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JULY 30-AUGUST 5, 2020

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

Volume 31 - No. 30 • 12 Pages

2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Suite 201 Las Vegas, NV 89109 Tel: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

No new applications for DACA will be accepted as Trump admin reviews immigration program

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

NEW applications will not be accepted for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a program has prevented certain young undocumented immigrants

DATELINE

from being deported, the Department of Homeland Security said in a memo on Tuesday, July 28.

This move comes despite the Supreme Court ruling on Thursday, June 18 that said the Trump administration’s effort to end the Obama-era program was “arbi-

trary and capricious” in that it violated the Administrative Procedure Act. Effective immediately, as the department undergoes a “comprehensive review” of DACA, no new or pending applications will be considered.

“I direct DHS personnel to take all appropriate actions to reject all pending and future initial requests for DACA, to reject all pending and future applications for advance parole absent exceptional circumstances, and to shorten DACA renewals consistent with

the parameters established in this memorandum,” Chad Wolf, acting Secretary of Homeland Security, wrote in the memo.

Though renewals for the program are still allowed, they will be granted for one year instead of two years.

USA

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

All communities should participate in the US Census despite Trump’s memo on reapportionment Leaders indicate that the directive does not exclude undocumented immigrants from the count

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Congresswoman Susie Lee hosts virtual roundtable focusing on issues impacting Asian American community in Nevada THE AAPI community in Nevada took center stage during a Facebook LIVE roundtable hosted by Democratic Congresswoman Susie Lee. She is currently serving Southern Nevada’s 3rd congressional district.

The roundtable featured an informative conversation with leaders of the Asian Community Development Council (ACDC). The nonprofit and non-partisan organization operates with a mission to educate, empower, and connect the Asian American Pacific Islander community throughout the state of Nevada. ACDC’s founder & CEO Vida Lin said she appreciates Congresswoman Susie Lee for reaching out to the AAPI community, especially during these uncertain times.

“Because of the COVID 19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to think outside the box to reach our community,” said Lin. “We have done a number of virtual events and campaigns, and that’s why it’s so important for us to partner with the congresswoman and have

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Duterte rejects reported US plan to return to Subic

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

ALL communities, regardless of citizenship status, are encouraged to respond to the U.S. Census despite President Donald Trump’s July 21 policy memo on reapportionment, civil rights advocates and census experts urged in an ethnic media conference call on July 24.

The memo, issued July 21, instructs the Commerce Department to eliminate undocumented immigrants from census data used for reapportioning Congressional Districts for the next decade.

“One thing to make clear is that the President is not asking for undocumented immigrants to be excluded in the Census. A great deal of media coverage suggests that those immigrants will not be counted, and that is not what the policy memo is asking for,” said

The DHS will “limit the period of any deferred action granted pursuant to the DACA policy after the issuance of this memorandum (and thereby limit the period of any associated work authorization) to one year,” read the an-

FREE TESTING. The Quezon City government conducts free swab testing held at the Quezon City Memorial Circle on Thursday, July 30.

Employees of government agencies, local government units, and Grab drivers, among others, availed of the free swab test.

PNA photos by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

THE United States will not return to its former naval base in Subic Bay in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte said.

During his fifth State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 27, the Philippine leader said that he would not allow American forces to reestablish a military base in the country.

According to the chief executive, it will put the country in harm’s way in case there is conflict.

“I will just put on record my thoughts. I have nothing against America, I have nothing against China but if you put bases here, you will double the spectacle of a most destructive thing just like Manila during the Second World War,” Duterte said before limited attendees composed of members of Congress, the Cabinet and other distinguished guests at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

“Kaya maglagay-lagay ka ng (That’s why when you put) base at this time, this will ensure if war breaks out, because there would be atomic arsenals brought

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ABS-CBN offers gov’t use Robredo lists recommendations of transmission network to improve PH COVID-19 response

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

BROADCAST giant ABS-CBN this week offered the government its transmission network for the broadcast of educational programs.

“In response to the educational thrust of the government in this time of the pandemic, we are offering the use of our transmission network to broadcast educational programs all over the country,” said the network in a statement on Monday, July 27.

It added, “We hope to help the government continuously edu-

cate students nationwide despite the limitations brought about by the pandemic.”

This came after President Rodrigo Duterte’s fifth State of Nation Address (SONA) wherein he announced that the television frequencies returned to the government will be used for the “uninterrupted, quality education” of students amid the lockdown caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Duterte ordered Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, Science and Technology Secretary Fortu-

PHILIPPINE Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday, July 29, presented her list of suggestions on how the country may combat and contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country.

According to Robredo, waiting for a vaccine will not stop the spread of COVID-19.

“The pandemic won’t be stopped by just waiting for a vaccine. We need to stop its spread as soon as possible,”she said in a video posted on her Facebook page.

The statement came after President Rodrigo Duterte admitted in his fifth State of the Nation Ad-

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by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

Vice President Leni Robredo

Inquirer.net photo

Filipino celebrities, online influencers file 21st petition vs anti-terror law

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

A new group on Wednesday, July 29 filed the 21st petition against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 at the Supreme Court.

Photo from Twitter/mikenavallo

BLOGGERS, social media influencers, and other Internet personalities have joined lawyers, journalists and human rights advocates who are rallying against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which recently became a law.

Under the group called “Concerned Online Citizens,” 19 vloggers (video bloggers), bloggers, advocates, artists, writers and community managers filed the 21st petition against the controversial law asking the Supreme Court to strike down certain provisions of RA 11479 and stop their implementation.

“The Philippines, including our portion of the Internet, must be free,” the group said on Wednesday, July 29.

“We are reminded that our rights, whether offline or online, should be protected,” they added.

The group’s petition highlighted the new law’s impact on internet freedom, pointing out that Filipinos who are online mostly on social media can become victims of the law’s vague definition of terrorism and acts of terror.

“One can easily be tagged as a terrorist or terrorist sympathizer, or terrorist enabler and anyone may be subjected to surveillance, attack and even to peddled fake and false news against their persons,” Rodel Taton, the lawyer of the petitioners, said in a statement.

The group also asked the SC to declare the following provisions as unconstitutional:

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

july 30-august 5, 2020 • las VEgas asIaN jOuRNal

From The FronT Page

No new applications for DACA...

PAGE A1 nouncement.

Earlier this month, Judge Paul Grimm of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland ruled that the Trump administration must restore DACA to “pre-September 5, 2017 status” after new applications weren’t being accepted after the high court’s ruling.

Former President Barack Obama announced the executive order in June 2012, which has shielded approximately 800,000 undocumented immigrants, called “Dreamers,” who arrived in the U.S. as children from deportation. They must have arrived in the U.S. before the age of 16 and be under the age of 30 when the DHS implemented the policy that year.

Aside from being able to stay in

the U.S., recipients, who could renew every two years, were able to work legally which allowed many to pursue higher education and pursue other career goals.

In 2017, President Donald Trump first moved to end the program, arguing that Obama overstepped his authority in introducing the policy.

“I do not favor punishing children, most of whom are now adults, for the actions of their parents. But we must also recognize that we are nation of opportunity because we are a nation of laws,” Trump said in an announcement back then and called on Congress to address the immigration issues.

At least 16,000 DACA recipients are of Asian American or Pacific Islander (AAPI) descent, civil

rights organization Asian Americans Advancing Justice said.

Between 2012 and 2017, 3,880 Filipinos were granted DACA protection, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), as previously reported by the Asian Journal.

Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, Filipino Dreamers argued that the fight is not over until there is a legal pathway for them to become citizens.

“We will continue to fight until DACA recipients like me have a permanent pathway to citizenship,” Raymond Portolan, a Filipino Dreamer living in Atlanta, Georgia, previously told the Asian Journal. “We dodged a bullet, but ROLLING STORE, A man sells motorcycle barriers on his vehicle along Marikina-Infanta Highway in Antipolo City, Rizal on Wednesday, July 28.

DACA was and always will be a Each barrier is sold at P650. The government has extended to July 31 the deadline for the installation of prescribed safety barriers to ensure PNA photo by Joey O. Razon temporary solution to a greater physical distancing for motorcycle back riding couples and/or live-in partners. issue.” n

PAGE A1 dress (SONA) on Monday, July 27 that he asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to prioritize the Philippines when providing the potential vaccine against COVID-19.

Robredo stressed that the Philippines may also contain the virus like Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam and New Zealand did.

“We can also do that. We have enough capacity, resources and knowledge,” Robredo said in Filipino.

Data gathering The Vice President said that gathering data is crucial in fighting COVID-19.

“Everything begins with data, which is the foundation of a right decision. From here, we can then determine who and what are the places that we need to focus on for mass testing, contact tracing, and support for communities and hospitals,” Robredo said in Filipino.

“If we respond well in the aspect of health care, then we can control community transmission, the reopening of the economy will be faster, safer, and more strategic, and job losses can be avoided,” she added.

Robredo also urged the government to clean up and fast-track the data-gathering methods on COVID-19.

She also cited the slow data validation process by the Department of Health (DOH), urging the agency to tap into several academic institutions that can help in

the validation process.

In terms of the backlogs in releasing COVID-19 test results, the Vice President said determining which laboratories are recording these backlogs is needed so the government can move to augment their resources.

Locally-stranded Individuals Robredo suggested for the government to provide free COVID-19 swab tests for locally-stranded individuals (LSIs) before they return to their home provinces, as well as temporary shelters that observe social distancing rules.

This was after 25 of the thousands of LSIs stranded in the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila were tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend.

‘Whole-of-nation’ approach Robredo believes in the government’s “whole of nation” approach in battling COVID-19, but she noted that the right people should be appointed to lead this fight.

“May we go beyond just giving new positions and titles to officials. The true whole-of-nation approach is about good management and a clear direction,”she said in Filipino.

“What direction should we take and who should lead the way?

Public health professionals who truly understand the problem,” Robredo added.

The Vice President also stressed that hospitals should be the top priority in terms of funding.

“Ensure there is an equitable

and systematic way of allocating resources to hospitals so they can keep up with the demands of the pandemic,” she said.

Not forgetting the country’s healthcare front-liners, Robredo pushed for free counseling services for them to protect their mental health.

“Implement a system to help protect front-liners from burnout, like setting up a process for relievers. We also agree that their salaries need to be increased in a time like this,”she said.

PH economy According to Robredo, the government should work closely with the private sector, suggesting tax incentives for private companies that will provide aid during the pandemic.

“Use the force of the whole economic cluster, including the academe and others from the private sector, not only to craft risk assessment study, but also to ensure that the decision is based on the study,” she said.

She also said that the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) must be more systematic.

“As of now, there are different registries for basic sectors, for records of the poor, for social protection and social welfare services,” Robredo said.

“Collate these, validate and compare with the records on COVID-19 to determine who should be prioritized in SAP,” she added. n

Robredo lists recommendations to improve... Filipino celebrities, online influencers file 21st...

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PAGE A1 • sections 4 to 6 and 9 to 12, which defined terrorism and related offenses; • sections 25 to 27, which allowed the Anti-Terrorism Council to designate, and the Court of Appeals to preliminarily proscribe terrorists or terrorist groups on the basis of suspicion; and, • section 29, which allowed detention without judicial warrant of arrest.

“It cannot be overly emphasized that the new Anti-Terrorism Act is highly questionable for its vague and overbroad definition of ‘terrorism,’ which may lead to the capricious and arbitrary application by law enforcers and may chill the people to silence,” the group said.

The petitioners added that actions like being tracked down, followed, or investigated or having

their messages, conversations, discussions, spoken or written words tapped, listened, intercepted and recorded through various means “are violative of their constitutional rights to privacy, free speech, free expression and their right against unreasonable searches and seizures.”

“The Anti-Terrorism Act presents a clear threat on the free exercise by the citizens-netizens of their fundamental right to speak on issues of national importance, albeit online,” they said.

The group also described the law as “sword hanging over the heads of citizens who are now mostly conducting on the Internet interactions, transactions, commerce and business, media consumption, availment of government services, and public debate on national issues.”

Among the petitioners are

online personalities Mark Averilla (Macoy Dubs) and Marita Dinglasan (Aling Marie), spoken word artist and writer Juan Miguel Severo, blogger Jover Laurio (Pinoy Ako Blog), blogger and columnist Tonyo Cruz, blogger and former lawmaker Mong Palatino, mental health champion Dr. Gia Sison, and Ian Porquia (Reklamador Facebook Page).

“This is a fight for and on behalf of 73 million online Filipinos.

If we do not fight and if the court won’t take action, the terror law could easily be used to stifle Internet freedom in the guise of fighting terror,” they said.

“The government has been using the Cybercrime Law before to silence critics, even ordinary citizens. The terror law is the new weapon of a tyrannical government,” they added. n

Duterte rejects reported US plan to return...

PAGE A1

in, this will ensure the extinction of the Filipino race,” he added.

Duterte also said that the Filipino nation claims its rightful place in the community of sovereign states, adding that his administration is bent on pursuing an independent foreign policy.

“We worked without fail to protect our rights in the South China Sea, neither beholden nor a pawn to anyone. We broadened the boundaries of Philippine diplomacy. We built productive ties with everyone willing to engage us on the basis of equality and mutual respect,” he said.

Subic Bay was one of the largest U.S. naval facilities in the

world before the Philippine Senate voted to terminate the longstanding Military Bases Agreement with the United States in 1991, effectively shutting the naval installation down a year later.

“And, we redefined our relationships with our most important partners, placing the country in a far better position to advance our interests in an evolving regional order and emerging global problems,” Duterte added.

Following the president’s address, other administration officials have expanded on the reported plan for the U.S. Navy to return to Subic Bay.

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said there will be no American presence at the base.

“There will be no U.S. base in Subic. I can assure you about that,” he said as reported by Philippine News Agency.

Meanwhile, Navy Chief Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo warned of the effects if the U.S. returned, arguing that it would make the Philippines a “legitimate target in the unlikely event of war.”

“That is way beyond just having U.S. Navy ships conducting repairs or other commercial activities in Subic,” Bacardo said according to Manila Bulletin. n

Congresswoman Susie Lee hosts virtual...

PAGE A1 this roundtable to talk about issues impacting the AAPI community in Nevada”.

The roundtable moderator, award winning journalist and Las Vegas based media consultant, Patranya Bhoolsuwan, brought up a variety of questions and issues impacting the AAPI community across the state. At one point, she asked if the government can do more to help AAPI families affected financially by the COVID19 pandemic.

Congresswoman Susie Lee said one of the critical things that needs to happen now is for the Senate to pass the Heroes Act, which was passed by the US House of Representatives 2 months ago.The Heroes Act contains $200 billion in additional money to American consumers, including assistance for making rent & mortgage payments.

“The Heroes Act has $ 8.7 billion in support of Nevada. If the Senate had passed this, we would not be having a lot of these tough conversations right now and the state legislator would not have to meet and cut programs important to our children” said Congresswoman Lee. “We just have to get this passed and get resources to our community.”

The congresswoman went on to say in terms of the healthcare impact of the novel Coronavirus epidemic, everyone in our community has to do their part to stop the spread of this disease.

“Ultimately this is a war-like scenario and the enemy is a virus that we can’t see. For us to overcome, we literally have to look out for each other and I have been inspired by my community members, including Asian Americans, who have stepped up and helped their neighbors.”

Among those who took part in the Facebook LIVE roundtable are three ACDC’s board members: Joe Coe, Director of Diversity at Boyd Gaming; Janice Tong, Director of Asian Gaming at M Resort; and Peter Lung, owner of World of Feng Shui, located in Chinatown in Las Vegas.

Lung says it’s important to raise awareness about how much this pandemic is hurting small businesses across the state.

Democratic Congresswoman Susie Lee

“A lot of small businesses are deciding should I open and pay employees or should I close the business and retire,” said Lung.

“That’s the situation right now.

There’s no hope, there’s no future. And there’s the problem that even if a business is open, there are employees who don’t want to come to work because they are getting more money, that extra $600 dollars in addition from unemployment benefits from the government, for not going to work.”

Another issue that came up during the roundtable is the rise of racist incidents against AAPI communities across the country. This includes the use of the words “Kung Flu” and “Chinese Virus” by government leaders, including President Donald Trump.

Congresswoman Lee said it’s our obligations to speak up and talk about why this is wrong.

“We need to continue to put awareness on our leaders who are using this language and the impact it has on people’s lives, “ said Congresswoman Lee. “There are people on this call who have been subject of discrimination. I think it’s incredibly hurtful. I wish our leaders would not use those languages. We need to shine a

light on this issue.”

Both Congresswoman Lee and ACDC leaders expressed a feeling of hope despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and they urged everyone to go out and register to vote for the General Election this November. They also asked people to take a few minutes to fill out their census.

“I have been in Vegas 25 years.

I know that Nevada, especially Las Vegas, has the ability to think outside the box and adapt to challenges. We will all get through this but we need to work together.”

Congresswoman Lee agrees the partnership each community has with each other is key in getting past these uncertain times.

“For as challenging and devastating in some cases as this pandemic has been, there are bright spots and the work that ACDC has done, the work that the AAPI community has gone out to do especially in getting PPE’s and food to those in need, that makes me hopeful,” said Congresswoman Lee. “Anyone who needs assistance please call my office 702963-9336. We are here to help.

Our staff is working day in and day out, We are here to help you to pull through this.”

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ JULy 30-AUGUSt 5, 2020

(702) 792-6678 â&#x20AC;˘ http://www.asianjournal.com

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Dateline PReport: hiliPPines PH deadliest country in Asia for eco-warriors

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

PREPS FOR REOPENING. A client at an Internet cafĂŠ along Judge Jimenez Street in Kamuning, Quezon City transacts printing business behind a plastic barrier on Thursday, July 30. Internet cafĂŠs, gyms, and review and tutorial centers in areas under general community quarantine have made preparations in compliance with health protocols, such as installing plastic barriers, after they have been allowed to reopen on a limited capacity on Saturday, August 1.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

PNP chief throws support behind death penalty

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

THE imposition of the death penalty would deter crimes in the country, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Archie Gamboa argued on Wednesday, July 29. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The PNP believes that with this kind of imposition, there would be a deterrence on crime,â&#x20AC;? he told reporters on the sidelines of the destruction of 800 kilograms of shabu confiscated in Bulacan.

Gamboa also pointed out that the death penalty would put a stop to the Philippines being a convenient spot for individuals, especially foreigners, to commit illegal drug activities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we compare it with other countries, especially when we apprehend foreigners, the first question is why do they do it here, because they are in a way convenient in the absence of a death penalty,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It has been the stand of the PNP that we are fully supportive of the imposition of the death penalty. Besides, the campaign of the Duterte administration against illegal drugs is unprecedented and this canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just be compared with any other administration,â&#x20AC;? he added.

According to the PNP chief, a person should face death penalty

if caught with 50 grams of illegal drugs and up. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To be considered a high-value target, you should be caught with at least 50 grams of illegal drugs.

Drug users usually only buy drugs by the sachet,â&#x20AC;? said Gamboa.

Senate President Vicente â&#x20AC;&#x153;Titoâ&#x20AC;?

Sotto III, however, disagreed with his suggestion. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The present law says 200 grams non-bailable, paanong naging 50 grams lang death penalty (how did it become only 50 grams for death penalty)? If they insist, then forget the bill,â&#x20AC;? he said.

On Tuesday, July 28, Sotto said the passage of death penalty would have better chances if the law would be applied only to convicted drug lords. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s confined to high-level drug trafficking, we stand a good chance of having it passed. Otherwise, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m telling you now, mahihirapan na pagka hindi ganoon (it would be difficult if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not done that way),â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Una sa lahat, walang mahirap na high-level drug trafficker, walang mahirap na drug lord, so hindi uubra yung sinasabi nilang anti-poor (First of all, no high-level trafficker is poor, no drug lord is poor, so they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s antipoor),â&#x20AC;? he added.

Sotto also stressed that this is the way to convince fellow lawmakers who opposes the death penalty.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;So what I am saying is, regarding our colleagues who oppose the death penalty, we stand a better chance of getting them to agree if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s confined to that group of criminals,â&#x20AC;? he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte, in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), called on Congress to reinstate the death penalty in the Philippines for drug-related charges. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I reiterate the swift passage of the law reviving the death penalty by lethal injection for crimes specified under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002,â&#x20AC;? he said Monday, July 27. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This law will not only help us deter criminality but also save our children from the dangers posed by illegal and dangerous drugs,â&#x20AC;? he added.

House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez assured that the imposition of the death penalty for drug-related crimes will be thoroughly deliberated by the House of Representatives. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We, in the House of Representatives, are committed to deliver to the President the measures needed to support his vision for the nation in the years to come.

We are ready to take on the challenge,â&#x20AC;? he said Tuesday.

He added that he expects to work closely with the Senate â&#x20AC;&#x153;to smoothen the deliberations and passage of these vital bills.â&#x20AC;?n

ABS-CBN offers govâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t use of transmission...

PAGE A1 nato Dela PeĂąa, and Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gregorio Honasan to coordinate with Education Secretary Leonor Briones, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III to come up with an â&#x20AC;&#x153;integrated program and implementation, making sure that these TV frequencies are fully utilized by government.â&#x20AC;?

ABS-CBN has the widest transmission network in the country with 35 regional television stations, 16 FM stations, and three AM stations.

The network also offered the use of all educational programs

it produced to help students. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While this is not expected to have any business impact to the company, we are hopeful that our network can help in the education of our students nationwide,â&#x20AC;? it said.

MalacaĂąang welcomed the offer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kung gobyerno po ang gagamit, salamat po at baka naman pupuwedeng gamitin iyong transmission at iyong mga materyales ng ABS-CBN (If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the government which will use them, then thank you for offering to use ABS-CBNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transmission (network) and materials),â&#x20AC;? Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Tuesday, July 28.

He also maintained that Duterte did not influence the members of the House of Representatives who rejected the bills seeking to grant the broadcasting giant a new 25-year franchise. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was neutral on the House vote. But he has personal views that he shared with the public.

But he did not interfere in the House vote,â&#x20AC;? Roque said a day after Duterte slammed the Lopez Family, owners of ABS-CBN, branding the clan as oligarchs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The president said he has forgiven the acts committed against his person and his family. But despite that, he still has a personal stance,â&#x20AC;? the spokesman added. n

THE Philippines was the deadliest country in Asia for land and environmental defenders in 2019, according to conflict and corruption watchdog Global Witness.

In its report released on Wednesday, July 29, the UKbased group documented 212 murders of defenders â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with over half of the killings occurring in Colombia and the Philippines. â&#x20AC;&#x153;On average, four defenders have been killed every week since December 2015 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the month the Paris Climate agreement was signed, when the world supposedly came together amid hopes of a new era of climate progress,â&#x20AC;? Global Witness noted in its report. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Countless more are silenced by violent attacks, arrests, death threats, sexual violence or lawsuits,â&#x20AC;? it added.

The Global Witness cited that the Philippines saw a rise from the 30 killings in 2018 to the 43 last year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Philippines has become even deadlier for activists since

2018, having been consistently named as one of the worst places in Asia for attacks against defenders,â&#x20AC;? it further said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But things got even worse in 2019 with the number of murders rising to 43. The relentless vilification of defenders by the government and widespread impunity for their attackers may well be driving the increase,â&#x20AC;? it added.

The report also found that majority of the killings in the country took place in Negros Island and Mindanao.

It also cited the case of Manobo leader Datu Kaylo Bontulan, who was reportedly killed in a military airstrike in April last year after returning to his mountain home to help document violence against fellow tribe members. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Like Datu Kaylo, many of those killed were indigenous people asserting their right to self-determination and their ancestral lands,â&#x20AC;? the report said.

Global Witness likewise stressed that 119 defenders have been killed during President Rodrigo Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first three years in office. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the Philippines, individual

Palace admits UPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s COVID-19 forecast came true by chRistina

M. oRiel

AJPress

THE Philippines has failed to beat the prediction of the University of the Philippines (UP), which projected 85,000 cases of the novel coronavirus by July 31, Malacanang admitted on Wednesday, July 29. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The forecast happened and I see no reason why we should celebrate. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very sad,â&#x20AC;? said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

However, he maintained that the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s COVID-19 response was not an absolute failure. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been rather successful because weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve limited mortality rate, and in the end thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what matters â&#x20AC;&#x201C; how many people perished because of the pandemic. I think that strides also in treating COVID, has contributed to this fact that mortality is still way below the world threshold,â&#x20AC;?

Roque said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We can only look at our for-

mer colonial master and look at the mess that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in, the United States â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;no and even England.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re far shot from the crisis that they have in the US, in England and the rest of Europe,â&#x20AC;? he added.

There are 85,486 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, with 1,962 fatalities and 26,996 recoveries, as of press time.

UP researchers initially projected that the number of infections in the country could rise to 60,000 by the end of July. They later revised their prediction to 85,000 based on the diseaseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transmission rate and doubling time.

New quarantine classifications Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte will announce the updated quarantine measures on Thursday, July 30. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As always, I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t announce it, because it will be the president that will announce it on Thursday, if I am not mistaken. And

may occur in those communities and reducing their voting power relative to more affluent communities,â&#x20AC;? the MPI report noted.

The goal of community organizations regarding the Census has not changed in spite of the memo, said John C. Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ). â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is no immigration status question whatsoever in the Census and we encourage people to respond online, on paper or by telephone, especially if they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want an enumerator to knock on their door,â&#x20AC;? Yang said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And I remind them that the deadline for responding is still October 31.â&#x20AC;?

Yang, who is also an attorney, reiterated that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution makes clear that apportionment is based on all persons in the United States,â&#x20AC;? and makes no distinction between citizens and persons. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The suggestion that somehow undocumented immigrants are not people or persons just flies in the face of logic, legislative history and policy of the United States for several hundred years,â&#x20AC;? Yang added.

Nevertheless, the memo has deepened uncertainty and fear which will further inhibit many communities from responding to the Census, especially those in Florida and Texas which have provided no state funds for census outreach. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are still having to address the fear of the citizenship question that was pushed by the Administration early on,â&#x20AC;? said Nestor Lopez, a census organizer from the Texas border county of Hidalgo.

The challenges in Hidalgo County are compounded by a persistent undercount of the area for at least the last two decades, the lack of internet connectivity in many of its communities and the pandemic, which crushed plans for person-to-person interaction, Lopez added.

He and other activists have had to switch strategies from in-person activities to online outreach and rely on local voices and celebrities â&#x20AC;&#x153;to share our message.â&#x20AC;?

Data based on response rates by geographic area show that minority and poor regions consistently show lower response rates to date.

Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s response rate so far is 63.8% and this year, the state has invested at least 2 million dollars in specific outreach towards counting tribal populations in the state.

Marilyn Stephens, Assistant Regional Manager for the Southern District of the U.S. Census, highlighted precautions the Bureau is taking as enumerators begin knocking on doors for the next phase of the census. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Staff has been issued masks, sanitizer and clear instructions and training, they cannot enter a home, they must practice social distancing.â&#x20AC;?

But, she noted, â&#x20AC;&#x153;people can still avoid the visit by self-responding now.â&#x20AC;?

The specialist uses a simple message to encourage communities to participate: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The only message that I tell people is this: It takes less than 10 minutes to fill out the Census and it guarantees 10 years of services and representation. Everyone must be counted.â&#x20AC;? (Pilar Marrero/Ethnic Media Services)

thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still appeals to be made by the local government units.

So the recommendations are all preliminary subject to finalization on Thursday,â&#x20AC;? he told CNN Philippines.

The spokesman, however, did not provide a direct answer to the possibility of Metro Manila reverting to modified enhanced community quarantine. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Metro Manila will be a living experiment and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an experiment that we believe we can be successful at, and it will be something that we can be proud of,â&#x20AC;?

Roque said.

He also hinted at â&#x20AC;&#x153;major changesâ&#x20AC;? in the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s COVID-19 response. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Definitely itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not going to be status quo. No, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not going to be status quo. Nothing will be status quo from this classification,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just say that things will not be the same, there will be major changes in our response to the pandemic,â&#x20AC;? Roque added. n

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PAGE A1 Arturo Vargas, executive director of the National Association for Latino Elected Officials (NALEO).

The Trump Administration asserts it intends to use â&#x20AC;&#x153;administrative dataâ&#x20AC;? from other departments to calculate the number of undocumented immigrants in the Census final count, and calculate population numbers for the purposes of reapportionment without them.

Public interest lawyers have said that this policy memo is unconstitutional, and three separate lawsuits have been filed in federal courts to challenge it. States with large immigrant populations could lose Congressional seats.

Vargas warned that excluding â&#x20AC;&#x153;undocumented immigrantsâ&#x20AC;? after the Census is finalized amounts to â&#x20AC;&#x153;nothing more than cooking the numbers, or making up an entirely new data set on which to base the most important element of our democracy.â&#x20AC;?

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According to a new report by the Migration Policy Institute, the process the administration proposes could incorrectly â&#x20AC;&#x153;lump togetherâ&#x20AC;? as many as 20 million U.S. citizens with unauthorized immigrants due to matching errors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Such errors are likely to be greater in low-income urban and rural communities, thereby exacerbating any undercount that

activists and environmental organisations have been accused of being rebels or communist sympathisers â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a practice commonly known as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;red-tagging,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? it said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Inflammatory calls by Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s government to kill activists deemed to be â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;obstructing justice,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; as well as his direct threats to bomb indigenous schools puts defenders at much greater risk of attacks,â&#x20AC;? it added.

Global Witness highlighted the newly-signed anti-terrorism law as a legislation that focuses on public order and national security at the expense of human rights, due process rights, the rule of law and accountability.

According to the watchdog, the lawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s broad-ranging definitions of terrorism can be easily manipulated by authorities to target, arrest and detain government critics â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including those working to protect the land and natural environment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This draconian new legislation leaves the door open for the prosecution of people who speak out, just at a time where press freedoms and journalists are under attack,â&#x20AC;? the report said. n

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Editorial THaT was a long to-do list presented by President Duterte on Monday, July 27 as the 18th Congress opened its second regular session. in a reminder of the raging pandemic, physical attendance at his penultimate State of the nation address was drastically limited, with fewer than 30 lawmakers present. as expected, addressing the public health and economic crisis spawned by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic dominated the priority measures enumerated by the President, with the exception of the renewed push for the restoration of the death penalty

The Fil-Am Perspective GEl SantoS-rEloS FiLiPinOS all over the world can’t help but compare and contrast U.S. President Donald Trump and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. For many of us Filipinos in america, their similarities in terms of their leadership style, the image they want to project, the rhetoric, their relationship with the international community, the laws championed, facts and the truth have left us feeling exasperated especially during the age of the coronavirus pandemic. after all, we call both countries our home — our Motherland and our adoptive country, the United States of america.

BUT let us be more specific in our comparison in the context of the 5th State of the nation address or “Ulat ng Bayan.” Just like the “State of the Union address” (SOTU) here in america, citizens look to the speech from the president as his statement of accountability to the people and the nation.

We expect our leaders to give us the truth of where we are as a nation, where we are going, and how to get there, especially in the context of the promises delivered when they were just running for office, courting the nation to accord them the public trust to run the government as its Chief Executive and Commander in Chief.

Let’s go straight to the point on the issue of the coronavirus pandemic. One thing that Trump can learn from Duterte amid the threat of COViD-19 is to prioritize the

Commentary

EnriquE

dE la Cruz

Engaging in a conversation about the current fight against racism, discrimination, and police brutality is most likely a difficult conversation among Filipino families. There is a reticence among Filipino americans who were born and educated in the islands, to participate in militant political activities such as protests here in the United States although they might be more open to it in the Philippines.

During the 1970s and 1980s when i was actively organizing protests here against the Marcos dictatorship in the Philippines, i had always wondered how i could bridge through this reticence for it was obvious that they disapproved of Marcos’ abuses of power. in part, some of them feared retaliation against their families back home. But a better part of their reticence seems to derive from a sense of hiya, a trait or value that expresses a sense of demure shyness and humility tied to a collective sense of duty. [note: there are stronger senses of this term, as in “walang hiya” shameless. also, nakakahiya, shameful, while mahiyain suggests demure shyness.]

There is no exact Western translation for this value. Hiya seems to be at the core of this reticence to participate in protest activities, since it may be perceived as ingratitude to our host country.

Hiya is at the base of that instinctive reaction among parents who caution their children especially

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To-do list for Congress through lethal injection for drug offenses.

Congress has a lot on its plate. in addition to the often contentious deliberations on the next national budget, it is expected to pass the second edition of the Bayanihan to Heal as One act.

For the economic stimulus package, it must discuss CREaTE and FiST – acronyms for providing tax incentives and other forms of assistance so companies, financial institutions and distressed enterprises can recover from the pandemic. in addition, the President is asking Congress to create new departments for overseas Fili-

pino workers and for disaster resiliency, as well as a national Disease Management authority and the Boracay island authority. He also reminded lawmakers of the long pending national Land Use bill. also in the to-do list for Congress are measures on national housing development and rental housing subsidy. The President also wants to institutionalize the Medical Reserve Corps, establish a Coconut Farmers Trust Fund, modernize the Bureau of immigration and Bureau of Fire Protection, and amend the 2016 law on continuing professional development.

With his new emphasis on paperless governance, the President wants Congress to pass the internet Transaction act. He is also pushing for the advanced nursing Education act, the Uniformed Military and Uniformed Services Personnel Separation, Retirement and Pension act as well as the Rural agricultural and Fisheries Development Financing Systems act.

That’s a lot of legislation ahead, even for measures that are not expected to be as contentious as the budget bill and the revival of capital punishment. Congress must hit the ground running.

(Philstar.com)

Philstar.com photo

What US President Donald Trump can learn from Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s 5th State of the Nation Address in the age of coronavirus

life, safety and well-being of the people more than political and personal selfish interests. “i must admit that our actions have been far from perfect — totoo iyan, i admit it…To open up the economy to pre-COViD-19 levels at this time is not an option because whatever good it can produce will only be gobbled up or be outweighed by the bad it will generate,” Duterte said in his SOna. “Buhay muna bago lahat” [Life first, above all others].”

Duterte laid it out that the global war against COViD-19 will take longer than expected. The Philippine president also took responsibility for the failure of his administration to mitigate the spread of the virus early in the battle.

This is something we never heard from the President of the United States. Donald Trump has never taken responsibility for his administration’s failure to act proactively despite facts, information and warning from his own intelligence agencies and the World Health Organization, but instead shifted the blame to everyone else but himself, even up to now. as the coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 4.4 million americans, killing over 151 thousand people, and continues on an uptick, Trump continues to push states to re-open the economy and students to go back to school.

Worse, the Trump administration threatens to withhold additional funding for schools that refuse to re-open and cut unemployment benefits for those who refuse to go back to work amid

the threat to their life because of the pandemic.

We know that moving closer to the november elections, the intention of Trump is to create an impression that we are back to normal, that the economy is booming, the number of jobless americans are down, that the stock market indices are going up — all of these in the service of his bid to be re-elected no matter what the cost, even if it means the lives of the american people he has sworn to protect and defend.

Trump continues to deny scientific facts, disregard advice from and even denigrate health officials and scientists, defy safety measures such as social distancing, wearing mask, push people to go back to work and children to go back to school just because of his tunnel vision that sees only one thing: to be re-elected. and because his focus is off tangent to the safety and wellbeing of the people, Trump has failed up to now, to manufacture and distribute more PPEs (personal protective equipment) most needed especially by our frontlines in the hospitals. iCU beds in many hotspots have been filled above capacity.

Testing is still not as wide scale, not as available as it should be, yet he continues to lie to the american people that we do the most testing, better than Europe, without breaking down to the number of tests per capita - number of tests done per million of america, not in general absolute terms.

What a shame! The United States of america — the richest

Our‘utang na loob’to Rep. John Lewis

their american born children to desist from getting involved in protest activities. To be sure, there is a concern for their safety, but for immigrant parents, this is layered with a sense of “hiya” that as immigrants, we cannot be actively involved in social disruptions in this our adopted country.

To do so would somehow signify our dissatisfaction with the economic benefits and freedoms, that we have enjoyed by being here — liberties and benefits that we would not otherwise have, if we remained the Philippines.

But there is another social value among Filipinos that should override this sense of hiya. This is the value expressed by the phrase, utang na loob. it acknowledges a sense of debt, or indebtedness, which is non-monetary, but a debt none-the-less, possibly for social favors extended one’s way in the past. Utang na loob requires that the favor be reciprocated, or at least paid forward. it is precisely because of the liberties and benefits that we have enjoyed by being in america that we have a debt, an utang na loob to support the present fight against racism, discrimination, and police brutality. in an earlier essay, i mentioned that our ability to gain access to elite educational institutions and jobs commensurate to our education most likely derived from federally mandated affirmative action programs and the Civil Rights act of 1964, which prohibited discrimination based on national origin (as well as discrimination based on race, gender, and religion). The fact that we can purchase homes in neighborhoods that we can afford, derives

directly from the liberty guaranteed by the Fair Housing act of 1968. The immigration Reform act of 1965 overturned the Tydings–McDuffie act, which limited immigration from the Philippines to no more than 50 a year, and enabled Filipinos to immigrate in much more significant numbers; it enabled those who became U.S. citizens to sponsor family members under its family reunification provisions. all these laws have enabled us to immigrate and establish large and prosperous Filipino american communities. Today we number over 4.1 million according to 2018 census estimates.

But all these did not come for free. The landmark civil rights legislation of the 1960s, was purchased with blood and struggle led by african americans. Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Lewis along with thousands of african americans put themselves in harm’s way to open a space for liberties and benefits which communities of color live under today.

But because of white supremacist beliefs, and a culture of white privilege, american society continued to begrudge african americans (and native americans) equality and the civil liberties that were grudgingly extended to immigrants from asia. asians appear to have been able to position themselves in that liminal space between white privilege and racism.

Unlike asians, Blacks have always been seen on the other side of this boundary, defined by their skin color, and their history as former slaves.

The Civil Rights act of 1960 sought to erase this boundary by forbidding discrimination based

and the most powerful nation in the world — seems to be so powerless in arming the nation with the battle gear we need to defeat the virus. Why? Because our president’s focus is on defeating his political enemies more than COViD-19! and so, i think Duterte’s admission of culpability is a step to the right direction, which hopefully will help re-calibrate his approach in the fight against the pandemic. as Duterte delivered his SOna, the virus has infected an additional 1,657 people, which according to the Department of Health, has brought the case count to 82,040, killing 1,945. While some 26,446 patients recovered, the number of those whose lives will be taken because of the pandemic will continue to grow.

My mother, siblings, in-laws and the rest of our families still live in the Philippines and they just share how stricter the safety measures have been there compared to what we have here in the United States. as economically disadvantaged as the Philippines may be compared to the United States, Duterte did not yield in to pressure from the business community to open immediately, unlike Trump.

Though the draconian measure has been unpopular, the enhanced quarantine rules were implemented with the goal of slowing down the spread of the virus by making people stay at home as much as possible. Per household, only a few are given a “pass” to go out to buy groceries, medicine, and other essential tasks. and there

is a schedule in a week when they can come out to do essential errands. Bawal ang pasaway. in contrast, Trump is even the one urging people to disobey safety measures implemented by local government officials, mocking those who follow, labeling conformity as a sign of weakness.

Duterte and the local government likewise focus on how to help the Filipino families survive this medical crisis, regularly giving away bags of groceries with rice, sardines, etc. while acknowledging in the SOna that there were issues with the distribution of cash aid to the poorest Filipinos. in the SOna, Duterte requested for rent and loan payment deferrals from property owners and banks; additional funding for micro, small, and medium enterprises; and skills training programs for thousands of overseas Filipino workers who returned home. in contrast, the Trump administration even petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to kill the affordable Care act — aka Obamacare — without offering an alternative after all these years. This move will scrap health care coverage for so many americans during the pandemic.

Lately, Trump’s minions in the Republican Senate are moving to cut the expiring $600 weekly federal unemployment bonus to $200 a week. This $200 flat benefit would last for about two months as states make the transition to a system that would grant unemployed people 70% of the wages they made before they lost

their jobs, nBC news reported.

The unemployment insurance benefits and the federal unemployment bonus all go to the basic needs of poor hardworking american families who could not find jobs with living wages especially during the pandemic. The money that they get from the government is the money they already earned and contributed toward their unemployment insurance. This, and the bonus all help stimulate the economy during these trying times.

Much is yet to be discussed when it comes to the Trump and Duterte administrations’ response to the need for more testing, contact tracing, and a bigger plan to prioritize health care in both countries, based on science and facts. i will leave the discussion in future articles.

For now, continue to speak up and speak out and tell your representatives in Congress about what really matters to you. america should continue to be the government of the people, by the people, for the people, but we all need to do our part to protect our health, safety, well-being, especially when this is not the primary goal of the current president of the United States of america. ***

on race, and famously recognizing their right to vote. Today, half century later we now recognize that it is one thing to legislatively prohibit discrimination, it is quite another, and much more challenging to eliminate the beliefs and attitudes at the foundation of white supremacy and white privilege. Even though abraham Lincoln decreed the abolition of slavery, the ideology that justified it, white supremacy, could not be rooted out, as it was able to hide behind the curtain of white privilege, a cultural remnant from america’s slave owning past. i call it racism lite.

The very public murder of george Floyd has torn a large hole in the curtain of white privilege. it reveals police abuse, with malice and impunity. it reveals that the confederate flag is the standard of white supremacists. it reveals that the monuments to confederate generals are meant to honor those that are willing to lay down their lives in order to preserve white supremacy. More importantly, it reveals the pervasiveness of white privilege, and how it protects white supremacists. in light of these protests, we are now seeing pushbacks from these individuals. a white couple from St. Louis threatened peaceful BLM marchers going through their neighborhood with guns and assault rifles (Washington Post); a Florida man murders 2 women who attended a george Floyd rally (Fox news); a heavily armed militia group made a public showing in Louisville (USa Today). george Floyd’s murder has sparked a protest movement that underscores persistent racial inequalities in today’s america. The present historical moment mirrors the struggles of the 1960s in the sense that the key issues remain

largely the same — as reflected by the recommendations of the 1968 Kerner Commission Report. But we have moved forward.

Participants in today’s protests are much more diverse, organizationally, individually, geographically, and demographically. The demographic composition of event participants ranges from the young to the elderly, from the many ethnic communities — people of color — to anglos. geographically, protest activities are no longer confined to black or minority neighborhoods. in Southern California, we see then held in Hollywood, and upscale cities like Santa Monica and Beverly Hills. neither is it confined to just major cities. Smaller towns across america, and countries around the world are echoing the demands of the Black Lives Matter movement. Media and entertainment personalities including corporate america have expressed sympathy and support.

The maker of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream has posted an unequivocal statement, at its website:“We Must Dismantle White Supremacy: Silence is not a Option.” This is unprecedented.

We are at an inflection point in america’s fight for a more perfect union, for equality — against racism and white supremacy. The passing of Congressman John Lewis, an icon of the civil rights struggles of the 1950s and 1960s, marks this historical inflection point. Congressman Lewis likes to tell the story of when he was growing up, his parents used to admonish him to not get involved in protest activities; they were share croppers, beholden to a white landlord. This is like hiya.

Filipino immigrant parents feel beholden for the economic oppor-

tunities that they enjoy in america, protesting smacks of ingratitude. Rather than just focus on the opportunity to work the land, John Lewis saw injustice and discrimination, and dedicated his life to that struggle. it is because of him, together with Martin Luther King, Jr., and thousands of african americans and their allies in the 1950s and 60s, that we, Filipino americans, reside in a space with economic opportunities and civil rights. Rather than hiya, we really owe. We have a huge utang na loob that we need to pay forward.

We cannot continue to rationalize our apathy, dahil sa nakakahiya.

We have a burden, an utang na loob from past civil rights struggles. We need to pay it forward by supporting the ongoing protests against racism and police brutality. in doing so, we pay tribute to the life and dedication of Congressman John Lewis.

How can we help: Educate ourselves on the issues: conversations with family and friends (socially distanced, of course, in a backyard would be perfect). Listen to Black voices to understand their perspective.

Donate: there are expenses for educational materials, leaflets, posters, and the like. Bail, for peaceful protesters who get arrested. Check out blacklivesmatter.com.

Peacefully protest or support protesters if you are able to do so (they need signs, leaflets, etc., drinking water, and even COViD19 masks). There are websites (blacklivesmatter.com, blmla.org) which provide information about these protests.

Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for the community.

You may contact her through email at gelrelos@ icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos.

••• Enrique de la Cruz is Professor Emeritus of Asian American Studies at Cal State University, Northridge.

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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Journal Fil-Am culture critic, author Jia Tolentino on the gifts and curses of the internet in the time of a pandemic, racial reckoning The renowned best-selling writer talks about her release “Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion” and how the COVID-19 crisis props up capitalist structures by

Klarize Medenilla / AJPress

WITH the year more than halfway over, the maelstrom that is the year 2020 continues to impose an unabating state of dread underscored by confusion, anger and despair.

A year that began with the plausible fear of nuclear war with

Iran to the awareness of a new mystery virus that catapulted a full-blown pandemic that has, unless you’re a penguin in Antarctica, turned the world upside down. With more than 150,000 people dead (and counting) from COVID-19 and the further politi-

cization of the virus, which by its nature is apolitical, doesn’t show much hope for the future.

Civil unrest continues to ravage the United States following the re-emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement that has Americans across the country reconfiguring the ways in which systems and institutions slight people of color, especially Black Americans.

And, all of this is occurring in a generation obsessed with personal branding, a culture that espouses a very narrow view of wellness and success through algorithms and optimization: the corporatization of self-care, the transparent way that capitalism has monetized “being yourself,” and an attention economy that pushes a toxic image of productivity.

These topics form the foundation of the popular New York Times bestseller, “Trick Mirror: Reflections of Self-Delusion,’’ by celebrated Filipina American writer and journalist Jia Tolentino of The New Yorker magazine, who last week embarked on a second book tour to celebrate the release of the paperback version of her debut book.

A voice of a generation, Tolentino’s book navigates and tries to make sense of the ways that systems of power exploit people’s insecurities — or, in more nefarious cases, procure such insecurities. And, to be a millennial or a Gen Z-er in 2020 is to be a case study of a digitized world that seeks to prop up more and more funhouse mirrors that further distort the self into oblivion.

And during a global pandemic that has people depressed, angry, confused and frustrated while quarantining in their homes, it is

Author and writer Jia Tolentino and her best-selling book, “Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self Delusion.”

Photo by Elena Mudd courtesy of Penguin Random House

perhaps the most opportune moment for this distortion to reach unprecedented levels of influence.

“One of the things that is really important for people that were sort of raised on the internet, whose industries are being shaped by the internet and people who could use the internet para-professionally is separating the internet’s incentives from your own,” Tolentino explains in a virtual interview with Rabbi Aaron Potek of the Washington, D.C. synagogue Sixth & I on Monday, July 20.

“Trick Mirror,” which was released in August 2019, comprises nine sweeping essays that intertwine relevant critique of

these deeply rooted cultural issues (and the ways they con people into delusion) and Tolentino’s personal life and her upbringing as the daughter of Filipino immigrants in Houston, Texas.

The densely-packed book remains a modern Bible, a thoughtprovoking salve to the confusion many felt after the 2016 election for an entire generation that grew up in a world rocked by war, financial crises and surveillance capitalism.

But the point was never to categorically answer questions because, as Tolentino points out, that’s almost impossible. Particularly, the point isn’t to denigrate the emergence of the internet and social media. The first

chapter of “Trick Mirror,” called “The I in Internet,” is a sweeping critique of how the modern computer became a vehicle for nefarious business practices and for people to present a particular brand of themselves.

The internet’s incentives, Tolentino says, are “to make us feel as if it’s normal to self-broadcast to an audience that is hypothetically increasing indefinitely until the end of time” and that the top most influential properties on the internet “want us to use it compulsively and wants us to feel superior to other people and wants us inferior enough that we get more addicted that way.”

Tolentino points out that in PAGE B5

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Raffy Tulfo pledges P100K to help ailing action star John Regala kung ano pa po maitutulong namin, ibibigay ko pa po,” Raffy told John.

MANILA — Broadcaster Raffy Earlier this week, Facebook Tulfo pledged cash donations for users posted photos of John, askformer action star John Regala ing for help for the actor after a after learning that the embattled food delivery rider helped him actor is suffering from liver cir- upon seeing him in dismal conrhosis. dition on his way to see the nurse In his TV5 program “Idol in who would give him his gout inAction,” Raffy interviewed John jection. after getting requests from social John can barely speak upon media users to help the actor. mentioning in a TeleRadyo inRaffy told John that he will terview that the driver found him donate P100,000, groceries and dizzy because he had not eaten medicines for the actor. well in 13 days.

“Sa ngayon po, magpi-pledge A Facebook user also revealed ako. Magbibigay ako ng isan- that John is living his life alone daang libong piso at bukod pa after her wife left him. ho diyan magbibigay ako ng Also in his interview with Telgamot, groceries para sa’yo. At eRadyo, John revealed that he

By Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

has liver cirrhosis.

“Malala na ang aking liver cirrhosis. Sugat-sugat na ang aking atay, at may tubig na ang aking tiyan at kailangang matanggal,” John said.

“Ako po ay nahihiya pero kakapalan ko na po ang mukha ko. Bawat tao naman po ay dumadaan sa ganitong sitwasyon.

Sana po kung hindi naman kalabisan sa inyo, pakitulungan naman po ako. Nagpapakumbaba po ako ng labis labis. Gusto ko lang po talagang makapaghanapbuhay.”

John won as Best Supporting Actor at the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival for the movie “Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga SB19, the phenomenal Filipino boy group composed of Josh, Sejun, Stell, Ken and Justin.

Story.”

Photo from Instagram/@officialsb19

How SB19 transforms social media engagement By ruanni

TupaS Philstar.com

LONDON — SB19, the phenomenal Filipino boy group composed of Josh, Sejun, Stell, Ken and Justin, recently peaked at No. 3 in US Billboard Social 50 (BB Social 50), after BTS and EXO. This chart tracks the amount of social media engagement of artists around the world, with BTS dominating it at No. 1 for an unprecedented 188-week run.

SB19 has not only become the first Filipino act to enter the chart, but it has also been on the chart for at least 31 weeks now, an achievement so far unmatched by any Filipino artist.

But this is what is curiously Action star John Regala wearing dextrose (left) and being helped by a delivery rider after getting dizzy in Pasay City.

Photo by Bemedz Santillan Torres interesting about this feat: among

the global artists consistently in the Top 10, SB19 has the smallest number of followers on Twitter.

As of this writing, it has 242K followers. By comparison, BTS has 25.9M; EXO, 7.9M; NCT 127, 3.1M; and Ariana Grande, 73.9M. How has SB19 kept up with global superstars in social media presence and engagement?

Mention Party or ‘Menpa’ Jeff Benjamin, a Billboard writer who recently wrote about SB19’s strong presence in BB Social 50, tweeted on April 18: “Who can tell me what menpa means?”

“Menpa” is short for Mention Party. For someone who has written extensively about American and Korean artists, Benjamin’s tweet shows how Menpa captures an evolving social media engagement practice never seen before.

It is a party where Josh, Sejun, Stell, Ken and Justin interact with their fans – called A’Tin – on designated social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

While this may sound like a pretty conventional approach to artist engagement with fans in social media, Menpa (although not an SB19 original concept) in fact alters the way we view artist engagement online.

The idea is for A’Tin to leave comments or ask questions and hope that SB19 will respond to them. In most of these comments or questions, the official SB19 accounts or tags are used, thus contributing to the number of mentions of the group in social media.

But here’s the trick: in the first 10 minutes of the party (usually with just one of the five members present), there are already around 20K comments. In one hour, at least 100K comments have been put forward, but the number could go much higher depending on the timing of the party. In the end, only around 30 to 50 comments have been replied to by one of the boys.

Therefore, Menpa has gradually evolved into an organic way to consolidate fan support. It has become one of the fandom’s most anticipated events in social media, with A’Tin, emotions high hours or days prior to the party, sharing mock strategies on how to successfully attract their idols’ attention.

Because of the extremely low possibility of one’s comments to be replied to, those who have been fortunate to experience this receive instant gratification in the fandom.

“I am shaking,” one of them wrote, “I didn’t expect this. After 7 months.”

They join a small elite group of fans who have received a reply from SB19, while those who have not are invited to join groups such as “Samahan ng Mga Hindi Nareplayan sa Menpa.”

Increasingly, however, the boys have also been more strategic in their choice of comments to respond to. While they continue

to exchange banter with their fans, Menpa has become more substantive lately.

The leader of the group, Sejun, in particular, seems to subtly communicate the message that their social engagement with A’Tin cannot simply be left to nonsensical matters. He responds to questions about music, education and politics.

When asked to name the top three problems of the country, he asked back why he needed to identify only three. He was asked about his past life as a “corporate slave,” to which he said: “I wouldn’t call it corporate slave. I chose it. I learned from it.”

How does one judge a person, an A’Tin asked, and the answer was, “You shouldn’t.”

Josh, whose life story is perhaps the most open, revealed in a Menpa that he did not really enjoy his childhood and, in fact, he is just enjoying it now.

On many occasions, he encourages A’Tin who lose confidence in themselves to “Fake it until you make it;” that is, let oneself believe that he or she is strong, confident and happy and you will soon realize that you are no longer faking it.

Justin, Ken and Stell respond with different shades of character: Stell is “pa-fall,” with his affectionate and teasing words; Justin, the “bunso,” is light-hearted and “corny”; Ken, the “buang,” could be frank and terse.

But they, too, get serious when asked about life, music and career. The boys have pleaded to A’Tin not to take depression too lightly, to keep fighting for one’s dreams; they were asked about their views on the extension of ECQ (enhanced community quarantine), as well as on P-Pop (Pilipino Pop) as OPM (Original Pilipino Music).

Imagine then how substantive, fun and incisive statements circulate in different social media platforms. Imagine too how Menpa could be harnessed into a strategy for increasing SB19’s metrics for social media engagement. Menpa is becoming to be a powerful and innovative platform for artists’ articulation of their position on issues and life matters today, on top of engaging more closely with their fans.

Nevertheless, Menpa cannot be easily replicated elsewhere.

For it to succeed, it requires the avid participation of fans who also are central to how Menpa has transformed into what it is now.

It also cannot simply be a lifeless corporatized approach to generating more support for artists in social media.

The great anticipation that fans feel before a Menpa, the collective celebration – or frustration – of having received a reply or not, and the satisfaction of having engaged closely with their favorite artists, show how psychic, emotional and intellectual connections between fans and artists are fundamental requirements for Menpa to succeed.

Ryan Reynolds thanks everyone who helped find Pinay’s lost teddy bear

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

THE search for a Filipina’s missing teddy bear in Canada is over as Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds declared the “happy news” on Wednesday, July 29.

In his Twitter account, the “Deadpool” star retweeted the post of Filipina Mara Soriano as she reunited with her lost bear.

“In happier news... thank you everyone who searched high and low. To the person who took the bear, thanks for keeping it safe.

Vancouver is awesome. #FoundMarasBear,” Reynolds wrote.

Soriano replied to Reynolds’ tweet to express her gratitude for the actor’s support.

“THANK YOU RYAN! This wouldn’t have been possible without your signal boost!” Soriano wrote.

In a separate tweet, Soriano said two good Samaritans returned the bear, who has her mother’s voice. Her mother succumbed to cancer last year.

Filipina Mara Soriano reunited with her teddy bear.

Photo from Twitter/drawmaradraw

“NOT A SINGLE SCRATCH ON HER! Two kind samaritans returned her to us in a safe space, voice is there, just no glasses!!” she wrote.

Earlier, Reynolds offered $5,000 to anyone who would return the missing teddy bear to the Filipina.

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Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS THE number of people infected with COVID-19 has risen to almost 17 million, with nearly 98,000 new cases in 24 hours worldwide, and about 660,000 deaths. There are almost 4.5 million cases in the United States, with about 16,000 new cases in one day, and about 152,000 deaths, 400 of which was last Monday, July 27. Brazil has the second highest total, with almost 2.5 million cases and 88,000 deaths, and almost 3,000 new cases. The Philippines has about 83,700 cases and almost 2,000 deaths (1,680 new cases).

In our column in March, we warned about the probability of a second or third wave of COVID-19 in the U.S., which would be caused by people’s protests and demand for their civil rights and lack of self-discipline and reckless behavior. The recent increases in the number of cases in California (466,835, with 8,549 deaths) and Florida (441,977, with 6,119 deaths) are a testament to people’s non-compliance to socially distance and wear face covers. The massive testing and high positive results are not to blame for the spikes in the number of cases. If people were more compliant and disciplined, the number of positives would be enormously less. More people tested positive because they were careless and exposed to those infected. Social distancing and facemasks have been proven very effective, together with discipline and personal hygiene. It’s time we learned!

Oral sex The rate of throat cancer in the United States has not declined, compared to most head and neck malignancies. I suspect that the statistics could also be true, when extrapolated, for other countries like the Philippines since most Filipinos are westernized in their lifestyle, habits, and behaviors.

The most logical explanation why cancer of the throat has not diminished has been attributed to the Human Papilloma virus (HPV), a bug that causes a sexually-transmitted disease. HPV is popularly known to cause genital warts and most cancer of the cervix (mouth of the womb). It has

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COVID-19 update DMV to offer most driver’s license and ID

only been fairly recently when scientists discovered and identified HPV transmission through oral sex as an etiology of throat cancer.

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston reported that its research team found “the incidence of throat cancer (in the United States) to be stagnant and even rising in some populations, defying a downward trend in other head and neck cancers linked more closely with smoking.”

The American Cancer Society reports that the greatest risk factors in head and neck cancers are smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages (90% of them either smokers or tobacco-chewers and about 80% of them imbibed a lot of alcohol). The good news is that a trend analysis in head and neck cancers in the United States shows a decline the past twenty years, trailing a decrease in smoking prevalence, which started in the 1970s, by 10 to 15 years.

The bad news is that oro-pharyngeal cancers (which include the tonsils, base of the tongue and soft palate, and side and back of the throat) have gone up in some populations in the United States, and probably among people in other parts of the world who practice oral sex, where HPV takes its toll.

A vaccine, Gardasil, which is genetically engineered, blocks infection caused by two of the more than 100 types of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), strains 16 and 18. These two sexuallytransmitted viruses are responsible for about 70% of cervical cancers. HPV, in one form or the other, afflicts about 20 million Americans. The other strains of the virus cause painful genital warts, and sometimes, cervical cancers too.

How prevalent is cervical cancer?

In the Philippines, there are about 5,000 new cases of cervical cancer each year. However, more alarming than that is the fact that there are between 10,000 to 25,000 women walking around (not seen by physician) who have undiagnosed pre-invasive lesions in their cervix. If diagnosed early, these women could be saved. For every four survivors of breasts cancer, there are less than 3 women who survive cervical cancer, which shows how virulent cervical cancer is.

What causes cervical cancer?

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV, also known as genital herpes virus) accounts for most cervical cancers. At least 50% of sexually active men and women are infected with genital HPV, especially those with multiple partners. There are about 20 million American men and women infected with HPV, many linked with abnormal pap tests, genital warts and cervical cancer. It is estimated that at least 10,000 new cases of cervical cancers are discovered annually. Between half a million to a million Americans have genital warts, transmitted through sexual contact.

Is the cure for cervical cancer?

Better than the cure! A vaccine (Gardasil) that prevents cervical cancer, vulvar and vaginal cancer that was approved by the US-FDA in 2006 was found to be “effective 100%, in the short term, at blocking the cancer and lesions likely to turn to cancer” (like the pre-invasive lesions), according to Gardasil manufacturer, Merck & Co. “To have 100 percent efficacy is something that you have very rarely,” Dr. Eliav Barr, Merck’s head of clinical development for Gardasil, told The Associated Press. The UK’s version of the vaccine is known as Cervarix.

How early should the vaccine be given?

Students in grammar school, middle school and high school should be vaccinated before they become sexually active because once they catch HPV infection there is no cure; herpes is for life. This is the recommendation of Dr. Gloria Bachmann, director of The Women’s Health Institute at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Brunswick, NJ., who said this vaccine is a “phenomenal breakthrough.” Prophylaxis Gardasil vaccination comprehensively eliminates HPV 16 and 18 associated non-invasive and invasive cervical cancer. The vaccine also cuts down infection with HPV 6 and 11, the causes of 90% of genital warts.

How about throat cancers?

Of the 45,000 head and neck cancers in the U.S. each year, about 10,000 of them are oropharyngeal cancers, and tongue cancers among young adults have also increased. The evident conclusion is that the cause is the HPV virus.

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card renewals online and by mail this fall Seniors 65 and older receive an automatic driver’s license extension immediately

CARSON CITY – Nevada motorists who have been unable to make an appointment at DMV offices before their expiration date will benefit from two new initiatives announced by the Department of Motor Vehicles today.

Beginning this fall, most Nevadans will be able to renew their driver’s license or ID card via the alternative services of online or mail. Additionally, drivers 65 and older, who have to renew in person, have been granted a one-year extension on driver’s license renewals that is effective immediately.

The two new measures will allow approximately 75,000 Nevadans whose license or ID expires this year to avoid a visit to a DMV office during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Enabling drivers to skip the trip to the DMV not only helps them, it will help the DMV serve those who need car registrations or other services much more quickly,” said DMV Director Julie Butler. “Alternate license renewals will also have a lasting impact on the DMV as about 100,000 Nevadans will be eligible each

year.”

Governor Steve Sisolak signed emergency regulations to enact the new measures July 27. The DMV will move forward with public hearings to make the new regulations permanent.

Under the details of alternate renewals, Nevadans who hold a license or ID card that is valid for eight years will be eligible to renew using alternate services every other time, meaning they will have to visit a DMV office to renew in person only once every 16 years. Fees remain unchanged. Renewed cards will be mailed using the customer’s existing photograph.

Customers who are not eligible are those who hold cards with a term of less than eight years, including instruction permit holders, immigrants with a limited-term license or ID, driver authorization card holders, those with certain medical conditions and sex offenders.

Drivers age 65 and older must renew in person every four years but seniors who hold an eight-year identification card are eligible for the alternate renewals.

Under the one-year extension for senior drivers, drivers are still required to renew on time if possible. The extension is to allow time to schedule an appointment.

Drivers will be exempt from late fees for one year. Drivers should print and carry an extension letter from the DMV website, dmvnv. com, until they have successfully renewed their license or identification card. New licenses will not be issued and the expiration date will not be updated in the driver record.

DMV field services offices continue to operate at reduced capacity due to the COVID-19 social distancing and building occupancy requirements. The offices in the Las Vegas area and Reno are accepting customers with appointments only. Movement permits, license plate surrenders and vehicle inspections are available without an appointment.

Rural offices serve local residents only on a walk-in basis.

Nevadans who need DMV services are always encouraged to visit the Department’s website first. The DMV offers more than two dozen online services.

Felipa Lopez Pagao, 93 FELIPA Lopez Pagao passed away peacefully in her home on July 10, 2020, one day shy of her 93rd birthday. Felipa was deeply religious, and her family remarked that she celebrated her birthday in heaven with the Lord and her beloved husband, Serafin Pagao. Felipa was born in Bantay, Philippines on July 11, 1927. Felipa married Serafin in the Philippines on June 3, 1946 and celebrated 56 years of marriage until his death on February 26, 2003.

Describing their mother, Felipa’s children called her: loving, generous, kind, religious, helpful, smiley, strong-willed, tough, and optimistic. She was a warm, compassionate, and vibrant woman who always went out of her way to help others. Whether it be family, friends, or visitors, she made sure no one left emptyhanded and always shared food and other necessities. Felipa had the most contagious smile and loved taking photos with family and friends. Even in her old age, she loved to sing and dance.

Felipa was a great mother and grandmother and will be dearly missed. She was “Josefa,” “Lola Pepang,” and “Mamang.” Felipa is survived by her 7 children, Aniceto Pagao, Teresa Lopez, Liberato Pagaoa, Bernardo Pagao, Cirilo Pagao, Gloria Grimblot, and Salvacion Slaughter; 9 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Felipa Pagao’s viewing will take place Tuesday, July 21st from 5-9pm at the chapel at Palm Eastern Mortuary. Her funeral service will take place on Wednesday, July 22nd from 9-10am at the chapel, followed by the committal service at Palm Eastern Cemetery.

EntErtainmEnt

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Angel in the spotlight

by GeorGe

Vail Kabristante Manilatimes.net

AFTER the irrevocable shutdown of ABS-CBN, ex-Darna Angel Locsin is taking it upon herself to vigorously lead a noise barrage around the streets of South Triangle, Quezon City.

This is seen against the backdrop of the fabled towering network that had seen better days and now looming largely in ghostly silence.

Pictures from said barrage show Angel and her empathizers clearly violating pandemic protocols. Invoking tolerance, the

Angel Locsin

national police has so far been friendly and minimizes their movements about the place.

To be frank, not a few souls have expressed full respect and admiration for Angel to have led the noise barrage almost singlehandedly, while her big boss Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez 3rd has left them in a huff for America probably healing himself now from the ignominious hubris of his own making foisted on him by an overwhelming vote of 70 Congressmen who were in favor of his network’s closure.

The charismatic actress, however, is positively getting the

Photo from Instagram_@therealangellocsin

moral support of other remaining bosses like the humbled Cory Vidanes and Carlo Katigbak, the network’s President and CEO, who to the last day at the inquisition has remained satisfyingly cool, and dignified knowing fully well the alleged and accumulated violations thrown his way were inordinately committed several decades back.

This was even long before Katigbak took over the same position in 2016 from Charo Santos-Concio who held the same post previously for five years since 2012. Offhand, it was short of a calculated move for Charo to retire and make a clean breast of the company’s alleged deceitful maneuverings, albeit she’s not totally off the hook yet considering that a massive investigation is underway.

It is such a pity Angel cannot get the active and full support of other high-profile talents in her league despite her innuendos on social media for them to speak up. What she gets in return are unsavory remarks from some of them.

The would-be Darna Jane De Leon and Toni Gonzaga have lashed back at her on social media, saying far from being indifferent to her cause they have their own personal reasons to keep silent, adding the protocols of the prevailing pandemic have virtually limited anyone’s mobility. Meanwhile, Coco Martin has deactivated his social media account and since then has remained incognito.

Despite some embarrassing flaks Angel is getting, the charismatic pied piper in her is determined to bring her noise barrage to the halls of Congress in time for the SONA. As the line of a Broadway musical “Hello Dolly” goes, “Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!”

COVID-19 update PAGE B3 “Over the last five years, 35% of the throat cancer patients treated at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center had no history of smoking, and that close to 90% of patients who had never smoked showed evidence of oral infection with HPV,” says Dr. Sturgis on Web MD. Vaccination against HPV among young girls and boys

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have been proven to be of great benefit in preventing the infection and the related potential malignancy. The use of cling plastic wrap used in the kitchen, placed over the woman (groin to groin), has been advocated by some to prevent HPV transmission when oral sex is performed.

Mouth, tongue, and other throat cancers could be as grave and deadly as most other forms of

cancers.

* * * Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/ author, a Health Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com; Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.

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On July 11, 2020, King Solomon Lodge #58 F. & A.M. under the leadership of WM Rodelio Tomas (7th from the right) presented the Scholarship Certificates to Miss Maria Hernandez – Cano (4th from the right) and Miss Leslie Alvarez (6th from the right) at the Seafood Grill, Seafood City Supermarket Maryland Parkway Branch, Las Vegas Nevada. The Scholarship Award is a yearly Financial Assistance Program of King Solomon Lodge #58 F. & A.M. in partnership with the Grand Lodge of Nevada F. & A.M. given to deserving students who desire to pursue higher education in any College or University. The presentation ceremony was attended by Officers of King Solomon Lodge #58, parents of Miss Cano and a friend of Miss Alvarez. The simple ceremony was capped by a dinner sponsored by Seafood City Supermarket and Bro. Art Jerus (1st from the right) who is the Historian and Trustee of the Lodge. Also in the photo are: WM Romy Peruel, Lodge Secretary; WB Richard Orden, Lodge Chaplain and Trustee; Bro. Jet Tumanan, Lodge Marshal. Not in the photo is Bro. Bernie McKeehan, Chairman of King Solomon Lodge #58 Scholarship Committee.

Pauleen Luna on her ‘Eat Bulaga!’ journey: ‘I found the man my heart loves in this show’

by Cha lino Inquirer.net

AS “Eat Bulaga!” mark its 41st anniversary, one of its hosts Pauleen Luna looked back on her journey and how the noontime variety TV show changed her life.

“From that young teenager to the mom that I am today, Eat Bulaga was always there,” Luna said, recalling her first day on the show via Instagram on Thursday, July 30.

The actress narrated how excited and nervous she was on her first day as she joined its star-studded crew.

“I must admit that joining a group of very successful people at the age of 16 was very intimidating, but, the intimidation [disappeared] the moment [I] stepped in the studio,” she said.

She accompanied the post with a few snippets of her first day, one of which included a young Michael V right beside her while they were both dressed in school uniforms.

Luna added that at the time, her colleagues were very welcoming and immediately made her feel comfortable on set.

Fifteen years later, the host recounted some of the lessons she learned through the show and how

Pauleen Luna with husband and ‘Eat Bulaga!’ co-host Vic Sotto Photo from Instagram/@pauleenlunasotto

it continues to help people reach their “full potential.”

“I’ve learned a lot by just being in the background, knowing and meeting people from different walks of life,” she said. “I would say I grew up, found my real authentic self in the show.”

Luna also acknowledged the people behind the camera and her “amazing” co-hosts: “[I] still can’t believe [I’m] friends with you all.”

The 31-year-old actress then highlighted the show’s role in helping her meet her husband, fellow “Eat Bulaga!” host Vic Sotto.

“I have found the man that

SERVICES

my heart loves in this show,” she said.

Luna and Sotto celebrated their 4th wedding anniversary last January. The two are also proud parents of 2-year-old Talitha Sotto. The celebrity couple tied the knot in 2016 in a star-studded ceremony in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

The 66-year old actor was formerly married to actress Dina Bonnevie.

“Eat Bulaga!” resumed live studio tapings last June after pausing production for a few months to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

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EntErtainmEnt

Frankie looking for local music producers for ‘post-COVID-19’ projects

by Cha Lino Inquirer.net

MUSICIAN and activist Frankie Pangilinan is looking for music producers whom she could work with for future collaborations and “post-COVID” projects.

The 19-year-old singer-songwriter said that those who want to apply should be around her age and are preferably based in Metro Manila, as per her Twitter post on Wednesday, July 29. “[I’m] trying to keep it local and [I] know y’all are hella talented so if you want to work together please send resumes,” she said.

Elaborating on her project, Pangilinan said in a follow-up tweet that “the goal is to keep it

primarily composed of smaller local artists so we’re all equally passionate and determined to groooow.”

Pangilinan recently held an online fundraising concert for families in need in Donsol, Sorsogon, in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines.

The young artist is also behind the #HijaAko movement after causing a stir on social media for speaking up against the prevailing rape culture in the country.

The hashtag became an avenue for others to speak about their personal sexual harassment experiences on social media.

Pangilinan is the daughter of Senator Kiko Pangilinan and Frankie Pangilinan Megastar Sharon Cuneta.

Photo from Twitter/@kakiep83

Ogie dismisses fake news about his ‘death’

by Katrina

haLLare Inquirer.net

SINGER and actor Ogie Alcasid over the weekend dismissed an online article which stated that he was found dead inside his vehicle.

“Pls do not believe this. It is fake news,” the singer-songwriter said in an Instagram post on Sunday, as he shared a screenshot of the article. “[I] did not want to show the name of the person who posted it but [I] just want to inform everyone that [I] am ok,” he assured his fans and followers. “Magmahalan naman po tayo (Let’s love each other).”

Alcasid’s wife, “Asia’s Songbird” Regine Velasquez, likewise thumbed down the bogus news item.

“Bakit naman kailangan gumawa ng ganitong balita?” Velasquez said in a separate Instagram post.

“Alam namin at [tanggap] na namin na parti na ng aming buhay

start to worry if they read this.

That’s why I am asking to not do it.)

Regine assured her family and friends that Ogie is in good health.

“To our families and friends, this is a fake news Ogie is home safe and healthy.”

While Ogie said that he is fine, he previously faced a health scare as he tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after taking a rapid test.

Ogie Alcasid But a swab test result showed Photo from Instagram_@ogiealcasid that he was negative for the ang pagusapan kami mahirap dreaded respiratory illness. pero kasama talaga ito sa trabaho namin.”

(Why do people need to start this kind of news? We know and have accepted that this is a part of our lives, for us to the subject of rumors, this is hard for us when it comes to our jobs.)

“May pamilya po kaming maaaring mag alala kung ito ay mabasa nila. Kaya pakiusap po wag naman,” she added.

(We have families who may

“Trick Mirror” is now available in paperback version. Photo courtesy of Jia Tolentino/Instagram

Fil-Am culture critic, author Jia Tolentino on the gifts...

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her writing and reporting of the internet, “I have tended towards the critique because the utility side is so obvious.”

She continues, “It’s magic and really parts of it are incredibly wonderful and especially now during the protests, the whole world is changed because of the way that videos of police brutality were all over the internet and completely unavoidable in a way that has really changed the conversation and the whole discourse around policing and racism in a way that’s really incredible.”

In-community discourse on racism, many of which wouldn’t have occurred without the internet, Tolentino says, is also one of the things that have sparked from the protests and the movements for police abolition. Anti-Blackness within the Asian American community, on which the Asian Journal has previously reported, is pervasive and relevant to nearly every Asian community in the United States.

Understanding what it means to be Asian American, however, is the first step to unpacking the community’s (and the specific cultures that exist within that broad term), tenuous race relations, especially with the Black community.

“One of the most salient parts of being Asian American is that knowing you’re kind of an invented group identity and, for me, learning that I could benefit from the same systems that were punishing me at the same time,” Tolentino says, pointing out the radical origins of the term “Asian American,” which was first documented in 1968 by a coalition of Asian American college as a re-

sponse to the labor strikes and civil rights battles of that time.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it more difficult to engage within the community in a meaningful way, but understanding the origins of Asian American solidarity movements and the history of Asians in the United States is a start, Tolentino says.

Many Asian Americans today are grappling with the desire to stand in solidarity with Black Americans who are calling for systemic change while also fighting for their own respects in a time when anti-Asian sentiments are also rampant due to the false association between the COVID19 virus and the Asian community.

As Tolentino writes in her book, social media has perfected the ways it encourages people into adopting hasty, fallacious ways of thinking, that more than one thing can be true at once: Black Americans are being slighted in ways that the Asian community is not, and the Asian community is also facing its respective slights, Tolentino shares.

“I find a lot of grounding in just the actual history of how you know this term of Asian American was meant to be a radical term and it still can be, especially for young people,” Tolentino offers.

“It feels like that this is a weird position on the bullshit racial hierarchy of the United States where you have an advantage that you can use on other people’s behalf, but it doesn’t mean you have to ignore whatever you face in your own life.”

“There’s such a long tradition of Asian solidarity within the civil rights movement that now it’s the time for our own version of that,” she remarks.

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 30-AUGUSt 5, 2020

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Sarah on married life with Matteo: ‘Forever’s not enough’

By Deni

afiniDaD-BernarDo Philstar.com

IF pop star Sarah Geronimo is to choose among her songs as the theme of her married life with actor Matteo Guidicelli, it would be one of her first hits, “Forever’s Not Enough.”

During Sarah’s virtual press launch as new endorser of Filipino vitamin C brand Fern-C early today, Sarah not only introduced herself as “Sarah GeronimoGuidicelli” but also shared her life as a “mabuting maybahay” (good wife).

“Kamusta po ang buhay maybahay? Masarap po, masaya.

Nakakapanibago rin po. May mga adjustments na kailangang gawin of course dahil may asawa na tayo,” Sarah shared.

She also mentioned that last weekend, she and Matteo finally went on a honeymoon in time for her 32nd birthday.

“Last Saturday po, I just celebrated my 32nd birthday,” she Sarah Geronimo with husband Matteo Guidicelli Photo from Instagram/@matteog said. healthy ka.

You can better proWhen asked if she eats her According to her, she feels blessed to have marked her birth- tect them if you yourself is better eggs “silog” style (or with meat and rice), Sarah quipped: “Ay, day despite the ongoing novel protected.”

She said that every day, she sosyal po kasi ‘yung asawa ko, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic because she makes sure to start her day with truffle eggs!”

In an Instagram post Sunday, still has a job, is in good health, a prayer to acknowledge and pay gratitude to the Lord for all the Matteo greeted his wife by sharand of course, has the love of her blessings. ing a photo from their honeylife by her side.

“Especially ngayon, pinag- moon.

“Ay s’yempre po, may asawa “Happy birthday my lovely na po tayo, eh priority na po natin papasalamat ko ‘yung life na binigay ng Panginoon and also wife.

I’m so proud of you. You deang asawa na po natin. S’yempre hindi lang po ‘yung health and pinag-papasalamat ko ‘yung life serve all the happiness and posialso giving importance sa health na binigay for my loved ones. I tivity that life has to offer. Whatever dreams you want to achieve, ng mga tao sa buhay ko po. Im- draw inspiration from that.”

When asked what her favorI’m here by your side. You are so portante po kasi ‘yun eh, especially ‘pag may pamilya kang ite breakfast staple is, she said, beautiful. Happy birthday!” he wrote. inuuwian. It’s very important na “Eggs!”

B july 30-august 5, 2020 • las VEgas asIaN jOuRNal

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