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DATELINE Public warned: Beware of COVID-related scams FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

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

POEA: 10K health care workers have left PH since January

by RITCHEL MENDIOLA AS the pandemic continues, individuals are AJPress advised to stay vigilant against the COVID-related scams currently spreading — from webAROUND 10,000 health care workers (HCWs) have sites peddling fraudulent virus cures to calls left the Philippines to work overseas since January, pretending to be contract tracers to generous the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration aid promising to clear debt.

(POEA) said on Wednesday, October 7.

To date, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has received over 206,000 consumer complaints, and recorded some $146 million in losses.

Among the common scams right now include individuals ordering personal protective equipment like face masks, thermometers, and hand sanitizers. Customers would reportedly receive tracking notices, but the packages never ended up arriving.

Scams related to online shopping make up a majority of the reports from Riverside and San Bernardino counties, according to the FTC. “That is what keeps me up at night. At a time when so many people are experiencing income insecurity, nobody can afford to lose any money,” said Monica Vaca, associate director for the Division of Consumer Response and Operations in the FTC’s Bureau of Con-

“Since the start of the year, we were able to send abroad 10,000 HCWs, particularly nurses who are Balik Manggagawa (BM),” POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said during the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) weekly forum.

“They went home for the Yuletide Season and went back to their jobs abroad after the Christ-

White House doctor: Trump ‘symptom-free’ for over 24 hours

by AJPRESS

u PAGE A4

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

u PAGE A4

A vendor selling raincoats to parishioners while lining up at the entrance of Baclaran Church to offer prayers on Wednesday, October 7.

The tradition is observed by the faithful every first Wednesday of the month at the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Paranaque City.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

A BILL seeking to recognize “foundlings” or abandoned children as natural-born Filipinos has been approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives.

The House Committee on the Welfare of Children on Monday, October 5, approved House Bill No. 7679 or the “Foundling Welfare Act” with 220 affirmative votes.

The measure, principally authored by Ang Probinsyano party-list Representative Ronnie Ong, seeks to promote the rights

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

Malacañang photo by Simeon Celi

PRESIDENT Donald Trump is reportedly feeling “great” and has gone 24 hours without any coronavirus symptoms, the White House’s top doctor said on Wednesday, October 7, two days after the president was discharged from the hospital.

Dr. Sean Conley, in a memo released by the White House on Wednesday, said that the president’s physical exam and vital signs, as well as his oxygen saturation and respiratory rate, “all remain stable and in normal range.”

“He’s now been fever-free for more than 4 days, symptom-free for over 24 hours, and has not needed nor received any supplemental oxygen since initial hospitalization,” Conley’s statement added.

The memo added that the president’s blood work from Monday showed “detectable levels” of COVID antibodies.

On Monday night, October 5, the president returned to the White House after a three-day stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

The 74-year-old president arrived on the White House’s

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PH House OKs bill recognizing ABS-CBN to return to orphans as natural-born Filipinos free TV on October 10 and welfare of orphans with unknown parents and protect their status as natural-born Filipino citizens.

“A foundling is a natural-born Filipino citizen regardless of the status or circumstances of birth. As natural-born citizen of the Philippines, a foundling is accorded with rights and protection at the moment of birth as those belonging to such class of citizens whose citizenship does not need perfection or any further act,” the bill reads.

HB 7679 entitles orphans to a Certificate of Live Birth instead of a Foundling Certifiu PAGE A3

Duterte wishes Trump a ‘speedy recovery’ from coronavirus

President Rodrigo Duterte

mas break. We continue to allow BM to leave,” he added.

Olalia also said that nurses and other health care workers are now allowed to fly out of the country to work abroad.

“Since April, May, June, more or less we send u PAGE A2

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has extended his well wishes to United States President Donald Trump and first lady Melania after they both tested positive for COVID-19, Malacañang said on Monday, October 5.

“Malapit na magkaibigan ang ating Presidente at si President Trump. Ang mensahe po ng Presidente (The President and President Trump are close friends. The President’s message is) he wishes President Trump and his wife first lady Melania a full and speedy recovery,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said during a press briefing in Boracay.

On early Friday morning, October 2, the 74-year-old U.S president announced in a tweet that he contracted COVID-19 along with his wife.

“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately.

We will get through this TOGETHER!” he wrote.

Later that day, Trump was admitted to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, where he was being treated for the coronavirus.

He was discharged on Monday night and will be continuing his quarantine at the White House.

Dr. Sean Conley, Trump’s physician, on Sunday, Sunday 4, said the president experienced “two episodes of transient drops in his oxygen saturation.” On Friday morning, Trump “had a high fever and his oxygen saturation was transiently dipping below 94%,” the doctor added.

The president has been given Gilead’s antiviral drug remdesivir, Regeneron’s u PAGE A3

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

BROADCAST giant ABS-CBN on Tuesday, October 6, announced that some of its entertainment shows and movies will return Saturday on A2Z, the newly-rebranded Zoe TV Channel 11.

“Starting Saturday (October 10), some entertainment shows and movies of ABS-CBN will be seen on the newly rebranded A2Z Channel 11 through an agreement between ABS-CBN and Zoe Broadcasting Network Inc.,” the network said in a statement.

“A2Z channel 11 will be seen on analog TV in Metro Manila and nearby provinces,” it added.

Zoe Broadcasting Network,

for its part, confirmed the deal with ABS-CBN. “Starting this October, ABS CBN will air their programs on A2Z Channel 11 of Zoe Broadcasting Network, Inc.,” it said.

“The rebranded VHF channel will serve viewers with uplifting and inspiring shows of love and hope, educational programs, local and foreign movies, some of the best-loved ABS-CBN shows through a blocktime arrangement, and programs from licensors like the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), Knowledge Channel and others,” it added.

Zoe Broadcasting Network Inc. is a free-to-air channel owned by Eddie Villanueva, the influential evangelist and founder of Jesus is Lord Church.

It has been authorized to operu PAGE A2

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From the Front Page

POEA: 10k health care workers...

PAGE A1 t abroad 400 nurses who were hired by recruitment agencies, every month. We include direct hires upon the intervention of the recruitment agency. We have an average deployment of 500 to 600 HCWs every month despite the implementation of the temporary suspension,” he said.

The POEA on Tuesday announced that newly-hired Filipino health care workers with signed contracts as of August 31, 2020 may now leave the country to work overseas.

“The cut-off date was extended from March 8 to August 31 upon the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATFEID),” the agency said.

FI the lat For

In its Advisory No. 47-B Series of 2020, the POEA said HCWs who have perfected and signed contracts as of the new date and “have secured overseas employment certificates (OECs) as their exit permits can now report to their employers overseas.”

“New hire health care workers refer to newly hired HCWs who are direct hires, recruitment agency hires, including POEA Government Placement Branch hires who were already accepted under the hiring program of host countries,” the POEA said.

BMs or returning health workers with OEC exemption certificates, are likewise allowed to leave the country, as well as seafarers previously hired as doctors and nurses onboard, and would be deployed by the

same licensed manning agency.

“The deployment of HCWs will remain under a strict observance of prescribed quarantine protocols, social distancing measures, as well as in the departure and immigration formalities in the Philippines, in transit counties, and in countries of work destination,” POEA said.

The agency, meanwhile, maintained that the deployment of HCWs to countries that impose travel restrictions is still prohibited.

It also reiterated that outbound passengers with visas that are not documented through POEA regulations, such as the U.S. J-1 visa, and permanent residents, immigrants or dual citizens of other countries are excluded from the temporary deployment suspension. n

ABS-CBN to return to free TV on...

PAGE A1 t

ate AM, FM radio stations in key cities, VFH Channel 11 in Mega Manila, and UHF TV channels 33 in Mega Manila and Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.

Sherwin N. Tugna, chairman and president of Zoe Broadcasting Network, said A2Z’s program lineup was assembled with the goal of providing the “spiritual, information, and entertainment

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needs” of Filipinos “during this pandemic and beyond.”

“Zoe Channel 11 TV gets a new name, a new look, and a new journey serving God and the Filipino people. We strive to provide Filipinos with the best type of programming and bring glory to the Lord above,” he added.

Among the ABS-CBN shows that will air on A2Z are “It’s Showtime” and “ASAP Natin

To.” It will also air “Paano Kita Mapapasalamatan,” “Iba ‘Yan,” “Magandang Buhay,” “I Can See Your Voice” and “Maalaala Mo Kaya.”

“ABS-CBN and Zoe are committed to work together to provide entertainment, public service programs, and educational content to the public,” ABS-CBN said. n

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GROUPIE. Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senators Joel Villanueva, Migz Zubiri, Lito Lapid, Bato dela Rosa, and Win Gatchalian take a group photo after the hybrid plenary session on Monday, October 5. The proceedings lasted for more than eight hours. Senate photo

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

by Christina

M. Oriel

AJPress

President Donald Trump greets supporters during a drive by outside of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland on Sunday, Oct. 4.

Official White House photo by Tia Dufour

White House doctor: Trump ‘symptom-free’...

PAGE A1 t South Lawn after a 10-minute flight on Marine One and made his way up the stairs, where he removed his white surgical mask, and posed for photos before retreating inside.

Before being discharged from the hospital, Trump downplayed the virus that has killed more than 210,000 individuals and infected over 7 million in the United States since March.

“Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!” the president tweeted on Monday.

In another video posted on Twitter, he said: “One thing’s for certain: Don’t let it dominate you.”

“We have the best medical equipment, we have the best medicines, all developed recently,” Trump continued. “I know there’s a risk, there’s a danger, but that’s OK,” Trump added. “And now I’m better, and maybe I’m immune, I don’t know.”

He will continue to be treated for COVID-19 at the White House, though his physician, Navy Cmdr.

Sean Conley, said the president “may not entirely be out of the woods yet.”

“While he may not be entirely out of the woods yet, the team and I agree that all our evaluations and, most importantly, his clinical status support the president’s safe return home, where he will be surrounded by worldclass medical care 24/7,” Conley said.

Early Friday morning, October 2, Trump revealed on Twitter that he and first lady Melania both

tested positive for COVID-19 after it was revealed that close adviser Hope Hicks had contracted the virus. Later that day, the president was transferred to Walter Reed “out of an abundance of caution.”

Since his diagnosis, the president’s team of physicians have given him different treatments, including an 8-gram dose of an experimental antibody therapy cocktail made by biotechnology company Regeneron; a five-day course of antiviral drug remdesivir; corticosteroid drug dexamethasone after his oxygen level dropped on Saturday; and supplemental oxygen.

“And after about a minute on only two liters, his saturation levels were back over 95%. He stayed on that for about an hour maybe, and was off and gone,” Conley said on Saturday, October 3.

On Sunday afternoon, October 4, Trump, wearing a black cloth mask, briefly left his presidential suite aboard a black SUV to wave to supporters who gathered outside the medical center.

Prior to this, the president said he “learned a lot about COVID.” “I learned it by really going to school. This is the real school, this isn’t the let’s-read-the-book school. And I get it, and I understand it, and it’s a very interesting thing, and I’m going to be letting you know about it,” he said in a video posted on Twitter.

The event was slammed by critics as irresponsible as it put two Secret Service agents with the president at risk.

“That Presidential SUV is not only bulletproof, but hermetically sealed against chemical attack,” Dr. James P. Phillips, an emergency medicine physician affiliated with Walter Reed, wrote on Twit-

PAGE A1 t

officials who have since tested positive for the virus include presidential assistant Nicholas Luna and White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, whose result was announced on Monday.

Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel, former counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also tested positive last week.

The U.S. remains as the country with the most COVID-19 cases in the world. To date, it has a total of 7,418,107 infections with 209,725 fatalities.

Meanwhile, the Philippines has 324,762 cases, with 5,840 fatalities and 273,123 recoveries. The country has the highest number of infections in Southeast Asia. It also recently ranked as the 20th country with most cases, surpassing Pakistan. n

Duterte wishes Trump a ‘speedy... antibody cocktail and the steroid dexamethasone, according to his team of doctors.

The president, wearing a mask, left the hospital in an SUV with the Secret Service on Sunday afternoon to wave at supporters outside of Walter Reed.

Meanwhile, first lady Melania Trump remains quarantined at the White House.

“My family is grateful for all of the prayers & support! I am feeling good & will continue to rest at home. Thank you to medical staff & caretakers everywhere, & my continued prayers for those who are ill or have a family member impacted by the virus,” she said in a tweet on Monday morning.

Trump’s close aide, Hope Hicks, had tested positive last week after traveling with the president. Other administration

PH House OKs bill recognizing orphans as natural-born...

PAGE A1 t cate, as well as provides for the procedure for the issuance of a birth certificate by the Office of the Civil Registrar under the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The bill also grants orphans all rights entitled to them as Filipinos such as equal access to government programs and services, which include the facilitation of documents for adoption, education, and legal and police protection, as well as basic social services such as education, healthcare and nutrition.

It further directs the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), along with its accredited child-caring centers and licensed and accredited social welfare agencies, to conduct proactive and diligent search and inquiry into the facts of birth and parentage of the orphans.

Section 10 of the measure penalizes those who would use the abandoned children’s status in a derogatory manner, treat them as second-class citizens, or discriminate against orphans in terms of education, scholarship, practice of profession, and services.

Tingog Sinirangan party-list Representative Yedda Marie

Romualdez, chair of the House Committee on Welfare of Children and co-author of HB 7679, said that the passage of the bill “is a crucial step towards correcting the injustice against abandoned Filipino children.”

“This proposed measure seeks to assert that the most vulnerable among us deserve our respect, care and empathy. It intends to protect and uphold the rights of children regardless of the status of their birth and whether or not their parentage is known,” she added.

Romualdez also noted that abandoned children without birth certificates often experience discrimination in their lives.

“The fact that foundlings are not be issued birth certificates has left on them a stigma that they carry all their lives and has resulted even in discrimination, especially when a birth certificate is required when enrolling for school admission, applying for jobs and even in being issued a passport,” she said.

“It is not surprising that many foundlings are always on the back burner, and are lost to poverty, crime, prostitution, neglect, and unemployment,” she added. n

ter. “The risk of COVID19 transmission inside is as high as it gets outside of medical procedures.

The irresponsibility is astounding.

My thoughts are with the Secret Service forced to play.”

Other White House staff who have tested positive for COVID19 include senior adviser Stephen Miller, who tested positive on Tuesday; press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who revealed her diagnosis in a statement on Monday; and Nick Luna, personal attendant to the president. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway, who both helped the president with debate preparations, also contracted the virus. n

U.S. Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden said that if elected, he would work alongside Filipino Americans “to protect the American people.”

The presidential candidate’s promise came as October marks Filipino American History Month in the United States.

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

History Month, we celebrate the community’s immense contribu- that Filipino Americans embody de Esperanza under the comtions to our country — from early the heart, the courage, and the mand of Spanish Captain Pedro immigrants to the millions today, values that define the United de Unamuno and set foot in what many who serve in the military States,” he said. is now Morro Bay, California. or as frontline workers. As PresiBiden concluded by saying that The late Dr. Fred Cordova, dent, I’ll work alongside them to if elected to the highest office in along with his wife, Filipino protect the American people,” he November, he would “build on American National Historical Sosaid in a tweet on Thursday, Oc- that proud American legacy, in- ciety (FANHS) Founder Dr. Dortober 1. cluding by celebrating the histo- othy Laigo Cordova, first introIn a longer statement posted ry of the Filipino American com- duced October as Fil-Am History on his campaign website, Biden munity and expanding access to Month in 1992 with a resolution said Fil-Ams “have enriched and a future of opportunity for all.” from the FANHS National Board strengthened every aspect of our On Friday, October 2, Dr. Jill of Trustees. country.”

Biden marked the community’s In 2009, U.S. Congress officialHe also paid tribute to the history month during a virtual ly recognized the month of Octo“countless Filipino American es- fundraiser with affinity group ber as Filipino American History sential frontline workers and care- Filipino Americans for Biden- Month. givers” working during the pan- Harris.

According to FANHS, this demic as over 208,000 individuals Filipino American History year’s theme is the “history of have died from COVID-19.

Month is celebrated in the Unit- Fil-Am activism,” a reflection on “And we offer our prayers to ed States every October, mark- how the community has been the families of Filipino Ameri- ing the first recorded presence of involved in social justice movecan nurses, who represent 4% Filipinos in the country. ments over the years. Though of nurses in the United States, It was on October 18, 1587 the pandemic continues, organibut make up more than 30% of when the “Luzones Indios” came zations and groups nationwide nursing deaths due to COVID- ashore from the Manila-built are moving their celebrations 19. Their heroism is a reminder Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora online. n

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Newsom vetoes high school ethnic studies bill...

PAGE A1 t

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.”

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 concentrate on the four ethnic groups that have been the major focal points of collegiatelevel 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 “auto-ethnography” in which students “tell their own stories” and promote social justice val-

ues. 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 REFRESHMENT. A biker drinks fresh buko (young coconut) juice in front of a stall at the Neopolitan Cycling Oval in Fairview, Quezon City it minimized anti-Semitism and Tuesday, October 6. Buko juice may help lower blood pressure and prevent kidney stones. It also contains antioxidants and is a good source of hydration especially for people engaged in physical activity.

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez favored Palestine over Israel.

“We appreciate Governor Newsom’s insistence on developing balanced and inclusive education materials,” Rich- PAGE A1 t end up with their bank accounts for COVID-19. ard Hirschhaut, director of the “All these folks are attempting American Jewish Committee sumer Protection, during a recent wiped out once they deposit the press briefing.

“And yet the data check, she added. to do is to get personal informaLA, said in a statement released Despite the alarming number of tion,” Segura said. “We’re also on Wednesday. “It is worth tak- we have shows that people are ing time to get this right.” (Klar- reporting losing more than $146 reports to the FTC, Vaca is hopeful starting to see scams that are million on COVID and stimulus- that thousands more Americans offering to help people who are ize Medenilla/AJPress) related problems.” can avoid being scammed if they behind on their mortgage and on Further, individuals have com- hear about the different schemes other debts all for a very large, plained about receiving text mes- out there. upfront fee. Now that’s a red flag sages with a hyperlink that says “Research that was released of a scam, because such upfront they have a package waiting for last year shows that people are fees for debt relief are illegal unthem. However, experts advise 80% more likely to avoid losing der the FTC rules.” that the link may contain malware money if they have heard about As there is no known cure or or may phish for information. the scam before,” Vaca said. vaccine for COVID-19 yet, the “We don’t know — is there Fraudsters will often follow rule of thumb that officials are folmalware in there or is this a link what’s newsworthy and build lowing is whether the Centers for that’s going to take you some- their schemes around what peo- Disease Control and Prevention where to ask for your personal in- ple are paying attention to, said has issued any guidance around formation?” W.J. Murdoch of the Maricela Segura, regional direc- certain remedies.

FBI said. tor of the FTC’s western region “Generally speaking, if there’s With individuals being laid off Los Angeles office. a claim about COVID and it’s not or furloughed from work, it puts Early on, the FTC tracked consistent with something that them in a vulnerable position to over 275 companies that were out there on the CDC public guidlook for other employment oppor- making false claims of treat- ance, it’s probably a scam,” said tunities, especially those that al- ment and cures related to CO- Nick Akers, senior assistant atlow them to work safely at home. VID-19, and caught scammers torney general in charge of the But officials advise prospective promising stimulus checks and consumer law section of the Caliemployees to be cautious if a job other small business relief pro- fornia Department of Justice. seems too good to be true. grams, and to help individuals Segura also advised the public “These con artists are preying get out of debt. to consider how the information on people who are already down.

“Sometimes scammers are pos- is being disseminated.

We’re seeing a lot of reports ing as part of a federal program “If we hear of a vaccine or a about phony job offers, where that’s built to assist people to get cure, it will be newsworthy,” she you’re pitched a job as a mystery out of debt. They will sometimes said. “You won’t get it in a text or shopper or as a clerk or to have ask consumers to pay money in an email from a company trying advertising on your car. And order to get a stimulus check,” to sell you something.” often people think that they’ve Segura said, adding that under Individuals who believe they landed some kind of a job only to the CARES Act, individuals did have been victimized by a scam find out later that they were being not have to shell out money in or- are encouraged to report it by scammed,” Vaca said. der to receive assistance. using the online form at www.

One such scheme is the “fake Further, the commission has ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ or can check” scam where individuals received complaints about in- report it to the California Attorare promised that they can work dividuals receiving a call that ney General’s office at www.oag. from home and receive a check they’ve come into contact with ca.gov/. (Christina M. Oriel/AJin the mail. But then, individuals someone who has tested positive Press)

Public warned: Beware of COVID-related...

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DOH: Duque elected as chair of WHO’s Coast Guard ‘concerned’ with Western Pacific regional committee Manila Bay reclamation projects

by Daphne

Galvez Inquirer.net

MANILA — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was elected as this year’s chairperson of the World Health Organization Western Pacific’s regional committee.

The Department of Health said on Wednesday, October 7 that the committee is composed of 37 member states in the Western Pacific region.

The committee is a governing body composed of health ministers and senior officials from Western Pacific member countries that meet annually to discuss the region’s health issues.

DOH said Duque will lead discussions on the coronavirus pandemic, vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization, aging and health, safe and afford-

by Franco luna Philstar.com

Philippine Health Secretary Francisco Duque

Inquirer.net photo by Grig Montegrande

able surgical interventions, and the program budget for 2022 to 2023. “They convene every year to formulate policies, provide oversight for regional programs, report on their projects and consider, revise and endorse new ini-

tiatives,� Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said. “The resolution and decisions adopted during the session will guide the work of the regional and country offices for the following year which is 2021,� she added. n

Citing results of recount, SC asked to junk Marcos protest vs Robredo But the groups noted that PET rules state that substantial recovery must be made in the recount of the three pilot provinces — Iloilo, Camarines Sur and Negros Oriental — for Marcos’ protest to prosper.

Marcos however failed, the groups said as they noted that the recount showed that Robredo’s lead widened by 15,093 votes.

PET said in the October 2019 resolution: “After the revision and appreciation, the lead of protestee Robredo increased from 263,473 to 278,566.� “Each day that the final PET decision is delayed gives the Marcoses more opportunities to undermine the people’s voice in the 2016 elections,� they said. “With this, we respectfully call on the PET to decide and dismiss the protest with finality and uphold the victory of [Robredo] in the 2016 elections. By doing so, the PET will allow the true voice of the Filipino people that was heard in 2016 to full resonate,� the groups added.

The youth groups are not parThe groups held a small picket outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday, October 7 after they ties to the pending petition. (Krissubmitted their letter to the justices.

Contributed photo tine Joy Patag/Philstar.com)

MANILA — Akbayan Citizen’s Action Party and various youth groups asked the Supreme Court, sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal, to junk the election protest of former Sen. Bongbong Marcos against Vice President Leni Robredo.

In a letter to the tribunal, the groups said that based on the rules of PET, “this case is already ripe for a decision.� “We believe there’s no more reason for the PET to keep this

protest going,� the groups added.

The tribunal last week ordered the Commission on Elections and the Office of the Solicitor General to comment on pending issues related to the poll protest.

In particular, on issues involving the annulment of elections in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Basilan and Maguindanao on the ground of terrorism, intimidation, harassment of voters and pre-shading of ballots.

MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard voiced out its misgivings with Manila Bay reclamation projects on Wednesday, October 7, citing their effects on vessel traffic and the surrounding maricultural areas.

Speaking at the “Marine Spatial Planning and Coastal Reclamation: A Focus on Manila Bay Area� webinar organized by Oceana Philippines and the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines, Captain Xerxes Fernandez of the PCG outlined a number of the coast guard’s concerns with the reclamation projects in the bay.

The forum was also attended by representatives from the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, and the National Center for Coral Reef Research Center at the University of Miami. “We are very much concerned about the effects of reclamation projects within Manila Bay especially since there are a lot of maricultural areas in the bay that depends on the equal distribution of nutrients so that it can be sustainable,� he said, pointing out the abundance of fisheries and fish pens in the area. “We also have concerns about

vessel traffic. We noted that there are several projects near the Manila harbor, especially the north and south harbor. We need to study this carefully as we know that these harbors are the lifeblood of the Philippine economy,� he added.

Among the PCG’s recommendations presented by Fernandez in his presentation entitled “Water Circulation and Vessel Safetyâ€? were: • Mapping of critical habitats • Mapping of fisheries and maricultural areas • Will not affect water circulation within the bay • Ensure river can properly drain into the bay • Will not restrict vessel movement The PCG is mandated to ensure vessel safety and assist government agencies in protecting the marine environment. “There are a lot of rivers draining into Manila Bay. There is some speculation that the perennial flooding occurring in Bacoor is a result of the reclamation project undertaken to create the Cavitex area. It seems the water coming from upland is not draining properly into the bay,â€? Fernandez also said.

According to a 2019 briefer by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, there are three river systems draining into the bay in the National

Capital Region, namely: “the MANATUTI River System (Malabon–Navotas–Tullahan–Tinajeros River); the MUNTIPARLASPIZAP* River System (Las PiĂąas–ParaĂąaque–Zapote River); and the PAMARISAN River System (Pasig–Marikina–San Juan River).â€?

The various rehabilitation and reclamation projects along Manila Bay continues to be a topic of concern despite the coronavirus pandemic. Urban poor families in September cast fear that the hotly-contested “white sand� beach project meant possible eviction for them mid-pandemic.

After the government-sponsored opening of the “Manila Bay White Sands� baywalk in late September drew crowds that violated the quarantine ban on mass gatherings, the Philippine Coast Guard sent out patrol boats along the shores to keep any passers-by away.

The PCG has been on full alert status and has been enforcing a no-sail policy in the waterway due to the coronavirus lockdown. “The Philippine Coast Guard as a regulatory agency needs to have ample information when it comes to granting permits or letter of objections, and basically giving input on the natural resource management on bodies like this,� Fernandez said. n

This undated file photo shows families of seafarers who perished at sea, accompanied by members of the Philippine Coast Guard, holding a wreath-laying ceremony at Manila Bay. Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban

PAUNAWA TUNGKOL SA BLOKENG GAWAD SA PAGPAPAUNLAD NG KOMUNIDAD NG LUNGSOD NG ALAMEDA (COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT-CDBG)/HOME FY 2019-2020 PAG-UULAT NG PAGSASAGAWA Ang Lungsod ng Alameda ay magsusumite ng kanyang Pinagsamang Ulat ng Taunang Pagsasagawa at Blokeng Gawad sa Pagpapaunlad ng Komunidad FY 2019-2020 Pagsusun sa (Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report-CAPER) sa Kagawarang Pederal ng Pagpapaunlad sa Pabahay at Urban sa Oktubre 30, 2020. Ang CAPER ay nagbibigay ng impormasyong pampinansyal at pamamalakad sa mga aktibidad sa Blokeng Gawad sa Pagpapaunlad ng Komunidad (CDBG) / HOME at nagsusuri ng isang malawak na hanay ng iba pang pabahay, komunidad, at aktibidad sa pagsusulong sa ekonomiya para sa panahon ng Hulyo 1, 2019 hanggang Hunyo 30, 2020. Ang layunin ng paunawang ito ay upang gawin na mabatid ang mga pag-uulat ng CAPER para sa pampublikong komento.

Sa Oktubre 9, 2020, ang CAPER ay maaari ring makita sa website ng Lungsod, www.alamedaca. gov. Ang mga nakasulat na mga komento tungkol sa mga aktibidad ng CDBG/HOME at ng CAPER ay tatanggapin mula 5:00 p.m. sa Oktubre 23, 2020 sa City of Alameda Community Development Department, 950 W. Mall Square, Alameda, CA 94501, o sa pamamagitan ng email kay Lisa Fitts, OÂż WWV#DODPHGDFD JRY 3DUD VD NDUDJGDJDQJ LPSRUPDV\RQ WXQJNRO VD SDXQDZDQJ LWR WXPDZDJ VD (510) 747-6884 (tinig) o (510) 522-7538 (TYY)(510) 522-7538 (TYY).

MGA TADHANA PARA SA MGA TAONG MAY KAPANSANAN Kung ang sinumang taong may interes sa paglahok sa programang Blokeng Gawad sa Pagpapaunlad ng Komunidad (CDBG) / HOME ay isang taong may kapansanan gaya ng nilinaw ng Seksiyon 504 ng Batas ng 1974 sa Rehabilitasyon na nag-aatas ng isang kaluwagan upang lumahok o magkainteres, ang isang kahilingan para sa kaluwagan ay maaaring gawin kay Lisa Fitts VD %RVHV

7<< R PDJSDGDOD QJ HPDLO VD OÂż WWV#DODPHGDFD JRY Ang naturang kahilingan ay dapat kabilang ang isang paglalarawan ng kaluwagang hinahangad, kasama ang isang pahayag ng kapansanan na nangangailangan ng kaluwagan. Anumang kahilingan para sa kaluwagan ay dapat suriin at ang isang sagot ay ipagkaloob sa loob ng limang araw ng trabaho pagkatapos matanggap ang naturang kahilingan.

Ang paunawa ng anumang kaluwagan na iginawad ay agad ipagkakaloob sa humiling.

MGA TADHANA PARA SA MGA RESIDENTENG HINDI NAGSASALITA NG INGLES Kung ang sinumang taong may interes sa paglahok sa programang Blokeng Gawad sa Pagpapaunlad ng Komunidad (CDBG) / HOME ay isang taong may kapansanan gaya ng nilinaw ng Seksiyon 504 ng Batas ng 1974 sa Rehabilitasyon na nag-aatas ng isang kaluwagan upang lumahok o magkainteres, ang isang kahilingan para sa kaluwagan ay maaaring gawin kay Lisa Fitts VD %RVHV

7<< R PDJSDGDOD QJ HPDLO VD OÂż WWV#DODPHGDFD JRY Ang naturang kahilingan ay dapat kabilang ang isang paglalarawan ng kaluwagang hinahangad, kasama ang isang pahayag ng kapansanan na nangangailangan ng kaluwagan. Anumang kahilingan para sa kaluwagan ay dapat suriin at ang isang sagot ay ipagkaloob sa loob ng limang araw ng trabaho pagkatapos matanggap ang naturang kahilingan.

PATAKARANG WALANG-DISKRIMINASYON Ang Lungsod ng Alameda ay hindi nagdidiskrimina laban sa sinumang mga tao dahil sa lahi, kulay, relihiyon, bansang pinagmulan, angkan, sekso, kasarian, kinikilalang kasarian, pagpapahayag ng kasarian, oryentasyong sekswal, katayuang marital, katayuang pampamilya, pinagkukunan ng kita, henetikong impormasyon, kondisyong medikal, kapansanang pisikal o kapansanan ng isipan, o anumang ibang kategoryang protektado ng batas.

A6

OCTOBER 9-15, 2020 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

FeatURes

OPiniOn

Lessons from Trump

HEALTH experts have emphasized it from the start of the pandemic: coronavirus disease 2019 is highly contagious and can strike anyone. But by observing basic health safety protocols that are now known worldwide, it is possible to avoid getting COVID-19.

Now the leader of the world’s lone superpower and biggest economy has contracted the coronavirus, together with his wife. U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania themselves announced their infection on Twitter in the early hours of Friday, October 2.

The infection is significant because Trump has been vocal in downplaying the COVID threat and the need to observe the health protocols, starting with wearing a mask. U.S. media ran video footage of his children Ivanka, Donald Jr., Eric and Tiffany, all wearing face masks as they entered the university pavilion in Cleveland, Ohio where he had his first presidential debate Tuesday night with challenger Joe Biden. The siblings then took off their masks as they settled in their seats. In Trump’s campaign sorties, he has thumbed his nose at those who are stressing the importance of physical distancing.

Some reports said the U.S. president was tested daily for the coronavirus. Clearly, testing is different from avoiding infection. Now the illness has sidelined him for at least a week, into the final stretch of

his campaign for reelection.

The lessons here can be combined with those from other countries that have allowed the full reopening of businesses, particularly bars and dine-in restaurants, only to see a resurgence of the virus, compelling them to reimpose restrictions and shut down businesses again. Health experts have repeatedly warned that the resumption of economic activities must be accompanied by significant boosts in capabilities for COVID testing, contact tracing, isolation and treatment. And in the absence of a vaccine or cure, all health protocols must continue to be observed, including physical distancing, wearing of masks, regular handwashing and disinfection.

These are worth remembering especially with the approach of the Christmas season and increased attendance at church services. The virus has infected even Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the for those who have succumbed to COVID, for the former archbishop of Manila who now occupies recovery of the infected, and for the virus to be a high position in the Vatican. While people pray beaten for good, prayers must be accompanied by

Editorial

Despite COVID-19 infection, Trump has not learned the lessons of empathy, truthfulness and true patriotism

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS PRESIDENT Donald Trump tweeted on Monday, October 5: ”I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good!”

Trump sent this tweet to his followers shortly before making a dramatic exit through the front doors of the hospital, pumping his fist to cameras, NBC News reported.

He said, “Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge.

I feel better than I did 20 years ago!”

This tweet from the president created more questions than answers regarding the true condition of Trump’s health on social media.

Did he really test positive with the virus or was it another diversionary tactic after trailing behind Joe Biden in the polls by 13 points as a result of their chaotic and antagonistic first presidential debate?

Was it his desperate way to elicit sympathy, even from his opponent Joe Biden who pulled out all negative ads out of respect for the president, and win sympathy votes?

Was it his way to seal the loyalty of his followers who now demand empathy and sympathy

Philstar.com photo

active efforts to prevent infection. Healthy people mean more people able to celebrate mass inside churches. (Philstar.com)

from critics even when they themselves cheered on Trump when he would, in all cruelty, mock and berate people with illnesses and disabilities?

Was it a diversionary tactic to move national discourse away from the bombshell reporting by the New York Times about Trump’s much-concealed tax returns, showing that Trump “had paid no income taxes at all in 10 of the previous 15 years — largely because he reported losing much more money than he made.”

“As the president wages a re-election campaign that polls say he is in danger of losing, his finances are under stress, beset by losses and hundreds of millions of dollars in debt coming due that he has personally guaranteed. Also hanging over him is a decade-long audit battle with the Internal Revenue Service over the legitimacy of a $72.9 million tax refund that he claimed, and received, after declaring huge losses. An adverse ruling could cost him more than $100 million,” the report continued.

Many wonder how he could have been discharged from the Walter Reed Medical Center and try to claim victory over the coronavirus on Monday, as he returned to the White House, when he only announced that he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive three

days before?

Many question why during his briefing on Sunday, October 4, the Physician to the President Dr. Sean Conley, “acknowledged that he had provided a rosy version of events to please his notoriously sensitive patient,” the New York Times reported.

“I didn’t want to give any information that might steer the course of illness in another direction, and in doing so, you know, it came off that we were trying to hide something, which wasn’t necessarily true,” Conley said.

This sounded like a “double speak” creating ambiguity more than clarity. Could this imply that the president could not accept any report that would go against his image of himself as “invincible“?

The Times reported that Alyssa Farah, a White House communications adviser, “conceded that Dr. Conley had been speaking to an audience of one during his Saturday briefing.”

“When you’re treating a patient, you want to project confidence, you want to lift their spirits, and that was the intent,” she said. She said that Trump’s Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was trying “to be as transparent as we can” be by amending the report later.

Again, intentional double speak because the president

isn’t mature enough to face the truth.

National Public Radio (NPR) reported that Trump gets steroid medication dexamethasone, which according to the World Health Organization and NIH guidelines, is given only to patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms, supplemental oxygen, and two other experimental drugs, Regeneron monoclonal antibody cocktail, and Remdesivir.

After being infected with the virus, Trump said from a video recorded Sunday, October 4, from his hospital suite: “I learned a lot about Covid. I learned it by really going to school. This is the real school.

I get it. I understand it.”

Trump’s actions, however, betray his words.

If he indeed got it, why would he endanger the life of his Secret Service agents when he made a trip outside the hospital in his SUV to wave at his adoring fans?

Current and former Secret Service agents and medical professionals were aghast Sunday night at President Trump’s publicity stunt.

Where was his empathy?

Where was his compassion for these agents who have families to be bereaved if they die from the virus?

As CNN’s Dana Bash eloquently articulated, the Secret

Service would take a bullet FOR the president to save his life.

But their job description does not include making them “take a bullet” FROM the president just so he would project invincibility, strength and victory and over the virus.

Where was his wisdom when his judgment call shows he did not have the intellectual nor emotional maturity to understand the facts and science about the virus, the effects of it — both short term and long term — on patients? He proclaimed: “I feel better than I did 20 years ago!” Really?

Where were his wisdom and empathy when he and his cohorts in the Republican Party and his administration chose to conceal who among his staff have contracted the virus despite being asymptomatic?

Was he acting based on science or his delusion that he knows more than scientists and health officials?

Did Trump not know how important it is to determine who were exposed to a person with COVID-19 in order to quarantine them until a negative result comes out? Did he not understand that one can be asymptomatic yet be a carrier of the virus? Did he not get it that this was the reason why people were told by scientists like Dr. Anthony Fauci over and over again to wear masks to mitigate

the spread of the virus?

Did he not get it that patients with a positive result should be isolated so he would not spread the virus and infect other people? Why did he not isolate himself when he went back to the White House?

No, Trump did NOT get it.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have done that SUV publicity tactic.

He wouldn’t rush back to the White House, remove his mask, and interact in a short distance with his staff.

Does Trump really care for these people’s safety and life?

OR, does Trump see and use people as his “props” in this new episode of his reality show?

Did he not learn the lesson that concealing and downplaying facts about the virus would lead to more death, even after he got infected himself? After so many members and officials of the Republican Party also got the virus because of his blatant lies and misinformation script and direction?

Was projecting his false sense of strength, invincibility and victory more important to him than protecting and saving peoples’ lives?

Was the threat of being determined to be “incapacitated to fulfill his duties as president” and therefore be replaced by Vice President Mike Pence or

by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, pur-

u PAGE A7

Fellow Fil-Ams: Whether it’s by mail or in person, make sure to vote FORMER President Dwight Eisenhower once said, “[t]he future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter.”

This is especially poignant as we approach the 2020 General Election in November. While the focus of the election is on who will be president, there is much more at stake—social equality, climate change, healthcare, taxes, and foreign policy, to name just a few. Over the past few months, our nation has faced an ongoing global pandemic, an economic downturn, record-high unemployment rates, and civic unrest from years of engrained social inequity.

According to the Pew Research Center, only 61% of voting-age citizens turned out to vote during the last presidential election in 2016.

As Thomas Jefferson so aptly said, “[w]e do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.”

Whether it be due to apathy or inconvenience, we as citizens cannot stand idly by and we must exercise our civic duty to vote.

Voting is an important responsibility we all share in our democratic society. This election, we have an incredible opportunity to shape the future of our community. It is vital that candidates and elected officials understand the growing political power of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and address issues that affect our communities. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest-growing racial group in the country. In 2018, a survey by APIA Vote and AAPI Data indicated that the number of Asian American voters in the last decade has nearly

as each state handles mail-in doubled from about 2 million voting, as well as their respecvoters in 2000 to 5 million vot- Commentary tive timeframes, slightly differers in 2016, and that Filipino ently.)

American voters make up the Voting by mail is not a new second-largest group that acconcept. Much of the country count for this figure. This year, has voted by mail through an more than 11 million Asian PHILIP LIM NULUD absentee ballot for years. In Americans will be eligible to AND MARI BANDOMA CALLADO fact, absentee voting by mail vote, making up nearly 5% of first started during the 1860s the nation’s eligible voters per the Pew Research Center’s analysis of Census to allow members of the military to vote during the Civil War. According to the U.S. Election Bureau data.

The COVID-19 pandemic presents potential Assistance Commission, an independent U.S. barriers to community members to vote in-per- government agency, 24% of the ballots cast in son. Long and crowded lines at polling places the 2016 election were through mail-in absenwill force citizens to choose between risking tee voting.

Many of us, including the authors of this opCOVID-19 exposure and their right to vote.

While many, if not all, in-person polling places ed, have used absentee ballots to vote by mail will take certain safeguards with regard to so- for years because of the sheer convenience. It cial distancing and masks, voting by mail is a affords one with the ability to take their time while reviewing the various options on the balviable option for many.

To help ensure the exercise of the right to lot. It provides the ability to maintain one’s vote while balancing the health and safety of regular daily routine and not have to go out of voters and poll workers alike, many states have their way to go to a polling location (especially if they’re far away). And, it allows one to just avoid expanded mail-in voting.

For example, California is automatically send- crowds in general. What a year to avoid crowds! ing mail-in ballots out to all registered voters (If you’re wondering, you also get an “I Voted” (many should have received their ballots by sticker when you vote by mail, so you’ll still be now), and Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah, and able to show off on the ‘gram that you voted.)

With all these benefits to mail-in voting, inWashington are holding their elections entirely by mail. Moreover, voters in 28 states and the cluding the ability to avoid COVID-19 health District of Columbia have the right to request risks with large crowds at polling places this a mail ballot without excuse this coming elec- year, there are still many that are reluctant to tion. (Please check your particular state’s rules vote by mail. Why? The arguments range from

the opportunity for fraud or potential error from mail-in voting, as well as ballots not being handled or delivered properly by the U.S. Postal Service due to budget cuts. Additionally, some believe that voting by mail favors one party over another. While these are all potentially valid concerns, they are unfounded.

With regard to fraud and error, that is a misconception, paranoia, and exaggeration. There are several anti-fraud protections built into the process. In order to vote, one must be registered to vote. Ballots are only provided to registered voters and they are specifically tied to such registration, which are also cross-checked through other databases, such as the DMV’s database.

States are taking safeguards to verify voters’ information so that ballots are only issued to rightful voters and that a vote only counts once.

Additionally, election officials can track ballots throughout the process using a barcode.

In most states, rather than mailing their ballot through the USPS, voters also have the option of dropping off their ballot at a secure government office, a secure official ballot drop box, or other identified locations.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has also weighed in. In an August 26, 2020 briefing to the press regarding election security, FBI officials stated that they have found no evidence of coordinated fraud with mail-in ballots and they even went as far as to highlight how unlikely such a scenario would be. Those who abuse mail ballots can be charged with election fraud and face

u PAGE A7

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • OCtObeR 9-15, 2020

The House divided: Speakership Despite COVID-19 infection, Trump has... rows in the 18th Congress

by Xave

GreGorio Philstar.com

MANILA — The House of Representatives is awash with tension with Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano (Taguig-Pateros), Rep. Lord Allan Velasco (Marinduque) and their supporters squabbling as to whether the term-sharing agreement brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019 would still push through.

But times like these are not new to the chamber, which has already seen a coup d’etat and has been hounded by rumors of coup plots under the Duterte administration.

Alvarez vs Arroyo Months before he was actually booted out of the speakership, rumors of a coup against Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez (Davao del Norte) had already been swirling as lawmakers were reportedly dissatisfied with how he had run the House.

What fanned the flames and paved the way for his actual ouster was his alleged swipe at Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, the president’s daughter and whom he supposedly called a part of the opposition after she formed her own local political party.

On social media, the younger Duterte called Alvarez, a close ally of her father and a ranking official of her father’s party, an “insecure slob” and a “fat sleaze,” and urged lawmakers to stage a coup d’etat against him — and they did.

Lawmakers were already planning to declare the speakership vacant on the morning before President Rodrigo Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address in 2018, but they failed to do so as Alvarez’s allies succeeded in adjourning the session.

But they were not deterred.

Soon after the session’s adjournment, lawmakers returned to the session hall and routed a manifesto calling for Alvarez’s ouster that received 161 signatures.

Even with the absence of the mace, which represents legislative authority, and with the microphones turned off, lawmakers installed Arroyo to the top post at the House just moments before Duterte was scheduled to deliver his SONA. Lawmakers formally elected Arroyo and allowed her to take her oath of office for the second

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano (TaguigPateros)

time in a formal session after the SONA. Cayetano vs Velasco The squabble between Cayetano and Velasco goes back to 2019, when Duterte — faced with the choice between three men running for the speakership — chose to broker a termsharing deal between the two lawmakers. Under the deal, his 2016 running mate would get to sit first for 15 months, followed by the Marinduque lawmaker for the remaining 21 months of the 18th Congress.

But in March, Cayetano accused Velasco of attempting to stage a coup against him, which the latter denied.

The speakership issue was reignited again after several lawmakers aired their concerns over the budget, which prompted Rep. Paolo Duterte (Davao City) to threaten to call on the Mindanao bloc to declare the posts of speaker and deputy speaker — all 22 of them — vacant.

The younger Duterte said he only did this to help his colleagues’ concerns get heard.

He and Cayetano eventually met up on September 26. With them were the speaker’s wife Rep. Lani Cayetano (Taguig-Pateros), the Davao City lawmaker’s ally and House appropriations chair Eric Yap (ACT-CIS partylist), and House Deputy Secretary-General Brian Yamsuan.

With all seemingly well between him and Rep. Duterte, Speaker Cayetano again pointed his finger at Velasco for supposedly attempting to unseat him once again.

As the end-date for Cayetano’s 15 months as speaker neared, he

PAGE A6 suant to the 25th Amendment to the Constitution provision on the rules of succession, more compelling and matter more to him than the lives of more than almost 210,000 Americans who have already died because of COVID-19?

Did he really get the science and facts of coronavirus? Then why double down on downplaying it when he was about to leave the hospital, instead of using this moment to educate his fans and the American people about the fatality of the disease to save their lives?

Hasn’t Trump internalized yet that such was part of his oath when he was sworn to as Rep. Lord Allan Velasco (Marinduque) president? Has he not learned Philstar.com file photos the lesson that honesty and and Velasco met with President trustworthiness are important in Duterte to settle the speakership governing?

Has he not leaarned that true question once and for all.

In his speech at the House, patriotism and love for the counCayetano said he committed to try is serving ALL of the Amerithe President to resign by Octo- can people, to protect and save ber 14, but added that he cannot their lives, to govern for the guarantee votes for Velasco. He greater good and not for his own also predicted that even if Velasco gets votes to become speaker, he will face a coup d’etat a week into his tenure.

Cayetano added that they also PAGE A6 agreed that he will be the one to stiff fines and/or prison time.

Even though the USPS was announce what transpired during the meeting with the Presi- subject to budget cuts, promptdent, but this was preempted by ing questions on its ability to leaks to the media on the night of timely deliver mail-in ballots, that should no longer be an istheir meeting.

The speaker then offered his sue due to court orders. Courts resignation, only for it to be re- across the nation have issued injunctions ordering that elecjected by the plenary.

On October 6, Cayetano moved tion mail must be prioritized. to suspend the session after the For example, the U.S. District House passed the budget bill on Court for the Southern District of New York, in Mondaire second reading.

With sessions suspended until Jones, et. al. v. United States November 16, Cayetano effec- Postal Service, et. al., ruled that tively avoided a potential move the USPS shall treat all elecfrom Velasco’s camp to declare tion mail as first-class mail or the speakership vacant by Octo- priority mail express, pre-apber 14 — the supposed end-date prove overtime that has been or for the first half of the term-shar- will be requested for the time ing agreement between them period beginning October 26 brokered by President Rodrigo – November 6, and restore the on-time delivery of mail. Other Duterte in 2019.

Velasco and his allies have courts across the nation have been urging Cayetano to give up taken similar actions. As an adthe speakership by October 14 to ditional safeguard, some states, like California, have implementhonor their term-sharing deal.

Cayetano and his allies ed a process where a voter can have meanwhile been insisting track the status of their ballot that the Velasco camp move on online.

Voting by mail does not fafrom the leadership row and unite as the House tackles the vor any particular party. Mailin voting simply allows more 2021 budget.

Only time will tell whether that people to vote, and does not will actually happen or more sur- favor any candidate or party. In a recently released research arprises await the House. n

political and personal interest?

“Don’t be afraid of Covid.

Don’t let it dominate your life.

We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge.”

Were the lives of the American people who died of Covid insignificant to him because his goal is to be re-elected, no matter what the cost?

Clearly, Donald Trump is incapable of learning the lessons of empathy and sympathy, science and facts, the true role, and the obligation of the title “President of the United States.” He is incorrigible, a hopeless, helpless case as he has proven in the last four years because he does not have the character, the heart and soul required of the leadership position. He is beneath the dignity of the Office of the President of the United States.

He is definitely the WRONG MAN for the job. But like what he has done to other contestants in his reality TV show, we can fire him.

Former Vice President Joe

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Biden has proven he has the temperament, judgment, character, vision and experience to be the leader to unite us instead of divide us, to serve us instead of using the Office of the President to serve his selfish intentions, to heal and rebuild America from the rubbles and destruction Trump has caused in the past four years, to help us all fulfill the promise of America and save the soul of our beloved nation.

If you are looking for an alternative to what we have experienced as Americans for nearly four years, you can make the choice to vote Trump out of office this November. *** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for the community. You may contact her through email at gelrelos@icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos.

Fellow Fil-Ams: Whether it’s by mail or in... ticle by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, independent researchers found that “universal vote-by-mail does not affect either party’s share of turnout or either party’s vote share”. Thus, no matter what your political affiliation, the ability to vote by mail (or in-person) does not change the balance towards any direction.

Mail-in voting is at the forefront this year but it does not mean that the act of voting is any different, nor is its need any less. 2020 has brought about significant change in our daily lives, but it has not taken away our right to let our voices be heard. Our vote is even more important now than ever. Make sure you exercise your right to vote, whether by mail, or in person. As said in Hamilton, “do NOT throw away your shot.”

If you have any other questions regarding voting, the National Filipino American Lawyers Association has created a Voter Protection Program (VoPro). The NFALA VoPro is a national non-partisan effort designed to protect the vote and rights of voters for the upcoming election. Fil-Am attorneys

from across the nation will be available to answer questions regarding voting in California, Arizona, and Nevada. For more information on the program, please visit www.nfala.com/VoPro. *** Philip Lim Nulud is an attorney at Buchalter in Los Angeles, where he specializes in intellectual property law.

Many of his clients are well-known fashion brands, who he represents in IP protection, strategy, enforcement, and licensing matters worldwide. He is the current president of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA) and a past president of the Philippine American Bar Association (PABA). He has been named as one of the Most Influential Minority Attorneys in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal. *** Mari Bandoma Callado is an attorney at the Dolan Law Firm in Oakland, where she represents employees in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower and human trafficking cases as well as injured individuals, and families of loved ones who have died due to the fault of others, including in elder abuse and neglect lawsuits. She is the current president of the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California (FBANC). She has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers every year since 2017.

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Friday, October 9, 2020

OMETHING

ILIPINO

LIfESTyLE • cONSUMER GUIdE • cOMMUNITy • MARkETPLAcE Immigration Corner

No mercy or compassion Social justice, activism and allyship: Filipino with some immigration laws American History Month kicks off with calls to engage politically, culturally and socially

is dire, and they tearfully pour out their heart and soul, this will help in getting their case approved.

What people need to underSOME people hope or believe that if consuls or immigration of- stand is that many laws are ficers hear their grave predica- written in stone. By that I mean ment, they would be filled with some immigration benefits remercy and compassion and ap- quire rigid compliance with the prove their case. If their situation law. Mercy, compassion, and

Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

MORE IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS ANSWERED THIS SUNDAY ON CITIZEN PINOY! Josephine of Fremont, CA (top, right) asks about her sister in the Philippines, who has a naturalized U.S. citizen boyfriend who wants to visit Josephine’s sister to get to know her better. Due to the pandemic, he is not allowed to enter the Philippines since he is not a dual citizen. Can the sister travel to the U.S. instead? What is the best option for them? From San Diego, Fidela (middle, right) would like to know if her grandchildren are included under her petition for her two married sons. When Fidela petitioned her sons, their children were still toddlers. Now, some of her grandchildren are over 21 years old. Can they still come with their fathers under the Child Status Protection Act? And Beatriz from Vallejo, CA (bottom, right) asks if her two siblings can still come to the U.S., even though the petitioner has died. Can the fact that their father (the petitioner) was a World War II veteran help them still come to America? These questions and more will be answered by Atty. Gurfinkel on a brand-new episode of “CITIZEN PINOY: Your Tanong, My Sagot,” this Sunday, October 11 at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

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discretion have no bearing on the person’s eligibility. In those situations, no matter how heartbroken a consul or immigration Unpacking the history of social justice and revolution in the Filipino officer may be over the person’s situation, the law does not al- American community and cultivating a more inclusive, informed future low them to approve the case,

by Klarize Medenilla / AJPress no matter how much the person pleas or begs for kind considerEARLIER this year, Filipino PAGE B3 Americans from all walks of life took to the streets in protest of racial injustice and systemic discrimination following the highprofile murders of Black Americans.

Filipino Americans all across the country joined protests and rallies decrying the systems within American law enforcement that have allowed officers who have shot and killed unarmed people, particularly Black individuals, to Filipino labor leaders Philip Vera Cruz and Larry Itliong, key individuals during the Delano Grape Strike that started in 1965, are memorialized in “Gintong Kasaysayan, Gintong Pamana,” a mural bypass the justice system.

File photo courtesy of Eliseo Silva Skeptics, critics and disen- by Eliseo Silva in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown. gaged Filipinos alike all continue Yakima strikes, and Anti-Martial “This living nightmare that to question: Why are you getting Law Movements across multiple we’re living in now is not new,” involved in an issue that has noth- decades,” the organization said.

Filipino American lifelong activist ing to do with Filipinos?

In June during an interview Kalaya’an Mendoza told the Asian For many Filipinos in social about the Filipino community’s Journal in a recent interview. justice circles, that assump- role in civil rights, Filipina Ameri- “The anniversary of martial law in tion couldn’t be further from the can organizer Jollene Levid told the Philippines was just a couple truth. the Asian Journal that “[e]very weeks ago, so we have come from This year, the Filipino Ameri- mass movement in our history a place when one dictator took can National Historical Society that has changed the way a state over. History can be replicated (FANHS) themed Filipino Ameri- or government or a country has again.” can History Month 2020 around been run, including the PhilipMendoza — who helped mothe concept of social justice pines and the toppling of Marcos. bilize the Filipino American combecause of the pervasiveness People have found a way to con- munity following the reignition of oppression that the Filipino tribute in ways that go beyond of the Black Lives Matter moveAmerican (and global Filipino) what you see as a normal protes- ment this past June — described community has endured for cen- tor on the street.” a present-day Filipino American turies.

Although contemporary Fili- community that is slowly but “We choose this theme to high- pino Americans enjoy a relatively surely becoming privy to the varilight the myriad ways Filipino comfortable life, the year 2020 ous ways that bureaucracies and Americans have participated in presented them with stark re- systems of power subjugate comsocial justice movements, includ- minders that as long as racism, munities in America. ing but not limited to, the United political tyranny and propagan“I think people are realizing Farmworkers Movement, the fight distic forms of communication that when the Black community for Ethnic Studies, Hawaii Sugar exist, persecution, in any form, is is under attack, when the LGBTQ Plantation strikes, Washington just around the bend.

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‘80s heartthrob enjoys his little paradise in Batangas

By Ferdie Villar GABBY Concepcion, the teen heartthrob who fluttered many girls’ hearts and who subsequently came back to star in GMA-7 teleseryes, seems to be living the ideal life in his little paradise in Lobo, Batangas.

This, according to an interview he did with my good friend

Ricky Lo of the Philippine Star.

“Actually, it’s my ‘outside’ world…outside of the city, perfect for an outdoor kind of guy like me,” the actor said in the interview. “Even as a child, I’ve always loved to be in a place like it...a dream place that I’ve been planning for a long time. The

front is the ocean and the back is my farm, two worlds in one place. What more can I ask for?

If this is a taste of retirement for me, I have nothing to complain about and everything to be thankful for.”

Living in his paradise, Gabby has discovered things about Singer/TV host/actor Billy Crawford is one of the judges for TV5’s “Masked Singer Philippines.”

Instagram photo (@billycrawford)

Debonair actor Gabby Concepcion is very happy living the life in his paradise in the province of Batangas where he has the ocean on one side and his farm on the other side.

Instagram photo (@concepciongabby)

Handsome and talented actor Enrique Gil is one of the lead stars in the The Filipino Channel (TFC) teleserye “Forevermore.”

himself, including that he can live a provincial life.

“I don’t feel the rat race here,” he said. “The O2 is probably higher here maybe because of all the trees and the plants. I think that many good things happen with more O2 in your body.”

Gabby added that the farm is the perfect place to grow plants that can sustain your home and Filipina American beauteous actress/model Liza Soberano is the lead life. He revealed that his farm currently has okra, kalabasa, female star in “Forevermore,” a TFC teleserye.

talong, oregano, saging saba, sili, dragon fruit, calamansi, malunggay and papaya.

There’s a bonus for him staying in Batangas, too. Daughter KC is staying in a Batangas farm as well during the pandemic.

“We don’t see each other as often as we’d like to since the pandemic started. When we get a chance, we do talk about anything under the sun,” Gabby related. “We talk about the past, the current and the future, and funny, relevant and irrelevant matters. We both love Batangas, indeed!”

With the pandemic comes the challenges of staying fit. Gabby revealed that his activities in the farm, along with a good diet, keeps him in shape.

“I take approximately 73 steps from the parking lot to my house.

Then, I take approximately 54 or so steps from my room to the pavilion (where my kitchen is). I need to get there no matter what or else I won’t have my breakfast.

LOL. Then, I need to go back for lunch and dinner. How many steps would that be?,” he said.

He added: “That routine alone makes up for my daily workout (the Stair Master workout), without even trying. In addition, planting, gardening, cleaning and fixing around here are a lot of exercise. That’s enough to work up an appetite.

“What’s my diet? All the veggies I can eat! I also eat black, red or brown rice, sweet potatoes, fish, less sugar, less meat,” he answered.

As for maintaining contact with the outside world, Gabby said that it is difficult due to the unavailability of data signal due to the topography. However, he does communicate with friends via his cell phone.

As for the recent news that costar Marian Rivera has backed out of the Kapuso teleserye “First Yaya,” Gabby supports the Primetime Queen’s decision.

“If I were breast-feeding and needed to be locked down for three months away from my kids and family, I’d probably back out, too. It’s totally understandable. We’ve talked about the consequences. The timing

Cristine Reyes says it is important to help each other during these times instead of involving oneself in network wars.

Instagram photo (#cristinereyes)

of this COVID pandemic has affected everyone in more ways than one. First Yaya has a great storyline. Yes, I’m game! We are waiting for the GMA production team to reassemble,” Gabby reiterated. *** Cristine Reyes and Billy Crawford, who are currently judges for TV5’s “Masked Singer Philippines,” said in an interview for Inquirer.net that network competition is not a big deal for them, but what matters most are opportunities for work.

“I think, we all speak on behalf of every artist na lumipat or pumunta dito. We’re really just trying to spread humility as well and just be humbled na we are here and we are still given the opportunity to work,” Crawford was quoted as saying. “So the playing field para sa mga ratings, parang ‘yun ‘yung last na iniisip namin.”

Crawford added: “It’s not about where you are, kung anong network…I mean all this happens all the time. I mean it’s hard at first pero we’re just happy na magsasama-sama kami ulit dito.”

“Personally, nakakapanibago po. Ako ‘yung experience ko, alam ko first time ko po dito sa TV5, pero parang wala po akong nakikitang competition between TV5 and GMA,” Reyes said for her part. “Kasi at this moment in time, [the] whole world, kailangan… mas maging magtulungan tayo kaysa ‘yung maging magka-kumpetensya.”

Aside from Crawford and Reyes, other judges for the reality show are Aga Muhlach, Kim Molina and Matteo Guidicelli.

‘Guadalupe’ musical to be streamed Oct. 30-31 THE original theater production “Guadalupe,” taped during its run at the Meralco Theater in 2018, returns as a streamable video on Ticket2me.net beginning 9 a.m. on October 30 till 11:30 a.m. on October 31.

Through technology, the Julie Borromeo Performing Arts Foundation Inc. and producers of the musical’s online edition hope to reach art aficionados and devotees alike.

The Filipino musical, created by Joel Trinidad and Ejay Yatco, is directed by theater legend Baby Barredo.

“Guadalupe: The Musical” stars the inimitable Victor “Cocoy” Laurel (Miss Saigon) who reprises his role as Juan Diego, the Aztec mat-weaver at the center of the tale. Joining him are award-winning performers Sheila Valderrama-Martinez (“Binondo”), Lorenz Martinez (“Spamalot”) and a host of other theater stalwarts.

Proceeds from the sale of the e-tickets go to beneficiaries. Email guadalupethemusical-live@gmail.com or call (650) 550-9851 for more details.

(Advertising Supplement)

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Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS THERE is a confusing controversy, at least in the public arena, whether carbohydrates are healthy or bad for us. This will, of course, depend on what type of carbohydrates we are talking about. There are carbo foods that are better for us than others.

And then, there is the quantity factor. How much is too much?

What are carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates are one of the three main classes of food and sources of energy. The other two are protein and fats. Carbs are organic compounds of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, which include the sugars and starches found in rice, bread, cookies, candies, ice cream, cakes, potatoes, popcorn, corn, milk, beans, cereals, fruits, All these are eventually broken down to simple sugars, called glucose. This is what is measured when we have blood sugar level tested.

What types are there?

The old classification categorized them into simple and complex. This was modified into carbo with high glycemic index and those with low glycemic index.

The latest measure is the socalled glycemic load, since glycemic index alone does not tell us how much carbo is contained in the food item. The glycemic load tells us both the amount of carbohydrates in the food, how fast they are absorbed and its impact on blood sugar levels.

Low glycemic index foods, in general, are the healthier ones, because they are absorbed more slowly and increases the glucose level more steadily, not rapidly and abruptly like the high glycemic foods are.

How do we calculate the glycemic load?

To get the glycemic load of a food item, multiply the glycemic index by the amount of carbo calories the food contains. This may seem complicated, but the important caveat to remember is this: Minimally processed whole-grain foods are healthier than highly processed grains, cereals, and sugars. An example is brown rice, which is less processed, and therefore healthier, as compared to white rice which has been thoroughly processed, from cleaning, husking, paddy separating, and milling (which

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Sugars: unhealthy strips off the bran layer, which is actually good for us), leaving only the starchy endosperm, which we call white rice. The more processed food items are, the less healthier they are – even in processed, canned, or packaged meats, vegetables and fruits, with preservatives. Rice, and all other carbs are inflammatory foods.

Which are these food items?

Low-glycemic load (LGL) food items are high-fiber fruits and vegetables, bran cereals, and legumes, like chickpeas, pinto beans, kidney beans, black beans. The medium glycemic load (MGL) ones include brown rice, oatmeal, bulgur, pearled barley, whole grain pasta, whole grain bread, and fruit juice without added sugar. The high glycemic load (HGL) foods include white rice, potatoes, French fries, potato chips, refined cereals, white flour, non-diet pop drinks, candies, jelly beans, couscous, and cranberry juice.

Potatoes, for one, in any form, is both a high glycemic index and high glycemic load item.

Does our body need carbohydrates at all?

Yes, most definitely. To stay healthy, we need all the three types of food items: carbohydrates, proteins and fats. But there are food items in each of these three classes which are healthier than others. The healthiest carbohydrates are the low glycemic load foods and some medium glycemic load items. The best source of proteins are fish, legumes and some seafood (instead of red meats especially not processed meat products). As for fats, we do not have to eat fat per se, since most of the other food items we eat as listed above already have fats in them. While our digestive system breaks down all other food items into glucose, the fiber foods cannot be broken down and pass through our GI tract undigested, helping us have more regular bowel movements and also help in lowering the incidence of cancer of the colon.

Why are high glycemic index foods unhealthy?

In general, our body system is adversely affected by anything abrupt and drastic. It prefers more gradual and smoother fluctuations in the chemistry that is constantly occurring in our body. When we eat high glycemic foods, especially nondiet soft drinks, candies, rice,

potatoes, desserts, our glucose (blood sugar) level shoots up abruptly. This has been linked to an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease. Lower glycemic foods help control type 2 diabetes. The amount of rice we eat appears to be a major reason why the Philippines has the highest incidence of type 2 diabetes, by population ratio.

What are nightshades?

Nightshades are a group of highly inflammatory vegetables (Latin name: Solanaceae) which are bad for arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and autoimmune conditions. They contain the chemical solanine, which is inflammatory and aggravates all those medical conditions. They include tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, chili, paprika, and eggplants. Tobacco also belongs to this group. Lettuce, radishes, spinach, celery, mushroom, and many other green leafy veggies, are vegetables that do NOT contain carbohydrates.

How much is too much?

The best gauge for our daily food (calories) intake this is our body mass index, which, simply stated, is our expected weight according to our height. A person, 5 feet four inches tall should normally weigh around 110 to 140.

Weighing once a week (preferably the same day and time) will help guide us as to our daily calorie requirement. But, as a rule, cutting down our rice consumption will help not only in maintaining a normal weight, but in preventing diseases, such as metabolic syndrome, which includes diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. All soft drinks, with no exception, are unhealthy “liquid candies” and toxic to the body, especially to children.

So what’s the healthier choice?

Choosing healthier sources of proteins and carbohydrates as listed above and, of course, controlling the calories to achieve your normal weight, is the key.

A two-decade prospective study of 82,802 women revealed that those “who ate low-carbohydrate diets that were high in vegetable sources of fat or protein had a 30 percent lower risk of heart disease, compared to women who ate high carbohydrate, low-fat diets…and women who ate low-carbohydrate diets that were high in animal fats or proteins did not have a reduced risk of heart disease.” Eating fish, chicken, minimal red meat,

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Questions on family-based petitions take centerstage on this Sunday’s ‘Citizen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My Sagot!’

THIS Sunday, leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel answers questions related to family petitions.

Beatriz from Vallejo, CA would like to know if their father’s service as a World War II veteran could help the petition for her siblings? Their father petitioned them in the early 90’s but he died. Can the siblings still come to the U.S.?

Josephine of Fremont, CA

would like to know if her sister can travel to the U.S. to meet her naturalized U.S. citizen boyfriend. The boyfriend really wants to visit Josephine’s sister to get to know her better, but due to the pandemic, he is not allowed to enter the Philippines since he is not a dual citizen. What is the best option for them?

Fidela, from San Diego, petitioned her two sons when their children were still toddlers. Now,

some of the grandchildren are over 21 years old. Can they still come to the U.S. with their fathers under the Child Status Protection Act? These and more questions will be answered on an all-new episode of “CITIZEN PINOY: Your Tanong, My Sagot,” on Sunday, October 11 at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/ Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

No mercy or compassion with some...

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ation. It is important for people to know when mercy and compassion apply and whether rigid compliance is required.

For example, under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA), there is a mathematical formula for determining a child’s age. Either the child’s age computes to be under 21, or it does not. If it does not, the child is not eligible, no matter what. It does not matter arguing the child will be left behind, and that the child was only a baby when the petition was filed, etc. This type of law is rigidly applied, and there is no discretion for the consul or immigration officer to overlook or ignore these legal requirements.

However, there is also a separate CSPA requirement that the child applies for or “seek to acquire” their visa within one year of availability. In that situation, there could be room for discretion if the deadline was missed, because of “extraordinary circumstances.”

Other situations, such as marital cases or petition, require the couple to have been “unmarried” on their wedding day. Otherwise, the marriage would be

void as bigamous if one of them is still married to somebody else at the time they marry. The petition could not be approved. It does not matter how heartbroken the couple may be, or how aggravating it may be to them; the law requires compliance, and there really is no room for mercy or compassion for this requirement. The officer cannot approve a marital petition based on a void or bigamous marriage.

In other cases, there could be room for mercy, compassion, and discretion, such as with fraud waivers, provisional waivers, or humanitarian revalidation cases. In those situations, the officer can exercise “discretion,” enabling them to weigh and balance the positive factors against the negative factors, and decide whether the person should be “forgiven” or the case approved.

If you are applying for an immigration benefit, you should consult with an attorney, who can evaluate your case, including situations where you must strictly comply with the law or whether the benefit you are applying for involves the officer’s exercise of discretion. If the law is rigidly applied, it does

no good for you to cry or beg or seek compassion and mercy. Instead, an attorney can help you determine if you meet the actual legal requirements.

a lot of green leafy vegetables and fruits in moderation, some nuts and oats, minimal carbs (sugar, rice, bread, sweets) is healthier. This low-carb diet will also protect us from a host of chronic illness, metabolic diseases, and cancer.

As always, we are what we eat and what we sow is what we reap. Our health is, to a great extent, in our hands.

The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician,

who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.

SERVICES

*** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

Each case is different, and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter.

No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

*** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United NetworkUSA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

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‘UNDISCOVERED X’: San Francisco’s popular Filipino night market moves online “UNDISCOVERED X,” a twoday gathering of Filipino/a/x entrepreneurs, creatives and thought leaders will be mounted online from October 17-18.

With four virtual stages, four streaming hub cities, over 60 key guests and 50+ sponsor & vendor expo booths, “UNDISCOVERED X,” will showcase a range of FilAm stories, art, music, panel discussions and more.

The virtual event ultimately offers critical dialogue around the culture and complex identities of the diaspora and a muchneeded space for connection and collaboration in the community, amid the coronavirus pandemic, said Fil-Am non-profit Kultivate Labs.

Also included in the event’s robust programming is “UNDSCVRD TALENT” a worldwide talent show, welcoming singers, musicians, and producers from all over the globe, to submit a video of their best original music performance. The winners will perform at Undiscovered X and get the chance to work with industry professionals from MyxTV. Livestream partners will include major cities such as San Francisco (hosted by Kultivate Labs, Make it Mariko, and Creative Transit Agency), New York (DJ Getlive, Rise Radio, Fil Fam Collective, NextDayBetter), Los Angeles (HiFi Kitchen, SIPA, OneDown Media), and Manila

Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, the Undscvrd night market would bring thousands of people to the Filipino Cultural District. Photo by Mogli Maureal

(Kumu & She Talks Asia).

Guiding UNDISCOVERED X programming this year is the theme “Culture Connected.” Considering the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic on BIPOC communities and businesses, as well as the global civil rights movement for black liberation, the team has considered critical questions around diasporic identity, community building, storytelling, cultural and economic support and allyship.

By leveraging the accessibility of digital platform Hopin, UNDISCOVERED X is virtually able to host and connect anyone with internet access across the globe.

Attendees will be able to navigate the different stages and programs with ease and within the comfort

of their homes. Select cities will also be able to enjoy Filipino Food Meal Kits, adding a more sensory touch to the UNDISCOVERED experience. Featured artists and guests include rapper Ruby Ibarra, singers Kiana V and Jeff Bernat, world-renowned DJ crew – Triple Threat DJs, and panels – Filipinos Changing the Media Game, Filipino Cultural Districts in the Diaspora, and more.

UNDISCOVERED SF is part of a multi-prong strategy to build a thriving, sustainable community of economic and cultural activity in the SOMA Pilipinas cultural district.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.undiscoveredsf.com.

Social justice, activism and allyship: Filipino...

PAGE B1 community is under attack and when the immigrant community is under attack, that means we are all under attack,” Mendoza remarked.

As previously discussed in the Asian Journal, the “post-racial America” myth paints the now as an unprecedented period of equality across all demographics, conflicting with the grim realities of Black Americans, immigrants and other communities.

For the past several months, Filipino American community leaders, including those in FANHS, have been working to mobilize the nearly four million Filipinos in the U.S. to participate civically, but Filipino American History Month provides an opportunity for Filipino Americans to examine the community’s close relationship with social justice and political activism.

“I think people are recognizing that we all have a place in the movement for social justice, whether it is on the front lines providing medical aid to protestors to being behind a computer screen educating our community,” Mendoza said.

A (very) brief history of Filipino American social justice Celebrated every October to commemorate the landing of the first Filipinos in America in October of 1587, Filipino American History Month was first designated and recognized nationally in 2009.

Filipino Americans are the second largest Asian American group in the U.S, a group that has exponentially grown since the first North American settlement of Filipinos in 1763. These were swaths of Filipinos who were forced into enslavement during the Spanish galleon trade who escaped and established settlements across the Louisiana bayou, eventually dispersing throughout the country.

By the 20th century, the West Coast became the most popular point of settlement (by then, a part of the U.S.), coinciding with a changing of colonial guards when the Philippines became a U.S. territory.

As a pawn for two consecutive colonial powers — Spain and then the U.S. — sovereignty wasn’t just an issue of national political autonomy; it also became about the right to be recognized as a community that has a place in the United States.

Immigration to the U.S. from the Philippines flourished from 1900 to 1934. Filipinos became U.S. nationals when it was realized that Filipino workers could fulfill the demand for cheap labor in agriculture, cannery and domestic servitude.

But Filipino immigrants of the manong generation faced intense racial discrimination prompted by changing immigration policies, anti-miscegenation laws (the prohibition of interracial coupling) and oppressive labor laws that kept wages low and conditions nearly unlivable.

This prompted a wave of workers strikes and demonstrations, most prominently led by fabled Filipino organizer Larry Itliong, the godfather of the labor revolution that put Filipino American activism on the map.

Fast forward to the present when the world is plagued by intense political division, fights for racial justice and, of course, a literal plague when social justice once again comes to the fore of

Filipino Americans joined a Black Lives Matter protest in Chicago in June 2020.

Photo courtesy of @hazelsunday/Instagram

The International Hotel, known as I-Hotel, was a low-income single-room-occupancy residential hotel in what used to be San Francisco’s Manilatown. During the late 60s, real estate corporations proposed plans to demolish the hotel, which would necessitate displacing all of the I-Hotel’s elderly tenants, many of whom were Filipino. In response, housing activists, students, community members, and tenants united to protest and resist eviction. All the tenants were evicted on August 4, 1977 and the hotel was demolished in 1981.

Photo courtesy of Manilatown Heritage Foundation

collective consciousness.

The wound of the martial law era in the Philippines remains fresh for stateside Filipinos and their American descendants as a reminder that progress isn’t linear, that tyranny and loss of basic freedom and rights occurs in a domino formation.

Especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that has disproportionately affected front line health care personnel, communities of color and essential workers (which prompted weak government response), the need to participate in meaningful activism has never been more dire.

Moreover, thousands of antiAsian hate incidents have been reported by Asian Americans across all cultures, prompting the question over whether or not America is truly welcoming of all races and ethnicities, Mendoza noted.

“We’re seen as the perpetual foreigner, so regardless of where this virus came from, this rhetoric will always come back to haunt us. And we should never throw our Chinese brothers and sisters under the bus and be like, ‘We’re not Chinese.’ [Racists] don’t care about that,” Mendoza said.

A more inclusive future One way that Filipinos can manifest social justice efforts into their daily lives is to become a beacon of information on these pressing topics and to marshal the people in their lives to get involved, whether that’s through phone banking, volunteering for campaigns or even simply voting.

Filipino Americans for Joe Biden — made up of key Filipino Democratic volunteers across the country — is currently making its last-ditch efforts to drum up support for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, who has been characterized as an antidote to the current administration.

A 2020 Asian American Voter Survey found that Filipinos are the second-largest Asian American group to support President Donald Trump, a leader who has stirred antipathy from Democrats, Republicans and moderates alike for his restrictive social policies

and his efforts to scourge basic constitutional rights, as the Asian Journal recently reported.

The admiration many of these Filipino Trump supporters have for the current administration is rooted in a warped view of rugged individualism and American exceptionalism that neglects the basic need for community-centered, inclusive solutions.

According to Mendoza, the key to cultivating a successful social justice force — especially one that stands the test of time and isn’t built upon superficial and performative means of activism — is relationship and community building and finding which social justice avenues are the right ones to follow.

If you’re immunocompromised and can’t attend a protest, you can use the internet and telecommunications to participate in specific movements and causes.

Donating to reputable charities or financially supporting those who are able to take their activism to the streets is another way to rally behind a movement. Using your specific talents, whether it be graphic design, writing, videography or any other creative outlet, is another way to participate.

But the strongest impact comes from educating yourself and others, especially family members, about the nuances of issues like police brutality, voter suppression or immigration reform.

Whatever form your chosen mode of activism takes, Mendoza emphasized the potential of the Filipino American community to build a future that is more informed, civically engaged and inclusive of all races, ethnicities, genders and bodies.

“We need to ground ourselves in the legacy that we all hold on this stolen land. When it comes to social justice because we have always been here and a lot of the times we’ve been erased from those stories, so it’s important for us to remember and to uplift all those who have come before and who will come after that fight for social justice for all communities,” Mendoza added.

McDonald’s sweetens up breakfast with new nationwide McCafé® Bakery lineup For the first time in eight years, new baked goods join McDonald’s iconic core menu: Apple Fritter, Blueberry Muffin and Cinnamon Roll CHICAGO – Wake up and smell the...cinnamon rolls! For nearly five decades, McDonald’s has been the leader in providing quick, delicious and savory breakfast options to our customers. And on Wednesday, October 7, we’re sharing some sweet news to give fans even more ways to experience the breakfast they love at McDonald’s with our new McCafé Bakery lineup.

Beginning Wednesday, October 28, customers can enjoy a new Apple Fritter, Blueberry Muffin or Cinnamon Roll at breakfast time (or break time... or lunch time...or coffee time... or me time, or...anytime, really).

Each new menu item will be available all day at participating restaurants nationwide, because you never know when that sweet craving will hit.

• Apple Fritter: A classic fritter made with cinnamon and apples, this hand-held treat is fried to a golden brown and drizzled with a sweet glaze icing. Are we saying you should dip yours into your morning coffee? No way… Ok, fine, we definitely are.

• Blueberry Muffin: Our new recipe is baked with real blueberries and topped with a streusel crumb topping, making for a crave worthy soft & fluffy muffin.

Feeling “blue” all day never tasted so good.

• Cinnamon Roll: Loaded with cinnamon layered between buttery, flaky pastry dough that is drizzled with a delicious cream cheese icing. Served warm, the aroma alone sparks a craving for the next decadent bite…talk about a reason to roll out of bed.

These craveable options will be offered alongside our beloved McCafé cookies and pies, marking the first addition of bakery items to McDonald’s core menu in over eight years.

“McDonald’s has been famous for our savory breakfast menu for almost fifty years,” said Linda VanGosen, Vice President, Brand and Menu Strategy, McDonald’s USA. “We’re continuing our breakfast innovation by adding tasty new sweet options with our new McCafé Bakery lineup. We know our customers deserve a

break now more than ever, and are excited to give them another reason to visit their favorite breakfast destination by offering delicious flavors they crave, any time of the day.”

Our breakfast story began with the now-legendary Egg McMuffin in 1971. Over the years, we’ve continued to evolve our breakfast menu for our customers by introducing breakfast burritos in 1991, McGriddles in 2003 and committing in 2015 to sourcing 100% cage-free eggs by 2025.

And now, we’re continuing the legacy with our addition of the Apple Fritter, Blueberry Muffin and Cinnamon Roll.

Throughout this breakfast innovation, our food items have always been complemented by the most important of beverages: coffee. McCafé officially debuted in 2009 with our Premium Roast Coffee, and we’re proud to serve 100% sustainably sourced ground and whole bean coffee at restaurants throughout the U.S. Additionally, as coffee tastes have expanded, so have our options which now include espresso beverages, café quality frappé beverages and bakery items such as McCafé cookies, pies and our limited-time Donut Sticks**.

We can’t wait for customers to get a taste of our new McCafé Bakery lineup, all available in restaurants via carry-out, at the Drive Thru or through McDelivery.

McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to nearly

25 million customers every day.

Ninety-five percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook. www.facebook.com/ mcdonalds.

McCafé coffees including lattes, cappuccinos and mochas were added to the U.S. national menu in 2009, and quickly expanded to include blended ice frappés and smoothies as well as limited-time seasonal offerings.

Since 2017, we’ve evolved the McCafé menu to offer delicious options more than ever before, including espresso beverages like Americanos, café quality frappé beverages and bakery items such as our pies, cookies and limitedtime McCafé Donut Sticks. We’ve also made McCafé more convenient and accessible, introducing McDelivery, mobile order and pay and McCafé retail lines. In 2019, a renewed commitment to McCafé features refreshed branding to celebrate ten years of giving customers the cup of goodness they deserve. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook www.facebook.com/McDonaldsUS/. *Includes ground and whole bean coffee sourced for all McDonald’s restaurants in the U.S. except Hawaii. **Not currently available in U.S. restaurants

Domestic workers protest Gov. Newsom’s Veto of SB 1257 (Durazo) ON October 1, domestic workers gathered in San Francisco and Los Angeles to protest California Governor Gavin Newsom’s decision to veto SB 1257 (Durazo), the Health and Safety for All Workers Act, which would have ended the 47-year exclusion of domestic workers from CAL/OSHA, the Occupational Safety Health Act. Domestic workers (nannies, housecleaners, and homecare workers) are the only workers who do not have the legal right to a healthy and safe work environment.

Domestic workers held signs with messages like “Governor Newsom, Your Veto is Killing Us” and staged a die-in on the steps of the State Buildings in Los Angeles and San Francisco to dramatize the gravity of their message. Speakers shared what it will mean for their work and their health, for both themselves and their families, that the Governor refused to include them in Cal/OSHA protections, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing wildfire season.

Rosario Mejica, a member leader of Filipino Advocates for Justice, has been a homecare worker in the Bay Area for more than 12 years. “As caregivers, we feel very frustrated with the Governor’s decision,” she said.

“We need health and safety protections and training to safely do the essential work of caring for clients and assisting them to live independently in their homes. We

won’t stop fighting for this right.

We will keep fighting for domestic workers like me who are out on the frontlines now, and for the domestic workers who will come after us.”

Maegan Ortiz, Director of the Institute for Popular Education of Southern California (IDEPSCA) and member of the California Domestic Workers Coalition was one of the speakers at the action in Los Angeles.

“It’s disappointing that even after hearing and reading in the media what it’s like for domestic workers to go without health and safety protections, the Governor decided to allow these inequities and injustices to continue by allowing the ongoing exclusion of domestic workers from Cal/OSHA protections. I’m thinking today about all the workers who will get sick with COVID-19, from exposure to toxic cleaning chemicals or from exposure to wildfire smoke, because the Governor did not take the simple step of including them. We will not let the Governor forget that these illnesses, these injuries and these deaths are now on his hands,” Ortiz said.

Domestic work employers also shared their reaction to the Governor’s decision. Elaine Shelley was one of several employers who participated in meetings with legislators to voice her support for the bill. She has disabilities and employs personal care attendants to allow her to live independently.

“I want the personal care assistants who come to my home daily to know I remain their committed ally,” she said. “While I remain committed to their safety and dignity, I am deeply saddened that our governor does not share that same commitment. I know that their safety is my safety. Their dignity is my dignity. I will continue in this struggle until those in power understand and acknowledge that.”

Kimberly Alvarenga, Director of the California Domestic Workers Coalition said, “We want to put everyone on notice that this veto doesn’t end our fight. We will be back, with even more support, with even more power, because domestic workers deserve these protections and cannot wait any longer.”

For more information about the campaign, please visit www. cadomesticworkers.org.

The CDWC is a statewide coalition of organizations working to advance the dignity and respect for domestic workers and their families. The organizations that are a part of the steering committee include ALMAS of the Graton Day Labor Center, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, Filipino Advocates for Justice, Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network, Instituto de Educación Popular del Sur California (IDEPSCA), Mujeres Unidas y Activas, Pilipino Workers Center, and The Women’s Collective of Dolores Street Community Services.

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • OCtObeR 9-15, 2020

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october 9-15, 2020 • NorcAL ASIAN JoUrNAL

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