110720 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

NOVEMBER 7-10, 2020 Volume 30 - No. 88 • 2 Sections – 18 Pages

DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

2020 election results for California’s ballot measures IN additional to the top of the ticket presidential race and local offices, California voters cast their votes for a dozen propositions during the 2020 election. Here’s how the 12 measures faired on Election Day, November 3.

Prop 14 — Stem Cell Research Institute Bond Initiative (YES) This ballot measure would send $5.5 billion in general obligation bonds for the state’s stem cell research institute, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).

The increased funds to the CIRM — which would come from investors who would be reimbursed over the next 30 years through taxpayers — would expand research capacity and allocate $1.5 billion for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, epilepsy and other neurological and nervous system illnesses.

The CIRM was established in 2004 as the first-of-its-kind state-sanctioned stem cell agency and was issued $3 billion in bonds. By October 2019, the CIRM had $132 million remaining and earlier in July 2019, the CIRM had seized applications for new projects because funds were drying up.

Supporters — including the CIRM, Gov.

As precincts still report, Filipino American candidates battle in key local, state races LGBTQ Fil-Ams make strides in electoral politics, reporting historic outcomes in era of diverse leadership

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

THOUGH all eyes are on the contentious presidential race that continues to be too close to call, several statewide and local races have already been officially counted, giving voters a clearer picture of how diverse candidates fared in one of the most crucial elections in

American history.

As of press time, results in many precincts across the country have not been called due to expected delays in counting ballots, but some races involving Filipino American candidates have been counted.

As reported in the Asian Journal last week, a record number of Filipino American candidates ran for office this election, signaling a push for diversity in American

leadership across all offices.

In San Diego, Filipino American mayoral candidate Todd Gloria — a current California state assemblymember — took an early lead in a race that, as of press time, is still close as the votes are still being tallied.

As of early Wednesday morning, Gloria — who u PAGE A2

Trump’s ‘public charge’ immigration rule back in effect days after being vacated

by RAE

u PAGE A3

MINI EIFFELS. Colorful miniature Eiffel Towers and other Christmas decors are displayed along Aguinaldo Highway in Bacoor, Cavite on Thursday evening, November 5. Several businesses have been allowed to open to slowly revive the economy affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

ANN VARONA AJPress

A FEDERAL appeals court on Wednesday, November 4 allowed the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to continue enforcing the Trump administration’s expanded “public charge” immigration rule that would deny green cards to immigrants who rely on public benefits like food stamps and housing vouchers.

The ruling comes amidst developing presidential election results and just two days after a Chicago federal judge blocked the public charge rule.

On Monday, Judge Gary Feinerman of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois cited a Seventh Circuit holding that said the rule change was “arbitrary and capricious” due to “numerous unexplained serious flaws.”

In his 14-page ruling, Feinerman said the public charge rule fell outside the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) authority set under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

Under federal law, noncitizens seeking to obtain legal u PAGE A2

Re-elected Fil-Am Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes announces ‘personal leave’ Todd Gloria poised to to assist Trump in election legal battles win as San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria

FILIPINO American Todd Gloria is on the cusp of making history in San Diego, and become the first person of color and first openly gay person to be elected as the mayor of California’s second largest city.

“Tonight, San Diego, because of you, we are poised to make history,” Gloria, a Democrat, said hours after the polls closed on Tuesday night. “While there are still votes to be counted, I believe that tonight is a night to celebrate.”

As of Thursday, Gloria, who self identifies on Twitter as a “Third Generation San Diegan.

Proud son of a maid and a gardener. CA’s 1st Native American-Filipino-Latino-LGBT Assemblyman” garnered 56% of the votes over challenger Barbara Bry who got 44%.

San Diego, with a population of 1.4 million is home to one of the largest concentrations of Filipinos in the United States, with more than 200,000 residing in America’s Finest City.

Council Member Chris Cate, a second-generation Filipino American, represents the City of San Diego’s Sixth Council District where one in every three residents is of Asian American descent.

“I have known Todd a long, long time. He’s someone I can trust. I do not agree with him on a lot of things, which is okay,” Councilmember Cate told the Asian Journal. “I look forward to working with his new administration on bringing forth policy to help the residents of District 6 and all San Diegans,” Supporters and allies have been sending their u PAGE A4

by RAE

ANN VARONA AJPress

FOLLOWING re-election this week, FilAm Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes said on Friday, November 6 that he would be taking a “personal leave” to assist President Donald Trump in challenging what Reyes called a “compromised election process.”

“Despite months of predictions about a ‘blue wave,’ @GOP kept the Senate & expanded seats in the House. Biden & his allies know @POTUS will win if only verified,

#illegal votes are counted. We are making sure that happens but looks like courts may have to decide that. #RuleOfLaw,” Reyes, who captured 61% of the vote in his race, tweeted on Friday.

He added that he was “on personal leave time to help prepare and support litigation in several states dealing with the compromised election process.”

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte Reyes later clarified that he was not taking a leave of absence from his office, but was taking a “personal weekend to help review u PAGE A3

Batangas City bags WWF’s Most Lovable City award

by RHODINA

VILLANUEVA Philstar.com

MANILA — Batangas City has been hailed as the “World’s Most Lovable City” and overall winner in this year’s edition of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)’s “We Love Cities” campaign.

The announcement was made online via Zoom recently and attended by representatives of WWF national offices around the world and We Love Cities campaign finalists, said Oliver Gonzales, environment and natural resources officer of Batangas City.

“We’re overwhelmed and happy. This

challenge brought us together and made us proud as citizens of our city. We want to thank WWF-Philippines for their great support and guidance throughout this challenge,” Gonzales said.

The We Love Cities Campaign, which has empowered the general public globally with the opportunity to celebrate, vote and upgrade their city through suggestions made and addressed to decision-makers, is interwoven with the One Planet City Challenge (OPCC).

OPCC is a biennial global challenge organized by WWF to guide cities toward the u PAGE A3

Malacañang photo by Simeon Celi

Palace: Duterte can work with any US president

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte can work with his counterpart in the United States regardless of who wins the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Malacañang maintained.

“Kahit sino po ang manalo, wala pong problema ang ating Presidente (It does not matter who win. It won’t be a problem for our president),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque reiterated on Thursday, November 5.

“We can work with any president because we have had a long history of very close friendship with the United States,” he added.

Roque previously said Philippine-U.S. bilateral relations will not see any major changes no matter the result of the election.

“You see the (U.S.) State Department ensures continuity as far as U.S. foreign policy is concerned. So we don’t expect any major changes in bilateral relations between the Philippines and the United States,” he told CNN Philippines’ “The Source.”

He acknowledged the friendship between President Rodrigo Duterte and U.S. President Donald Trump, but expressed confidence that the president can foster friendly relations with Democratic challenger Joe Biden. u PAGE A4

A NOvemBer 7-10, 2020 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

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

From the Front Page

Trump’s ‘public charge’ immigration rule back in...

PAGE A1 permanent residency are already required to prove that they are not likely at any time to become a burden on the government, or in other words, become a “public charge.”

The Trump administration’s rule change that was announced in September 2018 broadened the definition of who would

become a public charge to include applicants who used food stamps, housing vouchers, cash assistance, and most forms of Medicaid among other factors.

USCIS spokesperson Matthew Bourke said Wednesday that the rule would immediately apply to pending cases, but not to applications or petitions approved in light of the Monday

ruling, the Associated Press reported.

The public charge rule litigation may reach the Supreme Court. Newly appointed Justice Amy Coney Barrett had sided with the Trump administration’s rule expansion in her dissenting opinion while serving as circuit judge in the Seventh Circuit.

Critics of the expanded public charge rule definition say that it essentially created a “wealth test” for immigrants seeking to obtain permanent residency and would force many to choose between maintaining immigration status or meeting basic needs like food.

Heng Lam Foong, former senior policy manager with the Health Access Project at Advancing Justice - Los Angeles, told the Asian Journal after the rule’s 2018 announcement that approximately 3.8 million Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) immigrants relied on some form of public benefit to make ends meet.

Many have seen it also as a public health issue.

A study by The New England Journal of Medicine said in 2018 that an estimated one million non-citizens would potentially become uninsured as a result of the new public charge rule.

“If this rule takes effect, it will most likely harm the health of millions of people and undo decades of work by providers nationwide to increase access to medical care for immigrants and their families,” the study reported.

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, who partnered with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) in challenging the rule, said she was not surprised by the continued litigation.

“It’s no surprise that Trump’s team is attempting to remove barriers that wouldn’t allow enforcement of his unlawful public charge definition, even after the courts clapped back at him earlier this week,” Foxx said in a statement on Wednesday.

Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who as of this writing has not secured the needed electoral votes to become president-elect, said that he would end the Trump administration’s public charge rule if elected. n

Marvin Lim

Maria Cervania

Sean Reyes

Nikki Villavicencio

As precincts still report, Filipino...

PAGE A1 would be the first person of color and first openly gay mayor of San Diego (the second-largest city in California) — holds a 56% lead over challenger Barbara Bry. “Tonight, San Diego, because of you, we are poised to make history,” Gloria, a Democrat, said hours after the polls closed on Tuesday night. “While there are still votes to be counted, I believe that tonight is a night to celebrate.”

Elsewhere in California, firsttime candidate for the state assembly Godfrey Santos Plata narrowly lost his bid for District 53, garnering 43.4% (31,785 votes) of the vote to incumbent Miguel Santiago’s 56.5% (41,401). Both Plata and Santiago were running as Democrats.

Plata, a progressive organizer and public education advocate, still hopes for a chance after the ballots have all been officially counted by the end of the month. “#LA is counting ballots until November 27th, but I am still [so] excited by these results, y’all. We are building so much power,” Plata tweeted on Tuesday night.

Rep. Bobby Scott, the Democratic incumbent from Virginia’s 3rd congressional district, sailed to re-election with 67.6% of the votes against Republican challenger John Collick.

“We have a lot of work to do in the weeks and months ahead to heal our nation, defeat this pandemic, provide additional economic support to working families, small businesses and schools, and rebuild our economy so that everyone can succeed,” Scott, whose maternal grandfather was of Filipino ancestry, wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.

In one of the most-watched races in the United States House of Representatives, Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones once again narrowly lost her

bid for Texas’ 23rd congressional district. Republican Tony Gonzalez claimed victory in the vacant seat left by Rep. Will Hurd.

Jones, a U.S. Army veteran who would’ve made history as the first openly gay woman of color in Congress, garnered 47% of the vote to Gonzales’ 51% in a district that is heavily Latino-populated.

“I want to thank each and every grassroots supporter, volunteer, and member of my staff who poured their heart into our campaign,” Jones wrote in a Twitter thread on Wednesday morning. “I am so proud of the race we ran, and it is our shared commitment to fighting for working families in South and West Texas that continues to give me hope.”

Though she didn’t indicate whether or not she would run again, Jones (who is Filipina on her mother’s side) added that “I will always remain dedicated to serving our country and my community in any way I can. I hope TX-23 is represented with all of her constituents in mind, and in a way in which she deserves.”

In another congressional race, Democratic incumbent Filipino American Rep. TJ Cox of California’s 21st Congressional District currently trails by three percentage points behind Republican challenger and former U.S. Rep. David Valadao.

As of press time, only 71% of votes have been reported, according to the Associated Press.

In Georgia, Filipino American civil rights attorney Marvin Lim, 35, made history by becoming the first Filipino American to win a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives in the state’s 99th District.

Lim, who ran unopposed, becomes the sixth openly LGBTQ member of the state legislature.

In Wake County, North Caro-

lina, Maria Cervania was elected to serve as county commissioner for the 3rd district. She becomes the first Asian American and Pacific Islander elected to the Board of Commissioners and the first Fil-Am elected to office in North Carolina.

“When voters take the time to make their voices heard, our county is strengthened. This is the most important part of my campaign,” Cervania wrote in a Facebook post. “It was always about something bigger than us; our work is for the greater good.

I will not take your trust in me for granted.”

In Maplewood, Minnesota, a city outside of Saint Paul, Nikki Villavicencio is likely to garner a seat on the city council. Villavicencio — a disability rights advocate and community organizer who was born with a rare condition called arthrogryposis — has garnered 28.6% of the vote with all precincts reporting.

In Utah, the incumbent GOP state Attorney General Sean Reyes won re-election in a narrow race against the Democratic challenger Greg Skordas. Reyes has held the post since 2013, and he focused on sex predators, street drugs, school violence and youth suicide and cybercrime in his re-election campaign.

“Regardless of party or ideology, our state and nation are stronger when more of us educate ourselves on candidates and issues and participate in elections.

It is exciting to see,” Reyes said in a statement released on Tuesday night. “No matter the outcome, hopefully we can remember those things that unite us as Utahns and Americans. And when all the ballots are counted, I look forward to serving four more years as attorney general, protecting Utah and all who live in this great state.” n

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Dateline USa

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A

Re-elected Fil-Am Utah Attorney General...

An April 9 file photo shows the Mother of All Asia-Tower of Peace, which serves as the highlight of the Montemaria pilgrimage site in Barangay Pagkilatan, Batangas City. The statue is expected to be completed in 2021, marking the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines.

Once completed, the 96-meter statue would be the world’s tallest Virgin Mary statue.

Philstar.com photo by Russell Palma

Batangas City bags WWF’s Most Lovable City...

PAGE A1 most effective climate action, while publicly recognizing the most ambitious cities as leaders in the field of sustainable urban development.

Citizens from participating countries expressed their love and support for their cities with the campaign garnering over 1,170,000 votes through all channels, 4,600,000 social media engagements and a social media reach of 80 million.

Through the OPCC, the country’s declared national winner for 2020, Batangas City and national finalists Muntinlupa City and Santa Rosa City, were the representatives of the Philippines in this year’s We Love Cities campaign.

“This We Love Cities award for Batangas City is particularly special,” said lawyer Angela Ibay,

WWF-Philippines’ Climate and Energy Program head. “It also highlights the active engagement that Filipinos have with their cities as they promote their solutions and aim to make their cities more livable, sustainable and resilient. It is truly aligned with WWF’s call: Together Possible.”

All the three Philippine cities ranked in the Top 10, out of 54 cities in 26 countries around the globe for the 2020 edition.

“Our three Philippine cities that participated in the We Love Cities initiative really stepped up to the plate and did quite well, even as they were addressing the current challenges brought by the pandemic. We are truly honored by their participation,” said Ibay.

“This means a lot to us, especially since we’ve been hit by the pandemic. The city is doing

2020 election results for...

PAGE A1 Gavin Newsom and the University of California Board of Regents (UC labs and hospitals are a primary beneficiary of the CIRM) — maintain that stem cell research has led to increased understanding of diseases that affect millions of families, biotech jobs and careers and clinical trials over the last 16 years.

Prop 15 — Property Tax to Fund Schools, Government Services (NO) Voters rejected this measure to require commercial and industrial properties worth more than $3 million, except those zoned as commercial agriculture, to be taxed based on their market value. The state fiscal analyst estimated that, upon full implementation, the ballot initiative would have generated between $8 billion and $12.5 billion in revenue per year.

A “no” vote means commercial properties would continue to be taxed based on their purchased price, with yearly increases for inflation or 2%, whichever is lower, as they have been since the 1970s.

Prop 16 — Affirmative Action in Government Decisions (NO) The majority of California voters voted “no” on Prop 16, which would have allowed universities, government offices and other public sectors to factor in a prospect’s race, ethnicity or gender in admissions, spending and hiring. This proposition sought to overturn Prop 209, which was approved in 1996 to prohibit affirmative action and put in place “race-neutral” policies.

Prop 17 — Restores Right to Vote After Prison Term (YES) A “yes” vote to the proposition supports the constitutional amendment to allow people on parole for felony convictions to vote. The fiscal impact of Prop 17 would be an increase in county costs — estimated in the hundreds of thousands of dollars across California — for voter registration and ballot materials. There would also likely be a one-time cost (similarly in the hundreds of thousands) to update voter registration cards and the electoral system.

Prop 18 — 17-year-old Primary Voting Rights (NO) 17-year-olds, who will be 18 at the time of the next general election, will continue to be unable to vote in primaries and special elections. It would also allow 17year-olds who are eligible to vote to seek office as current law states that only registered voters are allowed to run for elected office.

Opponents like the Election Integrity Project California, an academic non-profit group dedicated to “electoral integrity,” argued that 17-year-olds are still minors and are biologically not fully developed. They argue that 17-year-olds still need guardian approval for other legal contracts and certain activities and voting should be no different.

Prop 19 — Changes certain

property tax rules (YES) Under Prop 19, Californians aged 55 or older would be granted a property tax break when purchasing a new home. In California, the cost of living is astronomical for new homeowners because property taxes are calculated based on the value of the home when it was bought, not on its current market value. So when Californians buy a new home, their property taxes skyrocket.

Prop 19 would also do away with the inheritance tax break to allocate more funds to local and state fire departments and schools, the initiative says. According to the measure’s fiscal impact statement, local governments, schools and fire protection agencies could each gain tens of millions of dollars of property tax revenue each year.

Prop 19 would allow the older homeowners to buy a new house and still pay relatively low property taxes. In addition to benefiting older homeowners, supporters say this actually benefits new homeowners because it provides an incentive for seniors to downsize, vacating an older home to younger owners.

Prop 20 — Parole Restrictions for Certain Offenses (NO) For those who have committed certain property crimes and repeatedly violated parole, Prop 20 would have tightened the eligibility criteria for early parole and release from prison. Specifically, prosecutors would have been allowed to categorize property crimes of more than $250, crimes that would include “serial shoplifting” and car theft, as felonies rather than misdemeanors.

It would have imposed increased penalties to former convicts who violate their terms of release three times, increasing the frequency of recidivism.

Prop 21 — Expands Governments’ Authority to Rent Control (NO) Voters overwhelmingly rejected this measure that sought to address some renters’ woes in the Gold State. It would have allowed cities to pass rent control measures on nearly all rental units as long as the properties are more than 15 years old.

Supporters of this measure included the California Democratic Party and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (who supports strict rent control laws) who say that cities should be able to enact their own limits to rent increases as a way to reduce homelessness and gentrification, particularly in California’s metro areas. But the opposition — including Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Apartment Association — argued that Prop 21 takes away an incentive for builders to construct more housing at a time when more housing is needed.

Prop 22 — App-Based Drivers and Employee Benefits (YES) One of the most advertised and expensive propositions to appear on this year’s ballot, Prop 22 u PAGE A8

its best in implementing various initiatives and efforts. We have something new to hold on to, and this is great news to all of us. This win will inspire us to keep on going and to work hand-in-hand for this city,” said Gonzales.

In addition to recognizing the importance of public engagement in achieving sustainability goals, Batangas City aims to be the first carbon-neutral city in the country by 2030 and has developed a comprehensive climate mitigation and adaptation plan to realize this vision. n

PAGE A1 and advise on potential lawsuits” related to vote counting.

“I certainly do not believe all votes in the 2020 election are fraudulent — many dedicated volunteers and officials across the nation, including in Utah, worked hard to ensure a fair process,” continued Reyes.

Without providing further information, Reyes said that “some mistakes were likely made innocently” while “others appear very intentional.”

Since election night, Trump and his campaign have amped up claims of election fraud and called for ballot counting to be stopped despite there being no evidence of any wrongdoing.

As states continued ballot counts into Thursday, attorneys for the Trump campaign filed lawsuits in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Michigan, adding to other challenges filed in Pennsylvania and Nevada.

State leaders and legal experts have said the lawsuits have no merit, with a number of politicians, including GOP leaders, criticizing Trump’s unsupported claims that Democrats were attempting to “steal” the election.

Republican Senator Mitt Romney took to Twitter on Friday and said that while Trump had the right to request recounts and call for investigation of alleged voting fraud where evidence exists, it was “wrong to say the election was rigged, corrupt and stolen.”

“Doing so damages the cause of freedom here and around the world, weakens the institutions that lie at the foundation of the Republic, and recklessly inflames

A sign saying “Thou Shalt Not Steal the Vote” is left behind during a rally of President Donald Trump’s supporters outside the Clark County Election Department in North Las Vegas on Thursday night, November 5.

Photo courtesy of Dolly De Leon

destructive and dangerous passions,” tweeted Romney.

Republican Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, a key battleground state that as of press time had Joe Biden leading, said Trump’s claims were “very disturbing.”

In an interview with “CBS This Morning,” Toomey said, “There is simply no evidence that anybody has shown me — or anyone else I’m aware of — of any kind of widespread corruption or fraud.”

Despite voting for Trump, Toomey said he would accept whoever “legitimately wins” the Electoral College.

Reyes has received criticism over his tweets announcing his decision to help Trump.

Alliance for a Better Utah said in a news released that Reyes had “left Utahns out to dry by abandoning his post to give his full attention to Donald Trump, attempting to undermine the outcome of a democratic election to advance his own partisan interests.”

“His unfounded allegations of voter fraud are irresponsible and simply not true,” continued the organization’s executive director, Chase Thomas.

Utah state Representative Suzanne Harrison, D-Draper, called Reyes’ tweet “inappropriate.”

“You should delete this and stop undermining public faith in our election process. These kinds of baseless claims are a threat to our public,” she added. n

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Local Fil-Ams, homeless advocates urge public to Todd Gloria poised to win as... support homeless Filipina living in LA Chinatown by rae

ann Varona AJPress

LIFE in Los Angeles is not only notoriously steep on the average, but it also exists on the very extremes of wealth and poverty.

It’s a city where, on one side, people reside in unbelievable mansions with sweeping lawns, incredible views of the city and more bedrooms and bathrooms than any one family needs. LA is the city of dreams, colonized as the center for creative ambition and financial opportunity.

But only a few miles away exists an invisible community of displaced peoples who, through an array of circumstances and real-life hardships, can barely find a safe place to sleep on any given night.

John Hwang, an Angeleno and “long-time community advocate working with the homeless in Los Angeles,” originally posted on his Facebook page on Oct. 25 a video of him and his family exploring Olvera Street in downtown LA. While out and about, the family came across an elderly Pinay street vendor by the name of Nora selling various knick-knacks, accessories like gloves and masks, fruit, cookies and other things.

According to Hwang, her stand “hardly saw any customers” and one of his sons offered her a dollar to buy something from her stand, to her surprise.

“She was so touched and surprised, she gave my kids so many things; gloves, masks, a bag [of] cookies, a Halloween costume... she refused to accept any money,” he wrote.

According to Hwang’s Facebook post, Nora told him, “I’ve already lived my life. I just want to make the kids happy.”

The story was spread across Facebook among LA residents, including a group called SoCal Filipinos, a group that seeks to spread positivity among Filipinos within and outside of Southern California.

Hwang and a friend, Jessica Bullock, then organized a GoFundMe page to help Nora out with expenses. Nora doesn’t want to accept financial help, according to both Hwang and Bullock, and she has enough money saved “to move into a place in December” but both Hwang and Bullock want to find a place for Nora to stay until then and provide rent stability.

With Thanksgiving coming up, many shelters in the city are full

Nora, a homeless Filipina, in Los Angeles’ Chinatown.

Photo courtesy of John Hwang/GoFundMe

and resources for displaced people are often spread thin around this time of the year. And the added difficulties of the COVID19 pandemic, Nora’s chances of finding city-wide resources are scant.

Hwang said she doesn’t want to stay in a motel “saying that it’s expensive” and wasteful, but she is open to other forms of help.

Hwang said in an update post about Nora that “She’s open to the idea of staying at someone’s property. She doesn’t want to be inside as she doesn’t want to be an inconvenience. She is willing to pay $200 to stay in someone’s backyard. She will put up her tent and she said she can even work as their part-time gardener.”

To those who may want to seek Nora out in Chinatown, Hwang warned the public that she may be hesitant to accept help.

In authentic Filipino and Asian fashion, she keeps refusing money from Hwang but the hope is that he raises enough money — $4,000 — to keep her afloat and allow her to start anew with reliable housing and basic necessities.

Though the Asian homeless population in America is relatively low (according to citywide and statewide surveys of the homeless population) compared to other homeless communities of color, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t more people like Nora living under freeway overpasses and in potentially unhygienic situations.

To most people who are privileged enough to have a home and relative food and financial stability, the diverse community of displaced people is invisible, and rash judgments about the individ-

ual people we see as street vendors and living in encampments widen the barrier of basic human empathy and care.

Hwang’s Facebook page is full of documented, Humans of New York-like interactions he has with strangers in LA including displaced people, sharing the brief but meaningful conversations he has with a population people tend to ignore out of fear.

Those of Filipino descent or those who know Filipinos won’t be surprised by Nora’s qualms about accepting help and her insistence on providing as much as she can for others.

Very little is currently known about Nora through Hwang’s interactions with her, but basic human kindness is a commodity that is rare to find in a country and society that is more divisive than ever. Filipinos all have that tita, nanay, or lola who is almost aggressively hospitable and accommodating to the point where they put others first and themselves last.

But people like Hwang, Bullock and the dozens of members of the SoCal Filipinos Facebook page who continue to express support for Nora believe that it’s a duty of the public, particularly of Filipinos, to pay it forward to this previously unseen but giving person.

On the GoFundMe page, which currently has just under $3,000 as of this writing, Nora said, “‘I don’t want to cry. I feel unsafe out here, but I need to be strong.”

For those who want to get in touch with the organizers to offer their properties for Nora, please visit the GoFundMe page (www. gofundme.com/f/nora-needs-ourhelp) and reach out to the organizer. ■

PAGE A1 t congratulatory messages to Gloria via social media.

In a tweet, Human Rights Campaign congratulated Gloria for the feat and for becoming “only the third openly LGBTQ mayor of a major city! Equality was on the ballot, and voters made their choice loud and clear.” #Election2020 #UnityWins The 42-year-old Assemblyman currently serves as the majority whip in the California State Legislature.

Gloria, who was sworn in as the California State Assemblymember for the 78th Assembly District in 2016, was the second person of Filipino heritage ever elected to the California State Assembly after Rob Bonta.

Bonta also expressed his well wishes to the new mayor via Twitter.

“Congrats to my friend & the only other Filipino American I’ve had the opportunity to serve with in the CA Legislature, Todd Gloria on his inspiring election victory as Mayor of San Diego! San Diego & CA are lucky to have your ongoing thoughtful & compassionate leadership, Todd!” Bonta wrote.

Gloria thanked Bonta and said,

“I’m sad to leave the legislature but happy to be breaking another barrier for our Fil-Am community just as you have done so many times.”

“It is an uphill battle for LGBTQ people of color to be in a position to run for highlevel office, much less win, so Todd’s victory is a pivotal moment for San Diego and the country. Todd shattered a rainbow ceiling and is now the second-highest ranking LGBTQ mayor in the country,” said former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund in a statement.

“His voice and his impact on critical issues – and especially civil rights – will extend far beyond the boundaries of his city and state.

Todd will undoubtably become a role model for many LGBTQ young people who too rarely see someone like them in a position of power,” Parker added.

California State Senator Toni Atkins praised Gloria’s campaign which she said “focused on the People, which is exactly how he will operate as Mayor.”

“I look forward to working closely with him to serve all San

Diegans and to ensure our city continues to be America’s finest,” Atkins added.

At an online town hall meeting organized by Gloria’s friends in the Filipino American community to further drum up support for his mayoral bid, Gloria talked about his life and the way he was brought up by his parents.

He shared how his grandparents moved to San Diego and how his parents Phil and Linda taught him traditional family values. He said that he is the first in his working class family to graduate from university.

“I will be a mayor for everyone,” he said. “I am mindful that there are little Filipino boys and girls who might see me in government as someone that looks like them, and maybe inspire them.”

Gloria said he looks forward to strengthening the ties and relations between San Diego and the Philippines specially since San Diego is home to many Filipinos.

“Mayors are the best sales people for our cities. I look forward to bringing jobs and investors from both sides, which would also bring economic and cultural benefits,” he said. (Momar G. Visaya/AJPress)

Palace: Duterte can work with any US...

PAGE A1 t “Of course, there is an issue of personal relations but I think given time the President can establish equally warm personal relations with whoever wins this election even [if] itâ’s not President Trump,” Roque said.

“And even if there is a new President, I am not saying that there will be, but in case there is a new President in the United States in the person of Senator Biden, I am confident that the President can also develop a close personal friendship with Mr. Biden. May the best man win as of now,” he added.

Roque meanwhile hoped that the Philippines’ own presidential elections in 2020 would be as peaceful as the one in the U.S. “Ang obserbasyon ng Palasyo, sana po matutunan din nating magkaroon ng eleksyon na walang nasasaktan, walang namamatay (From what the Palace observed, we hope that we will learn how to have an election where no one dies or gets hurt),” he said.

“Sana po sa eleksyon natin ganoon din — na mapayapa at mahinahon ang lahat (We hope we will have the same in our polls — peaceful and calm voters),” Roque

added.

Still a ‘win’ for PH Political analyst Malou Tiquia maintained the outcome would still be a “win” for the Philippines, “I think it is a ‘win-win’ (situation for us) because (former) vice president (Joe) Biden is not really left of center. He’s a centrist,” Tiquia told The Chiefs on One News.

“He reaches out both to the Republicans and Democrats,” she added.

However, Tiquia said that fostering ties with Biden would be “challenging,” referencing Duterte’s tirades against former U.S. President Barack Obama.

(Biden served as vice president for both terms).

Meanwhile, Noelle Malvar-Morcos, a senior researcher at New York-based research firm More in Common, pointed out that Biden has a stricter foreign policy in China compared to Trump. “(Trump’s) actions and dealings with the president of China is not as tough and not reflective of what he is saying,” she said in Filipino.

“Biden has stricter policy. I do not know if voters including Fili-

pino Americans are aware of such nuances wherein one says something in public and do something in private and in terms of policy,” she added.

Security Rommel Banlaoi, in a separate statement, said there would be more flexibility in the U.S.’s foreign policy toward the Philippines should Biden win.

“There will be more room for settling of political differences under Biden. But under Donald Trump, it will be a difficult period again for China and will be a difficult period for the Philippines because we need to balance our relationship with the United States and China,” he said.

Philippine senators likewise believed the election outcome will not change much.

“The U.S. has many problems too. It will have to ‘fix’ itself first.

The Philippines just has to continue with our ‘independent foreign policy’ welcoming and treating all States as friends,” said Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III. Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Tolentino said whoever wins the U.S. presidential race “would consider not just our historic bilateral relations but the regional security and trade relations as well.” ■

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D ateline PhiliPPines PH may start COVID-19 vaccination by May 2021

“Kung magkakaroon ng hinManilatimes.net drances, in terms of sa supply and demand, ang pinaka-earliest po THE Philippines may start vac- [for inoculation] is maybe end of cinations against the coronavi- 2021 (If there will be hindrances rus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by in terms of supply and demand, May 2021 if everything will go as the earliest would be the end of planned, the country’s vaccine 2021),” he said. czar said on Thursday, November “Sa ngayon, so far, ang demand 5. ng big countries ay more than that.

Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., who Talagang magkakahirapan tayo sa is also the chief implementer of the demand and supply kaya we’re national policy against Covid-19, appealing to the WHO na bigyan confirmed the timeline set by the ng equitable access (The demand Department of Science and Tech- from big countries is more than nology (DOST). that, so far. We will really have a “Ang prediction po ng DOST if hard time, that’s why we’re apeverything will go well, ang mang- pealing to the WHO [World Health yayari po earliest is May (The pre- Organization] to ensure equitable diction of DOST if everything will access),” he added. go well, the earliest for the inocuGalvez said the Philippine govlation is May),” Galvez said during ernment was targeting to procure an interview with ABS-CBN News an initial 24 million vaccines.

Channel.

He said President Rodrigo However, Galvez said that the Duterte wanted to make Covid-19 inoculation might be moved to the vaccines accessible to poor comend of next year if the vaccines munities. would have supply and demand The inoculation rollout will issues. largely depend on the financing, by catheRine

Valente

development and approval of the vaccines, he added.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. had said the government needed to establish a cold chain as vaccines should be stored at sub-zero temperatures.

Roque said only the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City has the facility for vaccine storage.

Galvez was appointed by Duterte to be the point person in the negotiation for the procurement and distribution of vaccines in the country.

There are 10 vaccine contenders, eight of which are from COVAX, a global collaboration of countries to accelerate the development, production, and equitable access to Covid-19 vaccine, Galvez said.

Among the pharmaceutical companies with promising trials is the United Kingdom-based AstraZeneca, which, he said, has a capacity to produce one billion vaccines by the end of the year. n

‘PET can annul votes in Mindanao’

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) opined that the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), has the power and jurisdiction to annul the result of the election in Mindanao provinces if it was marred by fraud as claimed by former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Marcos filed an election protest against Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo, alleging poll fraud.

In its 30-Page Comment filed before the high tribunal, the poll body said the PET has the power to order the annulment of votes under the 1987 Constitution and the 2010 Rules of the PET without conducting special elections.

Marcos questioned the integrity of the elections in 2,756 protested clustered precincts in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Basilan. He asked the PET to annul the votes because of the alleged “massive” cheating.

The Comelec cited Article VII, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution, which provides that the Supreme Court en banc “shall be the sole judge of all contests relating to the election, returns, and qualifications of the

Vice President Leni Robredo and former senator Bongbong Marcos ManilaTimes.net file photos

President or Vice President and may promulgate rules for the purpose.”

It added that under the 2010 Rules of the PET, the tribunal has express and implied powers and “other such powers as may be inherent, necessary or incidental thereto for the accomplishment of its purposes and functions.”

The commission added that votes can be annulled if evidence showed that more than 50 percent of the votes were cast illegally or if it is impossible to determine the lawful and unlawful ballots and if the “protestee is the one accountable for illegal acts.”

The Comelec clarified that voiding election results is entirely dif-

ferent from declaring a failure of elections, which is one of the functions of the commission.

It pointed out that the annulment of elections shall be made “only to determine who among the candidates garnered a majority of the legal votes cast.”

Marcos lost to Robredo by only 263,473 votes. He alleged “massive electoral fraud, anomalies and irregularities” in the vice-presidential race such as preshading of ballots, preloaded SD or secure digital cards, misreading of ballots, malfunctioning VCMs or vote-counting machines, and an “abnormally high” unaccounted votes/undervotes. (Jomar Canlas/ManilaTimes.net)

A

Gallup poll: PH 12th safest country

uniformed personnel of [the] government who toil to make this country at least very peaceTHE Philippines is among the ful.” top 50 safest countries in the The Office of the Presidential world, according to a recent sur- Adviser on the Peace Process vey by American analytics firm likewise welcomed the survey.

Gallup.

“We are glad to be recognized In its 2020 Global Law and Or- as among the safest countries der index, Gallup listed the Phil- in the world. Thanks to our law ippines as the 12th safest country with a law and order index score of 84. It shares the same spot with Australia, New Zealand, Poland, and Serbia.

The survey, conducted from October 8 to 24 last year, asked nearly 175,000 adults in 144 countries and areas the following questions to gauge the “personal security” of countries: • In the city or area where you live, do you have confidence in the local police force?

• Do you feel safe walking alone at night in the city or area where you live?

• Within the last 12 months, have you had money or property stolen from you or another household member?

• Within the past 12 months, have you been assaulted or mugged?

“Some areas were excluded from the sampling frame, due to security concerns – such as barangays considered as war zones in Marawi – and areas that are remote or inaccessible. The excluded population from these areas represent less than 1 percent of the population,” said Gallup.

Singapore and Turkmenistan emerged as the safest countries with a law and order index score of 97. They are followed by China (93 percent), Iceland and Kuwait (93 percent).

Meanwhile, Afghanistan ranked the lowest with a score of 43.

Reactions Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, November 5, admitted he was surprised that the country ranked highly on the survey.

“I read that in the briefer and I was really surprised. We are on the top 50 and we are lumped with countries that are ideally peaceful,” he said.

He added, “If it’s a recent Gallup survey, it only shows that… well we have to credit the police and the military and the other

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

enforcers, peace workers, and everyone who has made a commitment to peace, we are moving forward as a peaceful, progressive and resilient nation,” Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said.

The Philippine Department of the Interior and Local Gov-

u PAGE A8

A6 NOVEMBER 7-10, 2020 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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

O PiniOn Accessible COVID testing

FeatURes

MARKET forces determine pricing. Still, there is something amiss when prices of basically the same product range from less than P2,000 to a hefty P12,000.

Those are the prices in this country of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction swab tests for coronavirus disease 2019. The RT-PCR test is considered to be the “gold standard” for determining the presence of the COVID-19 virus. Prices depend on where the test is obtained, with the cheapest offered in Marikina, where the city government uses test kits produced by local research and development firm Manila HealthTek Inc. Even P2,000, however, can be prohibitive, especially for those who have lost jobs and livelihood sources as a result of the COVID pandemic. An infected person may need at least three swab tests before being declared free of the disease. Other members of the person’s household may also need PCR testing. The price of the test can discourage this, with household members concealing the risk and becoming potential virus spreaders in the community.

Several local government units have been providing free COVID swab tests to low-income residents, including tricycle drivers and sidewalk ven-

dors. Not all LGUs, however, have the resources for this. Many LGUs are running out of funds even for livelihood assistance needed by their residents.

Now President Duterte has signed an executive order, mandating several departments to work out a reasonable price range for RT-PCR tests. The EO aims to make the swab test affordable and accessible to the masses.

At the same time, authorities should speed up assessment of the safety and efficacy of the COVID saliva or spit test, which is now being used in countries such as Japan and Israel. The test is reported to be even more accurate than the swab test, but is less invasive. Best of all, it can produce results in a few minutes or even instantly in the case of the Israeli product; there is no need for laboratory processing, and the cost is just a fraction of the swab test.

The availability of this test could become a game changer, reviving the devastated tourism and airline industries even before a COVID vaccine or pine Red Cross and the Go Negosyo team, among cure becomes commercially available. The Philip- others, are working to bring in the saliva tests. Like

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS AFTER four years of lies, hate, discrimination, division, and assaults on the Constitution and the rule of law, and on our democratic institutions and processes, America has finally made our voices heard. We have had ENOUGH! Despite the COVID-19 superspreader events, such as loud and crowded rallies irresponsibly staged by President Donald Trump to display the support of his adoring fans, the voice of the silent majority prevailed in this election, repudiating his failed leadership.

The silent majority is silent no more, and have effectively told Trump, “You’re fired!” through the power vested in us by the Constitution: the power of our VOTE! As of press time, Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, has won the most ever number of popular votes in the history of America - sending the strong message from the American people that it is our will and our decision to steer our beloved country to a better, brighter, stronger more united America, away from Trump’s America.

As of press time, Friday morning, November 6, Biden is on the verge of reaching the finish line with only 17 electoral votes to reach the 270 votes needed to win the presidency.

Outstanding votes have yet to be counted, mostly coming from

The silent majority of Americans are silent no more: Trump is fired, Biden is on the verge of winning the presidency mail-in ballots in certain counties of battleground states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, and North Carolina.

With 253 electoral votes in his column, Biden has more than two routes to the victory mark of 270 electoral votes — winning Pennsylvania (20 electoral votes) or winning Nevada(6) and Arizona (11). Biden is now leading in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada and Arizona, as of this writing.

Trump, on the other hand is left with only the Pennsylvania AND Georgia PLUS more states to reach 270. Biden’s growing margins in Pennsylvania and Georgia have effectively made it impossible for Trump to be reelected with only 213 electoral votes in his column.

Biden has time and again reminded the American people to keep the faith, be patient and to wait for all the votes to be counted until we reach the threshold of victory in accordance with election laws. It is just a matter of time.

The Former Vice President also posted on social media, “It is not my place or Donald Trump’s place to declare the winner of this election. It’s the voter’s place.”

Instead of letting the democratic process unfold, Trump has picked up from his rhetoric even before November 3, warning people that the only way he could lose would be if he was

cheated. He declared himself the winner on November 3 based on initial returns, without regard to the ballots being counted, which begun revealing a growing lead for Biden.

Trump stormed Twitter and various social media platforms as well as TV interviews with Fox News, playing the victim role as usual. “They are stealing my votes”, he said, with calls to “stop counting” votes in states where he was behind Biden and demanded recounts, but not in states where early results had him leading.

On Thursday, November 5, when the road to 270 favored a Biden victory, Trump gave a speech to the American people and spewed lies from the lectern of the James Brady briefing room inside the White House, abusing the power accorded to him by the office of the President of the United States and the public trust that goes with the position he holds.

Without evidence, Trump continued to push baseless conspiracy theories of election fraud, questioned why Biden’s lead grew drastically when the mailin votes were being counted, alleged that observers were not allowed to guard the votes during counting, declared that he would not concede, and would file cases in court all the way to the Supreme Court. He also complained that nobody is defending

Preparing for a post-pandemic world AS the world continues to grapple with the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are clear indications that the situation will be much better controlled as soon as the vaccines are out. Here in the U.S., “Operation Warp Speed” is proving to be successful as pharmaceutical companies start ramping up their production of a safe vaccine for the world.

One of them is Pfizer that is looking to provide an initial 40 million doses by year-end for 20 million Americans with its application for emergency use authorization poised to be approved, and another 100 million doses by March 2021. Moderna is also expecting to deliver 20 million doses for the U.S. by the end of this year and is targeting to deliver 500 million doses every year starting in 2021. AstraZeneca is now back on track with plans to supply up to 400 million doses worldwide by early next year.

Many countries are already planning ahead to ensure that they can get supplies of the vaccines as soon as these become available

Philstar.com photo

the PCR test, every effort must be made to make them widely accessible. (Philstar.com)

Babe’s Eye View BABE ROMUALDEZ because — as many economists and health experts have pointed out — a safe COVID-19 vaccine is the only way out of this crisis and restart the economy. The current situation has clearly shown us that we need to prepare for a major health crisis which could happen again even sooner than a hundred years, as seen with the 1918 flu pandemic. Being the two biggest economies in the world, the United States and China will have to face up to the stark reality that they have to find ways to work together and cooperate in keeping the world safe.

The other day I and a select group of ambassadors were invited to the Blair presidential guest house to meet with Larry Kudlow, the economic adviser of President Trump. Larry Kudlow is

confident the US will bounce back by the first quarter of next year, which may sound like a very optimistic view, but there are recent developments that show encouraging signs. One of them is the turnaround in the U.S. economy as seen in the record 7.4 percent GDP growth for the third quarter, which basically recovered two thirds of the lost ground during the first half of 2020. As Mr. Kudlow said, it was a new record that beat all expectations.

In the Philippines, there are also several positive indications, among them the recent United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Investment Trends Monitor that showed the Philippines as one of the two countries in Southeast Asia (the other one being Thailand) that managed to increase their foreign direct investment (FDI) for the first half of 2020. According to UNCTAD, FDIs contracted by 20 percent in the whole of Southeast Asia but the Philippines saw its FDI inflows rising by 20 percent, citing “mergers and acquisition deals in agriculture and energy”

him in this fight for his votes.

It was so painful to watch and hear our president attack our democratic institutions and processes, undermine our votes, our democracy and national security when our voice, We the People, do not support his personal and political agenda.

FACT: Trump gave his avid fans and supporters the marching order not to vote using mailin ballots but to go to the polls to vote in person. Biden, on the other hand, encouraged Americans to use mail-in votes so we did not have to choose between exercising our right to vote and protecting ourselves from the threat of COVID-19, which has now been infecting more than 100,000 Americans per day.

FACT: Many states, including those in the battleground states, have their election laws mandate for mail-in ballots to be counted, tabulated and reported only after the in-precinct votes have been counted.

FACT: Most battleground and swing states like Georgia, Arizona, Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, Ohio and Texas, are led

by Republican governors. All polling stations where votes are counted have both Republican and Democratic officers, staff and watchers tirelessly doing their jobs to protect the integrity of our elections.

By the time you are reading this piece, the winner of the

presidential elections may have already been officially determined. However, we, as a nation, will have a long way to start healing the hate and divisions in our country inflamed by Trump.

A peaceful and smooth transition should already be underway, and we hope for a peaceful transfer of power from the incumbent to the president-elect.

Echoing Joe Biden: Keep the faith. Stay calm. We are getting there, the dawning of a new day in America.

In the meantime, let me close with more facts about the election from the Bipartisan Policy Center to help us look at the big picture moving forward: As expected, election results will take longer this year. Millions of people across the US voted by mail, and mail ballots take longer to count.

Final results may be different from initial vote counts, as ballot counting will continue for days and weeks after polls close.

Vote recounts and legal challenges are a regular feature of elections and take place under established guidelines and processes.

Specific steps are required to elect the President. The winner of the 2020 US Presidential Election can only be officially declared after Congress counts the Electoral College’s votes.

Observers of the vote counting process are required to act

peacefully and lawfully, and not interfere with the process. [No guns, goons to intimidate voters and poll watchers and those counting votes] Election officials follow strict rules when it comes to ballot counting, handling and reporting.

Each state decides how to conduct its own elections. Rules about registering to vote, and the ways voters can lawfully cast their ballots, are different in each state.

The Supreme Court does not decide who wins the presidential elections.

Both voting in person and voting by mail have a long history of trustworthiness in the US. Voter fraud is extremely rare across voting methods.

People across political parties successfully voted by mail and early in person in record numbers.

It is common strategy for adversaries to try to make voting systems vulnerable as an attempt to shake people’s confidence in the election process.

Elections are never perfect, and can withstand individual issues. Specific incidents are generally not an indication of widespread problems.

More than 150 million ballots will be cast in the 2020 presidential election, which would make this one of the highest turnout

that played a role in sustaining the inflows.

A new book titled “Green Finance Strategies for Post-COVID19 Economic Recovery in Southeast Asia: Greening Recoveries for Planet and People” recently published by the Asian Development Bank also cited several programs of the Philippine government, among them “Build, Build, Build” as having the potential to create investment opportunities and generate green jobs that can contribute to recovery postpandemic.

A recent report released by the World Bank and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) says that “rapid adoption of digital technologies can help the Philippines overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, recover from the crisis and achieve its vision of becoming a middle-class society free of poverty.” The report noted that the growing use of digital payments, e-commerce, telemedicine and online education have been instrumental in the implementation of social distancing measures that have helped ensure business continuity as well as the delivery of services amid the pandemic.

According to the iPrice Group’s Map of E-Commerce report, the pandemic has inevitably driven the Philippines’ online economy to catch up with its ASEAN neighbors (https://iprice.ph/insights/mapofecommerce/en/), registering the highest increase in the usage of shopping apps at 53 percent in Southeast Asia. The report also cited data from Statista revealing that 44 percent of Filipinos aged 35-44 purchased more online during COVID-19.

And while many Filipinos are not yet as e-commerce savvy as their neighbors in the region, these data show that they are gradually adapting.

There is no doubt that many investors see the Philippines as a viable investment destination, among them the Australiabased TMA Group that recently increased its investment to P4.4 billion. “The Philippines is a long well-kept secret and it’s time to tell people about it,” said its executive chairman Anthony Karam, adding that he highly recommends that investors locate in the country, pointing to the highly-educated work force as well as the low cost of operations as additional plus factors.

We at the Philippine embassy

in Washington, DC continue our work to elevate the profile of the country as an ideal place for investments. We are organizing a webinar forum scheduled for Nov. 13 (Philippine time) with Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez and Bases Conversion and Development Authority CEO Vince Dizon. We invited almost all the top 100 corporations from all over the United States for the event with selected guests. Other Filipino company heads have also been invited, as well as the U.S. American Chamber of Commerce headed by our friend, Charles Freeman, the senior vice president for Asia. We expect a large attendance.

As McKinsey Global Institute chairman James Manyika put it, “the world after COVID-19 is unlikely to return to the world that was” – and the Philippines has to be economically ready for this new world when this pandemic is over. (Philstar.com)

u PAGE A7

*** Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

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

PH among APAC countries flagged for rising coronavirus outbreaks

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

The Philippines is among the countries in the Asia-Pacific region where COVID-19 infections continued to grow throughout the pandemic, according to a recent report.

This finding was part of an analysis of the COVID-19 trend in the APAC region by German market and consumer data company Statista.

“While Thailand and South Korea have been successful at flattening the curve of coronavirus infections, other countries in the APAC region are still battling growing or returning outbreaks,” Statista said Monday, November 2.

It noted that Japan is currently battling growing infection numbers.

“Japan was the country most affected by COVID-19’s second wind in the region and is currently still battling growing infection numbers, while Singapore, which saw a major outbreak starting in April, seems to have the situation under control for now,” said Statista.

“Infection counts in Indonesia and the Philippines, on the other hand, have continued to grow throughout the pandemic,” it added.

Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases in selected countries in the Asia-Pacific region as of Sunday, November 1, based on the graph presented by Statista.

Inquirer.net photo

however, Statista noted that the flattening of the curve in the Philippines is possible.

“The Philippines could, however, recently flatten the curve somewhat and now exhibit a cumulative case count that is once again lower than that of Indonesia,” it said.

To date, the Philippines has a total of 388,137 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 7,367 fatalities and 349,091 recoveries.

Of the total number of infec-

tions, 31,679 are active cases.

The Philippine Department of health (DOh) also noted that the country logged below 1,000 COVID-19 cases on Nov. 4 — the first time since July 14.

Meanwhile, Indonesia has a total of 421, 731 confirmed COVID19 infections.

Statista also pointed out that COVID-19 infection numbers are once again growing in Malaysia, surpassing the number of total cases recorded in South Korea. n

The silent majority of Americans are silent no more...

PAGE A6 t elections in decades. That’s during a time of destabilizing political polarization and a once-in-ageneration pandemic. While the process has rapidly evolved to meet voters’ needs, we should all expect that every valid, eligible ballot is accurately counted no matter how long it takes.

The results you’re used to seeing on election night are always unofficial. Large increases in mail voting this year mean you should anticipate several days of delay in some states before the media can project winners.

Mail ballots take longer to verify and prepare for tabulation than ballots cast in person. In Pennsylvania and Wisconsin—two key swing states this cycle—election officials didn’t start processing mail ballots until 7 a.m. today, yet they will be dealing with far more mail ballots than in the past. Look at the numbers: In 2016, about 250,000 Pennsylvanians cast mail

ballots; in 2020, about 2.5 million cast a mail ballot. In Wisconsin that year, 850,000 absentee ballots were cast; this year, that figure is approaching 2 million.

A longer period between the close of polls and the reporting of results does not indicate that something is wrong. Rather, it means that election officials are taking the time they need to produce a fair and accurate vote count while, as is the case in Pennsylvania, coping with a 10fold increase in mail ballots.

Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are a stark contrast to their swing state sibling, Florida, where absentee ballot processing began 40 days ago. In 2016, 9.6 million Floridians in total turned out to vote. This year, nearly 9 million Floridians voted before Election Day even began. The state will release unofficial results tonight that include almost all ballots cast prior to Election Day. The results which also include much

of the in-person voting totals, will represent a huge proportion of all ballots cast.

This variation among states is a natural consequence of the United States’ decentralized voting system. While news stories pour in as polling places close, keep in mind that initial results will continue to tally as more ballots are counted. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

*** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for the community. You may contact her through email at gelrelos@icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos.

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvEmBER 7-10, 2020

A

A NOvemBer 7-10, 2020 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

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Int’l airlines urged not to board travelers to PH without visas

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

THE Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday, November 4, urged airlines not to allow foreign nationals bound for the Philippines without the appropriate visas.

According to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente, the bureau received reports of foreigners who were turned back at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for not having visas.

The incident also occurred in the international airports in Mactan, Cebu and Clark, Pampanga.

Project ETC distributing the donated materials to the teachers of Tapikan Elementary School.

Morente stressed that airlines are responsible for ensuring that the foreign nationals travelling to the Philippines have proper visas as the companies would bear the 443 school children from Kin- CPU – to distribute school sup- munity. Project ETC believes that inconvenience if they would have dergarten to Grade Six received plies and snacks to kindergarten education is one of the greatest to be sent back. school supplies and snacks from and grade 6 students from 2 ad- tools for positive change in chil“Apart from shouldering the Project ETC (Changing lives opted schools of Iloilo namely: dren and in communities. cost of returning these aliens to Project ETC founders Ann and their port or origin, it is also the through Education, Technology Tapikan Elementary School, and Community) on Friday, No- San Joaquin, Iloilo and Agsirab Loy Seisa and children Tristan responsibility of the airlines to Elementary School in Lambu- and Andrea are generous advo- defray the expenses of their acvember 6, 2020.

School supplies will include nao, Iloilo, with 187 and 256 cates of technology; they respond commodation at the airport while plastic envelope, art and pad students, respectively; a total of to the needs of technology in awaiting their return flights,” he papers, notebooks, and pens 443 school children for this year expanding to other areas of the added. world. ETC’s humanitarian goals among others; with juice and 2020.

Morente also urged airlines to Project ETC is a non-profit or- would not be achieved without bread for snacks.

Nico Catedrilla, nephew of ganization that partners with the the support of the community. It Ann (BSN Class 1977) and Loy CPU Community Engagement also aims for a positive relationSeisa (devout benefactors of and Service Learning Program ship with community leaders, CPU) was with Joan Sabran and . It gives greater opportunities parents, and school officials in PAGE A3 CPU Community Engagement to school children in developing order to understand their exact and Service Learning Program areas of the world and their fam- needs and make resolutions to- passed, which would exclude gig Director Dr. Levi Delos Santos ilies through its core values of gether. (By Cyrus A. Natividad / companies — particularly rideshare and delivery companies and other representatives from education, technology and com- Central Philippine University) like Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and Instacart — from a new state law that requires these companies to treat their workers as employees.

The massive advertising comes PAGE A6 t Local human rights group searcher Carlos Conde said the from the combined $185 million ernment (DILG) also stressed Karapatan, for its part, pointed survey was not an endorsement spent by these companies to supthat the report is proof that “the out that surveys about such is- of police operations against the port Prop 22. These San Francisgovernment is winning the war sues should “integrate the rights- country’s drug war. co-based companies have been against criminality and drugs.”

“When you have high police fighting to keep their drivers and based approach and framework “The government is even to provide a more holistic analy- visibility and presence, of course couriers as independent contracmore committed to maintaining ses on such responses.” people will feel safe. This is also tors, arguing it provides workers its current efforts against crime “In countries like the Philip- consistent with statistics from with flexible schedules and cusand drugs following the Philip- pines, [confidence] in law en- the police that the crime rate tomers rides at low prices. The pines’ excellent standing in a forcement in addressing crime has been going down,” he told fiscal impact of Prop 22 would be prestigious worldwide survey on and security issues is not a mere Inquirer. “minor increases in state income people’s views on their security,” yes or no question, especially if “(The study) does not negate taxes paid by rideshare and delivthe agency said. the indicators are not placed in the fact that police conduct dur- ery company drivers and invesInterior Secretary Eduardo context,” Karapatan secretary ing the ‘drug war’ has been abu- tors.”

Año, meanwhile, said: “It is very general Cristina Palabay said. sive, resulting in the deaths of Prop 23 — State Requirereassuring for us working in the “Narratives bereft of such thousands since 2016 and prac- ments for Kidney Dialysis Clingovernment knowing that the frameworks may be unwittingly tically zero accountability. More- ics (NO) people feel safe in their homes used to justify human rights vio- over, [most] of the victims of the Voters largely voted “no” on and on the streets...The goal is to lations in the name of ‘security’,” ‘drug war’ had been demonized Prop 23, which would have resustain this rating in the long run she added. thoroughly and so the public at quired dialysis clinics to have “an for the safety of the people and Meanwhile, Human Rights large [have] no sympathy for on-site physician while patients the country.”

Watch senior Philippine re- them,” he added. n are being treated; report data

CPU-Project ETC supports 443 school children

keep themselves updated on the latest policies on international travel from the Inter-Agency Task Force.

Atty. Candy Tan, BI Port Operations Division chief, said they have constantly reminded airlines not to allow improperly documented foreigners.

“We understand that sudden change in policy happens worldwide because of the pandemic.

Borders keep on opening and closing, depending on the number of COVID-19 cases,” she said.

“Hence we are in close coordination with airlines to update them on the policies as directed by the IATF. We are thankful for their cooperation, it’s a difficult time for everyone, especially for the airline industry, and through their support we are able to implement these measures to avoid the surge of cases in the country,” she added.

Tan also noted that most of the foreign nationals who were turned away are those who have Filipino spouses and children but do not possess any visa.

“What they have in their possession are usually their mar-

riage certificates and the birth certificates of their children,”she explained.

Filipinos, their spouse and minor children, foreign children with special needs of Filipinos, foreign parent of minor Filipinos, and foreign parent of Filipino children with special needs are allowed to enter the Philippines.

Foreigners with visas issued by the Bureau of Immigration pursuant to Executive Order No. 226, or the Omnibus Investments Code, as amended, and Republic Act. No. 8756; those with 47(a)(2) visas issued by the Department of Justice; and those visas issued by the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority are allowed to enter the country as well.

Foreigners entering the country are required to have a prebooked accredited quarantine facility before entering the country.

They must also 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. n

2020 election results for...

Gallup poll: PH 12th safest...

on dialysis-related infections; obtain consent from the state health department before closing a clinic and not discriminate against patients based on the source of payment.” Opposers of Prop 23 — which includes the California Medical Association, California Hospital Association and the Renal Physicians Association — argue that the ballot measure is a special interest plan that does not require the on-site physician administrator “to have specialty training in kidney care of dialysis,” the No on Prop 23 campaign said.

Prop 24 — Amends Consumer Privacy Laws (YES) Prop 24 has passed, tightening privacy law in California. Specifically, the bill would create a new state agency that enforces privacy law, conducts investigations into potential privacy violators and oversees penalties to violators.

This bill would also give consumers the right to tell businesses to limit their use of sensitive data in their systems (like geo-

graphic location, demographic identifiers, health, etc) and prohibit businesses from storing this data for long periods of time.

Prop 25 — Eliminates Money Bail System (NO) Among the most talked-about issues during the primary election season, the cash bail system has been criticized for favoring criminal suspects who can afford to make bail and punishing those who cannot. Prop 25 would have upheld a 2018 law signed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown that would have replaced cash bail with a “risk-based algorithm” — or, a method to gauge a person’s risk for not appearing at trial.

The opposition argued that the proposed alternative to cash bail is more costly and no better than the current system, while civil rights organizations like the California State Conference of the NAACP and Human Rights Watch said that the risk-based algorithm is flawed and the factors associated with this method could still put people of color at a disadvantage. (AJPress)

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvEmBER 7-10, 2020

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A10 NOvemBer 7-10, 2020 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

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B Saturday, NOVEMBER 7, 2020

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvEmbER 7-10, 2020

The Asian Journal

WKND No chANge from october 2020 dAtes

November 2020 priority dates Immigration Corner

The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: FAMILY CATEGORY: First Preference

Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ THE November 2020 priority dates, continue to provide great news for workers in the EB-3 (skilled/professional) and “other worker” (unskilled workers like caregivers). The priority dates for all countries (except India and China) are CURRENT! This includes the Philippines! This means visas are available, regardless of the person’s priority date.

If a person is being petitioned by an employer, and their Form I-140 employment- based petition has been approved or is pending, they could possibly be eligible to file for adjustment of status and work authorization, assuming they are otherwise eligible for adjustment of status (i.e. no issues re maintaining status, no fraud/crimes, etc.) People with approved or pending I-140 petitions should see an attorney about their eligibility to file for adjustment, now that the priority dates for these employment-based categories are current.

Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment-based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in

Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (over 21 years of age)

(2A) Spouse and Second Preference minor children (below 21 years old) of green card holders

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

October 08, 2012

December 15, 2011

August 01, 2020

Current

(2b) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years old or older) of green card holders

April 01, 2012

August 01, 2011

Third Preference

married sons and daughters of US Citizens

December 22, 2002

Fourth Preference

brothers and sisters of US Citizens

September 01, January 01, 2002 2002

February 15, 2002

LABOR CERTIFICATION:

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

Second Preference Advanced Degree (masters)

Current

Current

Third Preference

Professional/ Skilled Workers

Current

Current

Other Workers

Non-Skilled Workers

Current

Current

the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again. *** 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)

LifestyLe Consumer Guide Community marketpLaCe

Angelica learns about love and life

By MJ

Marfori ManilaTimes.net

ROCKETSHEEP Productions and Piolo Pascual’s Spring Films really did us all proud with the launch of the first ever Filipino adult animation on a global platform. Since “Hayop Ka! The Nimfa Dimaano Story” began streaming October 29, it continues to dominate both Twitter’s trending and Netflix’s Top 10 lists.

This film is the opposite of wholesome and it was a pleasant surprise to breeze through it, laughing with a pang of shock brought thanks to Nimfa Dimaano and her naughty ways.

Nimfa is voiced by the über talended Angelica Panganiban.

She plays the pretty pussycat who works as a perfume sales kitty at a department store. Her boyfriend,

Angelica Panganiban Photo from Instagram_@iamangelicap

Roger (Robin Padilla), the macho mongrel, is a janitor. Then, Nimfa meets Iñigo Villanueva (Sam Milby), the bourgeoisie business

dog, and their chemistry ignites.

Being the pretty pussycat with her heart on her sleeve, this will lead to complications.

We had the chance chat with Angelica who exhibited great mood as she spoke about her excitement over her first voice talent project.

“Ako aliw na aliw eh. May bago akong side na nakita sa sarili ko, na ‘Wow bukod sa kaya mo pala mag-animation!

“Noong una sabi ko pag-trippan natin. Kung kaya, ‘Edi wow!’ Kung hindi, pasensya na po hindi ko na uulitin.”

Angelica said she takes pride in the result of their hardwork. “Ang ganda noong movie kasi may sense kahit na parang playtime iyong dating.”

Piolo approached the actress PAGE B2

CITIZEN PINOY PROVIDES ANSWERS TO MORE OF YOUR IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS THIS SUNDAY WITH ‘YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT!’ Glecy from Albuquerque, NM (center) petitioned her parents. All they are missing is the embassy interview due to the pandemic. However, her aunt’s petition for her father also just became current. Glecy’s siblings are included in the aunt’s petition. Which petition should they go with? Meanwhile, Almira of Riverside, CA (right) advises that her husband and their children arrived in the U.S. earlier in the year on an approved F4 petition by her husband’s sister. She remained in the Philippines to complete medical tests. As Almira could not bear being away from her children for a long time, she flew to the U.S. on a tourist visa. She would like to know if she can adjust status now that she is in the U.S.? These are just some of the questions that leading U.S. Immigration Attorney MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL will answer on a brand-new episode of “CITIZEN PINOY: Your Tanong, My Sagot – Social Distancing Style” this Sunday, November 8 at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

B NOVEMBER 7-10, 2020 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

EntErtainmEnt

Julia admits to being in a new relationship

She, however, did not want to disclose who’s the guy she’s Philstar.com in love with because she said KAPAMILYA actress Julia she learned her lesson when Barretto made a confession it came to publicizing her relathat she is now in love. tionships.

In the November issue of “I think nobody understands Mega Entertainment, Julia was the kind of trauma of having asked by G3 San Diego if she’s a relationship so public, and in love. then also have a lot of people “Yeah,� Julia replied. see when your relationship

By Jan

Milo Severo

fails. Like it’s so traumatizing for me because I genuinely cared about this guy, I genuinely loved this guy, and then I shared so much that when we broke up, they thought they knew the whole story,� she explained.

Julia reflected on her past experiences, saying: “They thought they knew my pains, they thought they knew my joys, they thought they knew everything—all the reasons that caused the breakup. But nobody really does.� “So one of the things I made myself confident in when it comes to my personal relationships is that, I’m in control. I am in total control of how much I am only willing to share and how much I am only allowing people to know. I’ve already come to realize how important it is to protect your peace and privacy—and that both go well together,� she said.

Julia first hinted about her happy love life in March when she posted about her birthday dinner with her family and a loved one.

Social media users also speculated that she was the girl on rumored boyfriend Gerald Anderson’s beach house in Zambales.

Recently, Julia promoted Gerald’s beach resort in her Instagram story.

Last September, Kapamilya actor Joshua Garcia, Julia’s PAGE B3

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Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel answers more immigration questions on this Sunday’s new episode 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, provides clear and relevant information to several questions from around the U.S. Glecy from Albuquerque, NM petitioned her parents and it was approved in 2019. All they are missing is the embassy interview since the embassy is closed due to the pandemic.

Just recently, aunt’s petition of her father just became current. Glecy’s siblings are included in the aunt’s petition.

Should they go with Glecy’s petition or should they choose the sister-to-brother petition of her aunt so Glecy’s sisters can also come to the U.S.?

Meanwhile, Almira of Riverside, CA asks about her situation.

Her husband and their children arrived in the U.S. earlier in the year on an approved F4 petition by her husband’s sister.

Almira was left in the Philippines because her medical results were delayed, and her

interview was cancelled until after December 2020. However, Almira could not bear being away from her children for a long time, so she flew to the U.S. on a tourist visa. Is it possible for Almira to adjust status now that she is already in the U.S.?

Find out the answers to these questions and more on another informative and brand-new edition of “CITIZEN PINOY: Your Tanong, My Sagot – Social Distancing Style� this Sunday, November 8 at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/ Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

United Architects of the Philippines (UAPSoCAL Chapter) extends an open invitation to Architects, Engineers, Contractors, Planning/Zoning/Building Professionals and Consultants to an “educational webinar� on Saturday, November 14 (Part I) and Saturday, November 21 (Part II) from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Registration is free, but limited. Please register early at uapsocalchapter@gmail.com.

Angelica learns about...

Julia Barretto

Photo from Instagram/@juliabarretto

PAGE B1 two years ago as she was the production’s top choice to voice Nimfa. She was doing a teleserye in ABS-CBN then but immediately checked her schedule and went onboard to do the said project because of its originality and concept.

Though she mentioned about the frisky and flirtatious concept, Angelica shared she surprisingly learned so much from Nimfa about love.

“Initially kapag pinanuod mo sasabihin mo, ano ba itong pinapanuod ko? Pero okay siya. Actually natuto ako na dapat kasi magmahal ka lang ng totoo. Huwag puro harot huwag iyong one-time, big-time ka lang.�

Angelica also opened up about her new found respect for voice talents, “Usually kasi sa mga eksena diba pwede na may mata at bibig? Dito kasi minsan iniisip ko teka paano ba ito? Pero iyon nga sobrang nakakatuwa.�

We also had a chat with Director Avid Liongoren who also had Angelica in mind to play the lead.

He initially thought of the film four years ago while he was stuck in Edsa traffic. Though the film has so many subliminal messages in its animation and lines, he encourages the audience to look past them and just enjoy the story, “It calls for it that’s why those messages are there.�

Additional voice cast include Empoy Marquez, Piolo Pascual, Arci MuĂąoz, Eugene Domingo, Yeng Constantino, Moira dela Torre and Bb. Joyce Bernal.

Power to the Protein!

We’re Full of Beans and Lovin’ It!

By Grace O

Beans are a wonderful, vegan source of SURWHLQ 7KH\ DUH IXOO RI À EHU³JRRG IRU lowering cholesterol and pulling heavy PHWDOV RXW RI WKH ERG\³DQG O\VLQH DQ amino acid which repairs tissue. When PDGH LQ D SUHVVXUH FRRNHU EHDQV SURYLGH a quick, easy homemade lunch or dinner. )RU HYHQ IDVWHU SUHSDUDWLRQ FDQQHG EHDQV FDQ EH ULQVHG DQG XVHG Even if you are not a vegetarian, for those of us trying to eat more meatless meals, EHDQV RIIHU D GHOLFLRXV DQG VDWLVI\LQJ alternative.

Mediterranean Chickpea Pesto Salad 7KH UDZ ,WDOLDQ EDVLO OHDYHV LQ WKLV VDODG add chlorophyll to your meal, purifying \RXU EORRG <RX FDQ FRRN WKH FKLFNSHDV from dried in a pressure cooker for 40 minutes and then cool them. However, I use the canned ones for expedience. The QXWV LQ WKLV UHFLSH VKRXOG EH XQVDOWHG ,I they are salted, reduce the salt in the recipe WR Ăľ WVS <RX FDQ XVH UDZ QXWV EXW URDVWHG RQHV KDYH D GHHSHU Ă DYRU 0DNH WKH SHVWR Ă&#x20AC; UVW WKHQ IROG LQ WKH SDVWD DQG FKLFNSHDV DOVR NQRZQ DV JDUEDQ]R EHDQV

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKPEA PESTO SALAD SERVES 2-4

Ingredients

2 Tbs. olive oil

½ tsp. crushed garlic ½ tsp. salt

1 cup tightly packed Italian basil leaves, stems removed

½ cup unsalted, roasted pine nuts, cashews, or almonds ½ cup orzo or Israeli couscous

1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed

Instructions

7R D IRRG SURFHVVRU Ă&#x20AC; WWHG ZLWK WKH VWDQGDUG chopping blade, add the olive oil, garlic, salt, basil, and nuts. Process for 7-10 seconds or until you have a chunky mixture.

2. Turn the pesto mixture out into a mixing bowl.

3. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and add to the pesto. Fold together.

4. Fold the chickpeas into the pesto. Serve slightly warm, at room temperature, or chilled.

ABOUT GRACE O

GRACE O is the creator of FoodTrients, a unique program for optimizing wellness and longevity. She is the author of two award-winning cookbooksâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;THE AGE GRACEFULLY COOKBOOK and THE AGE BEAUTIFULLY COOKBOOK, which recently won Gourmandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Best in the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Award for Innovation. She is a fusion chef with a mission to deliver delicious recipes built on a foundation of anti-aging science and her 20 years in the healthcare industry.

Visit FoodTrients.com to learn more. Email us at info@FoodTrients.com

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvEmbER 7-10, 2020

Local Army recruiters to host virtual career fair BUENA PARK, CA - October 29, 2020 - To serve customers more seamlessly and to further scale up its e-commerce channels, 99 Ranch Market is now teaming up with Instacart, the North American leader in online grocery, to grow its delivery capabilities. With the new e-commerce collaboration, customers can now have their groceries delivered directly from their nearest 99 Ranch Market to their door in as fast as one hour.

“As one of the biggest Asian American/International grocers, 99 Ranch Market has been focusing on making grocery shopping easier for our shoppers.

We are thrilled tcutting-edge enterprise technology also powers the e-commerce platforms of some of the world’s biggest retail players, supporting their white-label websites, applications, and delivery solutions.

Instacart offers an Instacart Express membership for unlimited free delivery on orders over $35.

becoming an Instacart shopper, visit https://shoppers.instacart. com/.

Kris turns designer bags into face masks, chest bags in new business by ian

Biong Inquirer.net

MUSICIAN Kris Lawrence has been transforming designer bags – such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci – into fashionable face masks and chest bags amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lawrence, known as the “Philippines’ Prince of R&B,” has been buying the luxury bags and using the materials to create new products for his new business venture, he shared in an interview in ABS-CBN’s “Magandang Buhay” episode on Nov. 3.

“What I do is I buy luxury bags tapos sinisira ko. Tapos gumagawa ako ng mga face masks and bags, mga chest bags,” the singer explained. (What I do is I buy luxury bags and I break it apart. Then I make face masks and chest bags from the materials.)

Aside from earning extra income for his family, Lawrence noted that he was also able to give jobs to sewers who lost work during the lockdown.

“I have a friend that has a company and iyong mga sewer niya, nawalan din ng trabaho (my friend’s sewers lost their jobs).

Kris Lawrence donning his Louis Vuitton face mask and chest rig.

Photo from Instagram/@ikrislawrence

“So we gave a lot of jobs to the sewers. Nabigyan namin ng trabaho iyong mga sewers na nawalan ng trabaho (We gave work to the sewers who lost their jobs) so they can sew our new PPEs so everybody’s safe,” Lawrence added.

Aside from the said business,

Rumored lovebirds Coco Martin and Julia Montes.

the R&B artist has also started a Cavite-based courier service named after his son, J&Lyric Express.

Lawrence explained in the morning show that he tried his hand in these business ventures because income fell due to the global health crisis.

ABS-CBN photo

Julia posts birthday greetings for rumored lover Coco

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

KAPAMILYA actress Julia Montes greeted Kapamilya actor Coco Martin on his 39th birthday.

In her Instagram account, Julia posted a photo of Coco and only captioned it with wrapped gift, a red heart and birthday cake emojis.

Celebrities such as Lorna Tolentino and Vina Morales, Isabel Oli-Prats and Shaira Diaz, to name a few, also greeted the “Ang Probinsyano” star in the comments section.

Coco and Julia were rumored to be in a relationship for years but they have remained silent on the issue. Last year, Coco asked the public for his privacy when he was asked if he’s the

father of the rumored baby of Julia.

Julia also remained silent on the issue during her recent guesting in one of the episodes of ABS-CBN’s “Magandang Buhay.”

Since 2017, Julia has always been greeting Coco on social media on his birthday. The captions, however, are just brief like HBD or emojis.

Julia admits to being in...

PAGE B2 ex-boyfriend, revealed that he wanted to talk to Gerald because of the controversies surrounding them.

In Cinema One’s “Cinema News At Home Edition,” a fan asked Joshua who he wants to talk to during this lockdown.

“Siguro si Kuya Gerald, pero hindi online, hindi ko kailangang i-online. Siya, kasi na-realize ko nu’ng quarantine, nu’ng nag-lockdown, ang hirap, ang liit ng industriya namin. Ang hirap nu’ng may ka-awkwardan,” Joshua said.

Joshua added that he already texted Gerald, but he is yet to receive a reply.

Crisel Consunji breaks new ground with plum role in HK drama series ‘Single Papa’ by

rito P. aSilo Inquirer.net

For more information or to start shopping, visit www.instacart. com. For anyone interested in

“Ang ginawa ko, tinext ko siya, sabi ko, ‘Bro, Joshua ito.

Gusto ko lang maging honest, lahat.’ Tinext ko siya ng ganu’n, pero hindi pa siya nagre-reply,” he said.

“Hanggang du’n lang ang kaya kong ibigay na text. Para ma-clear lang ‘yung air sa lahat ng nangyari.”

Joshua admitted that he wanted to clear things out with Gerald so there would be no awkward feelings between them.

“Nahihirapan akong gumalaw, parang gan’un ‘yung feeling. ‘Yun ‘yung isa sa narealize ko nu’ng quarantine, nu’ng lockdown—ang hirap

nung may ka-awkward-an ka.

Nagka-issue kayo, ganyan,” he said.

“I’m being honest lang, ha, kasi ako wala naman akong kaso sa kanya. Ako, sobrang cool na ako sa kanya. Ako, okay na ako sa kanya. Kuya ko kasi siya, same handler kami,” he added.

It can be recalled that Gerald was allegedly the reason why Joshua and Julia broke up. Gerald and Julia co-starred in the Black Sheep movie “Between Maybes.”

Gerald’s ex-girlfriend Bea Alonzo said that the actor suddenly “ghosted” her that caused their own breakup.

B

WHILE it has been particularly difficult for a lot of home-based actors to express themselves through their art during the pandemic due to restrictions put in place to keep the coronavirus at bay, actress and educator Crisel Consunji continues to spread her wings and makes her presence felt on the entertainment scene in Hong Kong and the Asian region.

For her portrayal of a nurseturned-domestic helper in “Still Human,” the actress became the first Filipino to win a coveted acting plum at the prestigious Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA) last year.

Crisel is once again breaking new ground—this time, in the 20-episode series “Single Papa,” codirected by Peter Tsi, Tony Law and Patrick Leung, and produced

by Tsi, Cyrus Ho and Connie Tam. “Single Papa” began airing last week (Oct. 26) on Viu, the Hong Kong-based video-streaming provider (viu.com) that was launched in the Philippines in 2016 and includes in its voluminous film library such delectable titles as “Descendants of the Sun,” “Tale of the Nine Tailed,” “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?,” “The Heirs” and even such hotto-trot films like Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite,” Kim Do-young’s “Kim Ji-young: Born 1982” and Lee Chang-dong’s “Burning.” But we’re digressing.

In the drama-comedy series produced over the course of 55 shooting days in between Hong Kong’s lockdowns, Crisel plays Leah, a Filipino teacher married to an expat physician. Things take a significant turn when she crosses paths with 40-year-old single father Ah-Wing (HKFA and Golden Horse winner Ronald Cheng), who runs a convenience store while he raises his preschool-age son Lil T-Rex (Juju) after the tragic death of his wife.

“It’s about a man working through his back issues and how he tries to get through them for the sake of his young son,” Crisel shared. “Everybody in the series has issues to deal with—from mental health to emotional wellbeing.”

As Ah-Wing picks up the tattered pieces of his life, he forges a special kind of friendship with

Crisel Consunji

Inquirer.net photo

insurance consultant Tze-Ming (Maggie Cheung). Ah-Wing and Leah have something in common, however—they have both been touched by unspeakable tragedy and must come to terms with its soul-crushing, life-altering repercussions.

In what we call “virtual televiewing,” we stayed up late with Crisel last Tuesday to watch some scenes in Episode 7 on Viu and talk about her latest artistic adventure.

At some point during a crucial dramatic sequence that explains Leah’s backstory—which involves her daughter in a hospital, no spoilers here—we were so moved

by Crisel’s performance in the scene, limned with steely aplomb and admirable restraint despite the challenging task of shuttling between English and Cantonese dialogue.

At the same time, part of the satisfaction of watching the series stems from Tsi, Ho and Tam’s brave decision to take the inclusive tack of utilizing a Filipino character that proficiently reflects the former British colony’s vibrant mixed-race, melting-pot culture.

Kudos, guys—and, as they say, sana all!

“I play a supporting character in it, so you won’t really see me in every scene. But it’s a role that serves its purpose,” Crisel explained to us. “My character is utilized to show Ah-Wing that it’s alright to confront his own demons because I also have demons of my own.

“You’ll see in Episode 7 the similarly tragic nature of Leah’s backstory, which explains her mindset.

To process this and move forward, she becomes an English teacher because helping others helps her cope with her own loss.

“My character comes in and she’s actually one of the first peo-

ple to alert Ah-Wing that his son is really troubled about having lost his mother. But more than that, I actually sense that it’s the father who needs more support than the son!”

Our Q&A with Crisel: Evelyn, your character in “Still Human,” is thrust into pursuing her stalled dreams again after building her friendship with Anthony Wong’s disabled geriatric character. What strikes you the most about Leah and, in general, “Single Papa”?

I love the fact that it’s written from the perspective that life goes on—that life is what we make of it. There’s no wrapping up of a happy ending. We can just strive to make any situation happier, because life isn’t all peaches and cream.

Leah is a tricky character, really, because there’s something about her that is so close to me that sometimes, it makes me think, “So, when do I actually act (laughs)?” You know what I mean?

Our backgrounds may be different, but I often catch myself in the middle of a scene, thinking, “OK, this is too close to your life! This is exactly the way you talk to children, no acting required.” Other than the challenge of hurdling my Cantonese lines, the whole thing felt so natural.

It’s a different challenge when you’re in a scene with a 3-year-old because he doesn’t really think of himself as an actor (laughs).

You’re actually traversing different realities.

How did you get the role? Did you shoot your scenes during the lockdown?

It was about January when Cyrus Ho and Peter Tsi approached me about the series. Cyrus wrote to me saying, “Hey, we met at the film awards—and I have a project that you might be interested in.”

Then, Peter and Cyrus came over to our school and we had coffee.

We chatted about what they wanted to achieve with this series, and what it meant for me as an artist.

It was a bit of a whirlwind because, suddenly, the coronavirus struck after Chinese New Year (Jan. 25), and we didn’t know what was going to happen. Finally, they found this window around April, May and June, when there were no local COVID-19 cases in Hong PAGE B5

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Time worked by employees though Dealing with assets omitted from a divorce case unproductive to employer must be paid Commission-based employees owed for non-sales work

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. c. Joe SAyAS, Jr. STEVE Johnson and Scott Scollitt worked as mortgage loan originators for U.S. Bank National Association. These employees sued their employer for unpaid wages and for not being provided meal and rest periods. They alleged that the bank improperly averaged their commissions which resulted in them being paid less than the minimum wage for the time they spent doing non-sales work. They further claimed that the employer failed to pay overtime wages, and failed to provide meal and work periods. When the employees were fired or quit, the bank failed to pay all wages owed to them at the time of discharge.

Whether or not employees are paid hourly, piece-rate, or on commission, they must be paid no less than the minimum wage for all hours worked. If an employee spends time doing other work-related activities not covered by the plan (such as pick-up or clean-up activities, or attending compulsory work meetings), the time spent doing these is considered hours worked, and must be paid at least the minimum wage (or an agreed hourly rate, if any).

Under California law, employees who are paid by commission are entitled to at least minimum wages for each hour worked, and overtime pay when necessary. Basing the employee’s pay merely on an

estimate of the number of hours an employee should be working in sales-related activities (without regard to the employee’s actual hours worked) is not acceptable.

A commission plan may provide payment of a fixed “advance,” or “draw” on a periodic basis. Commission advances typically will require certain conditions that must be satisfied before commissions are earned.

Thus, even though a commission advance may have already been paid, an employee will not have yet earned the commission if certain conditions are not yet satisfied. The employee’s sale must be commissionable for the employee to earn the commission. If advances are paid for anticipated sales that do not materialize, the commission may be “recovered” or “clawed back” as a deduction from future pay.

However, if the system of payment results in employees not being paid for non-productive (or non-selling) time, that pay practice may be illegal.

Also, under California law, employees who are paid on a commission plan are still entitled to rights that are provided to hourly employees, such as the right to be provided off-duty meal and rest breaks. An employer shall not require commissioned employees to work during breaks. If an employer fails to provide a meal or rest breaks, the employee is entitled to one additional hour of pay at the employee’s regular rate of compensation for each workday that the meal or rest break (or both) is not provided.

Are employees paid on commission entitled to separate pay for rest breaks if the commission plan has a “claw back” provision? Courts said yes, par-

ticularly where the plan does not address how employees are to be paid for rest breaks (which is time spent not earning commissions). Where the commission computation did not account for rest breaks, the employee should be separately paid for rest breaks.

Lastly, commissioned employees are still employees, and under California law, an employer must reimburse an employee for all necessary expenditures incurred in direct consequence of the discharge of the employee’s duties. These include costs spent complying with the employer’s instructions. Examples of reimbursable expenses include travel expenses; costs of uniforms or special clothing required by the employer; and costs of supplies, tools, materials, or equipment.

The case against U.S. Bank was resolved via a settlement, with the bank agreeing to pay the aggrieved employees $6.5 million in damages. The employer also agreed to change its policies so that employees are paid for all hours worked and are provided meal and rest breaks. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic.

All inquiries are confidential and at nocost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw. com. [For more than 25 years, C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a past Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas.]

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New retiree chooses Chapter 7 fresh start to wipe out $45K credit cards Debt Relief

Atty. LAwrence yAng THE client just turned 67 and has been working for 40 years at a job that pays him $70K a year.

He retired two months ago so he doesn’t make the $70,000 a year anymore. He now gets a public pension that gives him $1,800 a month and social security that pays him $1,900 a month. There are some deductions from those two amounts. There’s a 7% tax on the pension and $400 of health insurance, and there’s Medicare premium deductions of about $160 from social security. So it’s a gross income of just under $4,000 a month for retirement, minus about $800 for deductions, giving a net of about $3,200 a month. That’s not bad for retirement; a little tight but not bad at all. Let’s look at his other personal circumstances.

God’s will be done He divorced about 3 years ago after more than 10 years of marriage. You know what this means, right? If the marriage lasted at least 10 years, you’ve got alimony. That means you will have to pay your ex-spouse domestic support until death does it stop.

Of course if there is remarriage, it stops. But who in his or her right mind will remarry when you can just live in and still enjoy alimony. “Come on man,” as President-elect Biden would say. Yes, it looks like we have a new president elect at this writing. It looks like that at this point in time. Both Georgia and Pennsylvania turned blue this morning, with Arizona and Nevada still light blue. Mr. Biden only needed AZ and NV to get 270. Incredibly, Georgia and

Pennsylvania have Biden ahead with razor thin margins of 1,000 votes each but there are still lots of votes being counted in Atlanta and Philadelphia, which are both democrat strongholds. No doubt recounts will be demanded by the loser, but our God has chosen Mr. Biden to unify and protect us from the virus, and to lead all Americans in all states, whether red or blue, to prosperity and security. His will be done!

Alimony and $45K credit cards In addition to the prospect of alimony, the client has $45,000 of credit cards. I asked the client if he pays alimony. He says he pays $1,000 a month to his ex-wife as court ordered alimony. Court ordered means that the alimony is contained in the divorce judgment. It’s not a voluntary payment. The client has to pay $1,000 every month, until he or she dies. What about the $45,000 of credit cards, how much is required for that as minimum monthly payments?

Client needs $1,400 a month to keep the $45,000 current every month. That’s a pretty bleak picture at retirement. Alimony and credit card payments will take $2,400 a month from client’s net of $3,200 a month net retirement income. That leaves him only $800 a month to pay rent and other necessary expenses. I ask him how much his rent is. He says $1,100. Well, you can see at this point that something has to be done. What are his options?

Well, he can stop paying rent by moving into his 2010 Camry. The problem is all the gyms are closed because of the virus.

There’s no place to take a bath.

Or, he can wipe out the $45,000 of credit cards thereby saving $1,400 a month. Client makes up his mind in less than a minute. He decides to file for Chapter 7 for a fresh start without the

$45,000 of credit card debt. It’s the right choice.

If you’re a senior, or whatever your age is, watch out for “scams” that are designed to part you with your money by stoking your greed. I’m serious with this warning. I have a senior client who was promised $10 million if he came out with $300,000.

This is not fake news. It’s true.

He actually believed it. If he had come to me before parting with his $300,000, I could have saved him $300,000. He claims he was shown a warehouse full of cash. First of all, don’t be greedy. Greed is one of the vices, just like gluttony and lust. Recently, a doctor, yes an M.D. in India was snookered into paying a down payment of $40,000 as partial payment for $200,000, to buy “Aladdin’s lamp.” The perpetrators were his patients who were able to convince him that the lamp would make him super rich. The genie would appear in a puff of smoke. Obviously, if the lamp were real, why would they sell it for $200,000 when they can ask the genie of the lamp for immense wealth? “Come on, man,” as President-elect Biden would say.

If you have too much debt and need relief, please set an appointment to see me. I will analyze your case personally. *** DISCLAIMER: NONE OF THE FOREGOING IS CONSIDERED LEGAL ADVICE. EACH CASE IS DIFFERENT. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in Bankruptcy, Business, Real Estate and Civil Litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789 or 1000 S. Fremont Ave., Mailstop 58, Building A-10 South, Suite 10042, Alhambra, CA 91803.

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Crisel Consunji breaks new ground...

PAGE B3 Kong for two weeks.

We took advantage of that, and they just rushed through it, saying, “OK, let’s shoot as much as we can.” I think the production had 55 shooting days, and my character was in nine of those. It was exciting—and pretty intense!

From portraying a domestic helper, you’re playing a teacher this time around. Was this what drew you to your character Leah?

Yeah, it was. I got really excited because while there’s nothing wrong with portraying a maid, my role in “Single Papa” provided an opportunity to break stereotypes.

I tread this issue as carefully and diplomatically as possible.

Look, I chose to do “Still Human” because it gave Filipinas a voice, helped put us on the map and bring attention to their causes. I wouldn’t have played Evelyn if I didn’t believe that domestic helpers deserved a credible voice.

I value and am very proud of the many different stories of our Filipino migrant workers.

But it’s also my responsibility to correct stereotypes. Being a domestic helper isn’t the only role they play in their lives—some of them teach Sunday school, raise funds for charity, or lead hiking tours in their spare time, etc. Let’s break those barriers and stop putting labels on people.

We’ve started shining the spotlight on the Filipina story—now,

let’s go beyond that. I feel like my purpose now is to choose projects that will send a message, not detached from the story of the domestic workers, but to add to it.

Besides, it made me think that if, let’s say, domestic workers are indeed as common as people say they are here in Hong Kong, then pretty much ALL of its movies would have Filipinos walking in the background and carrying groceries with them, right (laughs)?

Moreover, it doesn’t make sense for any actor to keep playing the same role over and over again.

I believe that if you do things for the right reasons, then you’re always taking a step in the right direction.

Barrister’s Corner

Atty. Kenneth UrSUA reyeS YOU and your spouse may have gone through a lengthy and contentious divorce proceeding.

This is usually the most difficult period of a person’s life. Finally, time heals all pain. You and your spouse get tired of bickering and being mean to one another that you both decide to compromise each other positions and resolve all issues in your divorce case through settlement.

Shortly thereafter, the divorce judgment is finally entered by the Court and you get a sigh of relief. Later you discovery that “Oops!,” your ex-spouse had community asset and/or debt that was left out of the divorce judgment.

This may be a pension, retirement account, a hidden bank account, or a piece of real estate property which was not divided in the judgment. What is one to do in this situation? The answer can be found in California Family Code §2556.

California Family Code §2556 provides “In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage, for nullity of marriage, or for legal separation of the parties, the court has continuing jurisdiction to award community estate as-

sets or community estate liabilities to the parties that have not been previously adjudicated by a judgment in the proceeding.”

California Family Code §2556.

Even if the parties did not expressly reserve jurisdiction on that piece of asset, the Court retains the power to divide a specific property if there is a community interest in it.

The Court’s “continuing jurisdiction” over omitted community estate assets or debts is invoked by filing a post judgment Motion, or Request for Order in the divorce case. Family Code §2556 provides “A party may file a postjudgment motion or request for order in the proceeding in order to obtain adjudication of any community estate asset or liability omitted or not adjudicated by the judgment.” The postjudgment partition of the unadjudicated community estate claims is properly entertained by the court even absent an express reservation of jurisdiction in its prior judgment. Marriage of Moore & Ferrie (1993) 14 CA4th 1472, 1483, 18 CR2d 543, 549, fn. 9. The postjudgment motion is available to any omitted asset or debt not adjudicated by the divorce judgment. However, Family Code §2556 does not extend to division and adjudication of any separate property. Marriage of Klug (2005) 130 CA4th 1389, 1396, 31 CR3d 327, 331–332.

If an asset was partially omitted, the Court can still divide and adjudicate the portion that

has been omitted postjudgment under family code §2566. Community Property adjudicated under § 2556 shall be divided equally “unless the court finds upon good cause shown that the interests of justice require an unequal division of the asset or liability.” Family Code §2556.. *** 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 is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist.

He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010.

Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement)

Family unification through family-based petitions ANG family unification ay napakahalaga sa U.S. Immigration Law. Ang family-based immigrant category ay nagpapahintulot sa mga U.S. citizen (USC) at mga green card holder/lawful permanent resident (LPR) na mag-petition ng kanilang kapamilya para makarating sa US na may immigrant visa. Kung ang mga kapamilya ay nasa US na, maaaring silang makakuha ng green card sa pamamagitan ng family-based petition. Ang USC ay maaaring mag-petition ng mga sumusunod: (1) asawa; (2) binata o dalagang anak na wala pang 21 taong gulang; (3) binata o dalagang anak na higit na sa 21 taong gulang; (4) anak na may asawa; (5) kapatid, kung ang USC ay may 21 taong gulang na; (6) magulang, kung ang USC ay may 21 taong gulang na.

Ang LPR ay maaaring magpetition ng mga sumusunod: (1) asawa; (2) binata o dalagang anak na wala pang 21 taong gulang; (3) binata o dalagang anak na higit na sa 21 taong gulang.

Ang mga beneficiary ay binibigyan ng kategorya para sa pagkuha ng immigrant visa ayon sa immigration preference system sapagkat may limitadong numero o quota ang mga immigrant visa bawat taon. Walang quota ang mga “immediate relative” ng USC. Ang mga “immediate relative” ay magulang, asawa, at mga binata at dalagang anak na wala pang 21 taong gulang ng USC. Ang ibang beneficiary ay kailangang maghintay ng visa number para sa kanilang green card ayon sa sumusunod na mga preference: First preference (F1): Binata o dalagang anak ng USC na higit na sa 21 taon gulang; Second preference-A (F2A): Asawa ng LPR, mga binata at dalagang anak na wala pang 21 taong gulang ng LPR; Second preference-B (F2B): Mga binata at dalagang anak na higit na sa 21 taong gulang ng LPR; Third pref-

Tapat Sa Batas Atty. rheA SAmSon erence (F3): Anak na may asawa ng USC; Fourth preference (F4): Mga kapatid ng USC. Ang USC o LPR ay kailangang mag-file ng I-130 Immigrant Petition para sa beneficiary. Kapag ito ay naaprubahan na, ang mga hindi immediate relative ay kailangang maghintay ng visa number para ipagpatuloy ang proseso ng kanilang green card. Ayon sa November 2020 Visa Bulletin, ang maaari nang iproseso para sa mga family-based petition sa may country of chargeability na PHILIPPINES ay ang sumusunod: F1: Oktubre 8, 2012; F2A: Current; F2B: Abril 1, 2012; F3: Disyembre 22, 2002; F4: Setyembre 1, 2002. *** Family unification is an important principle under U.S. Immigration Laws. The family-based immigrant category allows U.S. citizens (USC) and green card holders/lawful permanent residents (LPR) to petition family members to the US. The USC may petition the following: (1) spouse; (2) unmarried children under 21 years old; (3) unmarried son or daughter over 21 years old; (4) married son or daughter; (5) brother or sister, if USC is at least 21 years old; (6) parent, if USC is at least 21 years old. The LPR may petition the following: (1) spouse; (2) unmarried children below 21 years old; (3) unmarried son or daughter over 21 years old.

The beneficiaries are classified into categories based on a preference system except for immediate relatives of USCs – parents,

spouses, and unmarried children below 21 years old. The family members in the preference categories must wait for a visa number to become available according to the following preferences: First preference (F1): Unmarried sons and daughters over 21 years old of USC; Second preference-A (F2A): Spouses of LPR and unmarried children below 21 years old of LPR; Second preferenceB (F2B): Unmarried sons and daughters over 21 years old of LPR; Third preference (F3): Married sons and daughters of USC; Fourth preference (F4): Brothers and Sisters of USC. The USC or LPR has to file an I-130 Immigrant Petition for the beneficiary. Once it is approved, those in the preference categories need to wait for a visa number to continue the immigrant visa process. According to the November 2020 Visa Bulletin, applications for adjustment of status with the following priority dates may be filed with the USCIS for the following family-based petitions with the country of chargeability, PHILIPPINES: F1: October 8, 2012; F2A: Current; F2B: April 1, 2012; F3: December 22, 2002; F4: September 1, 2002. *** 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.

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The faith that must keep burning in us Pastor’s Notes reverend rodeL g. BALAgtAS BY the time you read this article, I hope that our nation would move on with the newly elected president and other leaders. We need to tackle the continuing challenges of health, economy, education, climate change, unity, rights, and justice for people of all races and life stages. We cannot afford to be divided as a country as we deal with these challenges. We all have to do our part in bringing solutions and hope to our wounded world and society.

I pray too that we keep searching for wisdom from God through Spirit and Word to unite us. For as the Book of Wisdom (6:12-16) tells us this Sunday: “Resplendent and unfading is wisdom, and she is readily perceived by those who love her and found by those who

seek her.”

In the Book of Wisdom, Lady Wisdom refers to the divine breath or Spirit intimately related to God. She is the outpouring of the glory of God, the image of divine goodness and power. She enters our lives to show God’s love and care for all people. She animates us with hope and enflames our hearts with God’s mercy and love, making us all friends of God. We don’t deny the need for practical and effective solutions to our nation and the world’s crises and problems. But we Christians claim that it is Jesus, by his words and Spirit, that would transform hearts and minds, even those of the most corrupt politicians.

We must be ready like the wise virgins in this Sunday’s Gospel parable. We must keep the flame of our faith in Jesus burning by making sure that we have enough oil in our hands to welcome Jesus in our lives and spread his teachings to build his reign in this world.

In today’s context, the essential “oil” that we need is our untiring hope in Jesus that he would res-

cue us from our sufferings. It is our positive attitude that keeps us doing good works of charity, especially to those who are in need.

It is our unwillingness to succumb to despair, passivity, and negativity.

More concretely, it is the smile we show others to cheer them up in times of suffering, the hands that share food to the hungry, and write checks to keep churches open. It is the effort we spend to keep our families together and the warmth of care and hospitality to those who feel alienated in our society.

As we approach Thanksgiving Day and the Christmas holiday, let the flame of faith in Jesus grant us hope, strength, and courage in this time of fears, challenges, and uncertainties. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.

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