091120 - New York & New Jersey Edition

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SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2020 Volume 13 - No. 45 • 16 Pages 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 • 2500 Plaza S. Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 • Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Pemberton to be deported after release

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Bureau of Immigration on Wednesday, September 9, announced that U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton will be deported out of the country after his release from detention.

DATELINE

“Merong existing deportation order against him (There is an existing deportation order against him),” said DOJ Undersecretary Markk Perete.

“So he will be deported by the Bureau of Immigration once ma-release siya ng BuCor (So he will be deported by the Bureau of Immigration once he has been released by the

Bureau of Corrections),” he added.

Pemberton was granted an absolute pardon by President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, September 7.

Pemberton was convicted of homicide on December 1, 2015 for killing transgender Filipina Jennifer Laude in 2014. He was sentenced to six to 10 years imprisonment.

Duterte said that it was unfair to keep Pemberton detained, pointing out that it was not Pemberton’s fault that his good conduct time allowance (GCTA) was not recorded.

“You have not treated Pemberton fairly. So, i-release ko. Pardon. Eh ang pardon, walang mga question ‘yan (So, I’ll release him. Par-

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USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Gender-neutral terms ‘Filipinx,’ ‘Pinxy’ added to online dictionary DICTIONARY.com recently announced that it has updated thousands of its entries as well as 650 new terms related to race and ethnic identity.

Of the new additions, five are related to the Philippines: “Filipina,” “Filipinx,” “Pinay,” “Pinoy,” and “Pinxy.”

“Filipinx,” pronounced filipineks or filipinks, is a gender-neutral noun or adjective that relates to natives or inhabitants of the

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Report: Filipinos barter possessions for food as pandemic continues

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

Photo from Pexels.com

No plans to censor Netflix in PH – MTRCB

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE content on Netflix and other video-ondemand (VOD) providers in the Philippines will not be censored, the country’s Movie and Television Review and Classification Board

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Filipino restaurateurs in New Jersey Breaking down systemic remain hopeful as indoor dining white supremacy and the rise of the alt-right with some restrictions resumes

by MOMAR

WITH the coronavirus pandemic hitting the Philippines hard, Filipinos have started flocking to Facebook groups to trade their possessions for food, a report by Agence France-Presse (AFP) found.

“Online bartering groups have provided a lifeline to…Filipinos hit hard by the country’s months-long virus restrictions that started in March and have sent the economy plunging into a deep recession,” it said.

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FAREWELL CALL. President Rodrigo Duterte confers the Order of Sikatuna on U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim who paid a farewell call on the president at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on Monday, September 7.

Malacañang photo by Ace Morandante

Former FBI special agent discusses the United States’ checkered past with white supremacy and the ways far-right views on race have infiltrated law enforcement

G. VISAYA

AJPress

RESTAURANTS in New Jersey has allowed indoor dining beginning last Friday, September 4. On Wednesday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that he is lifting the six-month ban and will allow indoor dining at restaurants at a limited capacity starting Sept. 30.

“Reopening responsibly will help

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by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

Asin’s Vincent and Queenie BanÐez AJPress file photo

THE ethnic and racial makeup of the United States has, in the last few decades, become more diverse.

The increase in demographic diversity is partly due to immigration influxes, like the migration boom from Asia in the 1980s and 1990s.

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SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

‘Drug war’ deaths rise amid coronavirus pandemic — int’l rights monitor

by Franco Luna Philstar.com

MANILA — Extrajudicial killings linked to the Duterte administration’s flagship anti-drug campaign were not only unhampered by the coronavirus-induced lockdowns—they also increased dramatically, a human rights watchdog found.

In a release published Wednesday morning, Asia division researcher Carlos Conde of the New Yorkbased Human Rights Watch said that the national government’s own statistics showed that cops killed 50% more people from April to July 2020 than they did in the last four-month period.

“Human Rights Watch analyzed the government’s statistics and found 155 persons were killed in the past four months. Before the Co-

vid-19 crisis, police killed 103 persons from December 2019 to March 2020...

The number of fatalities in these ostensible drug enforcement raids, in which the police routinely claimed that the victims fought back, jumped dramatically from the 26 deaths recorded by the PDEA in five months from July to November 2019,” Conde wrote.

“The government is expected to continue to deny the allegations rather than offer a constructive response. But as the government’s own statistics show, the atrocities in the “drug war” have worsened, even as the country suffers the worst in the region from the pandemic,” he also said.

The international rights monitor already pointed this out earlier in late May when it said that the nightly

killings continued amid the community quarantines, which made it harder for them to be documented under strict police enforcement.

Although Police Gen. Camilo Cascolan, the newest chief of the Philippine National Police, has denied that EJKs ever occurred, he also said police officers also died during anti-drug operations.

The PNP’s own data recognizes 5,810 persons killed in these operations as of the end of July 2020, although police routinely parrot the narrative that drug suspects fought back violently and forced their hand.

However, Conde pointed out that “thousands of other drug suspects have been killed by unidentified assailants, many of whom are believed to be plainclothes

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LGBTQ+ rights group Bahaghari and other progressive groups held an indignation rally in front of the Department of Justice office in Manila on September 3 to condemn the court’s early release order for U.S. Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton.

Philstar.com photo by Krizjohn Rosales

Pemberton to be deported after release...

PAGE 1 don. There are no questions there),” the president said during his televised public address on Monday.

He added, “It is not the fault of Pemberton na hindi na na-compute because we should allow him, the good character presumption kasi wala namang nagreport na Marines na nagsabi na nagwawala siya (It is not the fault of Pemberton that his good conduct was not computed because we should allow him, the good character presumption of good character since the Marines did not report anything about him acting out).”

The Olongapo City Regional Trial Court on Sept.

1 ordered Pemberton’s release, saying that the convicted American serviceman has completed the minimum of his sentence after serving a total of 2,142 days or over five years and eight months in prison as well as accumulating GCTA of 1,548 days or more than four years.

The order was signed by Presiding Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde. However, Pemberton’s release was put on hold by the Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) following the motion for reconsideration filed by Laude’s family.

Duterte said he informed Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra about his decision before announcing it.

“So sabi ko kay Justice Secretary, Medialdea, pinatawag ko sila kanina, sabi ko it’s my decision to pardon.

Correct me if I’m wrong but ito ang tingin ko sa kaso (So I told Justice Secretary, Medialdea, I called them over

and said it’s my decision to pardon. Correct me if I’m wrong but this is my opinion about the case). We have not treated Pemberton fairly,” he said.

Duterte also clarified that he isn’t taking any sides.

“I am not favoring anybody — neither Pemberton, nor the family [of Laude],” he stressed.

Robredo questions fairness in Pemberton pardon Vice President Leni Robredo, for her part, said Duterte’s decision to grant U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton an absolute pardon is proof that the Philippine government favors the powerful.

According to her, the poor are punished under Duterte’s administration, while the rich and powerful are freed.

“Ang tanong nga natin: Patas at makatarungan ba ang naging desisyong ito?

Isa lang ang kasong ito sa maraming patunay ng pagkiling sa makapangyarihan na nakikita natin mula sa pamahalaan (Our question is: Was this decision fair and just? This case is just one of the many proofs that the government favors the powerful),” she said on Tuesday, September 8.

“Ang nakikita natin: Kapag mahirap, may parusa; kapag mayaman at nasa poder, malaya (From what we’re seeing: if it’s poor, there’s punishment; if it’s rich and in power, there’s freedom),” she added.

Robredo pointed out that there are thousands of Filipinos who remain in jail because they can’t afford a lawyer while their families outside are suffering. This is in contrast to Pemberton

“who had lawyers, special detention facilities, a quick public trial, and an appeal.”

“Ngayon, lalong luminaw na mayroon din siyang resources para masigurong mabibigyang-pansin ng mismong Pangulo ang kaso niya (Now it’s getting clearer that he also had resources to ensure that he could draw attention to his case from the president himself),” she said.

Robredo then expressed hope that Duterte “exercises his vast powers in a manner that is fair and that benefits the common Filipino.”

On his own volition Guevarra, meanwhile, maintained that Duterte’s decision to grant absolute pardon to Pemberton was his own.

“It appeared to me that it was upon his own volition,” he told ANC. “He must have been following this issue and then on his own, decided to grant the pardon to end it all.”

The justice secretary also noted that Duterte didn’t take the usual procedure in handing out his clemency, but assured his move was not illegal.

The usual procedure is for a convict to submit an application for pardon or parole to the Board of pardons and Parole. After evaluating, it will submit its findings to the DOJ, which will then endorse the recommendation to the President if the documents are fulfilled.

“Nothing prevents the president from directly exercising his constitutional power to grant executive clemency at any time, because it is a personal act of grace,” said Guevarra. n

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 11-17, 2020

SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426

No plans to censor Netflix in PH...

Filipino restaurateurs in New Jersey...

PAGE 1 us restore one of our state’s key industries while continuing to make progress against#COVID19,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said week. He had delayed reopening indoor dining, citing health concerns about the spread of the virus inside specially since the numbers from other states were on an uptick.

The decision comes with

a few rules, among them requiring masks for employees and customers at all times, except while they are eating and drinking.

There is also a maximum of eight people per table, unless they are from the same household.

The same protocols apply in New York but in addition, they will conduct temperature checks at every front door, collect Test

& Trace data from at least one customer at each table and offer protections like PPE for employees.

Filipino-owned restaurants have been looking forward to this announcement for months.

“I am very happy that finally restaurants in New Jersey can open its indoor dining even if only 25 percent would be allowed. That

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Breaking down systemic white...

PAGE 1 But in a deeper sense, diversity thrives in a progressive environment. As the country began slowly reconfiguring systemic racism in the 20th century, it became more welcoming of people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds.

It’s become so that in 2008 when the first election of then-President Barack Obama signaled the arrival of “post-racial America,” a theory that categorizes America as a race-blind country after the election

of the first Black president.

But as we know, the myth of post-racial America is just that: a myth.

Over the last decade, the national conversation over systemic racism came to a head with the high-profile murders of unarmed Black youth --- Trayvon Martin in 2012 and Michael Brown and Tamir Rice in 2014 --by law enforcement.

Police brutality and racial profiling among law enforcement aren’t new phenomena, but they’ve become renewed conversation topics

in the wake of the murders of George Floyd in May and Breonna Taylor in March.

The Asian Journal has covered the current conversation about racial injustice and the roles that other nonBlack communities of color play in perpetuating antiblackness in all industries and public-facing entities, and the crux of the issue lies in the ways in which systems of bureaucracy are steeped in white nationalist sensibilities.

The problem is that the

PAGE 1 (MTRCB) said on Tuesday, September 8.

“We were not censoring. I hope that you don’t see MTRCB as a censorship board… We’re asking the VOD providers (to) do selfregulation with the parameters set forth by law,” said MTRCB chairperson Rachel Arenas during an interview with The Chiefs on Cignal TV’s One News.

She added, “There’s nothing actually to fear in terms of saying that we will curtail your freedom to choose. We just want the VOD providers to align with our classification.

Arenas also asked the VOD providers in the country to register with the MTRCB. “This (plan to regulate) is not yet cast in stone. We will have to wait for them to read our guidelines. They’re (VOD) amenable to our proposal.

Since you’re doing business here in the Philippines, and you have a lot of subscribers coming from the Philippines, can we ask you to, you know in good faith, register with

us,” she said.

On Sept. 3, the MTRCB called for a policy that allows them to regulate content on Netflix and other online streaming services.

“We have to regulate those platforms,” Jonathan Presquito, the agency’s legal affairs chief, said during a Senate hearing on proposed measures on online transactions.

According to him, any motion picture falls under the MTRCB’s jurisdiction, from films to television shows to advertisements.

However, all of Netflix’s content is unrated by the MTRCB. “Under the MTRCB law, those are prohibited materials. You cannot distribute that in the Philippine territory,” Presquito said.

He added that registering VOD services with the MTRCB and subsequent regulation would ensure films and shows are given age-appropriate classifications. Prohibited content will also not be shown.

“We want an environment of growth. Let’s allow these

streaming services to flourish.

But how to balance that with the regulatory mechanism?”

Presquito said.

Lawmakers slam MTRCB’s plan Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said censoring Netflix is absurd.

“This is the kind of bureaucratic thinking that gives government workers a bad name …. Our countrymen have so many problems and this is what the MTRCB chooses to prioritize?” he said in a post on Facebook.

“The irony here is while Congress and other government agencies are doing everything it can to open up lines of communication with the public, and increase transparency, the MTRCB is focused on the outdated mindset of information regulation and censorship,” he added.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, meanwhile, reminded the MTRCB that regulating the contents of online movie services would violate the 1987 Constitution, which prohibits prior restraint

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Report: Filipinos barter possessions for...

PAGE 1 According to AFP’s tally, at least 98 groups are operating across the archipelago, of which some have tens of thousands of members.

“Nearly all of them started during the pandemic as many Filipinos resorted to the ancient trading practice to feed their families,” the report said.

One of the affected Filipinos who resorted to the barter system was Lorraine Imperio, a mother of two whose husband works part-time at a doughnut shop in Manila.

She traded possessions such as a baby’s down jacket and a Ralph Lauren hoodie for six kilograms (13 pounds) of rice.

She also bartered a pair of Nike slip-on shoes for chicken.

“It’s so difficult nowadays.

You don’t know where you’ll get the money to settle the bills for groceries,” she was quoted saying.

“With bartering, it’s easier to convert them into food,” she added.

Citing information aggregator iPrice Group’s recent study, AFP said the Google search volume in the Philippines for the keywords “barter food” soared 300% in

May from April as lockdowns were enforced.

“Its analysis of 85 popular Facebook barter groups, with more than two million members in total, found food and other groceries were among the most sought-after items,” AFP reported.

“People post photos and specifications of the goods they want to swap, indicate what they want in return and then negotiate via the comments section,” it added.

Jocelle Batapa Sigue, who launched Bacolod Barter Community four months ago, attributed the influx of barter groups to the pandemic.

“Without the pandemic, I don’t think the barter community would be popular,” she said.

Charles Ramirez, who runs a 14,000-member bartering site in the capital, echoed this sentiment.

“People are realizing that while they have no money, they have accumulated a lot of material things (they can swap),” he said.

“It’s a depressing feeling, of course, having to let go of things you have accumulated just to be able to survive,” he added. nsailants, many of whom are believed to be plainclothes police officers or

vigilantes operating in coordination with local authorities.”

In June, for instance, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that more than 8,600 people have died in Duterte’s “drug war,” while other rights organizations in the Philippines estimate that the number could even be as high as 30,000.

Yet, only one case has resulted in a conviction.

On Tuesday, Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director also of the Human Rights Watch, slammed Cascolan’s denial of the well-documented killings and challenged the PNP to hand investigating bodies full access to its records if it really did not have anything to hide.

“Numerous victims, their families, and witnesses have repeatedly pointed out police misconduct during drug raids where police not only illegally killed suspects but manufactured and planted bogus evidence, such as guns, to claim that victims were armed when they were killed,” he said.

“Instead of burying his head in the sand in this cynical and self-interested attempt to evade accountability, Cascolan should ensure that the PNP fully cooperates with investigating bodies.” n

Gender-neutral terms ‘Filipinx,’ ‘Pinxy’...

PAGE 1 Philippines. It is used in place of the masculine form Filipino or the feminine form Filipina.

“Pinxy,” pronounced pinksee, is used in place of the masculine form Pinoy or the feminine form Pinay, which are the informal versions of Filipino and Filipina.

Dictionary.com connected the historical usage of “Filipinx” and “Pinxy” to “Latinx,” a gender-neutral term that relates to people of Latin American origin or descent, especially those living in the United States.

According to the online dictionary, Spanish and other Romance languages have “gendered grammar,” classifying males and females by using words that end in -o and -a, respectively.

“The spellings Latinx or

Chicanx are particularly embraced by groups that wish to include members whose gender identities are nonbinary,” it said.

“By respecting the gendered grammar of Spanish in our English use of these loanwords, biological sex and binary gender identity are imposed onto English discourse in ways that otherwise would not have occurred,” it added.

John Kelly, a senior editor at Dictionary.com, said that the work of a dictionary is more than just adding new words.

“It’s an ongoing effort to ensure that how we define words reflects changes in language — and life,” he said.

Other changes include the capitalization of Black in reference to people, which many news organizations

have adopted, as the United States continues to tackle issues around race; replacing references of homosexual with “gay” and homosexuality with “gay sexual orientation”; and destigmatizing suicide and addiction by recognizing language preferred by mental health professionals, such as “die by suicide” or “end one’s life,” and addict with “person addicted to” or “a habitual user of.”

“Among our many new entries are thousands of deeper, dictionary-wide revisions that touch us on our most personal levels: how we talk about ourselves and our identities, from race to sexual orientation to mental health. Our revisions are putting people, in all their rich humanity, first, and we’re extremely proud of that,” Kelly added. (AJPress) n

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2020

OPINION

FEATURES

Manila’s white beach IT will be nice to look at, but there are several issues being raised in connection with the ongoing creation of a “white beach” along Manila’s Baywalk: the cost and timing of the construction, and its sustainability.

As the government responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, the country keeps sinking deeper into debt. In this public health and economic crisis, can the country afford the P349-million price tag for the Boracay in Manila project? Environment officials have said the project was conceptualized as part of the Manila Bay cleanup that began last year, and funding was appropriated in the 2020 budget, long before the coronavirus disease 2019 struck.

Officials are hoping that the 500-meter stretch of manmade white beach, with the water clean and safe enough for swimming, will serve as a model for bayfront communities around Manila Bay to undertake and maintain their own coastal cleanup and rehabilitation.

One concern is how long the area can serve as a model. Keeping the shoreline clean and the water quality safe for swimming will re-

5

quire sustained compliance with sewage and solid waste management regulations, not just along the bay but also all over Metro Manila, where most of the rivers and tributaries wash out into the bay.

There are also concerns that the meter-high layer of “white sand” – actually crushed dolomite boulders shipped to Manila from Cebu – might simply be washed away in the next storm surge to hit the bay.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau says Geotubes – a type of marine construction technology – will hold the crushed dolomite in place to prevent erosion into the sea. The MGB has also brushed aside a warning from the Department of Health, that the dolomite particles could pose health risks. It can be risky, the MGB said, only if you inhale the particles. The bureau pointed out that dolomite is sourced from the sea and the crushed particles consist of calcium magnesium carbonate, which will contribute to “bay nourishment.”

The government has pointed out that crushed dolomite has also been used in cre-

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

ating manmade beaches in Cebu, Singapore and France. Environment officials have said they are prepared to explain and defend the project before any forum. With the project

tentatively set to be opened by Sept. 19, they must also prepare for investigations and possible indictments in case something goes wrong. (Philstar.com)

Decisions 2020: How Joe Biden has made our lives better, more just and equitable in his 47 years of service to the American people

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS WITH 47 years in government, what has Joe Biden, former vice president and senator and now presidential candidate, accomplished?

This is a timely moment to talk facts about what the candidates have really done to help the American people live a better, more just and

equitable life in their years as government officials, accorded with public trust and power of the position they hold.

After all, the commitment to serve the American people, and not to be served, should be the bedrock of why a person runs for public office.

The headlines from the past days have further revealed why our country and

our people are in chaos and are deeply divided; why more than 189,000 Americans have been killed by the coronavirus pandemic; why the gap between the rich and the poor has grown wider than ever; why the planet we will pass on to the next generations has been under continued threat; and why the fulfillment of the American dream as envisioned by the founding fathers has

been elusive.

What we are going through right now is because of the failed leadership by the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. The reason why is not necessarily because he does not want to be a true leader and public servant in the very essence of the word. As Former President Barack Obama said during the Democratic National

Convention, “Donald Trump hasn’t grown into the job because he can’t.”

We have heard testaments from Trump’s own family who really know him.

We have heard and read reactions from veterans themselves. Captain C.B. Sully Sullenberger, the pilot who saved peoples’ lives from the crash of the plane in the Hudson River in New York in 2009, encapsulated what

is required of a leader to be a true public servant so poignantly.

Aside from being a retired Air Force fighter pilot, Sullenberger is a veteran who volunteered for military service during wartime just like his father, whose generation he proudly said, “saved the world from fascism.”

“For the first time in American history, a president has repeatedly shown PAGE 8

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

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 11-17, 2020

Dateline PhiliPPines

SC consolidates 29 anti-terror law petitions THE Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday, September 8, ordered the consolidation of the 29 petitions filed challenging the legality of the anti-terror law.

The high court en banc held deliberations on the case on Tuesday. The tribunal ordered the respondents — Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, the Anti Terrorism Council and AntiMoney Laundering Council — to file their comment within a period of 10 days.

The respondents shall be

represented by the Office of the Solicitor General.

The petitioners asked the court to stop the implementation of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 as they questioned some of its provisions, including the arrest of suspected terrorists without warrants and their detention for up to 24 days without charges.

The petitions to be consolidated were those filed by lawyer Howard Calleja, along with former Education secretary Bro. Armin Luistro of the De La Salle Brothers Inc., attorney Joseph Peter Calleja, University of the

Philippines (UP) law professor Christopher John Lao, Dr. Reynaldo Echavez, Napoleon Siongco, Raeyan Reposar, civic groups Frontliners: Tunay na Bayani and Bagong Siklab Pilipinas, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, Far Eastern University law professors, and the Makabayan bloc led

by Bayan Muna.

The other petitions were filed by the Pro-Labor Legal Assistance Center and the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights, Sanlakas, the UP System Faculty Regent and the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines. n

PAGE 2 police officers or vigilantes operating in coordination with local authorities.”

In June, for instance, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that more than 8,600 people have died in Duterte’s “drug war,” while other rights organizations in the Philippines estimate that the number could even be as high as 30,000.

Yet, only one case has re-

sulted in a conviction.

On Tuesday, Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director also of the Human Rights Watch, slammed Cascolan’s denial of the well-documented killings and challenged the PNP to hand investigating bodies full access to its records if it really did not have anything to hide.

“Numerous victims, their families, and witnesses have repeatedly pointed out police misconduct during drug

raids where police not only illegally killed suspects but manufactured and planted bogus evidence, such as guns, to claim that victims were armed when they were killed,” he said.

“Instead of burying his head in the sand in this cynical and self-interested attempt to evade accountability, Cascolan should ensure that the PNP fully cooperates with investigating bodies.” n

by Jomar

Canlas ManilaTimes.net

CHRISTMAS PREP. As the “ber” months start, several people begin to shop for Christmas decors in a mall in Quezon City on Monday, September 7. The majority of Filipinos are looking forward to the coming of the holiday season as it gives them hope and happiness amid the current pandemic situation.

Photo by PNA by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

‘Drug war’ deaths rise amid... Filipino restaurateurs in New Jersey...

No plans to censor Netflix in PH...

PAGE 4 on mass media and guarantees the right to free expression.

He urged the MTRCB to promote self-regulation instead.

“The ratings are very specific. Upon subscription to Netflix, the parents can set what content their children can view. It has mechanisms that limit children’s access, a feature that free TV does not have,” Drilon said.

“If the platform is able to effectively self-regulate and has installed features through which access, particularly by certain age groups can be limited, then there is no role left for the MTRCB to play,” he added.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who wondered whose “bright idea” was it to regulate Netflix’s content, also advised self-regulation.

“Leave it to the parents,” he said.

“We should not be relying too much on the government, let the parents themselves regulate,” he added.

Sen. Grace Poe, a former MTRCB chair, called MTRCB’s plan “counterproductive and ridiculous.”

Poe also questioned the board’s ability to classify every show on the online streaming service.

“As it is, there isn’t enough manpower or even resources to view or evaluate every single program on cable [television],” she said.

Drilon echoed this sentiment.

“There are thousands of shows on Netflix alone – how will MTRCB review each one?

Can the MTRCB review every single content that can be accessed through the internet?

What will they do about virtual private networks (VPN) that allow users to access content from other countries?” the senator said.

Palace urges MTRCB to consider views of critics Malacañang also urged the board to consider the lawmakers’ view on the proposal.

“We respect the decision of chairman Rachel Arenas and members of MTRCB. My only suggestion is, Ma’am Rachel, during budget season, it may be difficult to disregard what Congress is saying, especially now that the Speaker of the House has spoken,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Monday, Sept. 7.

“While the president does not micromanage, (MTRCB) should consider the suggestions of lawmakers because they are the ones who will decide on the budget of agencies. It is also their duty to ensure that the money of the people is spent properly. So my suggestion is evaluate carefully, especially the opinion of Speaker Alan Cayetano that it is not necessary,” he added. n

PAGE 4 will be a lot better than none at all,” Queenie Bañez, Asin told the Asian Journal.

“Since our restaurant is big enough to accommodate 70 customers, 20 at any given time would be good enough to start with.”

The lockdown severely affected the Caldwell restaurant’s operations but they remained open initially for three days a week before going back to six days as customers began to come and buy takeout.

During the pandemic, their restaurant remained open initially for three days a week, then eventually went back to six days a week as people start to come and do take out.

“For small business like us, it made a terrible impact on our sales but we Filipinos are fighters, so fight as we must and business must go on,” she said.

Bañez is thankful that their regular clients continued to patronize them when they offered outdoor dining, with some showing support by purchasing gift certificates for future use.

“But sometimes it’s not enough. The Small Business loans is a big help for paying the rent and utilities but since we are new in the industry, we were given very minimal,” she said.

She remains hopeful that the industry will regain lost ground in the coming days.

“It may look very difficult at the moment to rise up and start anew but in

my heart and mind it will be difficult but not impossible,” she said.

Celeste Roldan Ferrer of Max’s Restaurant in Jersey City said they will adhere to all the safety guidelines upon reopening.

“With safety of our customers and staff as our first priority, we are hoping to ultimately serve our community to increased capacity,” she said.

Max’s has been active on social media, taking out Facebook ads to promote lunch and dinner packages as they pivoted towards pick-up and delivery.

When outdoor dining was allowed, they put up a few tables on the sidewalk.

“Our goal is to ensure this step is done properly,” Murphy said during a press conference last week when he discussed the gradual reopening. “We all know this pandemic isn’t over yet.”

There are small restaurants like Little Quiapo also in Jersey City which are not ready to open its indoor dining.

“We have kept an eye on the progress of the state in fighting against Covid19, and while we’re happy that we’ve reached a point where indoor dining is possible again, we are not yet ready to allow indoor diners in our restaurant,” owner Elizabeth Atendido told the Asian Journal. “We’ll continue to monitor the situation and we expect to allow indoor dining again

in the future but we are not yet comfortable doing so.”

Atendido explained that members of their staff are older adults so they “chose to err on the side of caution and prioritize the health of our staff overall.”

The restaurant was open during the beginning of quarantine but they closed on April 2 when coronavirus cases in New Jersey continued to rise. The state has recorded more than 192,000 positive cases and over 14,000 fatalities.

They reopened on May 30 for take out only, following safety precautions and guidelines set by the state.

“While there are times where compliance can be an issue, thankfully most of our customers have been cooperative, as we all try to adjust to the current situation,” she said..

For another restaurateur, it is more than just keeping their doors open.

“We are a little scared though its 25% still there is danger for us health wise, but I have to open kasi po a lot of my customers are thinking na closed na kami,” said Rosemary Robles of Pandan, another Filipino restaurant in Bloomfield.

Calling the situation that brought the world on its knees “a nightmare,” Robles said they are coping but they do not know for how long.

“I just don’t how are we standing still and really don’t how to recover,” she added. n

SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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Decisions 2020: How Joe Biden...

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PAGE 5 utter and vulgar contempt and disrespect for those who have served and died serving our country.

While I am not surprised, I am disgusted by the current occupant of the Oval Office.

He has repeatedly and consistently shown himself to be completely unfit for and to have no respect for the office he holds.

He took an oath of office that is similar to the one that each person takes who enters the U.S. Military. But he has completely failed to uphold his oath.

Now we know why. He has admitted that he cannot comprehend the concept of service above self.

Going back to Joe Biden.

What has he done as a public servant for 47 years?

Joe Biden, who had a stuttering problem as a child, overcame this barrier and enrolled at the University of Delaware, where he doublemajored in history and political science. He then went to Syracuse University, where he earned his law degree.

Biden served as a public defender (defense attorney)

for Wilmington, Delaware from 1968 to 1970, helping the accused who do not have representation protect their constitutional rights.

From 1970-1972, Joe was on the New Castle County Council in Delaware, and his most notable accomplishment was his “fight against a massive 10-lane highway project that threatened to pave over Wilmington’s neighborhoods and push back on the oil companies building refineries on the Delaware coast.”

Biden was elected Senator in 1972 at the age of 29, and became one of the youngest people ever elected to the United States Senate. Joe has served as Delaware’s longest-running senator, serving as Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary from 1987-1995, and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 2001-2003, and again on 2007-2009.

In 2008, President Barack Obama named Joe as his running mate, and was elected by the American people as the 47th Vice President of the United States. On Janu-

ary 20, 2009, he was sworn in to office and served for two terms after being reelected with Obama in 2012.

As his life as an elected public servant was just beginning, Joe experienced a grave loss when his wife Neilia and daughter Naomi were killed, and sons Hunter and Beau were critically injured in an auto accident in 1972.

Joe’s eldest son Beau, who served the country as attorney general of Delaware and as a major in the Delaware Army National Guard, died in 2015 at the young age of 46 after battling brain cancer.

Joe’s life story reminds me of the story of Job in the bible. Job lost everything he had, became seriously ill, his wife left him — yet through these unimaginable losses, Job remained faithful to God. Joe Biden is a Christian, a Catholic to be more precise, like many of us Filipinos.

Like Job, Joe’s faith in God remained strong even when he could and did not underPAGE 10

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SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

Decisions 2020: How Joe...

PAGE 8 stand why God would allow these tragedies and afflictions to happen in his life.

In fact, it was Joe’s faith in God that strengthened him and gave him the resolve to use his losses to find his purpose in life.

God fulfilled His promise in Job’s life. He granted Job “beauty for ashes.” God blessed Job for his trust and faithfulness to God’s will, for doing the right thing even when the wrong things were happening in his life. By the same mercy and grace, God rewarded Joe with a new wife and life partner in Jill, and more opportunities and a bigger platform to serve God’s people through Joe’s life in public service.

Joe Biden has been serving God through his service to the American people.

Since the early 70s, Joe has been fighting for the mantra “government of the people, for the people, by the people” to be a reality in America.

As shared on his campaign site, Joe has been doing this since his “first calls for the public financing of campaigns in the early 1970s. In the decades to come, he’ll continue to take action to restore and strengthen our democratic institutions, starting with protecting the right to vote.”

Joe contended, “The United States Constitution says We the People. Not We the Donors.”

Biden helped in the efforts toward arms control for global peace and security.

“He led a delegation of senators to meet with Kremlin officials in Moscow to present U.S. conditions for the ratification of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks– SALT II. It is the beginning of his decades-long leadership on nuclear arms control and strategic security negotiations to keep the American people safe, prevent an unchecked nuclear arms race, and establish norms of international conduct.

Later, as Vice President, he will be critical to Senate approval of the New START Treaty with Russia, which brings deployed strategic nuclear weapons by the two countries to the lowest level in history.”

“As Chairman or Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for 12 years, Senator Biden plays a pivotal role in shaping U.S. foreign policy. He is

at the forefront of issues and legislation related to ending Apartheid, terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, post-Cold War Europe, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia.”

As a woman, I am most grateful for Joe in his fight on our behalf when he introduced the bill that addresses sexual assault and domestic violence in 1990, which was enacted into law as the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 1994 — “the landmark legislation that criminalizes violence against women, creates unprecedented resources for survivors of assault, and changes the national dialogue on domestic and sexual assault.”

Joe cares not just for this generation, but for the generations to come by introducing legislation to combat climate change.

“Joe calls for action to address climate change and protect the environment before it was a mainstream issue, introducing the Global Climate Protection Act. Later, as Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, he organizes several hearings on climate change and rallies support on a number of non-binding resolutions on the issue, in an attempt to build momentum for action to address climate change.”

Biden has been working toward protecting the lives of the American people from the irresponsible and dangerous use of military-style weapons by civilians because of the influence of the powerful lobbyist National Rifle Association (NRA).

“Joe takes on the National Rifle Association and wins— twice. In 1993, he secures the passage of the Brady background check bill, ushering the bill through conference and defeating an NRA-supported filibuster.

And in 1994, he champions the passage of bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.”

As vice president, Joe Biden was President Barack Obama’s partner in governance, continuing on and leading “interagency efforts, and works with Congress in his fight to raise the living standards of middle-class Americans, reduce gun violence, address violence against women, and end cancer as we know it.”

When Obama led the country in our recovery from the deepest recession since the Great Depression, which

eventually paved the way for the biggest continuous job growth Trump only benefited from, Biden worked hard with the president.

“President Obama turns to Joe to first help pass and then oversee the implementation of the Recovery Act—the biggest economic recovery plan in the history of the nation and our biggest and strongest commitment to clean energy. The president’s plan prevents another Great Depression, creates and saves millions of jobs, and leads to 75 uninterrupted months of job growth by the end of the Administration, which has continued until today.

And Joe did it all with less than 1% in waste, abuse or fraud—the most efficient government program in our country’s history.”

Like Obama, Joe believed ALL Americans should have access to health care, not just a privileged few.

“President Obama and Joe secure the passage of the Affordable Care Act, which will have reduced the number of uninsured Americans by 20 million by the time they leave office and banned insurance companies from denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions.”

Joe believed that in this country, all men are created equal, even in choosing whom to love, and should therefore be accorded the same rights and protections provided for in the Constitution.

“Vice President Biden vocally supports marriage equality for LGBTQ individuals at a time when most political pundits said it wasn’t a good idea. He later shows the same leadership by expressing early support for the Equality Act.” He worked with President Obama to fight against gun violence.

“After 26 first-graders and educators are killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Joe leads an effort to take more than two dozen actions to make our schools and communities safer, including improving the gun background check system and narrowing the gun show loophole.”

He used his pain and grief when he lost his son to cancer to help other people fight against cancer.

“In his final State of the Union address, President Obama asks Joe to head up a new national effort to end cancer as we know it—he ends up calling it his ‘Cancer Moonshot,’ with the

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Breaking down systemic white...

PAGE 4 “post-racial America” fallacy has made it more difficult for any traction to be made in the effort to stifle existing white supremacist policies and practices which, according to former FBI special agent Michael German, have existed since the founding of the U.S. “One of the things we have to understand is the influence of white supremacy in our society,” German said in a telebriefing hosted by Ethnic Media Services on Friday, Sept. 4.

“We were formed as a nation, as a white supremacist project. This was European colonization of the so-called New World which of course wasn’t new to the people who live there and white supremacy was codified in law for hundreds of years, and police officers enforcing those laws were enforcing white supremacy.”

Anecdotally, there’s undoubtedly been a rise in white nationalism, and it’s not just in the South. More and more white supremacy rallies are being held in areas like Los Angeles, Orange County and New York City.

The increased visibility of white nationalism and farright radicalism in the last few years has manifested itself in blatant public displays: white supremacy rallies, the growth of online fringe communities and other movements that promote reverting the country back to a nation that largely puts its white citizens first.

“There is still no national strategy around far-right violence and white supremacy violence in the United States and I think is poorly understood partly because the federal government deprioritizes this work,” said German, who has 16 years of experience that includes going undercover while investigating white supremacist groups.

The FBI doesn’t currently

track violence spurred from white supremacy, German said, which provides a startling conundrum within law enforcement on the local, state and federal levels.

Though white nationalism is bigger now than it was 10 years ago, the FBI still hasn’t developed a system to keep track of the number of victims who were killed by white supremacists.

In regards to the FBI terrorism watch list --- a list of subjects of terrorism investigations with the FBI that police use as a resource to determine whether or not someone they encounter is a terrorist --- a loophole exists in local law enforcement to allow white supremacists, specifically, off the hook.

Because of this closeness of white supremacists [to law enforcement], the FBI has devised a way to ensure that local officers don’t get in the way of white supremacist investigations.

Usually, local police are given the FBI terrorism watch list in case they come across a subject of a terrorism investigation, but the FBI shields white supremacists from the list because potentially, those local officers --who are likely friendly with white supremacist groups -- may intervene in the FBI’s investigations. “[The FBI] tells the agents not to use the watch list that way and to instead use what’s called a silent hit in which, if a police officer pulled over a subject of a white supremacist investigation and searched that person through the terrorist watch list, they would not get a positive response,” German said.

He continued, “A note would go to the agent who is working the case, but the police officer would not be alerted that this person is potentially dangerous.”

The reason for that is that, German noted, is because the FBI knows that local po-

lice may let that subject off the hook, saying “the reason why [the FBI] does this is because it doesn’t want [local] law enforcement searching for their white supremacist friends and then tip them off.”

German said that the “familiar relationship” between white supremacist groups and law enforcement holds strong today when “far right violence, at best, is ignored and at worst being lauded by government officials, including the president of the United States. These white supremacist beliefs manifest themselves in many ways, not least of which comes in the form of violence and deterioriation of public safety for communities of color.

German, however, noted that crime rates and homicides are lower than they were from the 1960s to the 1990s when civil unrest mounted due to civil rights, political unrest and growing resentment of the American public toward those in power.

But, at the same time, lower overall crime rates don’t always tell the full story, especially in a policing system that still racially profiles subjects, finds loopholes for other subjects and refuses to take accountability for these faults.

“So even though there are fewer homicides, law enforcement is solving fewer homicides, and that’s something I think needs a lot more inquiry [into],” German said.

“And particularly when you look at those unsolved homicides, they tend to be against the very communities that are overpoliced as suspects of crime: black and brown communities, indigenous communities and all these other communities where the police are not as aggressive in actually investigating real crimes against those communities, but are more interested in pursuing them as suspects.” n

goal of making a decade’s worth of advances in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in five years.”

THESE are but a few of his accomplishments. Indeed, Joe Biden has earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction — the nation’s highest civilian honor — given to him by President Barack Obama.

Yes, the 24/7 news cycle can be overwhelming. But it’s too important of an election to sit out if you have the

privilege of being a voter in America.

To learn more about candidates running for office, visit their websites, revisit news articles, and watch videos of what candidates actually said and did to separate facts from misinformation. Their personal lives, responses to crises, judgment calls and their vision will help us get to know the candidates’ values and character better, and will lead us in our discernment

on whom to vote for come this November. *** 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.

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 11-17, 2020

COMMUNITY Journal

11

Getting an abusive green card Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: I married a U.S. citizen for love, hoping we would live “happily ever after.” Unfortunately, soon after marriage, he changed. He drank a lot, gambled, took drugs, called me names, said he would never petition me and would try to get me deported. He gets very angry when I laugh and speak with my family in Tagalog, does not want me to see them or have them over, and just wants me to stay at home all the time and have no friends. He has never been physically violent with me, but I am just so miser-

able and afraid.

Is there any way to legalize my status in this horrible marriage, especially when he refuses to petition me and threatens to have me deported?

Very truly yours, TF Dear TF: Perhaps you could be eligible to file a self-petition (petition yourself) as a battered spouse, based on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). (That law is not limited to abused wives, but could also apply to abused husbands.) Also, the law does not require that you be physically abused or battered, as people could be eligible if they have been subjected to “extreme cruelty,” or severe mental abuse and harassment. It also applies to a person who has been abused not only by a U.S. citizen spouse,

but also by an immigrant/ green card holder spouse.

The basic requirements include: 1.

The marriage was entered into in good faith (meaning it was not fixed.), the person resided with the U.S. citizen or immigrant spouse, and was battered (physically abused) or subject to extreme cruelty during the marriage.

2.

Extreme cruelty could include threats of harm to the alien or to the alien’s family members, intimidation and humiliation, chastising or making fun of the victim in public, displaying weapons, threatening to contact immigration authorities to have the person deported, economic abuse, such as refusing to give the victim any money or prohibiting them from looking for a job or tryPAGE 12

LEADING U.S. IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL ANSWERS YOUR IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS VIA ZOOM ON THE SIXTH EDITION OF CITIZEN PINOY – SOCIAL DISTANCING STYLE. Citizen Pinoy continues its public service by providing relevant information and updates on immigration. In this episode, Atty. Gurfinkel answers questions from Kapamilya in Illinois and California, among other places. Marie from Los Angeles, CA (top right) asks: Can a person who is on a student visa get work authorization through her parent’s petition? Linda from Chicago, IL (bottom right) would like to know: If the parent who is the original petitioner died, can they retain the priority date of the petition if one of the siblings acts as substitute sponsor for humanitarian reinstatement? These are just some of the questions that Attorney Gurfinkel (left) will answer on a brand-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY: Your Tanong, My Sagot – Social Distancing Style this Sunday, September 13 on TFC at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

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12

SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS Amidst this killer pandemic of COVid-19, a positive frame of mind and a healthy attitude are good preventive weapons against sARs-CoV2 virus on top of good personal hygiene and behavior, wearing a mask, avoiding crowds, and doing social distancing. the data, as of 4:38 Pm, Cst, september 8, 2020: Global – Cases: deaths: 27,716.807, with 900,763 deaths; the Philippines: 241,987, with 3196 deaths; and the UsA - 6,511,537, with 193,955 deaths, with these 6 states topping the list: California, 743,737, deaths - 13,815; texas, 671,975, deaths - 13, 857; Florida, 650, 092, deaths - 11,919; New York, 473,078, deaths33,100; Georgia, 285,630, deaths - 6,070; and illinois, 254,281, deaths - 8,405.

Here are 14 habits, behaviors, strategy for a healthy lifestyle to achieve and maintain good health and possible maximal longevity. this disciplined attitude and decorum help protect our dNA, therefore minimizing the risk for the development of major illnesses like high blood pressure, t2 diabetes, heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer.

http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426

14 ways to good health ‘Citizen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My Sagot As we stressed in the book, Let’s stop “Killing” Our Children, the best timing in protecting the dNA starts in the womb and dieting begins in the crib, for the prevention of genetic defects and future illnesses and health problems.

1. Less Alcohol, More Tea Alcohol is the cause of more than one third of all the illnesses known to man, directly or indirectly, including some forms of cancer. the same is true with the deadly effects of tobacco, which kills 8 million people each year around the world. tea, on the other hand, especially the green variety, is a well-known antioxidant that is good for the body, in more ways than one. Coffee is also a good anti-oxidant.

2. Less Meat, More Vegetables Red meat (pork, beef, etc), like the yellow yolk of the egg, is high in saturated fats and cholesterol. the medical literature is replete with countless studies that prove saturated fats and cholesterol are the prime causes of arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) that lead to arterial blockages, heart attack and stroke, and even cancers, like cancer of the colon. Vegetables, on the other hand, contain phytochemical anti-oxidants that protect the cellular structures

of the body, strengthen our immune system, not to mention providing the fiber and roughage our gastrointestinal system needs to ward of cancer of the colon. Vegetarians, in general, have lower risks of developing heart attack, stroke and cancer.

3. Less Salt, More Vinegar We eat too much salt today. And excess salt raises our blood pressure and causes our body to swell up, inside and outside, no matter how subtle or undetectable this may be. Low-salt diet, in general, is good for us. Before putting the saltshaker into action, taste the food first. Chances are we do not need more salt. And easy on the salty condiments also. the impact of excess salt on our cardiovascular system is adverse, even if we are healthy. You can imagine what it does to those with high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases.

Vinegar is a better alternative to salt, if the salt substitute (potassium) does not appeal to you. Vinegar also prevents spikes (the sudden rise and fluctuation) of blood insulin and glucose level after a meal, even among healthy people, and more so among diabetics. Vinegar itself, or as a salad dressing (oil and vinegar) or even in pickled PAGE 13

Getting an abusive green card...

PAGE 12 ing to get them fired from an existing job, stalking or harassing the victim at his or her workplace, social isolation, such as restricting the victim from using the phone or contacting friends or family members, sexual abuse, including forced sexual activity, threats to call immigration to have the person deported, being extremely jealous and accusing the victim of being flirtatious or cheating, even though they are not, and verbal abuse, such as yelling, screaming, insulting, or otherwise mistreating the person.

3. it does not require that the person be physically abused or beaten up to qualify for a green card under VAWA. As you can see, extreme cruelty includes mental abuse, yelling, and threats.

4. Evidence of battery or extreme cruelty could include police reports, medical records, affidavits from

clergy, or social workers, restraining orders, photographs showing bruises, or other evidence that could show a pattern of abuse and/ or violence. Even if there are no police reports, a person could still qualify if they properly present their case or by demonstrating a pattern of mental cruelty. if you married for love, but are now living in an abusive nightmare, you should consult with an attorney who can evaluate your situation and determine if you could be eligible to file a self-petition (without the need for the abuser to file a petition) and get a green card on your own. moreover, these filings are “confidential”. But most important, make sure that if you are in an abusive relationship, look after your physical safety. *** 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

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– Social Distancing Style’ answers more immigration questions on Sept. 13

CitiZEN Pinoy continues to provide relevant information to individuals and families who have concerns about the latest immigration policies and how it affects them.

Leading U.s. immigration attorney, michael J. Gurfinkel, answers questions from Linda of Chicago, iL and from marie of Los Angeles,

CA, and several others who sent in their inquiries. tune in when Atty. Gurfinkel answers questions like: retaining priority dates of a petition when the petitioner has already died; or eligibility to apply for citizenship by someone who acquired their green card through a fiancé visa, even if they were divorced by the petitioner.

some terms, like “follow to join,” will also be explained. it will be another informative episode on a brand-new episode of CitiZEN PiNOY: Your tanong, my sagot – social distancing style this sunday, september 13 on tFC at 6:15 pm Pst/Est (9:15 pm Est thru select Cable/satellite providers).

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Marichu Vera-Perez Maceda, 77

By Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

RECOGNiZEd as one of the matriarchs of the Philippine movie industry, maria Azucena Vera-Perez maceda–affectionately known as “manay ichu”– died monday at age of 77. in an official statement sent out to news outlets by the Vera-Perez and maceda families, the wife of the late statesman and senator Ernesto “Ernie” maceda succumbed to cardio respiratory failure. she is survived by her five sons Emmanuel, Ernesto Jr., Erwin, Edmond and Edward. maceda’s nephew Rep. Christopher de Venecia– son of maceda’s sister Gina de Venecia–paid tribute to his aunt on Facebook, writing, “mami-miss kita nang tahasan mama tutu. isang haligi ng industriya ng pelikulang Pilipino na nagalaga at nag-aruga sa akin sa aking paglaki, hanggang sa aking pagtanda. mahal na mahal ka namin. Rest in love, rest in power, and rest in peace mama tutu.

Ngayo’y malaya ka na sa sakit at karamdaman. ipagpapatuloy namin ang iyong nasimulan at ang legacy ng Vera Perez family.” meanwhile, actor and senate President Vicente sotto 3rd also mourned maceda’s passing through his twitter account and said, “Our Beloved manay ichu will now rest at the bosom of the Lord our God. the movie industry will never be the same. We owe her a lot. We love her deeply.” maceda grew up in the realm of show business with Jose Vera-Perez, founder of sampaguita Pictures, for a father. the family company is a trail-

Marichu ‘Manay Ichu’ Vera-Perez Maceda

blazer in Filipino movie production and considered to be the country’s biggest and leading film outfit from the 1930s to the early 1980s. Under her watch, critically acclaimed movies such as “dyesebel” (1979) and “Batch ’81” (1982) emerged, which today are firmly etched in Filipino pop culture.

Besides producing movies, maceda was revered as an industry matriarch for she also helped establish film-related agencies such as the movie Workers Welfare Foundation (mowelfund), the Film developmental Council of the Philippines, the metro manila Film Festival (mmFF), the Film Academy of the Philippines, the Philippine motion Picture Producers Association (PmPPA), and the Experimental Cinema of the Philippines (ECP), among others. she further headed the international Film Festival Committee (iFFCOm) at one point in her very productive career. in June 2018, FdCP led by its Chairman and the sunday times magazine columninst Liza diño honored maceda in a momentous event titled “A spotlight on mothers of

Philippine Cinema.” in receiving her ina ng Pelikulang Pilipino recognition, maceda’s speech laid out the lessons she learned in the industry for others to benefit.

“Remember that aside from being an art form, this is basically a business, so you have to at least break even so you can recover your investment and produce the second film. Para que pa kayo magpoproduce ng bagong pelikula (kung) kayo lang ang nakakaintindi, wala namang manonood? Hindi na kayo makakagawa ng pangalawang pelikula, tandaan nyo yan. Never make a film solely to satisfy yourself. make your film for a wide audience,” she declared. more poignantly, she also bade both creatives and movie entrepreneurs that one must love the industry without expecting any in return.

“Love your craft and love the industry. don’t expect anything back aside from your investment of course.

Huwag mong asahang ibalik kaagad sa’yo ang ipinakita mong pagmamahal sapagkat balang araw babalik yan sa inyo tulad ng tinatamasa ko ngayon.”

A mass will be held for maceda monday evening, 6 p.m. at Arlington Chapel A, after which her remains will be cremated immediately. Her ashes will then be inurned at the sampaguita Chapel beginning tuesday, september 8 at 1 p.m. until her family decides on their final plans. meanwhile, the Vera Perez and maceda families request that in in lieu of flowers for their beloved matriarch, donations may be made in her honor to mOWELFUNd.

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‘Cool’ hobbies and collections of stars revealed

By Jan

MIlo severo Philstar.com

By Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

TO further strengthen its online presence with a recently launched YouTube channel, GMA Artist Center promises to connect netizens with their artists through meaningful virtual interactions.

Continuously creating a wide range of fresh, original, and exciting content for their channel, GMA Artist Center also began streaming one of its new video series dubbed “Cool Hub” which features the different collections of the stars and is hosted by Yasser Marta, Myrtle Sarrosa, Manolo Pedrosa and Ayra Mariano. “’Cool Hub’ means collections and hobbies. It’s an infotainment show na nagca-cater sa ating younger audience and kids at heart.

So we feature arts and crafts, hobbies, health and lifestyle, also collections of the artistas na pwede nilang maishare sa mga viewers.

It’s an entertainment show na makakapagbigay ng nostalgic feels sa bawat isa.

Lalabas din yung creative side natin kung saan pwedeng maging fun ang quarantine days natin,” Mariano explained during a Zoom interview.

“There’s the collaborative aspect of it na we have four hosts and each of us have different personalities, interests so we’re not just there to host. We’re also chosen to introduce our own interests and we also in a way share it through hosting. It’s very engaging for both the host and the one being interviewed,” Pedrosa furthered.

For their first guest, Mariano reached out to Ashley Ortega who got to share her Barbie doll collection from when she was a kid.

“I was one of the first guests so I was given the opportunity to share what I’ve been collecting. Actually, hindi ako vocal about this, but during this lockdown, ngayon ko lang nabigyan ng pansin yung collections ko kasi I’m always out and about. Now, I was able to look back at my dolls which I had during my childhood.

I also showed the ones that I was able to open for the first time,” Ortega declared.

“Aside from the dolls, I was able to start another collection and hobbies. This

Kris breaks silence on canceled TV5 show

Ayra Mariano Photo from Instagram/@ayramariano

Manolo Pedrosa Photo from Instagram/@manolopedrosa

Myrtle Sarrosa Photo from Instagram/@myrtlegail

Yasser Marta

Photo from Instagram/ @itsyassermarta

time, naging plantita na ako, ‘yan na ang bago kong collection — plants and flowers, also teacups. It’s very nice in some sort because the lockdown gave me the chance to get to know myself,” she added.

And for their part, Pedrosa will showcase his new found hobby of reading books and Marta, on the other hand, will present his car and motoring collection.

New-found skill Aside from highlighting their personal side, the newbie actors were able to unleash their hosting skills which they haven’t brought to the spotlight before.

“Laking pasalamat ko sa Artist Center dahil sa sitwasyon ngayon, ang daming nawalan ng trabaho pero napakaswerte namin dahil isa kami sa napiling mag-host at simulan itong show,” Marta mentioned.

“The show basically presents our personal side. Also, we’re not just hosts here.

We also suggest what topics to promote. Like me, marami akong friends sa car and motor scene, so meron din akong mabibigay sa show.

And ang maganda din dito is free flowing ang conversation whenever we host.

‘Yun din yung gusto namin sa ‘Cool Hub.’ Ayaw namin maging scripted yung show, pero gusto naming sobrang natural yung pakikipagusap ng bawat isa,” he added.

Mariano seconded, “For me, it’s a learning experience lalo na yung first time na sinabi sa akin ng handler ko na in-offer ito ng Talent Development. Mas naencourage ako na matuto pa doon sa hosting skills.

Especially hindi lang siya yung hosting na voice ang gamit, but also confidence onscreen as well as writing skills namin.

“Our creative minds ay napapagana namin through this show kasi it’s a collaborative effort, nag-iisip din kami sa show na ito. Hindi lang basta bibigyan kami ng talking points or kung about saan ang episode. We help, kumbaga part din ng pag-aaral namin as actors, we can also be confident as hosts.”

Finally Manolo noted, “It goes back sa collaborative efforts na we’re not just actors. We’re also producers and hosts na we can make content and we can make it engaging. Very important din is being engaged with the work. What we’re hosting about is something we’re interested in. Doon lalabas our own personally, kung saan makikita yung other side namin ng mga viewers.

“As with hosting, it’s also a skill. Acting and hosting is still a skill so it’s something that we all have to learn and I’m lucky enough PAGE 15

“QUEEN of All Media” Kris Aquino revealed that her much-awaited TV comeback will not happen anytime soon.

In her Instagram account, Kris said the show’s producer chose somebody else to host the show.

“My hoped for TV comeback isn’t happening, the producer chose somebody else he and his sales team felt was more viable,” Kris said.

“No sugarcoating from me, you’re getting the honest truth,” she added.

Kris also revealed that she had a scary month because people close to her son Bimby tested positive for novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Kris Aquino Photo from Instagram_@krisaquino

“It’s been a scary month, 4 people who had regular, close contact with Bimb and me all tested positive for COVID-19

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middle of August,” Kris said.

“Bimb has asthma, and I have my autoimmune conditions. Yet we both tested negative, even though we had sustained contact and are high risk individuals,” she added.

Thankfully, Kris said, her eldest son Josh was in Tarlac when the exposure happened. Three of the four people close to them who tested COVID-19 positive have also recovered.

“I no longer wish to focus on what’s given, rather, I am so very grateful for the blessings, and YES, our health is the most precious one.”

It was last month when Kris introduced her TV5 show, “Love Life with Kris.”

The actress, however, has deleted all her social media posts about the show.

14 ways to good health...

PAGE 12 vegetables, have been found to help in weight reduction, besides in diabetes control.

4. Less Sugar, More Fresh Fruit Low carbohydrate diet is in, for better health. Less sugar, less sweets (no soft drinks, minimal candies, ice cream, rice, bread, cakes, etc) is better. This is medically proven. Most of our food and food products, which basically contain protein and vegetables, also have carbohydrates in them. So, eating meals with two only tablespoon full of rice, or even without rice, is healthier for us. The more carbo we eat, the greater the chances of gaining weight and developing diabetes. Fresh fruits provide fructose, the healthier form of sugar, and also give us fiber, which is beneficial to our colon in the prevention of GI diseases, like cancers.

Diabetics will have to consult with their physician/dietician when adding fruits to their diabetic diet regimen.

5. Less Eating, More Chewing Most of us eat more than we should. My former mentor when I was in medical school, Dr. Fe Del Mundo, a greatly respective and renowned Filipina international icon in Pediatrics, who is now 94 and still practicing in her hospital in Quezon City, told me her “secret” for health and longevity: “Push yourself away from the table

a little less than full.” This might sound overly simplistic or even impertinent, but she is right. Medical science has shown that people in general today eat more than what the body needs to stay healthy, and that eating less than what we consider “enough” is a better strategy to health.

We really eat too much. This is why there are more than 300,000 diabetics in the Philippines and more than 18.2 million among Americans.

Chewing the food well is a healthier habit than gobbling the food down in a hurry.

And drinking a lot of water before each meal, or while eating, is also a great way to control our appetite and our weight.

6. Less Couch, More Exercise A couch potato “addict” holding the remote control, watching the television, munching on carbos is a most likely target for obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart attack and stroke. The human body was made to be physically active, for better performance and efficiency in the maintenance of good health and well-being. The more exercise we reasonably do daily, starting from our teenage years, the better is our health. This explains why athletes, in general, are wellconditioned, fit, and healthy, even when they reach their 80s and 90s, physically and emotionally.

The following are the ad-

ditional 8 simplified ways to help attain good health, which are not only philosophical but scientifically proven to be medically sound in the successful pursuit of physical, mental, and emotional health: 7. Less Driving, More Walking 8. Less Words, More Action 9. Less Greed, More Giving 10. Less Politics, More Religion 11. Less Worry, More Sleep 12. Less Frown, More Smiles 13. Less Crying, More laughter 14. Less Anger, More Love.

The common denominator in all these 14 is Love. If we love our body, our family, our fellowmen, including strangers around the globe, we can achieve better health, greater happiness, and reach our natural maximum potential longevity and, maybe, hopefully, possibly, also attain world peace. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States.

Websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com; Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.

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SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

• (212) N E W http://www.asianjournal.com YO R K / N E W J E R S EY 655-5426 SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

people events arts culture entertainment

NOSTALGIA FOR SALE:

How So Sarap NYC is blazing a trail through Filipino street food

by MoMar

THERE are some food items that automatically trigger nostalgic trips down memory lane for many, and that holds true for Filipinos who have lived abroad for a while now who have an earnest yearning to travel back home.

g. vIsaYa / AJPress

Case in point: the long lines at Kabisera on Allen St. on Labor Day Weekend, where a popup shop sold its products outdoors. Hundreds of people lined up just to have a taste of classic Filipino street food, the way they were sold and eaten

back home.

For four weeks now, So Sarap NYC’s fishball cart has been attracting hordes of people: some wanting to have a taste of the past and a few curious about the long lines.

The aroma of fishballs,

kikiam and kwek kwek being fried, as isaw, pork and chicken barbecue and betamax cooked to perfection on the grill wafted along the streets of Manhattan and pulled in some onlookers. That’s the thing about comfort food, it PAGE 15

VJ Navarro working the grill. For now, itʼs a family and friends affair, and as he told the Asian Journal, “My family has been such a huge support system. I am very honored to be having my dad along side with me and my wife who works tirelessly, on her days off. My cousin and nephew, are a huge plus in helping us out too.”

AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 11-17, 2020

Virgilio Navarro, Sr. (left) is in charge of frying the fishballs, kikiam and kwek kwek. He told us he takes pride in recreating the traditional sauces of these street food and described it as “Pilipinong Pilipino and lasa!”

AJPress Photos by Momar G. Visaya

How So Sarap NYC is blazing...

PAGE 14 sparks something and sends you on a multi sensory trip down memory lane.

The idea of this food cart making its way on the streets of NYC is the brainchild of high school friends VJ Navarro and Sebastian Shan. As early as February this year, they trade on their official Instagram page that their mission was “to remind you of your childhood memories.” Thankfully, the global pandemic did not totally derail their plans.

Navarro earned his chops and worked crazy hours in restaurants in the city like Lure Fishbar, Sessanta, Burger and Barrel and Nobu. He kept telling himself to work extra hard for his dream to open up his own place and do his own thing. With the extra push coming from his friend, the idea of So Sarap began to form.

The two friends realized that there was no Filipino street food in the city, at least not the traditional one.

Navarro’s dad Virgilio Sr. had some experience doing it in Manila before and it was him who influenced his children into it that they became huge fans.

They have almost the entire arsenal of Filipino street food. They have kwek kwek (quail eggs), betamax (pork blood), isaw (chicken intestine), magwheels (pork intestine), walkman (pig’s ears), pork and chicken barbecue, kikiam, adidas (chicken feet) and balunbalunan (chicken gizzards).

They also have balut and taho, served the traditional way of course. The only things missing there to complete the experience? Halo

So Sarap NYC’s lineup includes kwek kwek (quail eggs), betamax (pork blood), isaw (chicken intestine), magwheels (pork intestine), walkman (pig’s ears), pork and chicken barbecue, kikiam, adidas (chicken feet) and balunbalunan (chicken gizzards) and four kinds of sauces: maanghang (spicy), suka (vinegar), matamis (sweet) and tamis anghang (sweet and spicy).

halo, melon juice and sago’t gulaman, but Kabisera got that covered.

VJ’s dad makes the sauces, all lined up on top of the cart as the fishballs are fried to perfection. Customers have a choice of maanghang (spicy), suka (vinegar), matamis (sweet) and tamis

anghang (sweet and spicy).

And for some diehard and loyal street food eaters, the sauces he made are just like the ones you can find roaming the streets in the Philippines.

Last weekend, they sold out of some items in the first hour alone. Some people fell

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VJ said that his father introduced Filipino street food to them and they have become huge fans mainly because they are inexpensive and yet tasty.

So Sarap NYC has been attracting hordes of people and long lines in the popups they have done so far. People have come from Delaware and Connecticut to taste what they have to offer.

of home. That right there, means mission accomplished,” Navarro shared.

“We’re very overwhelmed with the love and support everyone has been showing us. Means a lot.”

Shan, who is French Chinese, used to go to the Navarro home for dinner and family gatherings, echoed his friend’s sentiments. He was enamored with Filipino culture that he even joined his college’s Filipino club.

“In one of our talks with the family, we discussed about what Filipinos miss here, and they said they miss going outside and eating street food from vendors. We want to bring that nostalgia back,” Shan said.

The Navarros trace their roots in San Carlos City, Pangasinan. VJ’s dad told us that they moved from the Philippines to Italy and lived there for 20 years. VJ and his siblings were all born there.

They migrated to the United States a little before 9/11.

VJ didn’t finish college as he went straight to working in restaurants.

“I started as a busboy, then moved to the kitchen as a dishwasher and worked myself up to Sous Chef,” he shared. “Running So Sarap NYC, has been very new to us all. We’re still starting.”

For now, they’re working with a tight crew, which in-

volved his immediate family. While grilling isaw, VJ pointed at his wife, nephew, cousin and his dad who was then frying the fishballs.

He is thankful that he has his family’s full support in this new endeavor and acknowledges them as his huge support system.

“My grandpa, Tatay Tomas was very known as a family man and a businessman. And my grandparents on my dad side were also hustling to survive and keep their family afloat. I’m just trying to continue their legacies,” he said.

For now, they just want to keep the good vibes flowing as they introduce and shine a spotlight on parts of Filipino culture that were previously unheard of. In their own words, enjoying a day of “gimik with the barkada, (hangout with friends) keeping it chill with street food, refreshing drinks, good vibes, lots of tsismisan (chitchatting) and laughter.” And as the summer season officially ends in a couple of weeks, the team said they are going to close the fishball cart but will reopen next year, along with a promise that they have a big surprise in store and will go out with a bang. (To see where their next popups are, check and follow their Instagram account @sosarapnyc.)

in line for an hour, others who got in much later had to wait for more than two hours just to get their orders in. Add an extra hour to wait for the food.

Since it was a long weekend, there were people who drove from Delaware, Connecticut and Atlantic City just to have a tiny taste of home.

Born during pandemic Opening a business is already hard, opening one during the pandemic is on an all new level.

VJ and Sebastian have been toying with the idea for a while now and they had plans to start before the pandemic happened, and that delayed their plans. They made some changes and opted to be cautious and go ahead.

“Honestly, we were very skeptical. We didn’t want to do it,” Navarro told the Asian Journal. “As soon as phase 3 opened and outdoor dining became a thing, we took our first step.”

For the first couple of weeks they went to Kabisera, a Filipino cafe in the Lower East Side. We went to their third, this time at Milk Money Kitchens on Avenue A. For the next three weeks, they are back at Kabisera.

“We’ve been receiving a lot of great reviews, many stating that it felt like a taste

‘Cool’ hobbies and...

PAGE 13 na nagprovide yung Talent Development ng hosting workshop. I would say na it’s natural din kasi it’s something we’re engaged in,” he added.

Aside from “Cool Hub,”

other online shows featured in the official YouTube channel of GMA Artist Center are “In The Limelight,” where viewers can get to know Kapuso stars better; “Hangout,” which is a weekly live fan meet; talk show “Just

In,” hosted by Paolo Contis and Vaness del Moral; game show “Quiz Beh!,” hosted

by Betong Sumaya; and online dating show “E-Date Mo Si Idol,” which will be hosted by comedian Pekto Nacua.

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SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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