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SEPTEMBER 17-23, 2020

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Volume 31 - No. 37 • 14 Pages

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

USA

DATELINE UN rights chief: Revoke policies, rhetoric that lead to abuses and killings in PH FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

UNITED Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Monday, September 14, raised concerns over the continued drug-related deaths in the Philippines amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking before the 45th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Bachelet stressed the need to revoke policies and rhetoric that lead to human rights violations in the Philippines.

“There is clearly an urgent need to revoke the policies that continue to result in killings and other human rights violations, to bring to justice the perpetrators, and to halt the use of rhetoric inciting violence against people who use or sell drugs,” she said.

Data from the Philippine National Police showed that 7,884 deaths have occurred during police operations from July 1, 2016 to August 31, 2020. However, human rights groups estimated that the total number of drug war fatalities has exceeded 27,000.

Bachelet noted that the Philippine Department of Justice in June committed to reinvestigate the deaths in police operations, but said

Survey: Fil-Am voters most enthusiastic about 2020 election among Asian American groups Majority of Fil-Ams prefer Biden, but segment shows 2nd highest support for Trump

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

FILIPINO American registered voters are showing the highest levels of enthusiasm among the major Asian American groups as the 2020 presidential

election nears, according to a new survey.

The 2020 Asian American Voter Survey — released on Tuesday, September 15 by APIA Vote, AAPI Data, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC — gauges how registered voters are feeling

A THREE-JUDGE court in New York unanimously blocked an order by President Donald Trump that looked to exclude undocumented immigrants from the 2020 Census for the purpose of apportioning representatives.

Federal statute governing the decennial census and apportionment requires the commerce secretary to report a single “tabulation of total population by States” to the president, which the president is then to use in connection with apportionment.

The federal judges, on Thursday, September 10, ruled that Trump’s Presidential Memorandum issued on July 21, violated statutory requirements by directing Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to include a second set of census figures excluding noncitizens.

It also violated requirements by excluding noncitizens from the required “whole number of persons in each State” count that

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Palace: The worst of COVID-19 crisis is over

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

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Federal court rejects Trump admin’s attempt to leave undocumented immigrants out of census count

about the upcoming election and candidates, and their positions on certain issues.

The survey, which is one of the few pre-election surveys that offer an in-depth look into the Asian

ICONIC ARANETA CENTER XMAS TREE. Workers begin to install the iconic giant Christmas Tree at the Araneta City in Cubao, Quezon City on Wednesday, September 16. The giant Christmas Tree display in Cubao has been a yearly tradition since it started in 1981.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

THE worst of the novel coronavirus crisis in the Philippines is over, Malacañang insisted on Wednesday, September 16.

“Naintindihan po natin yung pessimism ng ating kababayan dahil napakahirap po talaga nitong pandemiya na dinulot nito. Pero ang masasabi ko lang po (I understand the pessimism of our citizens because the situation is really difficult now. But all I can say is) the worst is over,” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

The statement was in response to a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey that found 57 percent of Filipinos fearing “the worst is yet to come” with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roque noted that the country only “hit rock bottom” because of the lockdowns that the national government had to enforce in an attempt to contain the further spread of the virus.

“Kaya lang naman po talaga tayong we hit rock bottom dahil sinara natin ang ekonomiya. Kaya nga po ngayon ang ating panawagan sa lahat, puwede po tayong mabuhay na nandiyan pa ang COVID dahil hanggang wala na-

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PH named top ‘digital riser’ in East Asia and the Pacific

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippines was recently recognized as the top “digital riser” in East Asia and the Pacific by the Berlin-based European Center for Digital Competitiveness (ECDC).

In ECDC’s Digital Riser Report, the Philippines was named as one of the world’s top digital risers along with France and Saudi Arabia.

The report analyzed each country’s digital competitiveness during the last three years indicated by digital ecosystem and mindset

“In East Asia and the Pacific, the Philippines was the top Digital Riser over the last three years, while New Zealand fell significantly behind,” the report said.

It also noted that the country improved the most in the mindset dimensions.

“The Philippines’ outperformance can mainly be explained by its ‘Innovate Startup Act’ lighthouse initiative, which was passed in 2019 to strengthen, promote and develop an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem and culture,” the report read.

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China blames ‘certain country’ for delay in South China Sea code talks

by PIA

LEE-BRAGO Philstar.com

MANILA — While China and Southeast Asian countries have resumed consultation on a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, Beijing accused a non-regional country of interfering on the negotiations.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila admitted that the COVID-19 pandemic, which first emerged in Wuhan City late last year, also delayed the process of the COC consultations.

“Apart from the difficulties caused by the pandemic, certain country outside the region In this photo taken on Tuesday, September 15, Foreign Affairs Secretary Locsin, ASEAN Foreign is bent on interfering in the disMinisters, and Chinese FM exchange views on COVID-19 and South China Sea at the ASEAN-China putes of the South China Sea Ministerial Meeting.

DFA photo and the COC consultations to

serve its own geopolitical agenda,” the Chinese Embassy said in a statement Thursday.

The spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy did not mention which country, but the United States has been challenging Beijing’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. In July, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared that Washington would consider Beijing’s claims to offshore resources in the disputed sea as completely unlawful.

Last month, the US blacklisted 24 Chinese state-owned firms involved in building artificial islands in the South China Sea. Among the sanctioned firms

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CLOSER TO FREEDOM. Bureau of Corrections Chief Gerald Bantag turned over to the Bureau of Immigration the custody of Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton on Friday, September 11.

The BI will implement its 2015 deportation order. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is already processing the clearance of Pemberton. An NBI clearance is one of the requirements in the deportation proceeding to make sure that the subject of deportation has no other pending cases in the country.

Photo courtesy of BuCor

Locsin: PH gov’t wants to observe Pemberton’s court martial proceedings

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

PHILIPPINE Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday, September 15, said his office will push to have a representative observing the court martial proceedings of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton.

“We might have an observer present in the court martial.

That’s not a bad idea... if they will allow us, because that falls under military relations but we will certainly press for that,” he said in a budget hearing.

Malacañang on Monday, September 14 said Pemberton will continue to face court martial proceedings in the U.S. as promised by U.S. authorities.

“There was a promise made by American authorities along with

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september 17-23, 2020 • LAs VeGAs AsIAN JOUrNAL

From The FronT Page

Locsin: PH gov’t wants to observe...

The 2020 Asian American Voter Survey shows Asian Americans are highly enthusiastic about the upcoming election.

Survey: Fil-Am voters most...

PAGE A1 American electorate, found that Asian Americans (54%) are highly enthusiastic about participating in this year’s election, building upon the electorate’s record turnout in the 2018 midterm election.

Of the Fil-Am voters, 62% said they are “more enthusiastic” compared to previous cycles, the highest level of support compared to the Chinese, Indian, Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese groups surveyed.

“The key findings are that Asian Americans are highly motivated this year. You see high enthusiasm but many are still persuadable [and] they’re not getting contacted by either party,” Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder and director of AAPI Data, said. “So it’s a missed opportunity with less than two months to go.”

The survey was conducted among 1,569 registered voters from the six Asian American communities across the country via telephone and online from July 15 to September 10. (Broken down by group, 263 Filipino respondents participated.)

Despite the enthusiasm, when it comes to contact from either the Republican or Democratic Party, a majority of respondents responded “not at all.” 55% of Filipinos said the Democratic Party has not engaged them, while 56% said the same for the Republican side.

The majority of Asian Americans collectively identified as Democrats, but 31% still identified as independent or “other,” showing an opportunity for either side to capture their votes.

When asked who they are “inclined to vote for” in the presidential race, 54% of Asian Americans are leaning toward former Vice President Joe Biden, while 30% would back a second term for President Donald Trump.

However, 15% said they don’t know or are undecided.

Among Fil-Ams, 52% back Biden, while 34% support Trump — the second highest support among the groups after 48% of Vietnamese voters who would reelect the current president.

The survey also asked about the candidates’ favorability with a majority of Asian Americans as a whole saying they have a very or somewhat favorable opinion of Biden, while a majority had an unfavorable view of Trump.

Among Fil-Ams, 46% view him “very unfavorable” but 25% say “very favorable.” Vietnamese Americans showed the highest favorability for the president at 35%.

“You see Biden favored over Trump among Japanese Americans, Korean Americans, Chinese Americans and Filipino Americans. This is important because there’s been a lot of speculation, for example, with the Filipino American community and the Chinese American community in

terms of how they will vote,” Ramakrishnan said.

Top issues The survey also took a look at voters’ positions on issues from jobs to health care to gun control. Largely, the data points to Asian American groups moving more progressive.

“This just means that the parties and campaigns, including issue campaigns, have to pay attention to our communities, including those working on environmental issues and gun control,” Ramakrishnan added. “I can’t tell you the number of times people have these stereotypes in terms of these issues not being Asian American issues and we have to change that.”

• Government spending: 39% of Fil-Ams said they would prefer a bigger government providing more services, while 38% said it would depend.

• Healthcare and immigration: 55% of Fil-Ams said they agree that the government should expand access to health insurance for all immigrants, regardless of their legal status. Meanwhile, over 60% said they agree that undocumented immigrants should have the opportunity to become U.S. citizens.

• Climate change policies: A majority of Asian Americans support stronger legislation to reduce the effects of climate change, with 77% of Fil-Ams agreeing.

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PAGE A1 a representative from the Marine corps,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in Filipino.

“They promised that even if Pemberton is released and the process in the Philippines ended, he will still face court martial proceedings where it will be determined if additional punishment will be imposed and if he is still qualified to remain in service,” he added.

Pemberton was deported from the Philippines on Sunday, September 13 on board an American military aircraft bound for the U.S., at exactly 9:14 a.m.

He was released from the detention after being granted an absolute pardon by President Rodrigo Duterte, who said that it was unfair to keep Pemberton detained.

According to Locsin, Duterte talked to him and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra before giving the pardon to Pemberton.

“All I can is tell you exactly

what happened. There was no grant for a request for a pardon.

The president, on his own initiative…when we were in a meeting, he told me, ‘Teddy Boy, you know, a prisoner has no control over the conditions of his confinement,” he said.

“This is his view, he is a practicing lawyer, a litigator, and a prosecutor,” he added. “Teddy Boy, I think I’m going to give him a pardon.”

Locsin then said he and Duterte waited for Guevarra to arrive, after which the president inquired about Pemberton’s case status.

“Guevarra came in and he (Duterte) said, ‘Where are we now?’ And he (Guevarra) said, ‘Well, there’s a motion for reconsideration in court (against Pemberton’s early release). If you want to wait for that, you can and see where it goes,’” he narrated.

“But he (Duterte) said, ‘No, I think it’s unfair.’ And he explained again, ‘If the court has

already found that he qualifies for good conduct time allowance, why don’t I just give him a pardon and cut this all short?’

Sec. Guevarra said, ‘Well that’s your prerogative, it’s an absolute prerogative as president.’ Then he (Duterte) said, ‘I’m doing that right now,’” Locsin added.

Pemberton was convicted of homicide on December 1, 2015 for the murder of Jennifer Laude.

He was sentenced to six to 10 years imprisonment.

Prior to Duterte’s pardon, the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court ordered his 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 a good conduct time allowance (GCTA) of 1,548 days or more than four years.

The pardon voided the issue of whether or not Pemberton is entitled to GCTA. n

China blames ‘certain country’ for delay in...

PAGE A1 are subsidiaries of construction giant China Communications Construction Co., which is also involved in the Sangley airport project in Cavite.

For Beijing, resisting this interference would be “crucial for pushing forward the future consultations of COC.” The Philippines acts as coordinator of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations and co-chair of the COC consultations, which resumed virtually in September

3.

“China appreciates the Philippines’ commitment to push forward negotiations towards an effective and substantive COC in the South China Sea,” the embassy said.

Chinese defense chief Wei Fenghe was in Manila last week as part of his Southeast Asian tour. He met with President Rodrigo Duterte at Malacañang.

Duterte and Wei agreed that COC would be important in maintaining peace and stability

in the region.

“We must always be guided by our commitments in international law. Any and all disputes must be resolved peacefully,” Duterte said in a statement.

The Duterte administration has set aside the Philippines’ arbitral victory, which invalidated China’s nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea. Beijing continues to ignore this landmark ruling, insisting that they have indisputable sovereignty over the region. n

UN rights chief: Revoke policies...

PAGE A1

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet Inquirer.net file photo

her office is still seeking details.

“We are seeking details from the government so we can advise and assess the review panel’s scope, process and efficacy,” she said.

Aside from the drug-related deaths in the Philippines, Bachelet also expressed concern for the journalists, activists and critics who are reportedly experiencing harassment and violence in the country.

“I am also concerned by harassment, threats and violence against journalists, activists and critics; the passage of anti-ter-

rorism legislation with many problematic provisions; and the president’s announced intention to reinstate the death penalty,” she said.

She then called for the UNHRC to continue monitoring the country’s situation.

“I encourage the council to remain active on this situation and to support my office’s continued monitoring and reporting — including to this council — as well as our technical cooperation to implement the report’s recommendations, and to continue to pursue accountability,” Bachelet said. (AJPress)

Dateline USa

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CCP 50TH ANNIVERSARY. The Cultural Center of the Philippines closes its 50th-anniversary celebration through a light and sound show at its iconic building facade in Pasay City on Wednesday, September 16. The projected images featured CCP’s excellence in the fields of performing, literary, visual, and multi-media arts.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

PH named top ‘digital riser’ in East...

PAGE A1 “Further beneficial initiatives include the introduction of startup visas and public-private partnership initiatives, such as the ‘Start-up Venture Fund’ in 2019, which matched investments from investors in local start-ups under certain conditions,” it added.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in April signed the Innovative Startup Act, which created the Startup Development Program that provides benefits and incentives for startups and “startup enablers.”

Included in the program’s

benefits are access to startup development programs, as well as linking startups to potential investors, mentors, collaborators, and customers in the country and abroad.

“The top Digital Risers in our study had one thing in common: they have shared a deliberate and comprehensive government programme with top-level support around digitalisation and entrepreneurship,”said Professor Philip Meissner of the ECDC

by ESCP Business School Berlin.

The Philippine Department of Information and Communica-

tions Technology, for its part, welcomed the recognition.

“This just proves that we are now reaping the fruits of the government’s digitalization efforts,” DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan said Thursday, September 16.

Following the Philippines in the digital risers ranking in the East Asia and Pacific are Thailand, Indonesia, China, Cambodia, Japan, Mongolia, Brunei, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, Australia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Laos, and New Zealand. n

Palace: The worst of COVID-19 crisis...

PAGE A1 mang bakuna, walang gamot eh talagang matatagalan ang ating pandemya ‘no (We only really hit rock bottom because we closed the economy. That is why today we call on everyone, we can live while COVID is still here because as long as there is no vaccine, there is no cure, the pandemic will go on),” he said.

“Pero ang sinasabi lang po ng ating Pangulo, puwede naman pong mabuhay basta pag-ingatan po ang ating mga kalusugan para tayo ay makapaghanapbuhay at makakamit natin ito sa pamamagitan ng hugas, mask at iwas (But what the President is saying is that can survive as long as we take care of our health so that we can pursue our livelihoods and we

can achieve this through washing of hands, wearing face masks and prevention),” the spokesman added.

The SWS survey, conducted from July 3 to 6 and released on Tuesday, September 15 noted that the Filipino adults who believe that the worst-case scenario has yet to happen rose from 47 percent in May to 57 percent in July.

Of the new figure, 70 percent came from Metro Manila. This was followed by Visayas (61 percent), balance Luzon or areas in Luzon excluding Metro Manila (56 percent) and Mindanao (49 percent).

“Compared to May 2020, the proportion of those who fear ‘the worst is yet to come’ rose sharply

in Metro Manila, up by 20 points from 50 percent,” the pollster said.

Meanwhile, Filipinos who believe that “the worst is behind us” fell from 44 percent in May 2020 to 35 percent in July.

The survey was conducted among 1,555 Filipinos nationwide through mobile phone and computer-assisted telephone interviewing. SWS noted the sampling error margins of ±2% for national percentages, ±6% for Metro Manila, ±5 for Balance Luzon, ±5% for the Visayas, and ±5% for Mindanao.

As of this writing, there are 272,934 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, with 4,732 fatalities and 207,858 recoveries. n

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 17-23, 2020

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Dateline USa

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Duterte to review reduced social distancing rule in PUVs

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

RAINY DAY. A public utility jeepney stops in a ‘no loading and unloading zone’ to get a passenger amid rains along Emilio Aquinaldo Highway in Imus, Cavite on Thursday, September 17. More jeepneys resumed operation in Cavite province after it was placed under the lowest modified general community from Sept. 1-30 due to the coronavirus disease pandemic.

PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

Robredo asserts right to criticize gov’t by divina

nova Joy dela ManilaTimes.net

cRuz

PHILIPPINE Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo asserted her right to make recommendations and criticize the government if necessary.

This was her response to criticisms to her public addresses on policy matters, voicing out suggestions, and delivering services.

In an interview over GMA News program “Quarantined” on Tuesday night, September 15, Howie Severino quoted an October 2019 editorial of The Manila Times saying “We can find nothing in the Constitution that says the vice president has any role to play in policy-making in our republic.”

“Palagay ko kahit hindi ako VP, may karapatan ako. Kahit hindi ako VP, kahit ordinaryong mamamayan lang ako, may karapatan

UK’s first Filipina mayor passes away Mendiola AJPress

Vice President Leni Robredo

akong ipahayag iyong aking mga mungkahi. May karapatan akong mag-criticize if I need to criticize (I think, even if I am not VP, I have the right. Even though I am not a VP, if I were just an ordinary citizen, I have the right to express

ManilaTimes.net file photo

my suggestions. I have the right to criticize if I need to criticize),” she said.

She said these were the “demands of being a Filipino” and that includes being “part of nation-building”. n

were also asked about civil rights (58% of Fil-Ams strongly in favor), support for reallocating police funds (57% of Fil-Ams agree), and affirmative action (69% of Fil-Ams in favor).

“The Asian American electorate faces greater barriers to voting in 2020 with the fear of anti-Asian violence, COVID-19 infection and confusion about how to vote,” APIAVote Executive Director Christine Chen said, adding that the organization is sending translated mailers to Asian households in battleground states that report they speak a language other than English.

Vote by mail As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, states are increasing their vote by mail capacity in an effort to slow the virus’ spread and keep communities safe.

Over half of Asian Americans

(54%) said they plan to vote by mail or by absentee, while 27% said they would do it in person on Election Day. Since 1 in 3 Asian Americans said using language assistance would help them cast their ballots, John Yang, executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, emphasized provisions in the Voting Rights Act that allow for ballot materials in an Asian language or the ability to bring someone to the polling center who can help you vote if you are not English proficient.

Though the survey only targeted registered voters, this year, Asian Americans are the fastest-growing segment of eligible voters out of the major racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., with 11.1 million eligible to vote, according to Pew Research Center. n

Federal court rejects Trump admin’s attempt to...

PAGE A1 is used as a basis for apportionment of House seats.

The Presidential Memorandum, the judges said, was an “unlawful exercise of authority” granted to Trump by statute, and thus there was no need to move on to the question of whether the memorandum violated the U.S. Constitution itself.

“Because the President exceeded the authority granted to him by Congress by statute, we need not, and do not, reach the overlapping, albeit distinct, question of whether the Presidential Memorandum constitutes a violation of the Constitution itself,” the judges wrote in the 86-page opinion. “The merits of the parties’ dispute are not particularly close or complicated.”

When issuing the memorandum, Trump said in a statement that the “radical left” was trying to “conceal the number of illegal aliens in our country.”

“Just as we do not give political power to people who are here temporarily, we should not give political power to people who should not be here at all,” said Trump.

The judges said that while Trump did have some discretion in overseeing the conduct of the decennial census and how the results of the count would be issued for reapportionment, such authority, they emphasized, is limited.

“Nevertheless, where the authority of the President (or other members of the Executive Branch) to act is derived from statutes passed by Congress, the President must act in accordance with, and within the boundaries

lik po sa one meter habang wala pang decision ang ating Presidente sa bagay na ito (So, the 0.75 meter rule is suspended.

We are back to the one-meter rule until the President decides on this matter),” Roque said.

According to him, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade suspended the new policy so as to not put pressure on Duterte.

“Kanina po nagsalita si Sec. Tugade, ang sabi nya (A while ago, Secretary Tugade said) because I don’t want to pressure the President into making his decision as if he is duty bound to make it in a period of time dahil kung i-implement yan, (if it will be implemented) it becomes urgent, the President must act on it right away,” Roque said.

“So, he said, to give the President all the time he needs to study the matter, balik muna tayo sa (return first to) one meter and until he says so, we will not implement the 0.75 (meter),” he added. n

by Ritchel

Survey: Fil-Am voters most...

PAGE A2 • Gun control: 51% of Fil-Ams said they “agree strongly” that the U.S. should have stricter gun laws.

How COVID-19, racism affects voters Since the onset of COVID-19 in the U.S., the Asian American community has largely experienced hate crimes, harassment and other forms of discrimination.

The survey asked voters to rate the level of discrimination against Asian individuals to which 55% of Fil-Ams said “some,” while 48% said they worry very or somewhat often about experiencing a hate crime or harassment because of the stigma around the virus.

Given the protests against police brutality and call for racial and social justice, participants

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte will review the reduced 0.75-meter physical distancing policy for passengers by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

“Inaasahan po natin na siguro po magkakaroon ng desisyon ang Presidente sa Lunes sa kanyang susunod na talumpati sa taumbayan (We expect that the President may announce his decision on Monday during his next public address),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Thursday, September 17.

He also said that Duterte is still waiting for the task force’s report on the matter.

On Wednesday, September 16, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATFEID) reassessed the reduced social distancing rule after its

implementation on Monday drew criticism from netizens and a number of sectors.

The new rule decreased the physical distancing inside public utility vehicles to 0.75 meters from the original one meter recommendation.

The 0.75 meters will then be further reduced to 0.5 meter on September 28 and 0.3 meters on October 12.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, for his part, objected to the rule, saying he preferred the one-meter distance between passengers.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año echoed this sentiment, stressing that the economy can be opened but to sacrifice the one-meter distance is “non-negotiable.”

Until Duterte’s decision, the DOTr is suspending the new policy, which reverts the physical distance between passengers to one meter.

“Suspended po ang 0.75, ba-

of, the authority that Congress has granted,” the judges wrote in their conclusion.

The case was brought forward by a coalition of states, local cities, and civil right groups who were concerned over the possible loss of congressional seats in areas where representation is critical.

Looking at 2019 population estimates, the Pew Research Center in July said that California, Florida, and Texas, for example, would each end up with one less congressional seat if unauthorized immigrants were excluded from the apportionment count.

The case was also one of eight other legal challenges in California, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Massachusetts, and will possibly be appealed directly to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Dale Ho, director of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) Voting Rights Project, one of the groups that challenged Trump’s order, called the ruling a “huge victory for voting rights and for immigrants’ rights.”

“President Trump has tried and failed yet again to weaponize the census against immigrant communities,” Ho said in a statement. “The law is clear—every person counts in the census.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, called the ruling a “resounding victory for justice, equality and our American Democracy.”

“The President’s unlawful order was a brazen violation of the rule of law, purpose-built to cause traditionally underounted communities to be even further underrepresented and left behind,” added Pelosi. “We are

pleased that the court unanimously declared that the President’s directive violated the law and blocked this latest Trump attack on our immigrant communities.”

While the ruling was a win for advocates for a complete census, many remain focused on a separate effort by the Trump administration that looks to end all census counting efforts in less than three weeks—a full month earlier than it had previously planned.

A federal judge on Saturday, September 5 ordered the Trump administration to halt its plans at least until September 17 when a court hearing on the issue will be held.

The Trump administration has until Sunday, September 13 to present documents explaining why the administration moved the census count deadline from October 31 to September 30.

“Trump has tried to sabotage the census from the beginning, leaving states with inaccurate numbers that will deprive communities of federal assistance to recover from the pandemic. The court has blocked this attempt to cut people and communities out of the once-in-a-decade count, but we still need Congress to do its job and stop the administration from rushing the census,” the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights said in a statement.

“The Census Bureau needs more time to finish and process a complete count. And organizers need time to reach immigrants and other communities this administration has tried to scare away from the census,” it added.

(Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

CYNTHIA Alcantara Barker, the first Filipina mayor in England, has passed away “following a bout of serious illness.”

She was 58 years old.

Her death was confirmed on Tuesday, September 15, by her brother, Gene Alcantara.

“It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of The Worshipful Hertsmere Mayor Councilor Cynthia Barker following a bout of serious illness,” he said in a Facebook post.

“We will be issuing further information in due course, but may we ask please to respect the family’s privacy at this very difficult time,” he added.

Barker was appointed mayor of Hertsmere, Hertfordshire in England last June.

Prior to that, she served as deputy mayor in 2019. She was also a borough councilor for Borehamwood’s Kenilworth ward.

The local government of Hertsmere expressed sadness over Barker’s death.

“Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this extremely sad and difficult time, and we send them our sincerest condolences,” the council said in a statement on the Hertsmere website.

“She was the first Philippinesborn elected representative in the borough, extremely proud of her heritage and committed to doing her utmost to champion equality and diversity for all our communities in Hertsmere. She

Cynthia Alcantara Barker was the incumbent mayor of Hertsmere, a local government district and borough in Hertfordshire, England.

Photo courtesy of Alcantara Family

was also chosen as one of the 100 most influential Filipinas by the Filipina Women’s Network,” they added.

Councilor Morris Bright MBE, the leader of the council, said Barker thrived at being a local councilor.

“I knew Cynthia as both a colleague and friend. Nothing was ever too much for her. She thrived at being a local councilor, always wanting to help residents with their issues. She left a lasting impression on the council and Borehamwood,” he said.

“We are all struggling to take in the sad news at the moment but I am sure we will all remember Cynthia as a kind, wonderful person who was a hard working community representative. My thoughts and prayers go out to Cynthia’s family and friends,” he added.

Meanwhile, Councilor Jeremy

Newmark, leader of the Labour group, described Barker as “a trailblazer and role model for women and minorities in local government. “ “It was a privilege to have known and worked with Cynthia. She was a trailblazer and role model for women and minorities in local government.

Cynthia was kind and supportive to me personally when I was first elected as a councilor, despite being on opposite sides of the political divide,” he said.

He added, “She brought grace and dignity to the office of Mayor but was always approachable and down to earth, particularly when engaging with children and young people. Her commitment to charitable causes, notably the NSPCC and the Rotary Club, was relentless. May her memory continue to inspire us all.” n

July remittances hit 7-month high MONEY sent home by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) jumped to its highest level in seven months in July, but not enough to boost the year-to-date amount, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed on Tuesday, September 15.

Personal remittances — personal transfers in cash or kind and capital transfers between households — settled at $3.08 billion in the month, a 12.71-percent and 7.6-percent increase from $2.73 billion in June and $2.86 billion in July 2019, respectively.

The amount was the largest since the $3.12 billion posted last December.

“The growth was attributed to the 12.6-percent increase in remittances from land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more to $2.467 billion in July 2020 from $2.192 billion in July 2019,” the central bank said in a statement.

Remittances from sea-based workers dropped by 9.2% from to $557 million in July from $613 million a year ago, mainly because of “the repatriation of [these] workers amid the ongoing Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.”

The latest figure failed to support the year-to-date figure, which only reached $18.65 billion, a 2.4-percent decrease from $19.11 billion in the same period in 2019.

Cash remittances, which only count money coursed through banks, hit $2.78 billion in July, a 12.9-percent rise from $2.46 billion a month earlier and 7.8-percent growth from $2.58 billion a year ago.

The BSP credited the improvement to “the 12.6-percent increase in land-based workers remittances, but was slightly tempered by the 9.2% decrease in sea-based workers’ remittances.”

For the first seven months,

ManilaTimes.net file photo

cash remittances fell by 2.4% to $16.80 billion from $17.21 billion the previous year.

“Cash remittances from landbased and sea-based workers continued to be lower than their levels in 2019 by 1.5% to $13.232 billion from $13.429 billion, and 5.8% to $3.57 billion from $3.789 billion, respectively,” the Bangko Sentral said.

By country source, year-todate remittances from the United States, Japan, Singapore, Qatar and Taiwan were countries that registered continued growth, while declines were noted in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Kuwait and the United Kingdom.

The US had the highest share to total OFW remittances from January to July at 40.1%. It was followed by Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Japan, UK, UAE, Canada, Qatar, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

“The combined remittances from these countries accounted for 78.9% of total cash remittances,” the central bank said.

In a comment, ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas

Antonio Mapa credited the latest remittance figues to the lifting of strict lockdowns in the host countries, “which allowed OFs to return to work and remit funds after being trapped in their homes for an extended period of time.” “[Another] reason for the 7.8-percent increase in [cash] remittances could be traced to exchange-rate nuances with the US dollar retreating significantly against global currencies, inflating remittances sent home in EUR (euro) and JPY (Japanese yen) in dollar terms,” he said.

Despite this, Mapa expects remittances to weaken or moderate as job market challenges and layoffs make it difficult for OFWs to send more funds home.

The Bangko Sentral sees these inflows easing by 5% this year “due mainly to large repatriation of workers and major economic disruptions in host countries.”

Next year, it expects remittances to rebound by 4%. (Mayvelin U. Caraballo/Manilatimes. net)

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 17-23, 2020

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OpiniOn & Features

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Safety during Undas THE coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has upended traditional celebrations and rituals in the country, among them the Lenten observances and the Flores de Mayo processions. The latest to be affected by the COVID-19 health crisis is this year’s holiday for commemorating the dearly departed.

Following the lead of the city government of Manila, which hosts some of the most crowded cemeteries in the country, the rest of Metro Manila will also shut down cemeteries not only during the holidays for All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days or Undas, but from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4.

The announcement of the shutdown was made to allow people to visit the dead much earlier or after the special days. For many, this is an annual ritual of cleaning tombs, checking for damage, repainting and refurbishing. And for many, this is an occasion for family gatherings.

With COVID quarantine measures gradually easing, it’s likely that people will still plan for such gatherings this year – not during Undas itself, but in the weeks leading up to the holiday.

This early, authorities should draw up public health safety protocols for those who will visit cemeteries.

Local government units may also devise their

own systems for crowd control inside cemeteries. Marshals can be fielded to ensure compliance with COVID health regulations particularly wearing of face masks and shields as well as physical distancing. Health protocols must be strictly enforced among vendors of flowers, candles and other items.

This year’s Holy Week traditions were not observed as Metro Manila and many other parts of the country were under the strictest enhanced community quarantine at the time. Undas will be the first major public holiday following the easing of COVID quarantine restrictions. It will be a test of crowd control and compliance with health protocols in the weeks leading up to the biggest holiday period of the year, Christmas.

Undas safety protocols must be put in place as early as possible. The days of the dead must not lead to the spread of the coronavirus and more deaths. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective Gel SantoS-ReloS As we remember the sad day in our nation’s history, when at least 3,000 people were killed and thousands more were injured in a series of coordinated attacks on American soil on September 11, 2001, carried out by the Islamist global terror network Al Qaeda, we come to realize another sobering fact happening now, almost two decades later.

The American people’s lives and safety continue to be under threat, not only by homegrown extremists in America, but also by people in government who have betrayed their sacred oath to protect us.

We feel betrayed to know that the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, deliberately covered up information he already knew in January from the warnings coming from our own intelligence agencies and scientists, and purposely downplayed the grave and fatal threat of the coronavirus pandemic to the American people.

This judgment call by Trump has killed more than 192,000 people and has infected almost 6.5 million people and counting.

COVID-19 has killed more Americans than during 9/11 and more

Commentary

aSSemblYwoman RoChelle nGuYen This election means more than any other in our lifetimes.

We’ve seen what four years of madness from the White House has inflicted: An increase in hate crimes toward the AAPI community; Kowtowing to dictators around the world; Racism over the origins of COVID-19 that paints our community with a broad brush of hate; The gleeful delight in using odious terms like “Kung Flu” and “China Virus.”

It’s all so disappointing to see, and its origins come from one man: Donald Trump.

But we can change that. It starts with sending a good person to the White House to replace him.

Nevada needs the decency and humility of Vice President Joe Biden. We’ve seen what he’s done for us in the past and we know what he can do in the next four years.

As Barack Obama’s vice president, Joe Biden helped lead us through the 2008 foreclosure crisis and oversaw the distribution of funds from the Recovery Act, guiding billions of dollars to Nevada when we were most in need.

In that process, he opened his heart and listened to communities in need. We need that sort of care and compassion now more than ever.

Philstar.com photo

Betrayal of public trust: Trump’s deliberate cover-up, misinformation of the COVID-19 threat has killed 192,000+ Americans

than the 67,830 troops who died in every war since the start of the Vietnam conflict in 1964. It did not have to happen this way and more lives could have been saved if Trump had been honest with the American people.

You should have already watched or heard news reports, and listened to Trump’s voice himself from an interview, recorded with his permission for a new book by the legendary investigative journalist Bog Woodward. (Woodward teamed up with another investigative journalist, Carl Bernstein, to report on the Watergate scandal which led to government investigations that pushed President Richard Nixon to resign.)

Woodward interviewed Trump 18 times from December 2019 to July 2020. The president told the journalist that he downplayed the threat of the virus to avoid panic.

Quoting the reporting by the respected news organization of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), contrasting “What Trump was telling Woodward v saying publicly”: 28 Jan: National security adviser Robert O’Brien tells the president: “This is the biggest national security threat you will face.”

7 Feb: “This is deadly stuff,” he tells Woodward, far more serious than the flu.

23 Feb: “We have it very much under control,” President Trump tells reporters.

26 Feb: On the 15 confirmed cases at the time, he tells a briefing: “within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero, that’s a pretty good job we’ve done”, implying that flu is far more dangerous.

27 Feb: The virus is going to “disappear”, he says.

10 March: “We’re doing a great job with it. And it will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away,” the president says on Capitol Hill.

19 March: He tells Woodward he wanted to play it down to avoid a panic.

Following the backlash that ensued after the news broke out, Trump chose to lie about his lie despite the evidence of an audio recording.

“I didn’t lie, what I said is we have to be calm, we can’t be panicked,” he said in response to a reporter’s question in a White House news conference on Thursday afternoon, September 10.

And then Trump resorted to his usual tactic: Shoot the messenger. Deflect blame to anybody

Nevada’s AAPI community can’t afford to sit this election out A clear example of Vice President Biden’s leadership was bringing Kamala Harris onto the ticket. When it came to selecting a running mate, Joe Biden listened to Senator Harris’ passionate calls for social justice and the need for true reform. Harris’ presence on the presidential ticket elevates the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrant parents who reflect the values of American success--that no matter your original homeland, you and your children can go on to do great things in this country.

She is truly one of our own.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the candidates for our community. They have an agenda for our AAPI communities that will take on this pandemic ravaging both our physical and economic well-being, make public college more accessible and affordable, improve the quality of health care, and increase AAPI voices and representation in government.

They listen. They don’t blame others. They don’t disparage those who disagree with them.

They bring empathy to everything they do.

So how do we get Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White House? By voting!

You can’t waste your chance to vote this year. We’re living in the midst of a pandemic Donald Trump has grossly mishandled,

and an economy struggling because of coronavirus — the stakes are too high for our AAPI community to sit this election out.

This year, most voters in Nevada will receive a ballot through the mail. Go to RegisterToVoteNV.gov to make sure you are registered and will receive your ballot and update, register, or reregister if necessary. Ballots will start arriving in mailboxes in early October.

Voting by mail is a convenient way to vote. In fact, many of your friends and neighbors are planning to vote by mail this year.

There are three ways to vote in Nevada: (1) returning your ballot by mail, (2) dropping your ballot off at a dropbox location near where you live or work, or (3) voting in-person during early voting or on Election Day. Whether you fill out your ballot at the kitchen table with your family or on Zoom call with your friends, it’s important to make a plan.

How you vote is your choice.

But no matter how you vote this year, do it early.

If you have any questions about the process of voting this year, visit NevadaVotesEarly.com or call (888) 525-8683. *** Since 2018, Assemblymember Rochelle Nguyen has represented Nevada’s Assembly District 10.

or everybody other than him.

“Bob Woodward had my quotes for many months. If he thought they were so bad or dangerous, why didn’t he immediately report them in an effort to save lives?” Trump contended.

“Didn’t he have an obligation to do so? No, because he knew they were good and proper answers. Calm, no panic!”

Woodward said the reasons he did not immediately release the tape and information: “The biggest problem I had, which is always a problem with Trump, is I didn’t know if it was true,” Woodward told The Post in an interview.

The investigative journalist also wanted to know the source of information and the context of Trump’s statements, so that he could tell the bigger picture to the American people before the November election.

Why is Trump deflecting the blame to Woodward? Trump is the President, the Commanderin-Chief, and it is his responsibility and obligation to be truthful to the American people about what is really happening in our country, the threats we are facing. He is duty-bound to unify the country instead of dividing our people to defeat the invisible enemy by urging every American

Commentary John C. YanG IF you could do something in ten minutes or less that would make sure we have translated materials for limited English proficient members in our Asian American community, local grocery stores that carry Asian-related products, or tell Asian-owned businesses where to build new stores, would you do it?

Right now, you can make the difference in how our communities are seen and supported if you take a few minutes to fill out the 2020 Census. We can no longer afford to let others view our communities as monolithic. Right now, we are in a crisis. The Coronavirus pandemic has shown how little national data is available about the impact of this virus on Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

Government officials scrambled to figure out where to send resources when the pandemic started.

With accurate census data, we can prove where resources need to be deployed across the country, within the states, and down into specific communities. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are missing from data on how the coronavirus impacts us. Initially, reports did not show that people in our communities were dying from this virus faster than other ethnicities. Nearly 190,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 but little to no data about the impact

to follow safety measures based on science and facts to protect lives and keep us all safe.

Trump contends, “I don’t want to jump up and down and start screaming, ‘death, death,’ because that’s not what it’s about.”

YES, Mr. Trump, that is what it is about: To protect the lives of the American people from death because of the severity of the virus. You said you did not want the American people to panic?

That is not the way to do it, Mr. President. Lying is not the way to do it. The facts that we are No. 1 in the world with the most number of infected cases and No. 1 in the death toll, with a continued uptick in cases just as other progressive countries have already defeated the virus just prove you have failed in your duty to protect the American people.

Panic and death happen when people are confused because of mixed messaging coming from the government without a true, trustworthy and unifying leader for the nation. We, the people, cannot trust a leader who is not truthful to us. We cannot be calm when we do not have a true leader who has a clear plan and strategy based on facts and science to defeat the enemy, a plan we all can follow and abide by together.

But you, Mr. President, despite knowledge about the severity of the virus and its threat to human lives, continue with your misinformation campaign.

Through your dangerous rhetoric and example, you have been selling us to the invisible enemy because the truth is — you are more obsessed about defeating your political opponents to be re-elected than defeat the virus and save people’s lives.

President Trump, you are too focused on covering up the facts, the numbers, downplaying the required wide-scale testing and contact tracing because such statistics will make you look bad and that is your worst nightmare more than seeing people die under your watch.

Despite warnings from our health officials and scientists, despite what you already know about the virus, and despite the death toll and the growing number of confirmed cases, Mr. President, you have been pushing states, businesses, and schools to open because the numbers you want are good economic indicators that will be your bragging right in your re-election bid.

Consequently, we see more people dying as a result. These are hundreds of thousands of

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Ten minutes will change our world for Asian Americans

of the virus on Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. The death rate among Pacific Islander Americans is higher than the Asian American community, but it took months before those scant statistics were reported. We still do not have an accurate picture of the extent of the disparities.

The Asian American community is the fastest-growing population in the U.S. We learned this fact because of 2010 Census data. Without every one of us filling out the 2020 Census, we will not know if that fact continues to be true. We will not know how our communities are growing or changing.

We can’t argue the need for new schools, elder care services, or debate about fair political representation in Congress, state legislatures, and even local school boards.

Within our communities we have more than 50 detailed subgroups that differ dramatically across key social and economic indicators.

The detailed data from the 2020 Census is critical to our ability to break down the stereotype of the “model minority,” which has been used to erase the history of exclusion and discrimination against Asian Americans. This stereotype is also used to obscure our concerns — failing to recognize critical differences and priorities between Asian American subgroups — and therefore to excuse the lack of government resources and in-

vestments in our communities.

Some of you may be struggling at home right now with finances, your business barely making ends meet, or concerned about your job security. It is data from the census that will tell the government where to put resources that will help your business, send healthcare supplies or workers, and tell businesses where to build or rebuild. We must fully participate in the census to make sure the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities are included in the planning and get our fair share of those resources.

But that cannot happen without you filling out your census.

The deadline to respond has been extended so you have no excuse not to do the right thing for our community. Right now, you may be feeling unsure of what to do or how you can make a difference amid this pandemic and the calls for racial justice in protests and rallies.

One thing you can do right now is to change our visibility. Be seen and be counted by filling out your census form now. You have ten minutes, right? *** John C. Yang is the president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing JusticeAAJC, a national nonprofit founded in 1991 in Washington, D.C. with the mission to advance the civil and human rights for Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all.

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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 17-23, 2020

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Ex-SC justice Carpio joins PH case vs Chinese president

by Dempsey

Reyes ManilaTimes.net

STREET VENDOR. Eduardo Garalza, 54, hands over a snack to a driver of a pickup truck along Aurora Boulevard in Cubao, Quezon City on Thursday, September 17. He sells empanada, hotdog in a bun, and other snacks to motorists in the area.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Gunmen snatch Fil-Am in Zambo Norte town ZAMBOANGA CITY—A Filipino American was abducted late Wednesday, September 16 in the town of Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte, authorities said.

Maj. Gen. Generoso Ponio, commander of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said soldiers and policemen are currently pursuing the suspects in the vicinity of Sirawai town.

Ponio quoted Sirawai Mayor Gamar Janihim as saying the abductors could be local bandits.

Brig. Gen. Leonel Nicolas, commander of the Army’s 102nd Infantry Brigade, told the Inquirer the victim was identified as Rex Triplet.

A report obtained by the Inquirer from the Zamboanga Peninsula regional police office said that Triplet, 64, was with his wife, Celsa Maani Triplet, 23, when snatched.

The couple was riding a motorcycle being driven by Triplet on the way home to Piacan village when four armed men wear-

ing camouflage uniforms flagged them down.

In the scuffle to snatch Triplet, Celsa managed to escape and sought help from officials of Tapanayan village, the police’s report said.

The gunmen took Triplet with them heading for the hinterlands of Tapanayan.

Police involved in the pursuit operation was led by Lt. Roy Malayo, deputy police chief of Sirawai. (Inquirer.net)

Betrayal of public trust: Trump’s deliberate...

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ordinary people, including our front liners and teachers. You hardly even talk about this to urge people to come together and be united in the battlefront against COVID-19. But then you tweet urgently on the ratings and economic numbers you think are good for you, and more incessant tweeting against your political opponents and critics.

You foolishly think that fabricating a semblance of normalcy like life as we know it pre-COVID will make the virus go away. No, Mr. President. This approach only exacerbates the problem, and prolong our journey toward healing and true recovery, both in our health and in our economy.

My fellow Filipinos in America, my fellow American citizens, we deserve more than this from our president.

There is blood on his hands, and we have to call him out for his failure in leadership. No selfrespecting American will give him four more years for betraying

his constitutional duty to defend us and protect our lives because of his personal and political agenda. This is a betrayal of the public trust and power accorded to him by the Office of the President of the United States.

It is a betrayal of public trust when you use the bully pulpit and power of the Office of the President to attack people, institutions, even our own state and federal government officials who do not flatter you as they fulfill their constitutional duties to provide checks and balances in government, even fabricating lies against your critics.

It is a betrayal of public trust when you attempt to disenfranchise people of their right to vote safely by mail amid the threat of the pandemic, and peddle conspiracy theories without bases in fact to discredit mail-in voting, which you yourself use to cast your vote. President Trump, you even tactically and maliciously smear the election process to cast doubt in the minds and faith

of the American people in case you lose, as you are trailing behind your opponent, Democratic nominee Joe Biden, in the polls.

My fellow Filipinos in America, my fellow Americans, it does not have to be this chaotic in America for another four years. We can do something to change the course of our country for the greater good this November.

We, the people, have to fire Donald Trump. We, the people, need to vote him out in November. Remember that we get the government that we deserve. A true democracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. *** 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.

RETIRED Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio will join two ex-government officials in suing Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Beijing officials before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario announced on Wednesday that Carpio has agreed to join him and then Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales in their case against Xi and his officials for their “inhumane acts” against Filipinos in the hotly disputed South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).

The ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor last year released a report raising some jurisdictional concerns on the communication filed by del Rosario and CarpioMorales.

It said that for the ICC to take jurisdiction of the case, the crimes allegedly committed by Xi and other Chinese officials should have occurred within Philippine territory.

According to del Rosario, he and Morales had responded to the ICC prosecutor, also last year, that they will be submitting a “more extensive discussion on why the acts of Chinese officials described in our Communication fall within the territorial jurisdiction” of the ICC. They are expected to file their response to the ICC’s prosecutor within the week, and this time, Carpio will be joining them.

“I am happy to announce that Justice Tony Carpio has agreed to join our quest for justice, as our counsel in this ICC case,” del Rosario said in his keynote address during the Stratbase Albert Del Rosario Institute forum.

“Justice Carpio is a legal luminary with unparalleled wisdom and expertise in the South China Sea issue, and he will surely bolster our efforts in the ICC,” he said.

Del Rosario gave a sneak peek of their response to the ICC, where he said they will show the crimes against humanity allegedly committed by Xi and his officials not only within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, “but also in the Philippines’ territorial sea and the coast of Luzon.”

Del Rosario cited the “destructive, massive illegal reclamation and artificial island-building” by the Chinese military in Subi (Zamora) Reef, which falls un-

Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio

der the territorial sea of Pag-asa (Thitu) Island.

Pag-asa Island is one of the nine major features occupied by the Philippines in the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly Group of Islands). It is also controlled by the Philippines and where several Filipinos live.

Part of the response by the former Philippine officials was Beijing’s continued enforcement of its “hostile blockade” within the territorial sea of Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal, which del Rosario said prevented Filipino fishermen “from pursuing their livelihood.”

Another would be the 322 Chinese militia vessels, which have been conducting “swarming” activities within the Philippines’ territorial sea and shores of Pagasa Island “for more than 600 days since 2018 and remain in the area indefinitely.”

Del Rosario said that they will also raise in their response the June 2019 ramming of Filipino fishing boat Gem-Ver in Recto (Reed) Bank where 22 Filipinos were left at sea until they were rescued by a Vietnamese fishing vessel.

He said that this would fall under the ICC’s jurisdiction since the Chinese committed a crime against a vessel registered in the Philippines.

The former Philippine officials will also include high-ranking executives of China Communications Construction Company and its subsidiaries for its participation in the “massive and destructive illegal reclamation and artificial island-building in the South China Sea.” “These facts are straightforward because they are based on publicly available evidence and a number of them have been judicially vetted in the South China Sea arbitration,” del Rosario said. “We therefore believe that the ICC has a strong basis to pro-

ManilaTimes.net photo

ceed with our case.”

End goal Del Rosario admitted that the end purpose of their case was to hold Xi and other Chinese officials criminally liable and “be penalized with imprisonment pursuant to the ICC Statute.”

“They planned it, they implemented it, and they continue to commit their crimes against Filipinos and all the coastal inhabitants of the South China Sea,” he said.

He is also confident that their case against the top Chinese officials would “fulfill the founding purpose” of the ICC, given also the “global repercussions” of actions by China.

Arrest warrants may also be issued against the Chinese officials that del Rosario and Morales identified in their case and this could prevent Xi and some officials from travelling to ICC State Parties like some European countries, Australia, Japan and South Korea “because such countries will be obligated by the ICC Statute to enforce the arrest warrants against them.”

The Philippines, since March of last year, has withdrawn its signature to the Rome Statute which formed the ICC, after it wanted to pursue its case against President Rodrigo Duterte for his alleged human rights crimes over his brutal war against illegal drugs.

Del Rosario also urged the Philippines’ neighbors in the South China Sea “to submit similar communications with the ICC to make Chinese officials accountable for their atrocities.”

“We pursue this case on the premise that we, Filipinos, should not sit idly by as China continues to flagrantly destroy our rights,” he said. “Through our private efforts, we continue to work to protect our country’s rights and to make China pay for its atrocities against the Filipino people.” n

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Journal How entrepreneur Vanessa Lee brings her Filipina heritage, nursing background to the beauty business Christina M. Oriel/AJPress

ple would be asked about their specialty and would say labor GrowinG up, Vanessa Lee and delivery or iCU, but i said i would sneak off with her mother’s wanted to work in beauty,” she copies of Glamour and Cosmosaid. “All my classmates and politan to read about the latest teachers were concerned for me beauty trends and do-it-yourself because they said it wasn’t very tutorials. stable. Like, ‘Don’t you want to Channeling her lola’s backbe a real nurse?’” ground as a beautician back in AbAfter graduating from Mount ulug, Philippines, Lee would then Saint Mary’s University, Lee went take what she learned — from on Craigslist for job opportunities Saramsam joins its neighbors including Jeepney, Mama Fina’s and Ugly Kitchen in the East Village and a little further downtown, Kabisera, applying cut crease eyeliner to AJPress Photos by Momar G. Visaya as a cosmetic nurse, though the Pig & Khao and Tsismis in the Lower East Side to satiate the burgeoning interest on Filipino cuisine. using available ingredients in her pay was minimal compared to kitchen to concoct face masks working in another specialty at — and experiment on friends a hospital. Still, wanting to break and family. into the field, she found a partShe eventually became their time gig on the weekends, while go-to for help in getting ready for working during the week in the dances and special events, and emergency room at UCLA Medical through that, she noticed how Center and then as a travel nurse and they called it Saramsam, a

by MOMar G. Visaya / AJPress others would get a confidence in neurosurgery. nod to chef raj’s ilocano roots. boost.

She made her rounds in plastic Abat’s family moved to new wHEn his boss ravi Derossi “i love beauty and cosmetics, PAGE B3 told chef raj Abat last September York when he was about 10 years to come up with an idea for a old. He grew up in the Spanish Filipino vegan restaurant, he was Harlem area in upper Manhattan. a little hesitant.

Among his first steps was Growing up in La Union, Philippines, he knew for a fact that to find a substitute for some Filipinos love and adore their of the ingredients integral to the dishes he wanted to serve, meats and seafood.

He took it as a challenge like bagoong, which is a staple though and began to think of his for pinakbet and kare kare. He favorite dishes and how he’d be thought of fermenting black beans able to make them vegan. He told in-house and conducted a few his mom who echoed his initial experiments. His taste test conone-word response to Derossi: firmed his theory, the fermented impossible. The restaurateur was beans can be used instead of insistent and he told Abat to just bagoong.

In an interview with Asian Journal five years The beans bagoong is used ago, Chef Raj Abat talked about how his Lolo have fun and do it.

And that’s exactly what he in a couple of dishes on the Artemio and Lola Crescencia inspired him to menu: an appetizer called Kama- do what he is doing now. “My grandmother did.

A couple of months ago, he tis Bagoong and one of the main used to cook our food and my lunchbox made a test run and cooked vegan dishes, Kare Kare. we had both going to school had tortang talong, igado. I Filipino dishes based on what he and indeed, the funkiness of the was never teased because the neighborhood fermented beans gave the dishes where I grew up had a nice mix of Chinese, thought would work. “nakita ko, meron siyang kalu- a similar flavor.

Filipino, Dominican, Puerto Ricans. They we first met Abat (whose full bring their rice and beans and I bring my luwa. The taste is there, posible pala siya. Puwede, so we went for name is raja Dakila) in 2015. He adobo,” he quipped. “I always had that mix was then executive chef at Joseph of cuisines growing up; I think we were spoiled it,” he told the Asian Journal.

A week ago, they informally Leonard, a small, casual place because we were exposed to all these kinds Filipina American Vanessa Lee, a medical aesthetic provider and the founder and CEO of The Things We Do, a Los Angeles-based beauty concept bar.

Photo by Jessie Casprowitz opened the doors of the new place PAGE B2 of cultures.” by

but my passion is really helping others feel good,” the Southern California native told the Asian Journal in a recent interview.

Today, Lee is a sought-after medical aesthetic provider, and the founder and CEo of The Things we Do, a Los Angelesbased beauty concept bar beloved by the local skincare community and trusted by celebrity clients like Jessica Alba.

Like many younger Filipino Americans, Lee was pushed toward a career in nursing, forgoing a short-lived dream of becoming a travel writer or doing something beauty-related, or so she thought. it wasn’t until a cousin told her that she could still incorporate that passion by providing aesthetic and cosmetic services.

“During nursing school, peo-

Chef Raj Abat opens first Filipino vegan restaurant in New York

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Chef Raj Abat opens first Filipino vegan...

PAGE B1 in The Village where he added Filipino dishes to the restaurant’s late-night menu. From midnight to closing, the restaurant served Filipino fare like balut, arroz caldo, pulled pork sandwich and beef mami, under the menu heading ‘Midnight in Manila.’

Chef Raj said he knows what Ilocano cooking is by heart but he claims he is no expert. He knows that he won’t be able to copy or replicate the dishes, so he did the next best thing: to copy the way Ilocanos cook.

That means going to the market every morning to buy the freshest produce.

Armed with his backpack and scooter, Abat goes to the Farmer’s Market in Union Square to get fruits and vegetables. He also makes quick trips to Chinatown for the bitter melon and string beans, and other products not found in the farmers’ markets.

“That was my idea of the Filipinos way of cooking and that’s what we’re trying to do here at Saramsam. Take the Ilocano philosophy and make it Filipino somehow and yet very New York,” he said.

Typically, restaurants have big purveyors for their supplies and ingredients for ease and convenience but Abat decided to go the other way.

“I really want to push that boundary of not being so comfortable. Gusto kong mamalengke

and I want to be creative with whatever I get from there,” he added.

Creative, soulful food More people know more about Filipino cuisine now but most of them don’t realize that it is diverse and regional.

“I am not by any means a master of Filipino food, or Ilocano food for that matter. It’s not even Ilocano food pero yung puso at kaluluwa niya, definitely Ilocano,” Raz reiterated.

What he has to offer is another option: Filipino food that is more vegetable-forward, yet creative and bursting with Filipino flavors.

Their overall vision is a table filled with various plates and with a magnum of wine or beer and friends and family in a conversation and having a great time.

Chef Raj, who gained his chops working in France and Indonesia, shared that he is also experimenting on vegan versions of dinuguan, and for brunch, tocino, torta and longganisa.

When he returned to New York, he worked with famous celebrity chefs including Jean-Georges and David Bouley and restaurants such as Brooklyn’s Saul and the Market Table. Prior to his move to DeRossi’s group last year, Abat was at the now-shuttered Bar Sardine.

Saramsam is part of DeRossi’s Overthrow Hospitality Group, a Manhattan-based family of veg-

Among the dozen dishes offered at Saramsam are: (clockwise) Tokwa (Chef Raj’s take on sweet and sour fish, using crispy silken tofu); Kinirog (garlic fried rice); Halo Halo (the only dessert on the menu for now); Pancit Canton (noodles with impossible ragu) and Sisig (using “waygu” teriyaki strips).

AJPress Photos by Momar G. Visaya

etable-forward bars and restaurants which includes Ladybird, Avant Garden, Proletariat and Amor y Amargo. DeRossi also started Death & Company, The Bourgeois Pig and Mayahuel.

Simple Menu For now, Saramsam has about a dozen dishes on the menu. They recommend multiple plates to reflect the meaning of their name in Ilocano, which means casual dining or snacking.

The traditional ones are there, from adobo to sinigang to sisig.

“I believe sisig can make or break any amazing Filipino

restaurant. For our version, we use waygu and so far, we’re the only one in the New York and New Jersey area using it,” he revealed, sharing a story about its origins.

He said there was a blind tasting among Japanese chefs which involved teriyaki strips where nine out of 10 were actual beef and one was plant-based protein called “wagyu”. In the end, the textured soy protein alternative ended up as the second-best among the chefs and has become a plantbased alternative to the famed “wagyu” beef.

His version of sinigang (root vegetables are the star) is cooked with fresh tamarind and orange wine and the adobo using roasted mushrooms has pinot noir.

Raj also takes pride in their extensive and well-curated wine list from Spain, Italy and California and craft beer list, which includes San Miguel Beer pale pilsen by the way. They even have Filipino cocktails creatively named: Saramsam Sunrise, Kabit Sling and Pinay Colada.

He said that the idea that Filipino dishes don’t do well with wine paring is just that, a theory and a misconception.

“At the end of the day, you have to flip the way you think, and see if the combination tastes good,” he said. We have the food, we have the wine list, beer and cocktails and that warm embrace na para kang dumadadating sa bahay ng lola mo.”

There’s one dessert and it’s halo halo, topped for now with vegan ice cream from Van Leeuwen, while they’re still perfecting their own ice cream flavors.

Opening in the pandemic Abat and his team are excited that more and more people are now dining out.

“We’re very lucky we’re busy and I feel like there are many opportunities now,” Raj said when we asked about opening a business during the pandemic.

“People will know and will come back if you’re good.”

They look forward to the gradual reopening of indoor dining in the city on September 30. With a capacity of around 40 people, they will be able to offer maybe around four tables inside, aside from the nine they have outdoor.

He is hoping to ride the Filipino

food wave and with its location in the East Village, a Filipino food crawl in the neighborhood is possible.

Saramsam joins its neighbors including Jeepney, Mama Fina’s and a little further downtown, Kabisera, Pig & Khao and Tsismis in the Lower East Side to satiate the burgeoning interest on Filipino cuisine and fill the vacuum particularly for those looking for vegan options.

Indeed, it’s not your lola or nanay’s pinakbet where everything is left in the pot to cook.

And since people eat with their eyes first, Saramsam’s dishes are also eye candy and needless to say, Instagram and Pinterest friendly.

“What we serve are vegetable dishes with Filipino soul and heart and are plated with a lot of care, and a few garnishes,” he quipped.

And since he goes to the market daily, his ingredients will tend to change depending on the availability and seasonality of the vegetables.

“The way we cook pinakbet, sinigang or adobo will always be the same but the ingredients we include will vary depending on the season,” he said.

He is also ready to face who he calls “the hardest, toughest critics: Filipino moms and titas.”

His mom Zenaida went to the restaurant the day before we visited. She gave her son a thumbs-up.

“I kid you not, she doesn’t mince any words. Before, she told me it’s going to be impossible. After she ate, sinabi niya, ‘Anak, I’m sorry, mali ako’,” Raj shared.

Having said that, Raj shared that he is ready to face the Titas and listen to what they have to say after they eat at Saramsam.

“As chefs, we get criticized a lot so you got to have an open mind. Maybe the Tita has a point, right?” he said.

For the Titos and Titas then who have cholesterol and hypertension issues, pigging out at Saramsam could be a worthwhile experience.

“Sometimes when we eat out [at] Filipino restaurants and they order lechon kawali, they’d say ‘makapa high blood met,’ which roughly means the food makes their blood pressure shoot up. Not here, it’s all vegetables,” he said laughing.

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How entrepreneur Vanessa Lee brings...

PAGE B1 surgery and dermatology offices and “loved every part of this type of business” when working directly with patients. However, the downside was being pressured to fill quotas every day and to convince patients to get injections like Botox even if they technically didn’t need them.

“There was a lot of harping on people’s insecurities. At a certain point, I didn’t think this field was for me because I felt like I wasn’t helping people feel better. I was making them feel worse about themselves by pointing things out and that’s exactly the opposite of why I got into this field,” Lee said.

In the name of beauty Despite the doubts, Lee doubled down on practicing injectable techniques and realized that if she was helping other providers build their businesses, why couldn’t she work for herself and follow her own mission and ethics?

“That way, I could say ‘no’ to patients who really didn’t need certain injectables and instead might need emotional health, like a licensed therapist, who could work with them if we think they might have body dysmorphic disorder,” she said. “I could do this — where we marry the world of what’s good for you on the inside and what’s right for your soul and your mental well-being.”

Lee opened the first location of The Things We Do — referring to the things women do for beauty — at the ROW DTLA in December 2018.

When coming in for a treatment, clients will be asked by Lee or other providers: “What do you love most about your face?”

“What we say ‘yes’ to is mental health, inclusivity and doing the right thing for patients naturally.

How can we balance your natural features and how can we preserve how you look at your youngest, happiest self with what you’re comfortable with instead of just giving someone huge lips? We really work on facial balancing and profile harmony,” Lee said.

It’s what she calls the “natural intention beauty guidance,” a philosophy and conscious artistry of injectable services, from Botox to Kybella (a fat dissolving treatment for under the chin), and facial and holistic health treatments that are rooted in Filipino and other traditional practices.

Malunggay (moringa), used as a vegetable ingredient in a lot of Filipino dishes, also has beauty

Before treating patients, Lee asks, “What do you love most about your face?”

Photo by Jessie Casprowitz

benefits like skin brightening and anti-aging, according to Lee. “My lolo used to cook with malunggay and tell me it was way stronger than spinach. It was like a miracle tree in the Philippines and that always stuck with me. It’s having its moment and it’s only getting bigger,” she said.

The plant is used in the beauty bar’s Healing Facial treatment and is an active ingredient in her skincare line’s Dew & Go™ Microneedling Infusion Stamp, a gentler form of microneedling, that also contains snail mucin, an antimicrobial and hydrating substance popularized by Korean beauty.

Stepping inside The Things We Do immediately breaks down the notions of a medical spa and its architecture has made it a destination in itself. Every corner is photogenic, dynamic, and plays with shapes and edges. The walls are not white and sterile, but rather are painted and adorned in light pink, peach and warm orange tones.

Drawing on the hospitality Filipinos are known for, Lee was intentional about having aspects of her culture referenced in the space and worked with interior decor team Wall for Apricots to build out this vision.

The wallpaper inside the treatment rooms are textured like batik; mirrors have wave-like

curves alluding to the thousands of Philippine islands; tiles are reminiscent of capiz shells; and treatment rooms are named about women in her family.

“When people start asking about our design, I get to tell the story of my women who came before me, like my grandmother who was a beautician,” Lee said.

She went into this entrepreneurial venture knowing it was an investment and braced for not turning a profit until the second or third year of operation.

However, the business exceeded expectations and raked in $3.2 million in sales in that first year.

Even then, her mother relayed concerns about her financial stability. To prove that she was doing just fine, Lee had a paycheck “accidentally” sent to her mother’s address, knowing she would open it.

“She called me and was like, ‘Anak, this is good money.’ I told her she didn’t have to worry and we made it,” Lee said. “Now, she finally understands it’s a healthy business and we’re doing great even during this craziness of 2020.”

Operating under the new normal Despite the coronavirus pandemic and safety measures that forced personal care service busiPAGE B5

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 17-23, 2020

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Features

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Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS COVID-19 update As of Tuesday, September 15, 2020, 5:48 PM EST, the total global cases of COVID-19 stood at 29,676,303, with 937,519 deaths; Philippines – 269,407 cases, 4,663 deaths; United States – 6,778,273 cases, 199,893 deaths; India – 5,018,034 cases, 82,091 deaths; Brazil – 4,382,263 cases, 133,119 deaths; and Russia – 1,073,849 cases, 18,785 deaths.

There are almost 11,000 COVID-19 cases among overseas Filipinos around the world. The COVID-19 cases among nations and cities around the world are very fluid, and increase almost every few minutes. Some anti-COVID19 vaccines are now in the third stage clinical trial, making it possible for at least one to be available by the end of this year or early next year. In the meantime, evidence-based data available today show social distancing and wearing facemask are effective in minimizing the risk of getting COVID-19. Some countries have mandated mask-wearing in public, with steep penalty, even jail term, for violators. Societal protection and security, especially for the most vulnerable persons, is vital, and outweigh individual civil rights.

UVC destroys viruses Ultraviolet light was discovered

by German physicist Johann Wilhelm Ritter in 1801 and its power to destroy microbes was first noted in 1878. Since then, and after its radiation effect on DNA was proven in 1960, UVC light (wavelength: 100-400, the shortest one compared to UVA and UVB) has been used for food (meat-fishpoultry-fruit-vegetables), air and water by industries for sterilization to protect the public around the world for more than a century. Besides killing bacteria, protozoa and mold, UVC light also destroys viruses, including the SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) virus. A UVC portable 2-gallon-size tabletop sterile Tote (bag), with USB connection, is available to sterilize, baby bottles/bibs/pacifier/ toys, electronic devices (CPAP masks and tubing, cell-phones, tablets, headsets/camera lenses), watches, jewelry, eyeglasses, toothbrushes, and any item that fits in this tote), including food.

When the UVC light is on, the lid of the tote should be closed, to prevent eye and skin exposure. For more info, email: steriletote@hotmail.com Shaken Baby Syndrome About 1,000 children die each year from a condition called Shaken Baby Syndrome. As the name suggests, the baby is

Vital health issues shaken, resulting in either broken neck bones, bleeding in or around the brain, severe injury and, most of the time, death.

Shaking the baby’s head back and forth is very dangerous. The impact on the brain could cause seizure disorder, mental retardation or blindness if the baby survives. A common precipitating situation is when the baby won’t stop crying, causing the tired and overwhelmed ignorant mother or babysitter to be so upset as to shake the baby to make the infant stop crying. The baby is so delicate that the shaking has resulted in many a fatality.

Babies cry for a reason. They may be hungry, wet, colicky, in need of burping, or sick. Picking them up and carrying them for a while, or rocking them, putting them in a stroller, or even taking them for a ride often help. But no matter what, remember to never, never shake a baby, and always support and protect their delicate neck.

If you are taking care of an irritable baby, whose usual demands you have met, but the baby still cries and you are terribly exhausted and frustrated, and your patience is down to zero, leave the baby in the crib for a few minutes, or ask for help from a relative or a friend. A moment of anger causing an unintended injury to the baby may result in a lifetime of guilt, regrets, and pain.

Anti-flu nasal spray vaccine Influenza, which afflicts about 40 million Americans each year, is a viral infection in the nose, throat and lungs, sending 150,000 people to the hospital each year. Its complications kill about 25,000 annually. The flu shot is well-known and effective, but a lesser painful way to get the vaccine is by nasal spray. However, it is not for everyone. Those who should not get the spray are: children younger than 5 years of age, adults 50 and over, pregnant women, those with allergy to eggs or had allergic reaction to flu vaccine in the past, people with Guillain-Barre syndrome, people with weakened immune system, and patients with longterm health problems. Before considering the nasal spray flu vaccine, confer with your physician.

Influenza can kill As stated above, the flu can be fatal. The best is to avoid it by getting the flu vaccine. It is not 100% guaranteed to prevent the flu, but when it occurs after getting the vaccine, the flu is usually a lot milder. It takes about 2 to 4 weeks for the vaccine to take effect. There are antiviral medications that can also prevent the flu. To prevent getting or spreading of the flu, wash hands frequently, keep distance from people with the flu, cover

mouth and nose when coughing, avoid secondhand smoke, quit if you are a smoker, drink at least 8 glasses of filtered water daily, and, of course, live a healthy lifestyle, which will strengthen the immune system.

Condom not 100% safe A condom is used to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and as a means of contraception. The public in general has the impression that condoms are fully protective. Studies of various brands of condoms in different countries revealed that about 2-3% of condoms have holes in them right out of the factory. Rough handling by the user can also cause minute tears. This obviously means the user is not totally safe and has at least 23% risk of getting STD from an infected partner, and/or women with condom-wearing partner has a 2-3% risk of getting pregnant. As for STDs, when one gets HIV, it is not 2-3%, but 100% devastating.

Our nation’s health The Philippines is afflicted with the cancer of pervasive graft and corruption among countless officials in the nation, and even earned the shameful distinction of being the most corrupt in Asia.

A Dollar Moral Crusade Against Graft and Corruption in the Philippines has been launched overseas by the Filipino United Network (FUN) to encourage accountability, honesty, and transparency in governance.

The news about this movement (see its inspiring challenge at its website: www.FUN8888.com) is in all Filipino-American newspapers in the United States and some in the Philippines. It is time for every decent Filipino, most especially the youth of the land, to stand up and be counted, and come to the aid of our country.

After all, the health of our nation is at stake, and its survival, is in our hands.

The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities, and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our articles is for general medical information and is not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/ author, a Health Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com; Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.

Angel shuts down breakup rumors with Neil

By Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

KAPAMILYA actress Angel Locsin debunked rumors that she and fiance Neil Arce have broken up.

In her Instagram account, the actress posted a screenshot of YouTube videos of the rumors in her IG story.

“Oh wow. Can’t believe some people would stoop this low,” Angel wrote.

“Why do some people make this much effort to put me in a bad light? That is the question,” she added.

Angel and Neil, in an interview with “Rated K” last June, said that they have not yet decided on when their wedding will push through.

“Hindi namin pwedeng sabihin kung kailan ‘yung exact date for security reasons and privacy ng mga bisita. Pero dapat this year and medyo malapit na siya,” Angel said.

“Parang masyadong maaga to decide kung tuloy or anong mangyayari. Hindi natin alam baka next week may vaccine na. Hindi na lang po kami magko-comAngel Locsin with fiance Neil Arce plain. Maghihintay na lang kami kung ano mang mangPhoto from Instagram_@neil_arce yayari,” she added.

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FOR RENT

Island Pacific Select’s Glazed Banana Thins comes in four different flavors, original, chocolate, cinnamon and salted.

Photo by Jester Edquilag

Island Pacific launches ‘Island Pacific Select’ private label ISLAND Pacific Supermarket, a Filipino grocery chain with 16 locations in California and Nevada, recently launched its private label program known as “Island Pacific Select.”

This week, Island Pacific Select Glazed Banana Thins made its way to store shelves.

“We are extremely excited to introduce Island Pacific Select Glazed Banana Thins. The manufacturer of this product is a family owned business in the Philippines who are passionate in creating the best banana chips on the planet. What makes this product amazing is it perfectly

embodies the goals and objectives of our private label program which is to provide premium product at affordable prices!” said Island Pacific Founder & CEO, Nino Jefferson Lim. Island Pacific’s professional buyers and R&D department meticulously grade and analyze each product before making it a part of the “Island Pacific Select” product line. The objective of Island Pacific’s private label program is to guarantee that customers are buying premium quality products.

These premium banana chips are proudly made in the Philip-

pines and imported to California.

The sweet bananas are ethically and responsibly sourced from local Philippine banana farms.

There are four varieties of flavor to choose from: original, chocolate, cinnamon and salted. Island Pacific Banana chips are cooked in small batches and are sliced to perfection resulting in a thin, crispy crunch with every bite!

Island Pacific Select Glazed Banana Thins retail for $4.99 but Island Pacific will have an introductory sale of $3.99 in store and for delivery or pickup through the Island Pacific app or website.

(Advertising Supplement)

What scares Lav Diaz

by ricky

lo Philstar.com

DOES practice make perfect?

To paraphrase that oft-quoted line, in the case of Lav Diaz who has the remarkable “habit” of pocketing awards in international film festivals, has it perhaps become an oh-so-familiar routine... you know, been there done that.

Surprisingly, it doesn’t happen that way.

“Honestly,” confessed Lav who has just won Best Director in the Orizzonti Horizons Section of the 2020 Venice International Film Festival (VIFF) for his film Lahi, Hayop (Genus, Pan), “I am more nervous about the festival protocols than the competition itself, such as the press conference, the red-carpet walks, the interviews, the introductions, the Q&As, the pictorials and even the parties.”

Lav made that confession in a The New Current interview, explaining that “I have a withdrawn personality on account of my growing up in the boondocks.

I agonize with my shyness, my primitive ways that I can’t shake off up to now.”

Fortunately, that “shyness” and those “primitive ways” haven’t hindered Lav from creating socially-conscious films that invariably impress jurors from Venice to Cannes to the other world film capitals.

The soft-spoken, self-effacing former entertainment editor of a Philippine tabloid is so unlike most filmmakers who are long on gobbledygook but short on performance. Lav does more “doing” than just “talking.”

The VIFF, now on its 77th year, has become a familiar territory for Lav (who is just as “at home” in other major filmfests), who first competed in 2007 with Kagadanan sa Banwaan Ning Mga Engkanto (Death in the Land of Encantos), the closing film of the 64th VIFF and was awarded with a Golden Lion Special Mention. The next year, his film Melancholia won the Orizzonti Grand Prize.

In 2016, he won the Golden Lion Best Director for Ang Babaeng

Lav Diaz

Humayo (The Woman Who Left).

Lahi, Hayop is about three illegal miners (played by Nanding Josef, Don Melvin Boongaling and Bart Guingona) who journey back to their Hugaw Island after months of toiling in hellish conditions, and their “struggle to behave like human beings in the face of the beast-like violence, egoism and greed displayed by almost every inhabitant...in a society that one century after the 1898 Declaration of Philippine Independence from the Spanish colonizers remains feudal and predatorily exploitative in nature.”

Some critics see a parallelism between the 1975 Lino Brocka classic Maynila sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag and Lahi, Hayop in the sense that both films depicted unfair labor practice.

Said Lav, “It is an endlesslyrepeating cycle that we Filipinos are unable to break.”

With Lav’s permission, I am printing excerpts from his revealing New Current interview.

Ahead of a major festival like Venice, do you ever get nervous about screening one of your films?

“Oftentimes, I’d be more nervous of the festival protocols, they give me the fright, to be honest. I am thankful for the space given to my works, and I feel lucky for that, but what really makes me anxious are the responsibilities tasked to

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the filmmaker, albeit I understand they’re part of the quid pro quo — the press conferences, the red-carpet walks, the interviews, the introductions, the Q&As, the pictorials, even the parties.

“I really struggle doing those things as I have a very withdrawn personality on account of my growing up in the boondocks.

I agonize with my shyness, my primitive ways I can’t shake off up to now. That’s why if it were up to me, when attending festivals, I just want to be away from the madness, hide, be alone, and just watch and watch cinema.”

In 2016, you won top honours at Venice, what was that experience like for you?

“It was surreal, getting up the stage, not knowing what to do, not knowing what to say. It was a surprise and I was grateful for the recognition but then again, I wished I was somewhere else, just having coffee with my loved ones or walking in the woods or even planting rice in my father’s farm.

It was so visceral and horrifying at some point, when I got hold of the heavy Golden Lion. All I could hear, while the belligerent klieg lights incessantly cordoned off my eyesight, were voices goading me to smile, to wave, to look right, to look left, to look straight, lift the Lion, wave. What saved me from collapsing from the confusion PAGE B5

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How entrepreneur Vanessa Lee brings... Why Anne decided to give birth in Australia PAGE B3 nesses to temporarily close, Lee said The Things We Do has been able to weather the challenges and was not forced to lay off any staff members.

“Our month to month from July and August were higher numbers than what we had last year when we had more people working with us and fully open with no restrictions. This was also while having to close three times,” she said.

Early on in the business plan, she was intentional in building a social media presence where followers could turn to for skincare recommendations and free virtual consultations, and an e-commerce component where individuals — who can’t physically come to the location — could shop The Things We Do’s beauty line as well as other curated products from other brands.

“This was our biggest savior during COVID. I knew how important that was before but I had no idea the magnitude of how important it really would become during quarantine and when everyone was at home for three months,” Lee said, adding that the site experienced an uptick in gift card purchases and performed well during its Mother’s Day sale.

Though spending on skincare as part of one’s self-care seems to be the trend at the moment versus makeup and other beauty products, Lee suggested that consumers should be mindful about purchasing products, especially if they can’t test them beforehand.

“Get to know your skin and how it behaves instead of letting something else lead you,” she said. “Right now, there are all these different influencers and on TikTok, every other person is

and brightening in her tutorials.

by Katrina Hallare “It’s good for your skin to Inquirer.net look plump, even toned, [and] AS actress Anne Curtis was your sunspots are taken care of because you’re doing the work set to give birth to her first child preventatively and are using Dahlia Amelie, she recalled that the right amount of sunscreen,” her decision to deliver her baby Lee said. “But I’m not going to in Australia was made at the lastwhiten your skin. I’m very clear minute.

In an interview with G3 San Diabout that.”

Lee is on the diversity council ego posted on YouTube Tuesday, for Allergan, which manufactures Anne said that originally, she had Botox and Juvéderm, to ensure already chosen a doctor and a there’s a space for Black and hospital in Manila.

It was in March that Anne gave brown women. In addition to the medical side, as an entrepreneur birth to Dahlia, her first child with of color in this space, Lee recog- celebrity chef Erwan Heussaff.

“Parang last minute, I decided nizes her responsibility in mentorship and advocating for other na I was working so hard kasi and women to get financial resources parang hindi nila ako mapigilan mag-work. So parang I felt that to start their own businesses.

“It’s very important for me to it (leaving) would really get me bring up that I did not come from to stop working is to be here [in money nor did I have money to Australia], ” Curtis, who is one the start with and I have two young hosts of the ABS-CBN afternoon children. So if you have an idea… show “It’s Showtime,” said.

(It’s as if last minute, I debut feel like funding is holding you back, don’t look at other people cided that I was working so hard and wish for resources at your and they couldn’t stop me from disposal to live out this dream. working. So I felt that leaving The best people in business and for Australia would really get me most successful people I feel like to stop working.)

Another “major factor” that are scrappy and resourceful and Anne considered was being with have true grit,” she said.

As for Lee’s future plans: de- her mom, Carmen, by the time she velop a skincare line for a younger gives birth.

“Having her helped me through demographic and explore expansion. New York and Hawaii are it. Parang nandun na lang ako high on the list, but down the line is to have a location in the Philippines as a full-circle moment.

“There’s an excitement and support for Filipino Americans en- PAGE B4 trepreneurs in the U.S. But when was seeing the grins and nodding I talk to my cousins in the Philip- heads of Jury member, Laurie pines, they’re like ‘Why are you so Anderson, and Jury head, Sam obsessed with Filipino stuff?’” Lee Mendes.”

What does it mean to you to be said. “My ancestors paved the way so that we can do this and bring it back at the festival?

“The Orizzonti took me back back for our people.” and it’s great, I’m happy. That section of the festival feels like home really. My early works were warmly nurtured and screened by the Orizzonti; back in the days when only a few brave souls dared to touch my works.”

Can you tell a little bit about Lahi, Hayop (Genus, Pan), what was the inspiration behind your latest film?

“It’s a narrative that I’m very familiar with growing up in a similar setting and milieu. Again, the lives of the marginalized are in focus, this time it’s the story of the lumpen-proletarian of the rural underbelly.”

What were the challenges you faced making Lahi, Hayop (Genus, The Things We Do’s location at the ROW DTLA in Downtown Los Angeles infuses a lot of influences from Lee’s Filipino background, from wave- Pan)?

“The making of the film was like mirrors to wallpaper textured like batik.

Photos by Annie Meisel an expert on skin. It’s really important to understand that these people are talking about their own specific skin journey and that might not be for you.”

Earlier this year, The Things We Do opened its second location in Lee’s suburban hometown of Chino Hills in a complex along Grand Avenue.

“The attention and list of A-list celebrity patients are all fun, but I felt that I wanted to give back to my community and the place where I grew up and pay attention to the patients who started that all for me,” Lee said. “It’s really interesting because the juxtaposition of the location in Downtown is like our glamorous, very cool, very Los Angeles setup and in Chino Hills, we can bring a piece of that, but it’s something fun for the community and for me too.”

The Things We Do has reopened both locations for the injectable services by appointment, but is still pausing its facial treatments, which can be done outdoors, because of the poor air quality and high temperatures.

Defying beauty standards, business norms Amid the protests and calls for racial and social justice, many Fil-Ams opened up about experiences with skin whitening and found themselves having deeper conversations about colorism.

As a Filipina with darker skin, Lee recalled growing up and hearing comments from relatives about her skin tone, but has been thankful that her mother empowered her to have that self-love.

Instead of “skin whitening” and the dangerous effects certain products can have, she is mindful of her words and uses skin health

para mas tahimik, mas quiet, I can really just focus on the first few weeks and months of my baby daughter’s life,” she mused.

(Having her helped me through it. I felt it was best to stay here because it’s more quiet. I can really focus on the first few weeks and months of my baby daughter’s life.)

Anne added that it was because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that she and her family’s stay in the land down under was extended.

Anne and her family have been in Australia since December 2019.

“Given the current situation, na-extend talaga ‘yung stay namin dito because I mean, if it was just me, no problem. Kaya kong lumipad anytime,” she said.

(Given the current situation, we extended our stay here. If it was Anne Curtis with daughter Dahlia Photo from Instagram_@annecurtissmith just me, no problem. I can fly back the holidays. anytime.)

“Hopefully by the end of this “Pero now, I have a little life to think of and she is the top year, we’ll be able to come back priority,” she added about her to Manila na,” she said. “Pero syempre (But of course) [we’re daughter.

(But now, I have a little life to still] playing it by ear pa rin. We’ll think of and she is the top prior- see.” “‘Yun naman talaga ang goal, ity.)

Still, she said that she and her makapag-Pasko kami dyan, (That family hope that they fly back to is our goal, to celebrate Christmas Manila by the end of the year for there.)” she added.

What scares Lav Diaz relatively smooth. The island was remote but there was ample transportation to reach it. The harsh climate, especially the always present unbearable humidity, was the thing that I really dread during the production. Extreme humidity could easily destroy your will to move and capacity to think clearly.”

Looking back at Lahi, Hayop (Genus, Pan), do you think there is anything you would have done differently?

“In every work, you see those things, the things that you could have done to improve it, the things that must be given more attention to, e.g., adding more details, or discarding and changing some parts, with the acting, the design, the nuances, especially when watching and experiencing it after you’ve had detachments and withdrawals from it already.

I haven’t had that chance with this film yet.”

Where did your passion for filmmaking come from?

“It’s in my DNA, I supposed.

Growing up in a very remote part of the country, and witnessing and experiencing the harshest human conditions there, my refuge was cinema, radio dramas and comics magazines. Lucky for me, my late father was a true-bloodied cinema addict, and so, on weekends, we’d go to a town, two-hours away by bus from our place, and there were four cinema houses there then, showing double-bills, and we’d watch and watch all the movies.”

Does you background as an actor allow you to build closer connections to the characters you create as well as your actors?

“Yes, having an understanding of the process definitely helps.

The arduous task of writing and creating the characters entails both painful and exhilarating attachments. And then you hand the application of delineation to the actors, and they will experience the same thing. The process runs the whole gamut of birthing and nurturing a fulfilled character. It’s not easy.”

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SEPTEMBER 17-23, 2020 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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