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NOVEMBER 20-26, 2020 Volume 14 - No. 3 • 16 Pages 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858

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Duterte places Luzon under state of calamity

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

SUBMERGED. President Rodrigo Duterte led an aerial inspection on Thursday, November 12 over Metro Manila and nearby areas where Typhoon Ulysses brought the worst flooding in years, trapping people on rooftops.

Malacañang photo by Ace Morandante

DATELINE

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte declared the entire Luzon under a state of calamity after three successive typhoons

battered the country’s largest island.

In a taped speech aired on Tuesday night, November 17, the Chief Executive revealed that he signed

USA

Judge rules DACA suspension invalid

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USCIS revises naturalization test THE U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has revised the civics portion of the naturalization test.

In its news release on Friday, November 13, the USCIS said it has updated the civics test as part of a decennial update to ensure that the exam remains as an instrument that comprehensively assesses applicants’ knowledge of American history, government and civic values.

The naturalization test has two components: an English test, which has not changed, and a civics test.

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Romualdez: The alliance between PH and US is very strong

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

THE Trump administration’s rules limiting applications and renewals for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program are invalid, a federal judge ruled over the weekend.

Judge Nicholas Garaufis of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York ruled on Saturday, November 14 that the suspension of DACA, which protects

the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)’s proposal to place Luzon under a state of calamity.

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

MEALS FOR EVACUEES. Volunteers prepare meals for the typhoon victims that will be brought to the evacuation center on Wednesday, November 18 at Marikina Sports Center. Marikina City is one of the areas badly hit by Typhoon Ulysses. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

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 WWFPhilippines for their great support and guidance throughout this challenge,” Gonzales said.

The We Love Cities Campaign,

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PHILIPPINE Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez on Tuesday, November 17, affirmed the strong ties between the Philippines and the United States.

During a virtual event hosted by the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, Romualdez noted that the Philippines and the U.S. have one of the oldest military alliances in the Asia Pacific region.

“The PH and the U.S. enjoy one of the oldest military alliances in the Asia Pacific,

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Lorenzana: PH to receive $18-M worth of precisionguided munition from US

THE United States will be giving the Philippines $18 million worth of precision-guided munitions next month, according to Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

“They have given us USD18 million worth of (military) equipment (that will arrive) next month,” Lorenzana

said on Tuesday, November 17 during the send-off of the BRP Tarlac, which was deployed to typhoon-battered Catanduanes for a relief mission.

“Those are precisionguided munitions that can be dropped with pinpoint accuracy,” he added.

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From the Front Page

Will communities hardest Duterte places Luzon under state... hit get COVID-19 vaccines?

THE U.S. is weeks away from rolling out COVID-19 vaccines, but pandemic experts say the challenges of vaccinating people will be acute, especially in communities of color.

“Vaccines don’t save lives: vaccinations do,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, speaking at a Friday, Nov. 13 briefing organized by Ethnic Media Services and moderated by Dr. Tung Nguyen, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.

“There’s a huge challenge from a supply chain perspective to getting the vaccines out,” said Jha, noting that the vaccines will have to be stored and delivered frozen.

More challenging is “vaccine hesitancy,” especially in communities of color who have been hit hardest by the pandemic, he said.

Jha predicted 100,000 more deaths from COVID-19 in the

U.S. before the new BidenHarris administration is inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2021.

“We are in the worst moment of the pandemic right now.”

Dr. Nirav Shah, adjunct professor of medicine in the Division of Primary Care and Population Health at Stanford University stated: “We need to do this in a more structured and standardized way as opposed to the thousand points of light approach where every state, every city is doing something on their own. Simple coordination, using evidence-based approaches, will make a big difference here.”

Dr. William Schaffner, professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University, agreed that vaccine delivery would pose enormous challenges.

“This is not a vaccine that will be available at the local pharmacy or in a physician’s office,” he said.

Schaffner also noted that

the vaccine is reactive: people taking it may experience a sore arm, fever, or headaches. Nguyen warned that such side effects could increase people’s distrust of the vaccine, and deter them from getting the shot.

Skepticism of the vaccine is strong in the African American community and other ethnic communities, said Schaffner. “So we’re going to have to do everything we can to reach out and provide information and also provide reassurance,” he said, noting that much of the work will have to be done through churches or by prominent leaders in ethnic communities.

Pfizer and Germany-based BioNTech announced Nov. 9 that they had jointly developed a vaccine with an efficacy rate of 90%. The study enrolled 43,538 participants, with 42% coming from diverse backgrounds. The companies have submitted an ap-

PAGE 1 last night (I think I already signed it last night)... Last night, I think I signed the proclamation,” he said.

The NDRRMC Council approved the recommendation to place the entire Luzon under a state of calamity on Monday, Nov. 16, during an emergency meeting where they discussed the impact of typhoons Quinta, Rolly and Ulysses.

As of this writing, the death toll for Ulysses is at 73, while the total numbers of injured and missing persons are at 24 and 19, respectively.

A total of 3,452,360 persons or 827,260 families in eight regions have been affected by Ulysses. Of the figures, 55,921 families or 223,378 persons are being served in 1,570 evacuation centers while 66,499 families or 232,513 families are being served outside.

Damage to agriculture is estimated at P2.89 billion in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, CAR, and National Capital Region (NCR), while infrastructure damage was placed at P5.77 billion.

The NDRRMC on Wednesday also recorded 63,885 damaged houses, of which 6,009 were classified as “totally damaged” and 57,876 as “partially damaged.”

Pope Francis prays for PH typhoon victims Pope Francis offered his prayers to Filipinos affected

by Typhoon Ulysses.

In a tweet on Sunday, November 15, the Pontiff also expressed his solidarity to the poorest families who were hit the hardest by the typhoon.

“I am near in prayer to the dear people of the #Philippines who are suffering because of the destruction, and

especially because of the flooding caused by a strong #typhoon,” he wrote.

“I express my solidarity to the poorest families and those who are doing all they can to help them,” he added.

According to CBCP News, the Pope’s statement came after he had a private audience with Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle at the Vatican.

Tagle is the prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples as well as the president of Caritas Internationalis.

Earlier, Caritas Philippines launched a global appeal to aid typhoon victims. It also urged the government to seek international aid.

“The nation is in quandary,” said Fr. Antonio Labiao, executive director of Caritas Philippines.

“It is clear that we cannot do this alone,” he added. n

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Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John Law met on Friday, November 13, two days after the Philippine government announced that it was extending the suspension of Visiting Forces Agreement for another six months.

Photo courtesy U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John Law

Lorenzana: PH to receive $18-M...

PAGE 1 Lorenzana, however, did not disclose more details about the munitions.

The defense chief on Friday, November 13 reportedly met with a U.S. Embassy official at the Department of National Defense (DND) headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.

According to U.S. Charge d’Affaires John Law, his meeting with Lorenzana focused on “robust and deeprooted military cooperation.”

Meanwhile, Lorenzana said that the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) was among the topics discussed during the meeting.

The VFA’s termination was once again suspended for another six months to “find a more enhanced, mutually beneficial, mutually agreeable, and more effective and lasting arrangement on how to move forward in our mutual defense,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said last week.

Lorenzana also said that U.S. embassy officials have assured that that there would be no change in the U.S.Philippine defense alliance under U.S. President-elect Joe Biden.

Malacañang has previously said that 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,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

The U.S. Embassy in Manila maintained that the relationship between the Philippines and the U.S. will remain strong no matter the president.

“The relationship between our countries is always very strong and (I’m) certain it will continue,” Law said. (Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress) n

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 20-26, 2020

NOVEMBER 20-26, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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USCIS revises naturalization test...

PAGE 1 The English test allows the applicant to demonstrate an understanding of the language including the ability to read, write, and speak basic English.

Meanwhile, the revised civic test is an oral test wherein a USCIS officer will ask the applicant 20 questions from a list of 128 civics test questions. The applicant needs to answer at least 12 of the 20 questions correctly to pass the revised version of the civics test.

Previously, the civics test only asked the applicant up to 10 questions from the list of 100 civics test questions.

The applicant needed to answer six questions correctly

to pass the test.

The revised civics test did not change the passing score, which remains at 60%.

“USCIS has diligently worked on revising the naturalization test since 2018, relying on input from experts in the field of adult education to ensure that this process is fair and transparent,” said USCIS Deputy Director for Policy Joseph Edlow.

“Naturalization allows immigrants to become fully vested members of American society, with the same rights and responsibilities as citizens by birth, and offering a fair test, which prepares naturalization ap-

plicants for these responsibilities, is of upmost importance to our agency,” he added.

Applicants have two opportunities to pass the naturalization civics test.

“If you fail any part of the civics test at your first interview, you will be retested, only on the portion of the test that you failed, between 60 and 90 days from the date of your initial interview,” the USCIS said in its website.

Applicants who apply for naturalization on or after Dec. 1, 2020, will take the updated version of the test.

Those who apply before Dec. 1, 2020, will take the current version of the test.

(AJPress) n

EVACUATION CENTER IN MARIKINA. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian talks to the evacuees at the temporary shelter during his visit to the evacuation centers at the Hermogenes Bautista Elementary School and Malanday Elementary School in Concepcion, Marikina City on Tuesday, November 17. He also distributed food packs to the 7,465 evacuees at the evacuation centers.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Judge rules DACA suspension invalid...

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...

PAGE 1 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 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, WWFPhilippines’ 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 re-

ally 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 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.

PAGE 1 some 650,000 young immigrants, was unlawful because Chad Wolf was not legally appointed acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

“DHS failed to follow the order of succession as it was lawfully designated,” wrote Garaufis. “Therefore, the actions taken by purported Acting Secretaries, who were not properly in their roles according to the lawful order of succession, were taken without legal authority.”

On July 28, Wolf suspended the DACA program pending DHS review, despite the U.S. Supreme Court blocking the Trump administration’s plan

to dismantle the program a month before.

The memo further stated that the administration would suspend new applications, while having renewals only for one year instead of two.

The Obama-era program granted renewable deportation protections of two years to certain young undocumented immigrants, known as “Dreamers,” who were brought to the United States illegally as children. Aside from being able to stay in the U.S., recipients were able to work legally which allowed many to pursue higher education and pursue other career goals. The program, however, does not offer a

pathway to citizenship for the grantees.

Saturday’s ruling restores DACA to nearly its original purpose as new applications will be accepted for the first time since 2017, according to the Wall Street Journal.

According to Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice), an affiliation of five independent civil rights organizations, at least 16,000 DACA recipients are of Asian American or Pacific Islander (AAPI) descent.

Between 2012 and 2017, at least 3,880 Filipinos were granted DACA protection, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). (AJPress) n

Romualdez: The alliance between...

PAGE 1 stretching back since 1951.

We have the mutual defense treaty, the secure and defense cooperation which remains the cornerstone of our bilateral relations, also our friendship with the U.S. spans decades of cooperation, encouraging strong historical, cultural, and economic ties,” he said.

“Our shared history in culture connects our two governments, the economies, and of course our people-to-people ties,” he added.

Romualdez also said Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is looking forward to working with President-elect Joe Biden and fortifying the “many comprehensive ties” that the Philippines and the U.S. have between them.

“President Duterte con-

veyed his warmest congratulations and we assured (Biden) of the Philippines’ commitment to continue building on a strong, open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” the envoy said.

Romualdez stressed that the relationship between the Philippines and the U.S. will remain strong no matter the president.

“The alliance between our two countries remains very strong and it doesn’t matter who the president of either country is,” he said.

“We feel that this relationship is so strong that it has withstood many wars and many conflicts in the past worldwide, and perhaps even some issues we may not agree on, but at the end of the day, because of our special relationship,

it has endured,” he added.

Romualdez also expressed optimism that the Philippines will not have any problems with the Biden administration.

VFA termination According to Romualdez, the dynamics between the Philippines and the U.S. shifted after the U.S. rejected most of China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea. Early in July, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the U.S. stands with its Southeast Asian allies, stressing that Beijing’s claims to offshore resources across most of the South China Sea are “completely unlawful.”

“We all know Secretary Pompeo announced that the U.S. recognized the arbitral award and we were

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OPINION

5

FEATURES

No MCC grant

BECAUSE of the immense funding needed for the coronavirus pandemic response, with revenue sources massively reduced amid the economic contraction, the government has had to obtain funds from foreign sources. Officials said that as of Nov. 4, the government had secured a total of $10.1 billion in loans and grants for the COVID response. Obviously, grants that need no repayment should be preferred over loans, no matter how soft the repayment terms.

A grant of over $400 million would go a long way in the pandemic response, especially in the procurement of COVID vaccines that several foreign pharmaceutical companies are expected to roll out within a few months. Senators have lamented what they consider to be a small allocation for vaccine procurement in the proposed national budget for 2021.

A decade ago, the country qualified for a five-year grant of $433.91 million from the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corp. The MCC was established by the U.S. government in 2004 to provide grants to developing countries that demonstrate a commitment to good governance, which places them on the path of solid and sustainable economic growth.

Countries need to pass at least 10 of 20 indicators, plus two “hard hurdles” – either the “political rights” or “civil liberties” indicator, and the “control of corruption.” A Sept. 8 report of the MCC said the Philippines, whose first MCC grant expired in May 2016, was one of 68 countries being considered for the new package.

A report this week, however, showed that while the Philippines passed 12 of the 20 indicators, it failed one of the “hard hurdles” – control of corruption – and cannot qualify for the MCC grant. The country also failed in rule of law and freedom of information. Philippine officials said the country would opt instead for funding assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development. USAID has extended P780 mil-

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS JUST when we thought we experienced the worst, President Donald Trump has outdone himself again in attacking America’s democracy, democratic institutions and processes, and the American people.

After losing his desperate bid to be re-elected to a

Philstar.com photo

lion so far for the Philippines’ pandemic response. Still, the MCC aid would have been a significant addition to the pandemic resources.

President Duterte has given priority to the campaign against corruption. But there are major obstacles in his path, among them corrupt

politicians and magistrates, and an ombudsman who has become a champion of opaqueness in government. The country’s failure to qualify for the MCC grant in this public health crisis should add to the government’s resolve to fight corruption. (Philstar.com)

More deaths, chaos, economic hardship in America as Trump blocks Biden transition efforts second term, Trump has dug deeper in his bottomless pit of transgressions against America that can lead to even more deaths, chaos, economic and social hardships for the country’s people.

Facts and figures: Election results As of November 17, Biden leads in the national popular vote by a 51% to 47% margin, or by 4 percentage points.

So far, Biden has earned 78,729,579 votes, compared to Trump’s 73,126,938 votes, with outstanding ballots still being counted in several states, including California and New York.

Translate that to electoral votes: 306 Biden, 232 Trump.

The metrics that called Trump president-elect in 2016 are the same ones that declared Joe Biden’s victory this time

around, as well as their predecessors.

Trump’s ‘alternate facts’ Even before the November 3, 2020 presidential election, Trump has been planting the seed of doubt in the minds of his die-hard followers that the only way he would lose his re-election bid is if he was cheated. In fact, this was the same defense he would resort to using in all battles and con-

tests he’d been in as a private citizen, and as a politician.

Trump himself said in an interview on Fox and Friends: “I’m not thinking about concession speech or acceptance speech yet,” he told reporters. “Hopefully we’ll be only doing one of those two. And, you know, winning is easy. Losing is never easy.

Not for me it’s not.”

Despite Trump’s efforts to

disenfranchise voters during the pandemic, the American people turned out in historic numbers to cast their votes, both Democrats and Republicans, as well as Independents and those with no party affiliations. Most Democrats chose to mail in their ballots in compliance with public health safety measures to protect themselves from COPAGE 10

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 Duterte urges US to increase support for ASEAN COVID-19 response fund

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, November 14, expressed his gratitude for the United States’ support of the Philippines’ response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in a speech read by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jr, first expressed his gratitude to the United States for its generous assistance of state-of-the-art ventilators and other medical supplies to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Philippines,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a statement.

Duterte was not able to attend the virtual 37th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related

President Rodrigo Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the InterAgency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on Tuesday, November 17.

Malacañang photo by Toto Lozano

Summits on Saturday as he was visiting rescue efforts to the flooding in Cagayan Valley.

In his speech, he urged the U.S. to help the rest of the ASEAN countries in combating COVID-19.

“He (Duterte) further in-

vited the US to contribute to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund, the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies and the ASEAN Center for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases,” Roque said.

PAGE 10

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Duterte grants active hazard Will communities hardest... pay to COVID-19 frontliners By aJPress

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, November 16, signed Administrative Order No. 35, granting active hazard duty pay and special risk allowance to COVID-19 medical frontliners.

Under the order, national government agencies, government-owned or -controlled corporations and local government units are authorized to grant active hazard duty pay up to P3,000 per month to pandemic frontliners such as medical, allied medical staff, and other personnel in the public sector.

Excluded in the hazard

pay grant are consultants and experts engaged for a limited period to perform specific activities or services with expected outputs; laborers engaged through job contracts and those paid on piecework basis; student workers and apprentices; and individuals and group of individuals whose services are engaged through contract of service or job order, including barangay health workers, who are not assigned to hospitals, laboratories or medical and quarantine facilities.

The grant is in addition to any hazard pay, hazardous duty pay, hazard allowance, special risk allowance or other similar benefits under existing

laws, issuances, rules, and regulations.

It is also exempted from income tax.

The hazard pay grant will be pro-rated based on the number of days that the front line HRHs physically report for work in a month, reckoned from Sept. 15 until Dec. 19.

The Philippine Department of Budget and Management and Philippine Department of Health were ordered to draft the guidelines necessary for the effective implementation of the order.

The order will take effect immediately after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. n

With two detained for anti-terror charge, petitioners press SC to stop implementation of law

by Kristine Joy

Philstar.com

Patag

MANILA — With two people now detained over the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, activist group Bayan and more than 40 others on Wednesday, NOvember 18 urged the Supreme Court to nullify the law and stop the government from implementing it.

In a Compliance and Manifestation electronically filed on Wednesday, BAYAN, through the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, informed the SC of the first publicly known case that involves a direct injury on the assailed law. They again reiterated their plea to the SC to issue a temporary halt order against the implementation of the law as it has “all become even more urgent and imperative.”

The NUPL’s manifestation cited the case against Jasper Gurung and Junior Ramos who are facing violation of Section 4 of the Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 before the Olongapo court. The said section defines terrorism and is being assailed before the SC for being vague and overbroad.

The case against Gurung and Ramos stemmed from

This undated photo shows protesters assailing the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

Philstar.com photo by Boy Santos

an incident happened on August 21, weeks before the Department of Justice issued its Implementing Rules and Regulation, in San Marcelino, Zambales. Five people, including two minors, were evacuating due to “intense military operations and continued bombings in their ancestral land” when they were accosted by Philippine Army members, the NUPL said.

The petitioners claimed the army planted on them firearms and explosives and falsely accused them of being members of the New Peoples’ Army.

The SC has only so far set preliminary conference on the 37 pending legal challenges against the law on

November 26, which would be almost five months since the first petition was filed.

The court has also yet to resolve the petitioners’ prayer for immediate relief such as the issuance of a status quo ante or temporary restraining order to prohibit the government from implementing the law.

Two arrested, arraigned on non-bailable charge Two of those arrested, Gurung and Ramos, are now facing charges before the Olongapo court. NUPL president Edre Olalia said they are currently detained as they are facing non-bailable charge.

The Information or charge PAGE 10

PAGE 2 plication for emergency use authorization to the Food and Drug Administration. The application is expected to be approved by the end of November.

Concurrently, Moderna announced the results of its trial Nov. 16 which had an efficacy rate of 94%. Approximately 37% of the participants in the Moderna trial were people of color.

Jha noted that a 90% efficacy rate for the Pfizer vaccine was astounding. “I was speaking at a conference and saying that we will be lucky if the vaccine is 60 to 70% effective. A 90% efficacy was not what I was expecting and am I happy to be wrong on that,” he said.

“We’re not just testing it in 18 to 30 year old white men and women, but in fact we’re testing it in a broad swath of America,” said Jha, noting that the Moderna trial was delayed as the company tried to diversify its testing recruits.

Shah said the news from Pfizer, which indicated efficacy of the vaccine with just two doses, was an enormous step in the right direction.

But once the vaccine is approved with by the FDA with

emergency use authorization, it is unlikely that most people will be able to get vaccinated right away. A maximum of 10 to 20 million doses will be available by the end of the year, he said.

“There will be a ramp up after that, but it is going to be some time before we get the kind of widespread availability of multiple vaccines with secure supply chains that get everyone the two doses,” said Shah.

Schaffner said treatment for people infected with COVID is getting better. “We’re doing a better job of getting people out of the Intensive Care Unit and out of the hospital; we are lowering the fatality rate.”

He also spoke about the use of the antiviral medication Remdesivir, which was approved last month by the FDA, and dexamethasone, a steroid that helps control the inflammatory response during the second half of the infection.

Monoclonal antibodies also received emergency use authorization Nov. 9, but Schaffner said the intravenous treatment poses a challenge as to who should get those and at what stage of the infection.

All four physicians agreed that a coordinated effort by the incoming administration — as opposed to the current patchwork quilt of efforts — would help the U.S. get the pandemic under control. Jha said he was astounded that some states have closed their schools but opened their casinos.

He noted that the President-elect has no formal powers yet, but can use his soft powers to go out to red states and let people know why wearing a mask is effective.

Nguyen said the Biden Administration must impose a national mandatory mask mandate. “If we all had worn masks in the last seven months, we would have 100,000 less deaths,” he stated.

“We do not have a silver bullet,” said Shah. “Testing alone won’t work. Contact tracing alone won’t work.

Physical distancing alone won’t work. Wearing masks alone won’t work.”

“But all of these together will collectively bring us to where we need to be, so that we actually see cases go down,” he said. (By Sunita Sohrabji / EMS Contributing Editor) n

NOVEMBER 20-26, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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Romualdez: The alliance between...

PAGE 4 extremely pleased with that. And that has changed the dynamics, as far as our relationship is concerned with the U.S.,” Romualdez said.

“I think there is now a stronger commitment in our mutual defense treaty.

There seems to be some teeth to it now,” he added.

However, Romualdez maintained that the Philippines is a sovereign nation, and that the country wants to strengthen its own armed forces.

“You have to have a mutual defense treaty but we also want to strengthen our own armed forces. We want to be able to contribute to that defense treaty,” he said.

“We want to be able to defend ourselves but when the time comes — and we certainly hope it will never come — is that we need to be together and repel any kind of aggression from countries that would take advantage of the instability of the area,” he added, referring to the South China Sea.

On the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), Romualdez expressed hope that the Philippines and the U.S. could craft another one that is more “mutually beneficial.”

“So the VFA, we know it’s an important part of our relationship, but we also would like to reserve the right that when the time comes, we would like to be able to do things on our own,” he said.

“But at the same time, perhaps we could have a different kind of VFA, which would be more mutually beneficial,” he added.

The envoy also said that it’s possible that the VFA abrogation will see another extension next year.

“We are open to extending it,” Romualdez said.

“Everything’s been suspended because of this pandemic. We were supposed to have a bilateral strategic dialogue between the U.S. and the Philippines that happens every year. We also have the mutual defense treaty board with both the U.S. and the Philippines, that also has

been suspended. But we are hoping that before the August deadline comes into play, we’d be ready to talk about how we can strengthen that alliance we have with the U.S.,” he added.

On Nov. 11, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. announced that Duterte has extended the suspension of the VFA “to enable us to find a more enhanced, mutually beneficial, mutually agreeable, and more effective and lasting arrangement on how to move forward in our mutual defense.”

“The past four years have changed the South China Sea from one of uncertainty about great powers’ intentions to one of predictability and resulting stability with regard to what can and cannot be done, what will and will not be acceptable with regard to the conduct of any protagonist in the South China Sea. Clarity and strength have never posed a risk. It is confusion and indecision that aggravate risk,” Locsin said.

BALUT, PENOY PREPARATION. Vendor Anna Naputo pours water on the “balut and penoy” eggs placed on a stainless pan to be sold at her stall on NIA Road, Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City on Tuesday, November 17. Her husband, Rogelio, said they have been in the “balut and penoy” business for more than a decade.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

He also attributed the renewal of stability and security in the region to the efforts by the governments of the Philippines and the U.S.

“A great deal of credit for the renewal of stability and security goes to deft diplomacy, unequivocal expressions of policy, sturdy postures of strength

combined with unfailing tact, and pragmatic national security advice exhibited by both our governments in the same period,” he said. n

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 20-26, 2020

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NOVEMBER 20-26, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

Trump, the Republican leadership...

PAGE 5 VID-19 versus most Republicans who followed Trump’s command NOT to mail in their votes but to go to polling stations on election day.

The verdict: a rebuke of Trump’s failure of leadership as the 45th president of the United States. He governed to be re-elected more than to fulfill the oath he took to defend and protect the Constitution and the American people. After four chaotic years, with the coronavirus pandemic testing and revealing his true color, a majority of the American people fired him.

Instead of respecting the will of the American people, Trump refuses to concede and has doubled down on pushing the conspiracy theory that he was cheated. He is still demanding a recount and is even trashing the sacred votes of people, calling them “illegal votes” except those ballots that voted for him and the Republicans.

Trump and his minions filed at least 16 lawsuits only for the judges to rule that there is no sufficient evidence to prove his allegations of widespread election fraud.

Even his own lawyers pulled out of the case to admit there was no fraud. The President vowed to take this battle all the way to the Supreme Court where he rushed to confirm his nominee less than a month before the election to tilt the balance of power to his favor.

I believe the judges, the Republican and Democratic election officials, state secretaries, governors and lieutenant governors, Republican, Democrat and international poll watchers and observers who publicly say there is no evidence of massive election fraud.

I believe the Republican, Democrat independent, noparty affiliation American people who overwhelmingly cast their sacred vote, whether in person or by mail during this pandemic, to make our voices heard and our will be known. Enough! We move forward, build back better But it is beyond Trump to even accept nor respect this.

Instead, he claimed he won on Election Day and after Biden was called PresidentElect on November 7. Trump asked his die-hard supporters to protest in the streets despite the threat of COVID-19 to “stop counting the votes” (mail in ballots) on November 3, and when Biden was pulling ahead - to count all the

votes their votes he claimed were being “stolen”. Then, Trump demanded monetary contributions toward his election defense. As the fine print says, the money will go to any of his campaign debts.

The WORST part of it all is his order to his administration NOT to acknowledge Biden as the president-elect, and to block efforts toward a peaceful and orderly transfer of power pursuant to the rule of law.

The President Transition Act of 1963 The “President Transition Act of 1963” was enacted “to promote the orderly transfer of the executive power in connection with the expiration of the term of office of a President and the inauguration of a new President.

The national interest requires that such transitions in the office of President be accomplished so as to assure continuity in the faithful execution of the laws and in the conduct of the affairs of the Federal Government, both domestic and foreign.

Any disruption occasioned by the transfer of the executive power could produce results detrimental to the safety and well-being of the United States and its people.

Accordingly, it is the intent of the Congress that appropriate actions be authorized and taken to avoid or minimize any disruption.

This law was violated by Trump because he could not accept that he lost. Therefore, he has been denying the Biden transition team with information, intelligence briefing and the resources that had been accorded by all other outgoing presidents to their successors. Country before party. The American people before selfish political interests. This is something Trump cannot comprehend nor commit to.

President-Elect Joe Biden spoke to the American people on Monday, saying there will be “dire consequences if President Donald Trump and his administration continue to refuse to coordinate with his transition team on the coronavirus pandemic and block briefings on national security, policy issues and vaccine plans.”

“More people may die if we don’t coordinate,” Biden told reporters during a news conference in Wilmington, Delaware, as reported by the Associated Press.

“Biden and his aides — and a small but growing group of Republicans — have

emphasized the importance of being briefed on White House efforts to control the pandemic and distribute prospective vaccines. The Trump administration is working on its own distribution plan, while Biden’s chief of staff indicated his transition team will proceed with their own planning separately because of the obstruction,” the AP said.

“We’re going into a very dark winter,” Biden said.

“Things are going to get much tougher before they get easier.”

As the United States struggles with the record-breaking number of coronavirus cases, hospitalization rate and death toll, President-elect Biden has already been hard at work “in the days after he was projected to be the winner of the presidential election.”

All the while, Trump has been busy golfing, tweeting against his political opponents, spreading conspiracy theories that denigrate and invalidate the integrity of the election and the will of the American people to rile up his base and attempt to delegitimize Biden’s win.

Biden has already announced his transition teams, including the “COVID-19 advisory board comprised of doctors and scientists, which will create a blueprint for tackling the pandemic once his administration is in office,” CBS News reported.

“But Mr. Biden said his team needs access to the Trump administration’s plans for distributing a coronavirus vaccine, which he called a ‘huge undertaking,’ in order to be fully prepared to address the pandemic once in office,” CBS News added.

“If we have to wait until January 20 to start that planning, it puts us behind over a month, month and a half,” Biden said. “So it’s important there be coordination now, now or as rapidly as we can get that done.”

Biden emphasized that economic recovery “starts with a real strategy to deal with the pandemic. We can’t solve the jobs crisis until we solve the public health crisis.”

True patriotism and love for the country In an interview on CBS’ “60 Minutes,” former President Barack Obama said, “When your time is up, it is your job to put the country first and think beyond your own ego, and your own interests.”

This was how Trump’s predecessors showed their true love and patriotism and loy-

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With two detained for...

PAGE 7 sheet penned by Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Ritchi John Distor Bolañi said that the two accused were “conspiring, confederating and cooperating with each other” and engaged in acts “intended to cause death or serious bodily injury to any person or endangers a [person’s] life, by firing and shooting at members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”

It added that the two accused fatally wounded and caused the death of Sgt. Rudil Dilao, “thereby causing intimidation to the general public , spreading a message of fear and seriously undermining public safety, to damahe and prejudice the heirs of [Dilao].”

Olalia said the Gurung and Ramos, represented by NUPL-Central Luzon, are set to attend a pre-trial hearing on Thursday. “The available facts and circumstances we received so far from our colleagues in NUPL-CL indicate that the charges were a way of reprisal against unarmed civilians (indigenous people)

for a death of a soldier in an alleged encounter with the NPAs in the area,” he said.

“So it proves that almost anything can be contorted to fit the broad and vague definition of terrorism under the ATA,” Olalia added.

Continuous red-tagging Bayan, through NUPL, also said threats of impending prosecution, proscription and surveillance heightened since they last filed their manifestation urging the SC to issue a preliminary injunction to stop the government from enforcing the law.

They cited media interviews of Lt. Gen Antonio Parlade, spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), who said former lawmaker Neri Colmenares, also a petitioner, and members of the Makabayan bloc at the House are under surveillance.

“Asked again what evidence they have against Atty. Colmenares, Parlade failed to cite any proof and just continued to engage in unsubstantiated and ground-

less red-tagging,” they said.

The red-tagging also continued during a Senate hearing held on November 3 with NTF-ELCAC officers and members serving as resource speakers. Personalities and groups initiating relief operations for those affected by the typhoon were also accused of being members of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

“These baseless, blatant, and damaging villfication and red-tagging by those who are key components of the Anti-Terrorism Council have escalated the petitioners’ well-founded fear that RA 11479 and its unbridled power of designation will be used arbitrarily, without recognition of the principles of due process, presumption of innocence and basic rules of evidence,” the petitioners said.

“In view of these incidents, petitioners reiterate their prayers for injunctive reliefs and the nullification of the Anti-Terrorism Act as well as its Implementing Rules and Regulations,” they added. n

Duterte urges US to...

PAGE 7 Duterte also asked ASEAN member-states and the U.S. to sustain the initiatives of the ASEAN-U.S. Strategic Partnership for regional growth, where both parties could benefit from increased trade and investments as well as cooperation in the digital economy and innovation.

On the South China Sea issue, the Chief Executive underscored that the Philippines is for the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law.

According to him, there is no other viable path but

honest negotiations and sincere diplomacy.

On Thursday, Duterte invoked the country’s arbitral victory against China over the South China Sea. “The Philippine position is clear and firm. We must solve the disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” he said.

“The 2016 arbitral award on the South China Sea is an authoritative interpretation of the application of UNCLOS. It is now part of international law. And its significance cannot be diminished

nor ignored by any country, however big and powerful,” he added.

Duterte also called for the completion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to promote peace and stability in the busy waterway.

“The Philippines is one with ASEAN in transforming the South China Sea into a sea of peace and prosperity for all,” he said.

“We are committed to the immediate conclusion of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. And if I may add, it has been a long time and it is a long wait,” he added. n

alty to the country.

“My advice to President Trump is, if you want at this late stage in the game to be remembered as somebody who put country first, it’s time for you to do the same thing,” the 44th president said.

But Obama also directed the call for accountability to the Republican Party that enables Trump and is complicit to his assault against our democracy.

“There has been this sense over the last several years that literally anything goes

and is justified in order to get power…There are strong men and dictators around the world who think that, ‘I can do anything to stay in power.

I can kill people. I can throw them in jail. I can run phony elections. I can suppress journalists.’ But that’s not who we’re supposed to be,” Obama said.

And who are we supposed to be? What are we doing, “We the People”, to protect and fight for our democracy? *** 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.

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 20-26, 2020

COMMUNITY Journal

11

Preparing for Biden’s proposed immigration reforms Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ IN a previous article, I wrote on how Joe Biden has been declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election, and has proposed sweeping changes and reforms to our immigration laws and policies, including possible amnesty for Dreamers and/or the approximate 11 million other undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Although these changes and reforms are not yet in effect, people could already start preparing for these immigration changes

by gathering vital documents and clarifying their immigration status, situation, and options.

If there is an amnesty, there will likely be a surge or rush to apply. That is why I’m suggesting that you already start preparing.

The following are some documents I believe would be necessary to gather. I based this on past amnesties, executive actions, and documents required for several other immigration benefits. I want to clarify that this is not an “official” list of required documents, as no immigration reform has yet been implemented. It is simply a guide to give you a head start once such reforms hopefully are implemented: 1. Your current, unexpired

passport, and the passport you originally entered the U.S. on.

2. Entry documents, such as your entry visa and I-94. If you entered the U.S. under a different/assumed name, that would still be considered an “entry.”

3. Identity documents, including your birth certificate, state I.D. or driver’s license.

If you have U.S. citizen children, their U.S. birth certificates or proof of immigration status.

4. Docs showing your continuous presence in the U.S. from the date you arrived until the present. Previous amnesties required people to demonstrate they were in the U.S. before a certain date, and remained in the U.S. conPAGE 12

MORE ANSWERS TO YOUR IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS THIS SUNDAY ON CITIZEN PINOY! Heidi of Waipahu, HI (center) asks if she can take over the petition of her husband, who died last year, so her child can immigrate faster. From Pangasinan in the Philippines, Kai (right) asks about her grandfather’s 2015 petition for her father, even though NVC is only processing cases with 2011 priority dates. They already received a welcome letter in August, and the grandfather has paid for the affidavit of support fee. Should they be paying all other fees as soon as they can? Or should they wait for the priority date to be current? Answers to these questions and more, on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My Sagot” this Sunday, November 22 at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

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NOVEMBER 20-26, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

Medical facts and myths

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS COVID-19 updates Recent studies have shown that wearing a well-fitting facemask, snug around the perimeter of the mask, and covering both the nose and the mouth significantly protects the person wearing it, and not only persons nearby as previously thought. The rumors that facemasks are useless are fake news, medically unfounded. Together with limiting travels to essential ones, avoiding crowds, social distancing, and good personal hygiene, wearing a facemask dramatically lowers the risk of getting infected with the SARS-Cov2 virus, the cause of COVID-19.

Prevention is the key. There is no treatment yet.

Since those exposed to COVID-19 and are carriers of the virus may be asymptomatic (early stage) and not even know they are infected, they could spread COVID19 without realizing it. This is the medical rationale for those five recommended measures listed above. Let us not accidentally kill some people by our carelessness, indifference, and neglect.

For most seniors with medical issues, getting COVID -19 could be a death sentence.

Since the virus enters through the moist mucosa (eye conjunctiva, nasal mucus membrane, and oral cavity), these three must be covered properly. A falling mask exposing the nose is dangerous. The mask must fit snugly all around and should be worn whenever outside the home. Those who tested

negative today and then infected tomorrow will test positive.

New waves of COVID-19 People are wondering why new waves of COVID19 have appeared and some cities are once again imposing mask mandate and lockdowns. The simple answer, which should be obvious, is people’s lack of discipline, indifference, non-compliance, and carelessness. This is more prevalent in democratic countries, where irrational people demand for their civil rights to do whatever they want, regardless of the societal consequences.

They only care for themselves. In the case of this pandemic, they do not even care for their own health, refusing to wear masks, do social distancing and avoiding crowds. While they have the right to get infected or even kill themselves, they do not have the right to spread the deadly virus to others, especially to the vulnerable elderly, much less kill them even accidentally or incidentally. Anyone contributing to or causing the death of another person could be considered guilty of negligent homicide.

Betadine gargle Current clinical observations have revealed that povidone iodine (Betadine) topical antiseptic used in wound care is effective as a mouth rinse against SARSCov2 virus (COVID-19), better than the various mouthwashes on the market and better than hydrogen peroxide rinse. Ready-made Betadine mouth rinse for instant use and 10% Betadine solution are available in most pharmacies and on amazon.com. The DIY dilution recommended by Harvard graduate Dr. Sandra L. Cremers is 1:1 (equal parts

of 10% Betadine and water = 5%), gargled 2 to 3 times a day.

Vaccines Two vaccines against COVID-19, using the same mRNA technology Pfizer/ BioNTech (90% effective in 60,000 clinical trial), and Moderna (94.5% effective in 30,000 clinical trial), are expected to be approved by the FDA for distribution by the end of this year for healthcare workers, the military, police, firefighters, other first responders, and for seniors and those with compromised immune system. The general public will get the vaccines after January 2021, certainly

by Spring. How long the protective immunity these vaccines will provide will yet to be determined by clinical observation and follow-up.

There appears to be no safety concerns or serious sideeffects found with either of these two vaccines. They will certainly be a game changer in our battle against COVID-19 worldwide, where the total cases as of November 17, 2020 was almost 55.7 million and deaths nearly 1.4 million. In the Philippines, almost 411,000, with about 8,000 deaths; and in the United States, almost 11.6 million, with more than 253,000 deaths.

Men’s sweat good for women Don’t laugh. This is true.

Biologists at the University of Pennsylvania found that men’s perspiration has beneficial effects on women’s mood, reducing stress and inducing relaxation. It even has an effect on a woman’s menstruation. Blood tests revealed a rise in the level of reproductive luteinizing hormone, which normally surges before ovulation. It is true then that when women PAGE 13

Catriona on checking one’s physical and mental health

By Nika

Roque ManilaTimes.net

NO one is spared from the continuing challenges brought about by the pandemic — not even singer, Miss Universe 2018, and cultural advocate Catriona Gray.

During the whole lockdown period, Gray has not been living in the same

home as her family. Work did not stop for the multihyphenate too, which is why she has to continue to take care of her health now more than ever.

Asked about what she has been doing to cope and look after herself these past few months, the 26-year-old shared that though the world has changed, the smallest activities — although mostly

done online — help her get by.

“It has been difficult for me to find time to workout because it’s all become virtual. I do a lot of Pilates virtually because I have back problems and it really helps me with my posture as I’m always in heels,” Gray answered The Manila Times during the virtual launching of her newest endorsement.

http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426

Answers to questions about family-based petitions take the spotlight on this Sunday’s ‘Citizen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My Sagot – Social Distancing Style’ THIS Sunday, a brand-new episode of Citizen Pinoy’s “Your Tanong, My Sagot” has leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel answering questions related to family petitions.

Heidi of Waipahu, HI sent a letter to Immigration before her husband died last year, so that she can be the one to petition their child.

Upon receiving instructions from Immigration, she complied with all of it, but still got denied. Heidi is asking for help so that she can petition their daughter.

Kai from Pangasinan, Phil-

ippines is inquiring about her grandfather’s F-2B petition for her father with an August 2015 priority date, although NVC is only processing cases with 2011 priority dates. They would like to know if they should start paying all relevant fees since they already got a Welcome Letter last August 2020. Or should they wait for their priority date to become current?

Other questions include a student visa holder whose petition for her by her parents just became current in September 2020, but she

also just got engaged to a U.S. citizen. She is now asking which is the better route to take for a green card?

A gentleman is asking if his fiancée, who is still married to a Filipino citizen, can get an annulment or divorce in the U.S. so he can legally marry her.

These questions and more will be answered on an allnew edition of “Citizen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My Sagot” this Sunday, November 22 at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

Preparing for Biden’s proposed...

PAGE 11 tinuously since then. There are lists of the types of documents USCIS would accept to document your continuous presence in the U.S. 5. Documents on your U.S. immigration history, including all petitions filed for you, applications, other filings, denials, records of any deportation/removal proceedings, etc.

It is important to obtain these documents, to determine and evaluate a person’s current immigration status and to determine if any of the reforms or proposals could apply to them. If the person no longer has their records (they threw them out, moved and lost track of them, etc.), there are ways to obtain their complete immigration file from DHS. 6. Documents relating to any criminal matters. Were you ever charged, arrested, tried, or pled guilty to any crime? It’s important to determine what those crimes were and the effect they would have on a person’s immigration status and eligibility. Sometimes, a conviction for a particular crime would make a person ineligible for immigration benefits, even if there are reforms or amnes-

ties. Sometimes it’s possible to go back to state court and have the criminal matter or sentence modified to lessen the immigration consequences.

These documents are useful not only in connection with possible future immigration reforms and changes, but are important when applying for current immigration benefits as well. At my office, we treat clients as though they were patients about to go into surgery: The surgeon would want to see the patient’s medical history, take x-rays, and run other tests before giving treatment. In the same way, a person should not just blindly file for immigration benefits without first considering their immigration status, history, and eligibility.

That’s why a person should already consult with an attorney in preparation for possible reforms (just like a person might go to a doctor for a “checkup” in connection with a possible future surgery). It doesn’t mean you’re going to be “operated on” right now, just like you would not be filing right now. But it is best to already gather appropriate documents and determine

eligibility and possible issues/ problems in your case in preparation for these reforms.

Thankfully never experiencing a serious illness, she has seen the effects of her lack of sleep because of work and when she does not eat the healthiest food. Gray mentioned that there were times when she feels sluggish because of the nature of her job, reason why she

regularly takes Vitamin C supplements.

With this, matched with her strong advocacy for supporting Filipino talent, Gray was tapped to become the newest celebrity ambassador for Santé, a homegrown distribution and direct-selling company that offers or-

ganic health and wellness products.

The beauty queen was tapped for the Daily C brand, a convenient non-acidic supplement best for families and young professionals who work all day. This extra dose of Vitamin C aids the PAGE 15

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

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

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 20-26, 2020

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Upcoming ‘Blue’s Clues & You’ Jose Mari Chan on the Power of Music this Christmas: ‘It is worth episode features Josh’s Lola, Filipino traditions like mano po and bibingka more than silver and gold’

MANY things can be considered iconic of the Christmas season. Twinkling lights, hot cocoa, hand-wrapped gifts, and bedazzled holiday trees are just a few of them.

For Filipinos though, there is something—or rather, someone—else who represents the season effortlessly; and that’s singer-composer Jose Mari Chan.

The seasoned artist’s songs have become such an important staple during the holiday season that he can easily be considered, as he said as the Little Drummer Boy that heralds the season in the Philippines. When asked about why he thinks his songs, and music in general, has become so famous, he answers: “Music is essentially the language of the soul. It expresses best our innermost feelings of joy and sadness, and it can set our mood. Music can instantly take us back to a time and place.”

And that, is exactly, what the nation as a collective easily needs at the moment.

There is no doubt about the pandemic causing dramatic shifts in the way we spend Christmas this year as the public is still encouraged to stay at home to keep safe.

“In this time of the pandemic, when we are most alone in our thoughts, music is a source of comfort. Music has the ability to lift our spirit and brighten up our mood,” Chan shares.

With his perspective and his iconic association with

By Christina

Jose Mari Chan

the Christmas season, it makes perfect sense for the artist to recently collaborate with Grand Videoke, a brand under the Audio-Video Solutions Corporation (AVSC) which offers top-notch and world-class home entertainment products. AVSC is also the name behind other videoke and entertainment systems like WOW! Fiesta Videoke and LD Systems speakers.

“Mr. Chan is the perfect partner for us this Christmas,” says Jin Cortez, Grand Videoke Marketing OIC. “There’s this kind of warmth that his songs always bring to us Filipinos during this season and we believe that is something we need more than ever right now.”

Grand Videoke has been proactive throughout the year to talk about the importance of music in a country that has been stuck in a gloomy situation. “We want to depart, at least temporarily, to the idea

Inquirer.net photo

that videoke can only be done outside with a crowd. You can enjoy music in your home to keep safe,” shares Cortez.

This is especially important since several communities have been called out after some of its residents broke lockdown protocols by throwing videoke parties.

Moreover, the Department of Health (DOH) has also advised against public videoke sessions as it can easily spread the virus.

That does not mean, however, that everyone should stop appreciating the power of music altogether.

“At this time of the quarantine, I highly recommend for families to sing together. As I said, music is the language of the soul. Instead of being glued to your TV sets and hearing those discouraging news of happenings around us, one way of family bonding is to join your voices and hearts in songs,” Chan says.

(Inquirer.net)

Medical facts and myths...

PAGE 12 say they love the scent of their man, it is genuine and scientifically founded. Guys, this does not mean we have to stop taking showers!

Viagra for women?

Since Viagra has worked most effectively for men with erectile dysfunction upon its introduction by Pfizer and approval by the FDA on March 27, 1998, it has inspired the quest for a similar drug for women. Forty-three percent of women have sexual dysfunction compared to 31% of men, where cigarette smoking has been found to be the culprit of impotence.

The most common complaint

M. Oriel

AJPress

among these women (33%) is lack of desire for sex. But while men’s problem is more physical (inability to have effective erection), women’s is more psychological and more complex, since the more significant sexual organ of the females is in between their ears, and not in between the thighs like the males.

Flibanserin (Addyi), a drug developed as antidepressant has been approved by the FDA as a therapy for low sexual desire in premenopausal women. When taking this one-a-day pill, abstinence from alcohol is a must, since severe drop in blood pressure, dizziness,

and fainting can result from the combination. The drug should be stopped if it is not effective after 8 weeks.

Bremelanotide (Vyleesi) is an injectable drug approved by the FDA to increase libido in premenopausal women, given 45 minutes before anticipated sexual activity – not more than one dose a day, not more than 8 times a month. Do a due diligence on this subject and discuss this treatment with your gynecologist The myths about safe sex The following are myths: A woman is guaranteed 100% not to get pregnant IF: (1) Penetration is done only a

A VISIT from Lola, mano po, baking bibingka, hearing ‘masarap’ — mainstream America will get a glimpse of Filipino culture in an upcoming episode of ‘Blue’s Clues & You!’ Josh Dela Cruz, the Fil-Am host of the iconic kid’s series, will introduce viewers to his lola (played by Filipina-Canadian veteran actress and singer Carolyn Fe) in an episode entitled “Blue’s Big Baking Show” set to air on Nickelodeon on Friday, Nov. 20, at 11 a.m. (ET/PT).

“I can’t wait for families to get to know her and to learn a little bit about Filipino culture in the episode and see the similarities, not just between Asians, but also within their culture about… how they interact with their grandmother, and how they feel about their grandmother. I love her to death,” Dela Cruz previously told the Asian Journal.

Josh and Blue spend the day making bibingka, a sweet coconut rice cake dessert that is especially eaten during the holiday season, in preparation for Lola’s visit.

In a teaser clip, “Oh Joshie” is heard off-screen as Josh asks, “Who could that be?”

The children’s voices say, “Lola!”

Josh welcomes Fe into the house and says, “it’s my Lola!” as he does the mano po, a gesture of respect to elders.

Fe — donning an all-blue outfit and a scarf that matches Josh’s striped shirt — waves to the audience and asks, “Is that bibingka I smell?”

“It is and it’s finally ready.

We made it for you,” Josh re-

sponds as they move into the kitchen.

The blue CGI pup brings out four slices of the dessert — including one for ‘you,’ the viewer — as she makes a barking sound that sounds like “bibingka.”

“Blue, Josh, this bibingka is masarap (delicious). It is sweet and delicious!”Fe says. “I love this bibingka.”

The episode is part of the first-ever “Blue’s Clues & You” ‘Blue Friday’ dedicated to celebrating families. Nickelodeon will make a donation to nonprofit organization

Baby2Baby to help provide basic necessities to kids and families in need.

Another holiday-themed episode, “Blue’s Night Before Christmas,” premieres on Friday, Dec. 4, at 11 a.m. (ET/ PT), featuring Josh’s “cousins” Steve (Steve Burns) and Joe (Donovan Patton). In the episode directed by Burns, Josh and Blue play Blue’s Clues to figure out what Blue wants for Christmas, decorate with Steve, help Joe wrap presents, and celebrate a night full of holiday traditions.

few times without completion of intercourse; (2) Withdrawal is done before ejaculation; (3) Coitus is done during the “safe” period; (4) Sex is done during menses; (5) The woman did not have orgasm during sex; (6) The lovers drink wine before sex; (7) Aspirin is inserted into the vagina as contraceptive; (8) The woman is on top during the act; (9) The man uses any plastic wrap in the absence of, and in lieu of, a condom; (10) The man already had sex with another woman, or had masturbated, an hour or so earlier; (11) Oral sex pre-

ceded normal intercourse; and (12) The woman douches immediately after sex. These are all myths and cannot be relied upon to prevent pregnancy. Only total abstinence or the use of an intact condom or birth control pills under medical supervision can prevent pregnancy. *** The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical

information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

‘Blue’s Clues & You’ host Josh Dela Cruz with Fil-Canadian actress Carolyn Fe as Lola in an episode set to air on Friday, Nov. 20.

Photos courtesy of Nickelodeon

Josh welcomes Lola with the ‘mano po’ gesture in an upcoming episode of “Blue’s Clues and You!” Screengrab

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How to celebrate Thanksgiving under the new normal T by

aJPress

HANKSGIVING is on Thursday, November 26 this year, and families are gearing up for their grocery runs and are planning their menus. While the holiday is known for traveling to see loved ones, gathering with relatives and friends around the table, and passing large plates of food, the traditional ways of celebrating are not advised as coronavirus cases continue to spike across the country.

For nearly the past year, holidays and special occasions — from Easter to birthdays — have had to adapt under this socially distanced time by going virtual or moving outdoors.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its holiday guidelines, which include avoiding potluck-style gatherings; not convening in crowded, indoor spaces with individuals not

part of your household; and avoiding singing or shouting, especially indoors.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee issued travel ad-

visories urging residents to stay local and to limit mingling with others outside of their immediate household.

Those who come from out of state or another country are advised to self-quarantine for 14 days.

In the Golden State, large gatherings are still prohibited and must follow requirements such as: no more than three households and should be limited to two hours or less; outdoor gatherings in counties in the restrictive purple PAGE 15

Bibingka (Coconut-Rice Cake) with Philly Cream Cheese Serves 6

THE first time I met Auntie Cita, she brought this dish as a gift for my parents. It looked different from any other bibingka I had ever seen. It was unassuming: a round pie tin wrapped in banana leaves. I took a bite and it blew my mind.

Every single mouthful had cream cheese. The texture was almost like cornbread with a really sugary topping. I tried it with a salted duck egg, and it was even better. The combination of salt, egg, and cream cheese was incredible.

Obviously and gratefully, my parents hired Auntie Cita. Over the years, she became the main caterer in our area. That bibingka with Philly cream cheese was her specialty. She made her own dry mix for the bibingka batter. She would line all these round cake PAGE 15

NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY

EVERYDAY

9:00am - 11:00am

As large gatherings and travel are not advised for this year’s Thanksgiving, many families will be connecting with relatives and friends through technology.

AJPress Illustration by Jillian Penalosa & Godwin Gasacao

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Bibingka (Coconut-Rice Cake) with...

PAGE 14 molds with banana leaves, pour the batter in, and bake them off. Then, she would dip the bibingka in niyog, or freshly shaved young coconut meat, for that perfect textural touch.

On Saturday mornings, I was in charge of making niyog all day. Niyog as a word is kind of an onomatopoeia. It’s the sound you hear when you scrape the coconut against the grater. I would sit on this little wooden stool with a cowboy spur at the end. I’d scrape half a coconut on that spur, and the coconut meat would fly off into this little plastic basin. And I would do fuck tons of coco-nut. Sometimes, you look at these kids and you think, “How do they have so much energy?” I had that energy as a kid, so I would mow through cases of coconuts.

That niyog was the secret to this whole dish. You would dip the bibingka, scarpettastyle, into fresh, soft coconut meat. The bibingka was spongy, creamy from the cream cheese, and crispy from the crème brûlée–style topping. It was an explosion of flavor and texture. Auntie Cita made this dish every Saturday for six years. It made the house smell amazing.

Ingredients • 1 large banana leaf (thawed, if frozen), cut into 2 (10-inch) rounds • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing • 1 cup glutinous rice flour, plus more for dusting • 1 tablespoon baking powder • ½ teaspoon kosher salt • 1 cup muscovado sugar,

plus more for sprinkling • 3 large eggs • 1 cup canned coconut milk • ¼ cup heavy whipping cream • 1 (8-ounce) block Philadelphia cream cheese, cut crosswise into 16 slices • 1 cup Niyog (page 000) or any frozen shredded coconut Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a 10-inch springform pan with one of the banana leaf rounds. Butter the banana leaf and the sides of the pan, then dust with rice flour. Set the pan aside.

2. Sift together the rice flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl. Don’t just dump in the dry ingredients. Sifting is a magical pro-cess than makes pastries fluffier and helps prevent unwanted lumps.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and muscovado sugar at medium-high speed for about 5 minutes, until the butter is creamy white. You’re looking for butter-cream icing texture. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

4. Using the whisk attachment, add the eggs, one at a time, whisking at medium speed after each addition, until fully incorporated, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl after each addition. No gooey streaks; you want it to be one consistent mixture.

5. Returning to the paddle attachment, slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the butter-egg mixture in three batches, mixing at medium speed. Make sure each is mixed well and in-

corporated before adding the next—about 15 seconds of mixing for each addition.

Scrape down the sides of the bowl after each addition.

With the machine running at medium speed, add the coconut milk and heavy cream in a slow stream. Beat until the consistency is like a pancake batter, about 2 minutes.

6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan; lightly tap the pan five times on the counter to distribute the batter and release any air bubbles.

7. Place the pan on a rimmed baking sheet and bake the bibingka until the top layer has set, 10 to 15 minutes. It should be pale and somewhat firm. Remove from the oven, top the pan with the second leaf round, and continue baking until the bibingka is set and just slightly jiggly in the middle, about 15 minutes.

Adding the extra banana leaf will help flavor the bibingka and prevent the top from getting too brown.

8. Remove the pan from the oven; peel off and discard the banana leaf on top. Arrange the cream cheese slices decoratively over the top. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cool on a rack for 30 minutes. Release from the pan and peel off the leaf on the bottom; sprinkle more muscovado sugar over the top. Garnish with the niyog, slice into wedges, and serve.

Excerpted from AMBOY: Recipes from the FilipinoAmerican Dream © 2020 by Alvin Cailan. Photography © 2020 by Wyatt Conlon. Reproduced by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

All rights reserved.

Catriona on checking one’s...

PAGE 12 immune system and adds an extra level of protection, which is why Gray said that she always carries around a packet given her heavy workload.

In addition to that, she believes that taking care of her mental health is just as important.

“Mental health naman — it has been so difficult to navigate. I think a lot of us can relate that it has been quite an isolating season.

Especially me, I’m away from my parents, I’m an only child. That has been a really hard thing to go through for almost nine months na,” Gray explained.

As someone who had to continue working, Catriona Gray makes it a point to take care of her physical and mental health.

Photo from Instagram_@catriona_gray

“But it’s really just finding whatever way I can to stay in contact with them. Mostly it is through virtual [which is a] way that I can find that can keep that interaction. It

makes so much difference,” she said.

“And then aside from that, finding time to really check in with myself and how I feel, how am I coping, just

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How to celebrate Thanksgiving...

PAGE 14 tier; higher-risk individuals (e.g. older adults and those with chronic medical conditions) are strongly urged not to attend; and limiting removal of face coverings to only when eating and drinking and maintaining 6 feet apart from others.

Despite the restrictions, there are creative ways to still mark this season of gratitude.

Keep the Thanksgiving meal attendees limited Though Filipinos generally enjoy any reason to gather in numbers, the pandemic is forcing families to make the tough decision of who can attend their respective feasts on Thanksgiving Day. For Jennifer Estacio, who runs the online Flip Family community, the Thanksgiving feast will begin earlier this year with intimate gatherings with both sides of the family.

“Since some of our families want to travel safely we will celebrate with one side a little earlier than Thanksgiving and have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner,” she said. “Then the other side of the family we will celebrate on Thanksgiving. We get to have all our favorite Thanksgiving dishes twice and not overeat on Thanksgiving Day!” Roline Casper, a chef and restaurant owner in Vacaville, California, starts Thanksgiving morning fulfilling orders for customers, but closes early so she and her staff can spend time with their families.

“As Filipino Americans, we have a few friends and family over for Thanksgiving because we enjoy sharing food with others and enjoy their company. We always make sure to pray and give thanks before we eat. However, this year will be just my immediate family due to the current pandemic,” Casper said.

Divide cooking tasks among family members Pacing out the cooking process and having family members contribute side dishes can help mitigate any stress on a day that is meant to be joyous.

For Val Fishbain, co-founder and president of Spread

The Love, this year’s Thanksgiving dinner will be intimate with her family along with her sister’s family and their mother. Their feast will have a duck at the center instead of turkey, while her husband contributes a cauliflower mash, mom makes pancit and lumpia, and sister and brother-in-law bring over a potato salad and roasted beets.

At Casper’s house, the Thanksgiving feast will feature traditional dishes with Filipino ingredients and flavors: an oven roasted turkey with tamarind leaves, calamansi and other herbs/spices; apple-persimmon stuffing; pochero, baked ube with cinnamon, cloves, and walnuts; and roasted whole kalabasa with coconut ginger cream. For dessert, they’ll have leche flan and baked spiced apples with homemade maple ice cream.

Host a virtual party Though social distancing is the norm, that doesn’t mean connecting with one another is lost. For the holiday, Zoom announced that it will lift its 40-minute time limit on meetings so “your family gatherings don’t get cut short.” Families that can’t be together in person can use technology to swap recipes and cook together, enjoy the feast together virtually, or play interactive games. Estacio’s Flipp Family has introduced various Filipino food and culture-related crafts and activity books that can be enjoyed by all ages.

Order from a local Fil-Am business Though preparing a feast complete with the turkey as the star of the table is a traditional part of the holiday, families who don’t want to spend the day in the kitchen can choose to support a local Fil-Am restaurant offering meal packages.

In Southern California, several chefs and businesses have special family-style entrees and desserts to-go: Seafood City Market’s Grill City has several party kits complete with a meat option like cebuchon and a tray of pancit and leche flan; Petite Peso in Downtown LA is selling platters from kare kare to sans ri-

val meringue cookies that can serve 6-8 people; Ma’am Sir and Obe & Del’s Coffee are collaborating on ube passionfruit cheesecake and banana bibingka loaf cake with a pandan glaze; and Tatang and AJ’s Tex Mex & BBQ have two meal package options that include a whole smoked turkey, crispy pata, ube swirled mashed potatoes, and more.

Share what you’re grateful for At the heart of the holiday is going around the table to share what you’re grateful for. Despite the ongoing pandemic and a host of challenges that 2020 has presented, families take this moment to express gratitude.

For Fishbain, this year has been about living simply and shifting focus on important things like family time. ”So very grateful for the pandemic forcing us to stay in, live within our simple means and pay attention to really important things in life such as love and family. The pandemic also forced us to look out-of-the-box when it comes to learning options for our kids. We took them out of their elementary school to be in a homeschool learning pod (six neighborhood kids) that we created ourselves. Now they are thriving and learning so much from a credentialed teacher without having to do distance learning on the computer. I trust that we’ll figure things out again when it’s time for them to go back to school,” she said.

Casper’s restaurant, Roline’s Uniquely Filipino, has weathered COVID-19 restrictions and the Vacaville fires in recent months.

“I am grateful for my family and team members for being safe and healthy, customers are supporting us and keeping our restaurant open, and at the same time, we were able to donate and give back to our community. My cookbook came out in March at the height of COVID-19 and was a #1 new release on Amazon. No matter how challenging the circumstances present themselves to be, I am thankful each day to have the strength to move forward and be resilient,” she said.

having those moments of really [asking myself] like, ‘if I’m not okay, what can I do about it?’ Rather than ignoring it and putting it on the backburner so that it develops into something worse.”

And to further prevent the spreading of any harm-

ful symptoms among the people she works and interacts with, Gray believes that in wearing masks, washing hands, practicing social distancing, as well as looking at the food being eaten, and taking other safety precautions seriously also means

that “it’s protecting ourselves, but it’s also respecting our family, our community, and looking out for everyone.

“Check in with yourself.

Surround yourself with good energy and the people that you love,” she ended.

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