102420 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

OCTOBER 24-27, 2020 Volume 30 - No. 84 • 2 Sections – 20 Pages

Trump, Biden make final pitch to voters ahead of Election Day

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

PRESIDENT Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden faced off for the final time on Thursday, October 22, less than two weeks before Election President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee, Day. The two candidates met at their squared off in the second and final presidential debate on Thursday night, October 22, as second and final presidential dethe country heads into the remaining days of the election season.

bate — moderated by NBC News correspondent Kristen Welker in Nashville, Tennessee — and made one last pitch to American voters, touching on issues from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic to the U.S.’ relations with China to Hunter Biden’s business dealings.

Thursday’s event came as COVID-19 has claimed over 223,000

American lives, to which, the president defended his administration’s response and deflected blame to China.

“I take full responsibility,” Trump said, continuing, “It’s not my fault that it came here. It’s China’s fault.”

He further vowed that “it’s going away” and that it would be time to reopen the country

and that the American public is “learning to live with it.”

The Democratic nominee jabbed, “Come on. We’re dying with it.” He emphasized the toll of the virus and warned that “a dark winter” is coming.

“Anyone who is responsible for that many deaths should not remain as president of the United u PAGE A2

USA

DATELINE New study unpacks anti-Asian rhetoric, ‘yellow peril’ among elected officials FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

OVER the course of the coronavirus pandemic that unleashed a wave of anti-Asian hate across the United States, Republican politicians and candidates were more likely to use “racist or stigmatizing” language about the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, according to a new study released this week.

The nonpartisan organization Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON), through its Stop AAPI Hate initiative, unveiled a study that examined the language that elected officials use over social media, particularly Twitter. Specifically, A3PCON combed through 1,227 tweets over the period of Jan. 1 to Aug. 31, 2020 and scanned for derogatory language targeting the AAPI community.

The study was a collaborative effort of researchers from the University of Michiu PAGE A4

San Diego honors comedian Jo Koy during Filipino American History Month FILIPINO American stand-up comedian Jo Koy was honored by the City of San Diego during a ceremony recognizing Filipino American History Month.

District 6 City Councilman Chris Cate on Friday, October 16, proclaimed the day as “Jo Koy Day” in San Diego. The ceremony took place in Mira Mesa and was emceed by ABC 10News reporter Melissa Mecija.

“Jo Koy is iconic and a trailblazer,” said Cate, who is a second-generation Filipino American.

“His homage to the Philippines has reached the lives of millions of people worldwide. Filipino cuisine, culture, and arts are flourishing in District 6, and I am excited to celebrate Jo Koy and recognize his accomplishments,” he added.

Jo Koy, whose birth name is Joseph Glenn Hubert, first took the stage in Las Vegas in 1989 and has been working as a stand-up comedian ever since.

He has several Netflix comedy specials under his belt — “Comin’ in Hot,” “Live from Seattle,”and “Jo Koy: In His Elements,” which was shot in the Philippines.

“I wanted to give back to a culture that gave me so much, and I wanted to inspire young u PAGE A3

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Malacañang photo by Ace Morandante

Report: Duterte among world leaders with a big stake in US election

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

‘DIRTY ICE CREAM.’ A sorbetes (ice cream) vendor attends to his customers along Cardiz Street, Barangay Doña Josefa in Quezon City on Friday, October 23. Sorbetes is the traditional variation of ice cream made in the Philippines and sometimes called “dirty ice cream.”

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

AS the world will be closely watching the United States election, some countries will be watching more closely than others, according to the Associated Press.

“A number of world leaders have a personal stake in the outcome, with their fortunes depending heavily u PAGE A4

AARP survey: Health care motivating Asian American voters in 50-plus segment, 41% identify as Democrats

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

WHAT issues are top of mind for Asian American registered voters over the age of 50 going into Election Day? Health care (93%), jobs and the economy (89%), education (87%) and national security (87%) are among the concerns Asian American voters rated as “extremely” or “very” important, according to findings released by AARP, the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for Americans 50 and older, on Wednesday, October 21.

The findings come some eight months in

the pandemic, as the Asian American community has experienced the effects of COVID-19, whether through hate crimes, business downturn, or being disproportionately high rates of infection.

Going into specific health-related topics, 58% of voters said addressing the coronavirus is a top priority, while 54% said securing the future of Social Security is “extremely” important” and 53% want to see lower health care costs.

“To win, candidates must really talk about the issues that matter to the 50-plus voters — voting safely from home, preventing cuts u PAGE A3

AARP analysis of the 2020 Asian American Voter Survey found that 41% of registered voters identify as Democrat, while 33% as Republican.

PH now allows entry of Voting has already begun: How to vote early in LA county foreigners with investors’ visa

By AJPRESS

IT has often been said that the election ends on November 3rd, 2020, but the truth is that due to the Pandemic, stay at home orders and increase of Vote by Mail – the election is NOW. We are already witnessing a record turnout nationwide. In one of the most important elections of a generation 2020 is already generating attention and engagement across the country. The fact is that it is crucial for every voter or potential voter to engage and participate in the political process. It is what makes a democracy flourish

and will be key in strengthening our institutional foundations for years to come.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the dynamic of the political process. Not only is it imperative that every individual vote, but it is more important now than ever to vote early and to utilize the vote by mail advantages. It’s safe, secure, and will help keep every voter safe.

The Los Angeles County Registrar announced recently that vote-by-mail ballots have been mailed to all registered voters to ensure safe and accessible voting options u PAGE A5

By AJPRESS

STARTING November 1, foreigners with investors’ visas will be permitted entry into the Philippines.

The country has eased up the travel restrictions on foreign nationals entering the country following a resolution from the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

“The Inter-Agency Task Force

for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATFEID) on Thursday, October 22, allowed the entry of foreign nationals starting November 1, 2020,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

Under IATF Resolution No. 80, foreigners allowed to enter the country include: • Those with visas issued by the Bureau of Immigration pursuant to EO No. 226 or the u PAGE A3

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From the Front Page

Trump, Biden make final pitch...

PAGE A1

States of America. I will take care of this. I will end this. I will make sure we have a plan,” Biden said.

The two exchanged countering ideas on climate change and alternative energy sources, replacing the Obama-era Affordable Care Act, and responded to racial and social injustices.

The president claimed that he is the “least racist person in this room,” while his opponent slammed how Trump has characterized the Black Lives Matter movement and previously told the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by.”

“This guy is a dog whistle about as big as the fog horn,” Biden said.

Trump also criticized Biden’s record, including the latter’s support for the 1994 crime bill, that pushed for severe penalties for drug offenses.

“He’s been in government 47 years, he never did a thing, except in 1994, when he did such harm to the Black community and they were called and he called them super predators, and he said that, super predators,” Trump claimed. “And they can never live that down. 1994, your crime bill. The super predators.”

(Fact-checkers have said it was actually then-first lady Hillary Clinton who used the term in a 1996 speech in support of the bill that was signed by former Pres.

Bill Clinton.)

The former vice president acknowledged his previous stance was “a mistake” and that he has been “trying to change it since.”

Voter reactions Following the chaotic first debate last month, new rules were implemented, such as allowing the candidates to speak uninterrupted and a mute function. The 90-minute exchange between Trump and Biden Thursday left some voters feeling like more substance was offered.

“You got to hear more about policy discussions, but I think it was crystal clear that Vice President Biden has the plan to contain COVID, a plan to reopen our economy. He has a plan to get our kids back in school, and has a plan to make sure to reunite this country that’s so divided right now,” said Irene Bueno, a senior advisor for Fil-Ams for Biden-

Harris and former official in the Clinton administration, during a virtual spin room following Thursday’s debate.

Kevin Acebo, also a senior advisor for Fil-Ams for Biden-Harris, added, “The person that needed to make the case to America was the incumbent President of the United States, and he failed miserably…He didn’t offer what was his vision for the next four years and if past is prologue, then do you want the next four years to be like these past four years?”

Marc Ang, president of Asian Industry B2B and a local conservative leader in Southern California, told the Asian Journal that Welker’s moderation was fair and helped move the conversation.

“It was a really healthy debate and I want to give props to the moderator,” Ang said. “The American public was able to hear a debate that wasn’t three personalities angling for each other like the first one.”

For Ang, who has been working on a grassroots level to help secure a second term for the president, reopening industries and the economy is one of his top concerns.

“It showed a contrast between Trump who is looking for safety solutions versus Biden who was claiming everything that Trump did was wrong. A country like Sweden didn’t do any of those draconian shutdowns and seems to be doing fine so I think Trump has presented a reasonable point of view while Biden was just trying to score political points,” he said.

Missed opportunities Michelle De Castro, a Biden supporter from New Jersey, said the COVID-19 conversation should include front-liners and other essential workers.

“We’re talking about front-liners as well, not just the people who have suffered from COVID, who have died from COVID… We’re talking about the percentage of front-liners who are Asian American doctors, who are Filipino nurses and how it directly affects them and with no increased compensation for being on the frontline and I just don’t think that’s been talked about during any of the debates,” she said.

Geri Aglipay, a supporter from

the Chicago area, added that the rhetoric and hate crimes that have increased in the Asian American community since the onset of the pandemic could have also been touched upon.

“It’s ironic as Asian Americans and a community of color that [Trump] was making the statement that he’s the ‘least racist person in the room’ when he has, in fact, called COVID-19, ‘Kung flu’ and we’ve seen the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans, including Filipino Americans,” he said.

During the exchange on immigration, Trump was asked about his administration’s policy of separating immigrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border that has reportedly left 545 children still apart from their parents.

“We’re trying very hard. But a lot of these kids come out without the parents,” Trump said.

“They come over through cartels and through coyotes and through gangs.”

However, some Fil-Am voters hoped the topic would have covered other nuances of immigration, such as visa wait times and a pathway to citizenship.

“Enforcing legal immigration laws is an important topic for the Fil-Am community, which was not addressed by both candidates.

Our immigration laws are set to create a fair system and protection for all hard-working Fil-Ams first, which is especially important during the pandemic and high unemployment numbers today,” Lisa Noeth, a Republican and small business owner in Las Vegas, told the Asian Journal.

Message to undecided voters With Asian American voters considered the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group in the U.S. electorate, this election is an opportunity for communities like the Fil-Ams to show its voting power.

Asian Americans are projected to make up 4.7% of eligible voters this year, and among the groups, Fil-Ams make up the second-largest share at around 1.9 million eligible voters, according to analysis from the Pew Research Center.

As voters receive their mailin ballots or head to the polls to vote for their preferred candiu PAGE A3

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AARP survey: Health care motivating Asian...

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to Social Security and Medicare and lowering drug prices,” said Joseph Liu, director of campaign strategy and management at AARP on Wednesday, adding, “If the polls are to be believed, they may be the biggest swing vote casting their ballots for candidates, taking COVID as seriously as they are, regardless of party or political labels.”

The data are based on results from the 2020 Asian American Voter Survey — released in September by APIAVote, AAPI Data and Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC — and AARP’s “National Survey of Older Voters During COVID-19: Asian Americans” conducted in March.

With Asian Americans comprising the fastest-growing racial and ethnic voter bloc in the United States, individuals in the 50-plus segment, particularly those who are foreign born, are the ones leading in voter registration and turnout.

The results found that voter registration among eligible Asian American voters increases with age, with the 45-64 segment at 58%, 65-74 at 60% and 56% for those over 75. In contrast, the 1824 segment is at 45% and 24-44 at 52%.

“Among Hispanics and among Asians, the foreign born are the more reliable segments of voters.

They are the ones turning out at higher rates on Election Day,” said Angela Houghton, senior research advisor of multicultural research at AARP. “They are predominately an immigrant electorate.”

Going into the party identification, 41% of older voters identified as Democrats, while 33% said they are Republicans and 26% independent. But the majority identify as “moderate” (58%), while 26% say they’re “conservative” and 16% identify as “liberal.”

“Looking back over the midterm elections as well as the 2016 presidential election year, we didn’t see a lot of change in terms of party identification in this group of voters,” Houghton said.

“There’s more cohesion around an ideology with this group of voters than there is in a party identi-

fication.”

Despite the enthusiasm and party identification, a majority of voters are not being engaged or contacted by the Democratic or Republican parties or community organizations.

The findings did not show the breakdown of support for the presidential candidates or any other races, but Asian American voters largely said they are looking for an elected official that “exhibits integrity, honesty, and moral character” (56%), “understands deeply the day to day issues of ordinary Americans” (52%), and “prioritizes getting things done above the political party ideology” (52%).

“One of the things that have been continuing to plague the AAPI community is that we’re invisible and that also comes true when it comes to elections and political parties as well. We constantly have to make the case through data,” said Daphne Kwok, vice president of multicultural leadership for AAPI audience strategy at AARP. “They need to hear what are our issues, what are our concerns…and that we all need to be taken seriously and that our needs need to be addressed and spoken to.”

Meanwhile, the 2020 Asian American Voter Survey, which tapped Asian American registered voters 18 and older, further disaggregated findings by the subgroups. Sixty-two percent of Fil-Am voters said they are “more enthusiastic” than they were in previous cycles, the highest level of support compared to the Chinese, Indian, Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese groups surveyed.

When asked who they are “inclined to vote for” in the presidential race, 54% of Asian Americans are leaning toward former Vice President Joe Biden, while 30% would back a second term for President Donald Trump. Among Fil-Ams, 52% back Biden, while 34% support Trump — the second highest support among the groups after 48% of Vietnamese voters who said they would reelect the current president.

Safe voting plan

PH now allows entry of...

PAGE A1 t

Omnibus Investments Code, as amended, and Republic Act No. 8756; • Those with 47(a)(2) visas issued by the Department of Justice; and • Those with visas issued by Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority, and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

“The entry of these foreign nationals to the country, however, is subject to conditions, such as they must have [a] valid and existing visa at the time of the entry and must likewise have a prebooked accredited quarantine facility,” Roque said.

“In addition, they must be subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry and must follow applicable immigration laws, rules and regulations,” he added.

The IATF’s latest resolution also stated that Filipinos traveling

abroad are no longer required to present a negative result for an antigen test taken 24 hours before departing.

“The IATF has approved the removal of the pre-boarding test and requirement for outbound Filipino travelers that was first ratified in IATF Resolution No. 79 that requires a negative antigen test result 24 hours before departure,” Roque said in Filipino.

“I will repeat, antigen requirement is not needed anymore for everyone flying out of the country,” he added.

The IATF on Oct. 16 lifted the ban on non-essential outbound travel which took effect on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Filipino travelers are required to have confirmed plane tickets, as well as health and travel insurance. They are also required to follow the existing rules for returning overseas Filipinos as they return home such as undergoing a swab test and the mandatory 14-day quarantine. n

JOKOY DAY IN SAN DIEGO. San Diego City Councilmember Chris Cate (right) with Jo Koy and emcee, Melissa Mecija of 10News at last week’s event which recognized the world-renowned stand up comedian. Cate, a second-generation Filipino American also proclaimed Jo Koy Day in celebration of Filipino American History Month Ceremony.

San Diego honors comedian...

PAGE A1 t Filipinos,” he said while accepting the honor.

According to Cate, one in every three District 6 residents is of Asian-American descent. The district includes Kearny Mesa, Clairemont Mesa, Miramar, Mira Mesa, Sorrento Valley, and Park Village.

“Filipino American History Month commemorates the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental United States,

which occurred in October of 1587 when Luzones Indios landed at what is now Morro Bay, California,” Cate’s office said.

“Filipino Americans are the second largest Asian American group in the nation and the third largest ethnic group in California.

San Diego is home to one of the largest concentrations of Filipinos, with more than 200,000 Filipinos residing in America’s Finest City,” it added. (Ritchel Mendiola/ AJPress)

The data sets found that more older voters plan to vote in person (51%) compared to 46% who will opt for the mail or absentee ballot option.

Given the COVID-19 pandemic and influx of disinformation on social media and other sources, AARP is advising older voters to make a plan to safely vote — either by mail-in ballot or in-person by following measures like wearing a mask to the polls — and to be cognizant about news consumption.

Seventy-six percent of voters prefer traditional news sources, while 50% look at candidate debates and town halls to make voting decisions and 42% seek conversations with friends and family.

When asked about voter safety, 46% said they “worry often” NATIVITY SCENE. Workers on a crane install Christmas lights on the nativity scene or Belen at the Quezon Memorial Circle along Elliptical about any interference this No- Road in Quezon City on Friday, October 23. The Belen is a three-dimensional art depicting the nativity scene of Jesus Christ, usually, it is vember, while 40% relayed con- a baby on a manger surrounded by Joseph, Mary, and the three wise men.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon cerns about health and safety at the polls.

“We’re living in the middle of a pandemic and there’s been a lot of misinformation and disinformation campaigns out there about icans regardless of red versus and a half until November 3. voting absentee, and is it going to PAGE A2 “If we are to recover from these be safe to go to the polls? We’re date, supporters from both sides blue states, our skin color, seeing these competing con- are motivating still “undecided” economic background, gen- difficult times, Filipino American voters in the community to con- der, and religion,” Noeth said. families deserve the confidence cerns,” Houghton explained.

Liu added that the most effec- sider the candidates’ positions “We need to unite together to that the decision being made to tive ways to combat misinforma- and who will help the country to preserve our rights as Fil-Ams, protect and help them are made embedded in the U.S. Constitu- from a leader with both hands on tion in the older segment are trust- recovery.

On the Republican side, Ang, tion, for all Americans. As Fil- the wheel,” Acebo said. “I think ed messengers, like ethnic media, along with other Fil-Ams for Ams and the Asian American this is a time for steady leaderand repetition.

“The more you call out the Trump, is continuing to host car- community as a whole, your ship…that [promotes] hope, falsehoods, cover the stories and avans in Southern California and voice does matter as your right empathy and caring. These are values that are embraced by Filicorrect the record, the more in- to raise awareness on California to vote.

Fil-Ams for Biden-Harris, as pino Americans, our family, our formed our community will be,” ballot measures, like Prop 16 and well as other community Demo- heritage, our culture, and it’s the he said. “So covering these issues Prop 22.

“This is the most important cratic groups, will continue hav- beauty that our people from the is so important and don’t stop telling the truth between now and the election in the history of the ing virtual events and phone Philippines have brought to the United States. We are all Amer- banking sessions in the last week United States.” n election.” n

Trump, Biden make final pitch...

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New study unpacks anti-Asian rhetoric...

John Swing, fallen Fil-Am community leader, receives Joseph Ileto Courage Award PAGE A1 t

by AJPress JOHN Eric Swing, the late executive director of Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), was awarded with the first-ever Joseph Ileto Courage Award during Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles’ virtual gala this week.

The organization’s 37th anniversary gala was held virtually on Thursday night, October 22, bearing the theme “United in Action.”

Swing, 48, died from COVID-19 on June 28, and is remembered for his infectious smile, generosity, and ability to connect with others upon the first meeting.

The Joseph Ileto Courage Award was created last year in honor of Joseph Ileto, a Filipino American postal worker who was tragically killed in a hate crime in the San Fernando Valley on August 10, 1999. Years later, the Ileto family continues to be advocates for gun control and hate crime awareness.

“Together with the Ileto family, we are honored to celebrate the life of John Eric Swing as the inaugural awardee of the Joseph Ileto Courage Award. May we continue to let the spirits and legacies of both Joseph Ileto and John Eric Swing guide us as we continue to serve our communities and create positive change,” Advancing Jus-

John Eric Swing passed away at the age of 48 on June 28.

tice-LA said in a statement.

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Swing joined SIPA in 2015 and served as its director of small business development before assuming the top leadership role in April. When the pandemic hit, he led a food delivery project for seniors and families in Historic Filipinotown and continued advising entrepreneurs in the community

online.

Swing is survived by his wife Ellen Rodriguez-Swing and their children, Zachary, Joshua, Chloe, Mackenzie, Nico and Sasha. His work with SIPA will further be memorialized with the “John Eric Swing Small Business Center” at the organization’s forthcoming redeveloped headquarters in Historic Filipinotown. n

Report: Duterte among world leaders with...

PAGE A1 on the success — or failure — of President Donald Trump,” read an article by AP reporter Josef Federman released on Thursday, October 22.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was among the world leaders seen to benefit from a Trump victory.

“Regarded by some as Asia’s Trump for his unorthodox political style and brash language, Duterte has nurtured friendly ties with the U.S. leader and even called on American Filipinos to vote for Trump,” Federman wrote.

“Trump, in contrast to Obama, has not publicly raised alarm over the Philippines’ deadly anti-drug crackdown. The tough-talking Duterte once said in a speech that Obama could ‘go to hell,’” the article added.

The AP also noted that a Joe Biden victory “could potentially bring a more adversarial relationship” between the Philippines and

the U.S. The Philippine government has reiterated several times that Duterte and Trump are “good friends.”

In April, Duterte received a phone call from Trump to discuss how the two countries could collaborate on efforts to contain COVID-19.

“Both leaders agreed to continue working together as long-time allies to defeat the pandemic, save lives, and restore global economic strength,” the U.S. Embassy in Manila said on April 21.

“The two leaders also discussed how the United States and the Philippines can continue building upon the string and enduring economic, cultural and security ties binding the two nations,” it added.

In February, Duterte said he believed that Trump “deserves to be re-elected” for understanding and respecting the Philippines’ decision to terminate the Visiting

Forces Agreement (VFA).

“It is President Trump’s circumspect and judicious reaction to the termination of the VFA that made PRRD give the following remarks: ‘President Trump is a good President and he deserves to be re-elected,” said then-presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo.

Duterte ordered his government to send the U.S. a notice terminating the VFA on Feb. 7. The VFA, which came into force in 1999, covers the conduct of U.S. soldiers in the Philippines.

Among the provisions of the deal include lax visa and passport policies for U.S. troops, and the rights of the U.S. government to retain its jurisdiction over its military personnel when they commit crimes in the Philippines.

In June, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. announced that the Philippines has suspended the VFA termination “in light of political and other developments in the region.” n

gan, Washington University of Maryland and San Francisco State University to gauge the attitudes that current election candidates have about the Asian community in the age of the coronavirus.

Researchers found that 1 in 10 tweets — which were shared and disseminated 1,310,828 times — featured coarse, antiAsian language and were all written by Republican politicians. Moreover, the A3PCON researchers found that almost half of these “stigmatizing” tweets did not reference the COVID-19 virus, “suggesting that politicians are employing anti-Asian rhetoric not only in response to the pandemic.”

According to A3PCON Executive Director Manjusha P. Kulkarni, the re-emergence of “yellow peril,” coupled with the Trump administration’s already stringent immigration policies and stances on race and inclusion, is alarming for the AAPI community.

“We also know that his administration has sought to enact exclusionary immigration policies that are often aimed directly at Asian American communities,” Kulkarni said at a press conference on Wednesday, Oct. 21, adding that “this is part of a concerted effort to connect racist rhetoric with exclusionary policies that leave Asian Americans in harm’s way.”

The eight-month study focused on Democratic and Republican general election candidates who are running for the offices of U.S. senator, vice president and president.

Researchers looked at tweets containing terms like “China,” “Chinese,” “Asian American,” “AAPI,” “virus” and “flu,” but also scanned for the uses of more specific, incendiary misnomers like “kung flu” and whether or not the words used connote debunked conspiracy theories.

All of the 136 tweets that used “stigmatizing rhetoric” were promulgated by Republican politicians, most notably Trump (24 tweets) and Republican Reps. Tom Cotton of Arkansas (61 tweets) and Bill Hagerty of Tennessee (41 tweets).

According to researchers, these tweets blamed China for the pandemic or were critical of China in general.

“There is a very clear partisan divide in how candidates talk about China and Asian Americans,” said Melissa Borja, a Filipina American assistant professor in the Department of American Culture at the University of Michigan.

On the other side of the political spectrum, Democrats were found to not only omit from using this “stigmatizing language” but also accounted for “almost all the tweets that showed support for Asian Americans, especially in relation to COVID-related racism,” said Borja, who was also one of the key researchers in this study.

“During the eight month period, we studied [Trump’s] tweets were liked over 4 million times and reweeted over 1 million time. In other words, among the Republican politicians we included in our study, he was the main source for spreading the rhetoric that stigmatizes Asian and Asian American people,” she said.

As extensively covered in the Asian Journal this year, almost all the known incidents of antiAsian harassment, bullying and violence has been related to COVID-19, which originated in Wuhan, China.

Although there’s no denying the fact the virus itself made its way throughout the world from China, the ways in which that information is used to warp public opinion about China and, by extension, the global Asian community, is especially egregious, AAPI community and Democratic leaders argue.

Moreover, the use of “Chinese virus” or “China virus” continue to set a false inherent association between the virus and the Chinese (and Asian) community. (Though it is historically standard practice to name viruses after their places of origin, public health leaders in the modern day like the CDC have advised against it to avoid these racially-charged connotations.)

Additionally, Republicans were less likely to support legislation that sought to denounce and combat anti-Asian sentiments that continues to percolate because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rep. Grace Meng (D-New York) introduced a resolution that formally condemned the use of racist rheto-

ric and misnomers to describe the virus.

The resolution passed, but 164 Republican representatives notably voted against that resolution, saying that it was mostly “symbolic.”

However, Russell Chang of San Francisco State University — one of the other associates of this study — noted that those same Republicans failed “to support the Asian American community while they themselves introduced symbolic resolutions that blame China.”(In March, Republican Reps. Jim Banks of Indiana and Seth Moulton of Massachusetts introduced a resolution officially condemning China for its handling of the COVID-19 crisis, but Moulton later withdrew from the resolution saying that it “caused division” and calling it a “xenophobic [attempt

by Trump] to deflect from his administration’s abysmal response to the virus.”

Previously, A3PCON’s Stop AAPI Hate reported 2,583 antiAsian-related incidents (which also related to COVID-19 conspiracies and misinformation) from March 19 to Aug. 5 Despite intense campaigning that caters to the AAPI community by Democrats, the damage has been done, and this generation’s iteration of yellow peril is already underway, and the longer the COVID-19 crisis rages on, the less likely anti-Asian sentiments will dissipate.

Civil rights and legal experts have little hope that a potential new president in Democratic candidate Joe Biden would immediately quell the mounting anti-Asian crisis that continues to spread.

“Even if Joe Biden wins the presidency, these issues will not go away,” John Yang, executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, told the Asian Journal in an Oct. 9 briefing hosted by Ethnic Media Services.

“If you think about the history of Asian Americans...this is something that we’ve always faced,” Yang said, harkening back to yellow peril and policies like the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, incarceration of Japanese Americans in World War II and the ostracization of Arab and South Asian Americans after 9/11. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

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USAID gives additional P170-million assistance to Metro Manila communities

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

THE United States Embassy in Manila on Tuesday, October 20, said that the American government has provided the Philippines an additional P170 million ($3.5 million) assistance for disaster relief and recovery.

The grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will assist communities in Metro Manila, Northern Samar, and Maguindanao provinces that are highly prone to frequent earthquakes, typhoons, and floods.

It will also boost the capacity of community leaders and local governments to mitigate disaster risks, improve early warning systems, and develop better protocols for more rapid disaster responses.

Likewise, the USAID’s assistance will help train evacuation center managers to organize safe evacuations that include safeguards and social distancing in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

USAID partners, meanwhile, will be ready to augment the Philippines’ disaster response and logistics capabilities to deliver relief assistance when disasters strike.

“Through this assistance, we hope that Filipino communities are able to prepare, mitigate, and recover quickly from the negative impacts of natural disasters,” U.S. Embassy Chargé dé Affaires John Law said.

According to the 2019 Asia Pacific Disaster Report, the Phil-

USAID is helping communities in Northern Samar and other areas in the Philippines prepare for and respond to natural disasters.

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Manila

ippines’ multi-hazard average annual loss was estimated at $20 billion, with 75.8 percent of the Philippines total population living in high risk areas.

“As a friend, partner, and ally of the Filipino people, we are proud of our partnership with the Philippine government and the great strides we have made to boost the country’s resilience against natural calamities,” Law added.

The announcement coincided with the commemoration of the International Day for Disaster Reduction on Oct. 13, which encourages citizens and governments to

take part in building more disaster-resilient communities and nations.

Since 2010, USAID has provided P16.5 billion ($340 million) in disaster relief and recovery assistance for more than 100 cities and municipalities in the Philippines.

In September, the USAID and the Philippine Department of Finance (DOF) signed a new fiveyear bilateral assistance agreement amounting to P10.5 billion ($213 million) to boost the country’s economic development and growth. n

Voting has already begun: How to vote...

PAGE A1 t

during COVID-19.

LA County has already seen nearly 1-million ballots returned, yet it is widely recognized that communities of color prefer to vote in person.

This means that communities already disproportionately impacted by the pandemic are falling at greater risk of being exposed.

Voting early provides a safe way to cast a ballot and will reduce the risk of exposure to COVID19. Not only will lines be much shorter, but you can still guarantee that your ballot is counted and keep you, your family, and those around you safe.

When the shelter at home or-

ders went into effect, the majority of essential workers unable to stay home were people of color.

According to areport by USC, only 36.1% of Latino eligible voters, 29.9% of African-American voters, and 45.2% of AsianAmerican eligible voters prefer to vote by mail, compared to 46.7% of white voters.

Voters should safely participate in this election by creating a voting plan and taking advantage of the vote-by-mail option available to all registered voters. Voting early via vote-by-mail will save lives by allowing voters to stay away from the polls.

The Los Angeles County Registrar provides voter language

services in 18 languages, including Spanish for voters that require language assistance, eliminating the need to vote in person. Voters can request translated election materials, receive bilingual assistance at voter centers ahead of the election, and call the Bilingual Assistance Hotline at 1-800-8152666, option 3.

The U.S Postal Service has assured protection and tracking for peace of mind. Voters can track their ballot with Where’s My Ballot, an easy-to-use tracking tool that sends voters automatic notifications when their ballot has left the post office and provides an estimated time of arrival. n

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D ateline PhiliPPines Duterte supports Pope Francis’ endorsement of same-sex civil unions

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte supports the recognition of same-sex union in the Philippines following Pope Francis’ endorsement of same-sex civil unions in a feature-length documentary, Malacañang said on Thursday, October 22.

“The President has said it over and over again, pabor po siya sa isang batas na magri-recognize ng civil union sa mga parehong same sex relationships (he is favor of a law that will recognize civil union of same sex relationships),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

He added, “Recognition of civil union has always been supported by the president.”

In the documentary “Francesco,” Pope Francis called for civil unions for same-sex couples.

“They’re children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out, or be made miserable because of it,” the pontiff said, referring to same-sex couples. “What we have to have is a civil union law; that way they are legally covered.”

Roque noted that Catholic lawmakers no longer have the basis to object to the passage of civil union laws in the country after Pope Francis’ recognition.

“Depende na lang iyan sa prayoridad ng ating Kongreso (It depends on the priority of the Congress). Pero with no less than the Pope supporting it, I think even the most conservative of all Catholics in Congress should no longer have a basis for objecting,” he said.

Filipino Catholic bishops, on the other hand, did not take the Pope’s words well, seeking for

verification from the Vatican itself.

“It is just a documentary film, so not official and should be verified. Being a film, there could be insertion or edited, or just for propaganda so that it could be talked about or patronize,” said Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos.

Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon, in a separate statement, said: “I withhold my take on this because we have not received any official statement from the Vatican about this. As it happened in the past, his words are often misinterpreted by the media.”

Retired Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, on the other hand, said he has doubts about the “moral correctness” of Pope Francis’ statement.

“For me, this is a shocking statement coming from a pope.

In my opinion, this is contrary to

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Age of foreign retirees in PH to be re-examined

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

SEVERAL Philippine senators continue to raise concerns over the arrival of almost 28,000 Chinese nationals in the country as retirees, saying this may pose national security threats.

The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), an agency under the Department of Tourism (DOT), will reassess its current policy that allows foreigners as young as 35 years old to retire in the country.

“The Philippine Retirement Authority Board of Trustees will meet to re-assess the policy of allowing retirees at the age of 35,” Philippine Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said on Wednesday, October 21.

The statement came after senators raised concerns over the agency allowing Chinese nationals to enter the Philippines as “retirees,” stressing that it could be considered as a threat to national security.

Based on PRA records, Chinese nationals comprise the most number of foreign retirees in the country at 27,678. They are followed by Koreans (14,144), Indians (6,120), Taiwanese (4,851), Japanese (4,016), and Americans (3,704).

“The reason for 35 years of age is that, in Korea, the retiree will retire in the age of 35. And these

Philippine Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat Inquirer.net photo

are retirees who would come for, who would avail of this program,” PRA General Manager Bienvenido Chy said during the Senate committee hearing of the DOT’s proposed 2021 budget.

“This has been the practice, this has been passed upon by the Board of Trustees and we are just continuing the program,” he added.

Senator Nancy Binay expressed concern over PRA’s relaxed policy, saying the agency is not monitoring those granted with retirement privileges.

“If their demographics is 35 years old and above, then the probability of them working is very high,” she said in Filipino.

”I don’t know if you are monitoring them; are you sure they are not working here in the Philippines and all are retired?” she added.

Senator Joel Villanueva echoed Binay’s sentiment, stressing that the Chinese nationals could be working in Philippine Online Gaming Operations (POGOs).

Senator Richard Gordon, meanwhile, said this policy was “dangerous.”

“That, to me, is dangerous. I’m disturbed by it,” he said.

“We won’t just monitor it.

We’re gonna correct it. Because 35 is just too young. Not to cast aspersions upon our neighbor, but would they allow us to retire at 35 there? I don’t think they would even allow us to retire in China,” he continued later.

Chy, for his part, maintained that the Chinese nationals retiring in the country are not involved with POGO. “The POGO you’re referring to, the age requirement there starts at 20. The 35 years old age that are coming here more or less, they choose the Philippines as a retirement destination,” he said in Filipino.

He also assured that the PRA is careful regarding the entry of possible foreign threats.

“We don’t want to endanger the country. The purpose of PRA is to showcase the Philippines as a retirement destination,” Chy said. n

Customs stops exit of US waste materials from Subic port TONS of imported domestic waste materials have been intercepted by Bureau of Customs (BoC) authorities at the Port of Clark.

In a report to Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, BoC-Subic said the waste materials were seen leaving the Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. on October 21.

A total of 30 container vans were put on alert. Of the number, five containers have been opened, all of which yielded waste materials.

“So far, we have opened five container vans. They contain domestic wastes and emit a very foul odor,” a Customs-Subic official said on Thursday.

He added that further inventory was being conducted to ascertain the volume and actual contents of the shipment.

The importer is also under investigation for violation of Section 1400 of Republic Act 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and related environmental laws.

Records show that the flagged shipments came from the United States. They were all consigned to Bataan Twenty-Twenty Inc. They were declared as American old corrugated cartons for repulping but examination revealed prohibited waste materials.

It may be recalled that in 1999, tons of Japanese waste materials

inside 120 container vans and declared as recyclable materials found its way to the Philippines.

Japan took the garbage back following protests from the Philippine government.

In 2013, Customs authorities also discovered 103 containers of hazardous waste from Canada.They were never returned from their port of origin.

In 2019, 51 40-footer containers of waste materials from South Korea were also dumped at the Mindanao Container Port in Togoloan, Misamis Oriental.

They were misdeclared as recyclable plastic synthetic flakes.

All 51 containers were shipped back to South Korea. (William B. Depasupil/ManilaTimes.net)

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Dateline PhiliPPines

CHECK-IN. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat tries the process to check-in during the inspection of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in BGC Taguig City on Wednesday, October 14. Puyat also underwent a swab test at the hotel to comply with the government health protocol.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

DOT: Hotels in GCQ, MGCQ areas can operate at full capacity

by AJPress HOTELS in areas under the modified general community quarantine and general community quarantine are now allowed to operate at full capacity, the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) announced on Wednesday, October 21.

“The decision to open at 100 percent operational capacity will be subject to the hotel management’s decision and compliance with the safety guidelines,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

The announcement came after the DOT was given the authority by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATFEID) to determine the allowable operational capacity of up to 100

percent for hotels under GCQ and MGCQ areas.

The IATF on Oct. 15 approved Resolution No. 79, which replaces the provision that accommodation establishments in areas under GCQ may only operate with a skeleton workforce.

The resolution also approved the easing up of interzonal and intrazonal movement, which is the predicate to reviving domestic tourism, according to Puyat.

“Along with this comes the need to ready the whole tourism value chain, which includes the accommodation, transportation and tour operation sectors. Allowing the accommodation sector to operate at full capacity will be most welcomed by tourism’s workforce that has been greatly affected since the community lockdown,” she added.

Puyat also said that the DOT

will soon issue the amended guidelines for the expanded operational capacity of hotels, including staycation hotels.

Earlier, she directed hotels and other tourism establishments in areas under GCQ to secure a DOT Certificate of Authority to Operate for Staycations (DCAOS) before accommodating any guests.

The Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA), for its part, welcomed the new development.

“We thank the Secretary for her support to really slowly reopen business as it will benefit the establishments along with employees going back to work.

We fully understand the importance of sanitation, safety, and strict adherence to the protocols which have been implemented since the start,” HSMA president Christine Ibarreta said. n

Metro Manila gets first female police chief MANILA — The first ever female police chief in Metro Manila was named last week, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) announced on Tuesday, October 20.

In a statement, NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas said that Col. Angela Rejano took over as Malabon City’s police chief on Oct. 15, replacing Col. Jessie Tamayao.

She was the head of the NCRPO’s regional plans and strategy management division prior to taking over Tamayao’s post.

Rejano was the first female police chief of Sorsogon City, the first female provincial police chief of Siquijor and the first female head of the Regional Training Center 5 of the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s training institute.

She would lead over 500 police officers in Malabon, which has around 380,000 residents.

“I can only give my commitment and courage to lead the police force of Malabon... by adhering to the guidelines of Team NCRPO and the PNP in general,” Rejano said. (Philstar.com) Col. Angela Rejano

PNP photo

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A8 OCTOBER 24-27, 2020 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

No quarter vs corruption

FeATUres

IT’S good to hear President Duterte declaring he will give no quarter when it comes to public officials involved in corruption. The nation is waiting for these fighting words to be applied on his staunch supporters who have been embroiled in corruption scandals.

Some of these officials had to be eased out of their posts, but several were even “recycled” to less highprofile positions. Early in his term, the President said he would not tolerate “even a whiff” of corruption. But when congressional inquiries lead to calls from lawmakers for the indictment of some of his officials, Malacañang says proof must be presented against those accused of wrongdoing.

The President’s avowed hard line against corruption has yet to cascade to his political allies.

Lawmakers are among the biggest violators of anti-graft laws, making them resist any proposal that promotes transparency and accountability, such as campaign finance reforms and easing of bank secrecy laws.

This resistance to reforms for good governance recently received a major boost from the supposed vanguard of transparency, the Office of the Ombudsman. Samuel Martires, who as a member of the Supreme Court had voted to oust the chief jus-

tice on the basis of a mere quo warranto petition in connection with her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth, has barred public access to the SALNs of government officials. The ombudsman has also stopped employing lifestyle checks as a tool for ferreting out corruption.

Officials need not be bound by this prohibition; nothing stops them from releasing their SALNs for public scrutiny. Championing the fight against corruption, the Office of the President can set the example in promoting transparency by releasing the SALN of President Duterte, as Malacañang has always done. Other top officials can do the same: Vice President Leni Robredo, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and the head of the Supreme Court, bastion of financial opaqueness, Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta.

Officials pushing transparency in government have said it often enough: those who have nothing to hide have nothing to fear. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS PRESIDENT Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden faced off on Thursday night, October 22 for their final debate before the November 3 election. The 90-minute debate was moderated

by NBC’s Kristen Welker and took place at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Viewers who tuned into the final debate were pleasantly surprised to actually have the opportunity to hear and listen to each candidate applying for the job to be our president, compared to the chaotic and contentious first debate where viewers ended up more confused, misinformed, angry and desperate than before.

It was still filled with tension and back and forth fact-checking of each other’s assertions and their chance to convince the American people with their vision, policies and plans why they should be elected president. But, we were at least able to digest their messages and process them to make

Commentary

MARC ANG WHEN I sat and watched the ludicrous questioning of Judge Amy Coney Barrett by Senator Mazie Hirono, my first instinct was to identify with Amy as she sat on the dais in polite silence.

Grilled with inappropriate questions that were frankly sexist, bigoted against her Catholic faith and downright defamatory, I realized the line has been fully crossed.

The left is now not just a religion worshipping government as God but, dare I say, a full-fledged cult.

Christians and Catholics being silenced and persecuted is now the norm. But this was just on television. Let’s move to real life.

As a minority and millennial ministry leader, the last thing I expected is to have to become a fierce defender of conservative and Christian rights in America, the country of religious freedom.

Like many suburbanite millennials born in the Reagan era and after, I never experienced the true hardships that existed before us (such as gas lines, sweeping drafts to go to war, true poverty, etc.).

We could only find our battles in words, not deeds. Therefore, up until the early 2000s, I was part of a functionally liberal Christian generation afflicted by affluenza. The one that rebels against

Philstar.com photo

Last Biden vs Trump standoff: Finally, a debate that helps us make a more informed choice for a better, brighter America

better-informed decisions come Election Day. WHO WON? Let me share with you different polls conducted immediately after Thursday night’s debate.

Newsweek collated three snap polls following scientific polling protocols: FOX News Polls reported that Trump won, 74% picking the president over Biden’s 24%.

Trump’s fans would also be happy to know that their vigilance and efforts paid off. “The president fared better in online polls, which experts have noted are far less reliable because they allow the supporters of a candidate to recruit like-minded others to participate and skew the results, while sometimes also allowing a single person to vote more than once,” Newsweek reported.

More snap polls report from Newsweek: A CNN/SSRS poll conducted among 585 registered voters who watched the debate found 53% believed Biden won, compared to 39% for Trump. Favorability

ratings for both candidates were statistically unchanged before and after the debate. The poll has a 5.7% margin of error.

Early results of a poll from progressive pollster Data for Progress found that 52% of respondents believed Biden won, compared to 41% for Trump.

Another 7% were undecided.

The exact methodology of the poll was unclear, although it was not an open online poll and full results are expected to be released Friday.

The CNN polling also asked viewers more questions about their impressions about the candidates’ performance after watching the debate.

Viewers once again said that Biden’s criticisms of Trump were largely fair (73% said they were fair, 26% unfair), and they split over whether Trump’s attacks on Biden were fair (50% said yes, 49% no).

That’s a more positive outcome for Trump. In a CNN Instant Poll after the first presidential debate, just 28% said they thought the

President had won the debate, and 67% called his criticism of Biden unfair.

When asked who between the candidates answered the moderator’s question more directly, people said Biden was far more apt to be seen as directly answering the moderator’s questions (62% said he did, 31% said Trump).

All told, though, the debate did not do much to move impressions of either candidate.

Favorable views of Biden before the debate stood at 55%, and they held steady at 56% in post-debate interviews. Likewise, Trump’s numbers held steady, with 42% saying they had a favorable view of the President in interviews conducted before Thursday’s debate and 41% saying the same afterward.

More debate watchers, though, said Trump’s performance raised concerns about how he would handle the presidency (55%) than did Biden’s (41%).

Issues that matter The final debate did not move

the needle that much when asked about the economy. According to CNN’s survey, “debate watchers preferred Trump over Biden on the economy (56% say they think Trump would better handle it vs.

44% who say Biden would).

The polls reveal that the viewers asked were divided about evenly between the two on foreign policy (50% prefer Biden, 48% Trump).

Biden held a wide edge as more trusted to handle the coronavirus (57% Biden to 41% Trump), climate change (67% Biden to 29% Trump) and racial inequality in the U.S. (62% Biden to 35% Trump).

Biden was also largely seen as offering a better plan for solving the country’s problems (54% Biden to 42% Trump), and voters split over who seemed to be the stronger leader (49% each).

Political party affiliation How did viewers vote based on political affiliation? As expected, Republicans and Democrats voted according to their party’s nominee for president. However,

Independents also largely felt Biden won (55% Biden to 36% Trump), as did moderates (56% Biden to 37% Trump) How did gender, age, education factor in?

Women were more likely than men to say that Biden did a better job in the debate. Some 60% of women said Biden won, 35% Trump.

Among men, 47% said Biden won, 44% chose Trump. and White voters with college degrees (64% Biden to 29% Trump).

Among those 65 and older — a group backing Biden in greater numbers than they did Hillary Clinton in 2016, according to most polls — the verdict was a split decision, with 46% saying Biden won, 43% Trump and 10% saying they both did equally well.

Younger voters broadly saw Biden as the winner, 66%, to 27% for Trump among those under age 45.

Recent national polls also show Biden leading Trump by an

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The new political frontier from the eyes of a minority millennial of faith

their parents but still found fellowship in youth groups. The one that talks big about fighting causes and “goodness” but won’t functionally lift a finger to act. In short, I should have been a liberal.

The mainstream culture in the background urged the separation of politics and religion from our lives. Truly, the biggest lie that they’ve successfully peddled to a generation. They took universal truths and twisted them around, co-opted Christian imagery, such as the rainbow, and packaged snake oil of vices of the flesh and sold narcissism as the route to happiness. But it was my search for truth and long-lasting happiness that led me from brief periods of rebellion to becoming a solid conservative in my early 20s and then becoming a born-again Christian soon after. But I still had to slowly deprogram a lot of wrong things I learned, and still grow in my faith every day. The brainwashing is real and deep.

In defense of my generation, which is very attuned to our emotional space — maybe, at times, overly — we don’t like it when we get mansplained or whitesplained. I can feel that annoyance when anyone condescends to me or shuts me down to correct a minute detail because they just had to get their word in even though it had no impact in the end. This is a reaction to the helicopter parenting and many sanctimonious celebrity pastors who have talked at us, instead of

truly connecting. Refusing to let us grow in our faith organically but expecting us to be in lockstep with where they are at, instantaneously and in one fell swoop.

Clearly, this type of “I’m better than you” evangelism has failed and that is a big reason why a whole generation left the church.

But over the last 20 years, the liberal left has become the same as what they supposedly fought against, creating their own bible complete with mantras like gender pronouns and climate change extremism, and shutting out those who are not up on the jargon. And persecuting those who don’t think like them, calling for liberal purity tests.

It has now gone too far. 2020 has shown us that liberal Democrats and big government have no problem overreaching, legislating, ruling and controlling in a draconian manner. Sanctimonious priests are small potatoes compared to the Democrat left.

The tone-deaf preaching was an annoyance on the right but the left said, “hold my beer” and has given us riots, property damage. looting, arson and murder.

Laugh at the Christian right for faith healing and we have the left completely disregarding the Scientific method, results, data and using strict rules to hold down those who they don’t favor through the power of government. Personally, I would give power to the church any day over a government bureaucracy.

Last Saturday, beyond what

I’ve seen in the news, it finally hit home on a personal level. I organized an outdoor family fair at my church, featuring baby goats against a Noah’s Ark backdrop, a puppet show, a doggie parade, Officer McGruff from the LA Sheriff’s department, and lots of fun vendors and exhibitors.

Speakers from different backgrounds shared religious, conservative and educational experiences and opinions.

It was an event on private property of like minds and a joyous unity celebration of conservative and religious multi-racial minorities. Did I really want to be harassed by emails from the LA County Health Department, threatening imprisonment, fines and shutdown, the day before the event? No, but I did receive them from a LA County Health Department staffer that listed her pronouns on her signature line.

How’s that different from putting a bible quote on your signature line, which is frowned upon these days?

Meanwhile, women’s marches and Bay Area violent protests going on the same day were allowed to operate without intervention. Little did I realize at the time, that the Health Department was selectively targeting other churches. I also feel that they targeted Asian and Latino churches, thinking we would be too meek to fight back. It’s a subtle form of racism from the left. Not surprising as racism is what I consistently see from the left. When

you talk so much about race, maybe you’re a racist?

It was even more shocking that the media circus came to cover this event as my well-attended events for years have barely gotten any mainstream coverage.

Maybe they covered it because they realized we were not the first church to have been targeted by a governmental entity and it was time. Maybe the moment has met its time.

Event attendees observed the horrid reality of religious intolerance actions and Constitutional violations during the standoff to prevent the Health Department employees from trespassing on our private property. ABC, NBC, Fox, Telemundo and others filmed and videoed the Health Department employees’ attempts to enter our event and to shut it down. Some of these have been aired publicly.

In the following days, the media firestorm continued to erupt into a national story and the LA County Health Department was basically forced to issue a citation on us even though they never entered our premises because it was private property. Because the citation itself is so questionable, we will be fighting back to defend our constitutional rights.

However, it was when I found their full citation list of recent lawbreakers that I discovered almost every supposed violator of these codes were churches.

What a way to go after Christians.

Regardless of your religious per-

suasion, does this seem right to you?

So I encourage my generation, especially the wayward Christians: it’s now time to come back home to the church because the church is not just a spiritual sanctuary but one for sanity. I was a prodigal son, I was fooled but now, I’ve come home. And I want to prevent my peers from getting scammed and sold a bad bill of goods. So I will speak my truth and fight for it with a vengeance.

Also, our elders, who loved on us, clothed us, fed us and who were there for us, are now under attack. Do we leave them behind to fight the battle alone? It starts by taking this stand against the true evil: a corrupt government now selectively targeting and attacking its own good citizens.

Let’s direct our energies to fight the real evil.

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11 Game on. *** Marc Ang is a Southern California community leader, currently serving as the president of community organizations Asian Industry B2B, People Encouraging People and Chinese American Citizens Alliance (Orange County).

He is also Director of Outreach for Californians For Equal Rights, dedicated to the fight against systemic racism, specifically, ACA5, now Proposition 16 on November’s ballot. His events have drawn thousands of attendees from all walks of life, in the areas of promoting veterans, the autism community, anti-human trafficking, health and wellness and business advocacy.

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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 24-27, 2020

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PH-China ties led to more jobs – envoy Last Biden vs Trump standoff: Finally...

by Javier Joe ismael ManilaTimes.net

CHINESE Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said the Philippines’ bilateral cooperation with China not only created many new jobs for Filipino workers but also helped in the country’s economic recovery.

In his keynote speech during the 2020 China-Philippines Educational Exchanges Seminar last week, Huang emphasized that under the guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Rodrigo Duterte, China-Philippine relations have entered a new golden age.

The event was held by 51Talk, China’s leading online English education platform.

Huang said this year marks the 45th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

He cited the government-togovernment projects as good examples of such cooperation.

Eleven major projects had been completed, ranging from drug rehabilitation to counterterrorism to food security, radio and television services, the ambassador said.

Another six projects are under implementation and 18 more are planned, covering highway and railway construction as well as livelihood projects such as flood control and irrigation.

Huang said a large number of

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian pose for prosperity following the ceremonial turnover of 150 units of High-Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy equipment with 300 sets of accessories at the Kalayaan in Malacañan Palace on Wednesday, October 21. Joining them are Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs and Chief of Presidential Protocol Robert E.A. Borje and representatives from the Department on Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Health. The humidifiers donated by Chinese Embassy in the Philippines will help ramp up the capacities of Philippine public hospitals and facilities in providing treatment to COVID-19 patients. The assistance forms part of the PhilippinesChina partnership in addressing the global challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Malacañang photo by Valerie Escalera

Chinese companies are making investments in the Philippines.

China Telecommunications Corp. has joined Filipino partners in the more than $5-billion Dito Telecommunity project, he said.

The Panghua Group of China is planning to put in $3.5 billion to build an integrated steel plant, which will break ground soon.

Huang said he visited a Chinaassisted bridge project on the Pa-

sig River linking Intramuros and Binondo, and saw Chinese engineers and hundreds of Filipino workers working hard together to overcome the adverse impact of the pandemic and striving to complete the project on time.

Also present at the ceremony were Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Sta. Romana; the CEO of 51talk, Huang Jiajia; and over 3000 Filipino teachers and their Chinese students. n

Duterte supports Pope endorsement of...

PAGE A6 t divine law, which explicitly permits only the union of man and woman or of opposite sexes of male or female, whatever that union is: civil, legal or sacramental,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fr. Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of the Quiapo Church, pointed out that Pope Francis only called for civil unions, not same-sex marriage.

“For the record, civil union and not marriage. Mananatili pa rin ang turo ng Catholic Church na ang marriage is for babae and lalaki. Maybe nasabi ’yun to appease the rights of the LGBTQ community from a standpoint of civil union (The Catholic Church’s teaching that marriage is for man and woman will remain. He said something to appease the rights of the LGBTQ community from a standpoint of civil union),” he said.

“Ang scripture pa rin ang pagbabasehan kung ano ang pinapangaral ni Jesus (The scripture will remain as the basis for the teachings of Jesus). And I don’t think a Pope will talk about same-sex marriage,” he added.

An official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) likewise released a similar statement.

“The Church’s law and doctrine on marriage didn’t change anyway. They remain the same.

Meaning, marriage is between a man and woman,” CBCP Public Affairs Committee executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano said Friday, Oct. 23.

“At the end of the day, it’s still the government that’s responsible for enacting laws on civil union, while the church is expected to remain firm in its support for the traditional definition and meaning of marriage,”

he added.

Secillano, however, pointed out that the Pope’s statement could be a catalyst for discussions about the Church’s doctrine.

“It does not automatically change the Church’s doctrine.

But maybe, it can be a catalyst for further discussion and debate, in the spirit of collegiality, from within the Catholic Church, which can possibly lead to either a change or retention of the doctrine in question,” he said.

“The Pope’s remark may be used by LGBT groups and their supporters to advance their agenda. But at the end of the day, it’s still the government that’s responsible for enacting laws on civil-union and the church is expected to remain firm in its support for the traditional definition and meaning of marriage,” he added. n

PAGE A8 t average of 9.8 points, according to FiveThirtyEight.

As viewers and voters, what did you learn from the debate? How did it affect your voting decision?

Heading to the polls, let me leave you with quotations from both candidates, their closing statements during the final debate: Donald Trump: “I will tell you, go back. Before the plague came in, just before, I was getting calls from people that were not normally people that would call me.

They wanted to get together. We had the best Black unemployment numbers in the history of our country. Hispanic, women, Asian, people with diplomas, with no diplomas, MIT graduates; number one in the class, everybody had the best numbers. And you know what? The other side wanted to get together. They wanted to unify.

“Success is going to bring us together. We are on the road to success. But I’m cutting taxes, and he wants to raise everybody’s taxes and he wants to put new regulations on everything. He will kill it. If he gets in, you will have a Depression, the likes of which you’ve never seen. Your 401(k)s will go to hell, and it’ll be a very, very sad day for this country.”

Joe Biden: “I will say, I’m an American President. I represent all of you, whether you voted for me or against me, and I’m going to make sure that you’re represented. I’m going to give you hope. We’re going to move; we’re going to choose science over fiction. We’re going to choose hope over fear. We’re going to choose to move forward because we have enormous opportunities, enormous opportunities to make things better.

“We can grow this economy, we can deal with the systemic racism. At the same time, we can make sure that our economy is being run and moved and motivated by clean energy, creating millions of new jobs. That’s the fact, that’s what we’re going to do. And I’m going to say, as I said at the beginning, what is on the ballot here is the character of this country.

Decency, honor, respect. Treating people with dignity, making sure that everyone has an even chance.

And I’m going to make sure you get that. You haven’t been getting it the last four years.”

Discern the characters of these two men applying for the job of president. Remember, we, the

people, are the bosses. We are electing a leader who will serve us and our nation and not be served or saved by his position and power. We are electing a leader who should bring out the best in us, and not the worst.

We need somebody who will measure up to the dignity of the Office of the President of the United States, somebody who has the heart, the soul, and will to fulfill the oath he will take to protect and defend the Constitution and all the American people

above anything.

Remember, we get the government that we deserve. Vote early, vote wisely, vote conscientiously. *** 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.

A10 OctOber 24-27, 2020 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

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After Baby River, Palace says reforms needed ‘Gloria Macapagal Arroyo helped solve speakership row’ to improve facilities for pregnant inmates MANILA — Former president and speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo might have retired from politics, but apparently she still wields influence over the country’s political affairs.

The Star learned that she played a crucial role in the resolution of the leadership squabble in the House of Representatives when Speaker Lord Allan Velasco ended up unseating Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano.

A source revealed that Arroyo met with congressmen in her political party, Lakas-CMD, days

by Bella

Perez-ruBio Philstar.com

MANILA — Malacañang said it will look into the conditions in jail facilities following the death of a three-month-old baby who was separated from her detained mother only a month after she was born.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque mentioned this after he was asked to comment on the case of Reina Mae Nasino, who was forced to part with her baby, River, after the Manila City Jail Dormitory said that it did not have the facilities needed to nurse newborn babies.

“We dont know the circumstance, again, its difficult to comment on something we have no information on but we will look into the matter. And, of course, we realize, unless convicted, you are presumed innocent and that we will see what reforms can come about because of this experience with this particular incident,” Roque said during a virtual briefing on Thursday.

“I will personally take steps to inquire into this, knowing that there’s some treaty obligations that will probably have to be complied with. As it stands, I do not know Manila City Jail has that facility, in fact, and we will inquire from the DILG because it is the DILG that manages the jail for detainees, those who have not yet been convicted by the courts,” he added.

Roque previously said that the baby’s death is tragic but that “the president cannot do anything, that is within the jurisdiction of our court.” Officials of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, an agency of the exec-

before the election of Velasco as Speaker last Oct. 12.

“She played a pivotal role in settling the speakership issue – not just within Lakas, but also in Congress as a whole because the vote of Lakas became the ‘swing vote’ that decided the speakership row,” the source told The Star.

Cayetano earlier had more numbers with the support of the Nacionalista Party (NP), National Unity Party (NUP), some members of the ruling PDP-Laban and Lakas-CMD.

This was why a majority of 184 congressmen voted to keep him as speaker when he offered to resign last Sept. 30.

At the time, Velasco only had support from a majority of President Duterte’s PDP-Laban and the party-list coalition led by Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero.

When the Lakas-CMD bloc switched support to Velasco following the small group meeting with Arroyo, the House majority followed suit. (Edu Punay/Philstar.com)

No grand procession for feast of Black Nazarene in 2021 Heavily guarded Reina Mae Nasino looks at her 3-month-old daughter as she lays her to rest at the Manila North Cemetery last October 16. Allowed just three hours out of jail, the grieving mother remained handcuffed during the funeral.

Photo courtesy of Kapatid

utive branch, blocked previous attempts by Nasino to be with her baby as well as requests for furlough to attend the wake.

Despite Malacañang’s recognition of Nasino’s right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, both the wake and the funeral for Baby River were marred by heavy police and guard presence.

Nasino was handcuffed for most of the funeral, unable to even wipe her own tears. Supporters calling for justice for River were instructed by police not to display their placards earlier in the day and the street leading to her final resting place was rife with tension. Advocacy group Kapatid said police “hijacked” the procession, as the vehicle carrying baby river’s remains sped ahead of her family, forcing them to give chase.

Journalists and concerned citizens watched all this unfold last week, pointing out that even

convicted criminals have received more compassionate furloughs than Nasino.

However, the Department of the Interior and Local Government claimed that the presence of at least 20 police officers outside the funeral home was justifiable, as it was “anticipative” of a crowd and the need to enforce social distancing.

DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III, during a Laging Handa briefing, said that since the situation involves a major public issue, “we needed to augment a little our regular security given on such situations.”

According to Kapatid, another set of police officers, more than 20 in number, were stationed outside the Manila North Cemetery. Jail Chief Inspector Xavier Solda, spokesperson for the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, confirmed that 43 guards and cops were deployed for the funeral. n

MANILA — The Manila city government and Quiapo Church have agreed to cancel the grand procession of the image of the Black Nazarene in January 2021 because of the pandemic, the city government said Friday.

It is the first time that the procession for the image of the Black Nazarene, where millions of barefoot devotees take part yearly, has been cancelled, the city government said in a statement.

Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso said that public health protocol must prevail over religious traditions because of the threat posed by COVID-19.

“Nakikisuyo po ako, iwasan po muna natin ang mga parada at prusisyon ngayong may pande-

mya dulot ng sakit na COVID-19.

Maaari pong mapahamak ang ating mga deboto, mailagay sila sa alanganin,” Domagoso says.

(I am asking that we avoid parades and processions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our devotees might get sick, they will be at risk) Monsignor Hernando Coronel, Quiapo Church rector, said in the same announcement that the more masses will be held for devotees.

He said that Traslacion 2021 will not include the grand procession from Luneta to Quiapo Church, adding that while he is sad that it has been cancelled, the public needs to follow safety protocol against COVID-19. “’Yung physical distancing,

kailangan naka-faceshield, nakaface mask, kasama ang regular monitoring ng body temperature, lahat ‘yun susundin natin.

Hindi lamang ito sa loob ng simbahan, pati na rin sa labas,” Coronel said of the masses that will be held instead.

(We will follow physical distancing and people must be wear face shields and face masks. We will also follow the regular monitoring of body temperature. This will not just be for those inside the church but also massgoers outside.)

Domagoso this week said he would sign an executive order to allow more people to go to church, to 30% of seating capacity from a more restricted 10%. (Philstar.com)

NEDA: National ID pre-registration exceeds 1M that 1.058 million registrations have been uploaded.

After the collection of deNATIONAL Economic and mographic information, the Development Authority (NEDA) second step in the Philippine Acting Secretary Karl Chua said Identification System (PhilSys) that the national ID pre-regis- registration is recording and tration, the first of a three-step validating the biometrics, after process toward the implementa- which the final step would be tion of the national ID system, the issuance of PhilSys number has exceeded one million as of and PhilID. Step one registration is done October 20. house-to-house as a precauData provided by Chua in a Despite Acting Socioeconomic Planning Viber message to reporters on tion against coronavirus disease In this Jan. 9, 2017 file photo, Filipino Roman Catholic devotees in Manila carry the image of the Black Nazarene for a procession to celebrate Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua its feast day.

Philstar.com photo by Efigenio Toledo ManilaTimes.net photo Thursday, October 22, showed 2019 (COVID-19) infection. n by anna leah

e. Gonzales ManilaTimes.net

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The Asian Journal

WKND

Why didn’t you file a petition already?

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ DEAR Attorney GURFINKEL: I immigrated to the U.S. in 2008 through my mother’s F-3 petition (married son/daughter of U.S. citizen), which she filed in 1990. At the time my petition was filed, my son was only six years old. By the time the priority date became current and my visa was issued, I was told he had “aged out,” and had to be left behind.

I have not consulted with any attorney yet, but I want to know if he could have been covered by the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA), and can he still come to the U.S. under my mother’s petition?

Very truly yours, LG Dear LG: With regard to your child’s eligibility for a visa under the CSPA, I want to emphasize to everyone that eligibility is NOT based on the child’s age when the petition was filed, but instead on the child’s age when the priority date becomes current. Therefore, the fact that a child may have only been a baby, six years old, etc. when the petition was filed does not have

any bearing on CSPA eligibility.

(The only exception to this rule is when a U.S. citizen is petitioning his or her minor child. In that case the petition must be filed before the child’s 21st birthday.)

There is a complex mathematical formula to determine a child’s CSPA eligibility. In your particular case, based on that mathematical formula, your child’s CSPA age came out to be over 21.

However, what makes me sad in your particular case is that you immigrated in 2008, and could have immediately filed your own petition for your adult single child in the F-2B category. Right now, they are already processing adult single children of immigrants who PAGE B2

LifestyLe Consumer Guide Community marketpLaCe

After rough patch, Rhian realizes ‘it’s OK not to be OK’

By AllAn

PolicArPio Inquirer.net

RHIAN Ramos is now starting to feel better, especially after going through a rough patch that saw her dealing with pandemic-related stressors and heartbreak over calling it quits with her Israeli boyfriend.

“I’m doing well. I think everyone just needs some time.

And once they’re able to figure out a new routine and adjust to the changes, then things will be OK,” she said in a recent virtual conference for “Truly.

Madly. Deadly,” the fourth and last episode of the weekly GMA 7 drama anthology “I Can See You,” which ends today.

In her personal YouTube vlog uploaded late last month, Rhian admitted that she felt “brokenhearted” and “shattered” because of the breakup. On top of

toll on her emotional and physical well-being. “I was in so much pain … I wasn’t getting out of my bed. I wasn’t sleeping right.

I couldn’t eat … I was under so much stress that my body basically just started eating itself,” Rhian, who lost weight during the ordeal, said in her vlog.

But after getting the chance to properly process her feelings, she realized that it’s OK not to be OK, and that things are going to get better in her own time. “I feel like the Lord is taking care of me, so OK naman lahat,” Rhian said in the video interview.

She turned 30 last Oct. 3 and Rhian Ramos Inquirer.net photo she can’t help but feel that she’s that, she had to find a new place about to turn a new leaf. because she was returning to More comfortable work and didn’t want to put her “People were greeting me and mom at risk by living with her. I could sense from their voices Emotional, physical toll that they were checking if I were All these eventually took its PAGE B3

Julia recalls childhood days in throwback greeting for sister Dani By iAn

Biong

Inquirer.net

MoRe AnsweRs to YouR IMMIgRAtIon QuestIons on CItIzen PInoY, “YouR tAnong MY sAgot”. on a brand new episode of Citizen Pinoy, Atty. gurfinkel answers many important immigration questions from viewers. Maria from Dover, De (top right) asks whether her son is eligible for a visa under the Child status Protection Act when he aged out in 2011. Meanwhile, Janet of Chicago, IL would like to know how many more years does her family need to wait for her siblings’ visas to be approved? their priority dates are all in 1998, and the nVC is already processing cases from 2002!. these are just some of the questions that Attorney gurfinkel (left) will answer on a brand-new episode of --- CItIzen PInoY: Your tanong, My sagot, this sunday at 6:15 pm Pst/est (9:15 pm est thru select Cable/satellite providers).

(Advertising supplement)

JULIA Barretto looked back on her childhood days with her older sister Dani as she penned her a heartfelt birthday greeting online.

Julia took to Instagram on Wednesday, Oct. 21, to share her open letter for her “ate,” whom the young actress said she has always looked up to since she was a child.

“When we were little, I always wanted to be in the same dress as you. During your seventh birthday, you were supposed to be the only one in a Cinderella costume, but you let me be Cinderella

too because you knew I always wanted to be matching with you,” Julia recalled.

She also remembered how Dani was part of “Ang TV” back then, noting that she would always wait for Saturdays to come to watch it with Dani. “[The] rest of the week I’d be crying waiting for it to be Saturday again,” Julia said. “I’ve always looked up to you, and I’ve always been your #1 fan.”

“With my circumstance, I usually tend to forget how young I am.

That’s when I find myself running to YOU. Running to my ATE. It’s how you look out for me, how you protect me and love me. I can’t ask Julia and Dani Barretto PAGE B3 Photo from Instagram/@juliabarretto

B OCTOBER 24-27, 2020 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

EntErtainmEnt

Community Health Fair by LADMC Foundation in collaboration with LA Downtown Medical Center Complimentary health screening, flu shots, COVID testing and much more!

Mark your calendars from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28 at LA Downtown Medical Center located at 1711 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90026.

The Health Fair is free and open to the public and will provide education on COVID-19 and chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, flu shots, physical strength, eye exams and much more.

City Council Member Mitch O’Farrell will Participate as our community partner.

“It’s important to me that every community has access to great medical care and guidance by doctors and nurses, so I hope this event will have a great turnout”.

Hospital Executive Vice President Mark Valentino “Our Goal is to keep our community healthy, safe and well informed through this upcoming flu season.”

We are also excited to partner with Superior Grocers who has generously donated 300 bags of groceries to giveaway to families in need.

For additional information, please call (213) 484-3252 or visit www.ladmfoundation.org LA Downtown Medical Center. Offers 24/7 urgent care services, medical-surgical services and behavioral health and psychiatric services on its

Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel answers more viewer immigration questions on this Sunday’s edition of Citizen Pinoy CITIzEN Pinoy continues to provide relevant information to individuals and families who have concerns about the latest immigration policies and how it affects them.

This Sunday, leading U.S. immigration attorney, Michael J. Gurfinkel, will provide answers to questions of viewers from around the U.S. Maria from Delaware re-

ceived r green card in 2011.

She was unable to bring her two sons with her because they already aged out. She asks if they are qualified for visas under the Child Status Protection Act? From Illinois, Janet has been waiting for her family to be reunited after so many years. She would like to know how long do they need to wait if the priority

dates of her siblings are March, May and August 1998, and NVC is already processing 2002?

Find out the answers to these questions and more on another informative and brand-new edition of CITIzEN PINOY: Your Tanong, My Sagot, this Sunday, October 25, at 6:15 pm PST/ EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

Why didn’t you file a petition...

PAGE B1 were petitioned in 2011. Had you filed your petition as soon as you got your green card in 2008, your adult single child could have already been here by now. So, all those years were wasted or lost, while you were wondering or thinking about options or solutions and waiting over 12 years to consult with an attorney.

This is a very common situation among immigrants: they have questions, issues, or concerns about their family’s immigration situation. Rather than consulting with an attorney or taking immediate action to pursue immigration benefits, they “think about it,” or do absolutely nothing. That is why if a person has questions about two campuses. Our hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission, the leading hospital accreditation organization in the country, having met its standards for providing quality

patient care. We are committed to providing all LADMC patients with the safest, highest-quality, best-value, individualized health care across all of our programs and services.

After rough patch, Rhian...

PAGE B1 OK. But I was actually so excited to turn 30. In your 20s, you have so much energy, but you don’t know how to harness it, so you end up doing things you don’t really need,” she related. “Now in my 30s, I feel more comfortable with myself.”

“Of course, you don’t have to be 30 to feel that way,” she added. “It’s just nice to have that marker to sort of officially start. But I have been feeling

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like a new version of me since last year.”

Going back to the grind after a seven-month acting hiatus also helped her regain her footing and recapture her rhythm.

“This wasn’t the first time I took a long break, so I know about feeling rusty and sabaw on set. I had been worrying about it the whole time. But since I had been through this before, I knew how to prepare for it. I did some memory exercises, too, so

I could get used to memorizing lines,” she related.

Doing a miniseries, Rhian pointed out, is a good starting block for when she finally starts filming her coming, full-length soap, “Love of My Life.”

“I was actually nervous at first because I didn’t know what challenges to expect in a lock-in taping. But now I feel ready to do ‘Love of My Life,’ which will have us doing multiple two-week lock-in taping sessions. I have

their immigration situation, or they have been denied or refused a visa, and they think they may be eligible, they should immediately consult with an attorney, versus waiting years and years to do so.

Perhaps had they done something right away, they or their family would have already been eligible for a green card. *** 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)

Julia recalls childhood days in...

PAGE B1 for a better sister, Dan. I tell you this all the time, but I LOVE YOU. Happy happy birthday @danibarretto,” the doting sister added.

Dani unsurprisingly appreciated her sister’s message, replying

via the comments section, “This made me cry, Juju!!”

“I love you sooooo much!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for also being an ate to me whenever I fall short. Sometimes ates need to be reminded that we don’t have everything

figured out all the time. I love you!

I love you!” she added.

Dani turned 27 years old last Tuesday, Oct. 20. She is four years older than Julia and is the eldest among Marjorie Barretto’s children.

heard of others doing one month at a time. That’s a bigger challenge,” she said. “But I’m lucky I’m able to gradually build my stamina.”

Supporting each other Rhian also sought advice from her costar, Jennylyn Mercado, who had previously taped episodes for “Descendants of the Sun.” While the two were part of the 2013 series “Indio,” they didn’t have any scenes together.

This time, they finally had the chance to work more closely.

“Back then, we just greeted each other in the tent because we didn’t have scenes to talk about. That’s why I was excited about doing this show. Jen is a pro and so much fun to be with.

It’s nice getting to know her more as a person,” said Rhian, who plays Abby, a vlogger out to review a resort, where Coleen (Jennylyn)—her friend-turned-

enemy—happens to be a staff member.

While current conditions are tough, the resumption of production is good, Rhian said, not only for actors like her, but for everyone working behind the scenes. “Everyone’s trying to do what they can to work and find ways to support their families,” she said. “ And if we can do that by pushing through with projects like this, let’s do it.”

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Superfast 5G for cellphones How widows of US citizen scan still get their green cards at the Las Vegas CES Tax Tips Victor Sy, cPA, mBA & roger L. orieL tHeRe’s been a buzzword in cell phone speeds: 5g. Just what is meant by 5g? our Asian Journal crew found out some valuable data at the latest Consumer electronics show in Las Vegas early this month. there are three different versions of 5g with varying degrees of speed: • Low-band 5g: About 20% faster than your current 4g Lte. • Mid-band 5g: About 6x faster than Lte. • High-band 5g: About 10x faster than Lte. Just how fast is 5G? the current Lte (Long-term

evolution) bars that you see in your smart phone allows you to download a movie in about 10 to 20 minutes. High-band 5g can do that in about 30 to 60 seconds depending on how far you are from a signal tower. For now, carriers are starting their 5g high-band millimeter wave in public spaces like stadiums, downtowns, and other crowded areas. We personal consumers have to wait a little longer.

What is the state of U.S. carriers?

At&t has a low-band network in 20 markets for consumers and faster high-band networks in 35 commercial markets. It doesn’t sell devices that support both networks yet. t-Mobile has the same progress. samsung’s galaxy Note 10+ 5g supports the low-band network. At&t 5ge is modernizing its existing 4g Lte network while it constructs real 5g. Verizon has high-band 5g live in 34 markets. Verizon will charge

an additional $10 per month to use 5g. I don’t know what the other carriers will charge.

What is the overall state of 5G? 5g is a mess with a variety of low to high band cocktails but this will change when Apple and samsung introduce iPhone and galaxy phones that support all levels of 5g toward the end of 2020. *** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com.

Clients seek to discharge $100K and $30K credit cards Qualify for different chapters of bankruptcy code

Debt Relief

Atty. LAwrence yAng Most debtors prefer to have a Chapter 7 wipe out of debt. this is called a fresh start without debt. Most debtors who qualify for Chapter 7 debt relief get to keep everything they own but are able to get rid of all of their debt, thus, they start life again without debt but keep all their assets. they are able to keep their assets by “exempting” their assets under CCP 704 or 703.

Let’s compare the following two cases to appreciate the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 of the bankruptcy code.

Client no. 1 is 58 years old and separated from her husband who lives out of the country. they owned and operated a business 10 years ago. the business failed and her husband decided to go back to his home country. the wife decided she wanted to stay here, so they are, in fact, separated and live apart. the wife makes about $30,000 a year and does not own a house. she doesn’t know what her husband is doing in his home country. For purposes of bankruptcy, the client is de facto separated from her husband, so we don’t care what her husband does in his home country.

His income, if any, is not a factor in the calculation of client’s household income. In

other words, even if the separated husband has become a millionaire in his home country, his income is irrelevant in the determination of client’s ability to qualify for Chapter 7 debt relief here in southern California. the client, completely on her own here, has to make do with her income of $30,000 a year. It’s only her income that is relevant in the means test calculation. the client has $100,000 of credit card debt, most of which were used to operate their business that failed 10 years ago. Believe it or not, for the last 10 years, the client has been making minimum payments on the $100,000 at the required $3,000 a month. I guess, she used to make more than $30,000 a year before, because he now only makes $2,500 a month, which is less than $3,000 a month.

But in the last 10 years, she has paid $360,000 to keep $100,000 of credit cards current. today, she still owes the very same $100,000! Yes, it’s sad but true and not at all fair but nevertheless, that’s the reality of what happened.

If she had filed for Chapter 7 ten years ago and wiped out the $100,000 in 2008, she would probably have $700,000 in her wealth portfolio now, growing at the rate of between 6% to 10% a year.

But she took her own sweet time, perhaps she was afraid to file for Chapter 7 10 years ago, or even five years ago, and now suffers the consequence of that wrong decision. Now, she still owes the very same $100,000 but had

paid $360,000 to keep that $100,000 current in the last 10 years. Now, that’s not being smart is it? No, that’s being pretty dumb. Because if client PAGE B6

tinue to be eligible to immigrate if they file an I-360 selfpetition within two years of the death of the U.s. citizen or to automatically convert an already-filed I130 to an I-360. they must also show a good faith marriage, and Atty. Kenneth demonstrate that they have not UrSUA reyeS remarried to immigrate as an immediate relative WIDoWs of U.s. citizens have since 1938, Us immigration many options of obtaining their regulations have provided for greencard should their U.s. citi- the automatic revocation of the zen spouse die. Under INA sec- approved visa petition upon the tion 201(b)(2)(A)(i), Widows are death of the Petitioner. Howallowed to remain classified as ever, immigration regulations immediate relatives and to con- since 2006 provided that auto-

Barrister’s Corner

matic revocation provisions does not apply to a spousal petitions of Us Citizens if the deceased Us Citizen petitioner and the alien widower had been married at least two years at the time petitioner died.

When the FY2010 DHs Appropriations Act was enacted on october 28, 2009, the 2 year requirement was eliminated.

Under section 568(c) of that act, it is no longer necessary for the husband and wife to have been married for 2 years when the citizen spouse died in order for PAGE B6

Marriage during removal proceedings ANg I-130 Petition for Alien Relative ng isang U.s. citizen (UsC) o lawful permanent resident (LPR) para sa kanyang dayuhang asawa batay sa kasal nila na naganap noong ang dayuhan ay nasa removal proceedings na ay karaniwang hindi maaaprubahan hanggang ang dayuhan ay manirahan sa labas ng U.s. ng dalawang taon mula sa kanyang kasal sa UsC/LPR. Ang removal proceedings ay nagsisimula sa pagfile ng U.s.

Immigration officer ng Notice to Appear (NtA) laban sa dayuhan sa Immigration Court. Ang dayuhan ay masasabing nasa removal proceeding habang ang kanyang kaso ay nasa Immigration Court - kasama dito ang mga administrative at judicial

Tapat Sa Batas Atty. rheA SAmSon appeal ng kanyang kaso, at habang ang kanyang kaso ay administratively closed.

Ang isang exception sa restriction sa itaas ay para sa mga bona fide marriage. Ang mag-asawang UsC/LPR at dayuhan ay maaaring mag-apply ng bona fide marriage exception upang maiwasan ang pag-alis ng dayuhan sa U.s. ng dalawang taon at ang paghihiwalay nila ng

kanyang asawang UsC/LPR sa panahong ito. Upang matupad ang mga bona fide marriage exemption requirements, kailangang patunayan ng dayuhan sa pamamagitan ng malinaw at nakakakumbinsing ebidensya na ang kanilang kasal ng UsC/LPR ay good faith marriage, naaayon sa batas ng lugar kung saan sila kinasal, ang kasal ay hindi naganap upang ang dayuhan ay makakuha ng mga immigration benefits, at walang pag-aayos na pinansiyal dulot ng kasal sa pamamagitan ng dayuhan at asawang UsC/LPR. Ang UsC/LPR at dayuhan ay kailangang magsubmit ng ”bona fide marriage exemption letter” kasama ng I-130 Petition PAGE B6

B OCTOBER 24-27, 2020 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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Worried about your debt Reimbursement for business expenses while working from home due to COVID-19 problems during the pandemic?

Q: WHEN California’s Safer at Home Order took effect in March 2020, I and my co-workers were instructed to work from home. Since then, I have had to buy a new laptop (something basic), a new printer, ink cartridges, reams of copy paper, envelopes, scotch tape, and staples– all of which I need to do my work. I have also had to get an internet connection in order to access company databases and participate in virtual team meetings (I did not have internet prior to this, my unlimited cellphone data was enough for me). My electricity bill has also gone up. I have had to buy a new ergonomic chair (the cheapest I can find!).

I use my personal cellphone several times per day for workrelated calls. Are any of these expenses reimbursable by my employer?

A: Under California law, an employer shall “indemnify [its] employee for all necessary expenditures or losses incurred by the employee in direct consequence of the discharge of [their] duties, or... obedience to the directions of the employer.” The term “necessary expenditures or losses” includes “all reasonable costs” that the employee incurred in order to perform their work.

Prior to the pandemic, some of the more common reimbursable expenses included: transportation, mileage, parking, and other travel expenses; supplies, tools, materials, or equipment; uniforms; and cell phone use related to work.

What is considered “necessary and reasonable” will depend on several factors, including the employee’s job duties, what the employer expects the employee to do while working remotely, and the actual costs incurred by the employee that they would not have incurred if they worked at the employer’s premises.

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. For example: Prior to the remote work, the employee had a 10 year-old desktop PC without a camera and a microphone that was sufficient for the employee’s own needs. But with remote work, the employee is now asked to log into the employer’s databases, install new security software and other work-related applications, and participate in Zoom meetings. Under this scenario, an expenditure for a laptop would be necessary.

The same analysis applies to the new printer, ink cartridges for the new printer, reams of copy paper, envelopes, scotch tape, staples, and (probably) the ergonomic chair. If these devices and equipment are needed for you to be able to do your job, and that you would not be purchasing them otherwise if not for work, then these items are arguably “necessary” under the circumstances, and should be reimbursable to you as business expenses.

It is noted that you generally bought items that were “basic” and “cheap” which goes to show that not only were your purchases necessary, they were also “reasonable.” The employer may argue, for example, that though a laptop is necessary for work, paying $2,000 for one may be unreasonable. However, simply because an expense is “unreasonable” doesn’t mean it’s not necessary. The reimbursement may likely be reduced, however.

Does the employer have to reimburse an employee for work-related use of a personal cell phone even if the employee did not incur an extra expense

because of this use? Yes, reimbursement is always required.

Whether the employees have cell phone plans with unlimited minutes or limited minutes, the reimbursement owed is a reasonable percentage of their cell phone bills. To prove employer liability for reimbursement, the employees need only show that they were required to use their personal cell phones to make work-related calls.

What about expenses that an employee would incur anyway whether they work remotely or not, such as an electric bill or an internet connection? If the employee’s electric bill increased due to the work from home, then technically, a reasonable percentage of this bill should be paid for by the employer. If the employee had to subscribe to an internet connection that they would not otherwise do if not for remote work, then the expense may be deemed necessary to discharge one’s work duties.

A note of caution to employees: if the employer paid for the equipment, it will become employer property. Therefore, if the employee quits, they may be asked to return all equipment/devices that the employer had paid for. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic.

All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit HYPERLINK “http://www.joesayaslaw.com” www.joesayaslaw.com. [For more than 25 years, C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. has successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a past Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas.]

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The arduousness of love Pastor’s Notes reverend rodel G. BAlAGtAS WE speak about love as if it is the easiest thing to do. It’s because we often equate love with a deep sentiment towards one’s parent, child, or friend, or a romantic and sexual expression toward a spouse, or a passion for one’s profession.

Love is more than a feeling.

It’s an action, a decision, and a commitment. As Pope Francis stated in his homily on Valentine’s Day of 2014, love “is not a mere emotion, a psychophysical state…it is a relationship, a growing reality.”

As a growing reality, it involves the heart and will, soul and life, mind and strength. It makes demands and requires a covenantal fidelity. And as Fr. John Kavanaugh, S.J. says, “Love is not a mere ardor; it is arduous.”

Why is it so arduous? It’s because it demands heroic service, selflessness, forgiveness, justice, openness, inclusiveness, and humility. It also requires practice and accountability. That’s why we often say to each other, “Don’t tell me. Show me!”

St. Paul describes to us the arduousness of love in his Letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) “Love is patient, love is kind.

It is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude. it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoings but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

This arduousness of love mirrors God’s love and genuine practice of the Christian faith. That’s why Jesus combines the two commandments of love that every Jew learns early on in childhood. The first commandment is from Deuteronomy (Dt. 6:5): “Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your

God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength.

The second is taken from Leviticus (Lev 19:18): “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”

By combining the two commandments on equal footing, Jesus wants to convey that showing our love for God is more than an offering of sacrifice, praise, and honor to Him. It’s also loving one’s neighbor, especially the poor and the disadvantaged. In the Book of Exodus that we hear this Sunday, loving requires not molesting or oppressing an alien and not wronging a widow and an orphan, not taking advantage of the oppressed.

The U.S. election challenges us to practice this arduous love by our votes on the candidates and the various state measures that would benefit our lives, especially those of our society’s vulnerable members. May God help us discern His will! *** Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.

Clients seek to discharge $100K...

PAGE B5 did actually get Chapter 7 relief and wipe out the $100,000 10 years ago, the consequence of that smart decision, would be that she would have at least $700,000 now, and that’s a smart move.

Of course, it’s not too late to get Chapter 7 relief now. Better late than never with a Chapter 7 wipe out of the $100,000 now and to have a fresh start now at the age of 58, instead of having a fresh start at the age of 48. Further, if she did have the fresh start in 2008, her credit score would be perfect now over 800, and there would be no fact of filing Chapter 7 in her credit report. It’s like it never happened. No wonder Pres. Trump thinks bankruptcy law is heaven sent. His own businesses filed for bankruptcy, 4 Chapter 11’s, in the nineties wiping out more than a billion $ of unsecured debt.

The client now qualifies for and is eligible for Chapter 7 under the means test and all her assets are exempt so she gets to keep all her assets including her retirement account of $50,000 and her fully paid MB 300 2013, while wiping out the entire $100,000. So she goes for it 10 years late because as we said earlier, better late than never.

Client no. 2 is 52 and married. I did his join Chapter 7 exactly 20 years ago. Then,

he and wife were able to discharge $20,000 of credit cards and an uninsured car accident liability of $40,000. They got the fresh start then, and now he has racked up another $30,000 of credit card debt, while wife has her own credit cards too.

Client recently lost his job and his unemployment benefits are about to expire.

Certainly, he wants a Chapter 7 discharge of his $30,000 of cards. However, he owns with his wife as joint tenants, their house worth $500,000 on which they owe a total of $300,000. So, they have equity of $200,000. But since he is only 52, their homestead exemption is only $100,000, leaving non-exempt equity of $100,000. This means that if he does a Chapter 7, the trustee will sell their house for $500,000, give him $100,000 for his exempt equity, and use the rest to pay off his $30,000 credit cards, and if there is any money left, the balance will also be given to him.

Chapter 7 is not advisable in this case, as client will lose his house for $30,000 of credit cards. This makes no sense.

Why lose over your family’s head for the sake of credit card debt? Makes no sense whatsoever. Client needs to file Chapter 13 to protect his house from eventual judgment liens from the $30,000 credit cards.

Judgment lien creditors can

force the sale of the house in order to get paid. Unbelievable but true! A judgment creditor for $5,000 with a lien on your house can force the sale of he house to satisfy the judgment as a last resort.

Chapter 13 will protect client’s house from judgments occurring in the future from the $30,000 of credit cards.

The Chapter 13 plan will allow him to pay the $30,000 at the rate of $500 a month. On the 60th month, the court will give him an order of discharge. At that time, he will owe credit cards zero. Using Chapter 13 to handle his $30,000 credit cards entails no risk of losing his house because Chapter 13 trustee have no power to sell debtor houses, unlike Chapter 7 trustees who are hungry for houses with non-exempt equity.

If you need debt relief, set an appointment to see me. I will analyze your case personally. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in Bankruptcy, Business, Real Estate and Civil Litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 2841142 for an appointment at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789 or 1000 S. Fremont Ave., Mailstop 58, Building A-10 South Suite 10042, Alhambra, CA 91803.

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FIRST of all, you are not alone.

I just read the news today and experts are warning us again about expected spikes in COVID cases for the rest of the year. I know this is downright scary and depressing especially considering that a lot of people everywhere seem to have already suffered enough since the lockdowns earlier this year. These are difficult times, and God help us.

What I’ve learned, however, not only from personal experience but from my experience as a bankruptcy attorney as well, is that it is best to confront things as they are, NOT as how we wish them to be. Because if we ignore the reality of our situation, sooner or later, we will suffer the consequences. Yes, it is difficult to even think and plan when you’re in a state of panic- and most people are dealing with a financial crisis such as this one for the very first time in their lives. It is OK to feel what you feel, but at some point, you need to start thinking of what you’re going to do for the coming months.

Are you in debt and in a constant state of worrying about your financial situation? Perhaps like most people, you’re either relying on those EDD checks for survival.

Or maybe you just live paycheck to paycheck working less hours and are barely surviving. Some people have had to resort to using their credit cards for basic living expenses like rent, food, car payments, etc. For those who were able to get a temporary forbearance of payments from their mortgage lender and credit card companies, that period will soon end and you need to have a strategy on how you can eventually catch up.

Worrying and not doing anything about your situation will not change things for you. Some people worry for a long time un-

Minding Your Finances Atty. rAymond BulAon til they cannot take it anymore or until something bad happens, like being sued or being served a wage garnishment at work. This could be more embarrassing than admitting to yourself that you can no longer do it on your own and need legal help.

If you are thinking of filing bankruptcy to end your debt problems once and for all, you may be hesitant to do so for fear that it may not be the right solution for you. And to a certain extent, you are correct about having that fear as it is common to people who do not understand how bankruptcy works. Filing bankruptcy is a decision that must be made only after you’ve had a chance to fully understand your options. While it is not for everyone, however, when done correctly and under the right circumstances, it could be the best decision you’ll ever make in your life. As a matter of fact, it may be the ONLY thing that will help you survive this pandemic without using up all your savings and retirement money.

Unfortunately, fear quickly paralyzes most people so instead of doing something right away, they tend to procrastinate. This can make things worse because ignoring your debt problems can only cause things to escalate. And if you have assets that are at risk (for example, a pending foreclosure or auto repo), creditors may be able to take your property away and you can lose your legal rights by default. Things can easily go from bad to worse by failing

to act when you can. This is not what you want, is it?

How about putting the law to work for you? Filing bankruptcy can provide immediate debt relief, whether you’re eliminating debts you can no longer pay or simply reorganizing your finances so that you can pay your creditors slowly as you’re able. The law says that once you file, creditors must leave you alone immediately. This gives you some breathing room, allowing you think more clearly while trying to get back on your feet. Bankruptcy is nothing more than a tool that you can use for financial recovery.

Keep in mind that the sooner you act to know your options, the sooner you will also find out if non-bankruptcy alternatives exist. Inaction can only worsen your problems, and you may find yourself having no choice but to file bankruptcy at the last minute in order to deal with lawsuits, garnishments, bank account seizures or liens against your property.

Plan ahead of time so you’re not caught unprepared.

For the last 20 years, I’ve been helping people and business owners get out of debt. If you are in debt and have no clue what you should do next in order to change your situation for the better, I offer a free consultation.. *** NOTE: Due to the current lockdown order caused by COVID-19, I am offering free consultations BY PHONE to anyone who needs help in dealing with their debt problems. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866477-7772 (Advertising Supplement)

Marriage during removal...

PAGE B5 for Alien Relative. Kailangang isaad nila ang mga dahilan para sa exemption at kailangan ding magbigay sila ng mga documentary evidence para sa kanilang eligibility sa exemption. Ang mga sumusunod ay maaaring ibigay bilang documentary evidence: mga litrato ng kasal, mga litrato ng mga-asawa at ng kanilang relasyon bago pa ang kasal, lease agreement at mga titulo sa mga pag-aari nila, health insurance at iba pang insurance policies, joint phone bills at utility bills, joint tax returns, joint bank statements at credit card statements, birth certificates ng mga anak nila, mga sulat mula sa mga kaibigan at kamag-anak, at iba pang mga ebidensya ng bona fide marriage at relasyon ng mag-asawa.

Maliban sa mga documentary evidence na ibinigay ng magasawang USC/LPR at dayuhan, ang USCIS ay maaari ring tumingin sa social media tulad ng Facebook, Instagram, at Whatsapp sa determinasyon nito tungkol sa kinauukulang kasal.

Ang USCIS ay gumagamit at tumitingin sa mga pampublikong impormasyon sa pagsusuri, pag-imbestiga at pagdetermina ng validity ng mga visa petitions, lalung-lalo na yung mga dayuhan na nagpakasal sa USC/ LPR habang nasa removal proceedings.

Generally, an I-130 Petition for Alien Relative filed by a U.S. citizen (USC) or lawful permanent resident (LPR) for an alien spouse based upon a marriage entered into while the alien spouse-beneficiary was in re-

moval proceedings may not be approved until the beneficiary has lived outside the US for two years, beginning on the date of the marriage. Removal proceedings commence when a U.S. Immigration Officer files a Notice to Appear (NTA) against an alien with the Immigration Court. A person is considered to be in removal proceedings during both administrative and judicial appeals of the proceedings. Additionally, a person is considered to be in removal proceedings when such proceedings are administratively closed.

An exception to the above restriction is for bona fide marriages. The spouses can apply for the bona fide marriage exception so that the alien beneficiary-spouse does not have to depart the U.S. for two years.

To satisfy the bona fide marriage exemption, the beneficiary must demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the marriage was in good faith, in accordance with the laws of the place of the celebration, did not marry to obtain immigration benefits, and did not marry as a result of financial arrangement with the USC or LPR spouse.

The ”bona fide marriage exemption” must be in writing and submitted with the I-130 Petition for Alien Relative. The request must state the reason for seeking the exemption, and must be supported by documentary evidence establishing eligibility for the exemption.

Evidence of the bona fides of the marriage must be submitted, such as: wedding photos, photos of the couple and their

How widows of...

PAGE B5 the alien spouse to qualify as an immediate relative. The widow may remain an immediate relative as long as the widow was not legally separated from the citizen spouse at the time of death and the widow spouse files a petition within 2 years after the death of the citizen spouse or until the widow spouse remarries whichever comes earlier. INA Section 201(b)(2)(A)(i). Each child of the alien will also be considered an immediate relative under this section.

Widows with Pending Petitions Section 568(c) amendment is applicable to all pending petition on or after the date of the enactment. Pending includes denied I-130 that have pending motions to reopen or pending BIA appeal, and BIA denials pending federal court litigation. The amendment also applies to any form I-485 that was pending on October 28, 2009.

Widows with Approved Petitions Any approved I-130 before the citizen petitioner death will be deemed an approved I-360.

The widower may adjust along with any child.

Widows without Pending Petitions Widows may file I-360 self petition. For citizen spouses that died prior to October 28, 2009, the deadline to file the I-360 is October 28, 2011. For citizen spouses that died on or after October 28, 2009, the deadline to file the self petition is within 2 years of the citizen’s death. Affidavit of Support is not required for widows of a citizen and accompanying children.

USCIS does not require a Form I-864 Affidavit of Support for either the widow or the accompanying children in order to establish they will not become a public charge under INA Section 212(a)(4). A Form I-864W exemption should be filed.

A widow and and accompanying children will not accumulate unlawful presence if they were the beneficiary of a spousal I130 that was pending October 28,2009 and that was later approved as a self-petition.

If you are a widow who has a US Citizen spouse who passed away within the last 2 years, you

relationship prior to the marriage during removal proceedings, lease agreement and titles to properties jointly owned, health insurance and other insurance policies, joint phone bills and utility bills, joint tax returns, joint bank statements and credit card statements, birth certificates for children, letters from family and friends, and other evidence to show that the couple has a bona fide marriage and relationship.

Aside from the evidence presented, the USCIS may look into social media such as Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp to determine the bona fides of the marriage. USCIS uses publicly accessible information during its evaluations, investigations and determinations of visa petitions, especially for a beneficiary who gets married to a USC or LPR spouse while in removal proceedings. *** ATTY. RHEA SAMSON is the principal of SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C. She has been a member of the State Bar of California for over 15 years and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines for over 20 years. Atty. Samson received her Legal Management degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and her Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo Law School. She was a Professor for over 10 years, teaching Obligations and Contracts, Labor Laws and Social Legislation and Taxation Law. Atty Samson is the author of The Law on Obligations and Contracts (2016), Working with Labor Laws-Revised Edition (2014) and Working with Labor Laws (2005).

SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C., 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1710, Los Angeles, CA 90010; Phone: (213) 381-5710; Email: info@ samsonlawfirmpc.com.

(Advertising Supplement) should seek the representation of an experienced immigration attorney to assist you with this process. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.

The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information.

This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed.

The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010.

Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com. Web: kenreyeslaw. com (Advertising Supplement)

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B OCTOBER 24-27, 2020 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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