091820 - Northern California Edition

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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Volume 19 - No. 37 • 16 Pages

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

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

SEPTEMBER 18-24, 2020

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Locsin: PH gov’t wants to observe DATELINE USA Former Filipino American Pemberton’s court martial proceedings US Solicitor General on FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Trump’s list of potential Supreme Court nominees

FILIPINO American Noel Francisco, the former U.S. Solicitor General, was among the 20 people named in President Donald Trump’s list of possible Supreme Court additions this week.

Trump released the list, which also includes Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Ted Cruz of Texas, and Josh Hawley of Missouri, in the event there is a vacancy should he be elected to a second term.

“Every one of these individuals will ensure equal justice, equal treatment and equal rights for citizens of every race, color, religion and creed,” Trump said at a press conference announcing the names on Wednesday, September 9. “Together we will defend our righteous heritage and preserve our magnificent American way of life.”

Francisco, 51, was appointed the nation’s 48th solicitor general in 2017 and served in the Department of Justice (DOJ) until July

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.

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

u PAGE A3

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

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 is used as a basis for apportionment of House seats.

The Presidential Memorandum, the judges u PAGE A3

“There was a promise made by American authorities along with 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 u PAGE A2

GETTING READY FOR BLENDED LEARNING. Parents and guardians of students wait in line for the distributions of module for the online blended learning at the Pasay City West High School on Wednesday, September 16. The government has scheduled the opening of online classes on October 5 .

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

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 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 American electorate, found that Asian Americans (54%) are highly enthusiastic about participating in this year’s election, building upon the electorate’s u PAGE A3

Palace: The worst of COVID-19 crisis is over

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

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 namang bakuna, walang gamot eh talagang matatagalan

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet

Inquirer.net file photo

UN rights chief: Revoke policies, rhetoric California secretary of state launches tool to track that leadAJPto abuses and killings in PH ballots, promises voter safety during pandemic u PAGE A4

by

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

WITH less than two months until the November 3 general election, California’s Secretary of State is assuring voters that casting their ballots during the pandemic will be secure and safe.

“This is an unprecedented year between the political climate we find ourselves in and the COVID-19 pandemic,” Secretary of State Alex Padilla said in a virtual briefing with reporters on Wednesday, September 9.

Though vote by mail is not a new concept in California, the state will be mailing out a ballot to every active registered voter by October as a way to make the election more acLos Angeles County is offering over 300 secure drop box locations where voters can return their completed ballot before the cessible and to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“We’re going to be encouraging [that] vote November 3 general election.

AJPress file photo by Christina M. Oriel by mail is the first and safest choice for peo-

ple to vote,” Padilla said.

During the primary election in March, over 72% of voters opted for the vote-by-mail option, the highest it’s been in the state’s history, according to data from the California Secretary of State.

The state allows for ballots to be postmarked on or before November 3 and can arrive up to three days after that date in order to be counted. However, this year, that deadline will be extended up to 17 days.

Each ballot certified by the state has specific watermarks and “other distinguishing features” to prevent fraud and double voting, Padilla said, alluding to the national debate about whether voting by mail is the safest option during this election cycle.

“When voters return their ballot, they have to use the official envelope that came with their u PAGE A2

RESS

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.

u PAGE A2

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september 18-24, 2020 • NOrCAL AsIAN JOUrNAL

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

From the Front Page

California secretary of state launches tool to track...

PAGE A1 t vote-by-mail package and they all have unique barcodes, which enable both our ballot tracking, but also allow us to make sure that each voter can only vote once,” Padilla said.

He added that voters have to sign their ballot envelope and county election officials will compare that with the one on file in their voter registration record.

Mail-in ballots can be sent through the U.S. Postal Service or placed in any of the designated county drop off boxes.

The Secretary of State is also introducing “Where’s My Ballot” so voters can track the status of their ballots — by email, text message, or voice call — at every step of the process from the time it is mailed out to them until it is received and counted by the county registrar.

“It’s great for transparency, great for accountability and we hope great for confidence in vote by mail because that too has come under attack in recent weeks,” Padilla said, mentioning that over 900,000 California voters have

signed up for the tracking service at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov.

Voters can still cast their ballots during the early voting period or by physically going in person, but they can expect the same measures as in the past few months, such as physical distancing, wearing masks and the availability of hand sanitizer at polling locations.

On November 3, sports arenas will be turned into voting locations, such as Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Chase Center in San Francisco, the Oakland Coliseum and Dodger Stadium and Staples Center in Los Angeles. Some counties may offer certain accommodations like voting while in your car.

In addition to actual voting procedures, the state is also seeking how to get more eligible voters registered before the October 19 deadline; identifying more polling sites statewide convenient for communities; and encouraging individuals to become poll workers on Election Day, as many previous volunteers tend to be older and part of groups vulnerable to COVID-19.

As more state voters are anticipated to favor voting by mail, Padilla recommends returning the ballots ahead of time so they can be counted as part of the election night tallies. But as in previous cycles, it may take weeks for California to finish processing ballots and certifying results, especially in close races and submitting final numbers.

However, since other states are expanding the mail-in option, the results for the presidential race may not be called on election night, Padilla suggested.

“Maybe even for a few days after the election, we won’t know the outcome of the presidential contest in a lot of battleground states. But I think there’s a strong likelihood if there’s a close race, that will take a few days to know the final results. That’s not an attempt to panic,” Padilla said.

“That’s a time to be patient and have confidence that it’s the process at work verifying that legitimate ballots are being counted…

We’d rather get the results right than get them fast.” n

Locsin: PH gov’t wants to...

PAGE A1 t 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

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

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

UN rights chief: Revoke policies, rhetoric that lead...

PAGE 1 t

“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 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-terrorism 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. n

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Dateline USa

Survey: Fil-Am voters most enthusiastic about...

PAGE A1 t 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 APIA 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 re-elect 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.

However, “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 expend 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.

• Gun control: 51% of FilAms 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 were also asked about civil rights (58% of Fil-Ams strongly in favor), support for reallocating police funds (57% of Fil-

Former Filipino American US Solicitor General on Trump’s list of Supreme...

PAGE A1 t of this year, when he returned to his former law firm, Jones Day, in Washington, D.C. A New York native, Francisco went on to receive his B.A. with honors from the University of Chicago and his J.D., with high honors, from the University of Chicago Law School.

“Mr. Francisco served as a law clerk to Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court of the United States and Judge J. Michael on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit,” read the list of possible Supreme Cou rt additions.

During former President George W. Bush’s presidential term, Francisco served as associate counsel of the president before serving as deputy assistant attorney general at the DOJ. In his private practice, Francisco brought a number of high profile cases before the Supreme Court including McDonnell v. United States in which Francisco represented former Virginia governor Robert McDonnell, whose corruption case was overturned.

He also represented plaintiffs who challenged former President Obama’s efforts to uphold recess appointments, and plaintiffs who sought to allow employers to opt out of covering contraceptives in employee health plans if they had moral objections.

As solicitor general, Francisco personally argued 17 cases at the Supreme Court, and represented Trump in major cases like the travel ban that barred individuals from numerous predominantly Muslim countries from entering the U.S., and the still pending effort to end the Deffered Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Filipino heritage As the first Asian American to serve as solicitor general, Francisco has previously spoken about his Filipino heritage and of his father who immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines and became a medical doctor.

During a DOJ Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month program in May 2018, Francisco shared in his remarks, how his late father, Nemesio Maharice Francisco,

Former U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco, who is of Filipino descent on his father’s side, became the first Asian American to hold the position from 2017-2020. On Wednesday, September 9, President Donald Trump named Francisco among the 20 potential candidates for Supreme Court justice if there is a vacancy.

Photo courtesy of DOJ

remained his biggest inspiration.

In sharing the story of how his father left for the U.S. to attend medical school on the savings of family members in the Philippines, Noel Francisco said, “That’s, of course, where my story began.”

“We came here on the shoulders of immigrants who had the courage to cross oceans in search of a better life,” said Francisco.

In regards to his father’s influence on his interest in politics, Francisco shared how his father donated to President Ronald Reagan’s re-election campaign and received an auto-penned photograph of Reagan which his father was proud of.

“It was only many years later that I began to understand why,” said Francisco. “It was because he had come to understand that he was an American, and he was actively participating in our democratic process.” (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

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 don’t feel 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

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • SeptembeR 18-24, 2020

A

Federal court rejects Trump admin’s attempt...

PAGE A1 t 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 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 de-

clared 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)

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september 18-24, 2020 • NOrCAL AsIAN JOUrNAL

PAUNAWA SA PANUKALANG PAGBOBOTOHAN Ang paunawa na ito ay ibinigay para ang mga sumusunod na panukala ay pagbotohan sa General municipal eleksyon na gaganapin sa Lunsod ng San Jose sa Martes, ika-3 ng Nobyembre, 2020.

ISANG MUNGKAHI SA PANUKALA NG BALOTA PARA BAGUHIN ANG KARTA NG LUNSOD UPANG PALAWAKIN ANG PAGREPASO NG AWTORIDAD PARA SA INDEPENDIYENTENG AWDITOR NG PULISYA ALINSUNOD SA BINAGONG BAHAGI NG KASUNDUAN SA PAGITAN NG LUNSOD NG SAN JOSE AT ANG ASOSASYON NG MGA OPISYAL NA PULIS NG SAN JOSE; BAGUHIN ANG LAKI AT KOMPOSISYON NG KOMISYON SA PAGPAPLANO MULA 7 HANGGANG 11 MIYEMBRO AT ANG KONSEHO AY MAGHIHIRANG NG ISANG MIYEMBRO SA BAWAT DISTRITO AT ISANG “PANGKALAHATANG” MIYEMBRO; AT HAYAAN ANG KONSEHO SA PAMAMAGITAN NG ORDINANSA NA MAGTATAG NG PALATAKDAAN NG ORAS UPANG MAGSAGAWA NG PAGBABAGO KAPAG ANG MGA RESULTA NG SENSUS AY HULI NA Ang panukalang ito ay nagmumungkahi na baguhin ang Karta ng Lunsod sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalawak ng awtoridad ng Independent Police Auditor (“IPA”), pagbabago ng laki at komposisyon ng Komisyon sa Pagpaplano, at nagpapahintulot sa Konseho na magtatag ng iba ‘t ibang palatakdaan ng oras para sa pagbabago kung ang mga resulta ng census ay huli na.

Ang Panukalang G ay babaguhin ang mga tungkulin ng IPA sa ilalim ng Karta para dagdagan ang awtoridad na magrerepaso ng administratibong pagsisiyasat na sinimulan ng departamento ng pulisya laban sa mga opisyal ng pulisya; pahintulutan ang IPA na magrepaso ng mga talaan ng pulisya na may kaugnayan sa mga barilan at paggamit ng pwersa na nagiging sanhi ng kamatayan o malaking pinsala sa katawan, kahit walang reklamo, at magrepaso ng mga talaan ng mga pulis kung may ilang pamantayan na natugunan, upang magawan ng mga rekomendasyon sa Kagawaran ng Pulisya tungkol sa mga patakaran at pamamaraan; at pumasok sa mga kontrata na naaayon sa awtorisasyon ng Karta at Konseho. Bilang karagdagan, ang Panukala G ay papahintulutan ang Konseho ng Lunsod na magtalaga ng iba pang mga tungkulin sa IPA na naaayon sa karta, napapailalim sa anumang kinakailangan upang matugunan at igawad sa organisasyon ng kinikilalang manggagawa para sa mga opisyal ng pulisya kabilang ang anumang hindi napagkasunduang pamamaraan.

Babaguhin din ng Panukala G ang karta para dagdagan ang komisyon ng pagpaplano sa 11 miyembro kasama ang isang miyembro na itinalaga ng konseho mula sa bawat distrito at isang pangkalahatang miyembro. Para payagan ang paunti-unting termino, ang ikawalo at ikasiyam na miyembro ay maglilingkod ng isang termino na magtatapos sa Hunyo 30, 2022, at ang ikasampu at ikalabing-isang miyembro ay maglilingkod ng isang termino na magtatapos sa Hunyo 30, 2024.

Ang Panukala G ay babaguhin ang Karta upang pahintulutan ang Konseho na isaayos ang palatakdaan ng oras upang ipatupad ang mga pagbabago ng ordinansa kung ang mga resulta ng sensus ay naihatid pagkatapos ng Abril 1, at pinahihintulutan ang Konseho upang itatag ang partikular na panahon para sa Advisory Komisyon na isumite ang ulat at mga rekomendasyon nito.

Kung ang Konseho ay hindi nagtatag ng isang partikular na panahon, gayunman, ang Advisory Komisyon ay kailangang isumite ang ulat nito sa kapulungan sa loob ng 120 araw matapos ang appointment.

Kung nais mong basahin ang buong teksto ng hakbangin, tumawag sa 408-535-1260 at ang kopya ay ipapadala nang libre sa iyo o bumisita sa www.sanjoseca.gov/measureG2020.

Toni J. Taber, Klerk ng Lungsod Agosto 20, 2020 9/18/20 CNS-3392977# ASIAN JOURNAL (NORTHERN CALIF.)

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Dateline PhiliPPines

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

Vice President Leni Robredo ManilaTimes.net file photo

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 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 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

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 Penin-

sula 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 wearing 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)

PAUNAWA SA PANUKALANG PAGBOBOTOHAN Ang paunawa na ito ay ibinigay para ang mga sumusunod na panukala na pagbobotohan sa General municipal eleksyon na gaganapin sa Lunsod ng San Jose sa Martes, ika-3 ng Nobyembre, 2020.

ISANG MUNGKAHI SA PANUKALA NG BALOTA PARA DAGDAGAN ANG BUWIS SA CARDROOM SA KABUUANG KITA NG CARDROOMS, MAGDAGDAG NG BAGONG BUWIS SA KABUUANG KITA NG SERBISYO NG MGA THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS AT DAGDAGAN ANG BILANG NG MGA MESA. Ang Panukala H ay magpapatupad ng ordinansang magbabago sa San José municipal code para mapataas ang antas ng kasalukuyang buwis sa cardroom, magdaragdag ng bagong buwis sa kabuuang kita ng mga pinagkukunan ng pondo na tinukoy upang isama ang mga tagapagkaloob ng thirdparty providers of proposition player services (“TPPPS”), at dagdagan ang bilang ng mga mesa sa lungsod. Ang TPPPS, sa ilalim ng kontrata sa cardroom, ay ibabangko ang mga kontribusyon sa laro at maaari ring masakop ang pagbabayad ng taya, dahil ang cardrooms ay ipinagbabawal sa ilalim ng batas ng California sa pagbangko ng mga laro.

Ang pagtataas ng buwis sa cardroom at ang bagong ipinataw na buwis sa kabuuang kita ng mga pinagkukunan ng pondo ay pangkalahatang buwis, ibig sabihin ang mga kita sa buwis ay maaring gamitin sa anumang pangkalahatang layunin ng pamahalaan. Ang ipinanukalang ordinansa ay babaguhin ang Kabanata 4.77 upang dagdagan ang buwis ng cardroom sa kabuuang kita ng cardrooms mula sa 15% hanggang sa 16.5%. Ang buwis ng cardroom ay hindi ilalagay sa buong taong kita na katumbas o mas mababa sa $10,000. Ito rin ay daragdag sa bagong buwis sa kabuuang kita ng mga pinagkukunan ng pondo sa isa sa mga sumusunod na mga halaga: Taunang kabuuang kita hanggang $25,000,000 — 5%; Taunang kabuuang kita $25,000,001$30,000,000 — 7.5%; Taunang kabuuang kita na lampas sa $30,000,000 — 10%.

Halimbawa, ang kabuuang taunang kita ng isang pondo na $35,000,000 ay bubuwisan ng 10% sa buong $35,000,000.

Ang buwis ay $3,500,000.

Sa Hulyo 1, 2021 o bago ang naturang petsa, ang Pinagkukunan ng Pondo ay dapat mag-file kasama ng direktor ng isang kasulatan na nagpapakita ng tinatayang kabuuang taunang kita para sa taon ng pananalapi. Ang tinatayang kabuuang taunang kita para sa layuning kalkulahin ang buwis para sa bawat kasunod na taon, ay ang aktuwal na taunang kabuuang kita para sa naunang taon. Gayunman, kung ang

halaga ng buwis ay batay sa aktuwal na kabuuang taunang kita sa panahon ng naaangkop na taon ng buwis ay lumampas sa halaga ng bayad sa buwis, ang pinagkukunan ng pondo ay dapat magbayad ng kulang na halaga sa direktor. Kung ang buwis ay mas mababa kaysa sa halaga ng bayad sa buwis, ang pinagkukunan ng pondo ay dapat na bayaran ng lunsod ng katumbas ng kulang na halaga ng buwis para sa susunod na taon.

Ang mga bagong pinagkukunan ng pondo ay dapat magsumite ng tinantyang kabuuang kita sa loob ng 30 araw pagkatapos ng pagsisimula ng negosyo sa siyudad.

Ang pagsusugal sa lungsod ay sasailalim sa batas ng estado at sa municipal code ng lunsod. Sa ilalim ng Kabanata 16.04, pagpapalawak ng pagsusugal sa lungsod, ayon sa kahulugan, ay nangangailangan ng pag-apruba ng botante. Ang ipinanukalang ordinansa ay binago ang Title 16 upang dagdagan ang kabuuang bilang ng mga mesa na pinapayagan sa lunsod mula sa 98 hanggang sa 128, na may kabuuang bilang ng mga mesa na pinapayagan sa bawat cardroom at dagdagan mula sa 49 hanggang sa 64. Kung ang pagtaas sa limitasyon ng mesa sa bawat cardroom ay inaprubahan ng mga botante, ang bawat cardroom ay makakahingi ng pag-apruba sa lungsod upang madagdagan ang bilang ng mga mesa mula sa 49 hanggang sa 64. Sa kasalukuyan, sa ilalim ng Kabanata 4.77 at Title 16, ang lungsod ay may karapatan sa pag-awdit ng mga cardrooms at sa ilalim ng Title 16, ang cardrooms at pinagkukunan ng pondo ay napapailalim sa pagbabantay ng lunsod. Ang iminumungkahing ordinansa ay hindi magbabago sa mga probisyon ng pag-awdit at pangangasiwa. Pinapanatili ng Konseho ng Lunsod ang kapangyarihan upang baguhin o bawiin ang mga probisyon sa Title 16 upang baguhin ang mga regulasyon sa pagkontrol ng siyudad sa laro.

Kung maaprubahan, ang pagtaas ng buwis ng cardroom at ang bagong buwis sa mga pinagkukunan ng pondo ay magiging epektibo sa Enero 1, 2021 at magpapatuloy hanggang ipawalang-bisa ng mga botante o suspendihin ang kabuuan o bahagi ng Konseho ng lunsod.

Kung nais mong basahin ang buong teksto ng hakbangin, tumawag sa 408-535-1260 at ang kopya ay ipapadala nang libre sa iyo o bumisita sa www.sanjoseca.gov/measureH2020.

Toni J. Taber, Klerk ng Lungsod Agosto 20, 2020 9/18/20 CNS-3392987# ASIAN JOURNAL (NORTHERN CALIF.)

LONG QUEUE. Commuters waiting for the next bus reach the stairs of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 North Avenue station in Quezon City on Monday, September 14. Though more buses were allowed to resume operation under less strict general community quarantine in Metro Manila, daily commuters still have to endure long queues due to limitation of passengers in public utility vehicles.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

UK’s first Filipina mayor passes away

by Ritchel

Mendiola 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

DOT partners with BPO firm to find jobs for displaced tourism workers

by Rosette

adel

Philstar.com

MANILA — With the continued halt on the tourism industry, the Department of Tourism has partnered with a U.S.-based business process outsourcing (BPO) company to provide thousands of displaced tourism workers temporary jobs.

On Monday, September 14, DOT’s private partner Concentrix kicked off the virtual regional job fair titled “Mabuhay! Partnership: Overcoming Adversities Through New Opportunities.”

Concentrix, which operates in 40 countries worldwide and in 17 cities nationwide, said that they are planning to hire more than 10,000 people in the next two months.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the company offers services within ten industries, including the automotive, banking and financial services, consumer electronics, energy and public sector, healthcare service, insurance, media and communications, retail, e-commerce, technology, and travel, transportation, and tourism.

Amit Jagga, vice president of the BPO firm, said they are willing to hire even those without experience in the BPO industry.

“If there is a need, we will also put investments to train these individuals to get them ready for the BPO industry because they are coming from a different environment and they have to settle from a different environment. We will be happy to make those investments as well,” Jagga said.

He added that “the skillset of the people in the hospitality industry are very powerful for us because of their ability to interact with foreign nationals and their customer service orientation.”

“What we want to do right now is to create partnerships which are actually beneficial to the company to actually grow the business in the Philippines but in these trying times, to help our fellow Filipinos who need a little bit support right now, because of a lot of displacement that happened because of the pandemic situation,” the vice president of the firm said.

He cited that his firm’s business as well as the BPO business in general has been resilient dur-

ing the pandemic because most of their employees are able to continue working from the safety of their homes.

Available job posts Through the partnership, the DOT and Concentrix will be opening posts for customer service representatives, technical support representatives, frontline/ specialists, supervisors, trainers, managers, and others for the human resources and recruitment, finance, IT, and marketing sectors. These are all applicable for on-site and work from home setups in light of the “new normal.”

Concentrix Senior Director Larah Sta. Maria said tourism workers can apply for short-term job posts that lasts for two to three months or for six months but they also offer long-term work.

“We have such a wide variety of needs that we would be able to fit individuals according to what is most suitable for them considering their personal circumstances and employment needs,” she said.

Interested applicants must be at least high school graduates, u PAGE A7

Palace: The worst of COVID-19 crisis is over

PAGE A1 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

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

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • SeptembeR 18-24, 2020

A

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september 18-24, 2020 • NOrCAL AsIAN JOUrNAL

Safety during Undas

OpiniOn & Features

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

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

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

Remembering Marichu Vera-Perez Maceda PeaceMaker FoRmeR SpeakeR JoSe C. de VeneCia, JR. NINE days ago, our beloved 77-year-old sister-in-law Ma. Azucena Vera-Perez Maceda, wife of the late Senate President Ernesto Maceda and eldest sister of my wife former Congresswoman Gina de Venecia, succumbed after battling heart and kidney ailments for several months.

She was the eldest among seven Vera-Perez siblings, whose family owned the famed Sampaguita Pictures, a pioneer in the Philippine movie industry. Their grandfather was the renowned Senator Jose O. Vera, who also served as governor of Albay, which then included the now Catanduanes province.

Marichu or “Manay Ichu,” as she was affectionately called by family and friends, was until her final days an untiring advocate of the advancement of the film industry.

She helped establish the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund), Experimental

Philstar.com photo

Cinema of the Philippines (ECP), and Philippine Motion Pictures Producers Association (PMPPA), which are now the backbones of the country’s movie industry.

Marichu was intelligent, articulate, lovely, nurturing, and kindhearted. She spent her personal money, and encouraged her children, according to Manila Congressman Edward Maceda and her four other distinguished sons, to help people in need especially those from the movie industry. She was generous too with her time, expertise and wisdom.

When we ran for president in 1998 against then Vice President Joseph Estrada and eight capable and distinguished others, Marichu was one of our indefatigable campaigners. We knew how emotionally difficult it was for her then as she and Erap both belong to the film industry and have been very good friends long before this columnist even met and married her younger sister Gina. President Estrada and we have remained friends up to this day.

In December last year, she came to our home to personally bring her Christmas and our birthday presents, a collection of some 1,000 movies, which includes our all-time favorites, particularly the classics and biographical films.

We were later told by our assistant that although Marichu was already sickly then, she

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

Matriarch of Philippine Cinema Maria Azucena “Marichu” Vera-Perez Maceda (December 23, 1942 – September 7, 2020)

meticulously chose the movies to be included in the collection and made sure that it was done thoroughly.

The movie collection she so thoughtfully gifted us with has been a treasure, delight and respite for us who have been stuck at home since the onslaught of the Coronavirus in our country, considering that we are now almost 84.

We, together with my wife Gina and son Pangasinan Congressman Christopher de Venecia, will miss you, dear Marichu, mother to her accomplished sons and mover of many successful Filipino movies in our country. n

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

u PAGE A7

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

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • SeptembeR 18-24, 2020

A

July remittances hit 7-month high More PhilHealth officials may be charged – DOJ 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 2.4percent decrease from $19.11 bil-

lion 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, 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 fol-

lowed 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 7.8percent 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)

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

PAGE A6 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.

by Dona

Z. PaZZibugan Inquirer.net

MANILA — Philippine Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday, September 15, said the investigation of alleged massive corruption in Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) would continue and “more people may be charged.”

Malacañang also said the recommendation of a task force led by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to bring criminal charges against top PhilHealth officials was “only the beginning,” holding out hope that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, the PhilHealth chair, had not ridden out liability for the mess at the state-run health insurer.

President Rodrigo Duterte approved the task force recommendation to file criminal charges against former PhilHealth president and CEO Ricardo Morales; senior vice president (SVP) for information technology Jovita Aragona; acting senior manager for information technology Calixto Gabuya Jr.; SVP for fund management Renato Limsiaco Jr.; SVP for health finance policy Israel Francis Pargas; executive vice president, chief operating officer and acting president Arnel de Jesus; and division chief Bobby Crisostomo.

The charges were graft, malversation and illegal use of public funds, and gross misconduct and gross neglect, among other offenses that allegedly had cost PhilHealth P154 billion in losses to corruption since 2003.

Several senators expressed dis-

appointment on Tuesday at the task force’s decision not to recommend charges against Duque, whom an investigation by the Senate committee of the whole found liable for negligence that had led to the losses that brought PhilHealth to the brink of bankruptcy.

“I’m dumbfounded,” said Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who led the Senate inquiry into alleged rackets in PhilHealth.

“Article 217 of [the Revised Penal Code] is very clear. Perhaps the Ombudsman would have a better perspective of the [PhilHealth irregularities],” Sotto said.

He was referring to the law penalizing malversation of public funds, which states that government officials who allowed the misappropriation of taxpayer money with consent or “through abandonment or negligence” should be held criminally liable.

Sotto earlier said Duque’s claim that he had no knowledge of the alleged misuse of PhilHealth funds was a virtual admission of the health chief’s negligence as head of the health insurance company.

“It’s a good thing that the Ombudsman does not rely [on task forces for its investigations]. They have motu proprio powers,” Sotto said.

‘Initial findings’ But Guevarra said the task force’s report that was submitted to the president, who had ordered the investigation, covered only the group’s “initial findings.”

“Further investigations will be conducted and more people may be charged,” Guevarra said when

asked why Duque and PhilHealth SVP for the legal sector Rodolfo del Rosario were not found liable.

He said the composite teams created by the task force would continue the investigation and file criminal or administrative complaints “when the case buildup or evidence gathering is completed.”

Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said the liability of healthcare institutions that benefited from irregular reimbursements “is one of the aspects they (composite teams) are looking at.”

The complaints against Morales and the six other PhilHealth officials will be filed in the Office of the Ombudsman, the concerned prosecutors, and PhilHealth for administrative cases, he said.

Guevarra said representatives from the Ombudsman, Commission on Audit and the Civil Service Commission, who are pursuing their own investigations, attended the task force’s seven hearings “like guest participants.”

“They had no hand in the evaluation and recommendations made by the DOJ,” he said.

Perete explained that DOJ members on the task force did the “fact-finding,” and that it would be up to the prosecutors to “independently and objectively assess and evaluate the evidence that will be presented.”

Admonition for Duque, board The task force recommended that the president “strongly admonish and remind” the chair and members of the board “of the grave consequences of their action or inaction.” n

DOT partners with BPO firm to find jobs...

PAGE A4 can comfortably converse in English, or could be knowledgeable of another foreign language, have good computer skills, have problem solving skills, and have a pleasant personality especially when dealing with multiple concerns.

They would undergo a series of online interviews and assessments but this may be completed in less than 24 hours.

The DOT said chosen applicants will be compensated while in training.

According to Rica Bueno, assistant secretary for Tourism Regulation, Coordination and Resource Generation of the department, as of August 2020, there are 9,697 affected DOT-accredited businesses.

These comprise accommodation establishments, travel and tour agencies, tourist transport and some secondary enterprises like restaurants which have a total of around 182,000 workers, only within the DOT network.

Puyat, on the other hand, said an estimated 4.8 million Filipinos employed in tourism-related industries have been affected by the pandemic.

‘Timely blessing’ She welcomed the partnership with Concentrix as a “timely blessing for affected tourism workers.”

“Our tour guides and frontline service providers certainly have an edge, especially those who speak foreign languages, as they find work in the BPO industry while tourism operations are

still limited. Part-time jobs are also available, and have workfrom-home arrangements in light of the new normal,” the tourism chief added.

Hotel Sales and Marketing Association president Christine Ibaretta thanked the DOT for providing its stakeholders job opportunities.

She cited that during the community quarantine period, some of the hospitality workers have resorted to online selling in their HSMA e-store.

“We are very, very happy for this job fair open for them,” she said.

The virtual regional job fair that opened for the Mindanao cluster last Monday can be accessed through the Facebook pages of Concentrix or the DOT. n

A

september 18-24, 2020 • NOrCAL AsIAN JOUrNAL

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Community Journal

B IN NORTHEN cALIfORNIA

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • SeptembeR 18-24, 2020

Friday, September 18, 2020

OMETHING

ILIPINO

LIfESTyLE • cONSUMER GUIdE • cOMMUNITy • MARkETPLAcE Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ DEar attorney Gurfinkel: i just received a denial from usCis, giving me 33 days to file an appeal. i truly think i was eligible, but am so heartbroken. Would you advise i file an appeal? very truly yours, rD

Should I appeal or refile? Pinay co-founded wellness center offers

Dear rD: The decision on whether to appeal a denial is not always simple and straightforward. There are many facts and factors to consider, such that i would advise people to immediately consult with an attorney on the decision, rather than trying to do it on their own. among the factors to consider are: • WHY was the case denied?

The Decision/Denial typically spells out or explains the reasons

for the denial. But in some cases, the reason is erroneous, either because the officer misapplied the law or the facts.

• Was the person eligible or entitled to the benefits sought? if they are not, it would be a waste of time to appeal.

• Did the person submit proper evidence, showing their eligibility for the immigration benefits sought? Typically, when a person appeals, they are limited to the PAGE B3

THE LAW OFFICES OF MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL CONTINUES ITS PUBLIC SERVICE BY ANSWERING IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS ON CITIZEN PINOY – SOCIAL DISTANCING STYLE! Atty. Gurfinkel answers several questions on this Sunday’s episode of Citizen Pinoy. Anita from San Jose, CA (top right) asks if she can petition her relatives to work as caregivers in a care home that she owns. Across the Pacific Ocean, Edward, from Laguna in the Philippines (bottom right) would like to know if his petition is still valid even if his petitioner (his brother) just died a few weeks ago. He would also like to know if having a grandfather who was 100% American and who served in WWII would help his case in any way. These are just some of the questions that Attorney Gurfinkel (left) will answer on a brand-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY: Your Tanong, My Sagot – Social Distancing Style this Sunday, September 20 at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

free virtual classes for communities of color in San Francisco and beyond

by

Christina M. Oriel/AJPress

Coronavirus lockdowns, ongoing protests and navigating working from home and online school, on top of everyday responsibilities, can all take a toll on one’s mental health and well-being.

To offer some relief, a san Francisco-based health and wellness center is offering free virtual classes for the Filipino american community and other communities of color in the city and even elsewhere.

Community Well, founded by a group of Filipina and Latina women in 2015, has operated out of its physical space in the Excelsior District, hosting classes and

services like yoga, counseling and maternal health workshops. it has become a “healing space” where holistic and spiritual support, which nowadays seems inaccessible, is brought back to communities that have practiced these traditions. in January, the center launched the “H3: Happy, Healing & Healthy Program,” a series of accessible drop-in healthy food, fitness, and emotional transformational classes, made possible through a grant from the sF sugary Drinks Distributor Tax Community Funds.

But because of the shelter-in-place order in the city, it shifted its offerings online.

PAGE B4

Jennifer Navarro-Marroquin, co-founder and events coordinator & program director of Community Well

Community Well is a health and wellness center in the Excelsior District of San Francisco that offers services and workshops from movement classes to maternal health. Since the city’s shelter-in-place, the center has moved its classes online.

B

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September 18-24, 2020 • NOrCAL ASIAN JOUrNAL

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Former matinee idol marks return to Kapamilya TV series

By Ferdie Villar TONTON Gutierrez, who was one of the most sought after matinee idols in the 1980s, marks his return to the Kapamilya stage as he is set to play a part in the upcoming series “Walang Hanggang Paalam.”

According to PEP.ph, a teaser featuring the actor was shown

recently for the series which is set to air starting September 28 at ABS-CBN’s cable and online platforms. It has been about two years since the actor, who is a freelancer, has been seen in a Kapamilya series; his most recent projects have all been with rival network, GMA-7.

Jimuel Pacquiao and Heaven Peralejo have both denied rumors about the actress borrowing money from Senator Manny Pacquiao.

Philstar.com File Photo

Tonton joins Angelica Panganiban, Arci Muñoz, Zanjoe Marudo and Paulo Avelino in the project which, according to rumors, was supposed to be the project topbilled by Julia Montes and Nadine Lustre, entitled “Burado.”

Prior to “Walang Hanggang Paalam,” Tonton’s last series for ABS-CBN was the afternoon series “The Promise of Forever” that starred Paulo Avelino and Ritz Azul.

Gutierrez is the son of actors Eddie Gutierrez and Liza Lorena. He was first introduced in the 1986 film “Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas” where he played leading man to Megastar Sharon Cuneta.

He nabbed Best Actor trophies from the Catholic Mass Media Awards, PMPC’s Star Awards and the Film Academy of the Philippines for his portrayal of the retarded husband Val, opposite Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos, in the 1987 hit “Saan Nagtatago ang Pag-ibig?”.

Tonton is married to actress Glydel Mercado, and they have been together for more than 20 years (16 years as a married couple). The two got married at the Sanctuario de San Antonio Parish in 2004.

Tonton Gutierrez makes his return to the Kapamilya stage via the Carlo Aquino is excited to spend time with his new-born baby girl. teleserye “Walang Hanggang Paalam.” Philstar.com File Photo Inquirer.net File Photo

In a 2019 interview with PEP. ph, the actor revealed that the secret to their lasting relationship is that they have kept everything simple.

“Relax lang kami, that’s the secret behind it, simple lang,” the actor was quoted as saying.

Tonton and Glydel have two daughters, Aneeza and Aneeka. *** Actor Carlo Aquino and his girlfriend Trina Candaza recently shared a post of the birth of their baby girl, Enola Mithi, according to a story on Inquirer.net.

Aquino shared that their baby’s name came from both himself and Trina – Enola is the backwards spelling of the word

alone, while Mithi is a tribute to his character’s love interest in a show from his younger years.

Carlo is excited to be a dad.

“Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam na hindi na ‘yung sarili mo ‘yung priority kung ‘di ‘yung mag-ina mo na, ‘yung family mo. Ang sarap na nagtatrabaho ka para sa kanila (It feels great when you are no longer your own priority but instead it is your mom and child, your family. It feels good to work for them),” he was quoted as saying.

He also wants to enjoy these times with his baby girl since he is also away at times due to his shooting schedule.

“Siyempre ‘yung mga lock-in ng dalawa’t kalahating linggo, sobrang laking bagay nu’n kasi ‘yung mga ganitong sanggol, sobrang bilis daw talagang lumaki,” he shared. “So, talagang every moment, gusto ko ako na lang muna.” *** It seems that Jimuel Pacquiao’s ex-girlfriend Heaven Peralejo did not borrow money from Senator Manny Pacquiao.

Jimuel clarified the issue in his Instagram story, according to an article in the Philippine Star.

“I would like to clarify that the issue posted by Lolit Solis and fashionpulis about Heaven is false. There was no money given and there was no communication. We keep getting involved in these issues and I just want to clear things up. She is not that type of girl and we are in good terms so no need for all the bashing,” Jimuel wrote.

Peralejo expessed her gratitude to the Pacquiaos for supporting her and hoped that this issue would be laid to rest once

Derrick Monasterio, a handsome-debonair actor in the Philippines, is now performing in GMA-7’s All Out Sundays weekly show.

Sil Lucero, a husky and talented actor in the Philippines, plays the lead role in the re-run of the GMA Pinoy TV teleserye “Amaya” with co-star and GMA Primetime Queen Marian Rivera.

and for all.

“The past few weeks have redefined the public’s impression of me. It was hurtful and I needed some time to think it through. I’ll get straight to the point. I didn’t ask anyone for money. I am beyond grateful that I am blessed with opportunities to earn an honest living. Whatever I have now is a product of my hard work and not extracted from anyone’s pockets,” she said.

“Thank you to Jim and his family. I appreciate your efforts to stand with me. As well as to my family, friends, and supporters, thank you for always looking after me. I hope we can all move forward from this issue,” she added.

Solis, a veteran columnist, has apologized to the Peralejo and Pacquiao families for having reported on the issue, which was started as a blind item.

Golden Canedo, the grand winner of a GMA-7 singing competition in 2019, is now one of the lead singers performing in the GMA-7’s All Out Sundays show televised weekly.

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

Angel Locsin with fiance Neil Arce

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 magkocomplain. Maghihintay na lang kami kung ano mang mangyayari,” she added.

Photo from Instagram_@neil_arce

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • SeptembeR 18-24, 2020

Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel answers more immigration questions from the US and PH in Sept. 20 edition of ‘Citizen Pinoy-Your Tanong, My Sagot!’

CITIZEN Pinoy continues to provide relevant information to individuals and families who have concerns about the latest immigration policies and how they affect them.

This Sunday, September 20 leading U.S. immigration attorney, Michael J. Gurfinkel, will provide answers to various questions raised across the U.S. and from the Philippines.

Find out if one can petition relatives for green cards to work at the petitioner’s care home facility; if one can petition and marry one’s cousin; and if a long-time seafarer with a C1D and a B1B2 visa can convert these to an immigrant visa.

Another question is if a petition is still valid even if petitioner (his brother) just recently passed.

Can his other brother, living in

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the U.S. and about to acquire his citizenship, take over as the petitioner?

Find out the answers to these questions and more on another informative and brand-new edition of “CITIZEN PINOY: Your Tanong, My Sagot,” this Sunday on TFC, at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/ Satellite providers).

For

(Advertising Supplement)

Should I appeal or refile?

PAGE B1 “record on appeal,” which is the presentation they made to the officer. A person is not typically entitled to submit additional documents or evidence on appeal. But if a person did not make a full or proper evidentiary showing to the officer, then the record on appeal would support the denial.

For example, in connection with a fraud waiver, if a person submitted a bare-bone declaration and evidence, which failed to show extreme hardship to a qualifying relative, appealing the denial may not help because the record shows they did not meet their burden of proof to the officer.

• Would it be faster to file a new petition or application than it would to appeal? Sometimes it could take years before an appeal is finally heard. In addition, based on the “record on appeal,” the appeal could be dismissed or denied. As a result, years were wasted. Had the person filed a

new petition, application, etc., it might’ve been faster, and they could’ve had better chances of success, especially if they properly packaged the new application, rather than appealing with the existing record. Of course, there are many factors to consider before deciding to submit a new application rather than filing an appeal, such as whether it would affect a person’s immigration status, or push a person’s priority date far off into the future.

These are only a few of the factors a person would need to consider in connection with the decision on whether to appeal.

Of course, the best course of action is to properly package and present your case at the outset to avoid the denial. That’s where having an attorney could greatly increase the chances for approval.

If you get a denial, the decision on whether to appeal is complex and you should consult with an attorney on the best course of action.

* * * Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and reenactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

Baron marks 1st wedding anniversary with wife BARON Geisler penned a heartfelt message for his wife Jamie Evangelista to celebrate their first wedding anniversary.

“I’m blessed to have a very loving and supportive wife who has endured me for a year now,” he said in his Instagram post last Sunday, Sept. 13.

“Praying for an abundant life together,” Geisler added. “God knows I love you very much @ jamieevangelista [heart emoji].”

Along with the romantic evening, the couple also spent time on a beach and swam in its clear waters the morning after. Geisler simply described the moment as PAGE B5 Baron Geisler with wife Jamie Evangelista

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September 18-24, 2020 • NOrCAL ASIAN JOUrNAL

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.

Vital health issues 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 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

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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

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Pinay co-founded wellness center offers free...

PAGE B1 “Our philosophy around it is that health is a whole human experience,” co-founder Jennifer Navarro-Marroquin, a licensed financial professional and holistic practitioner, told the Asian Journal. “Access to high quality information is very important and it’s also important for us to understand the barriers emotionally that keep us from making these healthy choices.”

Facilitators and practitioners in the program are diverse and reflect the participants they serve, and are trained in various rituals and traditions, like Filipino healing. In the past, Community Well has had hilot self-care sessions and Agasan workshops that took traditional Filipino sound and movement practices and integrating them into a modern context.

The current weekly classes offered on Zoom, regardless of race or income level, include “Food as Medicine” (nutrition basics and health cooking and eating demonstrations); “Move More!” (community yoga, healing hikes and dance); a homeopathic clinic for San Francisco residents with limited incomes; and “I Feel Good” (a six-week chronic illness prevention program).

The prevention program, which will begin again in early October, is vital in the time of COVID-19 when communities of color and those with underlying chronic conditions are at higher risk.

“We also have the transformational circle that talks about emotions and how to healthily process our emotions and talk about barriers around income that people feeling stressed about, stress management. Also, we talk about our migration story because a lot of people don’t understand that really plays a factor,” Navarro-Marroquin said.

Virtual classes at centers like Community Well come at a time when weekly surveys from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the U.S. Census Bureau show the toll COVID-19 is taking on collective mental health, and disproportionately on Black individuals and other people of color. (At the end of August, over 40% of respondents in California 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,

Community Well and the Filipino Mental Health Initiative-San Francisco will host “Kwentuhan: A time to heal from the stories of our skin” every first Saturday of the month through December.

indicated feeling symptoms of anxiety or depression.)

The center has seen that over 70% of people accessing the services are from communities of color. The facilitators recognize the responsibility and trust placed on the center as individuals typically struggle with asking for help.

“At the very basic, let’s just ask for help and trust in the people that surround us. With families and healthy living, do the best you can with everything that is available to you and let go of the guilt or having an idea of what it needs to look like,” Navarro-Marroquin said, suggesting carving out some alone time each day to focus on one’s self.

Starting this October, Community Well and the Filipino Mental Health Initiative-San Francisco will host “Kwentuhan: A time to heal from the stories of our skin” every first Saturday of the month through December. There is no

cost to participate, and 30 spots are available.

The series will bring together Fil-Am wellness practitioners, mental health professionals, educators, and community organizers — among them are rapper Bambu, ethnic studies professor Melissa-Ann Nievera-Lozano, holistic practitioner Anî La’arni Ayuma, and clinical psychologist Jeannie Estella Celestial — to unpack intergenerational issues like racism, anti-Blackness and colonial mentality, and come away with more solidarity with the Black community and tools to build a more inclusive society.

“It’s not just about direct services. It’s about getting into policy and bringing more voices to the decision making tables,” NavarroMarroquin said. “If you’re going to step up as a leader in any capacity, that real systemic change, you have to also be committed to that too.”

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 NetworkUSA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

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Getting stimulus payments to homeless communities

by Lisa

Lake

Consumer eduCation speCialist, Federal trade Commission PEOPLE who are homeless or transient may not know they qualify for the $1,200 Economic Impact Payments (EIP) — also called “stimulus checks” — that went out last Spring. They might also get an additional $500 for each qualifying child — and they don’t need an income to claim the payment.

That’s why the FTC is working with the IRS to get the word out about how people can still collect their money — and we need your help.

If you know anyone who doesn’t have a permanent address (or someone who just isn’t aware that they might qualify for a payment), here’s what they need to know: • The deadline to enter a claim for payment is October 15, 2020. To sign up, people need: – Their name plus a mailing

address and an email address.

(People can ask a friend, family member, or shelter to use their address.)

– Date of birth and valid Social Security number (SSN) – Bank account information, if any – Identity Protection PIN, if they’ve gotten one from the IRS – License or state ID, if any – Name, SSN, and relationship for each qualifying child.

• People who don’t normally file income taxes may still be eligible for a payment. Those with an income below $12,200 ($24,400 for married couples) can get instructions on how to use the IRS’s non-filers tool, then file a claim at IRS.gov/nonfilereip.

• People who get veterans or railroad retirement, Social Security Income (SSI) or Social

Security benefits still qualify for this payment.

It’s important to know that only the IRS sends out these payments, but they won’t call, text, or email people about their payments. And they won’t charge a fee. So: anybody who calls, texts, or emails offering to expedite an Economic Impact Payment is a scammer. People should never give anyone money to get a payment: anybody who tells you to pay is a scammer.

Visit IRS.gov/coronavirus for more information on economic stimulus payments. The site includes a toolkit for partners to get these messages out to your network. Also visit ftc. gov/coronavirus for information on avoiding Coronavirus payment and product scam and how to report them to the FTC.

Non-filers may be eligible for economic impact payment “NON-FILERS: Enter Payment Info Here” is a free IRS tool that allows you to easily and quickly provide us the necessary information about yourself and your family. We will use this information to determine your eligibility and payment amount and send you an Economic Impact Payment.

U.S. citizens, permanent residents and qualifying resident aliens who: • Have a valid Social Security number, • Could not be claimed as a dependent of another taxpayer, and • Had adjusted gross income under certain limits.

Use the “Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here” tool if you do not normally and are not planning to file a federal in-

come tax return for 2019 for any reason including: • Your income is less than $12,200 • You’re married filing jointly and together your income is less than $24,400 • You have no income.

Do NOT use this tool if you will be filing a 2019 return.

This includes those who file a tax return to get a refund even though they are not required to file a tax return. Using the tool instead of filing your 2019 return will slow down processing of your tax return and receiving any tax refund.

While most eligible U.S. taxpayers have automatically received their Economic Impact Payment, some may need to provide their information by October 15 if they have not re-

ceived their payment yet.

If you don’t usually file a tax return and you have not received your Economic Impact yet, the IRS may not have enough information to determine your eligibility. This includes those receiving the federal benefits listed below: • Those receiving Social Security retirement, disability (SSDI), survivor benefits • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients • Recipients of Veterans Affairs Compensation and Pension (C&P) benefits • Individuals who receive Railroad Retirement (RRB) benefits.

You can submit your information online by October 15 using the Non-Filers tool. (From Internal Revenue Service)

Baron marks 1st wedding anniversary with...

PAGE B3 “happiness,” as per a separate post.

Geisler and Evangelista tied the knot in a civil ceremony in September 2019, a year after they began their relationship.

The actor met Evangelista, a psy-

EMPLOYMENT

chologist, while he was receiving treatment for his past drug addiction in a rehabilitation center.

Months after their wedding, the two welcomed their first child, Talitha Cumi, last January in Cebu City.

Geisler previously appeared in

the seventh season of the longrunning TV crime series “Ang Probinsyano” as the antagonist Dante “Bungo” Madarang.

Along with acting and raising his daughter, Geisler began pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Theology last year. (Inquirer.net)

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • SeptembeR 18-24, 2020

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Santa Clara responds to pandemic with second round of COVID-19 relief programs

City Council approves $3.1 million in funding to further support Santa Clara residents and business during public health emergency SANTA CLARA – On Tuesday, Sept. 1, the City Council approved funding for several programs to further assist the community with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. After securing funds from the CARES Act fund of $1.59 million and allocating an additional $1.5 million, the Council is now investing a total of $3.1 million in more local relief efforts to support residents and businesses in Santa Clara.

“With no immediate end in sight for the COVID-19 pandemic, we are using the CARES Act funding, along with other funds, to further assist our residents and businesses during this challenging time,” said Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor. “Every little bit helps, and the City’s latest emergency relief programs will address what’s needed the most – from rental assistance to food on the table to small business grants – to help those in our community who are most adversely impacted by this virus.”

The latest COVID-19 relief pro-

grams, approved by the Council, are: • Small Business Assistance Grant Program will receive $590,000 in additional funds to support local small businesses and nonprofits in Santa Clara for a total of nearly $1.7 million.

• Emergency Rental Assistance Program funding was increased by $1.5 million for program total of $2.8 million to allow for a second round of assistance, providing three consecutive months of rent for eligible households based on income levels.

• Food Distribution Programs for youth and seniors will continue as the City works with the Santa Clara Unified School District and community partners to ensure access to food. Meanwhile, the City’s Senior Nutrition Program continues in Santa Clara.

• No Garbage Rate increases for six months for residents.

• Third-party Food Delivery Fees are now limited to help local restaurants that are currently relying on third-party ap-

plications to deliver takeout. The Council approved an emergency ordinance that caps fees at 15% that third-party food delivery services fees can charge restaurants in Santa Clara.

For more information about the City’s COVID-19 relief programs, visit SantaClaraCA.gov/ CoronavirusUpdates.

Located at the heart of Silicon Valley about 45 miles south of San Francisco, the City of Santa Clara truly is “The Center of What’s Possible.” Incorporated in 1852, Santa Clara covers an area of 19.3 square miles with an estimated population of 129,498. Santa Clara is home to an extraordinary array of hightech companies, including Applied Materials, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Nvidia, Oracle, and Ericsson. The City of Santa Clara is also home to Santa Clara University, California’s Great America Theme Park, and Levi’s® Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers and SB50. For more information, go to SantaClaraCA.gov.

Support solar power and your neighbors in need THOUSANDS of your Santa Clara neighbors are reducing their environmental impact by participating in the Santa Clara Green Power program, and you can too!

When you enroll, you match your electricity use with 100% solar energy for only $0.015 per kilowatt-hour more per month.

That’s about $7.50 more per month for the average Santa Clara home to support solar energy.

When you enroll by Dec. 31, 2020, Silicon Valley Power will donate $10 to the Help Your Neighbor Program on your behalf.

The Help Your Neighbor Program allows Santa Clara residents to directly help neighbors who are struggling to pay their utility bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can learn more about the program at SantaClaraCA.gov/HelpYourNeighbor.

If you are ready to support 100% solar energy for your home, visit SiliconValleyPower. com/GreenCommunity to learn

more about the Santa Clara Green Power program and to enroll. Your participation is volun-

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tary, and you may cancel at any time.

(From City of Santa Clara)

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September 18-24, 2020 • NOrCAL ASIAN JOUrNAL

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Island Pacific launches ‘Island Pacific Select’ private label

Heart Evangelista

Photo from Instagram/@iamhearte

Past struggles with depression and anxiety make Heart stronger amid COVID-19 by allan

PolicarPio Inquirer.net

REFLECTING on her struggles with depression and anxiety, Heart Evangelista surmised that what she had gone through may have, in a way, helped her become better equipped to keep her mental health in check—especially with COVID-19’s shadow still looming large.

“Mas matatag ako, mas matibay ako. But of course, there are moments when I can’t help but feel scared or worried. My God, there have been lots of instances like that,” she said in an email interview for the feminine hygiene product brand Kotex Luxe, which she endorses.

“But I feel that, mentally, I can handle them, because of what I have experienced in the past,” the GMA 7 star added.

Heart dealt with depression after miscarrying her twins with husband, Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero, in 2018. Last November, she had a major bout of anxiety that lasted until February this year.

And it ended up having physical manifestations: Her hands and feet would go numb; she also developed what is called Burning Mouth Syndrome, a condition that produces scalding or tingling sensations in the mouth and other areas around it.

“Prior to the pandemic, I went through anxiety—a very, very bad episode. And at the time, I didn’t understand how it started, where it came from, how it happened, why it was happening to me,” she

recalled.

But as they always say, “this, too, shall pass.” “We have to hold on to hope that we will be OK eventually. We have to pray, and, as hard as it is, we have to have a little bit more hope,” related Heart, who’s also known for philanthropy and work in fashion and visuals arts.

As Kotex ambassador, Heart will participate in an empowerment campaign called “Love Yourself a Little More,” which aims to encourage Filipino women to rethink their self-worth, and promote selflove—something the 35-year-old actress has had to learn through the years. It was a process, she said. While she was already considered one of showbiz’s “it” girls in her teenage years, Heart still harbored insecurities about her looks and her capabilities as an actress.

“I’m only 5’2”. And when I’m surrounded by all these perfectlooking, beautiful women, you feel a bit insecure—especially in our industry where looks matter.

And then as I got older, I went through a phase where I felt like, ‘I have nothing more to give. I had doubts,’” she related.

Looking back, Heart feels that she may had been a little too hard on herself when she was younger.

But in the end, it was her perceived flaws that shaped her into becoming the woman she is now.

“When I started to discover myself more, let go and understand my insecurities and fears, I started to build my characters as a person. I started giving myself a pat

on the back and that really made me feel good. It all starts by loving oneself and being able to share that love to the people around you.” said Heart, who’s also set to appear on “Love Yourself Live: How Self-Love Can Save You”—a Facebook Live event on Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.Heart has been shuttling between Manila and Sorsogon as of late, juggling charity work to help people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and initiating projects to support Sorsoganon artists who have been reeling from canceled orders and trade fairs.

Last month, Heart launched Maison Love Marie, an online store that puts the spotlight on locally made clothes, arts and crafts culled from all over the province.

“A big percentage goes back to the artisans, to help them build businesses. And I hope more people order, so I can give them more, so they can have a fresh start,” she said.

What’s left of the sales she uses to buy necessities for children in local orphanages. “I shop for them, especially now that no one travels and visits them,” related Heart, who stressed the importance of paying it forward.

“I feel that there’s so much love being given to me that I should give more love. So that’s what I have been doing,” she said. “In this time when everyone’s going through the pandemic, I think it’s important that we give as much love as we can. No amount is too small; it all makes a difference in everyone’s life.”

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

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

Photo by Jester Edquilag

buying premium quality products.

These premium banana chips are proudly made in the Philippines 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)

Kapamilya stars dominate TV5’s new entertainment lineup

By Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

KAPAMILYA actor Piolo Pascual and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray will be hosting the “Sunday Noontime Variety Show” on TV5.

Directed by Johnny Manahan, the show is one of the new shows from Brightlight Productions after it secured blocktime slots with the Manny V. Pangilinan-led network.

With the new shows, TV5 aims of “(reawakening) the Filipino TV viewing habits that may have waned in the past few months of crisis.”

Apart from Piolo and Catriona’s tandem, Brightlight Productions president and Chief Executive Officer Albee Benitez recently announced to advertisers the roster of programs that will air on TV5, as well as the Kapamilya stars who will be part of the shows.

Noontime show “Laugh Out Loud” produced by Star Magic’s Johnny Manahan features Billy Crawford, Alex Gonzaga, K Brosas and Wacky Kiray.

“Rated K” will be back on free TV as “Rated Korina” hosted by

Piolo Pascual

Catriona Gray

ABS-CBN photos

Korina Sanchez.

Ian Veneracion, Dimples Romana, Sue Ramirez, Ariel Urieta and Gloria Diaz will have a new sitcom, “Oh My Dad,” to be directed by Jeffrey Jeturian.

Lastly, romantic drama se-

ries “I Got You” will star Beauty Gonzales, RK Bagatsing and Yen Santos to be directed by Dan Villegas.

Completing the roster is “Sunday Kada Kada Sunday” directed

by Edgar Mortiz.

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • SeptembeR 18-24, 2020

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