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Volume 19 - No. 36 • 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

S E P T E MBE R 1 1 - 1 7 , 2 0 2 0

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USA

DATELINE Filipinos Jose Antonio Vargas, Melanie Perkins make Fortune’s new 40 Under 40 lists FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

FILIPINO-American immigration activist and journalist Jose Antonio Vargas and Filipina-Australian entrepreneur Melanie Perkins landed on Fortune Magazine’s all-new expansive 40 Under 40 lists that were released Wednesday, September 2.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the many calls to end social injustice and racial inequality that shaped this year, Fortune stepped away from its single list of 40 influential changemakers and presented 40 individuals in five categories of finance, technology, health care, government and politics, and media and entertainment.

“It’s been a year of monumental change,” the magazine wrote in its announcement. “The coronavirus pandemic has touched every aspect of our lives—fundamentally altering the ways in which we work and socialize.”

Describing the individuals selected this year, Daniel Bentley, senior editor at Fortune, said in a video that they “stood up for

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Get ready for COVID-19 vaccine distribution by November, CDC tells states THE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sent a letter out to state officials this week asking them to prepare to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine by November 1, two days before the presidential election.

“CDC urgently requests your assistance in expediting applications for these distribution facilities, and, if necessary, asks that you consider waiving requirements that would prevent these facilities from becoming fully operational by Nov. 1, 2020,” CDC Director Robert Redfield wrote to states in a letter obtained by news company McClatchy.

In three planning documents obtained by the New York Times, the CDC details how health officials should go about shipping, distributing, and handling two vaccine candidates labeled “Vaccine A” and “Vaccine B.” According to the guidelines, health care professionals and essential workers, including long term care facility (LTCF) residents and staff, would be prioritized.

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

Pemberton to be deported after release

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippine 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.

“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 Immi-

gration 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 Pember-

Wildfires continue to scorch Northern California region Bay Area residents wake up to ‘orange’ sky

by JOSEPH

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 genderneutral noun or adjective that relates to natives or inhabitants of the 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

L. PERALTA

AJPress

BAY Area residents woke up to sunset-like conditions on Wednesday, September 9 as smoke clouds and a thick marine layer combined to prevent the sun’s rays from fighting through the dense atmospheric blanket.

The orange-colored sky surprised many Northern California residents, and could be observed in cities as far east as Lathrop and as far north as Eureka.

A light dusting of ash covered vehicles parked along streets and uncovered parking lots.

The eerie scene could be described as one straight from a Hollywood disaster or post-apocalyptic/fantasy movie, similar to scenes in “Knowing,” “Deep Impact” and “Pitch Black.” The hue also resembled the color of the planet Mars in the movie “The Martian” starring Matt Damon.

Even San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa IS IT AN ECLIPSE? Bay Area residents woke up to semi-darkness on Wednesday, September 9 as smoke clouds from burning wildfires and a thick was surprised at what he saw on Wednesday mornmarine layer blanketed the region which combined to block off the sun’s rays to create a sky with an orange hue, eerily resembling scenes from ing.

Hollywood movies like Knowing, Pitch Black and Deep Impact. The effect made the atmosphere look more like sunset, rather than sunrise and daytime.

AJPress photo by Joseph L. Peralta

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‘Drug war’ deaths rise amid coronavirus DFA notes an increase in pandemic — international rights monitor cases of overseas Filipinos recovering from COVID-19

by FRANCO LUNA Philstar.com

MANILA — Extrajudicial killings linked to the Duterte administration’s flagship antidrug 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, September 9, Asia division researcher Carlos Conde of the New York-based Human Rights Watch said that the national govern-

ment’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 Covid-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

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Gender-neutral terms ‘Filipinx,’‘Pinxy’ added to online dictionary

by AJPRESS

ton 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, irelease ko. Pardon. Eh ang pardon, walang mga question ‘yan (So, I’ll release him. Pardon. 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 u PAGE A2

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. u PAGE A3

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday, September 9, observed a rise in the number of overseas Filipinos who have recovered from the novel coronavirus as it recorded 49 new recoveries.

“Figures today show another increase in the number of Filipinos abroad who have recovered from COVID-19, with 49 new recoveries in Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East,” it said.

As it stands, the total tally of recovered patients is at 6,382.

The agency also logged 15 new cases, bringing the official num-

ber of infections to 10,151.

Meanwhile, the death toll remained at 763 as there were no new fatalities reported.

Overall by region, Europe – which comprises 18 countries – has recorded 1,168 Filipino cases, including 204 undergoing treatment, 869 recoveries and 95 deaths.

The Middle East and Africa, covering 27 countries, has reported 6,999 cases; of which, 2,339 are undergoing treatment, 482 deaths and 4,178 recoveries.

The Asia Pacific region, which spans across 20 countries, has 1,185 cases, with 298 undergoing treatment, 879 recoveries, and eight deaths. u PAGE A3

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september 11-17, 2020 • NOrCAL AsIAN JOUrNAL

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From the Front Page

Pemberton to be deported...

PAGE A1 t 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 Sec-

retary, 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

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

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 mabibigyangpansin 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

At 11:15 a.m., the skies in Northern California had an orange hue instead of light blue on a normal day.

AJPress photos by Joseph L. Peralta

Wildfires continue to scorch Northern California...

PAGE A1 t “When you wake up and don’t know whether its morning or night, that can be just a little shocking,” Canepa said in a press statement on Wednesday.

“I have to ask myself, ‘Are we literally going through a zombie apocalypse?’ because that’s what it feels like right now. The Bay Area Quality Management District (BAAQMD) issued a Spare the Air alert for today and tomorrow (September 10) so no one should be driving cars or burning wood or doing anything to put themselves or their neighbors at risk. Stay home and stay safe.”

Air quality index readings from different sources over the Bay Area indicated “moderate” to “unhealthy” air levels, which meant that residents are advised not to stay outside too long, especially for those with breathing problems or sensitivity to particulates in the air.

The smoke clouds, according to reports, seem to be coming from fires in the regions to the north of San Francisco, including the August Complex Fires in Mendocino National Forest.

As of Tuesday, September 8, multiple fires in the Northern California region had burned more than 1.78 million acres, according to a report from the Sacramento Bee. In all, more than 2.5 million acres have burned this year due to wildfires across California.

With the worst of the fire season yet to come, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) is bracing for more wildfires as September and October tend to have more high wind periods and vegetation has also become more dried out.

According to the same report, Cal Fire said upwards of 14,000 firefighters are battling 28 lightning complexes and major fires across the state as of Wednesday.

Containment continues to increase for most of the major fires, although Northern California and Santa Ana winds were said to be stoking numerous fires.

“While firefighters are gaining ground on many of the lightningcaused fires in Northern California, firefighters are aggressively battling wildfires up and down the state,” Cal Fire spokesperson Daniel Berlant, while adding that currently extreme heat and high winds are behind the fires’ fierce spread.

Most of California remained under a red flag warning until Wednesday.

A shopping center in Pacifica, CA had its lights on as sunset-like conditions blanketed the Bay Area region.

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), which began preemptive power shutoffs when fire conditions are exceptionally dangerous starting in 2019, cut off power to about 172,000 customers in 22 counties to prevent more fires on Tuesday but began the process of restoring power to those customers on Wednesday. The utility company has said that it will try to make outages this year “smaller in size, short in length and smarter for customers.”

Here are updates on some of the major fires still burning in the Northern California region: • LNU Lightning Complex fire – 91% containment as of Tuesday. Sparked by lightning on August 17, it covers the Hennessey and other smaller fires burning in Napa County on the eastern zone, and the Walbridge Fire west of Healdsburg in the western zone. Total area burned: 375,209 acres.

• SCU Lightning Complex – 94% containment as of Monday, September 7. This is a series of fires in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Santa Clara and Stanislaus counties that was sparked by lightning on August 17. Total area burned: 396,624 acres.

• August Complex – 24% containment as of Wednesday. This fire is currently burning in the Mendocino National Forest and is now the second-largest wildfire by acreage in the state’s history.

This fire was initially 37 different fires, but many have merged or been contained. It has burned areas in Glenn, Mendocino, Lake, Tehama and Trinity counties. Total area burned: 421,899 acres.

• CZU Lightning Complex – 81% containment as of Tuesday. This fire was sparked by lightning in the counties of Santa Cruz and San Mateo. Total area burned: 86,509 acres.

• Butte/Tehama/Glenn Light-

ning Complex – 58% containment as of Tuesday. This series of fires which started on August 19 have two zones: the western zone which covers Tehama/Glenn and the eastern zone, which covers Butte. Total area burned: 69,735 acres.

• Red Salmon Complex – 17% containment as of Wednesday.

This fire, which started on August 18 is within the ShastaTrinity National Forest in Humboldt County. Total area burned: 66,108b acres.

• Oak Fire – 10% containment as of Tuesday. This fire in Mendocino County, which started on Monday, is burning 6 miles north of Willits, and erupted quickly which forced evacuations. Total area burned: 863 acres.

• North Complex and Bear Fire – 38% containment as of Wednesday. The Bear Fire forced mandatory evacuations around Lake Oroville, including communities in Bangor, Berry Creek, Brush Creek, Clipper Mills, Copley Acres, Feather Falls, Forbestown, and Kelly Ridge. The City of Oroville has been placed under an evacuation warning. Total area burned: 150,140 acres.

• Creek Fire – 0% containment as of Wednesday. This fire, which started on Friday, September 4, is burning in Fresno and Madera counties. The Creek Fire has damaged a ski area in China Peak and burned property at Dowville tract, and the area between Billy Creek and Camp Silver Fir. This was also the area where Navy and Army National Guard helicopters rescued dozens of people trapped overnight by the aggressive fires. Total area burned: 163,138 acres.

Other fires in the region include the Fork Fire, Sheep Fire, Woodward Fire, Slater Fire and Slink Fire. Containment ranges from 0% to 95% for these fires. n

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A

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

PAGE A1 t “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)

Get ready for COVID-19 vaccine distribution by...

PAGE A1 t They also ask states to identify critical populations such as those at increased risk for severe illness, persons over 65 years of age, those living in group settings, and those with limited access to vaccination services, to receive the first available doses of vaccine.

“The COVID-19 vaccine landscape is evolving and uncertain, Jose Antonio Vargas, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and immigration Melanie Perkins, CEO and co-founder of Canva, an online graphic and these scenarios may evolve activist design and publishing tool as more information is available,” reads one document, adding that the planners should assume that more vaccines would be available PAGE A1 t have signed up for the product.

Means to Me.” for distribution early 2021.

With many classrooms now On Twitter, Vargas said that he President Donald Trump has racial justice, they stood up for inequality, stood up against policy was “honored” to be included in moving online due to the pan- before suggested that a vaccine or took a stand to help with the Fortune Magazine’s 40 under 40 demic, the company has also would be available by the end of list as an undocumented entre- dedicated free tools and creative this year through efforts of his coronavirus.” resources for teachers that inte- “Operation Warp Speed,” an iniJose Antonio Vargas, Govern- preneur.

Melanie Perkins, Technology grate with Google Classroom to tiative the White House formed ment and Politics Among entrepreneurs listed help them better engage their to accelerate obtaining a vaccine Vargas was among leaders in the government and politics cat- in the technology category was students and foster their learning by January.

During the Republican Nationegory for founding Define Ameri- Perkins who made headlines last experiences.

“What’s more, Perkins has al Convention at the end of Aucan, an organization aimed at year after becoming the third shifting conversations around im- richest person in Australia under become one of Australia’s most gust, Trump said a vaccine would migrants and identity in the U.S. the age of 40 as the founder of successful tech entrepreneurs be ready “before the end of the and one of the world’s youngest year or maybe even sooner.”

Canva. through media and storytelling.

In 2016, Perkins was included female tech unicorn founders,” Dr. Moncef Slaoui, former diHaving moved to the U.S from Fortune wrote. n rector of the CDC’s office of public the Philippines at the age of 12 as in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list.

Perkins’ passion for graphic an undocumented immigrant— an experience Vargas first wrote design grew from a side job of about in an essay for New York teaching graphic design to stuTimes Magazine in 2011—Vargas dents with traditional programs went on to accomplish a string of like Photoshop and InDesign, to eventually founding Canva, a free accolades.

“The risk paid off,” wrote For- online design platform which Fortune before highlighting Vargas’ tune described as a “viable comPulitzer Prize for his coverage petitor to the likes of Adobe.”

Even amidst the coronavirus on the Virginia Tech shooting, his Time magazine cover for his pandemic, the Sydney-based story on immigration, his auto- company managed to close a $60 biographical documentary film million funding round in June, “Documented,” which aired on and is now valued at $6 billion CNN, his Emmy-nominated spe- and employing workers not only cial “White People” created for in Sydney, but in Beijing, China MTV, his 2018 memoir “Dear and Manila, Philippines.

Aside from the over 20 million America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen,” and his pro- global users who sign on to Canduction of the hit Broadway va’s platform each month, some show “What the Constitution 85% of Fortune 500 companies

Filipinos Jose Antonio Vargas, Melanie Perkins...

DFA notes an increase in...

PAGE A1 t

The Americas – covering nine countries like the United States – have 799 reported cases, with 165 undergoing treatment, 456 recoveries, and 178 deaths.

“The total DOH IHR verified cases increased at 2,013, with nine new verified cases reported today in Asia and the Pacific,” the DFA said.

“Furthermore, the total number of countries and regions with confirmed cases among Filipinos remains at 74,” it added.

Over 7,000 Filipinos repatriated from Kuwait The DFA also announced that it has facilitated the return of 7,116 Filipinos from Kuwait since the pandemic started.

It added that a chartered Kuwait Airways flight carrying more than 310 overseas Filipinos left for Manila early morning on Sept.

6. It was the 15th flight arranged by the Embassy since June and was granted clearance to land in Manila by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) upon the endorsement of the Embassy and the DFA.

“Through the initiative of the Embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, who asked employers and recruitment agencies to pay for the one-way air tickets of their Filipino workers, the Embassy was able to mount these chartered flights at little cost to the Philippine government. The Embassy only paid for the tickets, through the DFA’s Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Fund, of those who literally had no resources left due to the COVID-19 lockdown,” the DFA said.

“The Kuwaiti government also repatriated undocumented and distressed Filipinos from Kuwait, including those who took part in the amnesty program last April 2020, as part of its preventive measures against COVID-19.

A total of 2,466 Filipinos were flown home between 25 March and 03 June 2020, at the expense of the Kuwaiti government,” it added.

The agency on Sunday, September 6, announced that a total of 164,368 overseas Filipinos had been repatriated, of which 42,583 were brought home in August. n

‘Drug war’ deaths rise amid...

PAGE A1 t 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 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, September 8, 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 selfinterested attempt to evade accountability, Cascolan should ensure that the PNP fully cooperates with investigating bodies.” n

health preparedness and current chief scientific advisor to Operation Warp Speed, told NPR’s All Things Considered on Thursday, September 3 that sending out the guidelines was the “right thing to do” in the event a vaccine does become available.

“It’s a matter of planning,” said Slaoui, adding that the operation has been performing “very well” and “even better” than he was hoping.

Slaoui added, however, that having a vaccine ready by October or November was “extremely unlikely” but not impossible.

“There is a very, very low chance that the trials that are running as we speak could read before the end of October, and therefore there could be—if all other conditions required for an emergency use authorization are met and approved,” said Slaoui.

“I think it’s extremely unlikely but not impossible.”

He also confirmed that the two vaccines outlined in the guidelines were being developed by Pfizer and Moderna.

With safety being a major concern, Slaoui said vaccines would

not be introduced before clinical trials were completed. Completion would include an assessment by a data safety monitoring board independent of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. government, and those involved in the operation.

Slaoui also said he understands the concerns surrounding the fact that the announced distribution date is just days before the national presidential election.

Skeptics worry that the push for a vaccine is fueled by the urge to get good news out right before election day.

“I get the point,” said Slaoui, adding that he learned about the letter sent to the states on the news.

The letter, he said, “is one that says we need to be prepared as of.”

“I do think there is a possibility that the clinical trials—albeit very low, as I said before, extremely low—but there is a possibility that the trials read out before the end of October,” said Slaoui. “It would be irresponsible not to be ready if that was the case.” (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

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Panelo: COVID-19 should not hinder gov’t projects

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

CHIEF Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Wednesday, September 9, said the novel coronavirus pandemic should not stop the government from implementing its projects as he defended the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Manila Bay ‘white sand’ project.

He reiterated that a budget has been specifically allotted for it, even before the global health crisis started.

“Meron na ngang budget dati dun, meron din tayong budget sa COVID-19 (There has been a budget allocated for the project, there’s also a budget for COVID19),” Panelo said.

He also stressed that the country has to work around the pandemic.

“Hindi pupuwedeng tayong kadenahan nito, maging sagabal sa ating ginagawa sa araw-araw.

Hindi pupuwede yung takot mangibabaw sa’tin na hindi na tayo makagalaw (It should not chain us, it should not hinder our daily activities. We cannot allow fear to prevent us from doing any-

thing),” Panelo said.

The DENR on Sept. 3 confirmed that piles of crushed dolomite were being poured on the stretch of Manila Bay’s shore to act as white sand and beautify the area.

The makeover project, which will fill 500 meters of the baywalk with white sand, is covered under the P389-million Manila Bay rehabilitation program launched

by Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu in January last year.

DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu, for his part, maintained that the dolomites used to beautify the stretch of Manila Bay’s shore are safe following claims of its potential health hazard.

“It is not listed by the Mines Safety and Health Association, Occupational Safety and Health Association or even in the International Agency for Research of Cancer as a carcinogen,” he said during the budget deliberation of the DENR before the House committee on appropriations.

Cimatu explained that the hazardous ones are the dolomite dust particles with the size of 10 to 15 microns.

He then pointed out that the

size of the dolomites being used in Manila Bay is 2,000 to 5,000 microns or 100 times bigger than dust.

“Therefore, [they are] not suspended in air and it cannot be inhaled,” he said.

The Department of Health has also confirmed that the artificial white sand will not pose a serious health risk to the public.

“In terms of the general safety of the public who will be enjoying the shoreline once permitted, DOH assures that no untoward incidents will occur as a result of this endeavor,” it said Wednesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, meanwhile, said the white sand project will prevent soil erosion and flooding.

“Itong ginawa po nila, ito po ay tinatawag na beach enhancement, so hindi lang po ito pagpapaganda. Itong beach enhancement pong ito ay para po maiwasan ang soil erosion at para makatulong din po sa flood control (What they’re doing is called beach enhancement, so it’s not just beautification. This beach enhancement is also to prevent soil erosion and help flood control),” he said. n

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

SC consolidates 29 anti-terror law petitions

The respondents shall be represented by the Office of the Solicitor General.

THE Supreme Court (SC) on The petitioners asked the court Tuesday, September 8, ordered to stop the implementation of the consolidation of the 29 peti- the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 as tions filed challenging the legal- they questioned some of its proity of the anti-terror law. visions, including the arrest of The high court en suspected terrorists without warbanc held deliberations on the rants and their detention for up case on Tuesday. The tribunal to 24 days without charges. ordered the respondents — ExThe petitions to be consoliSecretary Salvador dated were those filed by lawyer A copy of the resolution has as shown in his media inter- ecutive Medialdea, the Anti Terrorism Howard Calleja, along with forviews. yet to be made public.

This is at least the second Council and Anti-Money Laun- mer Education secretary Bro. The lawyer, in his petition, asked the SC to scrap a 33-year- petition of Gadon that the SC dering Council — to file their Armin Luistro of the De La Salle comment within a period of 10 Brothers Inc., attorney Joseph old law on the renaming of NAIA junked outright.

Peter Calleja, University of the In June, the tribunal unani- days. for supposedly violating the National Historical Commission of mously voted to throw out Gathe Philippines guidelines, is- don’s Petition for Prohibition sued 20 years after the assailed filed on March 5 asking the tribunal to issue a halt order law was passed.

He argued that the prohibi- against NTC Commissioner GaAlthough the Duterte adminisby ian nicolas cigaRal tion on ex post facto law only maliel Cordoba from complying tration’s move to lift rice import Philstar.com applies to criminal cases, and with the House of Representacaps by enacting the Rice Tarifsince RA 6639 has no afflic- tives’ letter to the commission.

MANILA — It’s time for the fication law “was an important In the same ruling, the court Philippines to abandon its rice-ori- step” in bringing more attention tive penalties involved, “then it is not exempted from future told Gadon to be more circum- ented agriculture policies and start to other farm sectors, World Bank spect” in bringing pleas to the investing in improving production said the government remains guidelines.”

His petition did not name any tribunal as it stressed that filing of other crops to develop the coun- overly-focused on the rice prorespondents but named the Of- cases before it “is a serious af- try’s farm sector, the World Bank gram. fice of the Solicitor General as fair.”

Based on the bank’s estimates, said on Wednesday, September 9.

“Not only will the over eagerparty to the case.

In a report, the Washington- large chunks of the agriculture During the filing of his peti- ness to file border on the contu- based multilateral lender said the budget for this year were cornered tion, Gadon also earned a warn- macious, it also puts in unnec- government’s excessive focus on by rice programs, particularly the ing of arrest from the Philippine essary peril the legal arguments rice, the country’s main staple, has agency’s funding for production National Police for refusing to of the person or the entity that not been the most efficient way support services where rice acwear face mask and face shield, has an actual case,” it added. n of spending public funds as it ne- counted for 48% of the outlay, glects other farm sectors that have education and training (53%), equipment and facilities (35%), potential to drive growth.

A M A research and development (49%) “The narrowly focused agenda R D om has caused other segments of the and irrigation (88%).

TY | ingstv.c E I “There is a need to shift from agricultural sector to fall well short VAR ross N | www.c O a rice-centered agri-food policy of their potential,” the World Bank I : T t i A s RM le, vi said in a report titled “Transform- to one that anticipates greater NFO schedu I | ing Philippine Agriculture During balance in sectoral priority-setg S n i EW ramm ting and resource allocation,” the Covid-19 and Beyond.”

N g O PIN atest pro “Rice will remain a vital food lender said.

I L I F the l The share of agriculture in the staple for the country, yet the bulk For of the income-earning and job cre- country’s gross domestic product ation opportunities for the sector (GDP) has declined from 13% to going forward will be generated 9.3% between 2008 and 2018, in other non-rice sub-sectors,” it which World Bank mainly attributed to low productivity in rice and added.

by JoMaR

canlas ManilaTimes.net

SC rejects outright Gadon’s petition vs law renaming NAIA

by KRistine Joy

Philstar.com

Patag

MANILA — The Supreme Court junked outright the petition filed by Larry Gadon, who was previously admonished in June ruling, seeking to revert the name of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Manila International Airport.

The controversy over Gadon’s views on COVID-19 and face masks outlasted the issue he raised in his petition against the law that renamed NAIA from Manila International Airport, which the SC junked outright and unanimously.

SC spokesperson Brian Hosaka said the justices, in a full court session on Tuesday, September 8, “unanimously denied for lack of merit” Gadon’s petition seeking the nullification of the Republic Act 6639 that renamed NAIA.

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

World Bank urges PH to reduce fixation on rice the country’s failure to diversify into high-value-added farm products for local consumption and export.

For the lender, the coronavirus pandemic heightens the urgency for government to “transform” the farm sector to ensure sufficient food supply. Government data showed the farm sector grew an annual 0.5% in the second quarter, bucking a downtrend posted by most industries.

But as it appears, the bank’s ecommendation is easier said than done. Next year, the agriculture department will see a 6.2% budget cut if the Duterte administration’s proposed outlay come out of Congress intact. The agency initially asked for P280 billion budget for 2021.

“The budget of DA should be proportional to the contribution of the DA to GDP.” Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan said in a press conference.

“The secretary keeps on saying we will try to work on this one, but of course (the budget) should be proportional to what you wanted to achieve,” Cayanan added. n

No plans to censor Netflix in PH – MTRCB

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

not 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.

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 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.

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

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • SeptembeR 11-17, 2020

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SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2020 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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FeatURes

OPiniOn

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 P349million 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 require 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 Philstar.com photo dolomite has also been used in creating manmade beaches in Cebu, Singapore and France. Environment officials have said they are prepared to With the project tentatively set to be opened by explain and defend the project before any forum. Sept. 19, they must also prepare for investigations

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective

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 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 double-majored 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 January 20, 2009, he was sworn in to office and served for two terms after being re-elected 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 understand 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

COVID could make or break presidents

mayor that they could deliver their respective vaccine before yearend – with the public left wondering if it would just prevent infection, or mitigate symptoms, or cure the COVID patient outright.

Putting his own daughter’s life on the line, Putin had her join those who were inoculated as part of the Russian early trials on humans. That was a most dramatic testimonial, something missing in Xi’s sales talk.

Additionally, Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s $50-billion Sovereign Wealth Fund that bankrolled the vaccine’s development, put his (group’s) money and his life where his mouth is and announced: “I am confident enough in Russia’s Gamaleya vaccine that I received an injection of it… and developed a strong immunity in 20 days.”

The medical community in the West is generally not easily impressed. Skeptics point out that Moscow’s Gamaleya Research Institute has not been transparent about its testing process and has not even completed Phase-3 trials.

The Lancet, a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal and one of the world’s oldest, reported Friday that early results

from trials of Russia’s vaccine showed no major negative side effects on the 76 participants that included 38 healthy adults.

It added: “Large, long-term trials, including a placebo comparison, and further monitoring are needed to establish the long-term safety and effectiveness of the vaccine for preventing COVID-19 infection.”

The vaccine was the first in the world to be registered after its approval in August by Russia’s health regulators. Putin said at the time that full-scale production would start in September, potentially pulling what looks like a global scoop.

Dmitriev told CNBC that the Lancet report had generated much interest: “It is very important to share information with the world... the results have been very good but basically the study showed there is very strong both antibodies and cell immune response.”

He said Russia was on track to export the vaccine by November, and aimed to release data from the Phase-3 human trials at the end of October. (We assume that must be the same encouraging news that Putin also told Duterte.

– fdp)

Dmitriev said: “Right now we have 40,000 clinical trials going on in Russia, we started it at the end of August, and there will also be clinical trials in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Philippines and many other markets. So basically we’re on track to have registration not only available in Russia... but also available to key other countries already around November.”

Reporting that Russia became on Aug. 11 the first country to approve a vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the Lancet described the vaccine as based on two adenovirus vectors, as developed by the Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology.

Lancet reported that at the time of approval, the vaccine had not even started Phase-3 trials, nor had any results on the earlier stage trials been published. But since then, it said, the Phase-1/2 results have been published. The vaccine induced a strong immune response in all 76 participants, it added. (Philstar.com)

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 Democrat-

Postscript

FEDERICO PASCUAL JR. AS the Philippines keeps its lead in the regional race to the top of the COVID heap, China and Russia are in another competition to win the favor of Filipinos fending off the invisible coronavirus that has infected more than 238,000 of them and killed 3,800-plus.

President Duterte has made it known that he welcomes the kind offers of his president-friends Xi Jinping of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia, both of whom promised him a vaccine before Christmas.

It is significant that while Duterte publicly offered himself as a guinea pig for the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, he did not voice a similar vote of confidence in the other product that is Made-in-China.

Duterte’s words were still reverberating around the world

ic 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 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

when his interpreter Harry Roque deadened their impact by clarifying that the President still has to wait for the conclusive results of the final tests and the vaccine’s approval by the Food and Drug Administration.

But many Filipinos reared in ayuda politics and bahala na fatalism – and some of them possibly out of desperation – may just start thinking they have nothing to lose anyway except their miserable lives and accept a free vaccination whether from China or Russia.

If only we had the luxury of time – which in Duterte’s favorite Ecclesiastes is either a time to rush into inoculation or to wait for a sure shot – more Filipinos could study more carefully their options of either playing Russian roulette or Chinese checkers.

But with our long exposure to poor-quality Chinese products and with our conditioned bias for Western (erroneously meaning non-Oriental) medicines, we dare say that more Filipinos are likely to be less trusting of a Chinese vaccine and more tolerant of one made in Russia.

A Palace team, btw, was to meet

last week with Pfizer reps to discuss “arrangements” for securing vaccines being developed by the New York-based pharmaceutical giant, and with Russian reps and the makers of Sputnik V vaccines.

In the U.S., where COVID has scored the biggest number of deaths at more than 193,000, Americans will line up at election centers or mail their ballots for the Nov. 3 election with the White House’s handling of the pandemic and the postal service possibly affecting the vote.

Most experts doubt that a safe and effective vaccine could be rushed before the election, although President Trump, who looks like he is running scared, is bent on gifting the population with a vaccine before they vote.

Candidate vaccines pass several clinical stages, capped by a Phase-4 testing on at least 30,000 humans to be given several doses at an interval of no less than a month. With that, experts ask how a vaccine could hit the mass market by November, whether in Washington or in Manila.

But Xi and Putin seem to have already convinced the Davao

u PAGE A7

*** Nota Bene: All Postscripts are archived at manilamail.com. Author is on Twitter as @ FDPascual. Feedback can be emailed to fdp333@ yahoo.com.

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Dateline PhiliPPines

PH jumps 4 places in latest Global Innovation Index MANILA — The Philippines jumped four places in the latest edition of the Global Innovation Index (GII), putting the country in this year’s top 50 list of innovator economies, the Philippine Mission to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva announced.

Published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized agency of the United Nations that deals with patents, copyrights, trademarks and other forms of intellectual property, the report finds the Philippines well-integrated in global trade.

The GII measures a country’s innovation performance through various indicators such as infrastructure, business sophistication and research output.

“On the heels of our historic

19-slot jump from 73rd to 54th in 2019, the Philippines is proud to have its accomplishments once again recognized in the Global Innovation Index,” said the country’s Permanent Representative to the UN and Other International Organizations, Ambassador Evan Garcia, noting that the GII identifies the Philippines as among states that have shown significant progress in their innovation ranking over the past 10 years.

“As a longstanding partner of the Philippines in the multilateral system, WIPO has provided significant support to our country’s development initiatives through programs that build domestic technical capacities and strengthen linkages between research and the market; it is a partnership that has no doubt fueled our rise in the GII,” he added.

The report finds that the Philippines is well-integrated in global trade, ranking 1st in high-technology imports, 3rd in high-technology exports, 8th in ICT service exports, and 10th in creative goods exports.

The country’s innovation profile shows top 25 rankings for indicators such as research talent, graduates in science and engineering, and high-technology manufacturing.

The GII also lauds the country’s efforts to use innovation as an engine for growth, citing in particular the adoption of the 2019 Philippine Innovation Act, which establishes a National Innovation Council and mandates a whole-of-government approach to fostering and using innovation as a key component of development policies. (Philstar.com)

Decisions 2020: How Joe Biden has...

PAGE A6 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 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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Friday, September 11, 2020

OMETHING

ILIPINO

LIfESTyLE • cONSUMER GUIdE • cOMMUNITy • MARkETPLAcE Immigration Corner

Getting an abusive green card Self-care in each sip: Pinay-founded

all the time and have no friends.

He has never been physically violent with me, but I am just so miserable and afraid.

Atty. MichAel Is there any way to legalize my Gurfinkel, eSQ status in this horrible marriage, especially when he refuses to petiDEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: I married a U.S. citizen for love, tion me and threatens to have me hoping we would live “happily ever deported?

Very truly yours, after.” Unfortunately, soon after TF marriage, he changed. He drank a lot, gambled, took drugs, called Dear TF: me names, said he would never Perhaps you could be eligible to petition me and would try to get me deported. He gets very angry file a self-petition (petition yourwhen I laugh and speak with my self) as a battered spouse, based family in Tagalog, does not want on the Violence Against Women me to see them or have them over, Act (VAWA). (That law is not limitand just wants me to stay at home ed 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 (physiPAGE B3

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).

(Advertising Supplement)

Droplet enters the wellness industry with functional beverages by

Christina M. Oriel/AJPress

FIVE years ago, Celeste Perez launched, a design studio that has celebrity restaurateurs and hospitality groups among its clientele.

The downsides of a bustling business for Perez, however, were heart palpitations, being unable to sleep at night, and developing poor eating habits. The effects of burnout caught up to her as it eventually led to a hospital stay and having to wear a heart monitor.

“At the end of the day, what we learned was that I was dealing with stress. It’s funny because I’d always thought that being stressed out means just take a rest,” the Los Angeles-based Filipina American entrepreneur told the Asian Journal. “I didn’t realize that being under stress for years has such an effect on you physically. We always think of stress as an emotional Droplet’s three flavors: Pretty Bright, Pretty Happy and Pretty Balanced.

Photo courtesy of Droplet thing that you work through. But

Talia Jafarkhani, general manager; Michelle Nuccio, founding member; Celeste Perez, cofounder and CEO; Adrienne Borlongan, co-founder and lead food scientist; and Connie Kuo, advisor.

Photo by Alec Perez

it turns out it’s not.”

This wake-up call led to seeking alternatives to manage stress through traditional herbal medicine, a slight rebellion as the daughter of two doctors. It was then Perez learned about adaptogens, non-toxic substances derived from plants that help one’s body adapt and regulate the natural ability to respond to stressors.

After finding the right supplements for her needs, such as reishi mushrooms (said to have immunity-boosting and fatigue-fighting benefits) and ashwagandha (a medicinal herb said to reduce anxiety and stress), Perez noticed her heart palpitations dissipated, PAGE B4

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Sunshine Cruz and her three beautiful daughters

By Ferdie Villar SEPTEMBER will always have a special significance in Sunshine Cruz’s heart. It was just two years ago that petition to annul her marriage to fellow actor Cesar Montano was granted (the couple separated around seven years ago).

From a plain housewife, Sunshine, who belongs to the famous Cruz showbiz clan, was thrust into the role of father-mother and breadwinner for her family after her separation from Montano.

And it took a lot of adjustments from everyone, especially her daughters Angelina, Samantha and Francheska.

“The hardest part of raising them alone is noong time na kailangan ko mag-work full time but I also have to be there for them.

They had gotten used to my being with them at home all the time. My task as a plain housewife was to just take care of my family; 13 years of routine then suddenly everything changed. At first, hindi nila maintindihan why I had to leave and go home late or morning na,” Sunshine said in a recent interview with my good friend Ricky Lo for his Funfare column in the Philippine Star.

“But thank God, my children are understanding and smart

kids. I made them understand and be thankful kapag may opportunity for work si mommy kasi that’s what gives us food on the table. Naintindihan naman nila and sila pa ang No. 1 supporter ko kapag may projects ako,” she added.

A household with three girls may seem ideal for Sunshine – and it is, owing to the fact that she gets along like a barkada with her children who are in their teens – but she is glad that her children listen when she has something to say.

“We are like barkadas most of the time. We joke around, naglalambingan at kulitan but when I need to be strict, they must listen and follow my rules. I am grateful that they are respectful children,” Sunshine related.

“We don’t hide secrets from each other, we always have to be honest. We share and discuss whatever bothers us. I always tell them walang magulang na ayaw mapabuti ang mga anak kaya if something bothers you, I am always here to help, protect and support them whatever issues or whatever worries them. They cannot go out of the house without my permission and I should always know the friends they

Paulo Avelino, one of the most handsome actors in Philippine showbiz, is showing his excellent acting skills in re-airing of The Filipino Channel’s “On the Wings of Love” teleserye.

hang out with. But I always remind them that school should always be their top priority. Napaka-importante para sa akin ang makatapos sila ng pag aaral,” the actress continued.

“I always tell them to learn from their mom’s mistakes. Hahahaha!!! I did not listen to my mom before kaya huwag gumaya sa pagkakamali ko. Don’t be in a hurry dahil mga bata pa kayo. Magtapos muna ng pag aaral at sana maghanap ng magandang trabaho. Darating ang oras para sa love. Sana makinig sila sakin. Always praying that they will choose whatever is best for them,” Sunshine further said.

The ”Love Thy Woman” teleserye actress understands if her daughters follow her steps and go into showbiz. And though she feels gossip can affect anyone at any age, she is hopeful that her daughters will be able to handle it.

“Honestly, wala namang nakakatakas sa ganyan, especially fake news na masyadong personal. I’m 43 and I still get hurt or affected. I want to think my kids are stronger and smarter than me. Palagi kong pinagdarasal ang safety nila and to al-

Sunshine Cruz and her daughers Angelina, Samantha and Francheska.

ways protect their hearts and mind. And that they will always choose their battles even online,” Sunshine explained, while adding that her three daughters are very good singers.

Any lessons she learned from her parents that she applies to her kids?

“To always have an open communication with the kids, don’t be overly strict and always listen to what they have to say kapag may misunderstanding kami,” Sunshine replied. *** Former Miss World winner Megan Young recently admitted to having a diva past, if you could call it that, in a recent vlog post according to PEP.ph.

She was not even 21 then, Young recalled, and thought that she was just being outspoken.

Young said she had no intention of being a diva.

“I was working on a show and I didn’t know how to make pakisama. [At] the back of my head, I was just thinking na, ‘Ok, I’ll go to work. If I don’t like something, I’ll tell people that I don’t like it.’

But I didn’t realize that there was a nicer way of saying things,” Megan said.

A production assistant made her aware that she was being touted as a diva and hard to work with.

“It even came to a point where my PA, at that time, told me, ‘No Former Miss World winner Megan Young says ignorance and inability to properly communicate with people around her led to her being branded a one wants to do your makeup diva when she was younger.

Instagram File Photo (@meganbata) because you’re such a diva. Be-

Philstar.com photo courtesy of Sunshine Cruz

Multi-awarded actress Gina Alajar is portraying a contravida role in the re-airing of the GMA telserye, “Amaya.”

cause you always make reklamo and you always, like, say you don’t like this, you don’t like that.’ “And I was like, ‘Ohh,’ I felt so bad after that,” Young revealed.

She apologized to the people she offended after being made aware of the situation, which she chalked up to her ignorance and

not knowing how to communicate her wishes in a better way.

“It was ignorance and it was me not knowing any better,” Megan said. “At the end of the day, I wasn’t being a nice person. I wasn’t being a good person and I didn’t have the proper guidance from the people around me at that time.”

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Happy 34tH anniversary

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‘Citizen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My Sagot – Social Distancing Mon Cargo, ang best friend ko Style’answers more immigration questions on Sept. 13 THIRTY-FOUR years ago, Mon Dela Vega Singh started a modest cargo company with one customer and one pick-up truck. And he’s never looked back. Today, Mon Cargo is arguably one of the most successful balikbayan box service companies in the Bay Area. While its competitors might have an inclination to challenge this claim, Mon Cargo’s thousands of customers would be quick to attest to the reasons why such a statement could easily be defined as accurate.

With over two decades of service provided to its customers, their children, and, in some cases, their grandchildren, Mon Cargo has been described with the use of some choice words: competent, reliable, outstanding and, in all instances, honest. No small feat.

But not unexpected with the likes of Mon Singh, founder and chairman of Mon Cargo.

What sets his company apart, though, seems to be the fact that Mon has always had a passion for the business. He knows first-hand the ins and outs of his trade and has literally checked every nook and cranny of his chosen profession.

One case in point that bears mentioning is this little anecdote. Before his first attempt to providing this service to others, he actually studied how it would affect him. Filling up two balikbayan boxes, the former machinist/travel agent/mailman hired a cargo company at the time and observed how they dealt with their customers and their precious cargo.

From there, he fine-tuned the operation and applied his own touch.

Today, Mon Cargo continues to improve all aspects of their operations. And as the times change along with the needs of their customers, Mon Cargo adjusts to such needs. Which is why, with the growing number of Fil-Ams returning to the Philippines, a great deal of effort in providing great service to returning residents stays at the top of their list.

But while Mon Cargo has grown to full corporate status, in a lot of ways, they are still

Ogie Alcasid

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,

reminiscent of the old friendly neighborhood corner store. As the pandemic hit, more and more people were greatly affected financially. As loyal customer and endorser Fe de los Reyes says, “The pandemic affected everyone. And yet, ang Pinoy, kahit hirap na, nagpapadala pa rin sa mga mahal nila sa buhay sa Pilipinas. The promos are extended and they try to help hanggang kaya. Whatever the concerns are, Mon Cargo always tries to help.”

Like now, we will continue to accommodate our customers.

We have 5+1 and 1+1 promo.

You send 5 regular boxes to Metro Manila and Luzon, your 6th box is free. And you don’t have to send them all together. Or send 1 box and get 1 junior box free to Metro Manila and Luzon.

But the beauty of the whole thing is that through good or bad times, promo or not, the quality of Mon Cargo’s service is always of the same high standard. As Agnes Doniego Singh, President and CEO, reiterates, “In all our dealings, we make it a point to be friendly, courteous, fair and compassionate.”

And that’s exactly what their customers take from their experience with Mon Cargo.

Which is why their tagline just feels so right: “Mon Cargo, Ang Best Friend Ko… Sigura-

How COviD-19 scare became productive for Ogie PolicArPio Inquirer.net

WHEN Ogie Alcasid, the singer, has been terribly missing being in front of a live audience, Ogie Alcasid, the songwriter, has been thriving, creating new material that hopes to uplift weary souls in these troubling times. And interestingly enough, one of his most productive moments happened in self-quarantine, after a COVID-19 scare last July. The seasoned artist had false positive results with antigen tests, then tested negative with the more accurate swab test.

“I was alone for a couple of days, so I was writing. One is called ‘Panginoon Ikaw Lamang.’ It was a crazy episode, but something came out of it.

Maybe it was just God wanting me to be with him alone,” he said in a video conference.

Praise and worship are the overarching themes of Ogie’s work in the past couple of months. The ballad “Beautiful,” which Ogie released last month under Star Music, is a collaboration with Moira dela Torre. He started working on it as early as December last year, but it wasn’t until the lockdown that he finally finished it.

“This pandemic has been the backdrop of this entire song … And it got bigger, I felt I had to get it done and release it,” he said.

Aside from “Panginoon” and “Beautiful,” another new

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).

(Advertising Supplement)

Getting an abusive green card

Photo from Instagram/@ogiealcasid

By AllAn

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

composition he has put out recently is “Live for Jesus,” which features his wife, Regine Velasquez, Jaya and her husband, Gary Gotidoc. “I hope the song inspires us to keep believing that despite the crisis, we will survive this,” Ogie said.

Whenever he browses his phone’s photo gallery and sees all the photos of him doing different projects, Ogie couldn’t help but think how hectic his schedule was prior to the pandemic. “It was crazy … I was flying from one country to another, singing and doing all sorts of things,” he said.

But while the 53-year-old artist can’t do any of those right now, he would still like to believe that he has been spending his time productively—just in a different way.

“I have been washing the dishes, doing the laundry. We didn’t have house help during the first months of the lockdown, so we did all the work,” related Ogie.

On top of the fundraising concerts he takes part in, Ogie also holds online shows like “Mondays with Kuya O” and “OPM Night.”

This has been more or less the norm for most artists these days. And they will have to get used to it, Ogie pointed out.

“I don’t see live performances coming back in the near future … The thing we’re doing now will be part of our lives for quite some time.”

do!” Because that’s what best friends do.

Mon Cargo Services Inc. offers the following services: container shipments for returning residents, crating (home appliance/furniture), vehicle shipments, airline tickets, free pick-up, free replacement box, free strapping, and insurance up to $500. To avail of Mon cargo’s promotions, please call our toll-free number: 1-800432-4300. For more information, visit our website at www. moncargoservices.com.

We welcome agents!

(Advertising Supplement)

PAGE B1 cally 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 trying 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 (Advertising Supplement)

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Marichu Vera-Perez Maceda, 77 Self-care in each sip: Pinay-founded...

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, September 7 at the 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 VeraPerez, founder of Sampaguita Pictures, for a father. The family company is a trailblazer 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)

Marichu ‘Manay Ichu’ Vera-Perez Maceda

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 magpo-produce 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 was held for Maceda on Monday evening, 6 p.m. at Arlington Chapel A, after which her remains was cremated immediately. Her ashes were 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 lieu of flowers for their beloved matriarch, donations may be made in her honor to MOWELFUND.

BUSINESS FOR SALE

PAGE B1 stress levels lowered, and energy sustained throughout the day without caffeine.

Though, the available adaptogen products on the market, she said, weren’t too palatable for long-term use.

“I’ve been in the food and beverage industry for far too long to just accept that something is going to taste bad even if it’s supposed to be medicinal,” Perez, who is also a certified holistic nutritionist, said.

Unable to chug the concoctions any longer, she called up her friend, Adrienne Borlongan, a fellow Filipina American who is a food scientist and the co-founder of artisanal ice cream shop Wanderlust Creamery. Together, they paired adaptogens with ingredients that would make for tasty, yet beneficial beverages. That afternoon yielded around 17 different flavors.

“Using my knowledge of food science and studies in food manufacturing, I helped [Celeste] narrow her ideas down to a simple, clear sparkling beverage naturally sweetened with fruit for uncomplicated production and labeling regulation, and longer shelf life,” Borlongan told the Asian Journal.

In August 2019, Perez and Borlongan unveiled Dewdrop, a line of sparkling functional beverages that are enhanced with adaptogens and superfoods. They don’t fit into the water or soda categories, but rather can be described as a health supplement bottled in drinkable form.

As they celebrated one year since launching, the company will be rebranded as “Droplet” this September.

The starting lineup features three flavors, each embedded with a targeted purpose, made with whole fruit juices and no added flavorings.

“Pretty Happy,” which has passion fruit, cacao, vanilla bean and rhodiola, boasts anti-anxiety, energy boosting and skin-hydrating effects. “Pretty Balanced,” flavored with white peach, lemon verbena, moringa and ashwagandha, is the go-to for a stress balancer and digestive aid. “Pretty Bright,” comprised of yuzu, ginger and reishi mushroom, is touted as a reset and mood enhancer.

“The entire idea behind Droplet was our own roots as Filipina Americans and our experiences with herbal medicine,” Perez said, citing growing up eating tinola, a chicken soup with green papaya and malunggay leaves (moringa) or salabat, a ginger tea to fight a sore

SERVICES

throat and aid digestion. “There is no appropriation here. We are just shining a light on what it is that we’ve done and hoping that it uplifts our community also.”

Borlongan echoed, “There’s a plethora of published scientific studies on the anti-inflammatory — the most important disease prevention — effects of these foods. I think we take their health advice for granted as ‘wives’ tales’ because it’s based anecdotally, but they’re actually legit.”

The added layer of being Fil-Am is showing how Filipino traditions and ingredients have these healing qualities and can be incorporated into modern-day lifestyles.

“People used to come to my grandma when they were sick and she would make a drink out of gumamela, which is hibiscus, by mushing it up and making it into a tea,” Perez said. “I was like, ‘Dad, that’s what I’m doing.’ I’m carrying this legacy on. Though my dad, who is a doctor, did in a very western way, I’m doing it in the way of our ancestors.”

The three photogenic 12-ounce cans bear illustrations of a goddess-like figure surrounded by plants and the moon, designed by Bárbara Malagoli, a Brazilian artist based in London. The colors, from peachy to lime green tones, are meant to play into the feminine and fertile, yet calming aesthetic, as a contrast to other energy, high-performance beverages on the market. The overall branding highlights the all-women team, that in addition to the co-founders, includes general manager Talia Jafarkhani.

The “drop” in the brand’s name pays homage to Dalikamata, a clairvoyant and health goddess in Visayan pantheon, who was depicted with thousands of eyes on her body and whose tears would form morning dew drops. According to the legend, drinking the drops had healing effects, such as relieving eye problems.

“Honoring our heritage was something important to us as people growing in a space where there aren’t very many people of color growing businesses,” Perez said. “With the skin tone of each illustration, we wanted to represent all different types so with the ‘Pretty Happy’ can, for example, she’s brown like me and that’s something I have not really seen on the shelves.”

By January of this year, the beverage line was ready for larger production. It was a savvy move to have a formal introduction at Natural Products Expo West, the

world’s largest gathering in the space where a start-up could meet investors and buyers and make other connections. Leading up to the event, the company, still called Dewdrop, was nominated for a NEXTY award in the “Best New Ready-to-Drink” beverage category.

Then, COVID-19 hit Southern California in the spring, and the expo was canceled altogether.

The company didn’t pause to wait for another live event or to take the normal route of starting at a regional store before going national. Instead, they took the approach of selling online and shipping directly to consumers across the United States. The cans come in packs, starting at $20 for three, per flavor, with free priority shipping.

Though 2020 hasn’t gone according to plan, the silver lining is that people have been scrolling on social media to shop, as an alternative to physically exploring inside a store.

With COVID-19 and stay-athome orders, individuals have been more interested in supporting their health and emotional well-being. As beverage companies incorporate functional ingredients into their offerings, such as adaptogens or probiotics, KPMG expects the global functional beverages market to reach $208.13 billion by 2024. Droplet seeks to have a stake in this space as an “oasis” for whatever someone is going through.

Another feat for Droplet came in August when it hit the shelves of all five Erewhon locations, an upscale health-food store in Southern California, which Perez said has been “the goal” because of its high standards and trendsetting.

Throughout the month, the cans were selling out and had to be reordered.

“To be accepted into Erewhon is such an honor, especially where the consumers care about what they put into their bodies,” Perez said. “We’re on the shelf amongst the most healthy and beautiful drinks on the market. It’s been validating because if the experts don’t love us, then how will other people figure it out and understand why this is valuable and important?”

Self-care doesn’t end when a can is finished. As women of color in a space that has been co-opted by a certain level of privilege and whiteness — despite practices stemming from traditional Chinese medicine or Ayurveda, a medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent

SERVICES

Droplet co-founder and CEO Celeste Perez shows off a box oft the beverages, which are now available at all five Erewhon locations in Southern California.

Photo courtesy of Celeste Perez

“Pretty Balanced” features white peach, lemon verbena, moringa and ashwagandha.

Photo by Mithi Studio

— Droplet is on a mission to also share stories and educate its audience about the benefits and traditions on its site and a forthcoming podcast that features wellness practitioners and functional medicine doctors.

“We also give back to our community by building activism into the brand. There is no pretending like we don’t have a stance on things, especially in this age where it’s important to us to have equality, diversity and leadership roles for people from all walks of life,” Perez said, adding that during the pandemic, the team worked with the Pilipino Workers Center to deliver care packages and food to seniors and families who have been financially affected and donated 3,000 cans to local food banks in LA. Droplet may just be getting started, but consumers can expect more products down the line.

“We’re not stopping with the beverages. We have this goal to become the modern Willy Wonka.

We’re figuring out how to make yummy things healthier and also fun so people want to buy them,” Perez said.

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

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • SeptembeR 11-17, 2020

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September 11-17, 2020 • NOrCAL ASIAN JOUrNAL

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

SEAFOOD CITY