073120 - Northern California Edition

We’ve got you covered from Hollywood to Broadway...and Online!

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Volume 19 - No. 30 • 14 Pages

T H E F I L I P I N O A M E R I CA N C O M M U N I T Y N E WS PA P E R

Volume 18 - No. 17 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

J U LY 3 1 - A U G U S T 6 , 2 0 2 0

1799 Old Bayshore Hwy, Suite 136, Burlingame, CA 94010 • Tel: (650) 689-5160 • Fax: (650) 239-9253 • www.asianjournal.com

Also published in LOS ANGELES, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

COVID-19 cases top 50,000 in Bay Area as California DATELINE USA 48 Fil-Am elected breaks another daily record for virus-related deaths officials, leaders endorse FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Biden for president

FORTY-EIGHT Filipino American elected officials and leaders are among the over 250 Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) who have publicly thrown their support behind former Vice President Joe Biden.

The Fil-Ams include elected officials, California Assemblymembers Rob Bonta and Todd Gloria; Artesia Councilmember Melissa Ramoso; Peter Urscheler, Phoe-

by RAE

ANN VARONA AJPress

THE Bay Area reached a new high of COVID-19 cases as the count for positive cases reached 50,472 with 785 deaths, as of Wednesday morning, July 29.

San Francisco reported 132 new cases from Tuesday, July 28, bringing its new total to 6,197. In San

Mateo County, 108 new cases were reported, adding to its new total of 5,306.

Alameda County remained the Bay Area county with the highest coronavirus count with 10,633 confirmed cases, followed by Santa Clara (9,359) and Contra Costa (7,304).

Bay Area counties with the least number of cases were Solano (3,388), Sonoma (2,662), Marin (2,649),

u PAGE A2

Duterte rejects reported US plan to return to Subic

u PAGE A4

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 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 u PAGE A3

and Napa (806), as of early Wednesday.

Cases across the state continued to rise as California, on Wednesday, broke another new grim record for COVID-19 related deaths in a single day for the fourth time this month.

California reported 174 deaths on Tuesday, breaking the previous 159 death record count on July 23.

KINGS OF THE ROAD. Traditional jeepneys ply the Emilio Aguinaldo Highway in Cavite on a rainy Tuesday, July 28. Last month, Malacañang said the traditional jeepneys, considered as kings of the road, have been allowed to return to the road in 13 areas including Calabarzon (Region 4-A) due to the lack of public transportation amid the quarantine measures imposed to contain the coronavirus disease 2019.

PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

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

Duterte also said that the Filipino nation claims its

u PAGE A2

ABS-CBN offers gov’t use of transmission network Palace admits UP’s COVID-19 forecast came true

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 educate 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 Fortunato Dela Peña, and Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gregorio Honasan to coordinate with Education Secretary Leonor Briones, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado u PAGE A2

No new applications for DACA will be accepted as Trump admin reviews 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 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 “arbitrary 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.

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 announcement.

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. u PAGE A2

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA 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.

“The forecast happened and I see no reason why we should celebrate. It’s very sad,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

However, he maintained that the government’s COVID-19 response was not an absolute failure.

“I think we’ve been rather successful because we’ve limited mortality rate, and in the end that’s what matters – 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,” Roque said.

“We can only look at our former colonial master and look at the mess that they’re in, the United States ‘no and even England. We’re far shot from the crisis that they have in the US, in England and the rest of Europe,” 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 infec-

Government health personnel perform rapid tests for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) during the second day of the government’s Hatid Tulong program at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Sunday, July 26. Rapid test is one of the requirements before the thousands of LSIs who are affected by the lockdown and other quarantine measures against Covid-19 will be allowed to return to their respective provinces.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

tions in the country could rise to time.

New quarantine classifications 60,000 by the end of July. They Roque said President Rodrigo later revised their prediction to 85,000 based on the disease’s Duterte will announce the uptransmission rate and doubling u PAGE A2

A

July 31-august 6, 2020 • NORCal asIaN JOuRNal

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

From the Front Page

COVID-19 cases top 50,000 in...

PAGE A1 t

On average, the daily count of coronavirus-related deaths over the past seven days has been the highest it’s ever been at 119.

“Tragically, CA surpassed another somber milestone today,” California Governor Gavin Newsom tweeted Tuesday with the state’s latest numbers.. “Please — WEAR A MASK.” State health officials double down on case for masks The rising numbers come as California — despite being the first state to order safer-at-home mandates — overtook New York last week as the state with the highest number of coronavirus infections since the outbreak reached the U.S. Modoc County, the last county in California to have had a long streak of no cases, reported its first two cases on Tuesday and urged those who were in any of the county’s bars in the last two weeks to contact health authorities.

In an effort to stem the spread of the virus, state health officials doubled down on the importance of wearing masks, saying that the spread of the virus could be cut by at least half if more people wore masks.

California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said on Tuesday that wearing masks, along with maintaining physical distance and hand washing, was “increasingly one

of those powerful tools that we see, not just at the aggregate but on the individual level to protect your communities, your local hospital system.”

“If we had 80% compliance with masking, we could reduce transmission somewhere between 50% to 60%, which is tremendous,” said Ghaly. “That’s exactly what we need to see the case numbers come down, even if we don’t necessarily change the level of mixing that we’re having in our communities.”

California residents have long been strongly encouraged to wear masks, yet enforcement has been left up to local governments. Many have increasingly started fining people caught in public without masks.

“We’ve largely left that to the local level,” said Ghaly. “We’ve seen more and more local jurisdictions consider fines for lack of compliance.”

Contra Costa County was among the latest to give county officials the green light to cite people who fail to follow public health guidelines like wearing masks in indoor public areas, with fines starting at $100, then increasing to $200 and $500 for repeat violations.

Other Bay Area counties handing out fines include Napa, Alameda, Monterey, Salinas, and Marin counties.

While Newsom has not required counties to fine mask vio-

lations, he did issue a statewide mask order on June 18.

Ghaly said it was possible that Newsom would withhold coronavirus aid and funding to counties and cities if they failed to enforce state orders.

The city of Atwater in Merced County missed out on about $65,000 after it allowed businesses to remain open against state orders.

There has been some resistance to mask wearing from communities like in Southern California’s Huntington Beach, however recent polls suggest that a majority of Americans are okay with wearing masks.

Recently released results from a Associated Press—NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey conducted from July 16 to July 20 found that 75% of Americans supported a face mask requirement.

Furthermore, 72% wanted their community to put restrictions to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, even at the expense of the economy.

“Having that mask on or handy is a very important tool as we continue to see the evidence grow that it can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and not only protect our families and communities but help us move on the road of economic recovery, help us get closer to having more schools open across the state,” said Ghaly. n

WATER DELIVERY. Workers of a water refilling station load gallons of mineral water in a motorcycle trailer in Barangay Kaligayahan Novaliches in Quezon City on Tuesday, July 28. Businesses have been implementing health and safety protocols for employees such as wearing of face masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

Duterte rejects reported US plan to return...

PAGE A1 t

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 ba-

sis 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 re-

ported 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

ABS-CBN offers gov’t use of...

PAGE A1 t and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III to come up with an “integrated program and implementation, making sure that these TV frequencies are fully utilized by government.”

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.

“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,” it said.

Malacañang welcomed the offer.

“Kung gobyerno po ang gagamit, salamat po at baka naman pupuwedeng gamitin iyong transmission at iyong mga materyales ng ABS-CBN (If it’s

the government which will use them, then thank you for offering to use ABS-CBN’s transmission (network) and materials),” 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.

“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,” Roque said a day after Duterte slammed the Lopez Family, owners of ABS-CBN, branding the clan as oligarchs.

“The president said he has forgiven the acts committed against his person and his family. But despite that, he still has a personal stance,” the spokesman added. n

No new applications for DACA will be accepted as Trump...

PAGE A1 t 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 na-

tion 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 DACA was and always will be a temporary solution to a greater issue.” n

Palace admits UP’s COVID...

PAGE A1 t

dated quarantine measures on Thursday, July 30.

“As always, I can’t announce it, because it will be the president that will announce it on Thursday, if I am not mistaken. And there’s still appeals to be made by the local government units.

So the recommendations are all preliminary subject to finalization on Thursday,” 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.

“Metro Manila will be a living experiment and it’s an experiment that we believe we can be successful at, and it will be something that we can be proud of,” Roque said.

He also hinted at “major changes” in the government’s COVID-19 response.

“Definitely it’s not going to be status quo. No, it’s not going to be status quo. Nothing will be status quo from this classification,” he said.

“Let’s just say that things will not be the same, there will be major changes in our response to the pandemic,” Roque added. n

(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Dateline USa

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 31-AUgUSt 6, 2020

A

Finalized city-wide Project Labor Agreement to support working people, small businesses in SF announced

SAN FRANCISCO — Mayor London N. Breed and City Administrator Naomi M. Kelly on Friday, July 24 announced San Francisco has finalized a citywide Project Labor Agreement for public construction projects, which supports working people and small businesses.

The 20-year agreement was negotiated and executed on behalf of San Francisco by the City Administrator following legislation that Mayor Breed advanced and signed in January 2019, which created a structure for this negotiated Project Labor Agreement.

The legislative framework was the result of input from Mayor Breed, the Board of Supervisors, City Departments, labor leaders, BUSINESS AS USUAL. Vendors sell fresh fish and other seafood at the Area G Market, Barangay San Juan in Dasmariñas City, Cavite on community stakeholders, and Tuesday, July 28. The Department of Agriculture says it continues to ramp up efforts to ensure food security amid the COVID-19 pandemic. small and local business owners.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga “I am committed to making sure that working people can continue to live in San Francisco and I am proud that we finalized this Project Labor Agreement, PAGE A1 said Nestor Lopez, a census or- a home, they must practice so- which is good for workers, the Commerce Department to elimi- ganizer from the Texas border cial distancing.” But, she noted, City, and provides opportunities nate undocumented immigrants county of Hidalgo. “people can still avoid the visit for our local small businesses,” from census data used for reapThe challenges in Hidalgo by self-responding now.” said Mayor Breed. “San Francisportioning Congressional Dis- County are compounded by a The specialist uses a simple co has a long economic recovery tricts for the next decade. persistent undercount of the message to encourage commu- ahead of us, and using our public “One thing to make clear is area for at least the last two nities to participate: “The only construction projects is a key way that the President is not asking decades, the lack of internet message that I tell people is that we can provide good-paying for undocumented immigrants connectivity in many of its com- this: It takes less than 10 min- jobs and economic opportunity.” to be excluded in the Census. munities and the pandemic, utes to fill out the Census and it “We look forward to the conA great deal of media cover- which crushed plans for per- guarantees 10 years of services tinued work to deliver the many age suggests that those im- son-to-person interaction, Lo- and representation. Everyone public works projects under the migrants will not be counted, pez added. must be counted.” (Pilar Mar- finalized Project Labor Agreeand that is not what the policy He and other activists have rero/Ethnic Media Services) ment,” said City Administrator memo is asking for,” said Ar- had to switch strategies from turo Vargas, executive direc- in-person activities to online tor of the National Association outreach and rely on local voicfor Latino Elected Officials es and celebrities “to share our (NALEO). message.”

The Trump Administration Data based on response rates asserts it intends to use “ad- by geographic area show that ministrative data” from other minority and poor regions condepartments to calculate the sistently show lower response number of undocumented im- rates to date. migrants in the Census final California’s response rate so count, and calculate population far is 63.8% and this year, the numbers for the purposes of re- state has invested at least 2 milapportionment without them. lion dollars in specific outreach Public interest lawyers have towards counting tribal populasaid that this policy memo is tions in the state. unconstitutional, and three sepMarilyn Stephens, Assistant arate lawsuits have been filed Regional Manager for the Southin federal courts to challenge ern District of the U.S. Census, it. States with large immigrant highlighted precautions the Bupopulations could lose Con- reau is taking as enumerators gressional seats. begin knocking on doors for Vargas warned that excluding the next phase of the census. “undocumented immigrants” “Staff has been issued masks, after the Census is finalized sanitizer and clear instructions amounts to “nothing more than and training, they cannot enter cooking the numbers, or making up an entirely new data set on which to base the most important element of our democracy.”

Vargas and other experts say that the federal government’s data will be “very imprecise,” in part because the 2020 Census does not contain any question regarding citizenship or immigration status and because the data collected by other federal departments is generally inaccurate.

According to a new report by the Migration Policy Institute, the process the administration proposes could incorrectly “lump together” as many as 20 million U.S. citizens with unPetsa ng Paglabas: Hulyo authorized immigrants due to 30, 2020 matching errors.

Mungkahing Petsa at Oras: “Such errors are likely to be Agosto 20, 2020 at 3:00 n.h. greater in low-income urban Lokasyon: Ang mga tugon and rural communities, thereby sa mungkahi ay dapat isumite exacerbating any undercount online sa pamamagitan ng that may occur in those comBiddingo bago ang takdang munities and reducing their petsa at oras voting power relative to more Ang Kagawaran ng mga affluent communities,” the MPI Pagawain, Transportasyon at report noted. dibisyon ng serbisyong hayThe goal of community orgadroliko sa pakikipagtulungan nizations regarding the Census ng Kagawaran ng impormahas not changed in spite of the syong teknolohiya ay naghamemo, said John C. Yang, Preshanap ng kumpanya (“tagident and Executive Director apagpayo”) upang magbigay of Asian Americans Advancing ng inhenyerong serbisyo para Justice (AAAJ). gumawa ng wireless WI-FI “There is no immigration stanetwork na ikakabit sa mga yatus question whatsoever in the man at pasilidad sa ibat-ibang Census and we encourage peolungsod na pagmamay-ari ng ple to respond online, on paper San Jose. or by telephone, especially if Ang proyektong ito ay pithey don’t want an enumerator nondohan ng Estados Unidos, to knock on their door,” Yang Kagawaran ng Pabahay at pasaid. “And I remind them that gunlad ng Lungsod (HUD), the deadline for responding is Community Development still October 31.”

Block Grant (CDBG). Ang Yang, who is also an attortagapagpayo ay kinakailanney, reiterated that “Article 1, gang sumunod sa naangkop Section 2 of the U.S. Constituna pederal na sahod, oras at tion makes clear that apportiontrabaho, proseso ng pagkuha ment is based on all persons in at pagtulong gaya ng inilalarthe United States,” and makes awan sa Kalakip B, Pangunahno distinction between citizens ing kasunduan ng kasangguni, and persons.

Kalakip E, Pangkalahatang “The suggestion that somemga kondisyon sa ipagkaloob how undocumented immigrants (CDBG), at Kalakip F, Mga patare not people or persons just nubay para sa mga negosyong flies in the face of logic, legispag-aari ng minorya at mga lative history and policy of the kababaihan.

United States for several hunAng mga negosyong pag dred years,” Yang added. mamayari ng minorya at Nevertheless, the memo has kababaihan ay mahigpit na deepened uncertainty and fear hinihikayat na mag sumite ng which will further inhibit many SOQs. communities from responding Ito ay maaring ma-downto the Census, especially those load sa Biddingo solicitation in Florida and Texas which posting system sa http://www. have provided no state funds biddingo.com/sanjose. for census outreach.

7/31/20 “We are still having to adCNS-3383632# dress the fear of the citizenship ASIAN JOURNAL (NORTHquestion that was pushed by ERN CALIF.) the Administration early on,”

All communities should participate in the US...

PANGUNAHING KASUNDUAN PARA SA IMPRASTRAKTURA NG WIFI SA KOMUNIDAD SERBISYONG PAGKONSULTA (CDBG) KAHILINGAN PARA SA MGA KWALIPIKASYON RFQ PW 9648

Naomi M. Kelly. “Thank you to the San Francisco Building Construction Trades Council for their valued participation throughout the process to ensure stability and continuity of public work and improvement projects.”

“This Agreement is very important in that it will protect all workers to make sure that they receive the pay, benefits and working conditions that they deserve when working on publicly funded projects,” said Larry Mazzola, Jr., president of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council and business manager of Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local 38.

“It also levels the playing field for contractors bidding on this work, ensuring that the bidding process will be fair and equitable. I want to thank Mayor London Breed who believed in this PLA and agreed that workers deserved these protections when working on City construction jobs. The Agreement wouldn’t have happened without her.”

“This is a historic accomplishment for all of San Francisco and San Francisco workers,” said Tim Paulson, secretary treasurer of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council.

“This agreement, where all the City family participated, ensures good jobs and apprenticeships to all the workers who will build San Francisco’s public infrastructure for the next generation.”

“Part of what has been critical to the Project Labor Agreement discussion is the fundamental notion of fairness in hiring,” said Supervisor Peskin. “Whether it’s criteria for how our public bond dollars are spent or ensuring a fair bidding process, this is going to reduce the opportunities for corruption in contracting and restore faith in our local government for both workers and the general public.”

“This historic Project Labor Agreement is the culmination of multi-year negotiations and could not have been accomplished without the collaborative spirit of all stakeholders whose focus was working families, and I am proud to have played a role in this. The Agreement not only uplifts existing workers but future generations who will join the workforce by providing a pathway for direct entry with unions,” said Supervisor Ahsha Safaí. “This news is much-needed and welcomed news for San Francisco’s working families, the backbone of San Francisco, as many are currently being pummeled by a spiraling economy in the midst of an ongoing pandemic. This is a win for all.”

“The local small business construction community is pleased that their concerns were heard during the process of writing this groundbreaking Project Labor Agreement,” said Miguel

u PAGE A4

A

July 31-august 6, 2020 • NORCal asIaN JOuRNal

Dateline USa

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

Bureau of Treasury invites Fil-Ams to invest in PH

by JosePh

Peralta AJPress

THE Philippines’ Bureau of The Treasury issued an invitation to overseas Filipinos to invest in Retail Treasury Bonds (RTB) in a Zoom presentation last Thursday, July 23.

The presentation was a joint effort by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), and included remarks by Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez and a message from Treasurer of the Philippines Rosalie V. De Leon.

Designated as RTB24 Ahon Pilipinas (Progreso Bonds Para Sa Bayan), money generated from the 24th offering of retail treasury bonds to the public will help the Philippine government support its economy as well as its growth and rehabilitation efforts. Aside from being cost-efficient, RTBs help the Philippines become less reliant on foreign exchange which reduces the country’s vulnerability to global economic shocks.

According to the presentation, “every peso invested in RTBs is directed towards the country’s emergency, recovery and resiliency funds, financing the fight against the effects of

the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Since the government started offering RTBs, it has generated Php2.6 trillion.

The retail treasury bonds, which are financially secured by the Philippine government, has an issuance date of August 12, 2020 and runs for a period of five years, ending on August 12, 2025. It has a coupon (interest) rate of 2.625% per annum (subject to 20% final withholding tax), and quarterly interest payments are automatically credited to investors’ Philippine bank accounts.

RTB24 will be available until August 7, 2020, after which they may be found in secondary markets.

The minimum investment is Php5,000, while the maximum amount for any single transaction is Php500,000. Individuals, corporations, cooperatives, retirement funds and provident funds are welcome to invest in retail treasury bonds, according to the BTr presentation.

As an example, the Treasury showed that a Php100,000 investment will have a yield of Php525 per quarter, or Php2,100 per year.

To participate in the RTB24 offering, investors must have a Philippine bank account, which will be the main designated instrument where interest payments are made and where the

principal amount is returned after the five-year period.

For overseas Filipinos who have Philippine bank accounts, they may invest by going online via www.treasury.gov.ph (click on the RBT24 Ahon Pilipinas section in the website) or by downloading the Bonds. ph app on their mobile phones.

A step-by-step process on both the Bureau of The Treasury website and mobile app will guide investors on how to invest their money in the RTB24 offering.

Treasury and bank officials on the Zoom call advised overseas Filipinos who do not have Philippine bank accounts and who wish to invest in the retail treasury bonds offering to call local branches of Philippine banks in their respective areas to inquire about opening an account or getting assistance on investing in in RTB24 Ahon Pilipinas (Progreso Bonds Para Sa Bayan).

MAKING A LIVING. Instead of asking for alms, this person with eye impairment sings at the top of Edsa-Quezon Avenue footbridge in Quezon Banks acting as issue man- City on Tuesday, July 28. The man relies solely on donations from passersby as his daily source of livelihood.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler agers of RTB24 in the Philippines include Development Bank of the Philippines, Land Bank of the Philippines, BPI Capital Corporation, Chinabank Capital, First Metro Investment Corporation (Metrobank Group), PNB Capital, RCBC Capital Corporation, SB Capital (A Subsidiary of Security Bank) and Union Bank. n

48 Fil-Am elected officials, leaders endorse...

PAGE A1 nixville, Pennsylvania mayor; and Hawaii state Senators Donovan Dela Cruz and Lorraine Inouye. Other high-profile names include actors Lou Diamond Philipps, Tia Carrere and Mark Dacascos.

Overall, the group consists of AAPI elected officials, community leaders, small business owners, activists and artists around the country.

“2020 is truly the most critical election of our lifetimes because the choice before us — and the consequences of our choices — could not be more stark. We need to elect a president who will bring leadership back to Washington, who can help re-center our nation’s moral compass, heal our nation’s soul, and bring us back to the path towards justice, equality, and integrity,” it said in a statement.

The endorsement comes as Asian Americans are the fastest-growing segment, making up close to 5% of all eligible voters this year. Chinese, Filipino and Indian Americans comprise the top three groups in the U.S. Asian electorate, according to a recent report from Pew Research Center.

California, New York, Texas, New Jersey and Hawaii are among the states with the largest share of Asian American eligible voters, it added.

In a 2018 Asian American Voter Survey released by APIAVote and AAPI Data, 46% of total Asian Americans surveyed said they were not contacted by the Democratic Party, while 56% said they received no communication from the Republican Party.

The same survey found that 22% of Filipinos surveyed said they had a “very favorable” impression of Trump, while 38% said “very unfavorable.” Meanwhile, 32% of Filipinos said they had a “somewhat favorable” impression of the Democratic Party and 28% said “somewhat favorable” of the Republican Party.Though AAPI voters have been often overlooked by the major political parties, the bloc may continue to show influence in key races

and districts, especially in battleground states like Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida and Arizona.

The Trump campaign in May launched “Asian Americans for Trump,” co-chaired by FilAm Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes and Arizona State Treasurer Kimberly Yee. The advisory board includes six individuals of Filipino descent in various leadership positions.

The full list of Fil-Ams supporting Biden include: AAPI Caucus Leadership: Dan Santos, Clark County (NV) Democratic Party AAPI Caucus Chair; Cora Quisumbing-King, New Hampshire Democratic Party AAPI Caucus Co-Chair; Joshua Ang Price, Arkansas Democratic Party AAPI Caucus Chair; Melissa Ramoso, California Democratic Party AAPI Caucus Chair; and Angelito Tenorio, Democratic AAPI Caucus of Wisconsin (Ad Hoc) Co-Chair State elected officials: Sen. Regine Biscoe Lee, Guam Legislature; Del. Kriselda Valderrama, Maryland General Assembly; Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, Hawai’i Senate; Sen. Gil Keith-Agaran, Hawai’i Senate; Sen. Lorraine Inouye, Hawai’i Senate; Rep. Della Bellati, Hawai’i House of Representatives; Rep. Romy Cachola, Hawai’i House of Representatives; Assemblymember Rob Bonta, California State Assembly; and Assemblymember Todd Gloria, California State Assembly Local elected officials: Brandon Elefante, Honolulu City Councilmember; Joey Manahan, Honolulu City Councilmember; and Peter Urscheler, Phoenixville, PA Mayor Former elected leaders: Ben Cayetano, Former Governor of Hawai’i and Velma Veloria, Former Washington State Representative Appointed officials (past and present): Jason Tengco, Former Deputy Director for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and Mike Ancheta Nisperos Jr., Chair of Vallejo Civil Service Commission Policy leaders & advocates:

Maria Lourdes Tiglao, Truman National Security Project DC Chapter Director and Nelson Garcia, President of the Washington Intergovernmental Professional Group National community leaders: Fritz Friedman, Co-Founder of Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment; Irene B. Bueno, Board Member at Asian American Action Fund; and Irene Natividad, Co-Chair for Endorsement at Asian American Action Fund State & local political leaders: Gerald G. Gubatan, Past President of the Pilipino American Los Angeles Democrats; Mary Grace Barrios, Past President of the Pilipino American Los Angeles Democrats; Brickwood Galuteria, Former Chair of the Hawai’i Democratic Party; Constantino “Coco” Alinsug, Massachusetts Democratic Party State Committee Member; Bertran D Palacios, Democratic Party of the Northern Mariana Islands Central Executive Committee Member; Shawna Indalecio, Democratic Party of the Northern Mariana Islands Central Executive Committee Member; and Sophia Perez, Democratic Party of the Northern Mariana Islands National Delegate Community leaders: Loren Nadres, Board Member at Asian American Action Fund; Teodora Gaite Schipper, Past President of the Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh Inc; and Brad Baldia,Co-Chair of Pennsylvania AAPIs for Biden Candidates for office: Marvin Lim, Candidate for Georgia General Assembly Arts & media: Lou Diamond Phillips, Actor and Director; Mark Dacascos, Actor; and Tia Carrere, Actress and Singer Activist & advocates: Joselito Laudencia, California; Loreto Quevedo Dimaandal, California; Erin Pangilinan, California; Patricio N. Abinales, Hawai’i; Alberto Manalo, New Hampshire; Frances A. Castro, Northern Marianas Islands; Maria Tenorio Camacho, Northern Marianas Islands; and Ditas Valenzuela, Northern Marianas Islands. (AJPress)

CA State Treasurer announces $1.059B Revenue Bond sale for Department of Water resources SACRAMENTO – California State Treasurer Fiona Ma announced the sale on Wednesday, July 29 of $1.059 billion in California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Water System Revenue Bonds to finance and refinance certain State Water Project capital improvements and refund certain of DWR’s outstanding Water System Revenue Bonds.

The State Water Project is a statewide complex system of dams, water storage facilities, aqueducts, pumping stations and electric generation facilities that have been constructed by DWR to deliver water and protect against flooding. It supplies water to 29 local water agencies, serving a population of 27 million, or 69% of California’s population.

The bonds were well received by the market. The $544.2 million tax-exempt Series BB bonds received over $1.3 billion in total orders, with $280 million from retail accounts, while the $515.2 million federally taxable Series BC bonds received over $2.6 billion in total orders.

The refunding bonds are expected to save $55.6 million in debt service costs over the next 15 years, or $47.3 million on a present value basis.

The all-in true interest cost is 1.27 percent. The tax-exempt Series BB bonds consist of maturities from 2022 to 2035, with yields ranging from 0.12 percent to 1.00 percent. The federally taxable Series BC bonds consist of maturities from 2020 to 2035, with yields ranging from 0.13 percent to 1.789 percent.

The bonds are rated AAA by Standard & Poor’s and Aa1 by Moody’s Investors Service. The joint senior managers for the sale were Morgan Stanley and Jefferies LLC. The co-senior manager was Cabrera Capital Markets, LLC. Additionally, there were 12 firms participating as co-managers.

A calendar of upcoming state bond sales is available at BuyCaliforniaBonds.com.

Fiona Ma is California’s 34th State Treasurer. She was elected on November 6, 2018 with more votes (7,825,587) than any other candidate for trea-

surer in the state’s history. She is the first woman of color and the first woman Certified Public Accountant (CPA) elected to the position. The State Treasurer’s Office was created in the California Constitution in 1849. It provides financing for schools, roads, housing, recycling and waste management, hospitals, public facilities, and other crucial infrastructure projects that better the lives of residents. California is the world’s fifth-largest economy and Treasurer Ma is the state’s primary banker.

Her office processes more than $2 trillion in transactions within a typical year. She provides transparency and oversight for the government’s investment portfolio and accounts, as well as for the state’s surplus funds.

Treasurer Ma oversees an investment portfolio of about $101 billion, more than $32.1 billion of which are local government funds. She serves as agent of sale for all State bonds, and is trustee on outstanding debt of $94 billion.

(From CA State Treasurer’s Office)

burner for years now.

“Sabah is not in Malaysia if you want to have anything to do with the Philippines,” Locsin warned on Twitter on Monday, July 27 night, retweeting what the U.S. Embassy posted minutes earlier.

On its Twitter and Facebook pages, the U.S. Embassy shared the news from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). “@usaid_manila donated 500 hygiene kits to the @dswdservers Region IX “for use by returning Filipino repatriates from

Sabah, Malaysia who arrived in Zamboanga City and Bongao, Tawi-Tawi,” the U.S. Embassy tweeted, sharing an article and photos from the USAID. “You better edit that announcement if you know what’s good for you,” Locsin said in another tweet in reaction to the U.S. Embassy post.

The U.S. Embassy did not respond to media queries, nor did it correct what it had posted, which remained on its Twitter and Facebook pages as of Tuesday night. n

US Embassy ignores Locsin’s threat

by Dona

Pazzibugan Inquirer.net

FOREIGN Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. warned the United States Embassy in Manila of consequences unless it corrects an official statement shared on social media that wrongly referred to Sabah as part of Malaysia.

The Philippines has a historic claim over Sabah based on the ownership of the Sultan of Sulu over what used to be North Borneo. The government, however, has put the issue on the back-

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.

Inquirer.net photo

Finalized city-wide Project Labor Agreement...

PAGE A3 Galarza, president, Yerba Buena Engineering & Construction, Inc. “The strong small business protections, coupled with the robust workforce and CityBuild components ensure that accountability is in place to guarantee, no one from the City’s impoverished communities are left behind that desire a career in the building trades.”

The agreement between the City, San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, its member unions, and construction contractors that perform work on certain public projects seeks to avoid delays and control costs by establishing clear and consistent obligations for those performing work. Additionally, this agreement helps establish and stabilize wages, hours and working conditions for the workers employed on these projects.

This agreement and these stan-

dards will be applied to a number of public construction projects which meet certain monetary thresholds. For work funded by bonds, the threshold triggering applicability of the project labor agreement begins at $5 million and lowers to $1 million over a three-year time period. For all other work the threshold is set at $10 million.

Additionally, this agreement also memorializes policies to ensure that local small businesses have the opportunity to participate in the economic opportunity these public construction projects create. Specifically, Local Business Enterprises are allowed to accumulate $5 million worth of work before being subject to the terms of the Project Labor Agreement, allowing time for smaller Local Business Enterprises to grow.

Public construction projects are also critical to job creation

for San Francisco residents.

The Project Labor Agreement incorporates support for pre-apprenticeship programs including San Francisco’s CityBuild Program, which provides preapprenticeship and construction training. The Project Labor Agreement requires unions to ensure graduates of CityBuild have a pathway for direct entry into union apprenticeship programs.

Previously, there was not a requirement for the City to use a Project Labor Agreement on its public work and improvement projects. As a result of the legislation passed by the Board of Supervisors on January 15, 2019, and signed by Mayor Breed, the City Administrator negotiated and executed the Project Labor Agreement on behalf of the City.

(From SF Mayor’s Press Office)

(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 31-AUgUSt 6, 2020

Dateline PhiliPPines

A

Filipino lawmakers, key public figures react to SONA 2020

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

DRENCHED. A phalanx of anti-riot policemen stands along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City as rain pours down on Monday, July 27.

Policemen have been deployed in the area to secure the 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte at the Batasang Pambansa complex in the afternoon.

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.

“The PNP believes that with this kind of imposition, there would be a deterrence on crime,” 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.

“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,” he said.

“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 can’t just be compared with any other administration,” he added.

According to the PNP chief, a person should face death penalty if caught with 50 grams of illegal

drugs and up.

“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,” said Gamboa.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, however, disagreed with his suggestion.

“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,” 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.

“If it’s confined to high-level drug trafficking, we stand a good chance of having it passed. Otherwise, I’m telling you now, mahihirapan na pagka hindi ganoon (it would be difficult if it’s not done that way),” he said.

“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 highlevel trafficker is poor, no drug lord is poor, so they can’t say it’s anti-poor),” he added.

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

“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 it’s confined to that group of criminals,” 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.

“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,” he said Monday, July 27.

“This law will not only help us deter criminality but also save our children from the dangers posed by illegal and dangerous drugs,” 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.

“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,” he said Tuesday.

He added that he expects to work closely with the Senate “to smoothen the deliberations and passage of these vital bills.”n

A DAy after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, several Filipino lawmakers and key public figures publicly reacted to the points highlighted in the chief executive’s speech.

Senator Grace Poe noted that reviving the death penalty without judicial reforms would put the “innocent poor with scant resources” at risk.

She lauded the country’s efforts in saving lives and preventing deaths in its fight against the novel coronavirus, but stressed that the government “must also protect the lives of the defenseless and disadvantaged from the peril of injustice.”

“Without the needed reforms in our justice system, the innocent poor with scant resources to wage a decent defense in court will be the ones at risk in any attempt to revive the death penalty in the country,” Poe said Tuesday, July 28.

The statement came after Duterte, in his SONA, called on Congress to reinstate the death penalty in the Philippines for drug-related charges.

Senator Risa Hontiveros also called out the president for bringing up the death penalty in the middle of the pandemic.

“I cant believe I need to say this: but the death penalty is not a solution to the pandemic,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Hontiveros pointed out that Duterte should be prioritizing the economy as well as the Filipinos who lost their jobs amid the pandemic.

“The president uttered the same incoherent statements that did not present a health and economic roadmap that could lead us through this pandemic.

Issues of unemployment and hunger were not directly addressed,” she said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, on the other hand, showed his support for the death penalty.

“Having served as a law enforcer in my previous life I have good enough basis to believe that the reimposition of the death penalty is a deterrent to crime and an encouragement

SENATE’S SONA LOOK. A total of 17 senators, donning face masks led by Senate President Vicente Sotto III (3rd from left, topmost), opens the 2nd regular session of the 18th Congress on Monday, July 27. It opened hours before President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the House of Representatives in Quezon City.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga

for victims to come forward and seek justice. Just like the AntiTerrorism Act of 2020, timing is of no moment when we are dealing with heinous crimes and crimes against humanity,” he said.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto expressed disappointment with Duterte’s SONA, noting that it was neither reassuring nor hopeful.

He also said that Duterte failed to give much detail on how to fight the war against COVID-19.

“I think the president economized in spelling out his antipandemic program, which is what Filipinos were expecting to hear more from him. He could have made it detailed and nuanced, in a language that is comforting, assuring and emphatic,” he added.

Former adviser to the COVID-19 task force Tony Leachon echoed this sentiment, saying he was expecting more from Duterte’s SONA. “I was expecting that...60% of the [discussion would be on] the health crisis: the granular plan regarding detection, testing, isolation and quarantine, and then [transition] to the economic recovery plan, [around] 20 to 30%, and then the 10% would be other matters,” he told ABS-CBN. Leachon added that he was hoping for “a review of the national action plan” that would be “inspiring, powerful, [and] engaging.”

Palace rates Duterte’s SONA 9 out of 10 Malacañang gave the Pres-

ident’s SONA a near perfect grade.

“Sa akin po, nine out of 10 ang grado ng Presidente (For me, the president’s grade is nine out of 10),” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

His only complaints that hindered him from giving the speech a perfect score were the length and lack of “quotable quotes.”

“Well, sa akin naman po, siguro ‘yung sa pagsulat ng speech, number one, mahaba. One hour and 40 [minutes]. Eh meron na ngang pre-SONA (For me, the speech was lengthy. It lasted for one hour and 40 minutes. We already had pre-SONA [fora so it could have been shorter]),” Roque noted.

“Kung ako ang nagsulat diyan, mas marami akong ilalagay na quotable quotes sa simula at sa ending ng speech (If I were the speech writer, I would have included quotable quotes in the beginning and ending of the speech),” he added.

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go also gave Duterte’s SONA a positive review, saying it was “inspiring” as it articulated the government’s plans, goals, and vision for a better future for Filipinos.

“The president was able to clearly lay down measures in his speech that will strengthen the fight against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, address the immediate needs of the people to overcome the hardships, and sustain the gains of the administration in fulfilling its promise of a comfortable life for all,” he said. n

A

July 31-august 6, 2020 • NORCal asIaN JOuRNal

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 life, safety and well-being of the people

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

OpiniOn & Features

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

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

more than political and personal selfish interests.

“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. “i must admit that our actions have been far from perfect — totoo iyan, i admit it. There could be improvements here or there, but all of us in government, including myself, assure you that we will not stop until we get things right and better for you,” he confessed.

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.

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

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

aDVERtIsINg aND aDVERtORIal POlICIEs ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President Main Office: 1210 s. Brand Blvd glendale, Ca 91204 tels: (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 Fax: (818) 502-0858 e-mail: info@asianjournalinc.com http://www.asianjournal.com Northern California: 1799 Old Bayshore Hwy, suite 136 Burlingame, Ca 94010 tel.: (650) 689-5160 • Fax: (650) 239-9253 las Vegas sales Office: 2770 s. Maryland Pkwy., suite 201 las Vegas, NV 89109 tel.: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

Manila Office: 2/F D&E Fort Palm springs Cond.

30th st., Cor. 1st ave., Bonifacio global City, taguig tel.: (632) 856-4921 • 856-0397 Fax: (632) 856-1661 New york Office: 133-30 32nd ave., Flushing, Ny 11354 tel.: (212) 655-5426 • Fax (818) 502-0858 New Jersey Office: 2500 Plaza 5, Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 tel: (212)655-5426 • Fax: (818)502-0858

ELIZABETH HILARIO SISON Chief Financial Officer JOSEPH PERALTA Vice President & General Manager Northern California Asian Journal MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor CHRISTINA M. ORIEL Editor-in-Chief Northern California Asian Journal

Asian Journal Publications, Inc. (“AJPI”) reserves the right to refuse to publish, in its sole and absolute discretion, any advertising and advertorial material submitted for publication by client. (“Client’s Material”) Submission of an advertisement or advertorial to an AJPI sales representative does not constitute a commitment

by AJPI to publish a Client’s Material. AJPI has the option to correctly classify any Client’s Material and to delete objectionable words or phrases.

Client represents and warrants that a Client’s Material does not and will not contain any language or material which is libelous, slanderous or defamatory or invades any rights of privacy or publicity; does not and will not violate or infringe upon, or give rise to any adverse claim with respect to any common law or other right whatsoever (including, without limitation, any copyright, trademark, service mark or contract right) of any person or entity, or violate any other applicable law; and is not the subject of any litigation or claim that might give rise to any litigation.

Publication of a Client’s Material does not constitute an agreement to continue publication.

Client agrees and covenants to indemnify AJPI and its officers against any and all loss, liability, damage, expenses, cost, charges, claims, actions, causes of action, recoveries, judgments, penalties, including outside attorneys’ fees (individually and collectively “Claims”) which AJPI may suffer by reason of (1) Client’s breach of any of the representations, warranties and agreements herein or (2) any Claims by any third party relating in any way to Client’s Material.

AJPI will not be liable for failure to publish any Client’s Material as requested or for more than one incorrect insertion of a Client’s Material. In the event of an error, or omission in printing or publication of a Client’s Material, AJPI shall be limited to an adjustment for the space occupied by the error, with maximum liability being cancellation of the cost of the first incorrect advertisement or republication of the correct advertisement.

Under no circumstances shall Asian Publications, Inc. be liable for consequential damages of any kind.

ASIAN JOURNAL PUBLITIONS, INC. publishes the Los Angeles Asian Journal, published twice a week; the Orange County and Inland Empire Asian Journal, Northern lifornia Asian Journal, Las Vegas Asian Journal and the New York / New Jersey Asian Journal which are published once a week and distributed to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange Counties, Northern lifornia, Las Vegas and New York and New Jersey respectively.

Articles published in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Letters to the Editor are welcome. Letters must contain complete name and return address. The materials, however, are subject to editing and revisions.

Contributions and advertising deadlines are every Mondays and Thursdays. For advertising rates and other informations, please ll the L.A. office at (213) 250-9797 or the Las Vegas Sales Office at (702) 792-6678 or send us an email at info@asianjournalinc.com

(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 31-AUgUSt 6, 2020

A

A

July 31-august 6, 2020 • NORCal asIaN JOuRNal

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

THE ASIAN JOURNAL MAGAZINE

(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Community Journal

B IN NORTHEN cALIfORNIA

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 31-AUgUSt 6, 2020

Friday, July 31, 2020

OMETHING

ILIPINO

LIfESTyLE • cONSUMER GUIdE • cOMMUNITy • MARkETPLAcE

Immediate relatives: one person per petition Fil-Am culture critic, author Jia Tolentino

on the gifts and curses of the internet in the time of a pandemic, racial reckoning

all of them. But if the petitioner naturalizes before the visas are issued, then only the spouse would be covered by the petition, and the children “fall off” the petition.

The petitioner would now need to file new petitions for each child.

Atty. MichAel Alternatively, the petitioner could Gurfinkel, eSQ have filed separate petitions for MOST petitions (family and emeach family member while still an ployment based) allow the petiimmigrant. tioner to include the beneficiary’s 5. When petitioning a teenage spouse and minor children, but

by Klarize Medenilla / AJPress daughter who may have gotten not with immediate relative (IR) pregnant and given birth, the WITH the year more than halfpetitions (spouse, parents, minor baby (the petitioner’s grandchild) way over, the maelstrom that is children of U.S. citizens). For IR would not be included in the pepetitions, only one person per petition and would need to be left the year 2020 continues to imtition is allowed. No derivatives. behind. Again, this is because pose an unabating state of dread underscored by confusion, anger Separate petitions are required PAGE B3 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 fullblown 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 COVID19 and the further politicization 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 reemergence 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 LEADING U.S. IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL ANSWERS YOUR IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS VIA ZOOM ON A BRAND-NEW “SOCIAL wellness and success through DISTANCING”EDITION OF CITIZEN PINOY. Under the new “normal” in the time of the pandemic, Citizen Pinoy continues its public service by algorithms and optimization: the providing relevant information and updates on immigration. On the first episode of “Your Tanong, My Sagot: Social Distancing Style,” Atty. corporatization of self-care, the Gurfinkel answers questions from Kapamilya in New Jersey, Guam, and California. Find out if an employer of an assisted living facility can transparent way that capitalism petition someone in the U.S. with a tourist visa; or if the petition for a child with Down Syndrome can be expedited; or if the USCIS will has monetized “being yourself,” excuse green card holders who are out of the country for over six months due to the pandemic. Get answers to these and more on a brand- and an attention economy that new episode of CITIZEN PINOY: Your Tanong, My Sagot – Social Distancing Style this Sunday, August 2 at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru pushes a toxic image of producselect Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement) tivity.

Immigration Corner

for each family member.

Here are some of the scenarios for U.S. citizen petitioners where this can occur: 1. When petitioning parents, separate petitions are required for each parent.

2. When petitioning minor children, each child must be separately petitioned.

3. When petitioning a spouse and children, each requires their own separate petition. If you file only for your spouse, the children are not covered.

4. Along the same lines, if an immigrant files a petition for his or her spouse and children (F2A), one petition would cover

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

Author and writer Jia Tolentino and her bestselling book, “Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self Delusion.” (inset) Photo by Elena Mudd courtesy of Penguin Random House

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 sysPAGE B2

B

Features

July 31-August 6, 2020 • NORCAl AsIAN JOuRNAl

celebrity world

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

Happily married couple Dingdong and Marian Dantes heads August birthday celebrants

By Ferdie Villar

San Jose businesswoman Meriam Charisma celebrates her birthday on Friday, August 7.

PHILIPPINE silver screen’s happily married couple and Kapuso Channel 7 Primetime King and Queen Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, who were married on December 30, 2014, heads the roster of birthday celebrants for this summer month of August.

Dingdong, the lead actor in many of GMA-7’s teleseryes, celebrates his birthday on Sunday, August 2, while his wife, Marian, celebrates her birthday on Wednesday, August 12.

Other celebrities who are celebrating their birthdays this month are: August 1: Action star Cesar Montano, Daly City community leader Vilma Guinto Peoro, former Club Royale Queen Maria Clara Mendoza Viray; August 3: Asia’s Nightingale Lani Misalucha, who now resides

in the Philippines; August 4: Former U.S. President Barack Obama (who celebrates his 59th birthday), Filipina dance choreographer Maribeth Bichara; August 6: Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano; August 7: San Jose businesswoman Meriam Charisma; August 10: Former TV host and actress Mariel Rodriguez who is happily married to acton star Robin Padilla; August 11: San Francisco Mayor London Breed; August 12: Actor Aga Muhlach, actress/TV host/dancer/model Iza Calzado; August 13: State Farm Insurance agent Ramon Petros; August 15: Filipina caregiver Elaine Estabrooks; August 19: Filipina fashion model Jessica Apolinario Devine;

Elaine Estabrooks, a San Francisco caregiver, celebrates her birthday on Saturday, August 15.

Asia’s Nightingale Lani Misalucha celebrates her birthday on Monday, August 3.

Asia’s Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales celebrates her birthday on Saturday, August 22.

San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa (left) celebrates his birthday on Friday, August 28. He is shown in photo above with close friend, beauty impresario Ferdie Villar.

Fil-Am culture critic, author Jia...

PAGE B1 tems 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 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 paraprofessionally 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 su-

Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, known as the Primetime King and Queen of the Philippine silver screen, heads the roster of birthday celebrants for the summer month San Francisco Mayor London Breed celebrates her of August. Dingdong celebrates his birthday on August 2, while Marian celebrates her birthday on Tuesday, August 11. birthday on August 12.

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

perior to other people and wants us inferior enough that we get more addicted that way.”

Tolentino points out that in 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 response 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.

August 20: Actress and former beauty queen Jean Saburit, the late undisputed King of Philippine Movies Fernando Poe Jr., realtor Raquel Mapote; August 22: Asia’s Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales, actress Jean Garcia, former beauty queen Carolyn Masibay; August 23: TV host-singer Nikki Gil; August 24: Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan; August 27: Actor-singer Ogie Alcasid, comedian/actress Pokwang, the late movie queen Amalia Fuentes; August 28: San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa; August 31: Broadway star Rachelle Ann Go-Spies (who will

Gary Valenciano, known as Mr. Pure Energy in the Philippine entertainment world, celebrates his birthday on Thursday, August 6.

Handsome, talented and award-winning actor Aga Muhlach celebrates his birthday on Wednesday, August 12.

Tony Bayudan, a Daly City political leader, celebrates his birthday on Monday, August 31.

turn 34), veteran actor KarimTo all August birthday celeKiram, Daly City political leader brants, many more Happy BirthTony Bayudan. days to come!

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 Geronimo-Guidicelli” 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 said.

According to her, she feels blessed to have marked her birthday despite the ongoing novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COV-

ID-19) pandemic because she still has a job, is in good health, and of course, has the love of her life by her side.

“Ay s’yempre po, may asawa na po tayo, eh priority na po natin ang asawa na po natin. S’yempre hindi lang po ‘yung health and also giving importance sa health ng mga tao sa buhay ko po. Importante po kasi ‘yun eh, especially ‘pag may pamilya kang inuuwian. It’s very important na healthy ka. You can better protect them if you yourself is better protected.”

She said that every day, she makes sure to start her day with a prayer to acknowledge and pay gratitude to the Lord for all the blessings.

“Especially ngayon, pinagpapasalamat ko ‘yung life na binigay ng Panginoon and also pinag-papasalamat ko ‘yung life na binigay for my loved ones. I draw inspiration from that.”

When asked what her favorite breakfast staple is, she said, “Eggs!”

When asked if she eats her eggs “silog” style (or with meat and rice), Sarah quipped: “Ay, sosyal po kasi ‘yung asawa ko, truffle eggs!”

Sarah Geronimo with husband Matteo Guidicelli Photo from Instagram/@matteog

In an Instagram post Sunday, Matteo greeted his wife by sharing a photo from their honeymoon.

“Happy birthday my lovely wife. I’m so proud of you. You deserve all the happiness and positivity that life has to offer. Whatever dreams you want to achieve, I’m here by your side. You are so beautiful. Happy birthday!” he wrote.

Raffy Tulfo pledges P100k to help ailing action star John Regala donate P100,000, groceries and medicines for the actor.

“Sa ngayon po, magpi-pledge ako. Magbibigay ako ng isandaang libong piso at bukod pa ho diyan magbibigay ako ng gamot, groceries para sa’yo. At kung ano pa po maitutulong namin, ibibigay ko pa po,” Raffy told John.

Earlier this week, Facebook users posted photos of John, asking for help for the actor after a food delivery rider helped him upon seeing him in dismal condi-

tion on his way to see the nurse who would give him his gout injection.

MANILA — Broadcaster Raffy John can barely speak upon Tulfo pledged cash donations for mentioning in a TeleRadyo informer action star John Regala terview that the driver found him after learning that the embattled dizzy because he had not eaten actor is suffering from liver cirwell in 13 days. rhosis.

A Facebook user also revealed In his TV5 program “Idol in that John is living his life alone Action,” Raffy interviewed John after her wife left him. after getting requests from social Also in his interview with Telmedia users to help the actor. eRadyo, John revealed that he Raffy told John that he will 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 “MaAction star John Regala wearing dextrose (left) and being helped by a delivery rider after nila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga getting dizzy in Pasay City.

Photo by Bemedz Santillan Torres Story.”

By JAn

Milo Severo Philstar.com

(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Features

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 31-AUgUSt 6, 2020

B

Brand new episode of ‘Citizen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My Sagot-Social Distancing Style’ airs this Sunday, August 2 EVEN in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, life goes on, and there are many individuals and families out there who are saddled with concerns about the latest immigration policies and how it affects them.

Leading U.S. immigration attorney, Michael J. Gurfinkel, hosts a series of special Citizen Pinoy episodes where he will answer questions from the public

“social distancing style”.

The first batch of questions from Cris of Redding, CA; Josel from Yigo, Guam; and Alice and Ben of Jersey City, NJ will be answered this Sunday, August 2.

One of the questions asks about one’s husband who is outside the U.S. for work. Due to the pandemic, he might need to stay outside for more than six months.

Will his stay for over six months

outside the U.S. affect his status as a green card holder?

These and more questions will be answered on the first “online” episode of CITIZEN PINOY: Your Tanong, My Sagot – Social Distancing Style this Sunday, August 2, at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

Immediate relatives: one person per petition

PAGE B1

derivatives are excluded in the petition.

Before you file a petition, you should make sure all the requirements are met and determine who may be covered by your petition. Some people may have been unaware that petitions may convert upon naturalization and could be very disappointed. I remember one consultation where an immigrant petitioned his wife and three children, but before the interview at the Embassy, he naturalized. Imagine the family’s shock and disappointment when the consul issued the visa only for the wife and told her the children fell off the petition because the petitioner naturalized. She was

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

not happy. And she was not going to leave her children alone in the Philippines. So, he had to scramble and file new petitions to cover each of his children.

That’s why if you have any questions, or just want to make sure things are in proper order and you meet the eligibility requirements, you should consult with an attorney who can review your case and determine the fastest and best way for you to achieve your American dream. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different

and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and reenactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

COVID-19 update

by people’s protests and demand for their civil rights and lack of selfdiscipline 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 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 risPAGE B4

Ideas to have a special and memorable summer Transitioning to a smoke-free ‘new normal’

FOR a typical summer, you might have planned to go hiking, camping, visiting family or even travelling to other countries. This summer, however, is different than most due to the coronavirus outbreak.

While some states have lifted their stay-at-home orders, many local businesses are still not upand-running, which means it is harder to take normal summer vacations. The pandemic brings the recognition that we need to adopt a “new normal” with the outbreak in mind.

Here are a few ideas to make an “at-home summer” memorable and special while still adhering to social distancing guidelines, and while adopting a new routine to break the smoking habit: 1. Eat like you are on vacation Food is a great way to create the feeling that you’re on vacation.

Bummed to miss out on seafood from that beach vacation this year?

Get some shrimp cocktail. Had to cancel the summer barbeque?

That’s ok, you can still set up a backyard barbeque yourself or do some indoor grilling. Since traveling is not recommended, why not have food from around the world come to you? Browse the internet for cooking ideas. There is something there for everybody to create international dishes at home. If you do not feel like cooking, you can also order your favorite indulgent food to be delivered. Share the dish you cooked or the food you enjoyed on social media to connect with your friends and family members. You can also let them know that you would like to start living a smoke-free life and are planning to quit smoking. Gaining social support will help with quitting.

2. Enjoy a movie or TV marathon Sometimes nothing is as relaxing as simply turning your home into an entertainment center for watching a movie marathon. Be-

sides a movie marathon, you can watch a TV drama series or a YouTube video marathon. You can still watch movies and shows together even if you are apart from family or friends via chat applications. Ask each family member to pick their favorite shows, then take turns watching everyone’s top picks.

You can even have an “intermission” to break up the couch time, with themed games, meals, or discussions about the plot. This can help you stay busy, and keep you from stepping outside to smoke.

3. Plan a tournament Competition is one of the oldest forms of entertainment. And winning feels just as good now as it did to folks living many years ago. Competitions can bring out some really fierce, but hopefully friendly rivalries. Pull out the board games, find a deck of cards, play video or mobile games with family members. You can also play games with friends via video conferencing. In between games, connect with the kids to share a family secret or a family tradition, or express an interest in learning new technology from them. Ask about things like using Instagram, how to take a nice selfie or how to use those face filters on the phone. Learning new skills can help you keep busy and distracted in order to get through cravings to smoke.

We may be experiencing unprecedented times, but we can take this opportunity to spend precious time with family — time we often can’t find in our regular schedules. This also creates an excellent chance to take the first steps toward quitting smoking.

If you feel pulled in multiple directions during these difficult times and are finding it hard to adjust to the new normal, it is completely understandable. Why not reach out for help?

Asian Smokers’ Quitline (ASQ) understands that the stress cur-

rent and former tobacco users are going through can be extremely difficult. Our friendly and non-judgmental counselors from language-specific quitlines speak Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin), Korean, or Vietnamese and provide one-on-one telephone counseling to help tobacco users adopt a smoke-free living style during this challenging time. Here are the language specific quitline information: • Mandarin & Cantonese – 1800-838-8917, www.asq-chinese. org; • Korean – 1-800-556-5564, www.asq-korean.org; • Vietnamese – 1-800-778-8440, www.asq-viet.org.

The ASQ service is free and available nationwide. Please feel free to contact us via phone or visit us at www.asiansmokersquitline. org. Eligible smokers may receive a free two-week supply of nicotine patches and it will be sent directly to smokers’ homes. Friends and family members of tobacco users are welcome to contact ASQ to receive advice and materials on how to help others quit.

Asian Smokers’ Quitline wishes everyone continued safety and good health!

ASQ is operated by the Asian Smokers’ Quitline (ASQ) and funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ASQ provides FREE evidence-based smoking cessation services in Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese to Asian communities in the U.S. and eligible smokers can receive a free two-week supply of nicotine patches. Studies have shown that smokers who enroll in ASQ services double their chances of quitting successfully. ASQ is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific Time (10 a.m. to midnight Eastern Time).

To enroll, call or register online today!

(Advertising Supplement)

B

Features

July 31-August 6, 2020 • NORCAl AsIAN JOuRNAl

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

AC bags silver in Blackpink’s‘How You Like That?’dance contest San Francisco’s 27th annual Filipino

cultural festival goes digital – virtual celebration to be held August 8-9

By Ratziel

San Juan Philstar.com

KAPAMILYA performer AC Bonifacio on Tuesday, July 28 was recognized as the second prize winner of K-pop girl group Blackpink’s official dance cover contest for their song “How You Like That?”

The dancer immediately trended afterward, with fans saying “Congrats AC” for her achievement.

“IDK WHAT TO DO THE WHOLE TEAM AND I ARE TOGETHER CRYING IDK WHAT TO DO WAIT WAIT WAIT,” AC reacted to the good news in an Instagram story.

The 17-year-old’s winning solo dance cover posted at the beginning of the month now has over three million YouTube views.

AC Bonifacio

In keeping with tradition, virtual festival will feature parade, performances, sari-sari marketplace, and pop-up food court and tavern

COVID-19 update

PAGE B3 ing 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 sexually-transmitted 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.

“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 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.

SAN FRANCISCO – The Filipino American Arts Exposition (FAAE) announced its decision to reimagine San Francisco’s 27th annual Pistahan Parade and Festival into “Pistahan Together @ Home,” a virtual festival and online cultural experience.

Moving the parade and festival into virtual formats is in accordance with local public health guidelines and ensures the public’s health and safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 Pistahan Virtual Parade and Festival will take place online at www.pistahan. net , streaming live on Facebook and YouTube, starting on Saturday, Aug. 8 and running through Sunday, Aug. 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific Time.

A global celebration of Filipino culture and cuisine, Pistahan Together @ Home aims to raise funds to support the ever-growing demand for senior and youth services provided by FAAE, West Bay Pilipino Muti-Service Center , and United Playaz for the Filipino community.

“Over 26 years, the Pistahan Festival in San Francisco has blossomed into a thriving platform that showcases the diversity of the Filipino community in the United States,” said Al Perez, president of FAAE, the event producer of the celebration. “While we are saddened we will not be able to come together in person for our annual celebration for the first time in 27 years, we will embrace this challenge as an opportunity

to create new experiences for discovery, connection and positivity.

This year’s festival theme is ‘One Community: United in Hope and Healing.’ We look to Pistahan Together @ Home as an opportunity to broaden awareness of Filipino heritage and traditions and extend the celebration of Filipino community, culture and cuisine to new communities across the globe.”

“We’ve launched Pistahan Together @ Home as a creative response to bring Pistahan virtually to you at home with an online parade, performances, cooking demos, tech talks and many more activities,” said MaryJane Cordova Ly, festival manager of Pistahan.

“Our team is coming up with really amazing and inspired ways to showcase Filipino art, cuisine, music, dance and traditions, and provide space for visibility and representation. With our first-ever virtual festival, we are committed to bringing to you a communitydriven event that creates meaningful engagement and participation

by Filipinos in the diaspora, creates a platform for all to discover Filipino culture and heritage, and brings wholesome entertainment and joy.”

To kick-start program planning, Pistahan invites Filipino communities around the world to participate in the first-ever virtual Pistahan Parade and Festival. If you are a/an: • Artist, culinary expert, musician, performer, writer: Whether it’s arts, dance, cooking, sports or

something else, make your talent known.

• Business, organization or vendor: Exhibit your organization’s services or products in our sari-sari marketplace.

• Restaurant: Be part of the pop-up food court, an online directory for festival-goers to order takeout/delivery.

• Parade enthusiast: Join Pistahan’s parade video challenge and contest! This year’s Pistahan Parade will be taking a new form of a produced musical video challenge that has you “catching” the Pistahan logo, showcasing your creative side, and then “passing” the logo on. Show off your love for your favorite Filipino dish or even dress up in your favorite cultural attire. The possibilities are endless! Continuing with Pistahan’s annual parade tradition, a panel of judges will be selecting five lucky entries. Wherever your creativity takes you, submit a video (30 seconds or less) and don’t forget to catch and pass off the iconic Pistahan logo (print it, draw it, or even hold up an electronic device with it).

If you are interested in sponsoring Pistahan, send an e-mail to sponsors.pistahan@gmail. com .

To participate in the marketplace, pop-up food court and many pavilions as well as get programming updates leading up to the festival, visit www.pistahan. net.

(Advertising Supplement)

SBA Presents: COVID-19 Road to Recovery for AAPI Entrepreneurs August 3, 2020 • 2:30PM On Monday, August 3 at 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time, join an Access Live event for AAPI entrepreneurs.

Small business, non-profit organizations and faith-based organizations in need of financial assistance may join this call and learn what opportunities exist to recover from the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Join the SBA and many other experts to learn how we can overcome the challenging times, Interested parties can connect to the event in a few ways: • Dial in to the event on August 3: 833-380-0652 (English) • Register in advance at http://www.access.live/SBA to receive a call at 2:30 p.m. PT on August 3 and select your language of preference when called.

• Listen to the event live in English at the time of the event on Facebook@SBAGov. Links to stream the other languages will be provided with the Facebook live stream.

(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 31-AUgUSt 6, 2020

B

B

July 31-August 6, 2020 • NORCAl AsIAN JOuRNAl

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

SEAFOOD CITY