100320 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

OCTOBER 3-6, 2020 Volume 30 - No. 78 • 2 Sections – 18 Pages

USA

DATELINE New ruling: 2020 Census must continue until Oct. 31 FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

A FEDERAL judge ordered that the 2020 Census counting efforts must continue through the end of the month, not October 5.

This comes after the Census Bureau was found violating a previous order that had moved the decennial enumeration through the end of October 31.

U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in Northern California, in an order on Thursday, October 1, said that “perhaps the most egregious violation” of her previous injunction last week was when the Census Bureau on Monday, Sept. 28 tweeted that the deadline would be Oct. 5.

“The Secretary of Commerce has announced a target date of October 5, 2020 to conclude 2020 Census self-response and field data collection operations,” the bureau said in a tweet on Monday before a virtual hearing following up on Koh’s preliminary injunction.

Fil-Am voters sound off after heated presidential debate between Trump, Biden

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

AS President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden squared off in their first debate on Tuesday, Sept. 29, several Filipino American voters across the country reacted to what transpired and doubled down on support for their preferred

candidate.

The 90-minute debate — moderated by Chris Wallace, anchor of “Fox News Sunday,” at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio — covered six topics, ranging from the Supreme Court vacancy to Trump’s tax returns to COVID19 recovery, as the candidates attempted to make their case with a little over a month to go until

President Trump transported to Walter Reed hospital after contracting COVID-19

by AJPRESS

u PAGE A2

Newsom vetoes high school ethnic studies bill, says revisions are needed IN an unexpected move, California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, Sept. 30 vetoed a bill that would have required ethnic studies to be taught in all high schools.

Earlier this year, the California Legislature passed Assembly Bill 331, which would require public high school students to take an ethnic studies course in order to graduate.

The bill states that the requirement would be in effect starting at the 2025-26 school year.

Public education systems, institutions and districts across California – like districts in Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Diego — have imposed their own ethnic studies requirements After vetoing the bill, Newsom emphasized that he supports the notion that ethnic studies helps students better understand the history and struggles of disenfranchised communities. He also expressed praise for the school districts that have implemented their own ethnic studies requirements.

But for there to be a statewide mandate of this graduation requirement, that mandate must achieve “balance, fairness and is inclusive of all communities.” u PAGE A3

TELE-ARAL CENTER. Teachers get a first-hand experience in assisting students online through Taguig City’s ‘Telearal Center’ at the Senator Renato “Compañero” Cayetano (SRCC) Memorial Science and Technology High School on Friday, October 2. Mayor Lino Cayetano (inset photo) said the Tele-Aral Center at SRCC will be manned by teachers who have undergone training and enrichment courses from the Taguig Online Campus (TECTOC) as well as the training led by call center supervisors.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

PH enters top 20 countries with most COVID-19 cases

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA

AJPress

THE Philippines is among the top 20 countries with the most number of novel coronavirus infections in the world after the Department of Health logged 2,415 additional cases on Thursday, October 1.

The new cases bring the official tally to 314,079, making the Philippines still the country with the most number of infections in Southeast Asia.

The country surpassed Pakistan’s 312,806, which previously held the 20th spot. The Philippines followed Italy, which u PAGE A4

today, many who serve in the military or as frontline workers.

As President, I’ll work alongside U.S. Democratic presidential them to protect the American nominee and former Vice Presi- people,” he said in a tweet on dent Joe Biden said that if elect- Thursday, October 1. ed, he would work alongside In a longer statement posted Filipino Americans “to protect on his campaign website, Biden the American people.” said Fil-Ams “have enriched and The presidential candidate’s strengthened every aspect of promise came as October marks our country.”

Filipino American History Month He also paid tribute to the in the United States. “countless Filipino American “During Filipino American essential frontline workers and History Month, we celebrate the caregivers” working during the community’s immense contri- pandemic as over 208,000 indibutions to our country — from viduals have died from COVIDearly immigrants to the millions 19.

UNITED States President Donald Trump has been transported to Walter Reed Medical Center after contracting COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, the White House announced on Friday afternoon, Oct. 2.

The president “remains in good spirits [and] has mild symptoms,” Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Friday according to a White House pool report.

“Trump will be headed to Walter Reed Medical Center shortly — Out of an abundance of caution, and at the recommendation of his physician and medical experts, the President will be working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days,” the statement added.

The president and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19, the president said in a tweet early Friday morning. u PAGE A3

SC moves forward with poll protest vs Robredo

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

BEATING POLIO AMID COVID-19. Barangay health workers administer oral anti-polio vaccine to a baby during the door-to-door “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio Campaign” at the Molino Homes II Subdivision in Barangay Salitran 3, Dasmariñas City, Cavite on Friday, October 2. Under the program, vaccination teams visit communities to give oral anti-polio vaccine to all children five years old and below.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga

Biden recognizes Fil-Ams’ ‘immense contributions to our country’ during start of Filipino American History Month

by CHRISTINA

Election Day. “For my side, the Republican side, the issues covered will help galvanize voters, especially in regards to the Supreme Court,” said Ron Falconi, mayor of Brunswick, Ohio and a member of Asian Pacific Americans for Trump’s advisory council. “The president has made it no secret that u PAGE A2

THE Philippine Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, has directed the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to comment on pending issues related to the election protest filed by former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. In its latest resolution, PET ordered the Comelec to file its comment within 20 days on Marcos’ third cause of action in his electoral protest, which seeks to annul the elections in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Basilan, and Maguindanao due to alleged terrorism, intimidation, harassment of voters, and pre-shading

of ballots.

PET also ordered the Comelec and the OSG to comment on whether the tribunal had the power to declare the annulment of elections even without special elections, as well as declare the failure of elections and order the conduct of special elections.

In addition, PET asked the Comelec and the OSG whether the tribunal’s declaration of failure of elections, and an order for special elections, will infringe the Comelec’s mandate under the Constitution.

The Comelec was likewise ordered to report to the PET if the petitions for failure of elections were filed in the three Mindanao provinces, if the petitions were granted or denied, and whether u PAGE A3

M. ORIEL

AJPress

Former VP Joe Biden on Thursday, Oct. 1 tweeted a message for Filipino American History Month.

“And we offer our prayers to the families of Filipino American nurses, who represent 4% of nurses in the United States,

but make up more than 30% of nursing deaths due to COVID19. Their heroism is a reminder u PAGE A4 Former Senator Bongbong Marcos and Vice President Leni Robredo

Inquirer.net photo

A OctOber 3-6, 2020 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

From the Front Page

New ruling: 2020 Census must continue...

PAGE A1 t Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross pushed Oct. 5 as a “target date” to end the enumeration in order to deliver the first set of census results to President Donald Trump by Dec. 31, according to NPR. “The decision also risks further undermining trust in the Bureau and its partners,

sowing more confusion, and depressing Census participation,” Koh wrote in her ruling on Thursday, Oct. 1. Last week, the judge said the U.S. Census Bureau must continue its outreach efforts through October 31 in order to have a more accurate count.

Koh — agreeing with civil rights organizations and local

governments like Los Angeles that filed a lawsuit against the Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Commerce — said that the current schedule would leave out many minority and hard-to-count communities that have yet to respond.

“An undercount in any locality matters greatly,” the judge wrote in the preliminary injunction on Sept. 24, six days before the initial Sept. 30 deadline. “Even a small undercount of a subset of the hard to count population would result in the loss of federal funding.”

Koh’s new ruling this week also orders the Census Bureau to send a mass text to every census worker by Friday to let them know the head count will continue through this month.

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden square off during the first presidential debate on Tuesday, Sept. 29. C-SPAN screenshot A three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday, Sept. 30 ruled 2 to 1 letting Koh’s preliminary injunction stand. They argued that ceasing the count PAGE A1 presidency.” terms of matters involving the “risks undermining” the pur- he wants conservative judges Irene Bueno, a volunteer economy and not reversing the to serve on the court who are senior advisor for Fil-Ams for Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The depose of the census.

Filipino American Judge Pat- going to interpret the Constitu- Biden-Harris who has worked bate came days after the New rick J. Bumatay, who was ap- tion and not legislate from the for previous Democratic can- York Times report about Trump pointed by Trump, dissented bench. That has been a rallying didates, praised the vice pres- only paying $750 in income tax cry for us conservatives in the ident’s attempts to share his in 2016. on the ruling.

“Nearly every American’s movement.” plans on various topics, despite “The tax code that put him The debate soon turned being interrupted. plans this year have been roiled in a position that he pays less by the virus,” he wrote. “But it chaotic, marked by interrup“Whenever [Biden] tried to tax than on the money a schooltions and in several instances, talk about his plan, he was in- teacher makes is because of cannot roil the law.”

The once-a-decade enumer- a shouting match between the terrupted by a president who… him,” Biden said in reference to ation — which can be done two. Social media users picked clearly didn’t have a plan. All he the law Trump signed in 2017. by phone (844-330-2020 for up on certain zingers, including did was say things that had no Among the moments that English), returning the mailed Biden calling Trump a “clown” basis. He lied and he made up stood out was Trump’s refusal form, or heading online (my- and retorting, “Will you shut up, things that are not substanti- to condemn white supremacy, 2020census.gov) — measures man?” after a string of interjec- ated,” Bueno said, emphasizing bringing attention to Proud where individuals live as of tions. that voters should look at the Boys, a far-right group.

As the COVID-19 pandemic Trump administration’s battle April 1, 2020. That includes “Proud Boys — stand back young children and infants, rages on, the president was against the Affordable Care and stand by. But I’ll tell you roommates, and family mem- asked to defend his response Act for the past three years. what. I’ll tell you what. Somebers or friends staying at the to the virus that has left over “[Trump] had all this time to body’s got to do something household, even if temporar- 200,000 killed, alleging that the do something about health care about Antifa and the left bedeath toll would reach 2 million and he hasn’t done anything.” ily. cause this is not a right-wing In addition to English and if Biden were commander-inCristina Osmeña, a former problem,” Trump said.

Spanish, completing the cen- chief.

Republican candidate for CaliBueno said the president’s “What [the debate] showed fornia’s 14th congressional dis- statement “scared” her. “And sus online or by phone can be done in 11 other languages, was a stark contrast between trict, said she was left feeling I think all Americans should be including Tagalog (844-478- these two people and what kind discouraged amid the chaotic scared. This president just conof leadership they’re going to exchanges.

2020). tinues to [sow] division,” she The results guide how over demonstrate,” said Brad Baldia, “I think Trump came away said. $1.5 trillion in federal funding a Biden supporter from Phila- worse for wear. I was trying Two more debates are schedwill be allocated to states an- delphia, following the debate. to listen intently to hear if my uled for Oct. 15 and Oct. 22 as nually for resources, such as “The thing is, Donald Trump questions about policy would final chances for both Trump schools, health programs, and has never grown up, he’s never be answered,” Osmeña said. and Biden to capture the votes infrastructure projects. The matured [and] blames every- “His behavior of bullying and of Americans, especially those data also determines the num- one else for his faults…and his interrupting did not leave a still considered undecided. ber of seats each state gets in failed leadership for the deaths good impression…It was diffi“I really am on the fence and the House of Representatives that have happened because of cult to tolerate.” after last night, I don’t want to and the redrawing of legisla- COVID-19 and for all the things Despite this, Osmeña said vote for either candidate,” Osthat have gone wrong with his she favors the president in tive districts. (AJPress) u PAGE A4

Fil-Am voters sound off after...

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Dateline USa

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 3-6, 2020

A

US plane disguised as PH aircraft may have been used to test China — Esperon

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

THE United States may have been testing Chinese forces when a U.S. Air Force surveillance plane disguised as a Philippine aircraft flew over the Yellow Sea last week, Philippine National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said on Thursday, October 1.

“The pilots are probably trying to test the reaction that would come from China and so the Chinese reacted and it came out in the news,” he said at a press briefing.

“They could be trying really the capacity of China,” he added.

On September 22, Beijingbased South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI) reported that the U.S.

said.

“So when you notice a Philippine code comes to the area, then all the more it brings suspicion,” he added.

Esperon also stressed that the incident must be discussed with U.S. officials as it could “incriminate” the Philippines.

“What could happen really is it could implicate or incriminate the Philippine side. Nonetheless, we hope this could be settled satisfactorily,” he said.

According to website Military.com, RC-135S is a “milita- FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT. Construction workers place cement on the path near the riverbank in line with the beautification and rehabilitation rized Boeing 707” jet equipped of flood mitigation facilities including construction of slope protection structures along the Imus River in Barangay Burol, Dasmariñas City, with a sophisticated array of Cavite on Wednesday, September 30. The completion of the project this year is expected to lessen flooding in the cities of Imus and Bacoor optical and electronic sensors, during the rainy season.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga recording media and communications equipment. The plan is only deployed on orders of the U.S. Joint Chief of Staff, tions and are saddened because and academic by events leading the highest officer in the U.S. PAGE A1 t special elections were held in the the issue is given back to Com- to 2022 such as the filing of canmilitary. n areas with failure of elections, elec,” he added. didacy, campaign and national and the results of those special Rodriguez also expressed election that would reduce the polls. concern over the protest being clamor and right of the people Marcos’ camp, for its part, wel- “under real threat of becoming to know who really won the vice comed the recent development moot and academic.” presidency illusory,” Rodriguez nee Joe Biden in Cleveland on tive for the virus on Friday. but is “saddened” that the issue “Instead of directly proceed- added.

Tuesday; a private fundraiser “I hope this serves as a re- was passed onto the Comelec ing with the technical examinaRobredo’s camp also weland outdoor rally in Minnesota minder,” Biden tweeted. “Wear anew. tion and forensic investigation comed the latest resolution. on Wednesday; and a round- a mask, keep social distance, “We are happy because our he lamentably added another “The camp of Vice President table with supporters in New and wash your hands.” The cause of action, which they said layer that would cause tremen- Leni Robredo welcomes the latJersey on Thursday. former vice president proceed- is not included in the election dous delay in referring the mat- est PET order as this will help Republican National Com- ed to make a campaign stop in protest, the setting aside the an- ter to the Office of the Solicitor fast-track the resolution of the mittee Chairwoman Ronna Grand Rapids, Michigan. nulment of setting aside the an- General and the Comelec to file election protest,” Atty. Beng McDaniel, who was with the Trump is the latest world nulment of the election results their respective Comment,” he Sardillo, Robredo’s lawyer, said. president during a Sept. 25 leader to be infected by COV- in Maguindanao, Basilan and said.

“We will comply with the High fundraiser, tested positive for ID-19 as it has killed more than Lanao del Sur, is validated,” Atty.

“Considering the very thin Tribunal’s order and wait for COVID-19, she revealed on Fri- 208,000 Americans and has in- Vic Rodriguez, Marcos’ lawyer, time left in the term of the con- the comments of the Comelec day. Sen. Mike Lee, a Republi- fected over 7 million as of this said in Filipino. tested position, our protest is un- and the Solicitor General on the can from Utah, and University writing. n “We have extreme reserva- der real threat of becoming moot pending matters,” she added. n of Notre Dame President John Jenkins, who both attended the Saturday event when the president announced Amy Coney Barrett as the latest Supreme Court nominee, also tested positive.

Meanwhile, Vice President Mike Pence tested negative for the virus on Friday following the news. Other administration officials, such as daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have tested negative as well, according to theWashington Post.

Biden and his wife Jill, as well as running mate Sen. Kamala Harris, have tested negaAir Force’s RC-135S reconnaissance plane reportedly used a hex code assigned to a Philippine aircraft when it flew over the Yellow Sea between the Chinese coast and Korea peninsula.

The U.S. plane reverted to its original code after completing its mission.

A hex code is used by the International Civil Aviation Organization as a means to identify an aircraft.

Esperon noted that Philippine aircrafts rarely cross the Yellow Sea, adding that the ploy was meant to raise suspicions from China.

“We stay usually within our domain air and maritime domain for our patrols, hindi napupunta dun sa (we do not go to the) Yellow Sea for surveillance or anything,” he

President Trump transported to Walter Reed...

PAGE A1 t

“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19.

We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!” the 74-year-old leader wrote.

The test came after Hope Hicks, a senior adviser for the president who had been traveling with him on Air Force One and Marine One this week, tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday morning.

An update from White House physician Sean P. Conley on Friday said the president received a “single 8 gram dose of Regeneron’s polyclonal antibody cocktail.”

“As of this afternoon the President remains fatigued but in good spirits,” Conley said.

He also reported that the first lady “remains well with only a mild cough and headache.”

Before the test results, the president had a packed week of campaign events, which included a speech at the White House Rose Garden to announce the distribution of millions of coronavirus test kits on Monday; the first presidential debate with Democratic nomi-

Newsom vetoes high school...

PAGE A1 t Previously, Newsom signed and approved an ethnic studies course requirement for the California State University (CSU) system, but stressed that the proposed model for high schools has sparked ongoing disagreements among lawmakers.

“Last year I expressed that the initial draft of the model curriculum was insufficiently balanced and inclusive and needed to be substantially amended. In my opinion, the latest draft, which is currently out for review, still needs revision,” Newsom wrote in his veto message on AB 331.

Assemblymember Jose Medina (D-Riverside) responded to Newsom’s veto with disappointment, saying that the veto is “a failure to push back against the racial rhetoric and bullying of Donald Trump.”

The California Teachers Association also expressed disappointment following Newsom’s veto, saying in a statement, “In the midst of the largest and most widespread movement for equality and equity our nation has seen since the Civil Rights era, the need for all students to learn about the diverse histories and perspectives of Black, Indigenous and people of color couldn’t be greater.”

A major disagreement that this proposal spurred involves the types of ethnic groups that would be included in this course. Some legislators as well as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond agree that the course ought to concen-

trate on the four ethnic groups that have been the major focal points of collegiate-level ethnic studies since the 1960s: Asian Americans, Black Americans, Chicanos and Latinos and Native Americans and Indigenous communities.

Ethnic studies coursework stresses the importance of “autoethnography” in which students “tell their own stories” and promote social justice values. As previously reported in the Asian Journal, the Anaheim Elementary School District unanimously voted in favor of an ethnic studies requirement, which would include significant coursework on the history of Filipinos in the United States.

But other ethnic groups, like the Sikhs, Armenians and Jewish Americans argue that the proposal for a mandatory statewide ethnic studies requirement was too limiting and should expand its purview to include their heritages.

Last year, Jewish groups mobilized objection to the original draft of the bill. Specifically, they decried a proposed lesson plan on the Arab American community, alleging that it minimized anti-Semitism and favored Palestine over Israel.

“We appreciate Governor Newsom’s insistence on developing balanced and inclusive education materials,” Richard Hirschhaut, director of the American Jewish Committee LA, said in a statement released on Wednesday. “It is worth taking time to get this right.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

SC moves forward with poll protest...

A OctOber 3-6, 2020 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

Dateline USa

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

Fil-Am voters sound off after...

PAGE A2 meña, who voted for a thirdparty candidate in the 2016 election, said. “Just because you might be indecisive at the very top of the ticket, there are a lot of local races that are decided by a few hundred people, so voting does matter.”

Fil-Am voters interviewed called on formatting changes, which include the ability for future moderators to turn off a candidate’s mic if not talking, and to focus on issues, including foreign policy with countries like China and immigration.

“These debates offer us a momentous opportunity because it allows us to compare one versus one, the two candidates for president,” said Tristan Bato, a college student who is supporting Biden. “Honestly, I have faith in the American electorate, and especially the independents who are undecided right now to look to the truth.”

The Commission on Presidential Debates announced on Wednesday, Sept. 30 said it would look at “additional structure” for the next two debates.

“Last night’s debate made clear that additional structure should be added to the format of the remaining debates to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues,” the commission said in a statement. It added that it would announce the measures soon, and also praised Wallace’s “professionalism and skill” as the debate moderator.

Until then, Fil-Am supporters on both sides are continuing their efforts to rally registered and eligible voters.

A group called “Filipinos for Trump” is leading a nationwide caravan on Sunday, Oct. 4 in 20 cities, such as Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., to raise support for the president’s re-election bid and to kick-off Filipino American History Month.

“The Filipino Americans participating are not afraid to show the support and alignment with President Trump, and for the Republican Party principles, such as our strong faith,” said Noel Omega, a business owner who is among the organizers for the Sunday caravan in South-

ern California. “But you know, we would welcome anyone who wants to learn about our side and have a dialogue with us.”

Meanwhile, the volunteerrun “Fil-Ams for Biden-Harris” will continue their weekly programs, which include phone banks in key states and topicfocused Zoom panels.

Results from the 2020 Asian American Voter Survey released in September found that 52% of Fil-Am registered voters polled said they would be included to vote for Biden, while 34% favor Trump — the second highest support among the groups after 48% of Vietnamese voters who said they would re-elect the current president.

Despite the preferences for either candidate, 12% of FilAm voters reported that they “don’t know.”

“This is the most important election in our lifetime and you can see the positions the president was taking in contrast to Joe Biden’s. I am surprised as to why there are so many undecided voters at this point,” said Falconi. n

LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN SERVING MY FELLOW KABABAYANS FOR OVER 17 YEARS

CIVIL AND PERSONAL INJURY LITIGATION • Breach of Contract and Fraud • Auto and Other Injury accidents

IMMIGRATION

• Family and employment based green cards • Business and Investor Visas • Deportation defense • Motions to Reopen • Appeals • Humanitarian Reinstatement of revoked petition • Naturalization • H-1B and student visas

FAMILY LAW • Divorce/Separation/Nullity • Property Division • Spousal Support • Child Custody and Support • Restraining Orders

CALL TODAY FOR A CONSULTATION 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, California 90010

323-639-0277

Email: info@dtanlaw.com • Website: www.dtanlaw.com

LEARNING MODULES. Village staff members sort out learning modules to be distributed to parents and guardians at Barangay Salitran 3, Dasmarinas City on Thursday, October 1. Students in public schools who have no access to the internet will be receiving printed modules for the opening of classes on October 5.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga

Biden recognizes Fil-Ams’ ‘immense...

PAGE A1 t

that Filipino Americans embody the heart, the courage, and the values that define the United States,” he said.

Biden concluded by saying that if elected to the highest office in November, he would “build on that proud American legacy, including by celebrating the history of the Filipino American community and expanding access to a future of opportunity for all.”

On Friday, October 2, Dr. Jill Biden marked the community’s history month during a virtual fundraiser with affinity group Filipino Americans for Biden-

Harris.

Filipino American History Month is celebrated in the United States every October, marking the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the country.

It was on October 18, 1587 when the “Luzones Indios” came ashore from the Manilabuilt Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza under the command of Spanish Captain Pedro de Unamuno and set foot in what is now Morro Bay, California.

The late Dr. Fred Cordova, along with his wife, Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) Founder Dr.

Dorothy Laigo Cordova, first introduced October as Fil-Am History Month in 1992 with a resolution from the FANHS National Board of Trustees.

In 2009, U.S. Congress officially recognized the month of October as Filipino American History Month.

According to FANHS, this year’s theme is the “history of Fil-Am activism,” a reflection on how the community has been involved in social justice movements over the years. Though the pandemic continues, organizations and groups nationwide are moving their celebrations online. n

PH enters top 20 countries with most...

PAGE A1 t

Darrick V. Tan, Esq. Licensed in California for over 17 years Licensed in Nevada for over 12 years* UCLA, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science with Cum Laude honors Southwestern University Law School, Juris Doctor Admitted to U.S. District Court, Central District of California Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association Member, Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles Former Member, Board of Governors, Philippine American Bar Association *Inactive

had 317,479 COVID-19 cases, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center.

Globally, the United States remains as the country with the highest number of cases at 7.27 million, followed by India (6.31 million), Brazil (4.81 million), and Russia (1.17 million).

Thursday numbers Of the latest figures reported from the DOH, 930 came from Metro Manila, 238 came from Cavite, 128 came from Rizal, 123 came from Laguna, and 103 were from Negros Occidental.

The country’s capital region

is under general community quarantine (GCQ) for the entire month of October.

The DOH also recorded 59 new fatalities, which brought the death toll to 5,562.

Recovered patients, meanwhile, increased to 254,223 after the agency logged 771 new recoveries.

The University of the Philippines OCTA Group projected that the total number of COVID19 cases in the country would reach 380,000 to 410,000 by the end of October.

Malacañang, for its part, maintained that the country’s treatment of infected patients deserves praise.

“Look at the critical mortality rate. We’re still at 1.75, which means, that although the numbers are up, we are able to take care of those who get severely and critically ill,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview over CNN Philippines’ The Source.

“That I think is what matters most because in a pandemic the fear is that many of us will die. Some are dying, (but) not as many as other countries and, of course, it’s because we have improved our critical care facilities. We have learned from the past and we know how to take care of COVID-19 patients better,” he added. n

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 3-6, 2020

Dateline PhiliPPines

A

Boracay reopens to local tourists There is ‘strong clamor’ for Filipino nurses abroad, says Bello by aJPress

THIRTY-FIVE visitors flew to Boracay Island after the famous tourist spot reopened its doors to domestic tourists on Thursday, Philippine Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo–Puyat said on Friday, October 2.

“There were actually 35 tourists who came to Boracay yesterday by air, land and sea,” she said.

“Of course there were people from Aklan, also some from Iloilo. Yung mga tiga-Manila would only be seven (Only seven came from Metro Manila),” she added.

Puyat also said she’s expecting more people will come during the All Saints’ Day celebration.

“It’s better now that they’re coming little by little. It will be hard if people rush in and we’re not prepared,” she said.

The tourism chief assured the public that safety protocols are being implemented on the island.

“The DOT, the Boracay InterAgency Task Force, Department of Environment and Natural Resources under Secretary Roy Cimatu, Department of the Interior and Local Government under Secretary Eduardo Año, the province of Aklan and the municipality of Malay have imple-

Marie Inquirer.net

Resorts, hotels and restaurants on Boracay Island have set up health and safety guidelines as they prepare to welcome more visitors to jump-start the local economy. Boracay’s gradual reopening is seen as a model in the recovery of the tourism sector that was badly hit by the pandemic.

Inquirer.net photo by Jack Jarilla

mented enhanced hygiene and safety protocols in entry points, accommodations and activities,” said Puyat.

“We advise all tourists to be on strict quarantine immediately after the PCR test and until the time of travel to the island to ensure that they will remain COVID-19 free before they visit Boracay,” she added.

Incoming tourists are required to have negative RT-PCR test results within 48 to 72 hours before they can travel to Boracay. They also need to have a confirmed booking with a DOT–accredited establishment.

“A confirmed booking in a

DOT-accredited accommodation establishment, air tickets and negative test results should be submitted online, through http:// aklan.gov.ph, for the approval of the Aklan provincial government,” the agency said.

Cleared visitors will be issued with a personal quick response (QR) code for contact tracing purposes.

“We urge our visitors to be responsible tourists. Follow the guidelines, respect the rules. We can never be too complacent, even on vacation. We must adhere to the minimum health protocols. Let’s wear our mask when possible,” Puyat stressed. n

UNFPA: PH can see epidemic of unintended pregnancies by ritChel

Mendiola AJPress

THE number of unintended pregnancies in the Philippines could experience a spike if the quarantine measures caused by the novel coronavirus remain in place until the end of 2020, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said on Tuesday, September 29.

According to the agency, the number of women expected to give birth this year could increase by almost half to 2.6 million if movement restrictions stay until the year-end.

“This is an epidemic within an epidemic,” noted UNFPA program officer Aimee Santos-lyons during a Senate hearing.

“The restrictions on mobility were designed to slow down and

Bello defended the government’s decision to temporarily ban the overseas deployment of MANILA — Other countries medical workers. are clamoring for the services of “Ang problema natin kasi most Filipino nurses, Labor Secretary of those being deployed yung Silvestre Bello III told lawmakers mga tinatanggap ng mga receivon Thursday, October 1 as the Philippines temporarily banned the deployment of medical workers overseas.

During the hearing on the proposed 2021 budget of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) at the Senate, Bello said a lot of countries are reaching out to him to allow the deployment of Filipino nurses.

“There is a strong clamor for the deployment of our nurses.

Ang daming mga countries na they’ve been contacting me through their embassies na kung maaari we will allow our nurses to go,” Bello said.

(There is a strong clamor for the deployment of our nurses.

There are many countries contacting me through their embassies for us to allow our nurses to go.)

“Kaya lang we have to make sure na before we can send our nurses e meron naman tayong mga nurses that will attend to the medical needs of our countrymen,” he added.

(But we have to make sure that before we allow the total deployment of our nurses, we have enough of them to attend to the medical needs of our own countrymen.)

Earlier, the government suspended the deployment of doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers abroad to preserve human resources in fighting the novel coronavirus pandemic.

But due to recommendations made by DOLE, nurses and medical workers with complete documents as of August 31, 2020, are now allowed to leave the country.

But Senator Joel Villanueva, who was presiding over the hearing and chair of the Senate labor committee, said Filipino nurses are seeking a total lifting of the deployment ban.

“Most of us, especially here in the Senate, we get a lot of letters asking for assistance,” he added.

by Christia

prevent the transmission of COVID-19. Yet the unintended consequence of this measure may have helped reinforce gender discrimination and inequity,” she added.

Citing a study by the University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI), the UNFPA pointed out that the continued lockdown is causing 60 additional maternal deaths a month, since the restrictions are preventing two million more women from accessing family planning needs.

The study also said that sexual and physical violence among partners could rise to as much as 839,000 by the end of the year.

“These issues of women and children have largely remained invisible during the pandemic.

It’s time to put them front and center,” said Senator Risa Hontiveros, head of the chamber’s

committee on women.

President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on Monday, September 28, which will keep Metro Manila under general community quarantine (GCQ) for the entire month of October.

Aside from the capital region, the province of Batangas, and the cities of Tacloban, Bacolod, Iligan, and Iloilo will also be placed under GCQ. Meanwhile, Lanao del Sur, including Marawi City, will remain under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

“The rest of the country will be under modified general community quarantine,” Duterte announced. n

raMos

ing countries ay ito yung skilled and experienced nurses. Kapag hindi ka nangkaroon experience of at least two years, ‘di ka tatanggapin,” the labor chief said.

u PAGE A8

A6 OCTOBER 3-6, 2020 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

OPiniOn

Waiting for a resolution

FeatUres

REMEMBER the electoral protest over the race for the vice presidency in 2016? With less than two years left before the next general elections, many have forgotten that the poll challenge is still alive.

Already, the petitioner, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., is reportedly preparing to run for a national position in 2022. There is speculation that the proclaimed winner, Vice President Leni Robredo, might also seek the presidency. Will their electoral case be resolved by the time the 2022 campaign rolls around?

This week the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, voted 12-0 to require the Commission on Elections to comment on issues raised by Marcos in his petition to nullify the results of the polls in Lanao del Sur, Basilan and Maguindanao. The SC told the Comelec to state within 20 working days – about a month – whether there was any petition to declare a failure of elections in the three provinces, whether special voting was held and the results.

Marcos has claimed massive cheating in the three areas, where Robredo garnered 477,985 votes against his 169,160. If the votes are nullified, it would wipe out Robredo’s narrow lead of 263,473

that won her the race. Last year, a recount of the votes in the three areas picked by Marcos widened Robredo’s winning margin by 15,093.

An election mandate is something that cannot be recovered once taken by someone who turns out to be a losing candidate.

This gives urgency to the quick settlement of election protests, especially in local races where the term of office is only three years.

The glacial pace of resolving poll protests encourages cheating. A poll cheat who manages to occupy the contested post while the electoral challenge is pending won’t mind if the final resolution goes against him – especially if the decision is handed down when the term is nearly over. And a real winner whose mandate continues to be challenged while serving the term will be hounded by doubts about legitimacy.

This contest over the vice presidency must be resolved ASAP. For both parties, the snail-paced resolution of the case is an injustice. (Philstar. com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

After chaotic first debate, Trump tests positive for COVID-19, Commission on Presidential Debates to change rules of debates

The Fil-Am Perspective

Biden holds 13-point lead in the polls over Trump

GEL SANTOS-RELOS “The rest of the world - and future historians - will presumably look at it and weep,” the paper wrote, adding that Mr. Biden was the only man who looked “remotely presidential” on the stage and saying that if Mr. Trump was re-elected in November, “this dark, horrifying, unwatchable fever dream will surely be the first line of America’s obituary.” -The Guardian THE whole world watched and reported on America’s first presidential debate between incumbent President Donald J. Trump, and the Democratic Party nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden. The respected British news organization BBC collected the analysis and editorials of other major publications.

Here in the United States TIME Magazine wrote: “The first Presidential debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden may be better remembered for its antagonistic tone, and the din of the candidates talking over each other, than any policy discussion.”

This prompted the Commission of Presidential Debates to change the format to make sure the remaining two encounters between Trump and Biden will be more orderly. One new measure being considered, which has widely been suggested by the American people online, is to cut the microphones if the candidates try to interrupt each other.

Trump took to Twitter in protest stating: “Why would I allow the Debate Commission to change the rules for the second and third Debates when I easily won last time?”

Trump claimed victory based on their selected polls after the debate. Who lost? Not Joe Biden.

The American people lost in this chaotic debate.

This speaks volumes to why Trump is beneath the dignity of the Office of the President and is the WRONG man for the job.

He broke the law and rules of engagement in the debate, debated with the moderator, interrupted Biden and spoke beyond his time and even when it was

his opponent’s time, interjected his own questions and would get off topic. He went on to peddle his lies and conspiracy theories — leaving the American people more confused and ill-informed than before the debate.

Trump narcissistically and foolishly thinks gaming the system and bullying is strength. Adulation from his fans and cult is victory. High ratings are victory.

Clearly, his objective in the debate wasn’t really to serve and enlighten the American people about issues.

His objective was to use the debate to stage yet another episode of his “reality show” in his alternate universe to feed his fragile insatiable ego and advance his greedy political agenda.

AND THEN, only two days after the first presidential debate, another bombshell. At 12:54 a.m. ET on Thursday, October 2, Trump revealed on Twitter: “Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will

get through this TOGETHER!” By the numbers: As of 5:30 a.m. ET, Axios reported that this is Trump’s most shared and most liked tweet ever.

While most people took to social media to set aside politics and wish Trump and First Lady Melania Trump their healing and recovery, many also expressed their doubt about the veracity of his tweet and his intentions, given what they contend is his undefeated record in lying.

Others smell rotten fish in the new twist and turn in this new episode of his “reality show,” especially given the timing of it: only 13 days before the next debate, and 32 days before the elections.

Biden holds a 13-point lead Trump after the chaotic and combative first presidential debate, a CNBC/Change Research poll revealed on Thursday, October 1. According to the survey, 54% of those polled support the former vice president, while 41% voiced support for Trump.

I, personally, shared my thoughts on social media when

I read about this: “You know it is REAL when it hits you. Personally. May you recover Mr. President and Mrs. Trump.

And may this be a wake-up call for you to empathize with those who have lost loved ones, those who are still battling the virus, those whose lives and livelihood have been disrupted.

I hope when you recover, you begin to act like a true leader and fight this virus head-on, listening to scientists and health officials, and setting good example for people to follow to save the lives of the American people you have sworn to protect.”

The debates are intended to help the American people know more about the candidates’ stand on issues that beset America, and what each candidate plans to do to steer the country in the right direction for the greater good.

That was not Trump’s intention because he has no plan for the country, only for himself and how he can use this debate and the Office of the President of the

United States for his own personal gain and to save him from the quagmire (kumunoy) Trump has created and jumped into in his personal and professional life.

Trump’s debate performance is a reflection of this. He thinks he is above the law. He thinks the best was to build him up is to denigrate and demean others.

He does not care about policy talks because he does not understand nor care about issues of the country and the world and other people. He only cares about his own interests.

Joe Biden is the opposite of Trump, and he has a concrete plan to lead the country toward healing in our division, rebuilding from what Trump has destroyed in America — health, lives, decency, the value for the truth, knowledge and science, empathy for other people, our livelihood, our finances, the United States leadership in the world, and the promise of and the soul of America.

The debate is not supposed to be a brawl nor

u PAGE A7

Are we pushing our families down the cliffs?

Rhizomes

PROSY ABARQUEZDELACRUZ, J.D. “Both the coronavirus crisis and the climate crisis reveal that our world is inextricably interconnected, and it’s as strong or as fragile as those connections. We have to strengthen those connections. It is our only choice. The sun is going to rise again.” -Mary Annaïse Heglar, climate justice writer, March 2020 THE World Health Organization’s Social Determinants of Health came to a consensus principle that “health is neither created nor maintained within the health sector.”

It is beyond the hospitals; it is now in our national and state forests and our own behavioral practices in our homes.

A good friend of mine texted on Sept. 10: “Stay indoors, Prosy. The smoke is bad for your asthma.” I could feel my labored breathing and I had no metrics to measure how bad the air was.

But, the California Air Resources Board did.

California Air Resources Board reported 613 micrograms per cubic meter outdoor pollution in Yosemite Village around Mariposa County, which was more

than 18 times the federal health standard of 35 and beyond the range of Air Quality Index, on Sept. 17, 2020.

The smoke lasted about 13 days, impacting about 60% of California’s population, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Fires erupted in the South as well. The Angeles National Forest’s campgrounds were shut down, as all campgrounds in the state of California, as wildfires threatened neighborhoods.

11,000 lightning strikes have ignited very dry trees and have damaged 3.2 million acres so far, with 748,000 acres burned in Yosemite National Park.

In San Francisco, 30,000 acres have burned.

For a decade, 2001-2010 – 7.03 million acres burned, while in 2011-2020, 10.8 million acres have burned, according to a study done by LA Times’ on Sept. 15, 2020.

There was so much ash that folks were vacuuming them off their cars.

Mojave Desert National Park’s heart of Joshua Tree forests were not spared. Millions of trees burned, some cared for thousands of years.

Effects of wildfire smokes and coronavirus pandemic I did not realize how bad it was until I monitored the indoor air purifier readings, from 70 to

50 micrograms per cubic meter after 12 hours. It exceeded the federal health standard of 35. After two weeks, 15 micrograms per cubic meter was the reading, which was under the federal health standard. Today, it is at three micrograms per cubic meter. It feels easier to breathe inside the house.

The LA Times reported people suffered sore throats, headaches, chest pains, and lungs burned from wildfires smoke: “Of all the ingredients in wildfire smoke, the most concerning to scientists are microscopic particles known as PM2.5 because they are less than 2.5 microns in diameter. They can be inhaled deep into the lungs and pass into [the] bloodstream.”

To non-sensitive folks, these changes may not matter and might do gardening outdoors.

But at 613 micrograms per cubic meter and a federal health standard at 35, this was very polluted air, exceeding it by 17 times.

I attempted walking outdoors, but after 10 minutes, I could feel an imminent asthma attack, even with maintenance inhalers. I went home.

“From human-controlled exposure studies, which generally do not include especially sensitive subjects, there is evidence for a threshold for lung damage and inflammation at about 60

to 80 ppb (120-160 mg/m3) for short-term exposure (6.6 hours) with intermittent moderate exercise,” according to Greenfacts.org.

During these polluted days, those affected are young children, pregnant women, outdoor workers, elderly and especially people with asthma, lung disease and heart disease, the LA Times continued.

With such high levels of wildfire smoke along the West Coast, patients seeking medical care have likely increased for asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes and other health problems aggravated by air pollution. “Stanford University researchers have estimated 1,000 to 3,000 excess deaths and an additional 5,000 emergency room visits in California last month,” according to the LA Times report.

As if we are not seeing enough deaths reported already. In the United States, coronavirus deaths have affected the Black, Latino, and Asian American communities disparately.

Johns Hopkins University’s coronavirus dashboard reports, “While Black Americans represent only about 13% of the population in the states reporting racial/ethnic information, they account for about 34% of total COVID-19 deaths in those states. Asian Americans and

Latinx Americans also show elevated impacts in some regions.”

Amongst Asian Americans, disparities in deaths have been reported in that Coronavirus deaths have claimed 35% more lives or 14,000 more Asian Americans would have lived had they not postponed maintenance care for their chronic health conditions like: diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and even obesity.

Business Insider on Sept. 30, 2020 reported: “Nurses of Filipino descent comprise just 4% of the U.S. workforce, but nearly a third of registered nurse deaths due to COVID-19, according to a new report from the National Nurses United union.”

What will keep our families from falling down the cliff?

“Everyone should have the opportunity to achieve good health, and that’s not often the case,” Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones, Senior Fellow at the Cardiovascular Research Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine and Past President of the American Public Health Association asserted.

Some are fortunate to have an ambulance to catch those who fall off the cliff. A delay in that ambulance getting to you can mean death and sooner, chances of survival.

How about a trampoline as a

safety net? That can also save lives yet some of these safety nets have holes, allowing others to fall off the cliff.

That means others are uninsured and postpone being seen by doctors to address their poor health conditions.

So why not fence off so folks do not fall down the cliff, she asked?

She wants us to look at the inequitable structures that cause disparities, such as those uninsured, or those who live in places where the ambulance is not readily available, or live with greater exposure to toxins and air pollutants such that folks are pushed closer to the cliff’s edge.

Pushed to the cliff’s edge It happened to me when I was in Baybay, Leyte – where an ambulance took 45 minutes to reach my condotel, for it had a failed battery.

I could not breathe and my inhalers for asthma from the U.S. did not work. I was exposed to dust, dirt, travel, air pollution, including clean hotels with dead casings of cockroaches, rodent feces on window sills at an Ateneo dorm, termites in a doctor’s room, and tree pollen from lush trees.

Luckily for me, Dr. Elwin Jay Yu, a young doctor from Visayas State University was quite con-

u PAGE A8

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.

ADVERTISING AND ADVERTORIAL POLICIES

Main Office: 1210 S. Brand Boulevard Glendale, CA 91204 Tels: (818) 502-0651 Fax: (818) 502-0858 e-mail: info@asianjournalinc.com http://www.asianjournal.com

Manila Office: 2nd Floor Units D&E, Fort Palm Springs 30th St., Cor 1st Ave, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Tel.: (632) 856-4921 • Fax: (632) 856-1661 New York: 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 Tel.: (212) 655-5426 • Fax (818) 502-0858

Northern California: New Jersey office: 1799 Old Bayshore Hwy, Suite 136 2500 Plaza 5, Harborside Financial Center, Burlingame, CA 94010 Tel.: (650) 689-5160 • Fax: (650) 239-9253 Jersey City, NJ 07311 Tel: (212)655-5426 • Fax: (818)502-0858 Las Vegas Sales Office: 2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Suite 200 Las Vegas, NV 89109 Tel.: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board

CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President

CHRISTINA M. ORIEL Editor-in-Chief

MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor

IVY MANALANG Vice President - Marketing Los Angeles Asian Journal

MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA Senior Vice President Los Angeles Asian Journal

DING CARREON Videographer

ANDY TECSON Photographer

Asian Journal Publications, Inc. (“AJPI”) reserves the right to refuse to publish, in its sole and absolute discretion, any advertising and advertorial material submitted for publication by client. (“Client’s Material”) Submission of an advertisement or advertorial to an AJPI sales representative does not constitute a commitment by AJPI to publish a Client’s Material. AJPI has the option to correctly classify any Client’s Material and to delete objectionable words or phrases.

Client represents and warrants that a Client’s Material does not and will not contain any language or material which is libelous, slanderous or defamatory or invades any rights of privacy or publicity; does not and will not violate or infringe upon, or give rise to any adverse claim with respect to any common law or other right whatsoever (including, without limitation, any copyright, trademark, service mark or contract right) of any person or entity, or violate any other applicable law; and is not the subject of any litigation or claim that might give rise to any litigation.

Publication of a Client’s Material does not constitute an agreement to continue publication.

Client agrees and covenants to indemnify AJPI and its officers against any and all loss, liability, damage, expenses, cost, charges, claims, actions, causes of action, recoveries, judgments, penalties, including outside attorneys’ fees (individually and collectively “Claims”) which AJPI may suffer by reason of (1) Client’s breach of any of the representations, warranties and agreements herein or (2) any Claims by any third party relating in any way to Client’s Material.

AJPI will not be liable for failure to publish any Client’s Material as requested or for more than one incorrect insertion of a Client’s Material. In the event of an error, or omission in printing or publication of a Client’s Material, AJPI shall be limited to an adjustment for the space occupied by the error, with maximum liability being cancellation of the cost of the first incorrect advertisement or republication of the correct advertisement.

Under no circumstances shall Asian Publications, Inc. be liable for consequential damages of any kind.

ASIAN JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS, INC. publishes the Los Angeles Asian Journal, published twice a week; the Orange County and Inland Empire Asian Journal, Northern California Asian Journal, Las Vegas Asian Journal and the New York / New Jersey Asian Journal which are published once a week and distributed to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange Counties, Northern California, Las Vegas and New York and New Jersey respectively.

Articles published in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Letters to the Editor are welcome.

Letters must contain complete name and return address. The materials, however, are subject to editing and revisions.

Contributions and advertising deadlines are every Mondays and Thursdays. For advertising rates and other informations, please call the L.A. office at (213) 250-9797 or send us an email at info@asianjournalinc.com

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Dateline PhiliPPines

FREE HELMETS. Bikers present identification documents to personnel of the Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) during the distribution of free bicycle helmets along Quezon Avenue in front of the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center on Friday, October 2. Under the city ordinance requiring the use of bicycle helmets, violators would be imposed with fines for the first, second, and third offenses, respectively.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Metro Manila mayors eye cancellation of Christmas parties

by Ralph

Edwin VillanuEVa Philstar.com

MANILA — Mayors in the National Capital Region are eyeing to cancel Christmas parties in local government offices for this year as the country and the world continue to fight the coronavirus disease pandemic, the Metro Manila Council (MMC) chairman said.

MMC chairman and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez said over dzMM yesterday that mayors could issue directives against holding Christmas parties this year as these are considered mass gatherings prohibited under any community quarantine status.

“All of us may issue a memorandum telling our departments

to prevent (Christmas parties) because gatherings are not allowed. Under the guidelines of the inter-agency task force, we could not have any gathering…

That is not a priority, because there is still a pandemic,” Olivarez said in Filipino.

Malacañang meanwhile said yesterday that it is not impossible for Metro Manila to shift to the most lenient quarantine status in November citing the downward trend in the number of new daily cases in the capital region.

Businesses have been calling for the easing of quarantine measures in Metro Manila, which has more than 163,000 infections or more than half of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines.

Downgrading Metro Manila

to the most lenient modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) from general community quarantine (GCQ) would allow enterprises to recover their losses and contribute to economic recovery, business groups said.

The government’s pandemic task force, however, decided to keep Metro Manila under GCQ for the entire month of October since the region is still considered a medium risk area.

Under GCQ, most businesses can operate partially but public gatherings remain restricted.

“It (Metro Manila shifting to MGCQ) is not an impossibility because we were able to bring it (number of new cases) down,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said at a press briefing. n

After chaotic first debate, Trump tests...

PAGE A6 t

“sabong” (cockfight), nor a reality show where the guests bicker against each other and wash dirty linens in public so you may be entertained. It is about time we all start acting like responsible citizens and expect true leadership from the president and from those applying for this job.

IF we want a good, just, fair, honest, decent, compassion-

ate, purposeful and productive leader, THEN we need to be good, just, fair, honest, decent, compassionate, purposeful, and productive people.

There are two more presidential debates are set for Oct. 15 and 22. The vice-presidential debate between Vice President Pence and Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) is slated for Oct. 7.

Our choice for president is a

reflection of who we are. We get the government we deserve. * * * 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.

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 3-6, 2020

A

A OctOber 3-6, 2020 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

Are we pushing our families down...

PAGE A6 t scientious, as its president Joe Bacusmo.

Dr. Yu gave me a nebulizing treatment, an IV and connected me to an oxygen tank.

But, when I used the toilet, it also had leaking plumbing. Either I would die from cholera or actual system failure from not breathing.

Dr. Yu moved me, accompanied by my husband, to his quarters, where doctors would sleep through their shifts. During the night, I kept coughing, only to realize, termite droppings were coming from the ceiling.

My husband, Enrique, had to walk a mile to buy my medications from the only pharmacy in Baybay.

It took three days to stabilize me. From the excellent care of Dr. Yu, I obtained the right medication that worked for my asthma.

To this day, 14 years later, the prescription he gave me still works.

But years of juicing vegetables and fruits fortified my immune system, as celery juicing 30 minutes before breakfast. I am now on 402 days.

According to Dr. Mehmet Oz, a cardiac surgeon and a talk show host, health and wellness can be sustained, by controlling inflammation. Even allergies are caused by inflammation, he said.

Asthma is inflammation of the airways.

What are those signs of inflammation that we need to watch out for and perhaps, prevent us from pushing ourselves down the cliff?

When lungs are inflamed – it results in labored breathing – some due to inhaling bad air pollutants, like the wildfire smokes, or in my Baybay experience, from travel pollutants, insect residues, tree pollen and of late, mold in aircon vents that trigger allergic reactions.

The wrong choice of foods can also cause inflammation. Eating fried foods, potato chips, and tortillas on tacos can be sources of stomach inflammation.

Other foods that are widely known to nutritionists to cause inflammation are: soy sauce, corn, rice, bagels, eggplant, tofu, tomatoes, peppers, store-bought white bread due to chemical additives, sugary drinks, processed meats like bacon, sausage, grain-fed beef, seed oils, pasta, refined flour, additives, artificial sweeteners,

canola oil, salt, alcohol, and whole-fat dairy products.

Soft drinks that cause stomach inflammation are also packaged in plastic and the world’s worst plastic pollutants come from the soft drinks manufacturers, as bottled water too.

Some of these foods are consumed by bodybuilders and those losing weight opting paleo and keto methods: grain-fed beef, bacon, sausage, cheese.

For those watching their sugar intake, like diabetics, opting for artificial sweeteners to bring down one’s sugar level may end up increasing one’s inflammation levels.

I was drinking coffee one day and decided to put stevia in it.

After it, my chest felt like shutting down. I realized after that the sugar substitute had caused internal inflammation in my body.

I now drink coffee, black, and only once a day. On days with a high pollution index, I drink green tea and lots of water with cut-up lemon or cucumber.

Inflammation also occurs in young children, fed with pasta and cheese, as well as grilled cheese and ham sandwiches, which are easy to prepare and perceived to have these food groups of dairy, protein, and carbohydrates.

But, the refined flour used in the pasta, as well as the processed ham with nitrates, cause inflammatory reactions in these young bodies.

I heard from a friend that her young boy has eczema and constipation because he eats meats with no vegetables and fruits.

Add to that indoor flowers and plants. When our eyes are burning up, feeling itchy – that is the first signal that our bodies are affected by something allergenic.

For me, that was a beautiful arrangement of flowers, which caused a runny nose and dry itchy eyes. I moved the vase where I did not have to inhale what was causing my reactions.

Ramen, which is highly processed, can be cooked in less than two minutes. Pouring only hot water, it is a convenient hot lunch for many families. But after eating, ramen causes bloating and stomach inflammation.

It is why you notice Koreans eat ramen with kimchi, fermented pickled cabbage, a source of probiotics, or precursor microorganisms like eating yogurt,

Dateline PhiliPPines

with “good bacteria,” e.g. lactobacilli that aids digestion.

So where are our families in this inflammatory index of eating? Have we considered why our young school children have allergies, constipation, and eczema?

Do we feed them nutritious fruits and vegetables, in addition to meats?

Or do we opt for fried chicken, spaghetti with hotdogs - high in salt, sugar, and fat if from a popular fast food place, cheeseburgers and chicken nuggets?

Or perhaps tacos in the truck?

Or do we make an effort to cook nilaga, tinola, sinigang, mechado, bittermelon with eggs, drunken mussels cooked in garlic and wine with salad for our families?

Are we pushing our families off the cliffs or are we keeping them miles away from falling down the cliffs by our conscious lifestyle choices of eating nutritious meals, summiting mountains, walking the trails, gardening outdoors, or playing sports outdoors and even dance and music?

Until there is a coronavirus vaccine, let’s fortify our immune systems by choosing cleaner indoor air, outdoor activities when the air is not polluted and below the federal health standard of 35 micrograms per cubic meter, choosing nutrition over convenient fast foods and of course, sleep and daily prayers that we all survive 2020 from coronavirus and wildfire smokes.

In addition to prayers, we need California Governor Gavin Newsom to enact green policies, with the legislature and give us a leg up and secure for us miles away from the cliff by reducing carbon emissions and lessen global warming.

*** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for AJ Press for 10 years. She also contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof.

Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Costa Rica, Mexico and over 22 national parks in the US, in her pursuit of love for nature and the arts.

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) workers remove tons of dried water lilies floating along the shorelines of the Manila Bay on Thursday, October 1. The cleanup is part of the Manila Bay rehabilitation program of the national government. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Palace: Manila Bay rehab funds can’t be realigned MAlACAñANG maintained that the budget set for the Manila Bay’s rehabilitation program could no longer be realigned to the government’s COVID-19 response.

“Nasimulan na po iyan eh, so kinakailangan tapusin na po iyan.

(It has already begun so it has to be completed),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Thursday, October 1.

“And as I said, itong project na ito (this project) was proposed two years ago, included in last year’s budget, and only being implemented,” he added.

According to Roque, the realignment of funds only applies to projects that are yet to start.

“The realignment of funds applies to projects that have not started,” he said.

His statement came after the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute pointed out that the P389-million project was “costly” and “temporary.”

The institute also said that pouring crushed dolomite along the shore of Manila Bay would not help improve the water quality in the bay.

Roque, in response, came into the defense of the project.

“Iyong budget po kasi diyan, hindi lang siya (The budget appropriated for the project, it’s not just) budget actually for the beach nourishment. It’s actually for the entire program of (the) government in rehabilitating Manila Bay,” Roque stressed.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on September 3 confirmed that piles of crushed dolomite were being poured on the stretch of Manila Bay’s shore to

PAGE A5 t (Our problem is that most of those being deployed and hired by receiving countries are skilled and experienced nurses. If you don’t have a two-year experience, you will not be hired.)

He said the government is worried that nurses with less experience would be left to tend to Filipino patients.

“We have to resort to this temporary suspension para matiyak natin na kapag, halimbawa, sumama itong pandemic na meron tayong mga nurses, doc-

tors and pharmacists who will attend to their medical needs,” Bello said.

(We have to resort to this temporary suspension to ensure that if this pandemic gets worse, we have nurses, doctors, pharmacists who will attend to their medical needs.)

“Mahirap naman yun baka bandang huli, pinalayas natin sila lahat at nagkaron ng problema tayo, baka ako ang kakatayin ng mga tao,” he added.

(It would be hard that in the end, we would allow them to

By Ritchel

Mendiola

AJPress

act as white sand and beautify the area.

The makeover project, which will fill 500 meters of the baywalk with white sand, is covered under the P389-million Manila Bay rehabilitation program launched by Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu in January last year.

Roque earlier said that the white sand project will prevent soil erosion and flooding.

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

There is ‘strong clamor’ for Filipino nurses... leave and then we would have a problem, the public will go after me.)

Still, Villanueva maintained the need to allow Filipino nurses to leave for higher-paying jobs abroad.

“We understand your position, Secretary. Ang mahirap lang po kasi talaga yung mga nurses natin na, sinasabi na nila prisoners na sila,” the senator said.

(We understand your position, Secretary. But it’s really hard for our nurses, they are saying that they are becoming prisoners.) n

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 3-6, 2020

A

A10 OctOber 3-6, 2020 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

B Saturday, OCTOBER 3, 2020

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 3-6, 2020

The Asian Journal

WKND

DHS proposes tougher rules for sponsors Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ ON October 1, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it will propose new rules making “it easier to hold immigrant sponsors accountable for failing to meet the obligations of contracts they sign with the federal government.” In other words, if a person signs an affidavit of support (Form I-864), DHS wants to make sure the sponsor can and will ensure that the alien does not receive or rely on public assistance. If they do, DHS wants the sponsor to reimburse the federal government.

By law, petitioners of family petitions (and employment-based petitions where the employer is related to the alien) must submit an affidavit of support, which is basically a contract between the petitioner and U.S. government that the petitioner will ensure the sponsored alien will not receive certain public benefits. DHS does not want a situation where, as soon as a person gets a green card, they immediately apply for welfare, food stamps, and every other possible “free” benefit avail-

able. Although there are already rules and regulations in place, DHS is proposing the following: • Sponsors on affidavits of support must provide credit reports, credit scores, certified copies of income tax returns for the past 3 years, and bank account information, to demonstrate they can maintain the required income for an affidavit of support.

• If a sponsor has received any means-tested public benefits within the last 36 months of submitting an affidavit of support, or defaulted on previous obligations to support another immigrant, they must have a joint sponsor who received no such public benefits during that time. In other words, if an elderly petitioner received certain public benefits within the past 3 years, they would need a co-sponsor/joint sponsor for the affidavit of support.

• USCIS could now provide a copy of the affidavit of support to other benefit-granting governmental agencies without being served with a subpoena, so that the agency may commence collection efforts against the sponsor.

There are other proposed changes in evaluating the sponsor, along with new public charge rules evaluating the alien, and whether it is likely the alien will ever depend on certain public benefits, even if there is a sufficient affidavit of support.

With these ever-changing

rules, which are getting tougher and tougher, people should seek the advice and assistance of an attorney to fully evaluate their case, determine eligibility, and help properly complete the forms.

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

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

Skin Bureau Essentials. “We explained to our kids why we Philstar.com have to stay home to stay safe.

SEVEN months into lockdown But I am happy that we became and Gladys Reyes said that the closer as a family.” situation has a positive effect on “We” refers to her and husher family. band Christopher Roxas (real “I guess we are slowly adapt- surname: Sommereux) and their ing to the new normal,” revealed children Gian Christophe, GiGladys during a recent Zoom anna Aquisha, Grant Carlin and interview as the first endorser Gavin Cape. for a line of beauty products by The family follows this daily

Love life inching its way up Alden’s top priorities

By AllAn

PolicArPio Inquirer.net

THERE’S no denying, Alden Richards said, that having a love life would have made toughing out the quarantine a lot better.

“Syempre, mas masarap pa rin when there’s someone checking up on you and taking care of you,” the GMA 7 star said at a recent video conference for “Love on the Balcony,” the maiden episode of the new weekly drama anthology “I Can See You.” Alden sees himself prioritizing that fact of his life once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.

But he’s taking it easy for now.

Besides, there’s only so much one can do, given the current situation.

“Contact with other people is limited. And you can’t risk it just because you want to have that (romance) at this moment. But I’m enjoying myself so far. Eventually, when things go back to normal, we will have to prioritize that. I’m not getting any younger. I’m 28, turning 29 in January,” he said.

“That’s in my top priorities. But for now, chill muna because the pandemic is such a big hindrance to all our plans. We can’t move freely. We just have to seize and make do with the opportunities (Advertising Supplement) we have. And of course, you can’t let yourself get infected by the virus,” he added.

Despite the pandemic, Alden seems to be looking better than ever—something the members of routine: kids are now starting the press couldn’t help but point their online class, Chris and Glaout during the virtual chat. That’s dys work from home and spare what having sufficient rest does to time is devoted to playtime. you, he surmised.

“We are teaching the smaller “Since I’m not doing a soap kids games that my siblings opera, I have more time now. Tapand I have grown up with such ing is typically three times a week, as hide-and-seek, patintero and and that’s what really robs you of others na hindi na uso sa mga sleep. You start on Monday and kids today kasi focused na sila continue until Tuesday dawn. You sa video games,” explained Glasleep a little bit, do your other enPAGE B2

Gladys: Staying home to stay safe By ricky lo

LifestyLe Consumer Guide Community marketpLaCe

Alden Richards

gagements, and then it’s an early call time again on Wednesday… and so on,” he related.

The good thing about being at home, health-wise, is that he gets to watch what he eats. “Being on the set is what’s hard because of all the food being served. There’s always someone bringing food, so you go try them all. So I end up gaining weight,” he said. “You also have more time for exercise at home.”

Meanwhile, Alden has nothing but good words for his “Love on the Balcony” screen partner, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, whom he has always seen as a “great actress.”

“That’s why I really wanted to work with her,” he said of Jasmine, who was part of the supporting cast of his 2016 film “Imagine You and Me.” “She continues to get better with her craft.

And that’s a great thing to see in a partner. She’s really passionate about what she does. And that brings out the best in me.”

Alden spent the first three

Photo from Instagram/@aldenrichards02

months of the lockdown at his family home in Laguna. And he made the most out of the long break by spending quality time with his loved ones, doing chores and serving as the household runner.

“I haven’t had a break this long since I started working in show biz. The longest I have been on break I get is Dec. 18 to Dec. 28 during the Christmas season.

That’s what I get every year because I’m working constantly, doing shoots, taping and hosting ‘Eat Bulaga,’” he said.

But before long, the novelty wore off. No work, no income.

The responsibilities of owning businesses eventually came knocking. “It’s tough. Things are OK in the beginning. But the longer this pandemic lasts, the more you start feeling the effects—especially on the business side of things. The restaurants aren’t performing well, so you just hope you can cover the exPAGE B2

B OCTOBER 3-6, 2020 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

EntErtainmEnt

How Alex is ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’

By CHristina

alpad ManilaTimes.net

ACTRESS, host and comedienne Alex Gonzaga is all over media with her many projects on the small and big screens. It seems, however, that fans still can’t get enough of this sweet, bubbly and energetic personality explaining her huge following on her eponymous YouTube channel.

Unscripted and unfiltered, it is on digital where Gonzaga shares her life behind the camera, which for many, comes as the closest thing they can get to the popular celebrity. While never too shocking nor too controversial, her vlog may also be compared to some degree with the reality show genre’s most popular forerunner, “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” (KUWTK).

Noted to be the longest running reality show around the world, it turns out — surprise surprise — that Gonzaga is a big fan of the famous and infamous Kardashians.

“I have been following the show for years now and during this quarantine, I’ve gone back to past seasons while waiting for the latest season. Sila yung katuwang ko while staying home,” the social media star revealed at streaming platform Hayu’s virtual hangout session.

Gonzaga, besides growing

Alex Gonzaga Photo from Instagram/@cathygonzaga

fond of the Kardashian-Jenner family — comprised of Kim, Khloe, Kourtney, Kylie, Kendall and their matriarch Kris — said she could somehow relate to the family’s relationship.

“Like Kris Jenner is to them, we also have our mommy Pinty as our ‘momager’ so medyo relate ako,” she chuckled.

As such, when Hayu announced they would stream

KUWTK’s latest season — their 19th — every Friday, same time as its US airing, the big Kardashian fan could not be any happier.

Gonzaga, along with KUWTK fans in the Philippines, are definitely hooked to the all-new episodes following the Kardashian-Jenners as they cope with the global Coronavirus pandemic, with someone in the family actually getting a virus scare.

Adding to the tension, Kim and Kourtney learn that Paris is on the verge of a lockdown ahead of Kim’s husband Kanye West’s fashion show.

To top it all off, Scott, who shares three kids with ex Kourtney, is reeling after the news leak that he was in rehab. He is convinced someone betrayed him when he saw his photo in treatment shared with the press, forcing him to leave the facility.

Against this backdrop, Khloe and Tristan discuss their past relationship, creating all sorts of possibilities and adding to their never-ending escapades.

If this current turn of events is overwhelming and fans want to have a bit of backtrack, Gonzaga assures them they can do so on hayu, which is the only available platform with the complete line-up of KUWTK’s seasons.

“Hayu, Kardashians!” Gonzaga chimed.

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

Answers to immigration questions regarding family-based petitions take the spotlight on ‘Citizen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My Sagot’ on Oct. 4 THIS Sunday, October 4 leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel continues to answer questions pertaining to the most important and basic unit of society – the family.

Erick of Union City, California would like to know if he can petition his children even if he is only a green card holder and he did not declare them when he arrived in the U.S. Connie of Rahway, New Jersey asks about her sister’s situation. Their passports and medical records were taken at the embassy during their interview in February this year and have not been returned since. It has been challeng-

ing to follow up due to the COVID-19 lockdown. When her sister checked online, their status read: “refused.” What does that mean for her sister and family? Will they still be able to get their passports and documents? Will they get their visas?

Jet of Angeles City, Pampanga in the Philippines would like to know if she can acquire U.S. citizenship through her U.S. citizen father even if his name was not on her birth certificate (her father was recalled to the U.S. before Jet was born) and she carries her mother’s name. Is DNA testing required and will that be enough?

Other questions include:

a boyfriend who proposed to his tourist girlfriend while she was visiting him. Can they get married in the U.S. even if she has a tourist visa? Can a mother petition her 49-yearold widower son as unmarried? I petitioned my brother and his priority date became current. Unfortunately, he died. Can his widow take over the petition?

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

(Advertising Supplement)

Miss Earth 2017 Karen Ibasco beats COVID-19

In her post, she also shared contact details of hospitals that Inquirer.net offer swab testing.

“I had been quiet on social M I S S E a r t h 2 0 17 K a r en Ibasco has bared that she is media but I k now I have to a coronav i r us disease 2019 share my jour ney so ot hers will be informed with what to (COVID-19) survivor.

I n a n I n st ag r a m post on do if ever they get infected,” Wednesday, the beauty queen Ibasco said.

“We (my whole family) did revealed that she and her family tested positive for COVID- a l l t he precaut ions but sad to say we st i l l had it ,” she 19. added.

Ibasco said t hat her family may have contracted t he disease from items delivered to them.

And after three weeks since being infected, Ibasco said that while her body is still recovering, she is slowly getting her Karen Ibasco Photo from Instagram/@karenibasco strength back. by

Katrina Hallare

Gladys: Staying home...

PAGE B1 dys. “Back to basics kumbaga, revisiting the past. Chris works out with Christophe.”

What also keeps Gladys busy is her long-running Net25 show Moments (shot virtually), her Moment Ko ‘To Online Acting Class (now on fourth batch of participants) and her online show Peliwentuhan.

“Si Chris naman is in charge of the production of our new meat business named That’s EntertainMeat with a tagline ‘Malasa, Malinis, ang Karneng Walang Germs’. It was my sister Janice who thought of it. It is also open for resellership and distributorship to help those who would like to earn extra income at this time.

Chris also manages Anteros by Estela, our food business in Laguna and Sommereux(So-MeRu) catering. Our Estela resto is temporarily not accepting dinein customers until the situation becomes stable.”

They are members of Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) and they have a daily prayer every 11 a.m. which they call panata.

“We are praying for good health, praying not just for our family and loved ones but also friends, that we’ll be able to overcome this pandemic. Since the pandemic, we have been attending the service at home lang.”

Gladys admitted that it was hard at first dealing with the

Gladys Reyes

online classes of the kids.

“I was the one assisting Grant, no problem for Christophe and Aquisha because they can manage already. But eventually, Grant learned so fast that he can now do it alone without my assistance. I think this system of learning is difficult for small children since they have a short attention span and they can easily get bored. For now, we have no choice because this is for the children’s safety.”

What Gladys misses most is going to tapings, bonding with co-actors, and acting and portraying a role, in general.

The couple continues to invest in more businesses and in real estate.

Shared Gladys, “Chris and my sister-in-law Claire have just bought a lot in Anilao, Batangas, overlooking the beach and with a mountain view. When times are safer, we will bring our kids there. Also, once it is safe to travel, hopefully we can already fly out of the country for a vacation.”

She added, “God is indeed good because in this time of pandemic, He showed us opportunities to inspire others. I’m grateful to The Skin Bureau family for welcoming me with open arms.

Even before, I have already been using their products. Now, I am happy that I get to endorse The Skin Bureau Essentials fit for the whole family.”

Photo from Instagram/@iamgladysreyes

Love life inching...

PAGE B1 penses,” he said.

Since show biz work is still very much limited to hosting, or oneoff acting projects, even Alden has to explore other sources of income. “You start thinking how you can compensate for the loss…

How else can I earn and stay safe at the same time?” related the actor, who also busies himself with video gaming and streaming.

Still, he remains thankful because he’s not totally without work. He has “Bulaga” and “I

Can See You.” He also continues to score endorsements. But not everyone is as fortunate so he makes sure to pay it forward.

“I feel for all my celebrity friends who have lost work … I try to help others as much as I can.

I use a chunk of what I earn to help. When much is given, much is expected,” he said. “My mantra in life is that the more blessings you get, the more blessings you give out. God is just using you as a channel to share your blessings with others.”

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

MORE ANSWERS TO YOUR IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS WHEN LEADING U.S. IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL (LEFT) CONTINUES TO PROVIDE RELEVANT IMMIGRATION INFORMATION TO KAPAMILYA, VIA ZOOM, THIS SUNDAY, ON CITIZEN PINOY. Connie of Rahway, NJ (top right) would like to know what “Refused” means on the Embassy website. The Consul kept her sister’s family’s passports during their interview before the Covid lock down. When her sister checked online, she saw their petition was “Refused.” What does that mean?

From Angeles, Pampanga in the Philippines, Jet (bottom right) wants to know if she can become a U.S. citizen through her U.S. citizen father, even if his name was not on her birth certificate, but he acknowledged her recently when Jet found him on Facebook last year.

Erick of Union City, CA (not in photo) would like to know if he can petition his children even if he did not declare them when he entered the U.S. Many other questions regarding family petitions will be discussed and answered by Atty. Gurfinkel. Be sure to watch a brand-new episode of “CITIZEN PINOY: Your Tanong, My Sagot” this Sunday, October 4 at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

Jodi, Raymart officially dating

By Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

KAPAMILYA stars Jodi Sta. Maria and Raymart Santiago are officially dating.

In a report by talent manager and PEP columnist Noel Ferrer, Raymart admitted to his close friends that he and Jodi are playing sweet music together.

The veteran entertainment columnist posted a photo of Jodi and Raymart in a private place in Alabang hugging each other.

“WE ARE HAPPY THAT YOU ARE HAPPY!!!” Noel wrote, tagging both celebrities.

“GOD BLESS YOU BOTH!!!” he added.

Jodi’s last boyfriend was Jolo Revilla, whom she broke up with in 2018. She was married to Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s

Jodi Sta. Maria and Raymart Santiago are thought to be “happy” in a relationship, a report said.

Photos from Instgram/@jodistamaria, @raymartsantiago

son, Pampi, but they split in 2011 after five years of being together. They have a son named Thirdy.

Meanwhile, Raymart’s last

relationship was with a nonshowbiz girl. He also had a failed marriage with Claudine Ba r re t to a nd ha s t w o k id s named Sabina and Santino.

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 3-6, 2020

B

B OCTOBER 3-6, 2020 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

How not to behave during an IRS audit Tax Tips Victor sy, cPA, MBA & roger L. orieL 1. DON’T go to your appointment unprepared.

2. Don’t be late for the appointment.

3. Don’t volunteer information.

4. Don’t bully IRS personnel.

And if they bully you back?

5. Don’t fight the auditor.

This is the agent’s business assignment, not a personal attack against you.

6. Don’t insist on indefensible positions. You’ll lose it anyway.

7. Don’t argue for the sake of arguing. You know who’s going to lose.

8. Don’t expect to win on all issues. Settle.

9. Don’t complain about bureaucracy; instead, use it to your advantage.

And if you don’t behave, don’t forget to plead the fifth.

*** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com.

Is client liable personally for company lease of warehouse?

Company opts for Chapter 7 Debt Relief

Atty. LAwrence yAng THE landlord of the warehouse leased by the client’s company has filed a lawsuit to collect $300,000 of unpaid rent from the company.

The question that immediately comes to mind is whether or not the client, as in an individual person, is liable also for the unpaid $300,000 lease of the company.

It looks like the landlord has sued both the client as an individual person, and the client’s company, which operated the warehouse, although I have not actually seen the lawsuit.

Therefore, the first matter to dissect is who is actually legally liable on the unpaid lease, is it the individual owner of the company that operated the warehouse, the company that operated the warehouse, or both of them.

This is a simple enough analysis. Look at the commercial lease contract itself. Who is shown as the lessee or renter of the warehouse? And who signed as lessee or renter of the warehouse? And is there a personal guarantee anywhere in the contract that binds the individual owner of the company to pay for the lease?

If the contract states in the beginning clause that the renter or lessee is just the company and nobody else, then it looks like only the company itself is liable on the lease. But look further down to the last page. On the signature page at the bottom of the contract, does the signature portion look like this: name of company, by: Mr. X, president or CEO, and nothing else appears after, then it’s quite sure that only the company itself is legally liable on the lease.

However, it there something else below, let’s say Mr. CEO signed twice, once as CEO of

the company renter, and second as an individual in his personal capacity, then both the company and the CEO as an individual person are on the hook. Here, the CEO first signed to bind the company on the lease, and signed a second time, to bind himself as an individual in his personal capacity. That’s quite brave but a really dumb and stupid move on his part.

The third scenario is where the company itself is already bound on the lease, but there is a separate clause that the individual executes a personal guarantee that states he guarantees the payment of the lease, if the company does not pay the lease. This is equally brave but a really dumb and stupid move on his part as well. If this is the case, the landlord will sue the company first to collect the unpaid lease. After the landlord wins the judgment against the company, the landlord will then file another lawsuit to sue the guarantor to enforce the personal guaranty. The second lawsuit will tell the court that the company has not paid the lease, so the landlord is now suing to collect on the personal guaranty to collect the unpaid lease.

In this client’s case, he has explained to me that he has not guaranteed the lease as an individual, and he has not signed the lease contract to personally bind himself as the renter.

So all is well and good then, it looks like only the company is liable on the unpaid $300,000 rent of the warehouse. However, I still have to make sure that this is the correct conclusion by examining the actual lease contract as signed.

Aside from the $300,000 lease, the company owes credit lines and suppliers totaling another $400K. Thus, the total owed is $700K. The company still has some inventory and receivables. The question is can the company pay expenses while the Chapter 7 has not yet been filed? Yes, of course, for certain kinds of expenses. For instance, it can continue to pay

payroll, even salaries owed to management, including the CEO. Let’s say the CEO is owed $10,000 for unpaid back salaries. That can be paid.

However, money lent to the company by insiders cannot be repaid at this time. For example, CEO lent the company $100,000 in loans from his own pocket by refinancing his house, the company cannot at this time repay that $100,000 or even part of that back to the CEO. If this repayment is done, the Chapter 7 trustee will file an adversary case to recover the payment under his avoiding powers. The money will be recovered and that will be part of the assets of the bankruptcy estate of the debtor company.

What about the inventory?

That belongs to the bankruptcy estate and the trustee will attempt to auction off the inventory for cash. The matter of inventory is a sensitive one of course. The current state of the inventory must make accounting sense.

What do I mean by this? If the inventory value based on the 2019 tax returns was $1 million as of December 31, 2019, and only $40,000 is left right now, then the trustee will ask for an explanation and breakdown of what happened to the $1 million that is shown in the 2019 tax returns. In other words, what happened to the $960,000 of inventory? Well of course so much got sold and the sale proceeds were used to pay expenses etc. etc. Whatever the explanation is, it has to be true and correct. You don’t want a situation where there’s a smaller warehouse where $960,000 of inventory is still being stored.

That would be lying through your teeth making you subject to perjury and nobody wants that to happen.

It is more than advisable to keep accurate documentary records that clearly explain how the inventory was used up. This brings to mind a former client who borrowed $30 million from the banks using his phantom PAGE B6

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

Will I have to pay spousal support if I file for divorce?

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes THE purpose of spousal support is not defined by the legislature in that its purpose varies according to the facts and circumstances of each case.

The facts and circumstances of a particular case may be such which call for no spousal support, or for support for a very limited period of time, with the purpose to assist the supported spouse to “get back on his or her feet” as a single person, or until community property is distributed. On the other hand, the facts and circumstances of another case may call for support for an extended period of time, perhaps until death of the supported spouse, the purpose for which to provide assistance to one who cannot support himself.

The two situations mentioned hereinabove are extreme cases, on opposite ends of the spectrum. Quite obviously, the facts and circumstances in a particular case may be such which call for some amount of support for some period of time, though not until death of the supported spouse. For example, the court may order support for that period of time required for the supported spouse to obtain or complete an education, to allow the supported spouse to take care of the children until they

reach an age where a return to employment would be more feasible, or to become self-supporting within a reasonable time.

Although the use of standard guidelines based on income is encouraged in the award of temporary support, such guidelines cannot be used in awarding permanent spousal support.

As indicated hereinabove, the award of support is in large part based on the facts and circumstances of the particular case.

In determining spousal support, the court considers numerous factors, set forth in Family Code Sec. 4320. They include: 1) The extent to which the earning capacity of each party is sufficient to maintain the standard of living established during the marriage, 2) The extent to which the supported party contributed to the attainment of an education, training, a career position, or a license by the supporting party, 3) The ability of the supporting party to pay spousal support, taking into account the supporting party’s earning capacity, earned and unearned income, assets, and standard of living, 4) The needs of each party based on the standard of living established during the marriage, 5)The obligations and assets, including the separate property, of each party, 6) The duration of the marriage, 7) The ability of the supported party to engage in gainful employment without unduly interfering with the interests of dependent children in the custody of the party, and 8) The age and health of the parties.

The factors set forth herein-

above are only several of the many factors the court will consider in deciding the issue of spousal support. In that the amount and duration of an award is largely based on the facts and circumstances of the case, it is advised that one who is requesting support, or is opposing a request for support, obtain experienced counsel, who will be able to present the facts and circumstances in the best light possible. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com Visit our website at kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement)

Humanitarian reinstatement of I-130 petition Tapat Sa Batas Atty. rheA sAMson K APAG ang petitioner ng approved I-130 Petition ay namatay bago makuha ng principal beneficiary ang kanyang immigrant visa o green card, ang I-130 Petition ay automatically revoked. May mga sitwasyon na maaaring humingi ang principal beneficiary ng humanitarian reinstatement sa USCIS. Ang humanitarian reinstatement relief ay hindi maibibigay kung ang petitioner ay namatay bago maaprubahan ang I-130 Petition. Kailangang aprubado na ang I-130 Petition para sa humanitarian reinstatement request. Discretionary sa USCIS kung ang hiling

ng principal beneficiary ay aaprubahan. Walang USCIS form o filing fee para sa humanitarian reinstatement request. Kailangang ipakita ng principal beneficiary na ang mga positibong kadahilanan para sa kanya ay mas mabigat sa mga negatibong kadahilanan upang ang kanyang humanitarian reinstatement request ay maaprubahan.

Kailangang isama sa humanitarian reinstatement request ang kopya ng I-130 Approval Notice, Death Certificate ng petitioner, at Affidavit of Support ng substitute sponsor. Ang substitute sponsor ay kailangang: (1) US citizen (USC) o lawful permanent resident (LPR); (2) may 18 taon gulang; at (3) siya ay asawa, magulang, biyenan, kapatid, anak, manugang, hipag, bayaw, lolo, lola, apo, o legal guardian ng principal beneficiary. Ang substitute sponsor ay kailangang may sapat na kita at pag-aaari para suportahan ang principal beneficiary at ang kanyang mga kasama sa bahay.

Kailangang ipakita na hindi magiging public charge ang principal beneficiary.

Dahil isa sa mga adhikain ng mga US Immigration Law ay pagsama-sama ng pamilya, ang mga sumusunod ay maaaring ipakita para sa humanitarian reinstatement request: (1) hardship o paghihirap sa pamilyang USC at LPR na nakatira sa US; (2) matandang edad at mga alalahanin sa kalusugan ng principal beneficiary; (3) ang matagal na pagtirang legal ng principal beneficiary sa US; (4) ang kawalan o kakulangan ng family ties ng principal beneficiary sa kanyang lupang sinilangan; (5) katagalan at kabagalan ng pagproseso ng petition; at (6) iba pang positibong mga kadahilanan para suportahan ang humanitarian reinstatement request. Mainam rin na nagbigay ng mga supporting documentation para sa humanitarian reinstatement request dahil walang appeal sa denial nito. *** When the petitioner of an approved I-130 Petition dies before the principal beneficiary obtains an immigrant visa or gets his green card, the I-130 Petition is automatically revoked. In some cases, humanitarian reinstatement to the USCIS may be requested by the principal beneficiary of an approved I-130 Petition.

Humanitarian reinstatement may be requested only if the I-130 Petition has been approved prior to the death of the petitioner. Humanitarian reinstatement cannot be granted if the petitioner died while the I-130 Petition was pending. A written request has to be filed with the US-

CIS, which has discretion to determine whether to reinstate the approval of the I-130 Petition for humanitarian reasons. There is no form or fee for filing the humanitarian reinstatement request. When the positive factors outweigh the negative factors, the request may be approved by the USCIS. A request for humanitarian reinstatement must include a copy of the Approval Notice of the revoked I-130 Petition, the Death Certificate of the Petitioner, and an Affidavit of Support by a substitute sponsor. The substitute sponsor must be: (1) a US citizen (USC) or lawful permanent resident (LPR); (2) at least 18 years old; and (3) is the spouse, parent, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sibling, child, son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, or legal guardian of the principal beneficiary. The substitute sponsor must have sufficient income and assets to support the principal beneficiary and his own household, in order to show that the principal beneficiary will not become a public charge.

Since one of the goals of US Immigration Laws is family unification, the following factors may be considered to show that a favorable exercise of discretion is warranted: (1) hardships to family members who are US citizens and permanent residents living in the US; (2) advanced age or health concerns of the principal beneficiary; (3) lawful residence of the principal beneficiary in the US for a lengthy period; (4) lack of ties of the principal beneficiary to his home country; (5) undue delays in processing the petition; and (6) other positive factors that support a reinstatement of the petition.

Supporting documentation has to be submitted with the humanitarian reinstatement request as a denial of a humanitarian reinstatement request cannot be appealed. *** ATTY. RHEA SAMSON is the principal of SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C. She has been a member of the State Bar of California for over 15 years and the Integrated B a r o f th e P h i l i p p i n e s f o r ove r 20 years. Atty. Samson received her Legal Management degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and her Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo Law School.

She was a Professor for over 10 years, teaching Obligations and Contracts, Labor Laws and Social Legislation and Taxation Law. Atty Samson is the author of The Law on Obligations and Contracts (2016), Working with Labor Laws-Revised Edition (2014) and Working with Labor Laws (2005).

SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C., 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1710, Los Angeles, CA 90010; Phone: (213) 274-4561; Email: info@samsonlawfirmpc.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Real Estate Knowledge Martin Santiago, Broker-aSSociate THIS is the last quarter of 2020.

Despite some challenges, the real estate market has boomed nationwide during the pandemic as people have found themselves spending more time at home and reevaluating their living spaces.

Record-low mortgage rates and shortage of inventory has kept the housing market strong with respect to buyer demand. With unusually high buyer interest this late in the homebuying season, buyers are moving much faster than this time last year to beat out competition and lock in low mortgage rates.

Demand will remain strong.

When California started shutting down in March, home sales nearly screeched to a halt. But that was a temporary reaction as buyers and sellers got their houses in order for the new normal.

Over the summer, the floodgates opened on that pent-up demand and June, July and August saw

Q4 & beyond record-breaking home sales when compared to last year. We are witnessing a true V-shaped sales recovery as homebuyers continue their strong return to the housing market.

Expensive cities will likely keep losing ground. With more and more people working remotely, many buyers have newfound flexibility in where they can live. That means some of the most expensive locales in the country, like New York and San Francisco, are seeing relatively fewer sales and softening prices than their suburbs and other markets.

The effect of the environment.

Some areas currently have a different kind of real estate microclimate, as if the pandemic weren’t enough to shake things up. On the West Coast, where wildfires have further upended lives, the housing market is essentially shut down in some locations.

Prices stay high. Despite a generally bleak national economic picture, the real estate market has remained a relative bright spot during the pandemic.

When it comes to purchasing, the strong real estate sector fa-

ANNOUNCEMENT

vors sellers. With fewer homes on the market than usual, there’s more competition over each listing, and that’s driving prices up.

It’s important to stick to your budget, but buyers may be able to pay more for a home than they would have a few years ago.

Home prices are already at an all-time high, but their monthly mortgage payments are lower because of the low mortgage rates.

With many sellers remaining on the sideline and a decline in housing starts, inventory will remain constricted. Under normal market conditions, prices would be expected to skyrocket as inventory evaporates, but buyer demand is expected to see-saw throughout the year as secondary waves of coronavirus infections pop up throughout the U.S. During these periods, sales are forecast to take a hit as sellers delist properties and buyer demand abates.

Looking forward even more.

One huge unknown beyond the fall is how the pending end of COVID-related mortgage forbearPAGE B6

EMPLOYMENT

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 3-6, 2020

B

Can bankruptcy help you survive the COVID-19 recession?

THERE have been increasing talks recently about making needed changes under the Bankruptcy Code to protect families and business owners who are suffering during this pandemic. While the government has made limited efforts to alleviate the hardship experienced by millions of people with the recent stimulus payments, loan forbearances, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and other relief measures, they are still insufficient to help families and business affected by the virus to attain meaningful financial recovery.

Thanks to our California legislators. Last week, Governor Newsom signed AB-1885 into law which significantly increased the homestead exemption amounts which had been outdated for quite some time. The homestead exemption laws allow you to protect equity in your primary residence from creditors. Before the law

Minding Your Finances atty. rayMond Bulaon passed, the lowest amount was $75,000 for a single person and the highest amount was only $175,000 for homeowners aged 65 and older or disabled. Under the new law which goes into effect January 1, 2021, it will be anywhere from $300,000 - $600,000. What this means for you is that if you have been previously precluded from filing bankruptcy for fear of losing your home by having too much equity in your home, the higher homestead exemption amounts may now allow you to be able to file bankruptcy without worrying about losing what could be your most valuable asset.

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

PSYCHIC

Without being able to obtain debt relief through bankruptcy, many who have lost their jobs, or their businesses, can forever be buried in debt that they cannot repay. In the end, America loses out because people who are insolvent will not be returning soon to earning, spending, and investing- which is what our country needs to recover. So, without the remedies allowed by our bankruptcy laws, the whole country suffers eventually. Tens of millions of people have lost their jobs while companies, big and small, have closed their doors. This cannot continue if we want our economy to start moving again.

I get calls from people asking me whether they should cash out their retirement plans, 401K’s and IRA’s, to pay their debts while “waiting to see what happens” in the next few months.

While in some cases there are valid reasons to wait before filPAGE B6

B OCTOBER 3-6, 2020 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Employee’s right to privacy during accommodation of illness or disability Lauren Scricca worked as a Clinical nurse for the university of California Irvine Medical Center (uCI) and was assigned to the acute rehab unit. Throughout the 10 years she worked for uCI, she was commended for her performance and had several promotions. She was fired in 2018. The Daily Journal reports the following: Lauren has a hearing disability. When she started work for uCI, she said that her employer initially accommodated her in her assigned department. However, for most of her tenure, the employer took no steps to accommodate her in other departments. This prevented her from “floating” to other units when scheduled to do so. about a year before she was fired, uCI instituted cost cutting measures that reduced the number of shifts available to nurses. all nurses were then required to either float or be “called out.” Lauren wanted to float but could not because there were no accommodations in other units.

Instead of accommodating her, her manager exempted Lauren from either floating or being called out. This resulted in Lauren being given full shifts at the expense of the other nurses.

Lauren told her manager she did not want this special treatment.

However, the manager ignored her and then went on to inform the other nurses that Lauren would be treated differently.

The other nurses, thus, resented Lauren. Some nurses began to claim for the first time, after eight years of working with her, that they never saw her use a stethoscope. The manager charged Lauren with “falsification of records” for reporting lung health on medical charts without using a stethoscope.

Lauren showed that she used

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. a special expensive stethoscope that allowed her to hear when listening to patients’ lungs. This stethoscope had to be carried in her pocket and had to be kept in her locker. She used it only when seeing patients behind closed curtains. Despite this, uCI fired her.

Lauren sued uCI for wrongful termination based on disability discrimination and a failure to accommodate her disability. She alleged that the reason for her termination was false and pretextual, and that the employer’s decision to terminate her was motivated by her hearing disability, which uCI had not fully accommodated over the years.

For employers with 5 or more employees, California law prohibits discrimination based on disability or medical condition. employees may not be terminated or discriminated in compensation or other conditions of employment based on their disability or medical condition. an employee suffering from a disability or medical condition is entitled to reasonable accommodation. allowing temporary leave may constitute reasonable accommodation. The employer must in good faith determine whether a disabled employee can be transferred or reassigned to a vacant position. The employer is in a better position to know what jobs are vacant or may become vacant.

The law also entitles the disabled employee to “preferential consideration” in reassignment of exist-

ing employees. under the american with Disabilities act (aDa), an employer may not tell other employees that an employee is receiving a reasonable accommodation as this may amount to a disclosure that the individual has a disability. The aDa and California’s privacy laws specifically prohibit the disclosure of medical information except in certain limited situations. These situations do not include disclosure to coworkers.

If an employer is asked by an employee about why a coworker is receiving a “different” or “special” treatment, the employer must point to a policy of assisting employees who encounter difficulties in the workplace. Many of the workplace issues encountered by employees are personal, and in these circumstances, the employer should enforce policies that respect employee privacy.

Lauren’s case went to trial for 9 days. after 2.5 hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Lauren, awarding her $1,136,942 on various causes of action including failure to reasonably accommodate and failure to engage in the interactive process. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic.

All inquiries are confidential and at nocost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw. com. [For more than 25 years, C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers.

He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a past Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas.]

(Advertising Supplement)

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

Writ of Mandamus relief for unreasonable delay in pending immigration filings a COMMOn question that is asked by a person who has a pending immigration petition or application is “how much longer until uSCIS makes a decision?” The question is understandable, in that an unreasonable delay in the uSCIS’ adjudication of a petition or application can have adverse effects, including loss of employment and employment opportunities, possible termination of employment, and difficulties in obtaining student and credit loans.

While an immigration filing is pending, the typical response by uSCIS upon inquiry is that further time (usually 90 or 180 days) is needed to make a decision.

However, often that 90 or 180 days that uSCIS needs to make a decision turns into months and sometimes years. What option does a petitioner or applicant have to compel the uSCIS to act on his or her case?

Pursuant to the Mandamus and Venue act of 1962, a Writ of Mandamus action can be filed in the uS District Courts to compel the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the uSCIS, DHS’s bureau, to act on a petition or application for which adjudication has been unreasonably delayed. The statute allows for an “action to compel an officer of the united States to perform his duty.”

The legal duty for uSCIS to promptly act on a pending petition or application can be found in the administrative Procedures act (“aPa”), 8

Legal Advice Atty. DArriCk tAn uSC Sec. 1571, and 5 uSC Sec. 555(b). These statutes form the basis of Writ of Mandamus relief.

The aPa gives the court authority to “compel agency action unlawfully held and unreasonable delayed.” The policy for processing immigration applications is set forth under 8 uSC Sec. 1571, which states that “the processing of an immigration benefit application should be completed no later than 180 days after the initial filing of the application.” Further, 5 uSC Sec. 555(b) states that “within a reasonable time, each agency shall proceed to conclude a matter presented to it.” a typical case in which Writ of Mandamus relief is a viable option is in a green card application based on marriage.

I have had several inquiries in recent months concerning delays in processing of these cases. Typically, the green card applicant along with his or her uS Citizen spouse is interviewed by a uSCIS officer and at the end of the interview, the green card applicant is advised that additional time is needed by uSCIS to make a decision.

The timeframe given to make a decision is 180 days; however, more than 180 days pass and no decision is made. The ap-

plicant then seeks to get updated status of the application via an Infopass appointment, and is advised that the case is still under consideration and more time is needed.

In such a case, a writ of mandamus can be filed in Federal Court to compel the uSCIS to act on the application. Often, a decision is made on the case after the Writ of Mandamus is filed in that the unreasonable delay is brought to the attention of the uSCIS. a prompt decision is often made by uSCIS after filing to avoid the use of government resources in having to defend the meritorious action.

It is important to keep in mind that Writ of Mandamus relief is available to a variety of pending petitions and applications, not just green card applications based on marriage. To determine whether Writ of Mandamus relief is a good option in your pending immigration case, it is recommended that you seek the advice of an experienced attorney. *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philippine American Bar Association. *** LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: 323639-0277. Email: info@dtanlaw. com (Advertising Supplement)

Vlogger Supercar Blondie surprises Filipino employee with money for son’s college tuition

By Niña

V. GuNo

Inquirer.net

a FILIPInO employee was surprised with money to cover her son’s college tuition as a gift from her boss, an australian vlogger.

The Filipina, only identified as avelina, is 50 years old and has been working for Supercar Blondie for two and a half years in Dubai, united arab emirates.

Supercar Blondie, whose real name is alex Hirschi, revealed to her millions of followers in a video on Facebook on Wednesday, Sept. 30, how she and her team surprised avelina with the much-needed cash.

Hirschi, known for her car entertainment content, put the

money in a box and explained that avelina moved to Dubai to save for her son’s college tuition.

“She means so much to me.

I couldn’t do what I do today without her,” she said, sharing that avelina did all-around work, whether it is admin work, cleaning the office, making food or taking care of their dogs. avelina was filming for the fake documentary when Hirschi entered the room and surprised her with a bouquet of flowers and the box of cash. even before she knew she was going to receive money, avelina was visibly touched by Hirschi’s gesture.

But of course, she was thrilled to have the funds. Shocked as she

opened the box, she asked into the camera, “I’m a millionaire, sir?”

Hirschi told her she could use the money either for her son’s tuition or to build a house back home.

“I’m going home?” joked avelina. “no, I don’t want you to leave.

If you leave me I’m taking this back,” quipped Hirschi.

The rest of Hirschi’s team only had praises for avelina, with one lauding her for her hard work and positivity.

“She is the heart and soul of this office,” said another team member. “She would probably spend more time on camera, but alex gets very jealous.”

Q4 & beyond...

continue to decline as many are realizing the value of space. The wildfires also affected the desirelection Implications? Histori- ability of northern California. cally, a strong economy favors *** an incumbent president. Will vot- Martin Santiago is a broker associate ers judge the president against a at Compass Beverly Hills, a fullpre-COVID baseline? We expect service residential brokerage firm. The the economy is likely to be bet- information presented in this article is ter than the COVID ‘worst case’ for general information only and is not, but not fully recovered before nor intended to be a formal legal advice the vote. With or without COVID, nor the formation of a broker-client Californians are investing in areas relationship. Call or email Martin at where they can have a big yard (213)788-8300 & brokermartinsantiago@ and an office space for working gmail.com. from home. San Francisco will (Advertising Supplement)

Search to Involve Pilipino Americans hosts virtual benefit on Oct. 10 to raise funds for future headquarters, programs

aMOnG the upcoming events to mark Filipino american History Month is a virtual benefit PAGE B5 for one of the oldest and longance will affect the housing marest-running non-profit organiket. Millions of homeowners took zations serving Fil-ams in Los a pause in mortgage repayment angeles. thanks to the CareS act, but that Historic Filipinotown’s Search provision is set to end on Dec. 31. to Involve Pilipino americans It’s unclear what will happen with (SIPa) on Saturday, October 10 foreclosures but expect to see a will be hosting its 48th annual spike in these starting early next benefit, entitled “Vision for Toyear. and a possible new adminmorrow.” istration next year may upend Joining entertainers such as many of the policies and initiaapl.de.ap of Black eyed Peas, tives currently in place. nick Cannon, Josh Dela Cruz, ava DuVernay, H.e.r., Jo Koy, Dan Lin, and Lea Salonga, are ella Jay Basco of “Birds of Prey,” pro dancer Cheryl Burke, news anchor Cher Calvin of L.a.’s PAGE B5 available under the new law, would even be in this situation KTLa news, L.a.-based dancers ing bankruptcy, I personally equity in your residence is most to actually consider it. from Malaya Filipino american think it’s crazy to use your Ira likely not going to be an issue The purpose of bankruptcy Dance arts, and Princess Punor 401(k) if bankruptcy will wipe anymore if you file bankruptcy. is to help you when you can no zalan of “Yellow rose.” out your debts anyway. Why? So, why increase your mortgage longer help yourself. The curThe benefit aims to raise Because Ira’s and 401(k)’s are debt unnecessarily especially rent pandemic has been a namoney for the organization’s fully exempt in bankruptcy and if you’ve already been paying tionwide disaster that you have programs and other funds for are beyond the reach of credi- for so many years? Do you re- no control over, and it may take its new headquarters at HiFi tors. If you can file bankruptcy ally want to start over with a 30- some time before our economy Collective, which is set to open to wipe out your debts, why take year mortgage again and spend goes back to normal. Bankruptin spring 2022, the organizayour hard-earned life savings to all those closings costs? From cy can give you that lifeline that tion said. pay your debts at this time espe- experience, I’ve seen many ho- you need to survive during this HiFi Collective will house the cially when you don’t even know meowners cash out their equity very difficult time. again, you future John eric Swing Small how your financial hardship will only to regret it later after the should at least know what your Business Center, named in honlast in these uncertain times? If money is all gone, and the debts legal options are. or of Swing, a champion of small anything, you should keep your are back up again where they *** business and SIPa’s executive retirement plan intact because were before the refinancing. It NOTE: Due to the current lockdown order director who died of COVID-19 that might be the only thing you happens all the time. caused by COVID-19, I am offering free have left if you’ve exhausted and almost 100% of my bank- consultations BY PHONE to anyone who depleted all other savings up to ruptcy cases are “no asset” cas- needs help in dealing with their debt this point. es, which means that my clients problems. another question that has lose nothing but their debts. If *** also come up lately is whether the pandemic is pushing you to None of the information herein is PAGE B4 it makes sense to refinance your file bankruptcy as a last option, intended to give legal advice for any inventory as collateral. He had mortgage to cash out and pay you SHOuLD definitely look into specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has a big warehouse with lots of creditors. Well, if you are filing it as a possible way to survive successfully helped over 5,000 clients in inventory. But when the banks Chapter 7, all your unsecured this pandemic. I know that this getting out of debt. For a free attorney conducted an audit, the inventodebt (with a few exceptions like is probably the last thing that evaluation of your situation, please call ry was short $40 million. Well, student loans and taxes as ex- you ever want to do and if you’ve RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866- that creates a huge problem amples) goes away. With the now never done it before, you’ve 477-7772. does it not? Of course, it does.

(Advertising Supplement) So we don’t want a situation generous homestead amounts probably never thought that you

Can bankruptcy help you...

earlier this summer.

The virtual gala will be hosted by erin Lim, host of e! news’ The rundown and Binge! Club, and beauty guru and YouTube personality Patrick Starrr.

In addition to celebrated Fil-am comedian Jo Koy, who appears on the September 30 cover of Variety magazine as a “Legend & Groundbreaker,” SIPa is honoring Commissioner Jessica Caloza of the Board of Public Works, community leader anna Marie Cruz of entrepinayship, and SIPa co-founding board member and community advocate alan Kumamoto. also, to be honored for excellence in business is Seafood City Supermarkets, recognized for its support of the Fil-am culinary scene and the dedication of its grocery store staff working on the frontlines during the pandemic. “all of us at SIPa are excited to produce this special program for the community,” said Lyle del Mundo, president of the SIPa Board of Directors. “One way to enjoy the virtual gala while safely dining at home is by ordering your favorite Filipino food. On October 10, viewers are encouraged to order take-out or delivery from a Filipino-owned restaurant in their city.”

SIPa is offering a limited number of “Dine & Donate” exclusive gala dinners for viewers in Los angeles, which can be purchased on its website. With a $50 or $100 gala donation to SIPa, viewers in L.a. can pick up a special dinner from HiFi Kitchen in Historic Filipinotown or LaSa in Historic Chinatown.

Gala sponsors get to enjoy a special VIP dinner package from The Park’s Finest, the popular HiFi-adjacent restaurant in echo Park, celebrating more than 10 years in business.

For gala viewers across the country, SIPa encourages participating in a special “Support Small Business” gala dining program. Beginning October 5, a specially curated list of Fil-am-owned restaurants and small businesses offering food/ catering in cities such as Cerritos, Chicago, Honolulu, Las Vegas, new York City, San Fernando Valley, San Francisco, Seattle, West Covina, and more will be available on https://sipacares.org.

Supporting small business is at the heart of SIPa’s community efforts. registration for the virtual gala is free athttp:// bit.ly/SIPaGaLa, with viewing available on Facebook, IGTV, YouTube or Twitch.

Is client liable personally for... where the inventory just sort of disappeared into thin air. *** DISCLAIMER: NONE OF THE FOREGOING IS CONSIDERED LEGAL ADVICE. EACH CASE IS DIFFERENT. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in Bankruptcy, Business, Real Estate and

Civil Litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789 or 1000 S. Fremont Ave., Mailstop 58, Building A-10 South, Suite 10042, Alhambra, CA 91803.

(Advertising Supplement)

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 3-6, 2020

B

B OCTOBER 3-6, 2020 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

SEAFOOD CITY FPFC