

This was before the Child Status Protection Act, so Steve must arrive in the U.S. before midnight of his 21st birthday, or the visa would be lost. While in Manila, Atty. Gurfinkel worked non-stop, coordinating with his Glendale offices to follow up on documents, complete forms,

and ensure all cable notifications were sent and received (this was before email and other forms of modern communication) and medical results were acquired.

Hours before Steve would have aged out, he ran the most incredible race of his life to ensure that he stepped foot on American soil barely two hours before he turned 21.

Get the details of this race to the finish line on a brand-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

B4 MAY 16-19, 2020 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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The sterling world of nurses

MOONLIGHTING

BY MYLAH DE

LEON

YOU see them with a grateful heart as they walk on hands, and do somersaults with a patient’s extreme despair, suffering lifealtering trauma, joys, rage and despair. Ordinary people have such experiences only a few times during their entire lifetimes.

Through a daily basis of witness and involvement in death, birth and celebration, nurses sign up for life. They have certain qualities: an abundance of human compassion and a kind of wisdom born of the heart, where fulfillment could only come from the knowledge that one had made a positive, if not a profound difference in another’s life, they would rearrange fate.

Remarkable men and women that quietly continue to provide the day to day grit from the edge of life — practicing a variety of specialties including cardiac care, the ER, intensive care, obstetric, orthopedic surgery — that provides poignant, if not outrageous, stories drawn from the edge of life.

Their patients come in all shapes, sizes, ages and colors.

They were frightened, brave, gentle, arrogant, demanding, and considerate. They were young and old, and clumsy and adept, while others were subtle and crude under hardened cells (the way nurses do). They were human beings in pain. What is it like to be sick and vulnerable, to witness and record the isolation and

Health@Heart PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS W ITH novelty comes misi nter pretat ion, m isi n for mation, and myths rapidly dissem i nated v ia socia l med ia a r ou n d t h e g l o b e. T h i s i s what is happening w it h t he novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV2 virus, the cause of the COVID19 pandemic that has infected more t han 3 million and k i l led greater t han 230,000 in 210 countries around the world – more than a million in the U.S., with about 60,000 deaths; and almost 8,000 cases and nearly 550 deaths in the Philippines. From the emails we received from our readers, here are some of them. Accurate information is a must for survival, especially during a pandemic.

Viruses are alive No. Viruses are not living m icrobes, u n l i ke bacter ia which are alive. Viruses are protein molecules surrounded by a protective layer of lipid (fats), which enables them to merge with cells and be transmissible and infective. When the protective envelope around them is damaged (as in handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds), they are unable to repl icate and cause infection, and are subsequently destroyed. Viruses need a host, like humans, to survive.

Novel coronavirus in Wuhan was from bats False. It had been officially r u led out t hat t he nCorona v i r us (SA R S- CoV2) d id not originate from bats or snakes sold in a seafood market in Wu ha n, Ch i na but possibly from a biolab working on viruses located a few kilometers away. The circumstances surrounding the Wuhan outbreak, which is now a pandemic victimizing 210 countries around the world, is being investigated. In the meantime, lawsuits have been filed in 7 states and also in the UK against China seeking damages for injuries, deaths, and economic losses caused by COVID-19, courtesy of t he reck lessness, deceit, duplicit y, and ir responsibilit y of t he Commun ist Par t y in Wuhan. Ot her states and countries are expected to follow suit.

Fe e l i n g we l l m e a n s n o COVID-19 Wrong. Un less one has tested negative for COVID-19, anyone, especially those who go out in public without cap, protect ive goggles, mask , gloves, without distancing, are possible carriers of the virus because it takes about 2 weeks for symptoms to appear, and in a few cases up to 19 days.

So, feeling well alone is not a guarantee, unless one has self-quarantined for at least 2-3 weeks without falling ill.

Therefore, a person exposed

alienation that comes eventually to all of us, when finally we are all patients?

They live a life where the frustration comes uninvited, horrified by what the insurance companies and hospital corporations are doing to the medical world.

This isn’t a piece about politics, but simply getting to know more about these angels of mercy as they go on about the business of caring and healing. You can only feel respect, awe and love for these devoted, tireless human beings, whose work is ardorous and complex, requiring the exercise of the very brightest faculties of the mind, while constantly appealing to the emotion and higher feelings. Sir Williams Osler once said that.

At any ICU ward is a kaleidoscope of broken lives and days and nights flowed into one another, the nurses go through their daily toils of feeling pulses, listening to hearts, lungs and abdomens for finite sounds of prowl for complication as they load vitamins and minerals, like pumping fuel into a powerful car, with no steering wheel or tires. The tension permeated at an ICU is a peculiar scene, as that type of strain that translates into blind hope for the best, expect the worse.

When tragedy strikes, the nurses deal with the patients, which is only half of the story, because completing the cast, are the walking wounded, otherwise known as the surrounding family members who are thriving in blind hope. Where grief is grief.

Are there words less painful?

In the medical arena, even as healthcare debate rages on with the growth of the HMO industry, the nurses quietly continue to provide the daily grit and deeply

felt dedication that holds the healing profession together.

I have started interviewing nurses from my police beat days back in the Philippines when a nurse at the Veterans Memorial Hospital was paid P200.00 a month. But the fear of career backlash and reprisals have made them reluctant to talk to outsiders about their experiences. Truths drawn were stranger than fiction when nurses were allowed to speak to us in their own words.

Narratives ranged from inspiring to tragic, to the outrageously funny, real-life medical drama as experienced from our country, to here in the U.S. The gripping accounts gave us a new perspective of the horrors of tsunamis, earthquakes and the nightmare when someone runs amuck or is burned alive, trapped in a burning building…as we look in a pathetic impotence!

Home care, critical care, pediatric, and psychiatric nurses, with distinct voices and who through tears and laughter, are unflinching as they tackle the issues that afflict nursing care today.

But on the totem pole, nothing beats the nurse assigned a tragedy.

While for other patients, it could be quick and painless, for others a 79-year-old heart could just be flipping in and out of ventricular fibrillation at any hospice – at will. The nurses wonder how thin the lines between life and death, joy and sorrow, chance, fate, and the invisible forces which in split seconds change lives forever.

Then they waited until they heard the soft explosion of unrestrained weeping... ***

E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@aol. com.

COVID-19 update

should be considered infected, an ignorant carrier, and thus potentially a geometric/exponential spreader of the virus unknowingly.

H a nd s a n it i zer s a r e effective Hand sanitizers, to be effective, must contain at least 70% a lcohol. I f soap a nd water or peroxide or bleach solution are not available, any hand sanitizer may be used at that moment, followed by handwashing wit h soap and water soonest thereafter. Drying hands ver y well is vital.

The use of moisturizers (with simethicone) helps protect the skin further against the virus and also for skin health and comfort.

Masks only protect others While masks (even the N95 primarily for healthcare providers) protect others if worn by someone who is infected and a carrier of the virus or who is sick by lessening transmission, it also protects the healthy wearer. Imagine ten people, ha lf wear ing masks and the others without, being sprayed with dust or f lour or red powder. T hose wear i ng a mask would obviously have much less powder on t hei r face compared to t hose not we a r i n g o n e, w h o s e f ac e s would be full of the powder.

It is a medical fact that even t he N95 mask is not 10 0% protective or preventive, but bot h ver sions of t he mask s m i n i m i z e t he s pr ead b ot h ways, albeit perhaps not totally equal in extent. Together with frequent handwashing, using a cap, gloves, social distancing (staying home if possible), the use of a mask when going out (properly, tight-fitting, covering the nose and the mouth) and not touching it even with the gloved hands are protective measures, second to selfquarantine with non-infected people at home.

S t a y i n g h o m e i s 10 0 % safe The home is like a gated, screened, protective fort in a jungle with countless man-eating animals roaming around, hungry, looking for a prey; or a bunker during a war, where bullets and bombs are bursting in the air outside. This analogy magnifies how vital the home is during this COVID-19 pandemic that kills people of any age, even chi ldren, but especia l ly t he elderly. But , the home is ONLY totally safe IF ever yone st r ict ly fol lows t he g u idel i nes below, w it h wisdom, discipline, and with a bit of what I term as healthy paranoia (medical vigilance).

The home is the safest place to be during an outbreak, an epidemic or a pandemic. But if anyone at home violates any of those preventive measures, t hen t h at i nd i v idu a l cou ld get infected and spread it to everyone at home, like a massive fire inside a cage. We are reposting this acronym, Fight C OV I D -19 w i t h C- O -V-I-D : Cover face to scratch, sneeze

or cough; Omit non-essential t r avel s; Volu nt a r y q ua r a ntine; Intensive handwashing; Distancing is now social. The effectiveness of this C-O-V-I-D strategy in minimizing spread of the virus has been proven a rou nd t he world, st a r t i ng from China, to South Korea, to the Philippines, to the U.S., and even to Italy, where the curve has started to f latten.

Tea t ree oi l is ef fect ive against SARS-CoV2 virus While tea tree oil is reportedly used for herpes simplex virus, it is not effective against this virus that is causing the COV I D-19 pa ndem ic. Ot her item s ad ver t i sed a s u sef u l against this virus, which are totally a scam, include herbs, coconut a nd a l l ot her oi l s, pomegranates and other fruits and vegetables, Noni, SuperBeets, t u r mer ic, cu rcu m i n, cur r y, garlic, peppers, steroids, anesthetic agents, etc.

There is no food, drug, potion or lotion that has been proven to prevent or cure COVID-19.

NONE so far, not even vaccines, which are being developed and still a couple of years away. While fruits, vegetables and supplements, like vitamins D3, C, B-Complex, Zinc, etc., help boost the immune system none of them can prevent or cure COVID-19. Various drugs, including anti-malarial, antilupus d r ug hyd r ox ych lor oquine, developed after W WII, are still being clinically tested, in combination (a trio) wit h antibiotic A zit hromycin and Zinc.

Vinegar is a COVID-19 disinfectant While 5% kitchen vinegar (acetic acid) can destroy some bacteria and some viruses on surfaces, there is no evidence it destroys SARS-CoV2 virus.

Vi nega r is a lso da mag i ng when used to clean elect r ic iron, electronic screens, countertops, f loorings, dishwashers, and other appliances.

Pe r ox i de i s u s e l e s s for COVID-19 According to CDC, hydrogen peroxide, a common household agent today, d i scover ed i n 1818, is an effective disinfectant against coronaviruses like the SARS-CoV2. Peroxide had been used effectively to disinfect masks, gloves, etc. for re-use when the supply of PPE was low, and useful at home to disinfect (3% undiluted spray) various surfaces, leaving it on for one minute against bacteria and the COVID-19 virus and 6-8 minutes for rhinoviruses.

Peroxide 3% or diluted with water may be used for gargling, but not to be swallowed or its vapor inhaled because it is toxic to the stomach and to the lungs.

Stay-home policy is a civil rights violation The government, during war or an epidemic or pandemic, has the constitutional right, obligation, and power to issue, declare, mandate any policy or measure during a national PAGE B7

In loving memory of my beloved brother, Ruttie Lu

BY MONET

LU

RUTTIE was the youngest among our family of 10 siblings.

He had been bravely battling cardiovascular disease until he finally succumbed to it last April 29.

It was ironic that we have sisters and cousins, some who are even far older than Ruttie and battling cancer longer, and yet my baby brother Ruttie was the first to join our Almighty Father. Clearly, God has a way of working in our lives and we must always trust His infinite wisdom and judgment.

Even if Ruttie was taken so soon, he lived 60 bright years, bringing color to the lives of whom he had touched. Being a regular and active member of the church even cheerfully serving as the tithe collector, Ruttie had gained a lot of friends, mostly from church and within the community. He is also trusted and beloved by his many clients, having been worked for Monet Salon beyond 30 years, more than half of his beautiful life.

I recall how he called me back on April 28 and knew that he was already in the worst state possible. Ruttie was always calm and collected and would never call anyone except if it was a dire emergency so I knew that his situation was urgent. I happily picked him up and waited with him at the ER for several hours where he tried to come off as lively and strong, but he looked very ill. Somehow, I was grateful to be there, comforting him in what we know now as his final moments.

As mentioned, he has been battling a cardiovascular disease for quite sometime. His legs even began to retain water. He also had a stent-graft in his heart after suffering from a minor stroke about four years ago.

The next morning, around 2 a.m, I received a call from the doctor that his heart stopped beating and they tried to resuscitate him to no avail, until we all had to accept the fact that he had reunited with our Creator.

It is still so hard for me to accept that my younger brother is no longer here. Ruttie is a kind, loving and generous soul; ever eager to guide and assist me especially when it came to social affairs. I had to seek professional help in order to accept that this is beyond my hands, and as my counselor stated, “it is not in

February 23, 1960 - April 29, 2020

Ruttie Lu

your hands; there is no point in blaming yourself or anyone.”

This being said, I call on the importance of saying “I love you,” to those whom you care about; being vocal about how you feel while your loved ones are still around.

I would also like to share some of the many heartwarming messages from our friends who

Dorie, Angelina, Chris, Eloisa, Nenita, Dolores, and I greatly miss you. As for me, I will always miss the times you’d call me to get an Uber or a Lyft for you. I know you are having the time of life there in heaven, and on behalf of our grieving family, I once again would like to thank everyone who expressed their condolences, especially those who were part of my brother’s life. I would like to sum up my eulogy with a popular quote from Maya Angelou, to describe the beautiful life that my brother, Ruttie Lu, lived: “People will forget what you said, what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”

Thank you for sharing love and happiness wherever you went. Rest in peace, Ruttie, in knowing that you are loved and missed dearly. ***

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that counts, it is the life in your years.” grieved with me, especially our friends from the Filipino Church of Nazarene. Felson Palad related that when he asked Ruttie if he was afraid, given his health conditions, Ruttie told him, “If I soon pass away, I am okay because I know that I have a place in God’s kingdom.” Isn’t my brother’s strength reassuring?

Apart from Felson, I also want to acknowledge and thank our other friends in the faith such as Mary Ann Ramos, Amy Almerol, Cathy Banares, Claire Rene, and of course, the pastor and leader of our church, who also shared beautiful stories about my brother.

Our dear Ruttie, your kindness will never be forgotten.

Our siblings, Sonia, Ricardo,

Maine Mendoza

Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com.

GMA photo

Success of debut single a ‘wow moment’ for Maine

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 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 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.

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 16-19, 2020

B

Nadine shares mental Judy Ann savors her ‘simple, health struggles, coping quarantined’ 42nd birthday party strategy during lockdown

by Cha Lino Inquirer.net

by RatzieL

san Juan

Philstar.com

SINGER-actress Nadine Lustre opened up about her personal experience dealing with negative thoughts on top of a lockdown, offering advice to those who may similarly feel trapped and isolated.

“I’m the type na when I start thinking about one thing, it’s like a rabbit hole. It goes down and then it gets really bad and then I start to get a panic attack and then I start crying and then I don’t know what to do. That’s how it is for me,” the “president” shared in an exclusive interview with The STAR’s Tim Yap. Thankfully, Nadine said that she feels less overwhelmed thanks to friends with whom she can safely confide her bad thoughts.

“So just have like all your good friends on standby. Ako I message them all the time and they’re always there for me... You know it’s true that like one thing that re-

Nadine Lustre Photo from Instagram/@nadine

ally helps with all those negative thoughts, the anxiety, is another person to tell you na ‘Hindi, hindi ‘yan totoo. It’s not gonna happen, you know, it’s okay’.”

She admitted being previously too embarrassed to reach out due to fear of being judged as shallow

or pessimistic, but was reassured by her friends.

“That’s why you have these people that you trust, ‘di ba?

These people who will get your back all the time, every time you’re in trouble. That’s why they’re all there. To understand you no matter what it is. No matter how negative, no matter how crazy the thought is, they’re always there to look after you no matter what happens. And especially now, lalo na ngayon, ‘di ba?

Dapat talaga we’re all supporting each other.”

Nadine also advised others to be honest with their feelings instead of ignoring them.

“T’saka I also believe na it’s not bad, you know, to break down sometimes kasi you need to feel it eh. You can’t just keep holding it up, holding it inside and then eventually you’re gonna bottle up. Mas delikado ‘yung ganon.

So when I start to think about, you know, like weird stuff, I cry it out kaagad. I release it right away.”

AS Judy Ann Santos marked her 42nd birthday last Monday, May 11, the actress found the simple joy in celebrating her special day with only her family while in quarantine.

Santos spent the day video calling her other loved ones and enjoying the birthday cake her eldest daughter Yohan baked for her, as seen on her Instagram post on Tuesday, May 12.

“Grateful for family and friends,” she said.”[Simple] and very meaningful ‘quarantined’ birthday celebration.. thank God for technology!”

Santos was able to attend an online mass with friends and family, together with her three kids and husband, Ryan Agoncillo. The actress showed their Zoom video call, together with some outtakes from her birthday party at home, through a series of photos.

Santos said that hearing mass with her loved ones was one of her birthday traditions every year.

The actress also expressed her gratitude to everyone who greeted her: “[You] just made my

Judy Ann Santons with her children Yohan, Lucho and Luna Photo from Instagram/@officialjuday

day very, very meaningful.”

Agoncillo gave his wife a wacky birthday greeting on his Instagram account.

The TV host reminisced on their earlier days as a married couple with a throwback wedding photo. He also shared an audio recording of Santos in fits of laughter after hearing a strange sound. “[Anong] binubulong ko kay kumander habang nanonood si

bunso ng disney junior (What am I whispering to commander while our youngest is watching Disney Junior)?” Agoncillo asked.

Some of the couple’s friends from the industry greeted Santos on her special day as well, such as actress Angelica Panganiban.

During Agoncillo’s birthday last April, Santos penned a sweet message to her husband, assuring him that quarantined or not, they will all be “together forever.”

Former MTV VJ Belinda Panelo-Lizardo mulls over motherhood

by Rito

P. asiLo Inquirer.net

I’VE crossed paths with Belinda Panelo-Lizardo—that’s VJ Belinda to her starstruck followers on MTV Asia—long before she became a household name in the entertainment biz. In fact, I was there when she took her first crack at acting by way of Nestor U. Torre’s stage adaptation of Jullie Yap-Daza’s “Etiquette for Mistresses,” staged at the Music Museum many moons ago.

I wasn’t really part of the cast, but that show gathered a stellar acting ensemble that included, among others, Marco Sison, Jenine Desiderio, Robert Seña, Bo Cerrudo, the reliable comedic tandem of Andy Bais and Arlene Borja, Christine Carlos, the ridiculously talented Bituin Escalante (who first acted in Nestor’s original staging of Musical Theater Philippines’ “Sino Ka Ba, Jose Rizal?”) and, hold your breath, former screen Belina Panelo-Lizardo Photo from Twitter_@bee_panelo nymphet Priscilla Almeda.

I initially resisted participating in that production that was run like clockwork by production manager Alita Divino because Nestor (NUT) tapped me to choreograph one dance number. “Me? Choreograph?”

I thought.

I wanted to beg off, but when you’re young and new in the theater industry, you don’t really say no to an industry titan like Nestor. Moreover, a full-time theater practitioner needs to do everything “to grow roots” into the industry: You don’t just sing, act and dance to prove how formidable of a triple threat you are. You also sometimes sell tickets, write scripts, translate dialogue, make props, buy costumes, produce, promote and direct. But I’m digressing.

One of the biggest “discoveries” in that production was the discovery of a statuesque looker named Belinda Panelo, who ended up becoming one of Nestor’s favorite actresses after a, well, “testy” start. NUT was dazzled

by the lovely newbie’s scorching combo of beauty, brains, versatility and good attitude.

After that, NUT wanted to cast Belinda in all of his productions. He asked us to play Jose Rizal in the Bayanihan Dance Company’s first-ever musicaltheater production “Sa Ibayong Dagat,” starring pop singer Roselle Nava (“Bakit Nga Ba Mahal Kita”), but he created a role for Belinda just because he enjoyed working with her.

He then cooked comedymusical revue, “Beauty and the Best,” topbilled by Belinda and another Nestor favorite, Andy Bais, the OPM Fe S. Panlilio singing champ who would years later romp off with a best supporting actor plum at the Cinema One fest for his portrayal in “Violator.”

Then came her big break, as VJ Belinda, with MTV Asia—and the rest is history.

At special get-togethers, when we would be reminiscing about the countless theater shows

we’ve done and performed in all over the country, NUT would fondly look back at his rehearsals with Belinda, describing the beautiful actress-host as “the musical theater star who doesn’t sing.”

Actually, Belinda can carry a tune—it’s just not the type of voice that is snug fit for stadium songs that would bring the house down.

Later, I crossed paths with Belinda again when she performed in New Voice’s various incarnations of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues”—and she didn’t disappoint. She even performed in a touring production of “TVM” around Asia.

These days, Belinda, now married to tennis ace Joseph Lizardo, is busy juggling schoolwork and homelife in Los Angeles.

Last weekend, I was thrilled to quickly catch up with her and ask how she was enjoying life as a mother to Devon, 15, and Salma, 9. Then, I asked her

to snap a picture of her with her kids.

“Who said I enjoy it?” Belinda quipped in jest, then told me how she was managing during the pandemic. “Currently, naloloka ako being in lockdown, so I’ll have to think about the joys of motherhood—preferably with a drink in hand (laughs).”

When I told her I was “growing roots” in isolation, she shot back, “These roots are no joke.

For real!”

But when she was finally able to sit down and think about what she found satisfying and enjoyable about motherhood, Belinda sent me a haiku to vivify her feelings about the topic.

“A haiku, if I may,” she said.

“Because I’m maarte, you see.”

Let’s call it, “Motherhood”— and here is how it goes: Love captured. Laughter.

Heartache eclipsed by lightness. Fervent. Never dull.

As you can see, dear readers, even Belinda’s mind, not just her beauty, is aging like wine.

B May 16-19, 2020 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOURNaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

How to tell if demand for taxes is from the IRS or from scammers Tax Tips Victor Sy, cPA, MBA & roger L. orieL THE IRS will never: • Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. The IRS does not use these methods for tax payments. Generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who owes taxes. All tax payments should only be made payable to the U.S. Treasury and checks should never be made payable to third parties.

• Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have the taxpayer arrested for not paying.

• Demand that taxes be paid without giving the taxpayer the opportunity to question or ap-

Tapat Sa Batas Atty. rheA SAMSon KUNG ang magulang na U.S. citizen (USC) ay magkaroon ng anak na isinilang sa ibang bansa o sa labas ng U.S., ang kapanganakan ay dapat iulat sa lalong madaling panahon sa U.S. Consulate o U.S. Embassy upang makakuha ng Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA).

Ang CRBA ay ebidensiya ng U.S. citizenship ng batang isinilang sa ibang bansa sa magulang na nakatupad sa requirements para sa pagbigay ng U.S. citizenship sa ilalim ng Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Ang aplikasyon para sa CRBA ay kailangang gawin bago ang ika-18 na kaarawan ng bata.

Upang makapagbigay ng U.S. citizenship ang magulang na USC sa anak na isinilang sa ibang bansa, ang magulang ay (1) dapat USC na noong isinilang ang bata at (2) nagkaroon na ng sapat na physical presence sa loob ng U.S. Ang physical presence requirement ay depende sa petsa ng kapanganakan ng bata at kung kasal ang mga magulang noong kapanganakan ng bata.

Kung ang bata ay isinilang sa ibang bansa sa dalawang magulang na USC at ang mga magulang na ito ay kasal na noong ipinanganak ang bata, ang anak ay may karapatan sa U.S. citizenship. Kinakailangan na isa sa mga magulang ay nakatira sa U.S. bago ang kapanganakan ng bata.

Kung ang anak ay isinilang sa ibang bansa sa mga magulang na hindi kasal, ang mga regulasyon ay: (1) kung ang ina ng bata ay USC at ang bata ay ipinanganak noong Hunyo 11, 2017 o bago ang petsang ito, ang bata ay maaaring may karapatan sa US citizenship

peal the amount owed.

• Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

For anyone who doesn’t owe taxes and has no reason to think they do: • Do not give out any information. Hang up immediately.

• Contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to report the call. Use their IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting web page.

• Report the caller ID and/or callback number to the IRS by sending it to phishing@irs.gov (Subject: IRS Phone Scam).

• Report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Use the FTC Complaint Assistant on FTC.gov. Add “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.

For anyone who owes tax or thinks they do: • View tax account information online at IRS.gov to see actual amount owed and payment options.

• Call the number on the billing notice, or • Call the IRS at 800-8291040. You’ll need patience.

Lots of it.

The IRS does not use text messages or social media to discuss personal tax issues, such as those involving bills or refunds.

For more information, visit the Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts page on IRS.gov. Additional information about tax scams is also available on IRS social media sites, including YouTube videos. *** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com.

Birth of US citizens abroad kung ang inang USC ay may tuloy-tuloy na physical presence sa US ng isang taon (365 araw) o higit pa dito bago ang kapanganakan ng bata; (2) kung ang ina ng bata ay USC at ang bata ay ipinanganak noong Hunyo 12, 2017 o pagkatapos ng petsang ito, ang bata ay maaaring may karapatan sa U.S. citizenship kung ang inang USC ay may physical presence sa US ng 5 taon at ang 2 taon dito ay noong ang ina ay may 14 taon gulang na, at bago ang kapanganakan ng bata; (3) kung ang ama ng bata ay USC at ang kapanganakan ay noong Nobyembre 14, 1986 o pagkatapos ng petsang ito, ang anak ay maaaring may karapatan sa the U.S. citizenship kung ang amang USC ay may physical presence sa U.S. ng 5 taon, at ang 2 taon dito ay noong ang ama ay may 14 taon gulang na, at bago ang kapanganakan ng bata.

If a child is born to a U.S. citizen parent abroad, the child’s birth should be reported as soon as possible to the U.S. Consulate or U.S. Embassy to obtain a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA). This is evidence of U.S. citizenship of a child born abroad to a US citizen parent/s who meet the requirements for transmitting citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

CRBA applications must be made before the child’s 18th birthday. It is recommended that the parents apply for CRBA as soon as possible after the child’s birth.

In order to transmit U.S. citizenship to a child, the U.S. citizen (USC) parent must have been a USC at the time of the child’s birth and must have accrued sufficient physical presence in the U.S. to transmit citizenship. The physical presence requirement depends on the date of birth of the child and the marital status of the parents at the time of the child’s birth.

If a child is born abroad to

two USC parents who are married at the time of birth, the child is entitled to citizenship, provided that one of the parents, prior to the birth of the child, had been a resident of the U.S. For a child born out of wedlock abroad, the following regulations apply: (1) if the child is born to a USC mother and alien father on or before June 11, 2017, the child may be entitled to U.S. citizenship if the USC mother had been physically present in the U.S. for a continuous period of at least one year (365 days) at some time prior to the child’s birth; (2) if the child is born to a USC mother and alien father on or after June 12, 2017, the child may be entitled to U.S. citizenship if the USC mother had been physically present in the U.S. for at least 5 years, 2 years of which are at the age of 14 at some time prior to the child’s birth; (3) if the child is born to a USC father on or after November 14, 1986, the child may be entitled to U.S. citizenship if the USC father had been physically present in the U.S. for at least 5 years, 2 years of which are at the age of 14 at some time prior to the child’s birth. ***

ATTY. RHEA SAMSON is the principal of SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C. She has been a member of the State Bar of California for over 15 years and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines for over 20 years. Atty. Samson received her Legal Management degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and her Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo Law School. She was a Professor for over 10 years, teaching Obligations and Contracts, Labor Laws and Social Legislation and Taxation Law. Atty Samson is the author of The Law on Obligations and Contracts (2016), Working with Labor Laws-Revised Edition (2014) and Working with Labor Laws (2005).

SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C., 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1710, Los Angeles, CA 90010; Phone: (213) 274-4561; Email: info@ samsonlawfirmpc.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

Prayer and spirituality as ‘essential’ The Prophetic Voice reVerend rodeL g. BALAgtAS ONE of the American spiritual writers in the 20th century who contributed to the depth of spirituality of many Christians was a monk named Thomas Merton.

In his book, “A Life in Letters,” Thomas Merton expressed his innermost desire to spend his life dwelling on God and being present to him every minute and every day.

He said that he could only do it if he loses himself, his ego, by living a life of prayer, simplicity, and anonymity. He shared that even his notoriety as a writer was preventing him from focusing entirely on God. Thomas did not quite achieve this desire to be left alone. Because his writings on prayer and spirituality brought impact on the prayer life of people and their active apostolate, he kept receiving letters and invitation to write and give talks.

One thing became clear in Thomas Merton’s life. His prayer life, his intimate relationship with God, brought

transformation to many people and the world. His letter on the need for world peace even landed on the desks of political leaders.

It’s incredible to think that a man living a contemplative life in a monastery would be a conduit of transformation and peace and impact the world.

Thomas Merton’s life would lead us to think of the necessity of prayer life and depth of spirituality. Would it be right to believe that a life of prayer, imbued with the graces of Word and Sacrament, be as essential as air, food, and water?

Putting it in a way that would challenge the mindsets of our government leaders in today’s pandemic, should the spiritual nourishment we get from our faith life and the church be considered non-essential? I’m sure that many of you would disagree with it.

If you’re like me, I don’t know how to survive the fears and anxieties of these times if not for prayer and the encouraging words of the Scriptures and the faithful witnesses of fellow Christians.

Friends, there is a way to hope, healing, and peace in this pandemic. It’s not only through isolation, social distancing, and the wearing of a mask. It’s through a relationship with a person, and that person is Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ words bring so much peace, consolation, and encouragement. In John 14:1-3, he tells us, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God and have faith in me also. In my Father’s house, there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

And If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take to myself, so that where I am you also may be.”

A long-lasting relationship with Jesus and trust in his words and promises are life’s secrets to attaining peace and freedom.

Many of our moms taught us this lesson. My mom’s tenacity amid troubles and suffering came from her relationship with Jesus and her prayer life.

I remember her always praying the Rosary at night. She held on to her Rosary through the challenges and pains of life.

So, keep fostering a good prayer life. Build up your relationship with Jesus through and reflection of his words.

Trust in him who has promised us an eternal dwelling place in heaven. Thank him for becoming human like us to tell us of God’s will and his undying love. Amen. *** Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.

When am I considered separated from my spouse in a divorce case?

THE date of separation is one of the most important facts to determine in a divorce case because it defines when the community interest ends and when separate property interest commences in a marriage. All property acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in the State of California is community property.

Family Code Section 760. That means any property acquired by either spouse regardless of who’s name it is on is community and each spouse has a half interest on the asset. That characterization continues until the date of separation. Any property acquired after the date of separation is that spouse’s separate property. If you are the spouse that is not in control of the asset, it would be in your interest to stretch the marriage as long as possible and postpone the date of separation as late as can be so you can characterize more assets as community and also obtain spousal support for a longer duration. If you are the spouse that has control of the money, it would be in your interest to shorten the marriage as much as possible and to establish a sooner date of separation to minimize the community interest of your soon to be ex-spouse.

So how does the Court determine the date of separation? In the case of Marriage of Davis, the California Supreme Court held that the couple needs to be living separate and apart in order to be separated. The Court looked into the legislative intent of the original statute that was over 100 years old. However,

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrSUA reyeS this case holding was abrogated by the state legislature when it enacted Family Code Section 70 effective January 1, 2017 by defining “Date of Separation” in the California Family Code.

Effective January 1, 2017, the “date of separation” is statutorily defined to mean the date a “complete and final break in the marital relationship has occurred,” as evidenced by (i) a spouse having “expressed to the other spouse his or her intent to end the marriage” and (ii) conduct that is “consistent with his or her intent to end the marriage.” New Fam.C. § 70.

Fam.C. § 70 abrogates prior case law that made living in separate residences an additional, indispensable prerequisite to establishing the date of separation.

[Fam.C. § 70(c)] ) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this section to abrogate the decisions in In re Marriage of Davis (2015) 61 Cal.4th 846 and In re Marriage of Norviel (2002) 102 Cal.App.4th 1152.

So not only do you have to express to your spouse that you are now separated but you have to act accordingly. You cannot be telling your spouse that you are separated but still going out on “date night” or going on “cruise vacation” as a couple. Your con-

duct has to reflect your expression of a separation from your spouse. The flip side of the coin is under the new statute, you can be separated even if you are still living together if you have communicated to your spouse that you are separated and you conduct yourself in the house not like a spouse but more like a roommate including sleeping in separate rooms, not having intimacy, and not going out as a couple. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.

The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information.

This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed.

The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist.

He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010.

Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement)

Pay commercial rent payment or file Chapter 7 for a fresh start with no debt?

IF the commercial lease tenant cannot pay the rent because business is non-existent — I mean, literally zero or close to zero, because the business is closed due to the government imposed lockdown — can the tenant be relieved of liability on the commercial lease agreement?

The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) provides that performance under a contract may be excused when “performance as agreed has been made impracticable by the occurrence of a contingency the non-occurrence of which was a basic assumption on which the contract was made or by compliance in good faith with any applicable foreign or domestic governmental regulation or order whether or not it later proves to be invalid.”

Further, the Restatement (Second) of Contracts defines impossibility as “not only strict impossibility but impracticability because of extreme and unreasonable difficulty, expense, injury or loss involved.”

Impracticable or impossible or frustration of purpose as an excuse The tenant can argue that the lockdown is a government regulation, which rendered their performance under their lease contracts as “impracticable” or “impossible”. Now, what is “frustration of purpose”?

The classic example of this is that you rent an apartment so that you can see the President of the United States pass through on the street just below the apartment. Then, it turns out that the president canceled that trip because he decided to play golf instead in Mar-a-Lago. The fact that the president canceled his trip means you can no longer view him from the apartment that you rented, so your purpose of renting that apartment has been “frustrated,” thus you are now excused from paying rent on the lease contract. That sounds pretty simple, right?

A lot of small businesses simply cannot pay their rent nowadays because of the pandemic. There is just no business because of the lockdown and the natural fear of people of getting infected by the virus, which may lead to death. I have a friend up north who got the virus from traveling in February. He arrived back in California on March 7 and was rushed to the ER and ICU the minute the plane landed. He could not breathe and had a high fever.

He’s still in a coma now and it’s been over two months that he’s been on a ventilator. He’s suffered multiple mini strokes because the virus causes the blood

Debt Relief

Atty. LAwrence yAng to coagulate. He truly needs divine intervention to get healed.

This is the kind of situation we are faced now and this is the real world that we live in now until a vaccine is discovered.

Paying commercial rent seems to be a small problem when compared to the risk of dying.

Client to owe $500K of unpaid commercial lease I just talked to a client who just signed a commercial lease in January for six years at $7,000 a month. Her business was boom-

do unto you.” So this is how we should be treating each other, especially now during the time of the pandemic, we should be following the golden rule.

If the landlord insists on rent payment, then the client can either defend herself and try to get out of the contract by arguing impossibility/impracticability/frustration of purpose, or just file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy to get a fresh start without accumulated debt. The Chapter 7 discharge will just wipe out the entire $500,000 that she will owe on the lease.

Fresh start in life Just remember even Walt Disney filed for Chapter 7 twice before his Disney theme parks and entertainment business became a worldwide success story. And Milton Hershey filed for Chapter 7 before his Hershey chocolate empire became the biggest chocolate business in the world. Disney and Hershey became billionaires after wiping out accumulated debt and getting a fresh start in life with Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This is the right thing to do.

Even several dioceses of the Catholic Church here filed for bankruptcy reorganization to handle the molestation lawsuits. Yes, even Orange County filed for bankruptcy reorganization about 15 years ago. Just two years ago in 2018, Sears filed for bankruptcy protection.

It had 68,000 employees at that time and 700 stores.

Bankruptcy is protection and a fresh start. It’s something good that needs to be done at a certain point in time because of accumulated debt, which is now caused by the pandemic. Nothing in life or business is guaranteed, that’s why you need an escape valve. Bankruptcy is that escape valve.

The purpose of Chapter 7 bankruptcy is to give the individual debtor who is saddled with debt, a chance to become productive again by discharging his accumulated debt while allowing him to keep all or most of his assets via a legal system of exemptions. *** Disclaimer: None of the foregoing is considered legal advice as each case is different. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in Bankruptcy, Business, Real Estate and Civil Litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789 or 1000 S. Fremont Ave., Mailstop 58, Building A-10 South, Suite 10042, Alhambra, CA 91803.

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“Now is the time for kindness and our humanity to shine forth, to help each other not get sick, by wearing face masks, gloves and self isolating and helping our society’s most vulnerable, seniors, get the good treatment and protection they need.” ing in January and February but March, April and May just totally dried up. Nada. Zilch.

She’s on the hook for more for almost half a million dollars of unpaid rent for six years. That’s $500,000 that she will owe even if she is evicted from the premises for not paying rent.

The best approach is to negotiate some kind of temporary agreement with the landlord to tide things over in the meantime. But landlords need money too because they owe mortgages that need to get paid. This is like a falling house of cards.

So, they will not waive the rent, but probably will hold back on suing for eviction because it’s really not easy to get another renter. Might as well squeeze something out of the current renter. Anything is better than nothing.

The golden rule of Christianity Now is the time for kindness and our humanity to shine forth, to help each other not get sick, by wearing face masks, gloves and self isolating and helping our society’s most vulnerable, seniors, get the good treatment and protection they need. After all, we pride ourselves as being a Christian country right?

And what is the “golden rule” in Christianity? Jesus described the “golden rule” as the second great commandment for human beings to follow. The “golden rule” of Leviticus 19:18, quoted

by Jesus of Nazareth (Mathew 7:12; Luke 6:31 is: “Do unto others as you would have them

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Termination after medical leave may be disability discrimination

ALEJANDRO Gonzalez worked as a loader coordinator for Swissport, a company which provides airport ground and cargo handling services.

Gonzalez worked at Swissport’s LAX location for more than 10 years where he was promoted from bag handler to load coordinator due to his stellar performance.

In September 2016, Gonzalez was at work when he felt a pain to his chest. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a heart aneurysm.

Gonzalez later underwent an open heart aortic valve surgery and his doctors placed him on medical leave.

Gonzalez spent over six weeks in the hospital and inpatient care facility. From there he spent another two weeks at a rehabilitation facility. His doctors placed him off work until October 31, 2016. Medical records were submitted to Swissport to inform them that Gonzalez needed additional medical leave.

In November 2016, Gonzalez was again hospitalized due to an infection caused by the openheart surgery. At around this time, his doctors issued a certification indicating that Gonzalez cannot lift more than 20 pounds permanently. Gonzalez again submitted the required information to his employer and asked for additional medical leave. He was informed that he was no longer on medical leave but on “personal leave.” He was assured that his “job would not be in jeopardy.”

Gonzalez’s doctors released him back to work on January 19, 2017, with a restriction that he should not lift more than fifteen pounds. This work restriction has minimal impact on the job duties of a loader coordinator, which rarely requires lifting in excess of 15 pounds.

When Gonzalez showed up at

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. work, the HR Manager told him “We don’t have a new position available for you. You can only lift fifteen pounds. Go collect unemployment.” When Gonzalez asked if he was coming back to work, he was told, “No, you’re done.” A few days later, Gonzalez received a notice from Swissport, where the employer stated that Gonzalez had “Voluntary quit.”

This was not true because the

tion would allow the employee to perform his job duties. Even if the employee can no longer perform his job duties, offering a vacant position may be a reasonable accommodation, even if the position pays less than the employee’s former job. The employer must in good faith determine whether the employee can be transferred or reassigned to a vacant position. The employer is in a better position to know what jobs are vacant or may become vacant.

After six days of trial, the jury found that the employer engaged in disability discrimination. They returned a verdict in favor of the employee, awarding him $250,000 in past lost wages, and $800,000 in future lost wages, for a total economic damage of $1,050,000.00.

Despite the jury verdict, the court ordered a new trial on damages, which is yet to be set.

Regardless of the outcome of the new trial, this case and others like it, shows that jurors give serious consideration to victims of workplace discrimination. Reasonably accommodating disabled workers who can perform their jobs and giving them an equal opportunity to join the workforce is an important American value protected by law. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic.

All inquiries are confidential and at nocost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw. com. [C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a past Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas.]

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“California law prohibits discrimination based on disability or medical condition. The employer has a duty to provide reasonable accommodation to disabled employees to enable them to work despite their disability.” employer fired him.

Gonzalez sued the employer for disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, failure to engage in the interactive process, and retaliation, among other things.

California law prohibits discrimination based on disability or medical condition. The employer has a duty to provide reasonable accommodation to disabled employees to enable them to work despite their disability. Depending on the employee’s specific restrictions and the employer’s circumstances, an example of reasonable accommodation would be to make facilities accessible to and usable by disabled individuals; offer part-time or modified work schedules; or reassignment to a vacant position.

In Gonzalez’s case, the employer had a duty to engage in interactive process and find out whether reasonable accommoda-

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 16-19, 2020

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Removing the conditions of your permanent residence without your petitioning spouse’s participation A PERSON, who obtains his/her green card via marriage to a U.S. citizen spouse and is married for less than two years, has conditional permanent resident status.

A conditional permanent resident has a green card that is valid for two years.

In order to continue to have permanent resident status after two years, the conditional permanent resident and his/her U.S. citizen spouse must file an I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence during the 90 days before the expiration of the green card. 8 CFR 216.4(a)(1) But what if things don’t work out with the U.S. citizen spouse after getting married, and the conditional permanent resident can no longer get the participation of his/ her U.S. citizen spouse in filing the I-751 petition?

In such a case, the conditional permanent resident may seek an I-751 waiver of the joint filing requirement.

In order to qualify for an I751 waiver of the joint filing requirement, the conditional permanent resident must show that the marriage upon which his/her status was based was: 1) entered into in good faith, and 2) terminated. 8 CFR 216.5(a)(1)(ii).

With respect to the required showing that the marriage was entered into in good faith, the conditional

Legal Advice Atty. DArriCk tAn permanent resident must show that his/her marriage was not a “sham.” A marriage is considered a “sham” if, when they married, the couple did not intend to establish a life together.

An intent to obtain something other than or in addition to love and companionship (such as a green card) from that life does not make a marriage a sham. Matter of Soltan, A76 888 125 (BIA 2001). Documents such as joint bank and credit card statements, and photos that demonstrate that the marriage was entered in good faith should be presented.

Also, in order to qualify for an I-751 waiver of the joint filing requirement, the conditional permanent resident must show that the marriage was terminated. By “terminated,” the USCIS requires a valid, formal divorce judgment. An I751 waiver of the joint filing requirement cannot be approved in cases where the conditional permanent resident is legally separated or in divorce proceedings that are still pending.

Also, once the marriage is terminated, the conditional resident may file the I-751 petition

immediately, and does not have to wait until the normal 90 days before the expiration of the conditional green card.

It is worth noting that if the conditional permanent resident and his/her U.S. citizen spouse lives in California, a valid divorce judgment must be obtained in the California courts. I have had numerous California-resident clients in the past who have obtained a “quick” divorce judgment in Nevada only to face USCIS scrutiny after presenting the Nevada divorce judgment in support of an I-751 waiver request (since one must be a Nevada resident to obtain a divorce in Nevada). The assistance of an experienced attorney in handling the divorce as well as the I-751 waiver request is accordingly recommended. *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philippine American Bar Association (PABA). *** LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: 323-6390277. Email: info@dtanlaw.com (Advertising Supplement)

COVID-19 update...

PAGE B4 (international) emergency to protect its citizens. Societal / community rights supersedes and outweighs individual civil liberties when personal behaviors or actions of individuals jeopardize others. Those who do not fol low t he n at ion a l g u idel i nes to m i n i m i ze t he spread of killer SARS-CoV2, and are even now staging protests in various cities, have the right to expose themselves to

the virus and get infected or even kill themselves, but they do not have the right to infect and kill others. Their twisted t h i n k i ng and sel f ish ness, a major factor why COVID-19 has spread so much and infected and killed so many, would also prolong this deadly pandemic whose curve is just beginning to f latten. Let’s safeguard the civil rights of the people who a r e fol l ow i ng t he me d ic a l guidelines and sacrificing to

protect themselves, their loved ones, and society as a whole. *** 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 Public Health Advo c ate, a n d Chair ma n of the F ilipin o Unite d Net wo r k- USA , a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States . Websites: philipSchua.com and FUN888.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

B May 16-19, 2020 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOURNaL

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