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Volume 19 - No. 34 • 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

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DATELINE Early poll: 54% of Asian American voters favor Biden, 29% Trump FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

LEADING up to the conventions for both the Democratic and Republican parties, early data found that Asian Americans are leaning left with 54% saying they are inclined to vote for former Vice President Joe Biden.

In preliminary data from the 2020 Asian American Voter survey — conducted by APIAVote, AAPIData, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC — about half of registered voters surveyed from July 4 to August 16 threw their support for the Democratic nominee, while 29% of respondents said

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

RNC kicks off as Fil-Am Republicans support another four years of Trump

by AJPRESS DESPITE the trend of Filipino Americans largely voting Democratic in recent decades, President Donald Trump continues to have a band of supporters among the segment in the community who identify as conservatives.

Heading into November 3, Fil-Am Republicans across the country, who brand themselves as

among the “silent majority,” are continuing to ride the red wave in support of another four years under a Trump administration and are defying the common notion that the community leans left.

“There’s great enthusiasm for the re-election of President Donald Trump – much has to do with his clear record and contrast against Joe Biden,” Rudy Pamintuan, a Las Vegas resident who was part of the Trump transition team and served under

Survey: PH’s average salary among lowest in 110 countries

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Gov. Newsom signs bill requiring CSU students to take an ethnic studies class

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

AB 1460 overrules similar requirement set by CSU Board of Trustees

CALIFORNIA Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a bill that requires undergraduate students of the California State University (CSU) system — the largest public university system in the United States — to take an ethnic studies course to graduate.

Students who will be graduating in the 2024-25 school year will be required to take at least one three-unit class on any of

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George W. Bush’s advisory commission on AAPIs, told the Asian Journal.

For Pamintuan, the economy, school choice and law and order are among the issues he’s particularly concerned about. His message to fellow FilAm voters: take a look at Trump’s record in the past three years compared to Joe Biden’s as senator and then vice president. u PAGE A2

COSPLAYING RIDER. A rider, donned in an Ironman-like suit, speeds along Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City on Wednesday, August 26. Some of the bikers and riders have also been seen in public wearing various stylish suits, such as the alien in the movie, Predator.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

THE Philippines ranks near the bottom of a recent global list of average wages conducted by an international e-commerce platform.

In a survey by Picodi.com — entitled “Average wages: in which country people earn the most?” — the Philippines placed 95th out of 110 countries with its average salary of P15,200.

It outranked other countries like Indonesia (P15,100), Cambodia (P10,500), and Nigeria (P9,100). Cuba ranked 110th with its average wage of P1,800.

Switzerland, on the other hand, topped the ranking with its average wage of P296,200. It was followed by Luxembourg (P198,500), United States (P174,800), Denmark (P173,900), and Singapore (P168,900) — making up the top five countries with the highest average salaries.

The Philippines’ Southeast Asian neighbors like Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam also outranked the country, placing 49th with P41,300, 60th with P30,700, and 80th with P20,000 respectively. u PAGE A2

PH Immigration orders tighter screening Last chance to be counted in the 2020 Census!

AJP of foreigners claiming marriage to Filipinos by

migration (BI) order was issued following reports that some forAJPress eign nationals managed to enIMMIGRATION officers at ter the country using fake marManila’s Ninoy Aquino Interna- riage certificates, according tional Airport (NAIA) and other to Immigration Commissioner entry ports have been advised Jaime Morente.

“I have ordered frontliners at to tighten the screening of foreigners who claim they are mar- the ports to be doubly strict in ried to Filipinos before allowing screening foreigners alleging that they are married to Filipithem to enter the country.

The Philippine Bureau of Im- nos or have Filipino children.

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA

It is not enough that they have entry visas, marriage and birth certificates in their possession,” Morente said.

The government recently revised its restrictions on the entry of foreign nationals, exempting those who are spouses of Filipinos or have minor Filipino children or children with special needs, regardless of

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Fil-Am Assemblymember Rob Bonta shares how CA Sen. Kamala Harris’ leadership will translate to the VP seat

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

California Sen. Kamala Harris and Assemblymember Rob Bonta

AS Filipino American Democrats across the country have expressed excitement for former Vice President Joe Biden’s running mate, there’s one Fil-Am elected official who has experienced California Sen. Kamala Harris’ leadership up close.

When Harris was announced as Biden’s VP, state Assemblymember Rob Bonta was quick to praise the choice as it put energy back into the campaign.

“She just put lightning in a bottle when she joined a ticket and added an electricity and exu PAGE A2 Contributed photo

RESS

THE census deadline is looming, and the Filipino community is in danger of not getting their fair share of resources over the next decade. There is only one month left to make an impact.

Nationally, four out of 10 U.S. households have not filled out the census. In other words, the response rate is less than 65%.

Everyone in the community needs to be counted by Sept.

30. If people are undercounted, states could lose thousands of dollars in public funding per person every year for emergency services, education, health facilities, road improvements, and other benefits. The community is also at risk of losing political representation, including Congressional seats.

The Census Bureau is making a final push this week to close the remaining gap on census response rates of Asian Americans, including the Filipino community.

Joining this effort, over 30 organizations and 20 influencers are committed to mobilizing their communities during the 2020 Census Asian Week of Action, which is taking place this week, Aug. 24 to 30. These organizations, including civic engagement groups, social service providers, and e-comu PAGE A4

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august 28-september 3, 2020 • NOrCaL asIaN JOurNaL

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From the Front Page

PH Immigration orders tighter screening of...

PAGE A1 t age, in the Philippines.

Morente said the BI will run after foreign nationals who managed to enter the Philippines through false documents.

He also called for the public’s cooperation in reporting any foreigner suspected of involvement in sham marriages to the

bureau so they could be arrested and deported.

On August 17, two South Korean nationals were denied entry into Mactan-Cebu International Airport after presenting scanned copies of their marriage certificates that turned out to be fraudulent.

BI port operations chief Grifton Medina noted that of the two

PAUNAWA SA MGA NOMINADO PARA SA PAMPUBLIKONG TANGGAPAN ANG PAUNAWA NA ITO AY BINIBIGAY sa mga sumusunod na tao na nominado para sa mga tanggapan na itinalagang punuan sa General Municipal Election na gaganapin sa Lungsod ng San Jose sa Martes,Nobyembre 3, 2020.

Para sa Miyembro ng Konseho ng Lungsod, Distrito 4 Lan Diep David Cohen

Bumoto ng Isa

Para sa Miyembro ng Konseho ng Lungsod, Distrito 6 Jake Tonkel Devora “Dev” Davis

Bumoto ng Isa

Mga Panukala sa dapat Iboto: Panukala G Ang charter ng Lungsod ay dapat baguhin upang: palawakin ang pamamahala ng Independent Pulis Auditor, kabilang ang pagsusuri sa mga opisyal na sangkot sa barilan at ang mga pwersahang paggamit ng dahas na nagresulta sa pagkamatay o matinding pinsala sa katawan, pagsusuri ng mga imbestigasyon ng kagawaran laban sa mga opisyal at iba pang teknikal na pagbabago, pagdagdag at gawing 11 na miyembro ang Planning Commission at ang konseho ay magtatalaga ng isang miyembro bawat distrito at isang pangkalahatang miyembro, at pahintulutan ang Konseho na hindi magtatag ng mga takdang oras para sa muling pagpaparehistro kapag ang resulta ng Census ay nahuli?

OO

HINDI

Panukala H Pondohan ang pangkalahatang serbisyo ng San Jose, kabilang ang proteksyon sa sunog, paghahanda sa sakuna, responde ng 911, paggawa ng kalye, programang pangkabataan, pagtugon sa kawalan ng tirahan at pagsuporta sa mga mahihirap na residente, sundin ang isang ordinansa na magpapataas ng rate ng buwis sa cardroom mula 15% hanggang 16.5%, paglagay ng buwis sa mga third party providers sa mga rate na ito: mula $25,000,000 sa 5%; $25,000,001 hanggang $30,000,000 sa 7.5%; at mahigit $30,000,000 sa 10%, dagdagan ang mga mesa ng 30, na makakalikom ng humigit-kumulang $15,000,000 taun-taon, hanggang mabawi?

OO

HINDI

Toni J. Taber, CMC Kleriko ng Lungsod Petsa: Agosto 20,2020

CNSB#3392161

foreigners, one had not been to the Philippines while the other one was out of the country on the date of his supposed marriage to a Filipina.

He also said that all immigration officers manning the ports have been instructed to exercise extra vigilance in screening the foreign spouses and parents of Filipinos.

“It is not enough that these passengers have [an] entry visa, marriage, and birth certificates in their possession. If they notice inconsistencies in a passenger’s answer to their questions, the latter should be referred for secondary inspection, either to the immigration supervisor or personnel from our Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU),” Medina said. n

Survey: PH’s average salary among...

STRICT CHECKPOINT. Members of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) check the documents presented by a motorcycle-riding couple along Quezon Avenue in Quezon City on Wednesday, August 26. Authorities would like to ensure that only those authorized persons outside residence (APOR) are allowed to move around amid the coronavirus pandemic.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

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The survey, released on August 20, processed data from Numbeo, a website which surveys hundreds of thousands of citizens of various countries, asking them about the costs of living and actual earnings after taxes.

“The average wages after taxes come from the website numbeo.com. Local currencies were converted at the average Google Finance rate for August 2020,” Picodi.com said.

The platform noted that the Philippines ranked 12th out of 16 Asian countries with its average wage.

“When it comes to Asian countries, the Philippines ended up in the second part of the ranking (12th out of 16). It was outrun by countries such as Thailand (P30,600), India (P21,600), or Vietnam (P20,000),” it said.

It added, “Following was Indonesia (P15,100), Sri Lanka (P12,800), Cambodia (P10,500), and Pakistan (P10,300). The ultimate leaders are Singapore, Australia, and Hong Kong — the only countries with average wages higher than P140,000.” n

“At a time of crisis, two different visions of America are evident. President Trump offers a vision of American strength, the American Dream and American exceptionalism. Joe Biden offers an apologetic America – putting American families last in favor of socialist policies…America needs four more years of President Donald Trump and the silent majority will enthusiastically re-elect him,” he added.

The scaled-down Republican National Convention, which was supposed to be a large spectacle in Charlotte, North Carolina, is underway this week as President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were formally renominated by the party on Monday, August 24.

The event comes during another recession and as over 178,000 Americans have been killed by the COVID-19 pandemic and 5.7 million more have been infected.

A step further for the Asian Americans and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, COVID-19 has revealed another pandemic of racism with the reports of anti-Asian hate crimes nationwide.

As a Pinay millennial in Las Vegas, many would assume that Lisa Noeth would lean Democratic. However, growing up as a second-generation Filipino American, the Republican Party’s platform and values have attracted her.

“The Republican Party’s val-

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RNC kicks off as Fil-Am... ues of faith, family, self-reliance, and economic opportunities for all Americans resonate within me as these values are also core values of the Filipino community,” Noeth, a small business owner, told the Asian Journal.

Rudy Asercion, a local community leader in the Bay Area and an elected member of the San Francisco Republican Central Committee, argued that Trump “can be best fix [to] the economy, return the lowest jobless rate to its pre-pandemic level and boost America’s consumer confidence once COVID-19 is over.”

Under the Trump administration, he added, Fil-Ams have been appointed to key roles.

“Although President Trump has only been in office for 3 ½ years, he has already made three major appointments of Filipino Americans. Most notable of which are Noel Francisco’s appointment as Solicitor General of the United States, Brian Bulatao as the Undersecretary of State for Management and Patrick Bumatay as a federal appellate judge on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals,” Asercion told the Asian Journal.

On the ground efforts The Trump campaign earlier this summer announced “Asian Pacific Americans for Trump,” which includes a 26-member advisory board of AAPI elected officials, grassroots leaders and business owners. Among them are six individuals of Filipino descent who are tasked with helping get out the vote within the

AAPI electorate, as previously reported by the Asian Journal.

Pinoy advisory members include Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, who is one of the co-chairs; former Guam Governor Eddie Baza Calvo; Vellie Dietrich-Hall, an entrepreneur from Virginia; Brunswick, Ohio Mayor and attorney Ron Falconi; Herman Martir, a pastor from Fort Worth, Texas; and Shirlene Ostrov, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and chair of the Hawaii Republican Party.

“We need to fight back against the mainstream media/Democrat message that all APAs are liberals and vote to the left. Our community is not monolithic, we have a wide variety of views and political opinions. Not everyone votes Democrat. Highlighting conservative Asian Pacific American leaders across the country who support Donald Trump will help to go against this stereotype,” Falconi previously told the Asian Journal.

With less than 70 days to go until Election Day, Fil-Am Republicans said they are hosting virtual discussions, especially to highlight those in key battleground states.

In a 2018 Asian American Voter Survey released by APIAVote and AAPI Data, 48% of Filipinos surveyed said they had a “favorable” view of the Republican Party, while 50% said they had a “favorable” view of Democratic Party. A similar survey for voters in 2020 is set to be released in the coming month. n

Fil-Am Assemblymember Rob Bonta shares how...

PAGE A1 t

citement,” the assemblymember said on Thursday, August 20 during a virtual post-convention event organized by Filipino Americans for Biden-Harris.

Harris — the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants — is the first Black woman and the first Asian American person to be on a major party’s presidential ticket.

Bonta added, “Her role is also to help with inclusion. Her presence as a woman, a biracial woman of color, as a Black woman and an Asian woman, [shows] that we are a ticket for everyone, for all of us. People

believe that because it’s true.”

The Fil-Am elected official, who represents the Golden State’s 18th assembly district, said he’s watched Harris ascend to different positions, from District Attorney of San Francisco to senator, and has “been impressed at every level.”

“Her skill set is incredible.

She has everything — on a big stage, in a room with a handful of people and everything in between, making policy and doing politics. There’s nothing she doesn’t excel at,” Bonta said, touting Harris’ record on immigration, health care and pushing for disaggregated data for Asian

American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.

As the election nears, Fil-Am Biden-Harris supporters at the event recognized the urgency in getting out the vote, despite the pandemic preventing traditional campaign efforts.

For Bonta, he said November 3 is a way for the Fil-Am community to flex their voting power.

“This is an inflection moment.

It has been said time and time again and it is our time to step up and make our voices heard and stand at our full height as the largest Asian American community in California and

Gov. Newsom signs bill requiring CSU students to...

PAGE A1 t the “four historically defined racialized core groups,” being Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, or Latino Americans.

“Studies have found that both students of color and white students benefit academically as well as socially from taking ethnic studies courses. Ethnic studies courses play an important role in building an inclusive multicultural democracy,” reads the bill.

The bill, AB 1460, was authored by Assemblymember Shirley Weber who has worked at the university system’s San Diego State University since 1972, and is chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus.

Weber called the signing of the bill “great news” on Twitter.

“This bill reflects 50 years of student, faculty, and community advocacy for curriculum reflective of and responsive to our diverse state,” tweeted Weber.

Also praising the bill’s signing was the California Faculty Association (CFA), a labor union that represents about 29,000 CSU faculty, coaches, counselors, and librarians.

“Governor Newsom, by signing AB 1460, has demonstrated

his understanding of the power of a true Ethnic Studies graduation requirement to change people’s lives and to change the racial trajectory this state and country are on,” wrote CFA President Charles Toombs.

“Moreover, Governor Newsom, unlike so many others, has listened to and really heard the voices and lens of Ethnic Studies faculty, students, and the community. I applaud this leadership,” Toombs added.

The new requirement overrides a similar, but broader, requirement made by the CSU Board of Trustees in July that received a lot of criticism from professors, activists, and organizations like the CFA and the CSU Council of Ethnic Studies.

The Board of Trustees’ “Ethnic and Social Justice” requirement allowed students to fulfill the graduation requirement without having to actually take an ethnic studies course, which critics said diluted the requirement’s impact.

Tracy Lachica Buenavista, a Fil-Am professor at California State University Northridge’s (CSUN) Department of Asian American Studies told the Asian Journal that before AB 1460’s passing, the Board of Trustees failed to consult with ethnic

studies advocates like the CSU Council of Ethnic Studies was further troubling.

“One should question an Ethnic Studies and Social Justice requirement that is largely favored by white decision-makers but largely opposed by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) constituents,” said Buenavista.

Melanie Sabado-Liwag, a Fil-Am public health professor at Cal State LA’s Rongxiang Xu College of Health and Human Services, previously told the Asian Journal ahead of AB 1460 that from a public health perspective, an Ethnic Studies course requirement “brings value.”

“But I think that whoever’s teaching the course needs to show, explain, and drive the importance of how this impacts the person,” added Sabado-Liwag.

The CSU system had 481,929 undergraduate enrollments across its 23 campuses and two off-campus centers for its Fall 2019 school year.

According to its website, 38% of all California’s undergraduate Asian and Asian American students receive their bachelor’s degrees from the CSU. (Rae Ann Varona / AJPress)

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A

Mayor Breed announces continued funding for trans and HIV+ housing subsidies

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor London N. Breed on Thursday, August 20 announced over $4 million in funding to provide rental subsidies for people living with HIV/AIDS and for transgender San Franciscans. Mayor Breed’s proposed budget for Fiscal Years 2020-21 and 202122 will allow the City to continue funding critical rental assistance and housing support programs, which prevent eviction and stabilize tenancies for some of the City’s most vulnerable residents who continued to be greatly impacted by the global pandemic and economic crisis.

Mayor Breed’s proposed budget includes $2 million annually in Fiscal Years 20-21 and 21-22 to maintain critical rental subsidies and supportive services.

This includes annually: • $1 million for the Our Trans Home SF program to provide rental subsidies, transitional BIKE LANE. A cyclist uses the protected bike lane along Taft Avenue in Manila on Wednesday, August 26. The city government put up the housing, and navigation services to transgender and gender nonbike lane to ensure the safety of the growing number of people who opt to bike to work amid the coronavirus pandemic.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan conforming low income community members; and • $1 million for the HIV/AIDS Rent Subsidy Program to provide rental assistance for people living with HIV/AIDS. “We continue to keep the health and safety of our communities as our number one priority and this means keeping our residents in their homes,” said

by Klarize Medenilla George Conway (who is half- edly caused a riff in the Conway Mayor Breed. “We know that the AJPress Filipino on his mother’s side) household when it was reported economic and health impact of AS the campaign season ramps tweeted minutes later: “So I’m that the parents allegedly asked the pandemic is disproportionup ahead of the November elec- withdrawing from [The] @Lincol- the teen to remove her videos on ately impacting communities of tion, one of President Donald nProject to devote more time to TikTok. n color specifically our Black and Trump’s most trusted and lon- family matters. And I’ll be taking gest-serving senior advisors Kel- a Twitter hiatus. Needless to say, lyanne Conway announced on I continue to support the Lincoln Sunday, Aug. 23 that she is step- Project and its mission. Passionping down as White House coun- ately.”

The announcements come afselor.

Conway’s sudden announce- ter Claudia took to Twitter to air ment came minutes after her out her grievances regarding her husband, the Filipino American mother’s announced appearance attorney and vocal Trump oppos- at the Republican National Coner George Conway, said he was vention (RNC) this week, promptwithdrawing from The Lincoln ing questions about the politically Project, a group of dissenting split family’s home life. “i’m [sic] devastated that my Republicans devoted to defeating mother is actually speaking at the Trump.

The dual resignations signal a RNC. like DEVASTATED beyond climax to a strenuous summer for compare,” the teenager tweeted, the Conway family. As reported adding in a subsequent tweet in the Asian Journal, the Conways that she is “officially pushing for made headlines in July when their emancipation. buckle up because 15-year-old daughter Claudia this is probably going to be pubcame out as an anti-Trump left- lic one way or another, unfortuist and her TikTok videos of her nately.”

And in a concerning follow-up, political views went viral.

“We disagree about plenty Claudia added that she wasn’t but we are united on what mat- “getting emancipated because ters most: the kids,” Kellyanne of my mom’s job.. It is because Conway said in a statement on of years of childhood trauma and Sunday, explaining that her de- abuse,” but she did not further parture is due to helping her kids elaborate on either the emancipation or the “childhood trauma through distance learning.

She said, “Our four children and abuse.”

The self-identified leftist uses are teens and ‘tweens starting a new academic year, in middle her platform and name recogniand high school, remotely from tion to encourage young people home for at least a few months. to educate themselves on AmeriAs millions of parents nationwide can government.

The teen’s vocal opposition to know, kids ‘doing school from home’ requires a level of atten- the Trump administration — and, tion and vigilance that is as un- by proxy, her mother’s role in aiding the administration — reportusual as these times.”

Top Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway leaves WH post, Fil-Am daughter Claudia Conway announces ‘emancipation’ from parents

Early poll: 54% of Asian...

PAGE A1 t they favor another four years under President Donald Trump.

(The results come from about 850 respondents from the top six Asian American groups, including Filipino American.)

Meanwhile, 16% are still undecided, which may present an opportunity for both parties to court these voters.

Going into this election cycle, Asian Americans are the fastest-growing segment of eligible voters out of the major racial and ethnic groups in the United States with 11.1 million, or 5% of the nation’s eligible voters, able to vote, according to a Pew Research Center analysis released in May. Early data from the voter survey, however, found that a majority of Asian Americans have not had contact from either major party — 56% reported “not at all” in terms of being contacted by the Democratic Party, while 59% said none from the Republican side.

“One of the reasons why Asian Americans are less likely to get contacted during the presidential election years is that they’re less likely to live in battleground states,” Karthick Ramakrishnan, UC Riverside professor and founder of AAPI Data, said in a virtual non-partisan event on mobilizing AAPI voters ahead of the Republican National Convention on Monday, August 24.

During the 2016 presidential election cycle, results from the group’s survey found that 70% of respondents said they were not contacted by either party.

“Even though there has been progress, even in those battleground states — either because of a perceived difficulty or actual lack of staffing in these campaigns —they’re less likely to reach out to the Asian American population,” Ramakrishnan

added.

AAPI political agenda Despite the Asian American and Pacific Islander population not being a monolith, the issue around inclusion seemingly has consensus among the various groups. One of the ways the community has been civically engaged is through debates about affirmative action, for example.

“As we see in these kind of broad topics, we can start to identify an Asian American agenda. A majority support fairly robust immigrant rights for both a U.S.-born population and an undocumented population. There’s also a consensus around the need for access to in-language materials for those who are not in-English dominant. And then of course, we’ve seen a fair amount of support for increased representation in entertainment and in corporate leadership where there has been a ceiling on Asian American promotion,” Janelle Wong, a professor at the University of Maryland, said on Monday.

Wong added that it’s been a “stereotype” that the issues that Asian Americans are largely about are confined to education or immigration because of the majority still being foreignborn.

However, the polling group said that the community has shown large support for gun control, environmental protection, universal health care and Black Lives Matter.

Anecdotally, speakers at Monday’s event believe that the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes in light of the COVID-19 pandemic may be an impetus for increased political engagement this time around.

The full results of the 2020 Asian American Voter survey are slated to be released in September. (AJPress)

Latino residents, our already underserved trans and gender nonconforming housing insecure community members, as well as those who are more at risk including those who are HIV-positive. During these unprecedented times we must continue and expand our investments in getting and keeping our most vulnerable communities housed.”

“Even in San Francisco, trans and gender nonconforming and HIV-positive residents face higher rates of housing insecurity and significant health disparities,” said Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. “In this COVID era, these rental subsidies will help keep our most vulnerable residents housed and healthy over the next two years.”

“San Francisco made history last year with these critical investments, we are grateful for Mayor Breed’s continued partnership and investment in our most underserved communities,” said Clair Farley, Director of the Office of Transgender Initiatives. “Now more than ever with the public health emergency, economic crisis, and continued attacks by the Federal Government we need to assure our most impacted residents have access to safe, inclusive and affordable housing.”

“We are so proud to collaborate with Mayor Breed and our non-profit partners on the expansion of our housing stability efforts in the trans and gender nonconforming and HIV+ communities,” said Eric Shaw, Di-

rector of the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development. “These targeted housing subsidies are crucial tools that allow us to combat the vast inequities the pandemic has exposed.”

In addition to the rental subsidy programs for transgender and HIV+ residents, the City has a wide portfolio of rental and housing subsidies for seniors, people with disabilities, youth, families, and formerly homeless individuals living in permanent supportive housing.

Trans Home SF Our Trans Home SF program supports low-income transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) community members find or keep their housing through rental subsidies, housing navigation, and case management. One out of every two transgender San Franciscans have experienced homelessness and TGNC people are 18 times more likely to experience homelessness. This unique and vital program provides the TGNC community much-needed housing stability.

Since December 2019, Our Trans Home SF has provided one-time emergency and ongoing rental subsidies for over 65 community members. The program also provides housing navigation services and transitional housing support services.

Mayor Breed prioritized funding the program in the previous City Budget with $2.3 million through MOHCD and the Of-

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PH Army identifies 2 Abu Sayyaf members’ widows behind Jolo twin bombings

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

TWO female suicide bombers are behind the twin bombings in Jolo, Sulu that killed 15 and wounded 77 on Monday, August 24, the Philippine Army said.

According to Army chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, the suicide bombers were “alias Nanah” and “alias Inda Nay.” Alias Nanah, a resident of Basilan, was the wife of the late Normal Lasuca, the first identified Filipino suicide bomber.

Meanwhile, “alias Inda Nay,” a Sulu resident who later relocated to Tawi-Tawi, was the wife of late Abu Talha, the Abu Sayyaf’s liaison to the Islamic State (ISIS).

“The two were the wives of the first Filipino suicide bomber and that of the slain ASG-ISIS conduit. The information [was] based on the initial findings of our ground forces,” Sobejana said.

“The two female suicide bombers are the same targets being tracked by the group of Maj. Indammog before they were killed by policemen on 29 June 2020,” he added.

Sobejana was referring to Army intelligence officer Major Marvin Indammog, who led four military intel officers in intelligence and monitoring operations until they were gunned down by local Jolo and Sulu anti-drug policemen.

Aug. 24 bombings The first female suicide bomber detonated herself with the IED strapped in her body near a parked motorcycle.

The second suicide bomber blew herself up after Pvt. John Agustin prevented her from breaching a cordon around the blast site of the first explosion.

Eight soldiers were killed in the blasts — Staff Sergeants Louie Cuarteros, Manuelito Oria and Privates Omair Muksan, Juvienjay Emlani, John Ray Paler, Aiub Sahid from the 21st Infantry Battalion and Private John Agustin from the 35th Infantry Battalion.

Sobejana, for his part, paid tribute to the fallen men.

“The Philippine Army grieves over the death of these men.

We honor their sacrifice in serving our country and protecting the people of Jolo, Sulu. To the bereaved families of our troops, we extend our deepest condolences. Rest assured that the Army is here to help you and is ready to extend the necessary assistance,” he said in a separate statement.

Gen. Gilbert Gabay, Armed Forces chief of staff, likewise extended his condolences for the bereaved families of the soldiers.

“No sensible religion or ideology would ever endorse these hapless attacks. We extend our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

Rest assured that their sacrifices will not be in vain,” he said.

Palace: Duterte to consider Sulu-wide martial law recommendation Malacañang on Wednesday, August 26, said President Rodrigo Duterte is considering the state forces’ recommendation to

declare martial law in Sulu following the Jolo twin bombing.

“The president will of course consider this recommendation,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in an interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source.

“The recommendations have been made and the President listens to those on the ground,” he added.

Sobejana and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Gen. Archie Gamboa recommended the implementation of a Suluwide martial law.

“Siguro it’s high time na ibalik po natin, if I may respectfully recommend to the president through our Chief of Staff and Secretary of National Defense, na pwede ma-ideklara muli ang martial law sa probinsya ng Sulu dahil sa recent bombing incident na nangyari (Perhaps it’s high time to bring back martial law in Sulu, if I may respectfully recommend to the President through our Chief of Staff and Secretary of National Defense, because of the recent bombing incident),” Sobejana said.

“We want to bring back normalcy in Sulu as soon as possible,” he added.

Roque, for his part, stressed that Duterte needs to be “very careful” in examining the recommendation.

“Although the recommendation has been made, the President has to be very careful that it will pass the scrutiny of the legislative and the judicial branches of government,” the spokesman said. n

Airlines offer low fares to boost local travel

by RichMond

MeRcuRio Philstar.com

MANILA — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) and AirAsia are offering low fares to various domestic destinations to help boost travel within the country .

The offers are part of the local airlines’ efforts to re-energize demand and to help in the country’s economic recovery from the coronavirus disease through affordable flight deals.

PAL said passengers can book a base fare of as low as P688 for one-way economy travel between numerous local cities and PAL’s hubs in Manila, Clark and Cebu. Routes include Legazpi, Kalibo, Tacloban, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Ozamiz, Pagadian, General Santos and Davao.

The flag carrier said booking and the travel period for these fare offerings is ongoing until further notice, giving passengers planning convenience.

“The low fares are intended to help lift local businesses and tourism establishments in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao in line with national economic recovery effort,” PAL said.

Low-cost carrier AirAsia Philippines is also offering special low fares as its domestic and international networks are gradually restored amid the easing of travel restrictions.

AirAsia said guests can enjoy all-in, one-way fares for as low as P111 for domestic flights, and for as low as P1,311 for international flights.

The airline said the low-fare flights are available for booking up to Aug. 30 on airasia.com or the AirAsia mobile application, for travel up to Oct. 30 next year.

“Everyone can surely fly now with these low fares. We encourage everyone to take advantage of these offers for their essential travels and hopefully soon, for leisure travels, too, when authorities allow,” AirA-

sia Philippines chief executive officer Ricky Isla said.

Last week, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) suspended the passenger fuel surcharge on domestic and international flights, which means airlines would no longer be allowed to collect fuel surcharge “until further notice.”

The CAB said the outlook for the country’s aviation industry remains bleak as restrictions both local and abroad remain, and with recovery expected to take some time.

Meanwhile, passenger traffic for the months of July and August remain low, with the recent implementation of a two-week modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila disrupting further the restart, according to Air Carriers Association of the Philippines executive director and vice chairman Roberto Lim. Lim said local airlines are currently flying around 15 percent of pre-COVID-19 levels. n

Last chance to be counted in the 2020 Census!

PAGE A1 t

merce brands, are urging people to respond to the census because so much is at stake for our communities.

Due to COVID-19, it has become more challenging to conduct local outreach, but these 2020 Census partner organizations and influencers are helping to fill the gap. They are using their circles of influence to get a more complete count. It’s a key reason why the U.S. Census Bureau has decided to call upon them for the 2020 Census Asian Week of Action.

These organizations and influencers specialize in work-

ing with the hardest-to-count populations, such as people with Tagalog language needs, young people who move often, babies and young children, and the 50+ population.

With the impact of COVID-19, Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham said in an Aug. 14 statement: “We are taking steps and adapting our operations to make sure everyone is counted, while keeping everyone safe.”

As part of their operational adjustments, the Census Bureau is sending out census takers to help households complete their questionnaires. Census takers have been trained to

BIKE ACCESSORIES. A bicycle rider attaches an accessory on his bike on Marilaque Highway near Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City on Wednesday, August 26. Several bike accessories vendors have mushroomed in various parts of Metro Manila during the coronavirus pandemic to cater to those biking to work.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Appeals court upholds denial of Ressa motion to go to US for talks, award

by KRistine Joy

Philstar.com

Patag

MANILA — The Court of Appeals has upheld its ruling denying Rappler CEO Maria Ressa’s motion to leave the country for a series of events in the United States.

CA’s Special 14th Division junked Ressa’s Very Urgent Motion for Reconsideration, urging the court to allow her to leave for the U.S. on late August while her appeal remains pending.

Ressa appealed for the reversal of the appeals court’s earlier ruling that threw out her motion as it held that her trip to the U.S. is unnecessary. The court said that Ressa, in her appeal, argued that there is no specific law to restrict her constitutional right to travel. She also said that her intended travel is relevant to the exercise of her profession as a journalist.

In its latest resolution, the CA division said: “Ressa still failed to prove that her intended travel to the United States of America and her physical presence in the events are necessary and urgent.”

The court also reiterated that she may participate in the events through videoconferencing.

Rappler CEO Maria Ressa

“Wherefore, Maria A. Ressa’s Very Urgent Motion for Reconsideration is denied,” the resolution dated August 20 but made public only on Wednesday read.

Associate Justice Geraldine Fiel-Macaraig wrote the CA ruling, with concurrences from Associate Justices Danton Bueser and Carlito Calpatura.

Ressa, who was found guilty of cyber libel in June, sought the CA’s nod to be allowed to leave for the U.S. on August 23 and return on September 19 for a series of events related to the release of and panel discussions on the “A Thousand Cuts” documentary.

She also said she is set to be

Philstar.com photo by Krizjohn Rosales

conferred with the “2020 International Press Freedom Award” from the U.S. National Press Club.

Ressa and former Rappler researcher Reynaldo Santos’ appeal on the Manila court’s guilty verdict had reached the CA after the local court stood firm on its ruling.

The Office of the Solicitor General, representing People of the Philippines in the pending appeal, blocked Ressa’s motion to travel saying that Ressa’s public statements indicates her “lack of respect for the Philippine judicial system” and makes her a flight risk. n

PhilHealth CEO resigns after Duterte gives hint to quit by alexis

RoMeRo Philstar.com

MANILA — Embattled Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

(PhilHealth) president Ricardo Morales on Wednesday, August 26 resigned as legislators and government agencies probe alleged fraudulent schemes that reportedly cost the state-run insurer billions in funds.

“This is to confirm that the Office of the President has received today, Aug. 26, the resignation letter of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) president and chief executive officer Ricardo C. Morales,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement.

“We are still awaiting President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s further action [or] instruction on the matter,” he added.

follow public health guidelines and wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while making these in-person visits.

Dillingham stressed the urgency: “If you haven’t responded, the time to respond is now!

Responding to the 2020 Census online, on paper, by phone, or in person with a census taker, helps secure vital resources for your community.”

The future of the Asian American community starts right now. Don’t wait any longer. To respond online, visit 2020census.gov. To respond PAGE A3 in Tagalog by phone, call 844- fice of Transgender Initiatives.

In September 2019, MOHCD 478-2020. n awarded funding to St. James Infirmary and Larkin Street Youth Services to implement the new initiative.

“We must continue to prioritize housing for trans and nonbinary communities because we face pervasive discrimination in housing, employment, and healthcare. Trans and non-binary communities experience homelessness at a rate 18x the general population and have much higher rates of underlining health conditions that put us at greater risk for COVID-related illness, such as HIV, cancer, diabetes and asthma. Shelter in place has further exacerbated mental health challenges as well relating to increased isolation.” said Akira Jackson, Director of TAJA’s Coalition and Consultant on the Our Trans Home SF housing project at St. James. “With this continued investment, we can make sure our community members most impacted by transphobic discrimination and violence have equitable access to safe and supportive housing with wrap around medical and mental health services during the pandemic and beyond.”

For more information on San Francisco’s trans housing efforts, please visit: http://ourtranshomesf.org/.

PhilHealth CEO Ricardo Morales Philstarc.om photo

Morales’ resignation came two days after the president said it would be best for the PhilHealth chief to quit while the health insurer is facing “critical times.”

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, the head of the multi-

agency task force probing the alleged corruption in PhilHealth, said Duterte also noted the “onand-off health situation” of Morales, who is now on medical leave to undergo chemotherapy for lymphoma.

Morales previously rejected calls for him to quit, saying he would act like a “good soldier” as long as he is needed in PhilHealth.

Last Monday, Duterte promised to spend his remaining months in office building cases against people involved in the alleged fraudulent schemes in PhilHealth.

“PhilHealth (issue) should be investigated and everyone (involved) should be prosecuted and jailed. If that’s the only work I can do in the remaining two years, I would do that,” the president said. n

Mayor Breed announces continued funding for...

HIV/AIDS Rent Subsidy Program The HIV/AIDS Rent Subsidy Program launched in December 2019 and is San Francisco’s first new rental subsidy program for people living with HIV/AIDS in 12 years. The rental subsidies have been administered to approximately 120 individuals who are HIV positive. To qualify for the program, people must be either currently housed and paying more than 70 percent of their income toward rent, or offered below-market rate housing in San Francisco, but in need of a subsidy.

The City Budget for FY 19-20 included $1 million for the HIV/ AIDS Rent Subsidy Program. In 2019, MOHCD awarded funding to the Q Foundation to administer the program. In addition to this subsidy program, the City has long provided rental subsidies for people living with HIV and AIDS through the Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Program.

“Mayor London Breed’s initial investment in the first new HIV subsidies in SF in 12 years is already yielding incredible results,” said Brian Basinger, Executive Director, Q Foundation.

“Thanks to her support, in the first 7 months, we have provided over 10,000 nights of stable housing to over 100 households for less than $25 per night. The

fact that this happened in the middle of COVID-19 shelter in place is a testament to the dedication, resilience and grit of my team at Q Foundation and of the HIV+ community, who know how to overcome adversity.”

In 2014, San Francisco City agencies and organizations came together in a collective impact initiative known as Getting to Zero. This initiative brings together people and resources from throughout the city with three goals in mind: zero new HIV infections, zero HIV-related deaths and zero stigma and discrimination.

Helping HIV positive individuals remain housed or find housing advances the City’s goal of “getting to zero” new HIV infections and HIV-related deaths. Stable housing allows people to more easily access the regular health care and medications they need to achieve viral suppression. Viral suppression drugs have made HIV a survivable disease for many, but there is a major disparity when it comes to people who are marginally housed or homeless. Thirty-three percent of homeless persons living with HIV in San Francisco are virally suppressed, compared to 74 percent of housed persons.

For more information, go to https://theqfoundation.org/ services/. (From SF Mayor’s Press Office) n

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OpiniOn & Features

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Mental health in a pandemic

EVEN before COVID-19 killed nearly 3,000 Filipinos, destroyed livelihoods and sent the economy into recession, mental health experts had already sounded the alarm about rising cases of depression and calls registered in suicide hotlines.

After five months of quarantine, it’s not surprising that calls for help have increased from those who are suffering from severe stress. Mobility restrictions and involuntary confinement in one’s home are aggravated by the loss of income and the inability to provide for one’s family.

Roland Cortez, director of the National Center for Mental Health, had said before he and his driver were murdered in July that calls on the NCMH suicide prevention hotline had jumped amid the lockdown. The Catholic Church has also reported receiving more cases of people needing mental, emotional and spiritual help in this unprecedented public health crisis.

The problem has drawn the attention even of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. Having recognized the problem, the IATF can mobilize government resources to give more attention to this aspect of public health.

Republic Act 11036, passed in 2018, aims to boost the delivery of “integrated” psychiatric,

neurologic and psychosocial health services. As part of national policy, every Filipino has a right to mental health.

A major problem in achieving the objectives of the law is the lack of qualified personnel to deal with mental health problems. The country lacks psychiatrists, psychologists and even trained personnel who can man suicide prevention hotlines. The effort is augmented by volunteers in non-government organizations, which have their own hotlines, but the services are still not enough. The Catholic Church and other religious groups also provide spiritual counseling for troubled individuals.

As the COVID crisis drags on and the health and financial problems of people deepen, the need for mental health services will grow. The national and local governments can work with the private sector, NGOs and religious groups to enhance responses to mental health issues.

In this pandemic, depression and other mental health problems also threaten lives and cannot be ignored. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective

Philstar.com photo

The 2020 Republican National Convention reveals how the party of Abraham Lincoln and true conservative values have been hijacked by Donald Trump This year, the Republican Party decided not to write its convention platform that would have informed the American people the direction to which Trump, the nominee seeking reelection, and the party propose to steer the country to, and the policies and programs to help us get there given the enormity and gravity of the challenges we now face as a nation.

The GOP is reusing its platform from 2016, which was written by the party even before Donald Trump was sworn into office.

What has Trump and the GOP accomplished in the last four years? Killed many regulations put forth by the Obama Administration to protect the environment, and those that protect the ordinary hardworking Americans from abusive business practices. Tried to kill Obamacare (Affordable Care Act) even during the pandemic without any viable alternative.

Threatened the Social Security, Medicare and other safety nets that ordinary Americans have paid for from their paychecks.

Trump and his cohorts in the Republican Party gave huge tax breaks to billionaires and millionaires and just scraps to the middle class, causing even a greater disparity in income inequality and caused our national debt and deficit to balloon instead of being wiped out as promised by the demagogue Trump. They provided more money to the military while sacrificing the basic services like health, education meant to invest in our human resources.

They Killed the Dream Act, separated families, demonized persons of color, empowered the racists.

Trump antagonized our allies while cozying up and singing praises to dictators while coordinating with our geopolitical adversaries like Russia to interfere in our democratic process, undermined the free press, the judiciary, and the U.S. intelligence agencies, local government officials, scientists and health officials, the Democratic Party who dared to call him out for his lies and transgressions against the rule of law.

The delegates of the Republican Party would therefore not go through the usual thoughtful and intentional process of deliberating over policies and principles to determine what the party stands for in 2020, as Democrats recently did, so the American people can make an informed decision on election day.

Instead, the RNC has become a showcase of the party’s undying love, reverence and allegiance, not to America and the Constitution, but for and to Trump — venerating, adoring, hailing Trump and echoing all the politically motivated falsehoods and conspiracy theories he has been peddling without bases in fact.

Nevermind the continued threat of the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 177,000 Americans under Trump’s watch; the economic hardship the American people and nation now face; the ballooning of our national debt from $19.57 trillion when Obama left office in 2017 to $24.95 trillion as of May 1, 2020; the threats to the sovereignty and democracy of the nation by foreign and hostile powers like Russia and China.

Nevermind the rise in the

division and hate crime in the past four years; the need for a health care system that truly covers all Americans; the broken immigration system; gun violence; economic inequality; race and ethnic inequality; climate change and energy issues.

Instead, the party of Trump wrote this resolution on the Republican Party platform for 2020: RESOLUTION REGARDING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM WHEREAS, The Republican National Committee (RNC) has significantly scaled back the size and scope of the 2020 Republican National Convention in Charlotte due to strict restrictions on gatherings and meetings, and out of concern for the safety of convention attendees and our hosts; WHEREAS, The RNC has unanimously voted to forego the Convention Committee on Platform, in appreciation of the fact that it did not want a small contingent of delegates formulating a new platform without the breadth of perspectives within the ever-growing Republican movement; WHEREAS, All platforms are snapshots of the historical contexts in which they are born, and parties abide by their policy priorities, rather than their political rhetoric; WHEREAS, The RNC, had the Platform Committee been able to convene in 2020, would have undoubtedly unanimously agreed to reassert the Party’s strong support for President Donald Trump and his Administration; WHEREAS, The media has outrageously misrepresented

THE Republican Party was once known as the party of Abraham Lincoln; the party of true statesmen fighting for true conservative values and in the service of the American people; the Grand Old Party.

But it has been hijacked by this reality star named Donald Trump.

He has taken over the party, while its members have been complicit in abandoning the very principles the GOP had been fighting for centuries just to ride in the fanaticism.

The members of the GOP warned the American people about the danger of electing Donald Trump to be the nominee of the Republican Party. In 2016, Sen. Ted Cruz said, “he lies all the time.” Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley pointed out that “Donald Trump is everything I taught my children not to do in kindergarten.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that Donald Trump needs to carefully select a running mate to bolster his inexperience, adding that Trump doesn’t know much about “the issues.”

Florida Senator Marco Rubio warned, “Guys, we have a con artist as the front-runner of the Republican Party.” Sen. Rand Paul asked about Trump: “Aren’t people eventually going to say, ‘Does the emperor have any clothes? Or does the emperor have a brain, frankly?’

We have seen them say these then, immortalized in videos we can watch now on social media. Lindsey Graham declared, ‘I think he’s a kook. I think he is lazy. I think he is unfit for of-

fice.’”

These people, once sounding like fierce hyenas, have morphed into meek lambs when Trump was elected president.

Riding on the popularity of the reality star among the base, these members of the Republican Party, in cahoots with Fox News, have been singing praises in support of Trump’s rhetoric and actions they were criticizing before. They have been justifying and even glorifying Trump’s moral corruption.

For fear of falling out of Trump’s grace, and thereby putting their own political interests at risk, these Republicans have failed to do their Constitutional duty to provide checks and balances and hold the president accountable. They have become complicit in Trump’s failure to live up to the oath he took as president “to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States of America.”

The Republican leadership has, without shame, condoned and normalized Trump’s behavior, rhetoric, and policies that: sowed division among the American people; enflamed a culture of hate - “them” versus “us’; discriminated against people of color; bent the truth that did not fit his narrative in his alternate universe; spread lies, falsehoods, misinformation, and conspiracy theories that have compromised the safety, well-being, decency, dignity and unity of the American people and the nation.

The 2020 Republican National Convention showcases this failure and betrayal of the GOP to put the interests of the American people above the Republican Party’s political expediency.

Commentary

Part I: California’s ethnic studies requirement provides an antidote against racist stereotyping

Gel SantoS-ReloS

enRique

de la CRuz

“WHAT we do echoes through the generations...” —Former President Barack Obama in his 2020 Democratic National Convention Address On August 17, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill, AB 1460, that requires all California State University students to take an ethnic studies class, in order to graduate. The class must be focused on one of four ethnic groups: Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans or Latinas/Latinos.

This is a huge deal. It affects almost half a million undergraduates within the CSU system of campuses.

For many, like myself, adding a single ethnic studies class to the graduation requirement for a baccalaureate degree, may

not sound like much. I spent my professional career in California’s system of higher education at both the UC and the CSU teaching different courses and doing research on Asian Americans, particularly Filipino Americans.

But as I look back at the challenges of getting students to enroll in ethnic studies classes, AB 1460 is major and muchneeded assistance for faculty who believe in the value of knowledge about California’s and by implication America’s diverse communities of color.

The curriculum in American colleges and universities is still largely Eurocentric and White.

The inclusion of a graduation requirement to take at least one course about ethnic minority communities acknowledges the existence of these communities and affirms their place in the socio-economic fabric of America.

For many communities of color in California, this affirma-

tion enshrined in law provides a measure of protection against a type of knowledge censorship that continues to rear its head. In 2010, Arizona passed a law banning ethnic studies in its schools. The ban was found unconstitutional in 2017 but the state of Arizona appealed and in January 2020, a U.S. Circuit Judge upheld the ban.

A legal prohibition against the teaching of certain subjects is a rather draconian measure normally associated with dictatorships, but we have it here in our midst, at a neighboring state. If only for this, let us celebrate the passage of an ethnic studies graduation requirement in California.

The passage of AB 1460 into law was not an overnight success story. The long march to get it approved began 52 years ago at a college campus in San Francisco, San Francisco State College (now SF State University). In November 1968, students from communities

of color, under the coalition called the Third World Liberation Front (TWLF), went on strike to press their demands for an educational curriculum that was more relevant to them and their communities. Among their key demands were ethnic studies courses, and faculty from communities of color to teach these courses.

Shortly after the strike began faculty joined the students.

They were met with violence by police in riot gear. The campus was shut down from November 1968 till March 1969, the longest student strike in American history. A succession of three campus presidents was needed to reach a negotiated settlement. Among the key features of the settlement was the establishment of a college, the College of Ethnic Studies and four departments under it: the departments of Africana Studies, American Indian Studies, Asian American Studies, and Latina/Latino Studies. The Col-

lege of Ethnic Studies was the first of its kind nationally. Most likely, it still is the only college whose academic programs are focused on the study of and teaching about the four largest minority groups of color in California.

The courage of SF State students of color lit a spark that encouraged students of color at two major UC campuses to press similar demands. At UC Berkeley, this resulted in the establishment of a Department of Ethnic Studies. At UCLA, four ethnic centers were established: the African American Studies Center, the Native American Studies Center, the Asian American Studies Center, and the Chicano Studies Center.

I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge a key role Filipino students played in the TWLF strike. A year before the strike, Filipino students at SF State led by Patrick Salaver, Ronald Quidachay, Robert Ilu-

the implications of the RNC not adopting a new platform in 2020 and continues to engage in misleading advocacy for the failed policies of the Obama-Biden Administration, rather than providing the public with unbiased reporting of facts; and WHEREAS, The RNC enthusiastically supports President Trump and continues to reject the policy positions of the Obama-Biden Administration, as well as those espoused by the Democratic National Committee today; therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Republican Party has and will continue to enthusiastically support the President’s America-first agenda; RESOLVED, That the 2020 Republican National Convention will adjourn without adopting a new platform until the 2024 Republican National Convention; RESOLVED, That the 2020 Republican National Convention calls on the media to engage in accurate and unbiased reporting, especially as it relates to the strong support of the RNC for President Trump and his Administration; and RESOLVED, That any motion to amend the 2016 Platform or to adopt a new platform, including any motion to suspend the procedures that will allow doing so, will be ruled out of order. *** 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.

min, and Alex Soria (J. Tamayo Lott, 2018) formed Philippine American Collegiate Endeavor (PACE). Their vision was to recruit, tutor, and prepare Filipino youth for college. According to Tim Salaver, Patrick’s younger brother, Filipinos at SF State were a minuscule minority (about 1%) and PACE wanted to see more Filipino youth in college, rather than being drafted to fight the war in Vietnam.

Salaver, Quidachay, and Ilumin provided critical leadership for TWLF. They served in TWLF’s Central Committee (ibid, J.Tamayo Lott) which provided leadership during the strike, and strategically negotiated with the university administration for the establishment of the College of Ethnic studies and for minority faculty for its various ethnic studies departments and courses. In addition to academic programs, the TWLF strike paved the way for

u PAGE A7

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 28-SeptembeR 3, 2020

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Part I: California’s ethnic studies requirement...

RECIPIENT. Amelia Mendoza, 68, is one of the residents who received a potted vegetable plant during the launch of the “Agri-First” program in SB Park, Matandang Balara Barangay Hall, Quezon City on Wednesday, August 26. The program promotes backyard gardening in villages amid the coronavirus pandemic.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

SC rules Pemberton case closed as appeal withdrawn Laude pretended to be a woman.

To our mind, placing Laude’s head inside a toilet shows that Pemberton never thought of Laude as a human being, but as a fecal matter due to his sexual orientation.”

On Oct. 11, 2014, Pemberton met Laude at the Ambyanz Disco along Magsaysay Drive in Olongapo City. They later went to Celzone Lodge. Later that night, Laude was found dead with her head submerged in the motel room’s toilet. n

by EvElyn

Macairan Philstar.com

MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) will no longer review the homicide conviction of U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton in the killing of transgender Jennifer Laude, after the high court granted his plea to withdraw his appeal.

In a one-page Notice, the SC’s Third Division ruled that the case filed by Pemberton “is considered closed and terminated” after he filed an urgent motion to withdraw the petition for review on certiorari that he filed in 2017. All the concerned parties would also be informed of this development.

According to SC’s Third Division Clerk of Court Misael Domingo Battung III, “The Court grants petitioner’s urgent motion for leave to withdraw (petition for review on certiorari dated Oct. 5, 2017) dated June 2, 2020, stating that after thoughtful consideration of the circumstances of this case, he has decided to withdraw his petition, both as to criminal and civil aspects of the appeal, and accepts and recognizes that his conviction will become final and executory.”

On Dec. 1, 2015, Olongapo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 74 Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde issued a guilty verdict against Pemberton for killing Laude, and was sentenced to face imprisonment from six to 12 years. He was also ordered to pay P50,000 as civil indemnity and P4.32 million to

US Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton.

Photo courtesy of Olongapo City Police

Laude’s family as damages for loss of earning capacity.

He is currently detained at a special military facility in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Pemberton filed an appeal before the Court of Appeals (CA), but the appellate court affirmed the conviction handed down by the Olongapo RTC, that the 26year-old Laude died of asphyxia by drowning.

CA said in its decision, written by Associate Justice Marlene Gonzales-Sison, “As proven by the prosecution, Pemberton did not leave Laude merely unconscious, but ensured his death by submerging his head inside the toilet bowl. Clearly, Pemberton intended the natural consequence of his wrongful act.”

It added, “Pemberton unabashedly plunged Laude’s head in the toilet for the puerile reason that

30th petition vs anti-terror law raises curtailing of freedom for religious expression MANILA — A group of Catholic leaders asked the Supreme Court to declare the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, as null for curtailing the freedom for religious expression.

In the 30th legal challenge the contentious and divisive law is facing at the SC, the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP) urged the nullification of several provisions of Republic Act of 11479 for being unconstitutional.

“The appreciation of how the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 affects the mission of the Church and the free exercise of its beliefs as defended by the Constitution, and truly supports the view that it is indeed unconstitutional and must be struck down,” the pleading filed through petitioner, lawyer Rafael Vicente Calinisan.

The AMRSP questioned the timing of the enactment of the law when the COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging the country. It added that the government seems to be deaf to the public clamor for mass testing and relief for the most vulnerable, but instead, legislators focused on the law’s passage.

The group insisted that “terrorism is not our immediate concern,” but it should be the people’s health and safety.

They also added: “It is only through efforts for peaceful resolution of hostilities while addressing the root causes of such violent acts comprehensively, and not just militarily, will genuinely answer the roots of violence that is rampaging across our land.”

Crackdown on dissent The petitioners noted that the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte has a track record of cracking down on perceived dissent, and the anti-terrorism law “can, and will be used to stifle dissent and curtail rights to free speech, to organize and form associations and to peaceable assembly in redress of grievances.”

They noted the red-tagging of church group Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, which is AMRSP’s oldest mission partner, which works with marginalized sectors.

RMP, along with rights group Karapatan and women’s group

Gabriela previously sought the issuance of a writ of protection from the courts but failed. They were later sued by National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon for perjury for supposedly falsely claiming it is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

RMP national coordinator Elenita Belard said in 2019: “This perjury case against us and our co-petitioners aims to turn people’s attention away from the real issue. This is about the violations of state forces against our members and we want protection from whatever harm they may inflict on us.”

The AMRSP stressed that the part of the Church’s mission is to reach out to the poor, and they do not distinguish who it helps out among them. “[F]or as long as they are part of the marginalized sectors of society, helping the poor may be construed to mean giving assistance to ‘terrorists,’” the petitioners said.

The group also said that the anti-terrorism law affects the Church’s fundamental right to free religious expression.

They explained that it is their duty to act as witnesses, and commit to the obligations that flow from the Gospel. “To be a witness is to take an active role in the transmission of the faith in words and deeds. Being a witness is an act of justice that establishes the truth or makes it known.”

“Given this obvious burden that befalls the Christian faithful, it is but necessary for them to seek redress from this Honorable Court so as for them to continue with their duty and right to perform the social doctrine of the Church,” they added.

The is the 30th legal challenges against the anti-terrorism law. Martial law-era Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza, meanwhile, sought to be allowed to stand as “friend of court” and urge the SC to junk the petitions, while Solicitor General Jose Calida urged the tribunal to cancel the oral arguments set, at the earliest, on the third week of September.

(Philstar.com)

PAGE A6 students of color to gain access to a college education. During the fall semester of 1969, SF State admitted all students of color who applied for admission.

The immediate gains of the TWLF student strike at SF State set a very high bar for academic programs about California’s communities of color. A college with academic programs and departments focused on ethnic minorities. The American college curriculum was finally giving space for communities of color to be represented. This was a radical change. Hitherto, the American college curriculum was Eurocentric and White.

In history, philosophy, art and literature, and even in the social sciences, classes were centered around white folks, mostly men. Blacks, Native Americans, Latina/Latino Americans and Asian Americans were not considered legitimate subjects of study. Their histories, their culture, and most importantly, their contributions to American society, were relegated to dim corners of the academy. Woe to the scholar who was interested in them; they had no currency in gaining jobs or promotion in the academy.

The 1968 Third World Student Strike at SF State changed all that. The change that it secured, which reverberated through UC Berkeley and UCLA, created a need for scholars interested in communities of color. And for the very first time, students from these communities could

take courses about their communities, do research about their histories and culture, and receive academic credit for it.

This is empowering. As one of my incredulous students put it: “You mean, I can interview my immigrant parents, write about their struggles on coming to America, and get academic credit for that?”

What PACE and TWLF students secured through the longest student strike in modern American history was pathbreaking. It has echoed through generations. But even in the academy, a culture of white privilege still dominates. Challenges and pushbacks remain.

What I have found frustrating is that in Filipino and Asian American communities, immigrant parents themselves have often discouraged their children from taking ethnic studies classes. In my introductory classes in Asian American Studies, or in the Filipino American experience classes, it was routine at the beginning of the semester to devote a few minutes to address the question, “What can I do with a college degree in Asian American or Ethnic studies?” This is done, not for the benefit of students who are already enrolled in class, but for their parents, who are skeptical of the value of ethnic studies classes in tracking their children toward a degree in medicine, law, engineering, or science. They also question its ultimate value upon graduation when their children enter the job market. I thus devoted

a few minutes to illustrate how a major, a minor, or even a few courses can enhance one’s resume when applying for many jobs, let alone when applying to professional degree programs like law, medicine, social work, and urban planning.

Ethnic studies courses raise consciousness among students of color about their history and culture. But their broader purpose is to raise knowledge and awareness among students in general about communities of color, and their contributions to American society. Greater knowledge and awareness about ethnic minorities are among the most effective weapons for tearing down racist stereotypes. It is this knowledgeawareness raising purpose that has been particularly difficult to achieve even in ethnically diverse California, a minoritymajority state, where minority communities when taken together, now constitute the majority of the population. AB 1460 is a legislative effort to address this challenge.

In a second essay, I will discuss some of the challenges in breaking down racist stereotyping, even as ethnic studies programs and classes have become commonplace among California colleges and universities, and why an ethnic studies graduation requirement, especially at California State Universities, is a welcome assist in this effort.

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

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Community Journal

B IN NORTHEN cALIfORNIA

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 28-SeptembeR 3, 2020

Friday, August 28, 2020

OMETHING

ILIPINO

LIfESTyLE • cONSUMER GUIdE • cOMMUNITy • MARkETPLAcE

The September 2020 Priority Dates Fil-Am filmmaker Isabel Sandoval Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

EACh month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards)

would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below.

If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before PAGE B3

on ‘Lingua Franca,’ cinematic authenticity and the art of subtlety Sandoval’s award-winning film Lingua Franca arrives on Netflix, signaling the permanence of diverse storytelling by

LEADING U.S. IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL (TOP AND LEFT) CONTINUES TO PROVIDE RELEVANT IMMIGRATION INFORMATION AND ANSWERS TO KAPAMILYA, VIA ZOOM, THIS SUNDAY (AUGUST 30). Liza of Concord, CA (center) asks if there is a faster way to expedite her son’s petition. It was filed in August 2018 and has been pending since then. From San Antonio, TX, Gio (right) would like to know if his nephew still qualifies for a visa under the CSPA because the nephew’s mother was petitioned when the boy was only two years old. The parents were approved and arrived in the U.S. when his nephew was already 26. Many other questions regarding family petitions will be discussed and answered by Atty. Gurfinkel. Be sure to watch a brand-new episode of “CITIZEN PINOY: Your Tanong, My Sagot – Social Distancing Style” this Sunday, August 30 at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

Klarize Medenilla / AJPress

AS is the experience of so many Filipinos living in the United States, a woman named Olivia living in Brooklyn makes a call to her mother back in the Philippines to discuss money.

It’s a relationship separated by time zones as well as atmosphere: the mother is at a party celebrating a family friend’s birthday while the daughter is just waking up in a quiet cloudy New York morning.

In Tagalog, the mother asks when Olivia — who works as an in-home caregiver for an elderly Russian woman named Olga — will be sending her monthly remittance and expresses worry over the vaguely referenced “dread” happening in the United States. The daughter brushes the comment off and tells her mother she will send the money soon and promises to call her later.

“Lingua Franca,” the third film from Filipina American filmmaker Isabel Sandoval, is an austere portrait of the kinds of love stories that are so authentic and specific that couldn’t have come from any other filmmaker. Sandoval’s first two films, “Apparition” and “Senorita” (in which Sandoval is credited as Vincent Sandoval), were lauded by the prestigious Filipino cinema world. But her latest release is her entrance into the class of international auteurs — filmmakers who’ve established their personal brands of

Movie poster for “Lingua Franca,” the third film from Filipina American trans filmmaker Isabel Sandoval.

cinematic artistry.

Sandoval paints with a careful hand a subtle narrative about an undocumented trans Filipina, Olivia (played by Sandoval), living in

New York City who struggles to make enough money to send back to her mother as well as to pay for an American man to marry her for PAGE B4

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Features

August 28-september 3, 2020 • NOrCAL AsIAN JOurNAL

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Matinee idol Miguel Tanfelix of GMA-7 heads September celebrity birthday celebrants

celebrity world

By Ferdie Villar

Tanfelix of GMA Kapuso Channel tember. Miguel will turn 22 years 7, heads the roster of birthday old on Monday, September 21. celebrants for the month of SepTanfelix tasted celebrity life early as he was deemed First Prince in 2004’s StarStruck Kids.

The actor/dancer/singer/TV host/ model is currently the newest ambassador of H&M streetwear collection in the Philippines.

The 21-year-old is known for his roles in Mulawin, Niño, Once Upon A Kiss, Wish I May, Mulawin versus Ravena, Kambal Karibal and Sahaya; he is also a co-host for All-Out Sunday.

Other celebrities who will be celebrating their birthdays this month are: September 1: Singer-actor Ariel Rivera, who can be seen on TV at Kapuso Channel 7; Myrna Diaz Cabrera, a senior tax specialist at the Fremont Group in San Francisco; former Batangueños of Northern California leader Rudy Manalo, former Mutya ng Pilipinas winner (1975), former Fiesta Filipina executive and LBC president Isidro (Sid) Protacio; September 3: Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares, recording artist Nonoy Zuñiga; September 5: Singer-songwriter Arnel Pineda; September 8: Hillsborough fashionable society matron Virgie Corpuz Gualberto, Certified Public Accountant Connie Protacio; Miguel Tanfelix, one of the young and talented actors in the Philippines, will turn 22 years September 9: Actor JM de ONE of the youngest and talented actors in the Philippine entertainment world, Miguel

old on Monday, September 21.

Actor Patrick Garcia celebrates his 39th birthday on Monday, September 14.

Singer-actor Ariel Rivera celebrates his birthday on Tuesday, September 1.

Edu Manzano, a husky and handsome television host, celebrates his birthday on Monday, September 14.

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Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares, a Filipina senator, celebrates her 52nd birthday on Thursday, September 3.

Myrna Diaz Cabrera, a senior tax specialist of the Fremont Group in San Francisco, celebrates her birthday on Tuesday, September 1.

Dorie Cachuela Paniza, former president of San Mateo Democratic Club, celebrates her birthday on Friday, September 11.

Frank Sityar, an entertainment producer in Northern California, celebrates his birthday on Tuesday, September 29.

Arnel Pineda, an internationally-known Filipino singer-songwriter, celebrates his 53rd birthday on Saturday, September 5.

Guzman; September 10: Former Miss RP-USA winner and singer Fatima (Helga) Yusuf; September 11: Former San Mateo Democratic Club president Dorie Cachuela Paniza, Costway Products business associate Jonathan Tan; September 14: Actor/TV host Edu Manzano, Kapamilya teleserye actor Patrick Garcia; September 15: Former Miss RP-USA winner Patricia Torres of Hayward, the late multi-awarded movie director Wendel Rama; September 16: San Francisco community leader Violet Orence; September 20: Kapamilya teleserye actress Erich Gonzales;

September 22: Handsome actor Jericho Rosales, former Pilipinas Got Talent winner Marcelito Pomoy; September 23: Philippine Delicacies owner Lina Quiambao, Daly City well-loved political and community leader Lina Mesina Susbilla; September 25: Computer expert and analyst Jun Jun Villar; September 27: Entertainment host and TV commercial announcer Dave Rodriguez; September 29: Entertainment producer Frank Sityar, veteran actress Miriam Jurado of Larry Santiago Movie Productions who now resides in Las Vegas.

To all birthday celebrants, Happy Birthday! n

McDonald’s bringing first-ever spicy spin to classic fan favorite this September Spicy Chicken McNuggets and Mighty Hot Sauce hitting U.S. menus this fall, along with new McFlurry flavor to help customers cool off

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CHICAGO — We know spice is in the eye of the beholder…or in this case, the taste buds. One person’s taste-bud-singeing swelter is another’s “you call that spicy?” That’s why we’re excited to announce a pair of menu innovations arriving to U.S. restaurants this fall to please our spice-seeking customers: Spicy Chicken McNuggets and Mighty Hot Sauce. Both will be available September 16 for a limited time at participating restaurants nationwide.

Breaded with a sizzling tempura coating made of both cayenne and chili peppers, these craveable, dippable and downright-delicious Spicy Chicken McNuggets are joining our classic McNugget line up, and pack plenty of spice and flavor into each bite.

For those who care to dial up the heat, we’ve crafted our new Mighty Hot Sauce, boasting a powerful blend of crushed red peppers and spicy chilis. The new dipping sauce is both our first new sauce innovation since 2017 and the hottest one available at McDonald’s. Trust us – you’re going to want to take a dip.

“This is the first time we’ve introduced a new flavor of our classic Chicken McNuggets in the U.S. since they came to menus in 1983,” said Vice President of Menu Innovation, Linda VanGosen. “As our customers have been asking for Spicy McNuggets for some time now, we couldn’t think of a better time to bring them to our menus. We can’t wait for McNuggets fans to get a taste of these new spicy options.”

Spicy heat, meet cool and sweet To give fans the sweet, cool relief they might need after experiencing the Spicy Chicken McNuggets heat, we’re introducing the new Chips Ahoy! McFlurry.

This delicious treat features vanilla soft-serve, caramel topping and Chips Ahoy! cookie pieces blended throughout. The Chips Ahoy! McFlurry will be available in Snack and Regular sizes for a limited time at participating U.S.

restaurants nationwide beginning September 16.

Of course, fans can also treat themselves to a delicious moment with a McFlurry yearround in McDonald’s two classic flavors: OREO and M&M’S. We’re always listening to our customers and are thrilled to bring them delicious twists on two beloved classics this September with the release of our Spicy Chicken McNuggets with Mighty Hot Sauce and Chips Ahoy! McFlurry, all available through Drive Thru and McDelivery.

McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to nearly 25 million customers every day.

Ninety-five percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and oper-

ated by businessmen and women. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook. www.facebook.com/ mcdonalds.

McDonald’s USA, LLC, is committed to serving our customers chicken offerings that meet our high-quality standards. In July 2016, we reached our commitment to serve chicken not treated with antibiotics important to human medicine* a year ahead of schedule. In August 2016, we removed all artificial preservatives, colors or flavors from our Chicken McNuggets. *Farmers still use Ionophores, a class of antibiotic that is not important to human medicine, to keep chickens healthy.

(Advertising Supplement)

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Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS WHAT is cancer?

Cancer or a malignant tumor is a disease entity where the cells in the tissues of an organ (like the breast, lung, prostate, liver, brain, etc.) change into a new morphology with bizarre and aggressive invasive behavior. These malignant cells grow rapidly and replicate beyond control, transforming the normal anatomy of an organ to a giant unrecognizable, useless part of the body.

An example of this is neglected cancer of the thyroid where the tumor becomes larger than the patient’s head.

Cancer spreads to other organs adjacent to them (local metastasis) or travel by blood or lymph circulation to invade other organs in other regions of the body (distant metastasis), like lung cancer spreading to the brain or breast cancer metastasizing to the bones. The normal biological “growth control or timing” is lost and the tumor mass keeps on growing until it is removed, or keeps on spreading till the patient expires.

Why do cancers develop?

Cancers develop among those individuals with genetic predisposition to them following exposure to physical or chemical irritants, which are called carcinogens. Some examples of these are chronic exposure to radiation, cigarettes, alcohol, etc. The resistance or immunity to cancer in some people (in spite of similar exposures to cancer-causing agents) is conferred on them by their genetic integrity. Someday, medical science may be able to prevent cancers through “gene therapy” by removing the specific gene(s) or portion of the gene that is defective.

Are cigarettes really carcinogenic?

There is no doubt anymore that smoking cigarettes causes cancer, not only of the lungs but the throat, breasts, prostate, cervix, and other organs. The tobacco industry has finally “confessed” their prior knowledge (which they subdued for decades) that cigarettes can indeed cause cancers and a host of cardiovascular illnesses, including heart attacks.

Individual cancer victims of cigarette smoking have successfully sued and have been awarded hundreds of millions of dollars by the courts in the United States.

How about secondhand smoke?

Secondhand cigarette (sidestream) smoke is even worse as a carcinogen than firsthand (mainstream) smoke because there are about 4,000 chemical agents in side-stream smoke; 200 of them are known poisons. A significant number of cancers among nonsmokers have been caused by secondhand smoke.

Prevent Cancer Are skin moles potential cancer growths?

Depending on the appearance, pigmentation, location, size or speed of growth, “normal moles” can be pre-malignant, one that could transform into cancer.

However, majority of moles that people have are benign (noncancerous). If there is anything that is unusual about the “behavior” of a mole, it should be examined by a dermatologist without delay. One particular mole, malignant melanoma, is savagely cancerous and rapidly spreads to kill the patient if not discovered and treated early enough. While Asian women on the beach with umbrellas look funny/weird, avoiding excessive sun exposure is smart – a behavior that results in a more youthful complexion and lower risk for skin cancer.

Is excessive exposure to sunlight carcinogenic?

Yes, prolonged and repeated exposure to bright sunlight (ultraviolet rays) can cause cancer of the skin. Asian women are less prone to skin cancer formation (and have better complexion than their American and European counterparts) because by nature they shun sunlight and use umbrellas even on the beach!

Skin sunblock lotions or creams (at least UV 15 to 40) are recommended two to 3 times a day. But most importantly, minimizing exposure to sunlight (even indirectly) to less than 30 minutes twice a day, or an hour a day, is a prudent preventive measure.

Does frequent sex cause cancer?

Sex per se does not directly cause any form of cancer, no matter how frequent. However, having multiple sex partners increases a woman’s chance of developing cervical cancer, besides hepatitis.

The reverse does not seem to raise a man’s chance of having prostate cancer. Lymphogranuloma Venereum is a venereal condition that is sexually transmitted, where the lymph glands in the groins turn into huge tumor masses. AIDS, while deadly, is not considered a form of cancer in the usual medical sense. It is more of “depletion and paralysis” of the immune system to the point that the body’s natural defenses against various common diseases are weakened or even lost, rendering the body helpless and vulnerable to all illnesses.

Do spicy foods cause gastric cancer?

There is no scientific evidence to prove that regular ingestion of spicy foods (like in Thailand, India, Mexico, etc.) causes cancer of the stomach. Neither is there any medical proof that eating temperature-hot foods (like in China) increases the incidence of cancer of the esophagus or stomach. While cancer of the stomach is quite common in Japan, the causal relationship between this malignancy and eating raw food (like sushi) or eating hot foods has not been established. If prop-

Features

erly secured, prepared and free of infestation, sushi is one of the healthiest foods there is. Chronic alcohol intake, on the other hand, has been found to be associated with cancer of the esophagus (food pipe), stomach, etc.

Does hepatitis lead to cancer?

Yes, a significant number of patients with Hepatitis B or C develop Hepatoma (cancer of the liver), which is very common in the Philippines and other parts of Asia. And hepatitis could be so subtle that anyone can have it without knowing he/she has it.

Food handlers with hepatitis and infected sex partners (kissing, using the same toothbrush, drinking contaminated water, eating contaminated food, participating in oral or anal sex) can transmit the hepatitis to others.

How does one reduce the risk for cancer?

Living a healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent or reduce the risk for cancer. A diet of fish, a lot of vegetables, nuts, some fruits, and minimal or no red meat, daily exercise, no smoking, minimal or no exposure to chemicals and fumes, one drink in the evening with meals or no alcohol at all, having positive frame of mind and attitude, behavioral modification – all these (combined) reduce the risk for major illnesses, including cancer. To a major extent, whether we realize it or not, cancer risk and risk for most other illnesses is within our control. It takes a lot of sacrifices to prevent cancer, but a thousandfold more pain and suffering to fight it when one gets it.

Has cancer therapy improved over the years?

Yes, most definitely. While many forms of cancers are still a major killer in the world today, there have been significant strides and advances made in the diagnosis and management of some of them. Oncology (medical specialty in cancer therapy) has come of age and sophistication.

Technological breakthroughs in various fields, including in computer technology and biotechnology, have likewise propelled the discovery of new and more effective modes of prevention, diagnosis and therapy for many diseases, including cancers. Someday, hopefully, cancer will be a disease of the past, like the deadly smallpox, which the Philippines had totally eradicated decades ago. In this respect, the Philippines appears to be ahead of other countries, including the United States.

But until science has conquered all forms of cancers, we still have a long way to go. *** 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 NetworkUSA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: philipSchua. com and FUN8888.com; Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.

CITEM hosts webinars for aspiring entrepreneurs, business owners

THE Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) is hosting two free webinars for aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners who want to find out the latest developments in the Philippines and also expand their company’s reach to international markets.

The first webinar (“Building Your Brand on Amazon”), scheduled on August 28, 2020 via Facebook Live and hosted by ProSource International, will give attendees an insight on how to take advantage of Amazon as a platform to build your brand and ramp up your business online.

Topics include ways to start

your business online in the cheapest and easiest way possible, building a 5-figure revenue online business without high overheads and digital strategy planning to generate engagements and customers.

To register for this event, visit https://switchy.io.

The second webinar (“The Innovation and Investment Ecosystem in the Philippines & China”), hosted by the Philippine Trade and Investment Centers in Shanghai and Hongkong on September 3, 2020 via Zoom, will give an over view on the latest trends, policy support and incubation programs in the Philippine startup industry,

as well as ideas on entering the Asian market and finding the right partners, particularly in China.

Topics include startup ecosystem updates and policy support in the Philippines, entering the Asian market (finding the right partners in GSMA), introduction of start-up and incubation programs in the Philippines and taking your business to Asia’s leading economy.

To register for this event, visit https://www.mwcshanghai.com/ experiences/roadshows/philippine-roadshow/#register.

For more information on CITEM and its programs, email info@citem.com.ph. n

Tips to help you avoid post-disaster scams

By Colleen Tressler Consumer eduCation speCialist, FtC

WHETHER you’re getting ready to deal with the aftermath of Gulf Coast storms, Laura and Marco, dealing with the ravages of wildfires out West, reeling from the derecho that struck the Midwest, or facing another natural disaster, handling the aftermath is never easy. But when scammers target people just trying to recover, it can be even worse.

Here are some tips to help you avoid common post-disaster scams: • Be skeptical of anyone promising immediate clean-up and debris removal. Some may quote outrageous prices, demand payment up-front, or lack the skills needed.

• Check them out. Before you pay, ask for IDs, licenses, and proof of insurance. Don’t believe any promises that aren’t in writing.

• Never pay by wire transfer, gift card, or in cash. And never make the final payment until the

work is done and you’re satisfied.

• Guard your personal information. Only scammers will say they’re an official and then demand money or your credit card, bank account, or Social Security number.

• Know that FEMA doesn’t charge application fees. If someone wants money to help you qualify for FEMA funds, that’s

probably a scam.

• Be wise to rental listing scams. Steer clear of people who tell you to wire money or ask for security deposits or rent before you’ve met or signed a lease.

• Spot disaster-related charity scams. Scammers will often try to make a quick profit from the misfortune of others. Check out the FTC’s advice on donating wisely and avoiding charity scams.

Bookmark “Dealing with Weather Emergencies” (https://www. consumer.ftc.gov/features/dealing-weather-emergencies). If a weather event or disaster affects you, come back for more tips on recovery and information about your rights. Like all of the Federal Trade Commission’s materials, the site is mobile-friendly, so you’ll have ready access to information when and where you need it.

Suspect a scam? Report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.

Want information on the latest frauds and scams we’re seeing? Sign up for our consumer alerts at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USFTCCONSUMER/subscriber/new?topic_ id=USFTCCONSUMER_8. n

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 28-SeptembeR 3, 2020

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Questions about family-based petitions take the spotlight on this Sunday’s ‘Citizen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My Sagot - Social Distancing Style’ THIS Sunday, August 30 the next episode of Citizen Pinoy’s “Your Tanong, My Sagot: Social Distancing Style” has leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel answering questions about family petitions.

Gio of San Antonio, Texas, asks about his nephew whose mother was petitioned when the boy was only two years old. When the parents were approved and arrived in the U.S., Gio’s nephew was already 26 years old. Is he

still covered by the CSPA? Liza of Concord, California would like to know if she can expedite her son’s petition. The petition was filed by her U.S. citizen husband with a notice date of August 2018. Even when their lawyer and her husband had been following up, even to the point of reaching out to Congress, the petition is still pending.

Other questions include: can a person get an immigrant visa if the petitioner is now living

in the Philippines; or if a green card holder can petition her boyfriend in the Philippines as her fiancé.

These questions and more will be answered on a new episode of “CITIZEN PINOY: Your Tanong, My Sagot – Social Distancing Style” this Sunday, August 30, at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/ Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

The September 2020 Priority Dates

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you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again.

Beginning in October 2015, the format of the Visa Bulletin changed, in that a new column was added, called the “Application Filing Date.” If a person’s priority date is earlier than the Application Filing Date, they can already file for adjustment of status and work authorization (provided they are otherwise eligible and USCIS indicates on its website it will use the Application Filing Date for that month).

This could allow people to obtain work authorization much sooner

than before, where they had to wait for the priority date to be current (in the Visa Issuance or Final Action Date column) in order to both file for adjustment and be eligible for a green card.

••• Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a

general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: FAMILY CATEGORY:

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

October 08, 2012

December 15, 2011

First Preference

Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (over 21 years of age)

Second Preference

(2A) Spouse and minor children August 01, 2020 (below 21 years old) of green card holders

Current

(2b) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years old or older) of green card holders

April 01, 2012

August 01, 2011

married sons and daughters of US Citizens

December 22, 2002

February 15, 2002

and sisters of US Fourth Preference brothers Citizens

September 01, 2002

January 01, 2002

LABOR CERTIFICATION:

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

Third Preference

Second Preference

Advanced Degree (masters)

Current

Current

Third Preference

professional/ Skilled Workers

April 01, 2020

April 01, 2019

Other Workers

Non-Skilled Workers

April 01, 2020

April 01, 2019

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August 28-september 3, 2020 • NOrCAL AsIAN JOurNAL

Features

Fil-Am filmmaker Isabel Sandoval on ‘Lingua Franca...

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In the middle of this quandary, we get a voyeuristic view into the whirling sensuality of a private woman who eventually allows Alex (Eamon Farren), the secondgeneration Russian American delinquent grandson of Olga (Lynn Cohen, who passed away earlier this year) into her world. Alex becomes a potential link to a green card, and what unfurls in this connection is a subtle but passionate romance.

In a cinematic landscape where films regularly force-feed viewers with contextual and expository information, films like “Lingua Franca” are refreshingly subdued and exude a quiet confidence.

Sandoval is secure enough with herself as a filmmaker to allow things to go unsaid because, at the end of the day, humans are emotional beings that can understand strife without needing to be told.

“This is not filmmaking with a megaphone,” Sandoval told the Asian Journal in a recent phone interview.

The subtlety and the intimacy of the film’s tone and atmosphere are a part of what makes Sandoval stand apart from other emerging filmmakers who rely on pomp and flash to hold audiences’ attention. But the beauty of “Lingua Franca” is that it’s quiet without being boring and paces itself leisurely without feeling unnecessarily drawn out.

“There’s almost a kind of aversion to complexity and in a way, it seems unfashionable and anticlimactic, but that’s my choice as a director. I make quiet, patient, subtle movies that invite people to think,” Sandoval said.

“Lingua Franca” is more than just about a trans Filipina woman’s viscerally contemporary struggle in the United States. It’s the film that signals the emergence of trans and Filipina auteur filmmaking and evolves the conversation of inclusivity in entertainment to go beyond superficial diversity.

The film originally premiered at the 2019 Venice International Film Festival Venice Days program where it made history as the first film directed by and starring an openly trans woman of color to be screened at the competition.

It then made its way among the independent film festival circuit, but on July 9 of this year, the film was acquired by ARRAY, which released “Lingua Franca” on Wednesday, Aug. 26 on Netflix and in select theaters.

EMPLOYMENT

ARRAY is a media company that was founded in 2012 by renowned filmmaker Ava DuVernay who had the vision of establishing a production and distribution space for filmmakers of color, LGBT+ filmmakers and women in film.

And, earlier this month, Sandoval took home the jury award for Best Narrative Feature at Geena Davis’ Bentonville Film Festival, becoming the second Filipina American filmmaker in a row to win the festival’s top trophy after Diane Paragas won for “Yellow Rose” the previous year.

“The release of Isabel Sandoval’s third film is beautifully timed to enter the national conversation at an unprecedented moment of cultural reckoning for many, especially as it relates to the rights and dignity of trans people,” ARRAY President Tilane Jones said in a statement. “Ms. Sandoval’s introspective lens provides a depth and intimacy to her storytelling that is rarely embraced on screen.”

“Lingua Franca” does indeed tell a beautifully woven story about a trans woman of color caught in the middle of a very contemporary crisis. Sandoval speaks proudly about her identity as a trans woman, as an immigrant and as a Filipina, but now is the time for her to home in on her identity as an auteur filmmaker.

“Ava has really encouraged me to really think about, ostensibly, my being an auteur and my own authorial voice and to assert my own identity as an artist,” Sandoval explained.

The term lingua franca that originated from Mediterranean languages to describe a language or dialect between two people who don’t share a native tongue.

Between the characters of “Lingua Franca,” communication and the mounting drama isn’t relegated to an interchange of words, but a deepening understanding that largely takes place in the spaces between words.

Tonally, the film is reminiscent of independent filmmakers such as Taiwanese master of cinema Wong Kar-Wai, whose romantic masterpiece “In the Mood For Love” played a key role in the overall tone of “Lingua Franca,” Sandoval said. Though the latter lacks the swirling warmth and enduring tenderness of the former, the strength of Sandoval’s film lies in cold uncertainty and Olivia’s private moments of eroticism.

The pitfalls of steamrolling diversity

Sandoval stars as Olivia, a Filipina trans woman, in “Lingua Franca,” which premiered on Netflix on August 26.

As a trans Filipina American filmmaker, Sandoval is acutely aware of the historic moment that is her rising cinematic influence.

More than ever, audiences are not only welcoming of inclusivity in entertainment but are actively pushing for it.

But many creators of color like Sandoval, this intense demand for diversity is a Catch-22. The industry is allowing for more filmmakers from all walks of life to create and achieve great things, but the incessant calls for diverse representation that often muffles technical appraisal of films may be doing these filmmakers a disservice.

Earlier this year, the excellent South Korean black comedy “Parasite” took home four Academy Awards and broke several records. It was the first non-English language film to win Best Picture and the first South Korean film to receive massive attention at the Oscars. Aside from the historic value of Parasite’s success, it is a technically excellent piece of cinema, much like Jordan Peele’s “Get Out,” that points the light at contemporary issues of classism and discrimination.

But with attention so acutely focused on the fact that these are stories of color made by people of color and their identities, what becomes secondary is a meaningful observation, critique celebration of the craft. Examination and appreciation of a film’s technical and narrative strengths are drowned by press, film writers and social media influencers pontificating about the importance of seeing diverse faces on screen.

Diversity and cinematic excellence are not mutually exclusive ideas but they are often treated as such, by people who advocate for further representation of mi-

SERVICES

norities and people who think it’s folly.

“Lingua Franca” is a film that centers a trans Filipina in a green card crisis, but it’s not a “trans issue film” nor is it a “Filipino film” or even a film that overlays the overall current immigration crisis into its thesis. These are important elements to the story but you can’t drive an auteur film on topical social issues alone.

And just like her films, Sandoval hopes that “Lingua Franca” could propel her to a position in the industry where she’s not just a Filipina trans woman who makes films, but as a filmmaker who also happens to be Filipina and trans.

“We have to establish what is distinct and unique about our voice and our worth because it’s so easy to get pigeonholed or to be put in a box especially for someone like me,” she explained.

“There will always be several expectations about you and the community you belong to and it’s easy for Hollywood to just be like, ‘You’re an immigrant so you should be telling immigrant stories or you’re trans so you should be making films about the trans experience,’ and kind of impose on me the kinds of stories that I should be telling and [am[ only capable of telling.”

Sandoval also shared that the next project she’s working on has nothing to do with being trans at all but it’s a feature film set in the 16th century during colonialism.

“I’m now at a point where I’m putting my auteur pants on and seeing what diverse array of projects I can come up with and hopefully I can really expand my voice to surprising places, both creatively and emotionally, and I think that’s how you can have a sustainable and fulfilling career in the industry,” she remarked. n

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

Midpen Open Space celebrates new section of San Francisco Bay Trail connecting communities to nature and enhancing marshland for wildlife EAST PALO ALTO, Calif.

— The newest segment of the San Francisco Bay Trail opens on Friday, August 7 at the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s Ravenswood Open Space Preserve near East Palo Alto.

“This small-but-mighty new trail provides a critical missing link in the San Francisco Bay Trail and a vital connection to nature for the community,” Midpen General Manager Ana Ruiz said. “With just a short walk along the trail, you can quickly escape the buildings and traffic and enter a completely different world surrounded by nature, vast open views and the iconic San Francisco Bay. You can get right up to the water’s edge and watch shorebirds take flight, see pickleweed change color with the seasons and enjoy the bay breeze. Bicyclists can now travel along the shoreline for miles, enjoying the Bay Trail for both recreation and as part of their commute.”

The new trail closes a 0.6mile gap to connect 80 contiguous miles of San Francisco Bay Trail across three counties, from Menlo Park to the north, Santa Clara to the south and across the Dumbarton Bridge path to the East Bay. The Bay Trail is a planned 500-mile walking and cycling path around the entire San Francisco Bay with more than 350 miles completed, connecting communities to parks, open spaces, schools, transit and to each other.

The newly constructed trail segment can be accessed safely from a new sidewalk along University Avenue in East Palo Alto. An easy-access paved pathway, bridge and a raised boardwalk with an overlook and interpretive signs connect to Ravenswood Preserve. Most of the new trail lies within a permanent trail easement granted to Midpen by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

As part of this project, Midpen enhanced the surrounding

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salt marsh wetlands in Ravenswood Preserve, making the area and its inhabitants more resilient to the effects of climate change. Midpen restored native plant communities and created raised refugia islands providing Cooley Marsh wildlife, including endangered species such as the salt marsh harvest mouse, with safe refuge from high tides and rising sea levels.

To minimize impacts to the complex marshland ecosystem, Midpen designed much of the new trail as an elevated wooden boardwalk extending over the tidal uplands. All construction activities were constrained within the narrow footprint of the boardwalk and were limited to a five-month window between September and January to avoid the breeding season of the Ridgway’s rail, an endangered shorebird.

The total cost for planning, designing, engineering, permitting and building the Ravenswood Bay Trail segment was approximately $5 million. The project was funded by Measure AA, Midpen’s 2014 general obligation bond, with partner support of nearly $3.5 million in grant funds from the California Natural Resources Agency Urban Greening Grant, Caltrans, County of San Mateo Measure K, Santa Clara County Measure A, Facebook, the Association of Bay Area Governments and the California Coastal Conservancy.

A free online celebration on Friday, August 7 at 11 a.m. will provide participants with a virtual tour of Midpen’s Ravenswood Open Space Preserve, including a behind-the-scenes look at the new trail and enhanced salt marsh habitat benefitting wildlife. For more information about this project and to register to participate in the free online celebration and virtual tour please visit openspace.org/bay-trail.

(From Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District)

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

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 28-SeptembeR 3, 2020

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August 28-september 3, 2020 • NOrCAL AsIAN JOurNAL

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

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