070820 - Southern California Midweek Edition

July 8-10, 2020 Volume 30 - No.53 • 2 Sections - 14 Pages

Residents under 40 years old now make DATELINE USA Anti-Asian hate incidents up half of all COVID-19 cases in LA County total more than 800 FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

in California since the start of pandemic

Orgs, leaders call on further investigations, pressure Newsom to enact solutions to protect AAPIs from hate incidents OVER 800 incidents of anti-Asian hate, harassment, bullying and violence have been reported in California alone since March, marking a disturbing touchstone of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a new report by the Los Angeles-based Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON) released on July 1 found that of the 832 reports in California, 81 incidents were reported assaults and 64 were potential civil rights violations.

A3PCON on March 18 established Stop AAPI Hate, an initiative to raise awareness of anti-Asian racism, urge lawmakers to support

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Fil-Am named UC Riverside men’s basketball coach, becoming first Asian to lead a team in NCAA Division 1 history A FILIPINO American was recently selected as the head men’s basketball coach at the University of California, Riverside, making history as the first person of Asian descent to lead an NCAA Division 1 team.

Mike Magpayo, previously the associate coach for the team, will ascend to the top role after head coach David Parick accepted another position at the University of Arkansas.

“The Riverside community and the Highlander program are so important to me and I am thrilled that Mike Magpayo will have an opportunity to lead the way forward,” Patrick said in a July 1 release from the university. “I have no doubt about the way Mike and the staff will represent this program.”

Magpayo, whose parents are originally from the Philippines, was the defensive coordinator and architect of the UC Riverside defense that finished in top-10 nationally and tied

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The county reports a whopping 7,232 increase in cases over a three-day period

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

Despite warnings from lawmakers and officials that the public should continue to practice social distancing and pandemic safety precautions, Cali-

fornians continue to socialize at newly opened establishments, according to new and improved data processing.

The rise in cases came to a head when a three-day period — from Thursday, July 2 to Saturday, July 4

— yielded a 7,232 increase of new COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County.

But on Tuesday, July 7, the county reported 4,015 confirmed cases, the highest single-day surge since

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PH now has the second highest number of COVID19 cases in Southeast Asia

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippines trails behind Indonesia with the second highest number of coronavirus cases in Southeast Asia.

The country’s Department of Health recorded 2,099 new infections on Monday, June 6, bringing the official count of infections to 46,333, surpassing Singapore’s 44,983.

Indonesia remained as the top Southeast Asian country with the highest number of cases with 64,958 cases.

The DOH on Tuesday, July 7, reported 1,540 additional COVID-19 cases, which further raises the total number of infected individuals in the Philippines to 47,873.

Of the number, 993 were “fresh” as they were only detected in the last three days. The remaining 547 MONDAY COMMUTE. A bus conductor checks the temperature of passengers before boarding along the Marikina-Infanta Highway (Marilaque Highway) cases, on the other hand, were part of the agency’s Cogeo Gate 2 in Antipolo City on Monday, July 6. The government has been reminding transport operators and commuters to observe health protocols backlog. under the general community quarantine.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

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SoCal Fil-Am family speaks out after man tells them ‘Trump’s gonna f*** you’in viral video

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

A FILIPINO American family from Southern California took a trip up north to Carmel Valley over the Fourth of July weekend to celebrate a birthday. What was supposed to be a happy occasion quickly turned into another example of pervasive anti-Asian hate caught on video.

“We were having fun, playing games and when we were having dessert, suddenly, we hear somebody behind us yelling, ‘You f***ing Asians,” Raymond Orosa told the Asian Journal.

On July 4, Orosa, along with his sister-inlaw and her two children, was at the Bernardus Lodge and Spa’s Lucia restaurant to celebrate his wife Mari’s special day.

When the white man — later identified by social media users as Michael Lofthouse, who owns a tech company called Solid8 in San Francisco — started berating the family, Orosa’s niece Jordan Chan pulled out her cellphone and told him to repeat what he had said.

In the video Chan posted on her Instagram, Lofthouse is seen sticking up his middle finger to the family, and then says, Filed Lawyer Howard Calleja (right) and Bro. Armin Luistro on Monday, July 6 hold copies of

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the petition before the Supreme Court questioning the constitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Law. ManilaTimes.net photo by Mike Alquinto

‘Filipino Americans for Biden’ seek to get 1 million PH Supreme Court asks Fil-Ams to vote for the former VP this November Palace to answer legal

by AJPRESS FILIPINO American elected officials and community leaders recently came together to throw their support behind former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, ahead of November.

Over 200 participants joined a virtual meeting for “Filipino Americans for Biden,” during which several speakers — from Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia to philanthropist Loida Nicolas Lewis — shared why the former vice president is ready to take on President Donald Trump in the

upcoming election.

“It’s essential that we elect Joe Biden as our next president,” Scott said, citing Biden’s past work in health care, education and immigration.

The congressman, whose maternal grandfather had Filipino ancestry, also emphasized the importance of also voting down the ballot to reclaim the Democratic majority in Congress.

“But it is also important to elect others that will be on the ballot…We can take back the Senate,” he said.

Gina Ortiz-Jones, an openly gay Iraq War veteran who is running again for Texas’ 23rd Dis-

trict, urged the audience that it is up to them to get their family members, especially older eligible voters, registered to vote.

“I’m very concerned that if our voices are not at the table and if we are not making sure that we get all of our titas, lolas, manang s and manongs out to vote, then we will regret having had the chance to put our country back on the right track, understanding the importance of not only this country’s example, but also what it’s meant to each of us individually as Fil-Ams,” OrtizJones said.

She raised concerns about the current White House leadership

during the pandemic and drew parallels with what is happening back in the Philippines.

Ortiz-Jones continued, “Given the number of blessings that this country has given us, we’ve certainly worked hard. But as we all see, frankly we’re watching what’s happening in the Philippines and Maria Ressa is unfortunately seeing firsthand what can happen in a country that doesn’t prize the importance of an independent free press. And unfortunately, seeing a corrupted judiciary, you just have to look at what’s happening there to see very quickly what could happen

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challenges vs anti-terror law

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippine Supreme Court has ordered Malacañang to comment on the four petitions challenging the constitutionality of the anti-terrorism law recently signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The four petitions are Petitions for Certiorari and Prohibition with Prayer for Issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order and Writ of Preliminary Injunction. They all relate to Republic Act No. 11479 or the Anti-Terror-

ism Act of 2020,” said SC spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka during the high court’s en banc session on Tuesday, July 7.

“The SC ordered the consolidation of the four petitions, and required the respondents to file their respective comments on the petition and application for TRO (temporary restraining order) within a period of 10 calendar days from notice,” he added.

Named respondents are Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, members of the AntiTerrorism Council, as well as the

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A JuLY 8-10, 2020 • SoCal ASIAN JOuRNAL

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

From the Front Page

‘Filipino Americans for Biden’ seek to get...

PAGE A1 here. So we have to be there. It’s our responsibility.”

The congressional hopeful added that the excuses for not voting are invalid as “too much is at stake” and Fil-Ams “have to be part of that solution” by getting at least 20 individuals in their network to register to vote and cast their ballots for Biden.

With now less than four months until Election Day, the group is seeking to get at least “1 million” Fil-Ams onboard.

“This is just the beginning of the Filipino Americans who are now finding their voice and standing up for justice and equality,” Nicolas Lewis said. “So please volunteer, all of you, and tell your friends. As Gina OrtizJones says, get 20 more so that eventually we will reach 1 million Filipino Americans for Biden.”

The virtual launch for the FilAms for Biden group came the day after the former vice president appeared at the digital AAPI presidential town hall organized

by APIAVote on Sunday, June 28, during which he addressed the issues specific to the AAPI community.

As anti-Asian sentiments have been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S., Biden denounced the rhetoric coming from Trump and his supporters.

“Asian Americans are being targeted with violence and are being subjected to xenophobic rhetoric from the mouth of the president himself,” Biden said.

“This is the president who, instead of bringing our country together, does everything he can to fan the flames of hate and division in this country.”

He further gave viewers a peek into his platform as it relates to immigration, especially as Trump last month temporarily suspended the issuance of new work visas through 2020, preventing hundreds of thousands of foreigners seeking employment through the H-1B visa.

“People coming on these [H-

1B] visas have built this country,” the former vice president said, adding that in his first 100 days, he would send an immigration reform bill to congress to provide a roadmap to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

“My immigration policy is built around keeping families together, modernizing the immigration system by keeping families together, [and having] unification and diversity as pillars of our immigration system, which it used to be,” he said.

As election season draws closer, the Trump and Biden campaigns are seeking support from AAPI voters, considered the fastest-growing group in the U.S. electorate, according to a recent Pew Research Center analysis.

Trump’s re-election campaign, meanwhile, has announced “Asian Pacific Americans for RAPID TEST. A woman undergoes rapid test for coronavirus as part of stringent health protocols imposed on persons going home to their Trump,” which has several Fil- provinces, during a send-off program at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Sunday, July 5. Locally stranded individuals bound for Ilocos Ams on its advisory board, as Norte and Sur, Quirino, Benguet and other provinces in Luzon and Zamboanga in Mindanao, availed of the Hatid Tulong initiative.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan previously reported by the Asian Journal. n

Residents under 40 years old now...

PAGE A1

the beginning of the pandemic, bringing the daily positivity rate to 11.6%.

What’s more concerning, public health officials noted, is that residents under the age of 40 now make up nearly half of the coronavirus cases in Los Angeles County, contrasting the widely accepted myth that young people are less likely to contract the disease.

In just three weeks, recorded infections among county residents between the ages of 18 to 40 increased from 27,455 on June 15 to 47,424 on Sunday, July 5, a nearly 73% increase.

Additionally, there are currently 1,921 people hospitalized with 28% of patients requiring intensive care and 18% on ventilators.

“Unfortunately where we are today is different than where we were two, three, or four weeks ago,” LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a press conference. “Cases are surging, hospitalizations are increasing and, mostly, this is all a reflection of a lot more community spread.

Although it remains true that the COVID-19 virus more severely affects the elderly and those with existing health problems, the hospitalization rate among those between the ages of 18 to 64 years has also surged over the last few weeks as more businesses, restaurants, services and bars began opening up at the beginning of June.

Public Health continues to encourage residents to avoid the Three C’s: crowded places, confined spaces and close contact with other people who don’t live in your household. As always, officials are still urging people to leave their homes only when necessary, wear a face covering securely over the nose and mouth and adhere to physical distancing standards by standing 6 feet apart.

Ferrer said that in early April, when the COVID-19 crisis was in its early stages, 86% of LA County residents adamantly stayed home. But, citing a USC study, Ferrer said that number has decreased significantly with 58% of residents practicing strict quarantine measures.

The number of residents com-

ing in close contact with others from different households has also surged, according to Ferrer.

At the beginning of April, it was at 31% and has risen to 55% by the end of June, signaling the effectiveness of quarantine — among residents and businesses — to mitigate viral transmission.

“It’s clear that after months of quarantine combined with the reopening of many sectors in the span of several weeks, we’ve had a lot of people disregard the very practices that allowed us to slow the spread. This cannot continue,” Ferrer said.

Although beaches in LA County were closed all of Fourth of July weekend, they were reopened the following Monday.

Ferrer said that it would take two weeks to see how the Fourth of July festivities affected the COVID-19 numbers.

She added, “If we do not find it in ourselves to actually continue to adhere to the social distancing and infection control practices, it finds us in a place where we’re slowing down our recovery journey. What we do now will determine where we are in three to four weeks.” n

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Dateline USa

Filipino American Mike Magpayo was promoted from associate coach to head men’s basketball coach at UC Riverside.

Fil-Am named UC Riverside men’s basketball...

PAGE A1 the program’s Division I record for wins, with 17 in the 2019-20 season. He was also named one of Silver Waves Media’s “Top 50 Most Impactful Low Major Coaches.” Last month, Magpayo was promoted to associate head coach before his latest role.

“I am honored, humbled, and absolutely thrilled for the opportunity to lead our University of California Riverside Men’s Basketball program into the future,” the Fil-Am coach said in a statement. “I want to thank AD Tamica Smith Jones and Chancellor Kim Wilcox for this incredible opportunity. Most of all, I am eternally

grateful to Coach David Patrick, a true leader, a role model like no other, and a friend.”

Magpayo, a graduate of UC Santa Barbara, is also the founder and president of the Asian Coaches Association, a unified organization of networking, support, and development for Asian coaches worldwide.

Prior to his time at UC Riverside, Magpayo spent a season at the University of San Francisco, going 22-7, picking up wins over ranked teams like Nevada and St. Mary’s, and advancing to the finals of the CBI Championship.

He also spent time at Campbell University. In his last season

with the Camels, he was able to help put together one of the best seasons in school history, as the team was able to advance to the conference championship game as well as the CIT quarterfinals in the program’s first postseason appearance in nearly 25 years.

He got his start in the Ivy League at Columbia serving in multiple capacities during the most successful run in program history from 2010-14.

The existing staff is expected to remain in the Inland Empire and build on the foundation established under Patrick’s leadership, the university said. (AJPress)

Anti-Asian hate incidents total more than 800...

PAGE A1 anti-racism proposals and legislation and to provide a space where victims can report any anti-Asian hate incidents, as previously reported by the Asian Journal.

Hate incidents in California, specifically, have attracted national attention after viral videos of non-Asian people berating and harassing Asians, using xenophobic and graphic language. It’s also been widely accepted that the use of misnomers like “China virus” or “kung flu” — which have been used by prominent lawmakers and leaders like President Donald Trump — further fuel anti-Asian sentiments.

Coupled with racially-insensitive rhetoric, the president’s immigration policies, like his recent suspension of foreign worker visas, keep alive the xenophobia that Asians in America face, according to Cynthia Choi, co-executive director for Chinese for Affirmative Action.

“Racist demagoguery matched with anti-immigrant policies have

always been used to deny Asian Americans full social and political rights,” Choi said in a press conference on July 1. “In California, we have to do more than condemn racist rhetoric. We must take bold action today to address attacks whether they happen in grocery stores, in the workplace, or in the schoolyard.”

Donalene Ferrer, a Filipina nurse from Oceanside, California, said that on April 1, she — along with her 17-year-old daughter Charlie and 65-year-old mother — was walking her dogs when she was harassed by a white woman.

“This was like, you could say, early COVID or early mask requirement time but we all had our masks on and this car drives by and yells [at us], ‘You started the corona!’” Ferrer, 41, recounted in the July 1 press conference.

Ferrer shared that she and her daughter were shocked, but she felt “discouraged” to keep walking so they decided to walk back to Ferrer’s mother’s house. But

when they made it back, they saw that car — presumably parked in front of their own house nearby, according to Ferrer — and saw two males, one female, two young kids and a baby get out of the car.

The Filipina then felt motivated to “say something” to the family so she approached the family and said to them, “You know, I’m a nurse and my dad was in the military, he fought for this country.

You really shouldn’t be teaching your kids racism.”

According to Ferrer, the man who yelled the obscenity looked downtrodden after hearing Ferrer and didn’t want to stoke further aggression, but the woman, who was holding the baby, “kept egging it on,” hurling vulgarities at Ferrer’s teenage daughter.

“It’s disheartening because they live literally three doors down from my mother’s house and you could tell she was shaken by it,” she shared. “I cried when the commander in chief, PAGE A4

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 8-10, 2020

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A JuLY 8-10, 2020 • SoCal ASIAN JOuRNAL

Dateline USa

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NAIA Terminal 3 resumes international flights

by AJPress

AIRPORT INSPECTION. Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Eddie Monreal (center), and other airport officials conduct an ocular inspection of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, in Pasay City on Monday, July 6.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

PH now has the second highest number of...

PAGE A1 The country’s death toll was also raised 1,309 after the DOH announced six new fatalities.

Meanwhile, 201 individuals recovered from the disease, which brought the recovery count to 12,386.

According to DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the spike in the Philippines’ COVID19 cases is happening due to the relaxed community quarantine measures. “[We are experiencing] an in-

crease in the number of positive cases due to the increase in testing and because there’s community transmission because of the lack of implementation of minimum health standard. The increase has been gradual and our health system is able to cope with the increasing number of cases,” she said Tuesday.

On Sunday, the country logged its biggest one-day hike in COVID-19 infections after the DOH announced 2,434 new cases.

The DOH called for all estab-

lishments to “implement the minimum health standards in their premises and immediately report clustering of confirmed cases in their respective workplaces.”

Authorities likewise encouraged the public to continue practicing general preventive measures like wearing masks, proper handwashing, physical distancing, and avoiding non-essential travel outside their homes to avoid the further spread of the virus. n

Anti-Asian hate incidents total more than 800...

PAGE A3 or whatever you want to call him, said ‘China virus’ and ‘kung flu.’

There’s something definitely in the air, and I can’t believe it happened to me, my daughter and my mom. I just shook my head and said this better not be something major.”

California is home to 4.2 million people of Asian descent, making it the state with the largest Asian population. Filipinos have been among the most targeted groups according to videos, like the Filipina woman who was harassed in a park in Torrance while exercising and the slew of anti-Filipino harassment that has occurred in the Bay Area since the outset of the pandemic.

According to victims, these attacks stemmed from anti-Asian sentiments that arose after it was discovered that the COVID19 virus originated from the city of Wuhan in the Hubei region of

China. This has led to the fallacious association between the virus — which medical and public health experts stress is not racially-motivated — and the global Asian community.

Russell Jeung, chair and professor and professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University, said in a statement that the incident in Torrance was “one example of hundreds.”

“It’s the tip of the iceberg of anti-Asian American hate and discrimination. Without government accountability, we risk COVID-related racism against Asian Americans becoming deeply entrenched, ultimately impacting the lives of millions of people in California and around the country.”

Since April, Stop AAPI Hate has pushed the California government to adopt initiatives that hold these abusers and harassers

accountable and to further investigate these incidents through a Racial Bias Strike Team.

But the California state budget, released on Friday, June 26, did not include funding for these initiatives, leaving “millions of Asian Americans in California in the dark about what accountability and action they can expect,” A3PCON said in a statement.

“We have presented Governor Newsom with clear and effective tactics to combat discrimination and harassment of Asian Americans,” A3PCON Executive Director Manjusha Kulkarni said following Newsom’s oversight concerning the state budget.

“Asian Americans need to see concrete actions and we’re here to work with the state to ensure that we can live free from racial discrimination and enjoy equal rights and access.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 is now open for international flights, as of Wednesday, July 8.

“As global aviation endeavors to return to normalcy, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) gears up by resuming international flight operations in NAIA Terminal 3,” read the statement posted on Facebook.

It added, “After temporarily closing its doors on March 28 this year, NAIA Terminal 3 will finally open its gates to resume international flight operations beginning 12:01 a.m. of July 8, 2020.”

The MIAA also said that flights of All Nippon Airways, AirAsia Berhad, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines will be returned to Terminal 3 after they were re-

located to NAIA Terminal 1.

Meanwhile, Air China, Air Niugini, Asiana Airlines, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Etihad Airways, Eva Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Gulf Air, Hong Kong Airlines, Japan Airlines, Jeju Air, Jetstar Asia, Jetstar Japan, Korean Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Royal Brunei Airlines, Saudia Airlines, Scoot, Thai Airways and Xiamen Air will remain in Terminal 1.

Terminal 2 will continue to service international arrival flights for Philippine Airlines but its departures will come from Terminal 1.

“International operations of other airline carriers assigned in Terminal 3 however remain suspended to date. These are Cebu Pacific, Delta Air [Lines], Qantas Airways, and United Airlines,” said MIAA. Terminal 4 will also remain closed until further notice.

“On current domestic operations, Cebu Pacific (5J), Cebgo (DG), Philippines Air Asia (Z2) and Air Swift flights operate to and from NAIA Terminal 3 while Philippine Airlines (PR) and PAL Express (2P) operate to and from NAIA Terminal 2,” the MIAA said.

“These airlines also operate sweeper flights,” it added.

It also advised the public to constantly check airline websites for announcements. They may contact the MIAA through its Facebook page, or its hotlines 0917-8396242, 0918-8396242, and 8877-1111 for further assistance.

The country had suspended international travel since March to contain the further spread of the novel coronavirus. Under current regulations, only returning Filipino citizens and their families, Filipino migrant workers, permanent residents, and diplomats are allowed to enter the Philippines. n

Casimero opts to stay in US till his next fight

by Josef

Ramos ManilaTimes.net

WORLD Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero will not be going back to the Philippines without securing a fight in the United States.

International matchmaker and MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons and Casimero’s elder brother personal trainer Jayson confirmed to The Manila Times on Sunday, July 5, that the threeweight world champion would be staying in Las Vegas to train for now while waiting for Japanese unified world titleholder Naoya Inoue.

“We need to get Casimero in top shape,” said Gibbons, adding that he is exploring a lot of options right now if Inoue, the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association bantamweight champion, won’t

be able to make it to the US by the end of July.

“If no Inoue fight in 2020, we need to make money. I am looking at a lot of options, but nothing [final] yet,” added Gibbons, who is taking care of Casimero’s training and billeting in a Las Vegas apartment since February.

The Casimero-Inoue unification showdown was supposed to happen on April 25 in Las Vegas. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was postponed.

Top Rank chief Bob Arum revealed to The Manila Times last week that Inoue is struggling because of visa problem. Arum is looking to make the fight happen in Las Vegas sometime in September or October with at least 2,000 paying audience.

But Gibbons said they are looking for other options such as facing American Rau’shee Warren, Mexican Pedro Guevara or

Australian Jason Moloney.

“I’m looking at Mexican Pedro Guevara and others,” said Gibbons as he expressed his other options for Casimero (294 record with 20 knockouts) to fight by around September or October.

Warren (17-3 record with four knockouts) lost to reigning World Boxing Council bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali of France last January 19, 2019 before bouncing back with a unanimous decision win over Gilberto Mendoza last February 15.

Guevara, 31, is holding a 363-1 record with 21 knockouts while Moloney is sporting a 211 record with 18 knockouts.

Moloney is fresh from an impressive seventh round technical knockout win over Leonardo Baez last June 25 at Top Rank’s boxing bubble event in Las Vegas. n

SoCal Fil-Am family speaks out after man tells...

PAGE A1 “Trump’s gonna f*** you.”

“It is no coincidence that this man has the audacity to showcase such blatant racism on the 4th of July. White supremacy has a notorious habit of masquerading as patriotism!”

Chan wrote.

Later in the video, Lofthouse gets ready to leave and tells them, “You f****** need to leave. You f****** Asian piece of s***.”

“The fact that Donald Trump is our president (i.e. THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN THE WORLD) gives racists a platform and amplifies voices of hate. The surfacing of racists is so prevalent right now, even in such an ethnically/ culturally diverse and liberal state like California, because Trump HIMSELF uses his position to incite racial tension and to promote aggression towards POC, foreigners, and immigrants. We need change!”

Chan continued in her post, encouraging people to vote in November.

A waitress later stepped in, saying “You do not talk to guests like that.” (The video, which has been viewed nearly 400,000 times on Chan’s Instagram, also caught the attention of singer Kelly Clarkson on Twitter, praising the waitress for speaking up and “throwing this trash out.”)

“We were shocked. All I could

say was, ‘What’s wrong with you?’ because I didn’t want to react in a manner that could trigger something. I didn’t know how violent he could be and didn’t want to jeopardize the safety of my family,” Orosa said.

He also told the Asian Journal that the video didn’t capture the entire encounter as a man at another table also tried to intervene and chase Lofthouse out of the restaurant.

The lodge has since released a statement commending the staff for how they handled the incident and apologizing to Orosa and his family.

Chan also shared an abusive comment that Lofthouse reportedly posted on her Instagram that has since been deleted.

The tech entrepreneur also issued a public apology, writing, “My behavior in the video is appalling. This was clearly a moment where I lost control and made incredibly hurtful and divisive comments. I would like to deeply apologize to the Chan family. I can only imagine the stress and pain they feel. I was taught to respect people of all races, and I will take the time to reflect on my actions and work to better understand the inequality that so many of those around me face every day.”

Orosa, who has been in the U.S. for nearly three decades, said though the incident per-

sonally affected his family, it shows a bigger picture of what the Asian American community is facing today.

“I think he shouldn’t just apologize to us. He should apologize to the whole Asian community that’s seen his video and from that point on, take all the responsibility that comes with it,” Orosa said.

“He did it and everybody witnessed it. He’s gotta be responsible for what he’s done and said.”

This family’s racist experience is one of several that FilAms across the state have spoken up about in recent months.

Other examples have included a Filipina American who was told to go back to her country while exercising in Torrance or a white woman who threatened to call the cops on a Fil-Am man who was stenciling ‘Black Lives Matter’ outside of his San Francisco home.

Recent data from the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center showed that 832 incidents of discrimination and hate against Asians have been reported in California alone.

“Despite the fact that racism still exists, it shouldn’t stop us from doing the right thing,” Orosa said. “If we have one unified voice and speak up, the better it is for people to understand that we can do this and protect each other from people like this guy, Michael.”

PAGE A1 Anti-Money Laundering Council.

The four petitions were filed before the high court after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the measure into law on Friday, July 3.

A group of lawyers on Saturday, July 4, electronically filed a petition seeking for the issuance of a temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction to stop the law’s implementation. “[We] respectfully pray that judgment be rendered by the Honorable Supreme Court issuing a Temporary Restraining Order, Writ of Preliminary Injunction and/or Other Injunctive Remedies to prevent the enforcement of the anti-terrorism act beginning July 19, 2020, the same having been published in the Official Gazette on July 3, 2020,” the group, led by law professor and lawyer Howard Calleja, said.

Other petitioners included lawyer Joseph Peter Calleja, law professor Christopher John Lao, Reynaldo J. Echavez, Napoleon Siongco, Raeyan Reposar, civic groups Tunay na Bayani and Bagong Siklab Pilipinas, and former Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro.

Three new petitions were filed on Monday by Law Dean Mel Sta. Maria and several professors

of the Far Eastern University (FEU), Rep. Edcel C. Lagman, and the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives led by Bayan Muna Party-List Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate.

The FEU petition seeks to declare Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 25, 26, 27, and 29 unconstitutional.

“The definition of terrorism in Section 4 is so vague and broad such that it can be read to include legitimate and lawful gatherings and demonstrations where people assemble to exercise their freedom of speech, of expression, and of the press,” the petition read.

The FEU professors also told the SC that the provisions “attempted to legitimize warrantless arrests on the basis of mere suspicion, and for encroaching on exclusively judicial power and prerogative.”

They likewise noted that Sections 25 and 29 “completely disregard and violate Article III, Section 2 of the fundamental law by supplanting the Constitutional requirements before an individual may be arrested and deprived of liberty, namely a judicially issued warrant of arrest and the stringent requisites for a lawful warrantless arrest.”

Meanwhile, Lagman’s petition said “the war against suspected

terrorists and the campaign against terrorism cannot be pursued and intensified by sacrificing human rights, civil liberties, and fundamental freedoms which are enshrined in and protected by the Constitution.”

The petition also noted that “the redefinition of the crime of terrorism is cast in vague and ambiguous language so much so that there is no certitude on what acts are proscribed and the people are perplexed on what acts to avoid.”

“A maximum of 90 days technical surveillance and wiretapping of communications is an unreasonable invasion of a person’s privacy which is guaranteed by the Constitution,” it added.

Makabayan’s petition, on the other hand, seeks the declaration of the law in its entirety as violative of the Constitution.

According to the bloc party, the broad definitions will give “too much leeway” to charge progressive individuals as well as others who dare express dissent.

“The overbroad and vague provisions on extensive, interference, damage or destruction, and critical infrastructure will give the implementors of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 much leeway to charge these vulnerable speakers for terrorism,” said Makabayan in its petition. n

PH Supreme Court asks Palace to answer legal...

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Palace: House lawmakers can vote on Despite Palace assurances of ‘winning,’ ABS-CBN’s fate based on ‘conscience’ Filipinos unsure if worst of pandemic over

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

PHILIPPINE House lawmakers can vote on ABS-CBN’s new legislative franchise based on their “conscience,” Malacañang said on Tuesday, July 7.

This comes after President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated his “neutral” stance on the issue.

“Ang Presidente naman po, ang sinabi niya (The president said) the members of Congress can vote according to their conscience dahil siya naman po ay neutral (because he said he’s neutral),” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

This came after the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches urged Duterte to support the broadcast giant’s franchise renewal.

“I-address po natin ang appeal sa Kongreso kasi desisyon po iyan ng Kongreso (Address the appeal to Congress because the decision will come from Congress),” Roque said.

The spokesman also said Duterte “is neutral when it comes to ABS-CBN” after the network “apologized and he has forgiven them.”

“He is neutral, vote according to your conscience,” Roque added.

The hearing for ABS-CBN’s

congratulations, Philippines!”

He also said he would make the same remark in future hearings, MANILA — Despite repeated even asserting at Tuesday’s Lagadministration claims that the ing Handa briefing: “I still believe country is winning the “war” we are still winning the fight vs against the coronavirus pandem- COVID-19.” ic, Filipinos are split on whether the worst of it is behind us or has yet to come, new survey data suggests.

According to the Social Weather Stations mobile phone survey, 47% of Filipinos said that the worst of the outbreak is still coming, while 44% said that rock bottom was over and done with. 8% either did not have an answer or refused to sound off.

The survey also found that belief that “the worst is yet to come” is highest in the Visayas, where Cebu City still remains under a strict enhanced community quarantine after a succession of case clusters led to government officials labelling it as the country’s new COVID-19 epicenter.

SWS noted in its report that sentiment across areas in GCQ and ECQ did not differ, saying: “Opinion about the Covid-19 crisis did not vary by quarantine status: 47% in both ECQ and GCQ areas said “the worst is yet to come”, while 45% in ECQ areas and 44% in GCQ areas said “the worst is behind us.’”

“Conversely, 5% of Canadians and 31% of Americans said “the worst is behind us”, compared to 44% of Filipinos with that view,” it added.

SWS’ survey, which interviewed a “nationally-representative sample of 4,010 working-age Filipinos,” made use of mobile phone and computer-assisted telephone interviewing. Its sampling error margins stood at ±2% for national percentages, ±6% for Metro Manila, ±2 for Balance Luzon, ±3% Visayas, and ±3% in Mindanao.

‘Congratulations, Philippines!’

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque last month congratulated the country for beating the prediction of experts from the University of the Philippines. A visibly elated Roque went so far as to pump his fist in the air in celebration, saying: “We beat the UP prediction po. We beat it. So

by FRanco luna Philstar.com

Ging Reyes, Head Integrated News and Current Affairs of ABS-CBN Corporation, takes her oath at the 12th hearing on the franchise renewal of the broadcast network at the House of Representative on Monday, July 6.

Inquirer.net photo by Grig Montegrande

franchise bill, conducted by the House committees on legislative franchises, and good government and public accountability, resumed on Monday.

ABS-CBN went off-air after the broadcast of its primetime news program “TV Patrol” on May 5 after the National Telecommunications Commission issued the network a cease and desist order.

The order directed ABS-CBN to shut down its various TV and radio broadcasting stations nationwide “absent a valid Congressional Franchise as required by law.”

Republic Act No. 7966, which

granted the network a 25-year franchise to operate TV and radio broadcasting stations expired on May 4, 2020.

Roque also maintained that the Palace would let Congress exercise its independence deciding ABS-CBN’s fate.

“Respetuhin na lang natin ang kapangyarihan ng mababang kapulungan dahil sa kanila dapat magsimula ang panukalang batas na magre-renew ng franchise sa ABS-CBN (Let’s respect the lower chamber in exercising its authority because the franchise bill of ABS-CBN will have to come from them),” he said. n

Go backs 2020 as Year of Filipino Health Workers

MANILA — Sen. Bong Go has expressed support for the Department of Health (DOH)’s call to declare 2020 as the “Year of Filipino Health Workers” as the country continues to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“I am expressing my full support to the recommendation of the Department of Health,” Go said.

The chairman of the Senate committee on health and demography said the public should recognize the hard work and dedication of health workers who serve as frontliners in the crisis facing the country today.

He cited the need to highlight the importance of the health workforce in every way the government can while continuously providing them with the necessary resources.

“While we are continuously fighting the COVID-19, let us give what our medical frontliners need to fulfill their duties,” Go said in Filipino.

The senator stressed that the best way to recognize the sacrifices of health workers is for the public to cooperate with authorities and comply with the guidelines set by health officials.

He said following health and safety protocols can save lives, especially those of the frontliners exposed to the coronavirus. (Philstar.

Senator Bong Go com)

Philstar.com photo

SWS data contradict the prevailing narrative among public officials that rises in cases happen because of a lack of discipline among Filipinos.

One found that most Filipinos — u PAGE A7

OpiniOn & Features

A JuLY 8-10, 2020 • SoCal ASIAN JOuRNAL

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

Wielding a weapon

THE Supreme Court is being asked to intervene, and Malacañang has promised to abide by the decision of the high tribunal. While the SC ponders whether it should weigh in on a law passed by Congress and newly enacted

by President Duterte, security forces are likely to begin applying the new law as soon as publication requirements are met.

Republic Act 11479, the AntiTerrorism Act of 2020, effectively replaced RA 9372, the Human Security Act of 2007. The new law reduced the prison term for wrongful arrest of terror suspects and does away with the daily fine of P500,000 – provisions in RA 9372 that security officials have cited as key reasons why the law was not used by counterterrorism forces.

Among the most contentious provisions in RA 11479 are the identification of who is a terrorist, the broad powers for conducting warrantless arrests, and the extension of the period for detaining terror suspects without charges for up to 24 days.

Defenders of the new measure say security forces will need clearance from the Court of Appeals and notification of the Commission on Human Rights for the detention as well as broader wiretapping activities.

The new law allows the Anti-Money Laundering Council to look into the accounts of terror

suspects, setting aside bank secrecy laws. The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force has warned that the Philippines would end up this year on the gray list of money laundering havens if it fails to pass legislation against terrorist financing. Proponents of the measure have also pointed out that other countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and other Western democracies, have similar laws against terrorism, allowing even longer detention periods without charges.

Opponents of the measure say the provision on detention and certain other items in the new law are unconstitutional. They have also expressed fears of abuse and the use of the new law to suppress political dissent and trample on human Philstar.com photo rights. Because of the administration’s record in law enforcement, particularly in the so-called war baseless. on drugs, and the selective application of laws Security officials asked for a weapon from Con– as manifested in the mañanita for Metro Manila gress and Malacañang, and got it. They will first police chief Debold Sinas – the concerns are not have to earn public trust. Like any weapon, secu-

Editorial

rity forces will have to show that they can wield this one effectively, equally and with restraint, principally to keep the nation and its democratic institutions safe. (Philstar.com)

Anti-terrorism bill sorely needs rewriting

At Ground Level Satur C. OCampO AS a criminal statute, the Anti-Terrorism Act bill awaiting President Duterte’s action ought to be clearly and precisely written so that “it can give adequate guidance to those concerned,” but it is “hard to understand.”

Moreover, the bill heightens international concerns about “the blurring of important distinctions between criticism, criminality and terrorism.” Hence, it must be thoroughly reviewed and rewritten.

These views came from two authoritative voices, just two days apart this week – first, from a retired Supreme Court magistrate, then by the United Nations high commissioner on human rights.

And President Duterte is best advised to seriously consider them.

On June 28, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Vicente V. Mendoza, a highly respected constitutionalist and due process advocate, expounded on why the ATB fails on the criteria of clarity and precision. In a written commentary in another newspaper, he focused on Section 4 of the bill, which enumerates the five acts for which an individual or group shall be deemed guilty of committing terrorism and pe-

nalized with life imprisonment without the benefit of parole.

“Section 4 is the heart of the proposed law,” Mendoza pointed out. “It must state what terrorism is and who are guilty of it in clear and precise terms,” he wrote. He asked what the folllowing phrases (already described by many critics as “ambiguous and overbroad”) precisely meant: “serious bodily injury,” “extensive damage or destruction,” “extensive interference,” “seriously undermine public safety,” and “seriously destabilize or destroy the fundamental political, economic, or social structure.”

Delivering his coup de grace, Mendoza wrote: “A statute whose terms are so vague that persons of common understanding must necessarily guess at its meaning or differ as to its application offends due process (emphasis mine).”

Likewise offending due process, he added, is a statute that “sweeps unnecessarily broadly both prohibited and protected conduct,” citing the conflicting provisions of the bill’s Section 3 and Section 48 regarding “extraordinary rendition.” (He refers to a practice devised by the US spy agency CIA of transferring a suspected terrorist or supporter to a foreign country for detention and interrogation.)

On June 30, a comprehensive

written report on the human rights situation in the Philippines was formally presented by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michele Bachelet, to the 44th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. In her brief opening statement, she correlated the ATA bill’s passage to heightening concerns about the blurring of the distinctions between criticism, criminality and terrorism.

Because the proposed law “could have a further chilling effect on human rights and humanitarian work” and would hinder support to vulnerable and marginalized communities, Bachelet told the UNHRC she would urge President Duterte to do two things: First, refrain from signing the bill into law; Second, initiate a broad-based consultation process towards drafting legislation “that can effectively prevent and counter violent extremism – but which contains some safeguards to prevent its misuse against people engaged in peaceful criticism and advocacy.” “My Office is ready to assist in such a review,” she said.

Note that Bachelet was duly careful in using the term “violent extremism” instead of “terrorism” since there is as yet no officially internationally accepted or approved definition of

terrorism.

The UN human rights chief called on the UNHRC to “remain active and vigilant on the situation in the Philippines” by mandating her office to continue [its] monitoring and reporting, and through support for technical cooperation to implement her report’s recommendations.

Describing the findings of her report as “very serious,” saying laws and policies to counter national security threats have been crafted and implemented “result[ing] in thousands of killings, arbitrary detentions and the vilification of those who challenge these severe human rights violations.” Specifically, Bachelet lamented that “human rights defenders are routinely smeared as terrorists, enemies of the state, and even viruses akin to COVID-19.”

Meantime, recently retired SC Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio has continued to pursue his main criticism on the ATB – its Section 29, which extends detention without judicial arrest warrant, and without judicial charge, to a total of 24 days. He called this section as the provision that “strikes the deadliest blow on fundamental constitutional rights.”

In his two column pieces in the Inquirer (on June 8 and on July 2), he showed that the bill’s principal author, Sen. Panfilo

Lacson, had himself made contradictory statements on the “rationale for Section 29.” In both instances, the retired justice checkmated the senator.

On June 8, Carpio quoted Lacson, during the Senate deliberation on the bill, as explaining that Section 29 expands the warrantless arrest allowed under the Rules of Court, in mixed Filipino-English: “Hindi na rin po natin pinapalitan iyong provision sa citizen’s arrest in this case. Kaya lamang, ang in-expand natin ay iyong period. In ordinary crimes, hindi puwede iyong nasa planning stage, hindi naman niya ginawa, hindi naman siya nag-commit ng crime. Pero dahil iyong tinatawag nating inchoate offense, hindi pa nangyayari, nasa simula pa lamang, puwede na nating arestuhin because we want to be proactive because this is a new phenomenon.”

In short, Carpio noted, under Section 29 the Anti-Terrorism Council (to be composed mainly of Cabinet-rank officials) “is authorized to order the arrest of any person even if he or she has not committed any crime of terrorism.” He debunked this view, pointing out that under the Constitution the only person authorized to issue a warrant of arrest is a judge, and he must have “probable cause” to believe that

a crime has been committed.

About the way Lacson explained it, he wrote, “This is truly mindboggling.”

But Lacson has also said otherwise. On July 2, Carpio cited Lacson’s letter to IBP President Domingo Cayosa dated June 15.

In that letter, he observed, Lacson affirmed that the legislative intent behind Section 29 was to allow warrantless arrest, pursuant to Rule 113, Section 5 of the Rules of Court: – only “by virtue of in flagrante delicto and hot pursuit – in such cases [when} an actual crime is being committed, or has been committed.”

Assuming Lacson’s interpretation was correct, Carpio pointed out, “law enforcement agents and military personnel can never detain the arrested person for more than 36 hours.” Moreover, he wrote, “there is no need for additional time to gather more evidence to strengthen the case against the arrested person for purposes of denying bail.” The investigating prosecutor can immediately conduct an inquest and file the judicial charge within 36 hours, he explained, and the judge will deny bail “because the evidence of guilt is obviously strong.”

“Being under continued detention,” Carpio concluded, “the arrested person cannot commit further acts of terrorism.” Touche! (Philstar.com)

I’m a Filipina caregiver and I support the call for ‘care, not cops’ — from Los Angeles to the Philippines

Commentary

Cathy miraballeS-arCeO WHEN a white police officer killed George Floyd by placing a knee on his neck for almost nine minutes, despite his cries of “I can’t breathe,” our community was forced to confront the issues of police brutality and racism. I had only heard about these problems in the news but never in conversation with my community even after working as a caregiver in the U.S. for 20 years.

Police brutality and racism are rooted in a system that mistreats Black people and other poor communities. They experience injustice in the workplace, at school, and even in their own homes. Though our experiences are different, the system that killed George Floyd is the same one that causes suffering and hardship of many overseas Filipinos working low-wage jobs, or have been trafficked by employers, and face racism and deportation in the U.S. In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and mass protests, unemployment has reached nearly 39 million across the country, especially burdening immigrant workers. Many of my friends and family, who are caregivers, restaurant workers, and service workers, have lost jobs or have had hours cut. They worry about being exposed to the virus while on the job. But I continue work-

ing, burdened by sickness, fatigue, and stress from knowing that some of my peers working at home care facilities have tested positive for COVID-19.

We are essential to the workings of this country and the well being of its people and yet we are forced to stretch a stimulus check of $1,200 over several months. Those of us who are undocumented didn’t even get that support. Every day, my community and I confront the realities of unaffordable rent, the fear of deportation, and the struggle to support our families both in the U.S. and in the Philippines.

I was angry, scared, and confused when protests against racism and police brutality broke out in LA. But as I learned more about the demands for “Care, Not Cops,” I began to understand the righteous outrage of Black communities. I am still shocked that it took more unconventional types of protest that police all over the country began to be held accountable and for real reforms to make progress.

Seeing your people killed by police in the streets without consequence, harassed by police for no good reason, and forced to live in poverty is all too familiar because I have experienced this in the Philippines as well.

Pag nakikita mo na ang mga tao ay pinapatay sa lansangan ng walang napapasala, hinaharas ng kapulisan ng walang

matinong rason, at sapilitan na nabubuhay ng mahirap - lahat ito ay pamilyar dahil ito ang nakita at naranasan ko at ng aking mga mahal sa buhay sa Pilipinas.

I am from Mindanao, an island rich with natural resources. For decades multinational corporations have invaded our communities to take our land and our livelihood. They hoard billions in profit while we worked for unlivable wages. The Philippine government caters to these corporations, using military force to displace us. They harass, intimidate, and silence us.

Regardless of who occupies Malacañang, the Philippine government uses the military and police to protect the interest of the elite, and sacrifice the welfare of the majority — the farmers, working-class and indigenous people. The Philippine National Police is one of the country’s most corrupt institutions — and this could not be more true under President Rodrigo Duterte.

Human rights violations under Duterte have surpassed even the number of cases under Marcos’s martial law, which killed an estimated 3,240 people. Human rights groups put the murder count between 27,000 and 30,000 under the police-orchestrated war on drugs. While Duterte shrugs off and challenges criticisms from local and international human rights groups,

he encourages police to carry out extrajudicial executions and promises them immunity.

Duterte has taken advantage of the turbulence caused by the continued rise of COVID19 cases across the country, by giving more power to the police and silencing the media. He has shut down the country’s biggest TV network, ABS-CBN, and sent journalist Maria Ressa, one of the most vocal critics of the administration, to jail.

Earlier this month, Duterte signed the Anti-Terror Bill into law allowing police to commit human rights violations against individuals who are “suspected” of terrorism. Any Filipino citizen, even those living abroad, can be accused and arrested for “terrorism” simply for voicing disagreement with the government. It is unconstitutional and fundamentally enables an unofficial Martial Law. It grants more power to the police force. A police force that murdered 15-year-old Fabel Pineda for daring to report the officers that raped her, killed, 17-year-old Kian De Los Santos, and put hungry quarantine “violators” in dog cages.

Even though the law doesn’t officially begin until July 18, the Anti-Terrorism Act is already being used against ordinary people by the Duterte Administration.

Just a day after the Anti-Terror Bill was signed into law, the police violently dispersed and ar-

Filipina caregiver and Migrante Los Angeles member, Cathy Miraballes-Arceo, holds a sign that reads, “Labanan Ang Terorismo ng Estado” or “Resist State Terrorism”

rested 11 protestors of them in Cabuyao, Laguna.

But history shows that the more the state oppresses the people, the stronger the people’s resolve to fight back becomes.

The problems of police brutality and racism are just a small part of a rotten system that protects the wealth and status of the elite by hurting people it considers disposable — the poor, Black, Indigenous, and more, whether here or in the Philippines. That’s why I take inspiration from the

uprisings here in the United States calling for justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and more. We cannot defeat a globally unjust system we are all forced to live in without fighting for each other, together. *** Cathy Miraballes-Arceo is a Filipina caregiver from Butuan, Mindanao and has lived in Los Angeles for 20 years. She is a member of Migrante Los Angeles, a grassroots community organization that advocates for the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers and their immigrant families.

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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 8-10, 2020

A

Hong Kong ship owner, officers charged over sea mishap by evelyn

mAcAiRAn Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday filed charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and damage to property against the owner and seven officers of the M/V Vienna Wood in connection with a recent collision in the waters off Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro.

Charged were Vienna Wood captain Zhang Weiwei; deck officers Yang Xifeng, Yi Lei, and Shi Bin, and engineers Fan Qoujin, Xia Zhen and Wang Xingtu.

Cmdr. Leovigildo Panopio, chief of the PCG Southern Tagalog District, said shipping company Nomikos Transworld Maritime, which owns and operates Vienna Wood, was also named respondent in the complaint.

The charges were filed at around 10:50 a.m. at the sala of ProsecuREADY TO GO. A family waits for its travel authority at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. Locally stranded individuals heading home tor Rowena Garcia-Villaflores of to their provinces are subjected to stringent health assessments before they are given travel passes. the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler of Occidental Mindoro.

The charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide were based on evidence and testimonies of the fishermen

by Alexis RomeRo who were at the scene when the it will have to be 50% of the ca“The president may go (to BaPhilstar.com incident occurred, according to tasan to) physically (deliver the pacity of Congress,” he added.

MANILA — The government address) and only (about) 50 The government has limited is studying at least two possible members of Congress, both from the number of participants that scenarios for President Rodrigo the House and the Senate, (will can join public gatherings in Duterte’s penultimate state of attend),” presidential spokes- areas under the most lenient PAGE A5 the nation address (SONA) this man Harry Roque said at a press MGCQ and general community 87% of respondents — are more month, Malacañang said Mon- briefing. quarantine to ensure safe physi- afraid of getting and transmitting day.

“He may also (deliver the ad- cal distancing and to contain the COVID-19 compared to any other The number of people who will dress through) live telecast but in coronavirus disease 2019. pathogen in the past. Another attend the president’s fifth SONA a reduced capacity also because The president is scheduled found that four out of five Filipiwill be limited to comply with even under MGCQ (modified to deliver his fifth SONA on nos left the house at least once protocols on safe distancing. and at most thrice in the week general community quarantine), July 27. n

Palace studying options for SONA 2020

Cmdr. Armand Balilo, spokesman for the PCG. “It is now up to the prosecutor to determine if homicide is appropriate. It would also depend on the appreciation of the court.

We will submit evidence and explain the search conducted by the Coast Guard and other agencies to locate the 14 missing Filipinos who were on board the F/B Liberty 5,” Balilo said.

Of the 20 Chinese officers and crewmembers of Vienna Wood, only seven were named respondents in the complaint, Panopio said.

The officers are still onboard Vienna Wood, which is docked at the Port of Batangas.

“We will ask the court to issue a hold order against the respondents as the charges filed against them are bailable,” Panopio said.

“If they will be allowed to leave the country, there is a possibility that they would no longer return to face the complaint filed against them. Only their lawyers and insurance agents will represent them,” he added.

Panopio said he would met with officials of Liberty 5 owner Irma Fishing and Trading Inc., which earlier filed a separate criminal complaint against the officers and

crewmembers of Vienna Wood.

He said he would ask the company to seek a hold order against the officers of the Hong Kongregistered vessel.

Vienna Wood is reportedly undergoing repair as it sustained holes at the front and bottom following the collision on June 27.

A classification society and insurance representative inspected the vessel last week to determine if Vienna Wood could be allowed to leave after the repair and be certified seaworthy.

It has been 10 days since the collison, but the search and rescue team has yet to recover the remains of any of the 14 Filipinos.

Welcomed Meanwhile, relatives of the victims welcomed the filing of charges against Vienna Wood’s owner and officers.

Judith Azucena, partner of Liberty 5 crewmember Joeffrey Bantug, expressed hope the respondents would be tried and detained in the Philippines.

Christine Magura, cousin of Liberty 5 engineer Reynil Magura, expressed fear the country’s ties with China might hamper their efforts to attain justice. (Neil Jayson Servallos/Philstar.com)

before the survey was conducted.

Respondents said they did so for essentials, mainly food.

Though Malacañang often trumpets flattering survey results—including approval ratings for President Duterte—it has also been careful to rebuff those that

are not as flattering.

In response to a survey of 83% of Filipinos saying they were worse off, for instance, Roque said: “It should be 100% [because] all of us are having a hard time...that doesn’t surprise us.” n

Despite Palace assurances of ‘winning...

Duterte emotional, not ill – Palace

MANILA — President Duterte’s seemingly weak appearance during his visit to Zamboanga City last week was not health-related but caused by an “emotional issue” following the death of four soldiers at the hands of police in Sulu, Malacañang said yesterday.

There were observations that Duterte looked weak when he delivered a speech before soldiers at Edwin Andrews Air Base last Friday. During his speech, the President urged soldiers to remain calm and to wait for results of the investigation as exacting revenge won’t yield anything beneficial.

“He looked frail because he was really sad. It was the first time I saw the President that sad. He was like a father who lost children because of a quarrel among themselves,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in Filipino at a press briefing.

“He was really emotional. At some point, his voice cracked...

he really took very personally the incident in Jolo... So that’s not health-related, it’s more of an emotional issue,” he added.

Four Army intelligence personnel were shot dead by policemen in Jolo last week but the military and the police have different versions of the incident.

Police reports said a shooting incident happened after the soldiers had defied an order for them to proceed to the municipal police station to validate their identities. But the Army maintained that there was no shootout because the soldiers were not armed. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group are looking into the incident.

“He (Duterte) promised to deliver justice... Let’s just leave the investigation to the NBI because he seems to be the most affected, besides the family of the slain soldiers,” Roque said.

(Philstar.com)

In this July 1 photo, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque is seen visiting Ocean Adventure park in Subic Bay. Photo from Facebook/Ocean Adventure Subic Bay

DILG: Nothing wrong with Roque’s swim with dolphins MANILA — The Department of the Interior and Local Government said there was nothing wrong with presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s visit to a marine theme park even as the country enforces strict restrictions on movement due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Roque made waves on social media when photos of him swimming with dolphins were posted on the Facebook page of Ocean Adventure in Subic, Zambales.

The photos have since been taken down.

Unlike social media users, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya saw no problem with Roque’s “side trip,” saying tourist destinations such as marine parks are allowed to operate at a limited capacity in areas under modified general community quarantine.

Zambales is under MGCQ. “Wala pong nakikita ang DILG na kamalian ni spokesperson Harry Roque,” Malaya said in a press briefing.

(The DILG sees nothing wrong with what spokesperson Harry Roque did.)

“Noong pumunta si spokesperson Harry Roque doon, it was MGCQ. Ibig sabihin pwede na po mag-operate ang tourist facilities up to 50%,” he added.

(The area was in MGCQ when spokesperson Harry Roque went there. That means tourist facilities are allowed to operate at 50% capacity.)

The DILG official also said that the presidential spokesperson is

an “authorized person outside residence.” APORs are only allowed to leave home for essential errands or for work.

In addressing criticisms against him, Roque said Thursday his visit to the marine park was a “side trip” after visiting his “businesses and ventures” in Bataan province.

“Kahit sinong APOR who happens to be in an MGCQ area, pwede na tayong pumunta sa mga resorts so long as these resorts comply with the 50% occupancy requirement, they are complying with health protocols,” he added.

(Any APOR who happens to be in an MGCQ area can go to resorts as long as these resorts comply with the 50% occupancy requirement, they are complying with health protocols.)

Roque is among the government officials who have been reminding the public to stay home except for essential travels and blaming people’s supposed stubbornness and complacency for the spread of COVID-19.

“If anyone was offended by the pictures they saw, I apologize.

I’m only human,” he said, adding he did not “party”—referring mañanita held for Metro Manila police chief Debold Sinas—and was “alone with four dolphins.”

The police have detained tens of thousands of Filipinos for violating curfews or leaving their homes without quarantine passes. (Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar.com)

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‘Blue’s Clues and You!’ host Joshua Dela Cruz on figuring out clues and sharing Filipino culture with a new generation by

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Christina M. Oriel / AJPress

HEN stage actor Joshua Dela Cruz was announced as the new host for the “Blue’s Clues� reboot, a wave of nostalgia kicked in for kids who grew up watching Nickelodeon in the ‘90s.

Not only were they reminded of the blue puppy, the talking objects and “skidooing� into another world, the lyrics to the catchy songs — from “Mail Time� to “We Just Figured Out Blue’s Clues� — came rushing back to consciousness.

On top of that, the new generation of Filipino Americans watching “Blue’s Clues & You!� would see someone who resembles them on screen. “Growing up, I never saw anyone on screen that I connected with,� the 31-year-old actor told the Asian Journal. “I never saw myself reflected in a positive way — it was either the foreigner, the villain, or the joke. I get to be myself. I’m just Josh and I also am Filipino.�

Dela Cruz, who last appeared in the Broadway staging of Disney’s “Aladdin� as the titular role, swapped the genie for the iconic blue canine as a sidekick, who has now been enhanced in CGI animation. “Every day on set is nostalgia for me. Drawing the very first clue on set was a cup,� he said. “I remember being 7 years old and watching that episode with my little sister and it was a cup. We have Blue, Magenta, the Shaker family, all

of our characters coming back but tiny little updates to bring it to 2020.�

The Fil-Am actor, who was born in Dubai and grew up in New Milford, New Jersey, recalls watching the first generation of “Blue’s Clues� with his younger sister and singing along to the musical numbers, which in part, spurred his budding interest in choir and then acting.

The show, which debuted in 1996 and ran for six seasons, started with Steve Burns as the host, clad in a striped green long sleeve and khaki pants.

In the half-hour episodes, he guided the preschool-aged viewers in solving the mini-mystery, and along the way, would check-in on the various characters brought of life inside the small yellow house with a red roof. It was the first children’s cable show of its kind built on interactivity.

Burns departed the series in 2002 as his character was going off to “college,� and was replaced with his “younger brother,� Joe (played by Donovan Patton) for the remaining two years.

Over two decades later as a reboot was imagined, Burns

returned as a consultant and helped pluck Dela Cruz out of over 3,000 candidates.

Dela Cruz, who has a degree in musical theatre from Montclair State University, moved to New York and appeared in the off-Broadway musical, “Here Lies Love,� based on the life of former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos. He then became part of the ensemble for the original Broadway cast of Disney’s “Aladdin.� In 2017, he stepped into the lead character for a limited engagement before being chosen in his current role.

In preparing for hosting “Blue’s Clues & You!,� which involved playing out possible scenarios and revisiting old scripts, Burns pulled Dela Cruz aside and told him to explore what he brought to the table and to let go of the pressure of having to live up to his or Patton’s work. “That gave me the permission to not be so worried about how people are going to receive me as the new host because I’m never going to be Steve Burns. I’m never going to be Donovan Patton,� Dela Cruz said. “They have a magic that is so unique to them and to try to copy that would be a waste because I’m never going to achieve that.�

The premiere episode was aired in November 2019 as an introduction to Josh, a younger “cousin� to Steve and Joe who’s now Blue’s human companion.

Instead of being outfitted in Steve’s green striped shirt or Joe’s colorful long sleeve with squares, Dela Cruz wears a blue striped shirt with jeans and sneakers. He’s able to put his musical background to use and has been given a guitar to play for the closing song once the mystery has been solved.

Filming the first season, which took place in Toronto, was a leap for the stage actor, who thrived on the live energy and audience reactions inside a theatre. “I would say the biggest thing that I use from my Broadway career is the timing. It was very jarring to be on set for the very first time and to roll in the first tape.

There are a lot of jokes that are written into the show and at

that point, I had always been used to having the audience to react,� he said. “Because they have to record sound, everyone has to be quiet, regardless if the joke is funny or not. So I remember going through it and I was like, ‘I know this is a Continued on Page 2

Joshua Dela Cruz stars as “Josh� in the Nickelodeon reboot, “Blue’s Clues and You!� featuring Blue and her band of friends. Photo courtesy of Nickelodeon

entertainment

T h e A s ian Jour nal MDW K M A G A Z I NE - J ul y 8, 202 0

A still from a special brand-new episode, “Blue’s Sing-Along Spectacular,” premiering Tuesday, July 14.

Photos courtesy of Nickelodeon

“Blue’s Clues and You!” host...

From Page 1 joke’ and nothing, crickets.”

Fil-Am Association of SCV members with past president Nic Montebon Though viewers see the result with Blue and the universe’s inhabitants, from Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper to the Shovel and Pail, Dela Cruz plays on silence and imagination to fill in these roles on set.

“It also does have its quirks that take getting used to, but again, we have such an amazing team. Even though I’m asking the pieces of tape on the floor or a tennis ball, I know exactly who I’m talking to and where I am in the world,” he said.

As in the original series, the essence of “Blue’s Clues & You!” is speaking directly to the viewers, encouraging them to piece together the meaning behind the three things The Fil-Am Association of SCV-Fundraising Committee, headed by 2020 Acting President Andy Pabalan and members Josie Maglalang (2018 PresiBlue leaves her paw prints on, dent), Myra Miranda (2009 President), meet with Santa Clarita City Mayor Cameron Smyth. Fil-Am Association of SVC, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and pausing to allow them to organization established 35 years ago in service to the Filipino-American community in the City of Santa Clarita. Some of their projects include respond and point out what the the Easter Picnic. Cultural Festival, Single Mother’s Outreach, Senior Thanksgiving Dinner and Scholarship Program for local and deserving high host is looking for. school seniors. For more information on how to support please visit www.filamofscv.org or follow on Facebook at @filamofscvinc and email info@ “While our show is a remake filamofscv.org of the original, the components of…children’s education [and] early developmental education, haven’t changed. Our incredible team does research with our script and with actual kids By ricky lo to see how they learn best and Philstar.com how they react and can retain [information],” Dela Cruz said.

ALL dressed up but noThe Handy Dandy Notewhere to go? book remains a key prop in the Many people find themseries kept in Dela Cruz’s back selves in that situation only to pocket to document the three realize to their dismay that they clues. The drawings then come are locked down at home. to life above his head as he sits But Alice Dixson is all in the red Thinking Chair to dressed up and ready to travel solve Blue’s game. the world (to all the contiHowever, as dozens of nents), thanks to her vlog (on internet users have found out YouTube) that allows her the and have passionately reacted luxury of traveling. to, the show has undergone “I am inviting everybody more upgrades to keep up to join me,” announced Alice with current technology and through this phone interview communication. Most children with The STAR. “We can see these days have been exposed the world without leaving Alice Dixson (with furry friend Blondie) has found a way to beat the quarantine blues. She says, ‘I live to smartphones or tablets, but home.” (STAR’s Remember in the moment; I don’t worry about what the future will bring.’

Photo courtesy of Alice Dixson there’s also a balance to still When columnist Danny Dolor keep the analog of the past.

“I don’t have a routine,” Solutions by System 4 Biobohas actually been virtual“Because we’re coming stressed Alice. “If I go to bed traveling to beat the quarantine tanicals, a haircare product back in 2020, we have the late, I wake up late. If I go to from Finland that has three boredom.) responsibility of either ignoring components [herbal wash, vital bed early, I wake up early.”

Traveling (complete with the advancements in technolBesides her GMA soap, put cure conditioning and scalp tips) is just one of the topics ogy or embracing them and on hold is her love life. tonic], good for both men on Alice’s vlog that has been turning them into positive “My love life is also locked and women and available in attracting followers since she outlets,” he said. down,” revealed Alice with a started it several days after the Watsons stores nationwide.)

The “Mail Time” bit of each laugh, not naming her boyAlice was about to start lockdown was imposed. She episode features the catchy friend (rumored to be a forshooting the GMA soap Legal also talks about health and jingle from the original — which eigner hotel manager). “Before Wives (with Megan Young, wellness, “day in the life” and Dela Cruz said he rehearsed the lockdown, I planned to Cherie Gil and Dennis Trillo) meditation, which tries to help ahead of his audition — as the go to Boracay but he said no when the lockdown was impeople deal with stress and smiley purple mailbox extends need. He would just follow me posed. She’s quarantined with anxiety. into the living room to notify to Manila. Unfortunately, flights her househelp and her pet “I call it a 30-day meditathat there’s a new message. were cancelled. We haven’t Blondie, just the three of them tion challenge,” said Alice.

But again, conforming to seen each other for almost five “It’s very helpful in these times at a well-appointed condo unit modernity, it’s an email acmonths. We do communicate in an elite subdivision. when everyone is under stress, cessed from the backside of the via Skype pero iba pa rin siem“Everybody was caught melancholic and energy-deHandy Dandy Notebook that pre when you see each other unaware,” related Alice. “I ficient. It helps change one’s doubles as a smartphone-like personally.” mindset. I’ve been doing it and went through three stages device. Dela Cruz belts, “We In September, a niece is it’s effective, so I want to share before I got used to it. First, just got an email! I wonder who getting married in the US and its benefits with other people.” denial. Then, realization. And it’s from,” as the letter reveals a Alice doubts if she could go finally, acceptance. Helping Aside from meditation, video from children who share there. “Until a cure or a vaccine frontliners did me good, and what Alice is doing these past a talent or word of encourageis created,” she sighed, “we’ll 112 locked-down days is being keeping in touch with family, ment. fans and friends when I created never know when it is safe to productive.

The technology also altravel.” Still and all, Alice is taka vlog.”

“I just don’t binge-watchlows the host to take photos Her typical day usually starts ing things philosophically. ing TV shows, hindi lang ako and video calls. The second “I’m trying to sort things at 5 a.m. She bikes around the nakababad sa panonood ng episode, for instance, revolves out. I don’t worry about what place with Blondie running kung anu-ano, I also do some around the question of what the future will bring. I live along with her. She sleeps at soul-searching and create new Blue wants to do when her cain the moment, living life as around 10 p.m. She observes ways of telling stories on my nine pal, Magenta, comes over. a healthy diet (“Kaya hindi ako it comes.” vlog. I keep myself busy. I also (Spoiler alert: It’s for Josh to Well, you know: que sera tumataba”) and follows interpromote online my endorsetake a photo of the puppy duo sera; what will be will be. ments.” (Among them is Simple mittent fasting. with his phone.)

In the midst of the first season, “Blue’s Clues & You!” was renewed for another 20 episodes and has been nominated for two Daytime Emmys in the Outstanding Preschool Children’s Series and Outstanding Interactive Media For A

By Bot Glorioso Daytime Program categories.

Philstar.com The upcoming season will feature appearances from the AI-AI delas Alas amusingly beloved past hosts, Steve and recalled the moment she first Joe. Viewers will also be introstepped inside one of GMA 7’s duced to Filipino culture and studios to promote a comanother family member, a lola (a edy show in Eye to Eye many grandmother played by veteran moons ago. She was then a Filipina-Canadian actress and budding stand-up comedienne, singer Carolyn Fe). clueless that her guesting “I can’t wait for families to would lead to more fruitful Kaget to know her and to learn a puso TV projects. little bit about Filipino culture In a one-on-one Zoom inin the episode and see the simiterview with The STAR, the larities, not just between Asians, seasoned actress recalled but also within their culture how the late talent manager about… how they interact with Cornelia Lee, a.k.a. Tita Angge, their grandmother and how would reject requests of Nap they feel about their grandGutierrez and Alex Marcelino Ai-Ai delas Alas is now a certified Kapuso after signing a five-year contract with GMA Artist Center mother. I love her to death,” to guest her in the then No. 1 recently.

GMA photo Dela Cruz gushed. showbiz talk show.

Despite TV productions “My friends Alex and Nap Eye to let me promote in the aupo rin nila ako,” she shared. being stalled across the country, produced a solo show for me in show because that time, Eye to “Of course, I was so tense I most of the filming for season Heartbeat, and they’re request- Eye was No. 1. Dahil hindi ako didn’t know what to do petwo wrapped in February, just ing Tita Angge, who was the kilala, s’yempre ayaw nila pero ro natuwa naman sila and before the pandemic hit. Posttalent coordinator of Eye to kakapilit nina Nap at Alex, pinContinued on Page 4 production ADR, however, is

Dela Cruz, who grew up watching “Blue’s Clues,” is now the host of the iconic show, which has undergone some technological advances. The Handy Dandy Notebook also doubles as a smartphone-like device that can take photos and make video calls.

Alice invites you to travel with her

Ai-Ai wants to stay Kapuso until she retires

Josh with his predecessors, Joe (Donovan Patton) and Steve (Steve Burns).

being done from home as Dela Cruz’s studio apartment in New York is now overrun with soundproofing materials, panels and monitors.

With the hyperconnected world, viewers’ interactions with Dela Cruz aren’t limited to the episodes. For example, on Nick Jr.’s social channels, his videography skills come into play as he shares videos teaching an American Sign Language word of the week, bedtime stories, or activities families can do, especially since parents have had to double as teachers and keep kids occupied at home.

“We were able to work together to create virtual playdates where we have created extra content that is specific to the time of coronavirus, so dealing with extra activities that families can do together or just things that kids can do on their own to give parents just a little bit of a break and extra break outside of our show. That has been a lot of fun and really rewarding on my end,” he said.

A special brand-new episode, entitled “Blue’s SingAlong Spectacular,” will air on Tuesday, July 14, during which Blue leaves clues to figure out what song she wants to sing in her music festival. The episode is slated to have performances from Dela Cruz, Joe, pop singer Ally Brooke, the Sun (voiced by gospel singer Yolanda Adams), and Blue’s many friends.

Later this month, a toy line inspired by the show will hit stores, including figurines of Dela Cruz, to reinforce problem solving and creative play.

Dela Cruz, as he’s presented online, is beyond Josh on “Blue’s Clues & You!” His Instagram account shows a glimpse into his personal life, whether photos with his wife Amanda and their real dog Ollie or showing his workout routines and vegan diet (Filipino food is easy to modify to his lifestyle, he said). Before the first episode even aired, Twitter users dug up some of his older photos, including a shirtless shot, and expressed their admiration for him.

The reactions to the “thirst trap” photos, as they’re called, brought laughs to Dela Cruz and his family as he trended on the social media platform.

“This show has been a blessing in many ways. There is that stigma in society that Asian men aren’t sexy or masculine,” he said. “I’m so over the moon watching television shows or movies and there are more and more Asian men as leading men who aren’t just the sidekick, the nerdy guy or all the nice stereotypes.”

Instagram is also a platform

where he chimes in on social justice and political issues, as his latest posts have been in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, speaking up about the rise in anti-Asian hate during the pandemic, and raising awareness about the Anti-Terrorism Act in the Philippines.

“The fact that I have free rein over social media and that [Nickelodeon is] really standing, I believe, on the right side of this is really hopeful for me because these kids grow up, but it doesn’t change the fact that they were kids once and that everyone deserves the right to life and that everyone deserves to be treated equally and fairly,” Dela Cruz said.

At the beginning of June, Nickelodeon went off the air for exactly 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the same amount of time Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on George Floyd’s neck as he muttered that he couldn’t breathe.

The network also released a “Declaration of Kids’ Rights” (e.g. “You have the right to be seen, heard, and respected as a citizen of the world”) and aired a special with singer Alicia Keys about how to discuss race with young children.

“I’m so thankful to be part of this company and that we’re in that fight with the rest of the country because it is important and we can’t ignore it,” Dela Cruz said. “If we don’t fight for it now, we can’t expect to have people fight for us for other important issues.”

As another season is set to hit the children’s network, Dela Cruz is still relishing in the messages and opportunities — like appearing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in 2019 alongside a 22-foot inflatable version of Blue — his newfound fame has brought forth.

Even as he’s made history for Asian and Filipino American representation in children’s entertainment, he hopes that other ethnicities and backgrounds still feel seen.

“I have friends that send me texts of their kids saying, ‘He looks like me.’ It hits me like a ton of bricks every time because I never really experienced that as a kid,” he said.

“I hope that even if you don’t see yourself reflected in this show, by looking at me, that kids grow up and kids know that just because you don’t see yourself there, it doesn’t mean that you can’t be that person to open the door for everyone else because that’s how I felt.

I’m so happy that I get this responsibility…I hope that I can continue to be a good role model for kids, no matter what they look like or how they identify.”

Wendell now a certified firefighter By iza igleSiaS

T h e As ian Jou r n al MDWK MAGAZ IN E - Ju l y 8 , 2 0 2 0

ManilaTimes.net

UPON completing his training with Ang Bumberong Pilipinas (ABP) organization, hunky actor Wendell Ramos proudly announced on social media he is now a certified firefighter.

In an Instagram post over the weekend, Ramos shared photos with the group toward the end of their final exercise.

“It was really an honor to train and be a certified ABP. But to be honest, I need to learn and experience more,” the 41-year-old Kapuso artist wrote.

“It’s truly a humbling experience for me at sa inyo pong lahat na mga bumbero ng Pilipinas, saludo po ako sa inyong lahat. Mabuhay po ang ABP nating lahat,” he added.

His comments section quickly filled up with congratulatory messages from family and showbiz friends.

According to its official Facebook page, ABP is a nongovernment organization “which aims to unite and provide latest information/updates to firefighter groups in the Philippines.”

Ramos’ current GMA Afternoon Prime soap “Prima Donnas” — led by young stars Jillian Ward, Althea Ablan and Sofia Pablo — has yet to resume taping due to the community quarantine.

Ramos started his showbiz career in 1995 when he joined

By iza igleSiaS ManilaTimes.net

TOP actor Piolo Pascual and director Joyce Bernal, together with a small production team, were refused entrance to the municipalities of Sagada and Banaue. They were supposed tonshoot background views for the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte on July 27.

In a Facebook post by the Sagada Municipality, they explained that it was already on July 5 when they received information that the team was already on its way to Sagada.

The Municipal Disaster Risk and Management Officer (MDRRMO) immediately recommended an emergency meeting to refer the matter to the Local Wendell Ramos recently first saw action as a firefighter recently.

COVID-19 Task Force.

Photo from Instagram/@wendellramosofficial In the said meeting, the task force asked if there was any film “Sabel” as Judy Ann Santhe cast of “Bubble Gang,” written communication regardtos’s leading man.

He earned his matinee idol ing the video shoot. What Starring in several GMA status when he joined “Click” turned up was an email sent by Network shows, his biggest Batch 1, which aired from 1999 Bernal’s team after office hours break came in 2008 when he to 2002. He then starred in on July 3, to inform the Mayor played the role of Harvey in projects with female leads Ara they would arrive nightime of “Ako si Kim Samsoon” which Mina and Diana Zubiri, among July 5. Moreover, the email others in the 2000s. In 2005, he starred Regine Velasquez, came with an authorization Mark Anthony Fernandez and won Gawad Urian Award Best letter signed by Dennis Wilfred Supporting Actor for the drama Nadine Samonte.

Pabalan — Malacañang Presidential Broadcast Staff-Radio Television Malacañang Executive Director — endorsing the shoot.

The post continued that while the meeting was ongoing, Bernal’s advance party had already been escorted by the police to Sagada Cellar Door where they would have to stay, after the Sagada Heritage Village management turned them down following local guidelines that all tourism establishments remain closed to due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Andrew Chinalpan, Sagada Cellar Door manager and Bernal were called to attend the meeting where the Local Task Force explained their sentiments and stand on the proposed shoot.

The Sagada Municipality further shared on Facebook the letter addressed to Bernal’s team citing the municipality’s strict quarantine ordinance as

GMA stars continue to support ABS-CBN franchise renewal

By Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

KAPUSO stars continue to support their rival network ABS-CBN’s plea for franchise renewal.

In her Twitter account, actress Glaiza de Castro posted: “Hindi na ito labanan ng istasyon, laban to ng mga Pilipino.

Lahat tayo apektado. Dasal, kapit, akap.”

Fellow Kapuso actress Jamine Curtis-Smith retweeted Glaiza’s Twitter status posted yesterday while an ABS-CBN franchise hearing was being held in Congress. Jasmine is the sister of Kapamilya superstar Anne Curtis.

Likewise, screenwriter Suzette Doctolero believed that ABS-CBN needs to get a franchise renewal. In her Facebook post, however, the GMA screenwriter known for her high-rating teleseryes like “Encantadia” and “Amaya” pointed out that their rival network also needs to answer the tax evasion case.

She wrote that while she doesn’t want ABS-CBN employees to lose their jobs, their loss of livelihood should not be used as scapegoat for the network to not face the tax evasion allegation.

“Ayaw natin mawalan ng trabaho ang mga empleyado at talents pero hindi sila pwedeng gamiting pananggalang para palusutin ang malaking kasalanan (na allegedly, base sa hearing at mga ebidensya) ay tila yata tax evasion aka pag-

Glaize De Castro Photo from Instagram/@glaizaredux

Jasmine Curits Smith Photo from Instagram/@jascustissmith

nanakaw o sige, tila yata katumbas ng economic sabotage ito oy. Kung ito ay tax evasion, Ito ay illegal at criminal na gawain. Press freedom ka dyan.

Pwe!” Doctolero wrote.

“I hope mabigyan ng franchise dahil ayaw nating mawalan ng kabuhayan ang mga kapamilya, sa totoo lang.

Boto ako na mabigyan uli sila ng chance pero ipenalty at idemanda ang mga nagkasala.

Hindi pwedeng palusutin para gayahin ng marami pang malalaking kompanya ang allegedly ay pagnanakaw at pandaraya.. press freedom pa more ba?” she added.

According to the Bureau of Internal Revenue, however, ABS-CBN has not violated any

tax laws.

BIR’s Large Tax Payers Audit Division 3 Simplicio Cabantac Jr. already cleared ABS-CBN from tax-related allegations when he told the Senate panel in a hearing last February 24 that the network is “regularly filing and paying their taxes for the past number of years.”

BIR assistant commissioner Manuel Mapoy said in the Congress hearing that the network paid P15,382,423,364.16 in taxes from 2016 to 2019.

“ABS-CBN Corporation is regularly paying taxes for the past years. Na-check naman po na ‘yung dapat nilang i-withhold at na-remit naman nila sa gobyerno,” Mapoy said.

Sheena Halili with husband Jeron Manzanero

Photo from Instagram/@mysheenahalili

Sheena’s biggest decision By allan

PolicarPio Inquirer.net

FOUR months into their marriage and Sheena Halili couldn’t help but gush over her husband Jeron Manzanero’s kindness, devotion and patience, especially now that she’s pregnant and experiencing mood swings.

“I was extremely grouchy towards you during our second month as a couple.

Little did we know that my hormones were acting up, because I was already pregnant then,” the GMA 7 talent wrote in Filipino in a recent post on Instagram.

“And though I was being

entertainment Piolo, Direk Joyce denied access to shoot for SONA in Sagada, Banaue

difficult, you would always assure me and tell me: ‘You’re my wife. I love you. It’s OK if you’re feeling that way. I can handle it!’” she said of Jeron, a lawyer who works as Pasig City’s administrator.

Sheena tied the knot with Jeron last February, after a two-year engagement. And their love for one another, she added, has only grown deeper since. “I’m happy that you’re my husband. My life has been full of joy with you.

Nothing has changed. I love you even more and I feel that you do, too,” she said.

“Finding a life partner was the biggest decision I had to make. And I made no mis-

take choosing you,” stressed Sheena, who also shared with her followers throwback pictures of her and Jeron’s first overseas trip in Singapore, and their first date at the latter’s home in Tagaytay.

Despite Jeron’s busy schedule, he still makes sure to accompany Sheena to her checkups and tend to her needs. “You always make time for us. You’re right: It’s as if we’re both pregnant, because you’re always there with me in my struggles,” she relatedShe jested that they can now resume cooking at home because she’s no longer sensitive to different Continued on Page 4

Piolo Pascual with director Joyce Bernal

their main reason in refusing the shoot.

“Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 110 Series of 2020, a Revised Resolution Governing Tourism, Commerce, and Industry in the Municipality of Sagada during its period of the COVID-19 pandemic states, among others that: a. Closure and/or Suspension of Tourism such as booking of guests by establishments, all tourist sites and other concerns related to tourism; and b. Entry of non-residents coming from red areas is not allowed,” indicated the letter signed by Felicito Dula, Municipal Vice Mayor and Officer-in-Charge for Sagada COVID-19 Task Force.

“The strict implementation on the entry of all persons coming outside Mountain Province to Sagada has been effective in maintaining the municipality as a COVID-free community; Sagada being a 5th Class Municipality is not ready, specifically our health facilities, to accommodate the presence of a COVID19 positive case in the locality,” the letter added.

The FB post also related that Bernal clearly understood the task force’s decision and was very apologetic. She only appealed they be given the

Photo from Instagram/@piolo_pascual

night to rest at Cellar Door. The director’s plea was granted.

In Banaue too Following their rejection at Sagada, Pascual and Bernal’s team headed straight to Banaue, Ifugao early Monday morning intending to shoot in Batad. All the same they were refused entry by the local government.

Several reports noted that the team was escorted by local police outside the town’s welcome arch.

Banaue Ifugao’s official Facebook page previously posted an executive order prohibiting travel from the Municipality of Banaue, Ifugao for a period of seven days (July 3 to July 10).

Pascual and Bernal’s team ended up driving back to Baguio where they made a stop at Baguio Teacher’s Camp, which is currently being used as a triage unit for arriving OFWs before staying in Camp John Hay Manor Hotel.

Pascual and Bernal — who established the independent film production company Spring Films together — have yet to release a statement from their side.

Bernal has been directing the President’s SONA since 2018.

entertainment

Minding Your Finances

T h e A s ian Jour nal MDW K M A G A Z I NE - J ul y 8, 202 0

Atty. RAymond BulAon LIKE most people, you’ve worked hard and have done your best to pay all your bills on time. But in life, at one time or another, all of us get into a situation where debt can be overwhelming.

Money problems can easily overlap into other areas of our lives. Many people feel hopeless and powerless over their debt problems. If you are currently in debt, rather than allowing your money

Maritoni Fernandez with Mon Dayrit

Photo from Instagram/@maritoni.fernandez

Maritoni marries Mon in civil ceremony

By Katrina

Hallare

Inquirer.net

“NOTHING fancy, just love.”

Such was the caption of Maritoni Fernandez’s Instagram post on Tuesday, July 7, as the 51-year-old actress announced

her marriage to Mon Dayrit.

The couple was wed in a civil ceremony at the Parañaque City Hall.

“My forever,” the blushing bride captioned another Instagram photo post.

Friends like Heart Evangelista, Lorna Tolentino, and

Geneva Cruz congratulated the actress on this special day.

Fernandez, who was last seen in the GMA teleserye “Victor Magtanggol,” has two children. This is a second marriage for the actress.

Meanwhile, Dayrit has two sons from a previous marriage.

Max, Pancho welcome baby boy

By Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

KAPUSO actress Max Collins gave birth to her baby boy with husband, actor Pancho Magno.

According to GMA News, Max gave birth to her firstborn yesterday.

In an interview with “24 Oras” last May, Max said she already received a go-signal from her doctor to give birth at home, with assistance from Pancho, who is a registered nurse.

She said she wanted to give birth at home because she was scared of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) pandemic.

The couple are yet to release details and photos about the delivery.

Max and Pancho announced that they are expecting a baby last Christmas and revealed the gender last

EMPLOYMENT

Bankruptcy relief: Get out of debt now

problems to affect your life in such a dramatic way, filing for bankruptcy protection may help you get your life back on track.

If you’ve suffered a job loss due to COVID-19, are facing foreclosure or have bills you can no longer afford to pay, Congress has enacted bankruptcy laws that can help you get your finances in order. I know that the mere thought of bankruptcy makes most people nervous; so, they avoid exploring their options until it’s too late. I find this unfortunate

because in a lot of cases, people could have turned their situation around much sooner had they taken the time to find out what their legal rights are.

Some people wait too long to file bankruptcy even when it is their only option.

In the process, they use up hard-earned assets like their retirement plan, savings accounts, etc. but in the end. they realize that this was nothing more than a temporary fix to a lingering problem. Sooner or later, these Continued on Page 5

Ai-Ai wants to stay...

From Page 2 it’s most memorable to me because imagine na ‘yung isang show ay ayaw kang i-guest and then soon after, you would find yourself doing shows in the station (laughs).”

The late-night show R. S.V.P. was Ai-Ai’s very first project with GMA in 1991 and was best remembered for her character Cheenie La Chika. It was followed with co-hosting stints in the noontime show Lunch Date (1991 to 1993) and SST: Salo-Salo Together (1994 to 1995). The sitcom, 1 For 3, with Vic Sotto and Rosanna Roces, was Ai-Ai’s last project with GMA before going ober da bakod to ABSCBN in 1998. In 2015, she returned to GMA and was warmly welcomed by Kapuso execs and stars.

Fast-forward to the present, Ai-Ai is currently one of the mainstays of All-Out Sundays and one of the judges of The Clash.

Ai-Ai humbly told The STAR that it’s “destiny, a gift from God” to remain visible in showbiz in spite of the presence of younger stars. Truth

is, Ai-Ai just recently inked a five-year management contract with GMA Artist Center that “officially turned her into a 100 percent Kapuso” as how she put it on her Instagram post. The contract-signing coincided with the actress’ celebration of 30 years in the entertainment industry.

“I’m staying here for good kasi di ba after nine years with GMA, I transferred to the other network then I came back here again. Kumbaga, before I finish my five-year contract with GMA Artist Center, plus some more years with GMA, I am already a senior (citizen) kaya semiretirement na ‘yung susunod doon so I want to stay here in GMA until the end of my career.”

If not for the ongoing community quarantine, Ai-Ai should have been taping for the drama series Oh, My Love, that she’s topbilling with Lovi Poe and Benjamin Alves.

She also should have been working by now on The Clash Season 3.

“With the many roles that I’ve done, portraying a nun will

complete the list kasi hindi pa ko nakakagawa ng full-length (role) na madre ako na panginternational ang datingan but not horror please, and to be with Ate Vi (Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto) in a movie is another dream of mine.”

As for the younger stars, she looks forward to working with Alden Richards in a soap as well as Miguel Tanfelix and Sanya Lopez. “Marami pa rin akong hindi nakakasama sa mga artista sa GMA and I am lucky that most of them know how to respect senior stars. So far, naman kahit sa kabila lahat ng nakasama ko magagalang.”

Respect for elders is what she also often reminds her children Sancho Vito, Sophia, Sean Nicolo and Seth Andrei to never forget. “Sancho is now also into acting and I would tell my children that if ever they want to be in showbiz, they should never act as if they are already popular just because I’m their mother. I remind them to treat everyone with respect and always answer with ‘po’ and ‘opo,’ especially to senior stars,” concluded the actress and TV host.

Sheena’s biggest decision...

Celebrity couple Max Collins and Pancho Magno lounging at the inflatable pool they bought for their baby’s delivery.

Photo from Instagram/@magnopancho

March.

The Kapuso couple tied the knot last 2017 during a

Christian ceremony at the Grand Ballroom of Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.

EMPLOYMENT

From Page 3 smells. “But no garlic!” said Sheena, who was last seen in the 2019 series “Love You Two.” The 33-year-old Kapuso actress, who’s around 15

weeks into her pregnancy, revealed that she and Jeron will finally get to know their baby’s gender next month.

“Please be more patient, OK? Hahaha! I know that you’re tired every day be-

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

cause of work. But I promise to be strong for you and our baby,” she said. “So much has happened the past four months. We got married; we’re now a married couple.

And soon we will be parents.

Do I have a community property interest in a house my spouse acquired before marriage? mortgage loan principal during the marriage plus the portion of appreciation during the marriage applying the ratio discussed above.

In the Marriage of Marsden, the real property was purchased by the husband for $38,300 prior to the marriage. The original mortgage was $30,000. By the time the husband got married, the house was now worth $65,000 while the mortgage has gone down by $7,000. Both the appreciation of $26,700 and the mortgage reduction of $7,000 would be separate property since it occurred prior to marriage. Marriage of Madsen (1982) 130 CA3d 426, 181 CR 910.

During the marriage until the time of trial, the property has appreciated another

one spouse’s separate property through execution of a quit claim Barrister’s by the other spouse but is subsequently paid using community Corner funds. Marriage of Broderick (1989) 209 CA3d 489, 257 CR 397. In litigation, the community Atty. Kenneth interest in the situations menUrsUA reyes tioned about is proven through expert witness testimony typically by a forensic CPA. GENERALLY, in California, Since California case law property acquired by a spouse allows the creation of a comprior to marriage is considered munity interest in real property separate property under family acquired prior to marriage, one code section 770 while those has to consider vehicles to acquired after marriage are conprotect themselves if you own sidered community assets under property and you are contemfamily code section 760. How do plating of getting married. There you characterize real property are several ways of avoiding the purchased prior to marriage but creation of a community interest with the mortgage principal paid on your separate real property. down using community income One, you can sign a prenuptial or funds during the marriage? agreement. Two, the parties can The community in this situation execute a postnupacquires a pro tanto tial agreement if the interest in the ratio “The Marsden apportionment parties are already that the payments on married. Three, the the purchase price method is also applicable to parties can execute a made with commusituations where a community real transmutation agreenity funds bear to the ment with a waiver of total payments on property is later transmuted into any family code secthe purchase price one spouse’s separate property tion 2640 reimburseand any appreciation should be apporthrough execution of a quit claim by ment claim. If your divorce case involves tioned accordingly. the other spouse but is subsequently complex issues of Marriage of Moore asset distribution, it (1980) 28 C3d 366, paid using community funds.” is best to retain the 371, 373, 168 CR representation of 662, 664, 665. Other $117,500 (property now valued competent counsel. expenses associated with the at $182,500) while the mortgage *** property are not considered in Please note that this article is not legal advice the calculation such as mortgage has further declined by $9,200 and is not intended as legal advice. The article interest, taxes, and insurance. In up to the date of separation. is intended to provide only general, non-specific essence, the real property would The ratio at which community funds paid down the mortgage legal information. This article is not intended accumulate both a separate ($9,200) during the marriage to cover all the issues related to the topic property and a community discussed. The specific facts that apply to your property component by the date to the original purchase price ($38,300) amounts to 24.02%. matter may make the outcome different than of separation. The appropriate This percentage of the property would be anticipated by you. This article does remedy in this situation where create any attorney client relationship between separate property is subsequent- appreciation during the marriage of $117,500 ($28,223.50) you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, ly paid with community funds is plus the reduction in mortgage APC. This article is not a solicitation. “apportionment.” balance during the marriage *** The process of apportion($9,200) would constitute the Attorney Kenneth Reyes is a graduate of ing between the separate and Southwestern University School of Law community property component community component of the real property. The rest was the in Los Angeles. He was President of the is laid out in the Marriage of Philippine American Bar Association. He is a Marsden. In that case, the court husband’s separate property. member of the American Immigration Lawyer’s determined the ratio or percent- The husband in that case was awarded his separate property Association (AILA) and the Los Angeles County age in which the mortgage loan component of the real property Bar Association, Immigration and Family Law principal was reduced during plus one half of the community Sections. You may contact Atty. Reyes at (213) the marriage and applied that property component.

388-1611 or via e-mail at kenneth@kenreyeslaw. percentage to the appreciaThe Marsden apportionment com. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APC. is tion of the real property during method is also applicable to situ- located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los the marriage. The community Angeles, CA. property component would then ations where a community real property is later transmuted into (Advertising Supplement) consist of the reduction in the

community

T h e As ian Jou r n al MDWK MAGAZ IN E - Ju l y 8 , 2 0 2 0

Bankruptcy relief: Get out of debt...

From Page 4 people realize that they would have been better off filing bankruptcy before losing everything that they had worked so hard for. Don’t let this happen to you!

If you’ve come to the end of your financial rope and don’t know what else to do, it is time to face your debt problems with dignity and do what your situation calls for. I am not saying that bankruptcy is for everyone but after being a bankruptcy attorney for 22 years now and having represented thousands of clients in bankruptcy, what I have seen is that oftentimes, bankruptcy is THE ONLY WAY for most people in debt to get a fresh start when they are in over their heads in debt.

If bankruptcy is the best option for you, you don’t need to keep living paycheck to paycheck while digging a deeper financial hole every single month. Yes, bankruptcy may be a scary thing for a lot of people who don’t understand the process but once you’ve taken the time to find out how it works and how it could help you get out of debt, you may realize that it’s actually not as difficult as you first may have thought.

Dealing with financial problems can result in stress, fear and embarrassment.

Maybe you hesitate seeing an attorney for fear that you bankruptcy may not be right for you. Remember this: With the current economy in turmoil, more and more people are filing for bankruptcy protection, so you are not alone. The stigma that once surrounded bankruptcy has almost disappeared. Once you consult with a bankruptcy attorney, you may soon discover that the law is actually on your side and that you just need to let the legal process work for you.

For a free evaluation of your case, please call our office at Toll-Free 1-866477-7772 to schedule a free consultation. Let us help you. ***

NOTE: Due to the virus lockdown, I am currently offering consultations via phone or video. Please call the office to schedule your appointment with me. Questions? Email me at gethelp@ rjb-lawoffices.com. ***

None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866477-777.

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T h e A s ian Jour nal M D W K M A G A Z I NE - J ul y 8, 20 2 0

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