112520 - Southern California Midweek Edition

November 25-27, 2020 Volume 30 - No. 93 • 2 Sections - 14 Pages

Los Angeles County shuts down US donates $18M worth of weapons outdoor dining as COVID-19 surges system to PH to DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

fight terrorism

MANILA — The United States on Monday, November 23 gave the Philippines $18 million worth of weapon systems, which Manila’s top diplomat said would be used against Islamist militants in Mindanao.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. received the precision guided munitions or smart bombs from U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien at a ceremonial turnover at the Department of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Manila.

“I am pleased to receive, on behalf of the Philippine government, the donation by the U.S. government of precision guided munitions or PGMs, valued at approximately $18 million (USD),” Locsin said in his remarks.

“We look forward to training for the use of these weapons with the best and undisputed

Fil-Am restaurants forced to again shift under new measures

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

FAMILIES in Los Angeles County looking to eat out on Thanksgiving will have to make new plans.

Starting Wednesday, November 25 at 10 p.m., out-

door dining at restaurants, breweries, wineries and bars will be suspended for the next three weeks amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.

These establishments will only be able to offer take-out, drive thru and delivery services for the first

A Filipina American mother of three young daughters is seeking a bone marrow donor after being recently diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.

Melissa Futagaki, 37, was diagnosed at the beginning of October after a history of grappling with allergy issues and anemia.

After getting lab work done in September, her platelets were out of the normal range, and she began to notice symptoms like her heart racing or a sudden headache when going up the stairs.

She was sent to the emergency room to rule out bleeding in the brain, but then the doctor found consistencies with leukemia, Futagaki recounted.

“That was when I found out and was officially diagnosed a couple of days later while I was in the hospital,” she told the Asian Journal in a recent interview. “My diagnosis came as a surprise — this was not something I expected to experience at this age so this

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by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

BLESSING. A lay minister sprinkles with Holy Water the images of the Black Nazarene carried by the devotees at Quiapo Church on Saturday, November 21. Religious gatherings have been allowed by the government as long as they observe the minimum safety health protocols.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Philstar.com

VIRAY

MANILA — Welcoming the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to further extend the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), the United States on Monday reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. The West Philippine Sea is the part of the South China Sea within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone.

U.S. National Security Adviser

THE United States over the weekend surpassed 12 million cases of COVID-19, as public health experts urged Americans not to travel for Thanksgiving.

By Monday, November 23, the country hit 12.5 million infections and 256,830 deaths.

This comes after the U.S. logged more than 195,500 new infections on Friday, November 20, bringing the official tally to 12,085,389, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Meanwhile, the death toll has risen to 255,823.

The number of hospitalizations saw an increase, as well — on Friday, the U.S. recorded over 82,100 COVID-19 patients under treatment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) asked Americans to stay at home for Thanksgiving on Nov. 26.

“This holiday season, consider how your holiday plans can be modified to reduce the spread of COVID19 to keep your friends, families, and communities healthy and safe,” it said.

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Mass exit of foreign nationals to impact tourism in Philippines MANILA — Mass departures of foreigners due to the COVID-19 pandemic will continue until the end of the year and will have a major impact on the state of the country’s tourism, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Monday, November 23.

Almost 2 million foreign nationals have left the country from January to September 2020, according to data provided by BI. Meanwhile, the country only experienced an influx of 1.5 million foreigners, of which most arrived before travel restrictions during the same period.

“In 2020, due to the pandemic, for the

first time, we’ve seen more departures of foreign nationals than arrivals,” Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement.

Morente said that these departures will have a major impact despite the government’s commitment to tourism.

“The government had made significant strides in improving tourism, however, this pandemic proved to counter all previous efforts,” said the commissioner.

President Rodrigo Duterte “Areas that were once booming with foreign tourists, workers, or students are now

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After fresh VFA extension, US reaffirms commitment to Philippines’ rights in WPS

by PATRICIA LOURDES

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US tops 12 million virus cases ahead of holiday

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Fil-Am mom of 3 seeks bone marrow donor following leukemia diagnosis

time since May, when outdoor dining provisions were introduced.

The new restrictions, made on Sunday, November 22, came as the county marked nine new deaths and

Robert O’Brien said Washington is looking forward to the VFA — termination of which has been suspended — continuing to facilitate closer cooperation in combatting terrorism.

“We also hope to expand our cooperation on a whole range of security challenges, from disaster relief to maritime security. Know that the United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the Philippines,” O’Brien said.

A few weeks ago, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. announced that President Rodrigo Duterte decided to extend

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PH lifts overseas travel ban on health workers

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

the suspension of the termination of the VFA with the U.S. for another six months.

O’Brien is in Manila for the handover of Washington’s donation of defense materials worth approximately P868 million ($18 million), which U.S. President Donald Trump promsied to Duterte in a phone call in April.

WPS resources ‘belong to the Philippine people’ Noting Washington’s latest policy declaration on the South China Sea, O’Brien pointed out that the U.S. had formally aligned U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien

Malacañang photo by Toto Lozano

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has ended the deployment ban on the country’s health care workers.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Saturday, November 21, said Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases to lift the ban amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“The president already approved the lifting of the temporary suspension of deployment of nurses and other medical workers,” he told Reuters.

However, only 5,000 health care workers will be allowed to

leave every year to ensure that the Philippines will have enough medical professionals left fighting against COVID-19.

“We are starting only with a cap of 5,000 so we will not run out (of medical workers), but this may increase eventually,” Bello said.

In April, the Philippines temporarily suspended the deployment of health care professionals abroad to guarantee that the country itself has a sufficient number of medical front-liners.

The deployment ban was later revised to cover only the health care workers with new contracts, allowing nurses and other health care workers with existing

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A November 25-27, 2020 • SoCal ASIAN JoUrNAL

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

From the Front Page

Los Angeles County shuts...

PAGE A1 2,718 additional infections of COVID-19. This brought the five-day average to 4,097 cases.

“The persistent high number of cases requires additional safety measures that limit mixing in settings where people are not wearing masks,” County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement on Sunday.

County public health officials previously set the threshold to take additional action if the fiveday average of cases is 4,000 or more or hospitalizations are more than 1,750 per day.

If the five-day average of cases is 4,500 or more or hospitalizations are more than 2,000 per day, officials warned that a targeted safer at home order will be issued for three weeks.

Last Friday, November 20, the county’s curfew took effect, limiting nonessential activities from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Restaurants and other establishments serving food were forced to reduce outdoor dining to 50% capacity before Sunday’s announcement to shutter outdoor service altogether.

“We hope individuals continue

to support restaurants, breweries and wineries by ordering for take-out or delivery,” Ferrer added in her statement. “We also fervently hope every LA County resident supports all our businesses by following the Public Health directives that we know work to slow spread.”

As the ongoing pandemic continues and the holiday season approaches, this comes another roadblock to the the restaurant and hospitality industry, which has seen closures and other challenges since March.

For Charina Vergara, owner of Tita’s of Manila in West Covina, outdoor dining was an added source of income, and she invested in safety measures without raising prices.

“I feel sad, frustrated and anxious about it. But I am all for it because life matters most. I am more frightened now for our health and safety now than in March,” Vergara told the Asian Journal, adding, “We are fighting hard to keep our doors open.”

While businesses are forced to shift again, Vergara is advising the community to keep support-

ing restaurants like hers and to be more patient.

“If people can be more kind, patient and understanding…and if they follow the protocols to keep us all safe — these are the things that our community can do to help businesses like us stay open,” she said.

To date, Public Health has identified 364,520 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County and a total of 7,438 deaths.

Meanwhile, the state of California introduced its own limited stay-at-home order, mandating nonessential work, movement and gatherings to stop between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. in counties in the purple tier, the most restrictive level in the state’s reopening plan.

The curfew, which began Saturday, applies to 41 of the 58 counties, where around 94% of Californians live. These include Sacramento, Fresno, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego.

The state’s order will remain in effect until 5 a.m. December 21. n

PH lifts overseas travel ban on...

PAGE A1 contracts to return to their jobs abroad.

In October, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) announced newly-hired Filipino health care workers with signed contracts as of August 31, 2020 can leave the country to work overseas.

According to the agency, the cut-off date was extended from March 8 to August 31 upon the recommendation of the IATF.

Senator Joel Villanueva, who chairs the Senate labor committee, welcomed the lifting of the deployment ban, but stressed that the government needs to raise the standards of compensation to healthcare workers.

“As we have said before when we called for the lifting of the ban early on, the most effective way to make our healthcare workers stay and work in our country is to offer better employment terms, including competitive salary and

benefits, and its timely payout,” he said.

“We’re certain that our healthcare workers would not think twice about leaving their families behind and place themselves overseas where the risk of getting infected is similar here in the country,” he added.

As of this writing, there are a total of 420,614 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, with 8,173 fatalities and 386,604 recoveries. n

and all of those rights that are consistent with international law,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien also reiterated the earlier remarks of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that any armed attack on Filipino troops in the West Philippine Sea will trigger the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.

“And I just want to say that those resources belong to the

children and grandchildren of the people here. They belong to the Philippine people,” the U.S. official said.

“They don’t belong to some other country that just because might, they may be big, and they may be bigger than the Philippines, they can come take away and convert the resources of the Philippine people,” he added. n

After fresh VFA extension, US reaffirms...

PAGE A1

its position on the maritime dispute with the Philippines’ arbitral win in July 2016.

The landmark ruling invalidated China’s expansive claims over the South China Sea, part of which is the West Philippine Sea. “We stand with the Philippines in protecting your sovereign rights, your offshore resources

RELIEF DRIVE. Staff members of the ‘Youth for Truth’ program of the Presidential Communications Operations Office repack relief goods at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) lobby in Visayas Avenue, Quezon City on Monday, November 23. The relief items would be distributed to typhoon-affected families in Marikina City and the provinces of Rizal and Cagayan.

PNA photo by Rico H. Borja

Mass exit of foreign nationals to impact...

PAGE A1 empty. We’re hoping that little by little, the confidence of foreign nationals to visit our country, invest here, work here, or study here be renewed as we work to fight this pandemic,” he stated.

According to BI data, Korean nationals topped the list of departures with 400,000 exits; fol-

lowed by American and Chinese nationals with 300,000, and Japanese with more than 166,000 exits.

Morente stated that 188,517 Chinese nationals have arrived in the country from January to September. Meanwhile, 292,669 Chinese nationals have departed during the same period.

This leaves the country with less than 500,000 Chinese nationals in total as of mid-September, according to BI data.

“We hope that Covid-19 be resolved soon, so we may revive the tourism economy which was badly hit by this pandemic,” Morente said. (Zac Sarao/Inquirer.net)

US donates $18M worth of weapons...

PAGE A1 military power in the world,” he added.

Locsin said the donation was a “fulfillment of a promise” made

by U.S. President Donald Trump to President Rodrigo Duterte during a phone call in April.

The donation package included: 24 MK-82 bombs; 1 MK-82 crate/ packaging; 100 tube launched optically guided wireless tow missiles 2A Bunker Busters; 12 Improved target acquisition system and support equipment.

A separate U.S. military plane delivered the weapons, said O’Brien.

“This transfer underscores our strong and enduring commitment to a critical alliance. We hope our precision guided missiles and munitions will help the AFP protect Philippine lives in Mindanao and in the needless suffering imposed by ISIS-East

Asia,” he said.

O’Brien is in Manila as part of a Southeast Asia tour that also included Vietnam. He is expected to discuss issues that concern both the Philippines and the U.S., including the South China Sea. “Our nations share a deep interest in upholding the rule of law and the rules-based international order,” he said.

“We welcome the recent statements by President Duterte and the Secretary (Locsin) at the ASEAN Summit and East Asia Summit to which I participated, calling for all nations, including a certain large nation in the neighborhood to respect international law in the South China Sea,” the U.S. official said.

O’Brien, echoing U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s earlier statements, reaffirmed that the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty applies to any armed attack on

Philippine forces, aircraft or public vessels in the South China Sea. He also conveyed the message that the U.S. welcomed Duterte’s decision to extend the Visiting Forces Agreement.

“We look forward to the VFA continuing to facilitate closer cooperation in combating terrorism,” O’Brien said, thanking Locsin for his “strong involvement” in the process.

Duterte scrapped the VFA in early 2020 after the U.S. canceled the visa of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, his former police chief.

The VFA would have ended last August following Duterte’s decision but the President last June decided to suspend enforcement of his decision until end of 2020.

This meant the VFA would remain in effect until early 2021.

(Frances Mangosing/Inquirer. net)

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Dateline USa

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvembeR 25-27, 2020

A

Were you notified about missing tax forms for your ACA subsidy? Blame COVID.

by Michelle

Andrews Kaiser Health News

THe notice from the federal health insurance marketplace grabbed Andrew Schenker’s attention: ACT NOW: YOU’Re AT RISK OF LOSING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCe STARTING JANUARY 1, 2021.

As he read the notice, though, the Blacksburg, Virginia, resident became exasperated. Schenker, his wife and their teenage son have a bronze-level marketplace plan. Based on their income of about $40,000 a year, they receive tax credits that cover the $2,036 monthly premium in full.

When they file their annual taxes they complete an IRS form that reconciles how much they Melissa Futagaki (right) shares a family photo with her husband, and their three young daughters. Futagaki, 37, is in search of a bone marrow received in advance tax credits donor of Filipino descent.

Contributed photo against their actual income for the year. The letter from the marketplace said they hadn’t filed for 2019, but Schenker knew they had — just as they have every PAGE A1 year. can happen any at any time and “I was more annoyed than anycan affect anyone or any of your family members.”

Acute myeloid leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, preventing the marrow from making normal red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

A bone marrow transplant is a top way to treat the disease, especially for older patients.

Two of Futagaki’s half-siblings have been tested and were not matches for a transplant, so now doctors are turning to a national donor list.

“We learned how the donor list really lacks Asian representation, And me being Filipino, it’s only 0.5% of Filipinos on the list. Go- Futagaki (center) poses with her daughters, ages 8, 6 and 4. “Finding a match will allow my daughters to have a mother,” she said.

Contributed photo ing through this and the lack of that a match is found so she can representation makes it difficult ously told the Asian Journal.

Though the pandemic has see her daughters — ages 8, 6, for us to find a match,” Futagaki, who has completed her first hampered in-person recruit- and 4 — grow up.

“Finding a match will allow ment, individuals can join the round of chemotherapy, said.

Matching is based on one’s hu- registry and receive a home my daughters to have a mother. man leukocyte antigen (HLA) tis- swab kit. Requirements include They are all I think about while sue type and matches are closely being between 18-44 years old going through this process and and meeting general health stan- I just want the opportunity to be based on a patient’s ethnicity. a part of their future,” Futagaki Organizations like the Asian dards.

They will have to swab the in- said. “There’s nothing I want American Donor Program (AADP) and Asians for Miracle Marrow side of their cheek and mail the more than to have many more Matches (A3M) encourage the kit back, and will be contacted if years and memories with my broader Asian American commu- they are a match for Futagaki or family. That one person out nity to join the Be the Match reg- other Filipino/Asian Americans there could give me that chance, which is why I’m asking for evistry through recruitment events in need of a donor.

The Bay Area stay-at-home eryone to register and potentialand raising awareness.

Filipinos have a 46% chance of mother hopes that more Filipino ly save a life.” (Christina M. Oriel finding a donor, the AADP previ- Americans join the registry and / AJPress)

Fil-Am mom of 3 seeks bone marrow donor...

thing else,” Schenker, 55, said, remembering an earlier enrollment problem that took months to resolve. “I didn’t want to get stuck in some sort of appeals category.”

Schenker’s 25-year-old daughter, Kaily Schenker, who is part owner of the family’s organic farm, got the same letter about her plan. Schenker helps her with her taxes, and she also filed the Form 8962 paperwork, he said.

Officials at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which oversees the ACA marketplaces, confirmed that some consumers received notices from the agency alerting them that, according to the IRS, they hadn’t filed a tax return or reconciled their advance payments for tax credits. The letters, consumer advocates suggested, may be a result of the IRS extending the deadline for filing income taxes due to the coronavirus to July 15.

State-based marketplaces have

similar requirements and likely send some version of this notice as well, said Tara Straw, a senior policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities who works on income tax issues related to the Affordable Care Act. People who don’t file their taxes and the reconciliation form aren’t eligible for financial assistance with their marketplace coverage next year, including premium tax credits and any cost-sharing reductions they qualify for.

Because of the filing deadline extension, the tax form data may not have yet arrived when the federal marketplace initially asked the IRS for it in the fall, Straw said. Or other issues, including longer processing times for paper tax returns, could be responsible for a delay, Straw said.

“We don’t know how many people are in this boat,” Straw said. “We think it’s higher than in previous years because of anecPAGE A4

A November 25-27, 2020 • SoCal ASIAN JoUrNAL

Dateline USa

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

US tops 12 million virus cases ahead...

PAGE A1 “Celebrating virtually or with members of your own household (who are consistently taking measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19) poses the lowest risk for spread,” it added.

Meanwhile, several U.S. governors wrote an opinion piece for the washington Post, saying Americans need to work together to fight COVID-19.

“Right now, cases and hos-

pitalisations are skyrocketing in the Midwest and across the country. As the weather gets colder and more people head inside, it will get worse,” they wrote.

“It is more important than ever that we double down on mask-wearing and physical distancing to help more people get through the winter and protect those on the front lines of this crisis,” they added.

The governors of wisconsin,

Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky likewise urged Americans to stay at home for Thanksgiving.

“If you are planning to spend Thanksgiving with people outside your household, we urge you to reconsider,” they said. new COVID-19 measures have been put in place to combat the surging infections.

These include home quarantine, wearing of face masks, and statewide curfews. n

Were you notified about missing tax forms...

MONDAY RUSH. Commuters and sidewalk vendors occupy one lane of Quirino Highway in Novaliches, Fairview in Quezon City on Monday, November 23. Public transport vehicles have been allowed to operate subject to health protocols as Metro Manila remains under general community quarantine.

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

New testing site opens in San Fernando Park A new walk-up COVID-19 testing super site opened on Tuesday, november 24 at a park in the northeast Valley.

The San Fernando Park COVID-19 testing site is the tenth city location providing free COVID-19 tests to anyone with or without symptoms.

“Testing remains an essential tool in stopping the spread of COVID-19, tracking the virus, and saving lives –– and we will continue to deploy our vital testing resources where the data and science tell us they will do the most good,” said Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti. “Our new San Fernando Park site will deliver critical support to a community hit hard by this pandemic, and ensure Valley residents know their status and take the necessary steps to protect themselves and those around them.”

The San Fernando Park testing site is the latest result of the ongoing partnership between the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office; the lab partner, Curative; the nonprofit organization, Community Organized Relief effort (CORe); and the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).

The walk-up super site will offer up to 3,000 COVID-19 tests each day at 208 Park Avenue in San Fernando, and will operate Tuesday through Saturday from 8:00am - 4:00pm. The site will also be able to deliver up to 500 flu vaccines per day. In the weeks

ahead, the site will also begin to enable residents to participate in the City’s ongoing rapid antigen testing pilot.

“The San Fernando City Council is pleased to work with Mayor Garcetti and the Los Angeles Fire Department to set up a COVID-19 testing facility at San Fernando Recreation Park,” said San Fernando City Manager nick Kimball. “The City of San Fernando has been working diligently to support residents and businesses by hosting food distribution events, issuing personal protective equipment, and providing timely information. The testing facility at San Fernando Recreation Park will further that effort by providing access to critical services for the residents of San Fernando and the northeast Valley.”

“Curative is honored to be partnering with the City of Los Angeles for the San Fernando Park super site that has COVID19 testing capabilities on a scale never before seen in this country, providing Angelenos with all the resources they need to protect themselves and others during this current surge of infections,” said Fred Turner, CeO and co-founder of Curative. “Curative’s goal is to make testing more available and accessible to everyone, and the super site will provide multiple COVID-19 test options as well as flu shots.

Our unique, observed and di-

rected self-collected oral fluid swab PCR COVID-19 test offers a painless, simple option with quick 24 to 48-hour results at no cost to patients.”

The Mayor’s Office utilizes data including weekly case numbers, positivity rates, testing site capacity, and demand, to determine where to deploy fixed and mobile testing services. The San Fernando Park location will be a walk-up site with strict COVID19 safety protocols established

by LAFD. It is designed to complement the services provided at the Hansen Dam drive-through site and expand access to Angelenos who may not have access to a car.

The City of Los Angeles, in partnership with Curative, CORe, and the LAFD, operates one of the largest municipal testing programs in the country, including the largest testing site in the nation at Dodger Stadium.

The City launched its program in March to test first responders and vulnerable individuals, and quickly expanded to offer free testing to all residents, with or without symptoms. Since then, the City has tested over 2.24 million people and can test over 38,000 people each day across ten City testing sites.

Angelenos who would like to visit the San Fernando Park site, or any of the City’s other 9 testing sites can visit coronavirus. lacity.org/testing. (AJPress)

PAGE A3 dotal accounts from marketplace assisters around the country.”

Schenker said he and his daughter both filed paper returns — his family’s, in the spring, while his daughter took advantage of the pandemic extension.

Under ACA rules, people with incomes up to 400% of the poverty level ($86,880 for a family of three) can qualify for advance tax credits to help pay for coverage purchased through state or federal health insurance exchanges. when they sign up for insurance during open enrollment, their tax credits are based on estimates of their income for the coming year, and the exchanges pay insurers that amount directly. Then when people file their income taxes the following year, they use Form 8962 to reconcile their actual income against what they estimated and square off the amount in tax credits they received. If they received too much in subsidies, they must pay that back to the government.

According to the notice Schenker received, people who have already filed their 2019 tax return and Form 8962 don’t need to take any action.

Straw recommends a more hands-on approach.

“It’s really a dangerous thing to just wait and cross your fingers and hope that the data will resolve your issue,” she said.

Consumers who filed and reconciled taxes for 2019 can keep their tax credit in 2021, CMS officials said, by updating their 2021 HealthCare.gov application on or before Dec. 15 and checking the box that says, “Yes, I reconciled premium tax credits for past years.”

Straw encouraged marketplace customers to follow that advice.

(State-based marketplaces gen-

Andrew Schenker (left) stands with his daughter, Kaily Schenker; wife, Lauren Cooper; and son, Julian Schenker. Andrew received a letter saying he was at risk of losing financial assistance for the bronze-level plan he shares with his wife and son. His daughter got the same letter about her plan.

Winema Lanoue

erally follow the same process as the federal marketplace, perhaps with slight variations.)

Still, that might not be sufficient. Straw also recommends that people contact the IRS directly and ask for a tax transcript that shows their return was received, including Form 8962.

That way, if the marketplace does cut off premium tax credits and people have to appeal, they have documentation proving they filed the necessary forms.

(If it comes to this, consumers can elect to continue receiving premium tax credits while they appeal.)

Unfortunately, people who run into this trouble might not get much expert help. navigators are no longer required to help consumers with problems after they’ve enrolled, though they may still do so, Straw said.

Likewise, insurance brokers

generally don’t help people with these problems, said Karen Pollitz, a senior fellow at KFF. (KHn is an editorially independent program of KFF.) Marketplace plan commissions are so low, “they’re much less likely to help people with complex problems,” she said.

After he got the letter, Schenker called marketplace representatives and was told to go ahead and apply for a plan for next year. He did so, making sure to check the box that said he’d filed his taxes, including the reconciliation form. And at the end of the application process, the system told him that, based on his income, his family is eligible for a tax credit of $2,000 a month.

He picked a bronze plan.

He hopes that’s the end of it.

This story was produced

by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. n

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SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvembeR 25-27, 2020

Dateline PhiliPPines

A

For kin of 58th Ampatuan massacre Government response to typhoons, victim, quest for justice still continues pandemic leaves students up in protest

by Gaea

Katreena Philstar.com

CabiCo

MANILA — The family of a photojournalist is still searching for justice 11 years after he was reportedly killed along with 57 others on Nov. 23, 2009, in the deadliest instance of political violence in the Philippines.

In December 2019, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 handed out the historic verdict that convicted 43 people over only 57 counts of murder, excluding the death of Reynaldo Momay. While dentures believed to be his were found at the site of the mass grave, his body could not be located.

In her decision, Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes said that the prosecution failed to establish that Momay reached the site where the massacre took place and experienced the same danger that other victims faced. The court also said that the prosecution failed to show that the dentures belonged to the Midland Review lensman.

Ma. Reynafe Castillo, Momay’s daughter, stressed Monday that the fight to recognizing his father as the 58th victim of the gruesome massacre continues.

“It is 58… Let us remember:

the 58th victim was my father and that victim is Reynaldo ‘Bebot’ Momay,” Castillo, who is based in the United States, said in a forum organized by the Freedom for Media, Freedom for All network Monday.

“He was there among those victims. The only reason why he lost his life was because of his profession—the profession that he did not only love, but the profession that guards and defends every citizen’s right to press freedom,” she added.

In January 2020, relatives of Momay filed a notice of appeal, expressing their intention to bring the case to the Court of Appeals.

“I pray and believe that the Constitution will bring justice for me and my father. I can only wish one day that 57 will be up by one,” Castillo said.

Trial of the century Last year, the Quezon City court convicted Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr., his brother Zaldy Ampatuan and 26 others guilty beyond reasonable doubt of committing 57 counts of murder. They were sentenced to reclusion perpetua without parole.

Fifteen others were found to have acted as accessories to the

crime and were sentenced to up to 10 years and eight months of imprisonment.

“Through Almighty Allah’s provision and guidance, we have received justice of what is dubbed as the trial of the century when Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Jocelyn SolisReyes handed down the guilty verdict to those who malevolently planned, executed and participated in the massacre,” Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu (Maguindanao) said in a statement.

Eleven years ago, relatives and supporters of Mangudadatu, who was then a gubernatorial candidate, as well as media workers who had accompanied them were kidnapped and later killed. Some people who did not belong to the convoy were also executed.

“The failure to bring all 80 suspects to trial, including police officers and soldiers also poses a great risk for the victims’ family members. Our witnesses too are still plagued by threats and has had several brushes with deaths even after the verdict was affixed – and this will continue on as long as these suspects remain free,” Mangudadatu said. u PAGE A7

COVID-19 tally in PH surpasses 420,000 MANILA — The Department of Health confirmed 1,799 additional coronavirus infections Monday, November 23, pushing the country’s caseload to more than 420,000.

This marked the 14th straight day that new cases were fewer than 2,000. To date, 420,614 people in the Philippines have had COVID-19.

Cavite province logged 154 new cases, the highest Monday. It was followed by Rizal with 114 additional cases, Quezon City with 99, Bulacan with 76 and Laguna with 67.

The Philippines has the second highest COVID-19 caseload in Southeast Asia and ranks 26th in the world in terms of confirmed infections.

The country’s Food and

Drug Administration said last week that coronavirus vaccines could arrive in the Philippines before the second quarter of 2021 should President Rodrigo Duterte issue an emergency use authorization. An EUA would hasten the vaccine procurement plan of the government.

The number of recoveries rose to 386,604 after the DOH reported 135 new recoveries.

The agency announced Sunday 10,957 additional COVID-19 survivors as part of its weekly “mass recovery” program.

Total recoveries accounted for around 92% of the nation’s cumulative cases.

Fifty more deaths due to the respiratory disease were also logged, bringing the fatality count in the Philippines to

8,173.

Excluding recoveries and deaths, there are still 25,837 active cases in the Philippines. Of these, around 84% are experiencing mild symptoms, around 8% are not exhibiting symptoms, 0.26% are moderate cases, around 3% are severe cases and around 6% are in critical condition.

Monday’s tally did not include the data from seven licensed laboratories that failed to submit their data on time. Of the 19,178 people who were tested as of Sunday noon, 853 or 4.4% tested positive.

Globally, the novel coronavirus has so far infected over 58 million people with 1.38 million deaths since it emerged in China late last year. (Philstar.com)

MANILA — Ateneo de Manila students on Monday, November 23 called for a nationwide academic break as part of its demands to hold government accountable for its response to the recent typhoons and the coronavirus pandemic that has hit the country, describing the situation as a result of the “criminal neglect of the State.”

“We do not strike as a way to exempt ourselves from academic life, for it is precisely to fight to return its value,” the strike manifesto read. “We invite our fellow youth nationwide. To-

gether, in our collective action, we strike for not just our education, but a country that we can be proud of.”

Apart from an academic break, other demands include schools easing the workload for both students and faculty in the wake of the typhoons, as well as providing alternative learning resources for those far-flung areas without stable internet connection.

And as for the pandemic response, the Ateneo students called for an end to “militarycentric” solutions to a health

crisis, such as putting medical experts instead of military officials in charge of dealing with the situation at home.

Signatories, which had reached at least 500, vowed to begin the strike beginning Wednesday, November 25 followed by protests come November 30 if their demands are not met.

“We believe in the power of students,” the manifesto read.

“It is because of the continuous government negligence in disaster relief, because of their wanton disregard for human life and u PAGE A7

Oras na ng Taunang Buwis sa Pag-aari sa Los Angeles County at ang Tresurero at ang Tagakolekta ng Buwis ay pinaaalalahanan ang mga may-ari na ang aming mga tanggapan ay nananatiling sarado dahil sa Pandemyang COVID-19 Maraming self-service na opsyon ang magagamit online sa https://ttc.lacounty.gov/, kabilang ang:

Pagbabayad online (walang singilin para sa eChecks)

Paghahanap ng babayarang halaga ng buwis sa pag-aari

Pagrebyu ng iyong kasaysayan ng pagbabayad

Matutunan kung paano iwasan ang mga multa

Pangangasiwa ng maramihang ari-arian CNSB#3416377

A6 NOVEMBER 25-27, 2020 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

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

OPiniOn

Vaccine for all

FeatURes

FROM m the start of this pandemic, the global call has been to heal as one.

The virulence shown by COVID-19 has meant that as long as there is one hotspot left on the planet, there is the risk that the coronavirus can spread again, bringing death and debilitation and wrecking livelihoods.

Healing as one is being emphasized as top pharmaceutical and bioresearch companies begin rolling out COVID vaccines that are touted to be up to 95 percent effective. Pharmaceutical manufacturing is a business; developing a single drug could cost up to $1 billion, from inception to clinical trials to the securing of regulatory approval and international patents. Pharmaceutical firms need a healthy return on investment to keep churning out their products.

So it’s understandable that the companies now preparing to release their vaccines for mass application under emergency authorization would accept advance orders for their products. And it makes good business sense to give priority to those who have made advance payments.

But the pharmaceutical industry is also infused with public interest, and it can be more than a business. This is true especially when there is a global public health emergency. And this is true particularly

in an emergency that happens only once in a century.

Thanks to rapid advances in science and technology, several pharmaceutical and research companies appear to have succeeded in producing vaccines for coronavirus disease 2019 in record time. Some viral diseases have defied science; there are still no vaccines for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Now the world is anticipating the mass rollout of COVID vaccines within months.

COVID vaccination, however, will have the best impact only if there is equitable global access, with priority given not based on country but based on the level of vulnerability to infection. Obviously, frontliners will get priority. The hierarchy of priorities in vaccination may have to be standardized worldwide. table access to COVID vaccines. A similar call was Last week President Duterte urged the Asia-Pa- made by the Group of 20 – composed of governcific Economic Cooperation forum to ensure equi- ments and central bank governors of 19 countries

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THANKSGIVING Day is a very important day for us Americans as we come together with our families by sharing a special meal, and offering our prayers and gratitude for all the blessings bestowed upon us and our beloved nation.

This national holiday dates back to 1621, the year after the Pilgrims from England arrived in Massachusetts, in search of freedom, safety from persecution and the dream to give their family a better life in this newfound land of promise and opportunities that was to become the United States of America.

They had a rough and bitter first winter, and the History Channel reported that most of the colonists remained on board the ship, where they suffered from exposure, scurvy and outbreaks of contagious disease, which killed about half of them.

These colonists (pilgrims) were saved by the goodness of the hearts of the Native Americans who welcomed them, fed them, taught them how to plant crops. The next autumn’s bountiful harvest inspired the Pilgrims

GREG B. MACABENTA ADOLF Hitler and his propaganda chief, Joseph Goebbels, are said to have developed the axiom that a lie, repeated often enough, will be taken for the truth.

In the recent U.S. presidential election, we have seen how effective this axiom has been, even among ostensibly intelligent people.

The most vicious practitioner of this Nazi principle has been outgoing President Donald Trump.

Even before Trump entered politics, he already publicly espoused “distorting the truth” as an effective means of achieving his ends.

In his book, “The Art of the Deal,” Trump stated: “I play to people’s fantasies.

People may not always think big themselves, but they can still get very excited by those who do.

That’s why a little hyperbole never hurts. People want to believe that something is the biggest and the greatest and the most spectacular. I call it truthful hyperbole.

It’s an innocent form of exaggeration—and a very effective form of promotion.”

Trump has, in fact, used more

and the European Union. As COVID vaccines begin to be administered, the calls deserve to be heeded.

(Philstar.com)

May Thanksgiving Day give us the light and the courage to fight for those we are grateful for: Our lives, faith, democracy and unity

to give thanks by holding a feast with the Native Americans. This tradition has been passed from generation to generation as the Pilgrims got settled and started their new life in America.

The History Channel wrote that during the American Revolution, the Continental Congress designated one or more days of thanksgiving a year, and in 1789 George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation by the national government of the United States; in it, he called upon Americans to express their gratitude for the happy conclusion to the country’s war of independence and the successful ratification of the U.S. Constitution. His successors John Adams and James Madison also designated days of thanks during their presidencies.

But how did it become a national holiday of celebration?

According to the History Channel, a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale — the noted magazine editor, prolific writer and author, among countless other things, of the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb” — launched a campaign in 1827 to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday. For 36 years,

she published numerous editorials and sent scores of letters to governors, senators, presidents and other politicians, earning her the nickname the “Mother of Thanksgiving.”

“Abraham Lincoln finally heeded her request in 1863, at the height of the Civil War, in a proclamation entreating all Americans to ask God to “commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife” and to “heal the wounds of the nation.” He scheduled Thanksgiving for the final Thursday in November, and it was celebrated on that day every year until 1939, when Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday up a week in an attempt to spur retail sales during the Great Depression. Roosevelt’s plan, known derisively as Franksgiving, was met with passionate opposition, and in 1941 the president reluctantly signed a bill making Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday in November.”

The significance of this day and the reason why this has been celebrated since the time of the Pilgrims/colonists from Europe is something we, Filipinos in

The truth, told consistently enough Street Talk

Philstar.com photo

than “truthful hyperbole” in his personal, business and political life. As president, he has liberally told outright lies and has also made falsehood SOP among White House staff and members of his cabinet.

As a habitual liar, Trump is arguably unmatched by even Hitler and Goebbels themselves.

He is said to have told over 20,000 lies and exaggerations during his presidency (literally tracked and recorded by media).

Most tragic of all, he lied about the seriousness of the COVID-19 virus, causing the country and health authorities to let down their guard and not adequately prepare for its deadly consequences.

Throughout the 2020 election campaign, Trump spread lies and black propaganda in a scorchedearth effort to win a second term.

He branded Biden a socialist, an enemy of the police, a coddler of illegal immigrants and of terrorists, and a senile old man, unfit for the highest office in the land.

He also accused the Democrats and the Biden-Harris tandem of plotting to steal the election. None of these allegations was supported with credible evidence.

Ever the consummate trickster, Trump apparently prepared for all eventualities in connection with his reelection campaign — even the possibility of defeat. Early on, Trump made the preposterous assertion that the only way he

could lose was if the Democrats cheated. He was obviously conditioning the country to believe allegations of electoral fraud.

Trump singled out the use of mail-in ballots as the means for perpetrating the fraud. Voting by mail had been used in past elections without any problem.

Even Trump himself and First Lady Melania Trump had reportedly decided to vote by mail. The recourse to widespread deployment of mail-in ballots was due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump claimed that voting by mail was open to votes cast by non-citizens, “multiple voting” by those who would receive more than one ballot, and even voting by the dead.

“Voting from the grave” is a scam that voters in the Philippines are familiar with. In 1949 President Elpidio Quirino (who had assumed the presidency upon the death of President Manuel Roxas) was accused of winning against Jose P. Laurel with votes “cast” in Lanao by dead people, as well as trees and flowers.

Trump then set out to implement the Hitler-Goebbels technique of deluding America, particularly his voter base, by spreading the lie in media interviews and speeches and repeating it often enough until it was taken for the truth. The lie gained more traction, with the active support of pro-Trump media like

America, can identify with. In fact, this is a shared sentiment of all of us American citizens because we have all been pilgrims from our own respective countries who uprooted ourselves from our own Motherland to give our family a better life. We are all immigrants who took the leap of faith in the promise of America.

While the continued threat of the coronavirus may change the way we celebrate this day, the somber feel of this year’s holiday season invites us to be introspective about those values that matter most in our — our health and safety, our family, our peace and unity, our democracy, and the promise of America helping us realize our American dream.

We have had it easier compared to the Pilgrims and those in many generations after who fought in wars and paid the ultimate sacrifice just to defend us, protect our lives, our democracy, the light of the promise of America so each of us may fulfill our American dream.

But it is important for us to realize that each generation of Americans has its own challenges, and therefore, its own

unique opportunity to fulfill our responsibility to help keep the promise of America and make it a more perfect Union.

Our generation is now being called to rise up to the challenges of our time and do everything we can within our power to soldier on in our war against the coronavirus: wear a mask, practice social distancing, avoid crowds, and abide by all public safety measures to protect our people and save our lives.

Our generation is now being called to rise up and soldier on and fight for our democracy, our democratic institutions and processes, armed with our faith in God and in each other’s goodness, with our commitment to the truth and our solemn creed to abide by the Constitution.

We are in a defining moment of our lives as Americans. We have all been blessed in our adoptive country that is the United States of America. To whom much is given, much is required. In gratitude, let us strive to go far and beyond the tradition of giving thanks and feasting with our family.

Let us heed the call for our generation to save our lives in the war against COVID-19, and

to call out and have the enemies from without and within be made accountable to protect and save our cherished democracy.

This is our way to help make the United States of America a more perfect Union that we can proudly and faithfully pass on to the next generations.

Together, we pray like Lincoln and ask God to “commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife” and to “heal the wounds of the nation.”

Have a happy and purposeful Thanksgiving Day! ***

Fox News.

Ironically, Trump’s campaign of disinformation served to motivate Biden’s supporters to register to vote in record numbers, resulting in the biggest turn-out of voters in U.S. election history. Trump’s efforts may also have spurred his voter base to troop to the polls in record numbers, instead of voting by mail.

Unluckily for Trump, Biden garnered over 5 million more votes, and, more importantly, Biden won in battleground states, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Michigan and even traditionally Republican bailiwicks, Arizona and Georgia.

Not surprisingly, Trump has claimed that he was cheated.

What is also not surprising is that most of Trump’s voters believe him. Up to 70% of Republicans are convinced that Trump actually won. Even among Democrats and Independents, 5% and 31%, respectively, agree.

A week after the election, Trump supporters massed by the thousands in Washington DC to protest the “cheating.” These supporters have vowed to continue their protests.

During the waning weeks of his incumbency, Trump and his aides have filed several lawsuits in a desperate effort to block the assumption of the presidency

by Joe Biden. However, they have failed to present credible evidence and all but two of their court filings have been dismissed by the courts.

Several of Trump’s lawyers have withdrawn their complaints, and have also given up representing Trump. Apparently, for this reason, Trump has had to ask his personal attorney, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, to lead the team pursuing the complaints.

Giuliani has resorted to weaving fantastic conspiracy theories about cheating by Democrats, among them a plot allegedly hatched in Venezuela.

Giuliani has kept promising to produce tons of evidence but in all of his court appearances, he has failed to produce anything. In fact, in a recent appearance before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Giuliani stated that he was “not alleging fraud” but was protesting the fact that Trump’s poll watchers were kept at a distance.

The complaint was found without merit.

In one instance, Giuliani reportedly revealed that losing in the state courts is not as important as setting the stage for elevating the complaints to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Apparently, Trump is hoping that his appointees in the High Court will rule in his favor. Legal experts do not believe this will happen. However, Trump is desperate enough to try anything.

Meanwhile, state election officials, including Republicans, have attested that the election was fair, While there were fears of possible electoral tampering by Russian operatives, Christopher Krebs,

the Trump-appointed Director for Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security (CISA) reported that the election was the most secure in recent history.

For telling the truth, Krebs was fired by Trump.

The U.S. now faces the grim reality of being a divided country, mainly because of a master liar.

It is feared that millions of Trump supporters will continue to believe that their candidate should have won a second term and will continue to make things difficult for the Biden-Harris administration.

Actually, the shoe may be on the other foot.

Trump has not forgotten that in the four years of his presidency, the Democrats never let up on questioning his legitimacy. Now he plans to have his revenge.

The question is: how can President Biden and Vice-President Harries counter the lies that will be told about them - over and over and over again until these are taken for the truth?

By delivering on their campaign promises.

Most of all, by constantly and consistently telling the truth.

Over and over again. Until they are believed. ***

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.

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. *** E-mail: gregmacabenta@hotmal.com

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 FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING. Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, D.D (above the float) hands over the Blessed Sacrament to Rev. Fr. Dennis Soriano ( b e l o w) a s t h e s e are brought back to their church after the procession during the commemoration of the Feast of Christ the King at The Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Cubao in Quezon City on Sunday, November 22. The annual procession celebrates the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Digital transformation seen to improve Metro Manila economy was powered by the services sector, which contributed P5 trillion Philstar.com of the region’s economy.

Industry comprised 19.6 perMANILA — Digital transformation will continue to play a stron- cent of the total, contributing ger role in the growth and recov- P1.2 trillion while agriculture, ery of Metro Manila’s economy forestry and fishing made up less amid the pandemic, the National than one percent.

Last year, Metro Manila’s Economic and Development Aueconomy grew by 7.2 percent, thority (NEDA) said.

During the presentation of the above the six-percent national 2019 economic performance average, which was higher comof the National Capital Region, pared with the growth of 5.6 perNEDA Assistant Secretary for re- cent in 2018. gional development Greg Pineda The region also continued to said growth through new offerings would start from the ser- have the highest per capita gross vices sector, which has been en- regional domestic product of trenched in the NCR’s economy P457,034 in 2019, well above the in the past decades and would national average of P180,528 in possibly spill over to other sec- the same year.

On the demand side, Metro tors.

As of 2019, 80.4 percent of Met- Manila’s economy is largely supro Manila’s P6.2-trillion economy ported by a P3.3-trillion consumby Czeriza

ValenCia

For kin of 58th Ampatuan...

PAGE A5 Far from resolved But lawyer Nena Santos, private prosecutor in the case, pointed out the fight is not yet over. Most of those who were convicted appealed the verdict before the Court of Appeals.

Dozens of suspects also remain at large.

“We can only say that the case is finally resolved when the decision for appeal is already issued and is already certified with finality,” Santos said.

In September, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization heeded

the appeals of relatives of slain journalists, media groups and civil society organizations to reclassify the carnage as an unresolved case. This, after the organization previously considered the case as “resolved.”

“How can others say the case has been resolved?” Grace Morales said. Her husband Rosell— a reporter for News Focus—and her sister Marites—a radio reporter for DxBx—were among the victims of the massacre.

“We are still here fighting…

We are still calling for justice because what we attained was not full justice,” Morales added. n

Government response to...

PAGE A5

dignity, and because of their disastrous education policies that we strike.”

They also called on the school administration to back their call, after the Jesuit-run university over the weekend disowned the recent protests as school-sanctioned.

Government had since rejected calls for a nationwide, let alone an academic break in Luzon that now finds itself under a state of calamity, with Palace spokesperson Harry Roque warning that signatories are only bound to fail.

The cost of damage from Typhoon Ulysses, the recent to hit the island, was pegged at P12.9 billion, Super Typhoon Rolly with P17.8 billion and Quinta with P4.2 billion. The storms that made landfall in just a short period of time, had left scores dead and millions displaced, with provinces submerged.

In the University of the Philippines, students and faculty have petitioned for an immediate end to the semester, citing the “unjust workload and mental burden on top of the anxieties that the pandemic has inflicted.”

“With only three weeks left to finish the semester, discounting the time needed to recover by those affected by the recent typhoons, the pressure to finish the remaining days of the semester has exacerbated to the point of inhumanity,” read the petition with over 270 faculty members signing.

Commission on Higher Education Chairman Prospero de Vera last week bucked the possibility of this, suggesting that universities instead extend the duration of the first term to early next year.

Recently, the student council of the University of Santo Tomas also joined a growing chorus for an academic break, as well as urging government to better its disaster response and for President Rodrigo Duterte to step down.

“The president’s persistent failures to fulfill his duties are more than a call for aid and assistance; it is a gross manifestation of his clear inability to lead the country,” said the council in a statement. “It is a call for him to resign, with what little dignity he has left.”

The threat of an academic strike has stirred a national con-

versation over the past week, especially with the matter apparently getting airtime in the president’s weekly public address, where he threatened to defund UP despite the initiative coming from Ateneo.

While Palace had since sought to clarify that Duterte may have mistaken this, lawmakers have shot down the possibility, saying state universities and colleges are “no-cut zones.” (Christian Deiparine/Philstar.com)

LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LACMTA) REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL LACMTA will receive proposals for PS73474 - IT Remote (Office/VPN/Misc.)

Support Staff Augmentation at the 9th Floor Receptionist Desk, Vendor/Contract Management Department, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

A Pre-Proposal conference will not be held. This project is a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Set-Aside contract. To participate in this RFP, proposers must be SBE certified with LACMTA prior to proposal due date. For information on the Set-Aside Program, visit: https://business.metro.net/VendorPortal/faces/home1/certifications.

All proposals must be received on or before 2:00 p.m.

Pacific Time on Tuesday, December 15, 2020at the address listed above, sent to the attention of Victor Zepeda. Proposals received later than the above date and time will be rejected and returned to the proposer unopened.

For a copy of the Proposal/Bid specification visit our Solicitation Page on our Vendor Portal at https://business.metro.net or for further information email Victor Zepeda at zepedav@ metro.net.

11/25/20 CNS-3417901# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

er market that made up 52.5 percent of regional expenditure.

Average household spending for goods and services in 2019 rose by 5.1 percent to P239,830, also above the national average of P130,743 that year.

Pineda said because of the physical constraints in the metropolis, growth and recovery in the future would gravitate toward new products in the services sector.

As social distancing and travel restrictions continued amid the pandemic, Pineda said online transactions from money transfers and shopping for food and other basic necessities have increased exponentially. n

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvembeR 25-27, 2020

A

Leonen threatens to charge Calida over poll protest

by Jomar

Canlas ManilaTimes.net

SUPREME Court Associate Justice Marvic Mario Victor Leonen threatened to sue Solicitor General Jose Calida for graft for seeking the former’s inhibition in the election protest of former senator Ferdinand Marcos.

According to a well-placed source in the high court, Leonen was incensed at Calida for siding with Marcos and dragging the Republic of the Philippines into the case.

Marcos filed the protest before the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, after losing the 2016 vice presidential election to Maria Leonor Robredo.

The source said Leonen is pushing for the issuance of a show cause order against Calida and The Manila Times.

Calida had quoted extensively from The Times story on Leonen’s 2017 Draft Reflections, where he recommended dismissing the protest of Marcos outright.

The court insider showed The Times portions of the 30-page draft resolution Leonen wrote last November 17, which dressed down Calida for siding with Marcos.

“Here, the Republic of the Philippines is not a party litigant.

Protestant filed this election protest in his bid to oust the elected vice president. In his elementary terms, this involves private individuals only. However, solicitor general comes to this tribunal without the proper standing, dragging with him the Republic of the Philippines,” Leonen said.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Mario Victor Leonen

Solicitor General Jose Calida ManilaTimes.net photos

He insisted that Calida did not promote the interest of the government in filing the motion to intervene without permission or leave of court.

“Nothing from the four corners of the solicitor general’s pleading intimate this. The solicitor general failed to show how he is promoting and protecting the public weal and ultimately upholding the government’s interest in intervening in this case without so much as a leave,” Leonen wrote.

He admonished Calida for his lack of respect to the tribunal by casting baseless imputations to his name and attacking his impartiality and incompetence.

“If indeed the solicitor general was genuinely concerned about the protracted resolution of the protest and its effect on the people who deserves nothing less, then he should have confined the issue to the sup-

posed delay in the resolution of the protest, as this was the only matter of relevance to the public. However, the solicitor general went to town with malicious and baseless imputations of impartiality and incompetence not only against a sitting member of this tribunal, but also the entire tribunal, thereby showing an undeniable bias for protestant and lack of respect to this tribunal,” Leonen wrote.

He threatened to charge Calida with graft, citing his “manifest partiality” to Marcos.

Ironically, it was Leonen himself who dragged the Office of the Solicitor General into the case by asking it to comment on the Marcos protest case.

Leonen also bore down on The Times for publishing the “Leonen Reflections” on October 12 and 13. He said the contents of the reflections were confidential. n

A November 25-27, 2020 • SoCal ASIAN JoUrNAL

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Nicole Scherzinger joins Fil-Am musical director Tory Laureta in cover of ‘Pangako’

by Ritchel

Mendiola / AJPress

OR the first time in her musical career, singer Nicole F Scherzinger, who is of Filipina, Hawaiian and Ukrainian ancestry, sang and recorded a Tagalog song.

The former Pussycat Dolls lead singer sang the cover of Filipino ballad “Pangako” for Fil-Am musical director Troy Laureta’s new album.

The album, entitled “KAIBIGAN: A Troy Laureta OPM Collective,” is a realization of Laureta’s dream to produce an EP with friends he met in his musical journey, featuring Filipino songs that have made an impact in his life.

“I called on some of my favorite singers from international artists to YouTube stars to homegrown talents and musicians from around the world to come and play Filipino music together — no English translation — using our musical senses and experiences to interpret these songs in its native form,” he said.

“Pangako,” was popularized by Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid.

Scherzinger took to Instagram to express her excitement over her song collaboration.

“I really hope that this collaboration makes my Filipino fans proud!” she wrote.

“I’ve always wanted to honor my heritage and when my music director and dear friend @ troylaureta came to me with this project it felt like the perfect opportunity!” she added.

Scherzinger also admitted it was her first time singing in Tagalog.

“This was my first time singing in Tagalog...and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I loved

Bibingka (Coconut-Rice Cake) with Philly Cream Cheese

Excerpted from “AMBOY: Recipes from the Filipino-American Dream” © 2020 by Alvin Cailan. Photography © 2020 by Wyatt Conlon. Reproduced

by Permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

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 molds with banana

Photos courtesy of Wyatt Conlon

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, scarpetta-style, 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.

• 3 large eggs • 1 cup glutinous rice Ingredients • 1 cup canned coconut flour, plus more for dusting • 1 large banana leaf milk • 1 tablespoon baking (thawed, if frozen), cut into 2 • ¼ cup heavy whipping powder (10-inch) rounds cream • ½ teaspoon kosher salt • 5 tablespoons unsalted • 1 (8-ounce) block • 1 cup muscovado sugar, butter, at room temperature, plus more for sprinkling Continued on Page 3 plus more for greasing

Lola’s Pancit Bihon (Noodles with Vegetables) Serves 4

Nicole Scherzinger Photo from Instagram/@nicolescherzinger

Tory Laureta

singing it from all my heart to yours,” the singer said.

“Pangako means promise and it’s available now on all streaming platforms,” she added.

Other international talents who participated in the OPM album are American singers Matt Bloyd, Pia Toscano, and

Shela; South Korean artist Ailee; Filipino-American talent Cheesa; and Filipino singers Jake Zyrus and Regine Velasquez.

Laureta dedicated his album to his parents.

“November 22 is my mom and dad’s wedding anniversary.

I wanted this to be a gift for them,” Laureta said.

Photo from Instagram/@troylaureta

FOR this stir-fried noodle dish, my Lola would sit at the kitchen table cutting vegetables in her hand, mounds of snap peas, carrots, cabbage, and onions overflowing the bowl.

It was a bounty, and it was about to feed 20 people all day long. These noodles are super thin, similar in texture to rice sticks.

Ingredients •1 pound dried thin rice noodles (the package will say “rice sticks” or “bihon”) • 1 tablespoon canola oil • 2/3 cup thinly sliced onion (½ small onion) • ¼ cup minced garlic (about 10 large cloves) • 1/3 cup thinly sliced celery (½ stalk) • 1/3 cup thinly sliced carrot (1 small carrot) Continued on Page 3

All you need to know about gout

by RamachandRan amachandRan by

Gout is is aa painful painful and and debilitating debilitating Gout condition that that develops develops in in some some condition people who who have have chronically chronically high high people blood levels levels of of urate urate (commonly (commonly rereblood ferred to to as as uric uric acid) acid) that that leads leads to to ferred tophus (lump (lump nodules nodules formation), formation), tophus arthritis, hypertension, hypertension, heart heart and and arthritis, renal failure. failure. renal It is is most most common common in in men men bebeIt tween 30 30 and and 45, 45, and and in in women women bebetween tween ages ages 55 55 and and 70.

70. It It is is estimatestimattween ed that that gout gout affects affects approximately approximately ed percent of of people people in in the the United United 22 percent States. The The following following characterischaracterisStates. tics increase increase the the risk risk of of developing developing tics gout: gout: • DWZh^in Obesity • =^\] WaddY egZhhjgZ High blood pressure • 8dchjb^c\ ZmXZhh^kZ Vbdjcih d[ Consuming excessive amounts of alcohol (particularly (particularly beer, beer, whiskey, whiskey, alcohol gin, vodka, vodka, and and rum) rum) on on aa regular regular gin, basis basis IV`^c\ medications bZY^XVi^dch that i]Vi affect V[[ZXi • Taking blood levels levels of of urate urate (especially (especially didiblood uretics) uretics) • >c\Zhi^c\ aVg\Z Vbdjcih d[ bZVi Ingesting large amounts of meat and seafood seafood and • DkZgZVi^c\ Overeating • ;Vhi^c\ Fasting • >c_jgn dg gZXZci hjg\Zgn Injury or recent surgery :aZkViZY uric jg^X acid VX^Y levels aZkZah in ^c canXVc• Elevated cer, kidney kidney diseases, diseases, and and other other cer, Gout attacks attacks cause cause sudden sudden seseGout kZgZ joint _d^ci pain, eV^c! sometimes hdbZi^bZh with l^i] vere redness, swelling, swelling, and and tenderness tenderness redness, d[ i]Z _d^ci# 6ai]dj\] Vc ViiVX` ineof the joint. Although an attack typ^XVaan affects V[[ZXih aV single h^c\aZ joint, _d^ci! some hdbZ ically people develop develop aa few few inflamed inflamed people _d^cih at Vi the i]Z same hVbZ time. i^bZ# The I]Z pain eV^c joints and inflammation inflammation are are worst worst within within and several hours, hours, and and generally generally imimseveral prove completely completely over over aa few few days days prove to several several weeks, weeks, even even ifif untreated. untreated. to The characteristic characteristic pain pain and and ininThe flammation of of gout gout develops develops when when flammation type of of white white blood blood cell, cell, called called aa type neutrophils, attempt attempt to to surround surround neutrophils, and digest digest urate urate crystal crystal deposits. deposits. and White blood blood cells cells are are the the body’s body’s White first line line of of immune immune defense defense and and first recognize the the crystal crystal deposits deposits as as recognize [dgZ^\c material. bViZg^Va# Chemical 8]Zb^XVa signals h^\cVah foreign released by by other other types types of of white white released WaddY cells XZaah and VcY cells XZaah in ^c the i]Z joint _d^ci blood contribute to to the the pain, pain, swelling, swelling, contribute and redness redness associated associated with with aa gout gout and attack. attack.

There are are three three main main phases phases of of There gout: acute acute gouty gouty arthritis, arthritis, interintergout: critical gout, gout, and and chronic chronic tophatophacritical ceous gout. gout. ceous Acute gouty gouty arthritis: arthritis: Attacks 6iiVX`h -- Acute of gout gout usually usually involve involve aa single single of _d^ci! most bdhi often d[iZc the i]Z big W^\ toe idZ or dg joint, knee. This This attack attack is is known known as as acute acute knee. gouty arthritis. arthritis. People People with with osteoosteogouty arthritis in in the the fingers fingers may may expeexpearthritis rience their their first first gout gout attacks attacks in in rience

RinivaSan, md., FacR SRinivaSan

the fingers fingers rather rather than than the the toes toes or or the knees. knees.

Intercritical period: period: The The time time -- Intercritical between gout gout attacks attacks is is known known as as between i]Z intercritical ^ciZgXg^i^XVa period. eZg^dY# A 6 second hZXdcY the attack typically typically occurs occurs within within two two attack years, and and additional additional attacks attacks may may years, occur thereafter. thereafter. If If gout gout is is untreatuntreatoccur ed over over aa period period of of several several years, years, ed the time time between between attacks attacks may may the shorten and and attacks attacks may may become become shorten increasingly severe severe and and prolonged. prolonged. increasingly DkZg i^bZ! i]Z ViiVX`h XVc WZ\^c id Over time, the attacks can begin to ^ckdakZ bjai^eaZ _d^cih Vi dcXZ VcY involve multiple joints at once and may be be accompanied accompanied by by fever. fever. may Chronic tophaceous tophaceous gout: gout: PeoPeo-- Chronic ple who who have have repeated repeated attacks attacks of of ple gout over over many many years years can can develop develop gout tophaceous gout. gout. This This causes causes large large tophaceous numbers of of urate urate crystals crystals to to collect collect numbers ^c _d^cih! WdcZh! VcY XVgi^aV\Z# I]Z in joints, bones, and cartilage. The urate collection collection causes causes aa nodule nodule or or urate mass called called aa tophus tophus (plural (plural tophi) tophi) mass to form. form. The The tophus tophus causes causes resorpresorpto tion and and erosion erosion of of the the bone, bone, and and tion can potentially potentially cause cause deformity deformity can Tophaceous gout gout was was more more comcomTophaceous mon in in the the past, past, when when treatment treatment mon for hyperuricemia hyperuricemia was was unavailable. unavailable. for 8ZgiV^c groups \gdjeh are VgZ still hi^aa at Vi risk g^h` for [dg Certain tophaceous gout, gout, including: including: tophaceous EZdeaZ who l]d are VgZ treated igZViZY with l^i] cyXn• People closporine after after organ organ transplantatransplantaclosporine tion tion I]dhZ who l]d cannot XVccdi tolerate idaZgViZ adeVYZ• Those quate doses doses of of medications medications to to treat treat quate hyperuricemia (for (for example, example, due due to to hyperuricemia kidney failure failure or or drug drug allergy) allergy) kidney LdbZc who l]d are VgZ postmenopausedhibZcdeVjh• Women al, especially especially those those taking taking aa diuretic diuretic al, People with with gout gout are are at at increased increased People risk of of developing developing kidney kidney stones. stones. risk Uric acid acid crystals crystals can can collect collect in in the the Uric urinary tract tract and and form form aa stone. stone. If If aa urinary stone is is large large enough, enough, itit can can block block stone one of of the the tubes tubes (ureters) (ureters) that that carry carry one urine from from the the kidney kidney to to the the bladbladurine der and and out out of of the the body. body. der Rarely, urate urate crystals crystals collect collect in in Rarely, the kidney kidney tissue tissue itself, itself, where where they they the can cause cause inflammation inflammation and and scar scar can tissue, which which reduce reduce kidney kidney funcfunctissue, tion. Medications Medications that that increase increase the the tion. amount of of uric uric acid acid excreted excreted by by the the amount kidneys may may help help to to reduce reduce the the risk risk kidneys d[ developing YZkZade^c\ kidney `^YcZn stones. hidcZh# Hy=nof peruricemia or or excess excess uric uric acid acid can can peruricemia lead to to kidney kidney failure, failure, hypertenhypertenlead sion, and and cardiovascular cardiovascular problems. problems. sion, There are are many many illnesses illnesses that that There XVc cause XVjhZ joint _d^ci pain eV^c and VcY inflam^cÓVbcan mation. Gout Gout is is strongly strongly suspectsuspectmation. ed ifif aa person person has has an an acute acute attack attack ed d[ joint _d^ci pain, eV^c! followed [daadlZY by Wn aV period eZg^dY of when there there are are no no symptoms. symptoms. It It is is when important to to confirm confirm the the diagnosis diagnosis important of gout gout to to ensure ensure that that potentially potentially of harmful medications medications are are not not taken taken harmful

unnecessarily over over aa prolonged prolonged pepeunnecessarily riod of of time. time. riod The best best way way to to diagnose diagnose gout gout The is to to examine examine synovial synovial fluid fluid from from is Vc affected V[[ZXiZY joint, _d^ci! to id look add` for [dg urate jgViZ an crystals in in the the sample. sample. To To obtain obtain crystals the fluid, fluid, the the provider provider uses uses aa neeneethe dle and and syringe syringe to to withdraw withdraw aa small small dle amount of of fluid fluid from from inside inside the the amount _d^ci# Tophi Ide]^ located adXViZY just _jhi beneath WZcZVi] joint. the skin skin can can be be sampled sampled with with aa neeneethe dle to to diagnose diagnose tophaceous tophaceous gout. gout. dle =dlZkZg! some hdbZ people eZdeaZ do Yd not cdi However, have urate urate crystals crystals in in their their synovial synovial have fluid when when symptoms symptoms are are present. present. fluid In this this case, case, the the diagnosis diagnosis is is based based In upon aa person’s person’s symptoms symptoms and and aa upon physical examination. examination. physical The goal goal of of treatment treatment of of flares flares The of gouty gouty arthritis arthritis is is to to reduce reduce pain pain of and inflammation inflammation quickly quickly and and safesafeand ly. It It may may be be necessary necessary to to use use more more ly. than one one drug drug to to achieve achieve this this goal. goal. than Deciding which which medication medication to to use use Deciding is based based upon upon several several factors, factors, ininis cluding aa person’s person’s risk risk of of bleeding, bleeding, cluding their kidney kidney health, health, and and whether whether their there is is aa past past history history of of an an ulcer ulcer there ^c the i]Z stomach. hidbVX]# Anti-inflammatory 6ci^"^cÓVbbVidgn in medications are are the the best best treatment treatment medications for acute acute gout gout attacks attacks and and are are best best for started early early in in the the course course of of an an atatstarted tack. tack.

People with with aa history history of of gout gout People should keep keep medication medication on on hand hand at at should all times times to to treat treat an an attack attack because because all early treatment treatment is is an an important important early factor in in decreasing decreasing the the pain pain and and factor severity of of an an attack. attack. Nonsteroidal Nonsteroidal severity anti-inflammatory drugs drugs — — NonNonanti-inflammatory steroidal anti-inflammatory anti-inflammatory drugs drugs steroidal CH6>9h ! ldg` id gZYjXZ hlZaa^c\ (NSAIDs), work to reduce swelling ^c aV joint, _d^ci! and VcY include ^cXajYZ ibuprofen ^Wjegd[Zc in 6Yk^a ! Bdig^c VcY ^cYdbZi]V(Advil®, Motrin®) and indomethaX^c >cYdX^c cin (Indocin®) CH6>9h are VgZ generally \ZcZgVaan recomgZXdbNSAIDs mended for for people people who who have have no no mended history of of kidney kidney or or liver liver disease, disease, history no bleeding bleeding problems, problems, do do not not use use no anticoagulant medications medications (blood (blood anticoagulant i]^ccZgh such hjX] as Vh warfarin lVg[Vg^c or dg Cou8djthinners bVY^c ! VcY l]d ]VkZ cd ]^hidgn madin®), and who have no history of aa stomach stomach or or duodenal duodenal ulcer. ulcer. of CH6>9h VgZ bdhi Z[[ZXi^kZ ^c i]Z NSAIDs are most effective in the treatment of of aa gout gout attack attack when when treatment they are are started started as as soon soon as as possipossithey ble, before before the the attack attack is is full full blown. blown. ble, People who who have have had had previous previous atatPeople iVX`h bVn hiVgi iV`^c\ Vc CH6>9 Vi tacks may start taking an NSAID at the first first signs signs of of aa recurrence. recurrence. the 6ai]dj\] Vhe^g^c ^h Vc CH6>9! ^i Although aspirin is an NSAID, it is not not usually usually recommended recommended for for the the is treatment of of gout gout because because of of it’s it’s treatment potential impact impact on on levels levels of of urate urate potential in the the blood. blood. in 8daX]^X^cZ bVn WZ egZhXg^WZY ^cColchicine may be prescribed inhiZVY d[ Vc CH6>9# 8daX]^X^cZ YdZh stead of an NSAID. Colchicine does not increase increase the the risk risk of of ulcers, ulcers, has has not

no known known interaction interaction with with anticoanticono agulants, and and in in proper proper doses, doses, does does agulants, not affect affect kidney kidney function. function. not Steroids, also also known known as as glucoglucoSteroids, corticoids, are are effective effective anti-inflamanti-inflamcorticoids, bVidgn agents.

V\Zcih# Commonly 8dbbdcan used jhZY matory oral steroids steroids include include prednisone, prednisone, oral prednisolone, and and methylpredmethylpredprednisolone, nisolone. Steroids Steroids may may be be used used ifif nisolone.

CH6>9h and VcY colchicine XdaX]^X^cZ cannot XVccdi be WZ NSAIDs jhZY# I]Zn bVn WZ ^c_ZXiZY Y^gZXiused.

They may be injected directan ^cid i]Z V[[ZXiZY _d^ci XVaaZY Vc ly into the affected joint (called an ^cigVVgi^XjaVg ^c_ZXi^dc dg i]Zn XVc intraarticular injection) or they can be given given as as pills pills or or by by intramuscuintramuscube aVg ^c_ZXi^dc# lar injection.

Prophylactic therapy therapy aims aims to to Prophylactic prevent or or reduce reduce the the occurrence occurrence prevent of acute acute flares flares of of gouty gouty arthritis. arthritis. of 8daX]^X^cZ ^h jhjVaan gZXdbbZcYZY Colchicine is usually recommended as prophylactic prophylactic therapy; therapy; itit is is taken taken as daily at at low low doses doses to to avoid avoid gastroingastroindaily iZhi^cVa h^YZ Z[[ZXih# 8daX]^X^cZ gZtestinal side effects. Colchicine reduces the the frequency frequency of of acute acute gout gout duces attacks, particularly particularly while while starting starting attacks, other drugs drugs that that lower lower urate urate levlevother els. Prophylactic Prophylactic colchicine colchicine is is not not els. usually used used as as aa long-term long-term (years) (years) usually treatment, but but is is aa helpful helpful bridge bridge as as treatment, person progresses progresses from from an an acute acute aa person flare to to preventive preventive therapy. therapy. flare Preventive therapy therapy includes includes Preventive medications and and dietary dietary changes changes medications that can can be be used used long-term long-term to to lowlowthat er urate urate levels levels and and prevents prevents the the er progression of of gout. gout. Progressive Progressive progression gout can can cause cause bone bone destruction destruction gout and deformity deformity (gouty (gouty arthropathy), arthropathy), and disability, kidney kidney stone stone formation, formation, disability, and, possibly, possibly, kidney kidney damage. damage. PeoPeoand, ple who who have have one one or or more more of of these these ple complications are are strongly strongly encourencourcomplications aged to to take take aa urate urate lowering lowering treattreataged ment. ment.

Not everyone everyone with with gout gout will will rereNot quire preventive preventive therapy; therapy; those those quire who have have rare rare or or mild mild attacks attacks are are who often able able to to manage manage their their gout gout by by often treating the the acute acute attacks attacks alone. alone. treating Dc the i]Z other di]Zg hand, ]VcY! people eZdeaZ with l^i] On sporadic gout gout flares flares that that are are ununsporadic usually prolonged, prolonged, painful, painful, and/or and/or usually disabling are are often often encouraged encouraged to to disabling take preventive preventive therapy. therapy. take Urate-lowering or or antihyperantihyperUrate-lowering uricemic medications medications lower lower urate urate uricemic levels by by helping helping to to eliminate eliminate or or levels decrease production production of of uric uric acid. acid. decrease 6ci^]neZgjg^XZb^X therapy i]ZgVen is ^h usujhjAntihyperuricemic ally started started after after aa gout gout attack attack has has ally resolved. People People who who take take their their resolved.

medication regularly regularly experience experience medication [ZlZg attacks.

ViiVX`h# At 6i present, egZhZci! prevenegZkZcfewer tive therapy therapy is is recommended recommended indefindeftive initely because because there there is is no no benefit benefit initely to taking taking aa break break from from medication. medication. to What’s new new in in gout gout therapy? therapy?

What’s If you you have have more more than than one one flare flare If year, it it may may be be time time to to step step up up aa year, your gout gout treatment. treatment. Recurrent Recurrent your gout flares flares may may be be your your body’s body’s gout way of of telling telling you you that that oral oral medmedway icines aren’t aren’t doing doing enough enough to to icines lower your your uric uric acid acid level level and and lower prevent the the harmful harmful effects effects of of prevent out-of-control chronic chronic gout. gout. out-of-control Krystexxa has has been been helping helping Krystexxa gout patients patients for for nearly nearly 10 10 years. years. gout Studies show show that that one one IV IV treattreatStudies ment every every other other week week for for about about ment months is is all all you you may may need need to to 66 months take control. control. Oral Oral gout gout medimeditake cines do do not not work work the the same same way way cines krystexxa does. does. krystexxa Krystexxa has has aa different different way way Krystexxa of lowering lowering uric uric acid acid levels, levels, of which is is the the key key to to stopping stopping gout gout which flares. In In about about 66 months, months, it it can can flares. remove years years of of accumulated accumulated uric uric remove acid and and Tophus Tophus your your body body acid It helps helps to to keep keep uric uric acid acid at at It very low low levels levels thereby thereby preventpreventvery ing acute acute attacks attacks of of gout, gout, Tophus Tophus ing formation, prevent prevent renal renal complicompliformation, cations, hypertension hypertension and and other other cations, damages related related to to elevated elevated uric uric damages acid. Complete Complete Care Care CommuniCommuniacid. ty Health Health Center Center (CCCHC) (CCCHC) offers offers ty Krystexxa treatments treatments at at 22 of of our our Krystexxa fully equipped equipped infusion infusion centers. centers. fully Ask your your Doctor Doctor if if you you are are aa Ask candidate for for Krystexxa Krystexxa treattreatcandidate ment and and be be referred referred to to our our cencenment ter for for further further evaluation evaluation and and ter treatment. treatment.

8]Vc\Zh ^c Y^Zi bVn gZYjXZ i]Z Changes in diet may reduce the frequency of of gout gout attacks attacks in in some some frequency people. Because Because obesity obesity is is aa risk risk people. factor for for gout, gout, as as well well as as for for many many factor other health health conditions conditions (heart (heart disdisother ease, diabetes, diabetes, high high blood blood prespresease, sure), losing losing weight weight is is an an important important sure), \dVa# However, =dlZkZg! starvation hiVgkVi^dc or dg fad [VY goal. diets are are not not recommended recommended diet diet diets guidelines for for patients patients with with gout gout guidelines have changed changed over over time, time, and and itit is is have not completely completely clear clear which which combicombinot nation of of foods foods is is best. best. nation 8]Vc\Zh ^c Y^Zi VgZ d[iZc gZXdbChanges in diet are often recommended along along with with medications, medications, mended but the the reduction reduction in in blood blood urate urate but

levels due due to to diet diet change change alone alone is is levels modest (15 (15 to to 20 20 percent), percent), even even modest with very very strict strict diets. diets. with Your healthcare healthcare provider provider or or Your your Rheumatologist Rheumatologist (Doctors your (Doctors who who specialize in Arthritis specialize in Arthritis and gout)and is gout) is source the best of inforthe best of source information for mation forand questions andrelated concerns questions concerns to related to your medical problem. your medical problem.

Because no notwo two patients are Because patients are exexactly alike recommendaalike and and recommendations actly tionsvary canfrom vary oneto person can onefrom person anothto another, it is important to seek er, it is important to seek guidance guidance from a who provider who is from a provider is familiar familiar your individual with yourwith individual situation situation For more information please ;dg CCCHC bdgZ ^c[dgbVi^dc eaZVhZ contact at 323-507-3734.

XdciVXi 888=8 Vi 323-507-3734.

Dr. Rachmandran Rachmandran Srinivasan Srinivasan Dr. is aa certified certified rheumatologist, rheumatologist, is gout specialist, specialist, internist internist and and pain pain gout bVcV\ZbZci YdXidg# =Z heZX^Va^oZh management doctor. He specializes in the the diagnosis diagnosis and and management management in of rehumatoid rehumatoid arthritis, arthritis, lupus lupus and and of other autoimmune autoimmune diseases. diseases. Dr. Dr. other Srinivasan is is currently currently the the chief chief Srinivasan bZY^XVa officer d[ÒXZg at Vi the i]Z Complete 8dbeaZiZ medical 8VgZ Community 8dbbjc^in Health =ZVai] Center 8ZciZg Care 888=8 # (CCCHC).

Dr. Srinivasan Srinivasan also also specializes specializes Dr. in gout gout therapy. therapy. With With the the aid aid in of Krystexxa, Krystexxa, an an enzyme enzyme that that of lowers uric uric acid acid levels levels by by lowers metabolizing itit into into aa chemical chemical that that metabolizing does not not cause cause bodily bodily damage, damage, does Dr. Srinivasan Srinivasan is is able able take take gout gout Dr. treatment under under control. control. treatment In 2012, 2012, Dr. Dr. Srinivasan Srinivasan wrote wrote In Æ9ZVY End :cY Medicine,” BZY^X^cZ!Ç that i]Vi “Dead shares aa behind behind the the scenes scenes look look shares at the the United United States States health health care care at system and and explores explores the the pitfalls pitfalls system and eventual eventual implosion implosion of of our our and healthcare system. system. healthcare (Advertising Supplement) Supplement) (Advertising

ABS-CBN fuses iWANT and TFC.tv, entertainment launches new streaming service ‘iWantTFC’ for Filipinos worldwide How to defend yourself from COVID-19 The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 25, 2020

DALY CITY – ABS-CBN has merged its two streaming platforms to provide entertainment, news, and information to Filipinos wherever they are in the world as it launches the bigger and better iWantTFC, the first Filipino subscriptionbased streaming service available globally. iWantTFC, which is available through the web on iwanttfc.com and on iOS and Android apps, allows users to choose from different subscription options with different levels of access to content and new platform features to suit their needs.

Aside from offering ad-free access to the biggest library of Filipino video content, the new iWantTFC provides first window streaming of fresh teleserye episodes, 48 hours before their premiere on any ABS-CBN platform or channel. iWantTFC users are also able to enjoy new features such as offline viewing of select movies and series and an enhanced viewing experience on bigger screens through select TV brands, as well as Roku and Telstra TV. Registered iWantTFC users can choose from three subscription plans – free, standard, and premium.

Premium subscribers can access to its entire catalogue and all platform features ad-

free, while Standard subscribers can watch ad-supported content. For more information about the subscriptions, you may visit iwanttfc.com.

Both premium and standard subscribers get full access to iWantTFC’s full library of over 1,000 movies, live channels namely Kapamilya Channel, TeleRadyo, ANC, CineMo, and Knowledge Channel, ABS-CBN’s full inventory of shows, all acquired content, all episodes of 86 iWantTFC originals, and other digital content.

Users can also opt for the free plan, which will grant limited access to an ad-supported catalog of movies, live channels, select episodes of shows, and teleseryes. iWantTFC’s extensive library of regularly updated content contains currently airing ABS-CBN shows, Kapamilya classics, movies, newscasts, lifestyle programs, award-winning documentaries, originals, and religious programs.

Users also get to enjoy watching “La Vida Lena,” ABS-CBN’s newest teleserye starring Erich Gonzales that premiered its first episode on iWantTFC last Saturday (November 14). Adding to iWantTFC’s catalog are new and upcoming originals “Bawal Lumabas” with Kim Chiu, Kyle Echarri, and Franchine Diaz, “Hoy Love You” featuring the

love team reunion of Roxanne Guinoo and Joross Gamboa, “I Can Wait Forever” with Loisa Andalio and Ronnie Alonte, “He’s Into Her” with Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano, and “Ampalaya Chronicles: Me & Mrs. Cruz,” the latest episode in the heartbreakthemed anthology series starring Beauty Gonzalez and Kiko Estrada.

Users will also be able to watch new movies released

by CineXpress straight on the platform such as the Star Cinema movies “My Lockdown Romance,” “Boyette,” and “Four Sisters Before the Wedding.” Fans can also continue to follow the ongoing season of “The House Arrest of Us” on iWantTFC. To experience the latest version of the new iWantTFC, users need to download the app from Google Play and Apple App Store or visit iwanttfc.com and register for an account. First-time users can also avail of a 30-day free trial.

Download the new iWantTFC app now from Google Play or App Store or log in to iwanttfc.com. For updates, like http://www.facebook. com/iWantTFC, and follow @iwanttfc on Twitter and @ iwanttfc on Instagram and subscribe to www.youtube. com/iWantTFC. (ABS-CBN Release)

Bibingka (Coconut-Rice Cake)...

From Page 2 Philadelphia cream cheese, cut crosswise into 16 slices • 1 cup Niyog (page 000) or any frozen shredded coconut Instructions 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 attach-

ment, 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 incorporated 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.

Lola’s Pancit Bihon...

From Page 2 • 4 cups Homemade Chicken Stock (page 44) • 1 cup Datu Puti or Silver Swan soy sauce (see page 60; available at Asian markets and on Amazon) • ½ medium green cabbage, cored and thinly sliced • 1 pound shredded meat from Poached Chicken (page 39/below) • ¼ to ½ cup fresh lemon juice, plus lemon wedges for serving • ¼ cup thinly sliced scallions (2 to 3 scallions) • Hard-Cooked Eggs (page 125/below), sliced, for garnish (optional) Directions 1. Soak the noodles in a large bowl of cold water for 5 minutes, or until the noodles are softened. Drain thoroughly and set aside.

2. Heat a large wok over high heat until blistering hot.

Add your oil, then cut the heat to medium and heat until you see the oil ripple, about 30 seconds. Add the onion and garlic and stir-fry until the onion is translucent, about 2 minutes.

Add the celery and carrot and stir-fry until softened, 2 to 4 minutes.

3. Add the chicken stock and soy sauce and stir to combine. This will essentially deglaze the wok; make sure to scrape the fond (browned bits) from the bottom of the wok so nothing’s stuck there. Cook until the liquid is simmering, then gently fold in the drained noodles. Add your cabbage and toss with tongs to combine.

Cook, stirring constantly, until the noodles have absorbed the liquid, about 7 minutes. Add the chicken and cook, stirring, until the chicken is heated through, about 2 minutes.

Reduce the heat if the noodles start to stick to the wok.

4. Plate the noodles, sprinkle the lemon juice and scallions over the top, garnish with hard-cooked eggs, and serve

immediately with lemon wedges.

Poached Chicken Makes 1 chicken Ingredients • 1 (5-pound) whole chicken • 1 cup kosher salt, plus more for seasoning Directions 1. Remove any giblets from the chicken and reserve for Goto (page 41). Rinse the chicken under very cold water, salt the entire chicken liberally inside and out, and let it rest at room temperature for 1 hour.

2. Fill a large stockpot with water and add the 1 cup salt.

Bring the water to a boil, then cut the heat until the water is slowly simmering. Add the room-temperature chicken and let the chicken bathe in the slow-simmering water until the internal temperature of the breast reaches 155°F, 25 to 35 minutes.

3. Fill a large bowl with ice and water. Slide your spider under the bot-tom of the chicken, hook your tongs into the cavity, and airlift it out of the pot and into your ice bath. Submerge the chicken fully to stop the cooking, and leave it in the ice bath until cool enough to handle, 15 to 20 minutes.

4. Drain the chicken. Carefully peel off the skin with a sharp knife or your hands, and save it to make Chicharon (recipe follows), the perfect garnish for arroz caldo. Shred the meat into even pieces.

Discard the bones.

Hard-Cooked Eggs Makes 12 eggs

Ingredients • 12 large eggs Directions 1. Fill a large stockpot with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. When the water is at a rolling boil, add the eggs and let them boil for 7 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat, cover, and let stand for 10 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with ice and water. Pull the eggs out of the pot and dunk them in the ice bath for 15 minutes to stop the cooking. Run the eggs under cold water, peel, and I promise, you will have perfect hard-cooked eggs every time.

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.

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA (CONTINUED from the previous article...)

Zinc needs an ionophore. It is a substance able to transport the zinc ions through the lipid or fat membrane in the cell so that the zinc can do its job of stopping the virus from stealing the resources present in the lungs and replicating itself to critical mass and creating a cytokine storm. That is the tipping point.

You don’t want to get there.

This is when all hell breaks loose.

Think of an ionophore as an ice cutter boat chugging along cutting through sheets of ice, in this case, the cell membrane, to bring in the zinc cavalry and stop the offending virus from replicating itself and eventually killing you. Okay, that’s mixed imagery. But you get the point.

The most well known, ionophore is Plaquenil aka hydroxychloroquine that is commonly used to treat malaria and rheumatoid arthritis for the last 60 to 70 years around the world. It is commonly used in Africa and in other nations with swampy areas where mosquitoes thrive.

But trust the media to do a lying spin on the medicine to drive a sinister agenda.

Hydroxychloroquine’s use has been highly politicized by the mainstream media claiming that the medicine is ineffective especially after President Trump touted its efficacy back in April.

But truth, like sunlight, is the best antiseptic. The medical community’s pushback against the agenda-driven narrative has been extremely strong and gaining ground daily as more and more doctors worldwide are testifying to its effectiveness particularly during early onset.

There’s a reason why big pharma and the media might be behind the trashing of hydroxychloroquine. And if you think it is about the money, you hit

Conclusion of 2 parts

“… Oh, to go back to the comforts of the past — pre-pandemic, To breathe freely, sans the mask…

Back to the touchy feely hum of life Never again will I take it for granted …”

—MAM the bullseye. Always follow the money to find your answer.

No one owns the patent on hydroxychloroquine, so no one stands to make big money off of it.

Sometimes you just have to chuckle and see God’s goodness and sense of humor in all this. Isn’t GOD just wonderful in all His designs and blessings?

In classic literature, there is the concept of Deus ex Machina or what men who trust in God’s mercy and love, call divine intervention. God has a direct hand on how this story is unfolding.

The presence and use of affordable, effective hydroxychloroquine is one such act of God’s intervention in this sordid human event called the Covid19 pandemic. Petty bureaucrats who manipulate and withhold its availability and usage for political reasons should bear the cosmic consequences of karmic retribution now and forever for the tens of thousands of deaths that could have been prevented had they done what is right.

Curious and want to learn more about this controversy?

Do a search of the practicing physician, Dr. Zelenko, a Hasidic Jew of New York who has helped heal hundreds of afflicted people, probably thousands by now, using this simple, low-cost regimen. Dr. Zelenko first drew attention to hydroxychloroquine early during the pandemic.

The whole regimen done at home costs about $20.00 give or take. Contrast that with the other newfangled medicine being touted by those with ulterior motives costing thousands of dollars. The current payment structure for those hospitalized

because of the virus incentivizes hospitals to get as many cases as possible. This is definitely not a good thing and should be rectified.

If you are wondering if this is no longer about public health but really all about profit and more importantly, the power to skew the results of the national election, you are right on the money. Keep on praying to God for mercy and His direct hand on all things.

There is a push to make hydroxychloroquine, a tried and tested medicine a readily available OTC. Though readily available in other countries, it seems that in some states, local government has overstepped its boundaries as usual and are only making it available in hospitals.

By then, it may be too late. The FDA and the DHS should be taken to task because of their piss poor handling of hydroxychloroquine availability and use.

The use of this ionophore should be between the doctor and his or her patient. And if you have no known co-morbidities and are convinced of the efficacy of this medicine in getting a winning advantage over this virus, stand your ground and invoke your ‘RIGHT TO TRY.” Be aware though that there are cases where co-morbidities exist particularly for people who live in nursing homes and for people 65 years old and older, who have diabetes, heart condition or any other condition that poses risks and complications.

Talk to your doctor but do your own research so you can decide on a wise course of action.

And then there is Quercetin.

Although unconfirmed as to its Continued on Page 5

community Don’t let your debt problems turn into a financial emergency

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 25, 2020

their boss saying that they are no longer needed by the Minding Your company. They suddenly find Finances themselves with no income and they are not prepared to deal with the fact that they may need to go back Atty. rAymond to school to learn new skills to find a new job or switch BUlAon careers in mid-life.

MOST people who are If you rely on a paycheck struggling with debt problems or your business to feed your for the first time are often family, missing even one confused and don’t know paycheck or one slow month what to do. They’ve never (if you’re in business) can been in this situation before. be devastating. This is when They have always paid their people find out that with no bills on time. For the first time savings in the bank, they are in their life, they are finding it literally just one month away difficult to fulfill their debt obligations. Bill collectors may be calling and they’re afraid to answer the phone or even go to their mailbox.

They’re feeling embarrassed, desperate or even angry.

This can happen to anyone.

Sometimes, it is the result of making bad financial decisions.

But more often than not, it is caused by reasons beyond your control. For instance, these days I am seeing a lot from bankruptcy because of small business owners who without the income, they are are simply not making enough unable to pay their bills. to even meet their payroll The ideal situation is to needs. Every month is a strug- have a few months’ worth of gle, and they are not even living expenses tucked away paying themselves because in a savings account, but the there is not enough money truth is that most people in the business after paying don’t even have $1,000 in the their employees, suppliers, bank. It’s true because as a vendors, and other business bankruptcy attorney, I see it expenses. What should they every single day. Even people do? who earn high incomes, Or you can be someone most of the time, have no whose work hours just got re- savings. They spend it all duced or perhaps got laid off every month. It seems like the by your employer. I feel bad higher the income, the higher when I hear of people being the expenses. It’s not how terminated from their job of much you make that matters.

10, 20 or sometimes even It’s what you get to keep.

30 years. The job is the only Once you fall behind on job they’ve had and known your debt obligations, it is for years- and it is what easy to ignore the situation they’ve considered to be their and hope that things will get financial security. Then one better on their own. But that day they get a notice from will never happen until you

do something about it. That means you should be aware at all times how much money you have coming in, how much money you have going out, and spend within your means.

Borrowing when you are already in debt is not a good idea. I see a lot of people who resort to payday loans when their income is short, hoping this can be a quick fix. But they are not, and they will only put you in a bigger financial hole every month.

When I see the interest rates that these payday loan “thieves” are charging, I get really angry. Who in their right mind will pay more than 1000% interest on a $300-500 loan? You read that right: more than 1000% APR is what most of these pay day loan companies are charging and this should be a crime! But desperate people fall for it all the time and that’s what keeps them in business.

Don’t wait until you get to a point of desperation before you start tackling your debt problems. In some cases, you can still avoid bankruptcy if you know what your options are. If you wait until your situation becomes a financial emergency, you will find that those options are extremely limited. *** NOTE: Due to COVID-19 pandemic, I am offering free consultations BY PHONE to anyone who needs help in dealing with their debt problems. ***

“Once you fall behind on your debt obligations, it is easy to ignore the situation and hope that things will get better on their own. But that will never happen until you do something about it.”

EMPLOYMENT

None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-4777772.

(Advertising Supplement)

EMPLOYMENT

4 ways filing for divorce can benefit your immigration case

Couples get divorced for various reasons. California is a no fault state. The reasons why a couple is getting divorced are often irrelevant to the issues of the family law case. Divorce is often a difficult and negative experience for most families.

However, getting divorce may have some unintended benefits in the immigration law arena.

Four situations in which filing for divorce can be beneficial to your immigration case are as follows: 1. Married Sons and Daughters of US Citizens If you were petitioned for legal permanent residence by your US Citizen parent as a married son or daughter 21 years old or over, you are classified in immigration law under family sponsored third preference (F3) which usually carries a long wait time. The wait time for Filipinos for example is currently 22 years. The priority date is normally the date the petition was initially filed by your US Citizen parents. If you get divorced, you revert back to single status and your category automatically becomes reclassified to first preference (F1) where the waiting time is substantially shorter.

For example, for Filipinos the wait time under F1 category is 10 years shorter than F3 category. This means if your parents filed your immigration petition 12 years ago, then you can adjust to a green card now instead of waiting another 10 years.

2. Married Sons and Daughters of Legal Permanent Residents If your parents are legal permanent residents, getting divorced will convert you back single status making you eligible to be petitioned by your legal permanent resident parents under the family based second preference (F2b) category if you are 21 years old or older or under the family based second preference A (F2a) if you are under 21 years of age.

For those who married after they were petitioned by their LPR parents (F2A and F2B), the petition is automatically revoked under operation of law the moment you get married and cannot be reclaimed by a divorce.

In theory, it can be argued that filing a subsequent petition af-

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes ter your divorce under the same category inherits the previous petition’s priority date under 9 FAM 42.43 N10 and 8 CFR 204.2(h), Part 205. However, success of such argument is not clear since the old petition was automatically revoked the moment you married. The best thing that can be done in this situation is to have your LPR parent repetition you as an F2A or F2b even if you are unable to reclaim the previous petition’s priority date.

3. Conditional Legal Permanent Residents in failed Marriages For those who obtained their legal permanent residence status through marriage based petition by their US Citizen spouse of less than 2 years marriage, the legal permanent residence status conferred is usually a “conditional legal permanent residence” valid only for 2 years. The couple would need to sign and file a joint petition to remove this condition prior to the expiration of the 2 years or the conditional legal permanent resident spouse would fall out of status.

The problem arises when the marriage is in trouble.

Often it becomes difficult to obtain the cooperation of the US Citizen spouse specially when the couple has separated. US Citizen spouse often refuse to sign the I-751 for or appear at the I-751 interview if one is set by the USCIS. Filing for divorce would terminate the marriage and allow you to file a “waiver” of the joint petition to remove the conditional LPR status based on entering into the marriage in good faith. Terminating the marriage by filing a divorce is a requirement in order to file the “waiver.” It is important to time this correctly as soon as the marriage starts falling apart because by terminating the marriage early on, you might be able to file the waiver before the expiration of your 2 year

FOR RENT

SERVICES

conditional LPR thus allowing you to extend your LPR status in 1 year increments until a final decision is made in your case.

4. Married Aliens in NonImmigrant Visas and those without Status For those who enter the US as a non-immigrant and are separated from their spouse but still married, filing a divorce would open up opportunities in case they meet a new significant other who is a US Citizen and who can petition them as an immediate relative. This is usually the fastest of process in obtaining legal permanent residence. In countries such as the Philippines where there is no divorce, many people come to the US to start a new life after they have been separated from their old spouse (often still married to them). Even if the alien over stays their status as a visitor, the alien can still adjust to that of a legal permanent residence if petitioned by a US Citizen spouse. If the alien was never inspected, the alien can still adjust to legal permanent residence if they are grandfathered under INA 245(i) and there are no special restrictions on their status. To be grandfathered under INA 245(i), the alien must have been a beneficiary of a legal permanent residence petition filed no later than April 30, 2001.

Finally, a common concern of divorcing immigrants is “What happens if my spouse refuses to sign the divorce papers?” The truth is you do not need your spouse’s signature to obtain a divorce in California.

You only need to provide your spouse notice that you filed a divorce by personally serving your spouse the divorce petition and summons. In countries that are members of the Hague Convention, special procedures need to be followed to effect service. So yes it is possible to divorce your spouse even if your spouse is in a country that does not recognize divorce among its citizens such as the Philippines. For some immigrants, filing for divorce opens up opportunities in this land of milk and honey. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.

Continued on Page 5

Island Pacific launches IPTV & QR code system this November in time for holidays ISLAND Pacific Supermarket, the Filipino grocery chain with 16 locations in California and Nevada, has committed to innovation and digital technology for Quarter 4 of 2020 to keep customers informed and connected by launching its in store/online digital platform called IPTV. With increasing foot traffic of over 1 million community members despite the pandemic, the grocery chain has invested in installing digital screens in all locations to be able to share public service announcements for the Filipino community.

Utilizing digital technology, customers can now find scannable QR codes all over the vicinity of the store to inform customers of weekly deals and classic Filipino recipes.

“In being more responsible [with] the environment, the effort to focus on less printing and more digital infrastructure is the way to go!” said Island Pacific communications director, Giselle Tongi-Walters.

“Keeping up with the times and producing digital content relevant to our market for Filipino Americans is a testament to the organization’s culture of being committed to being socially responsible by creating a community online where they can see themselves represented.”

IPTV, which stands for Island Pacific Television, will feature short vignettes of recipes and interviews with leading Filipino Americans in the culinary field. Community businesses also have the opportunity to place media buys for the in-store digital platform as a way to help spread the word on their services or products. With each Island Pacific

location, you can expect to see original content produced specifically for the Filipino Americans, as a way to outreach to the fast-growing demographic.

Island Pacific Founder Nino “Jeff” Lim shares why the push to provide digital platforms and technology to better serve

From Page 4

of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 25, 2020

How to defend yourself from...

From Page 3 efficacy, there is anecdotal evidence that Quercetin, available over the counter (OTC), has some qualities of an ionophore.

This is one way of getting around the obstacle of being hospitalized first before you can gain access to hydroxychloroquine, if you suspect the virus has penetrated your defenses.

Quercetin is a substance from concentrated apple, blueberry and other fruit peels.

Known only to those who do deep-dive research, it is getting traction among an increasing number of people because of its ability to facilitate zinc ions through the cell membrane.

Take them according to instructions.

GOOD LUCK though on finding it in store or online.

People are snapping these off the shelves, just like that very odd toilet paper mania that swept the country.

I have taken to drinking tonic water which contains quinine. Schweppes is one brand but anyone can take Walmart’s generic Great Value brand as well. Do your research on why taking tonic water is beneficial during this pandemic. Quinine is the key.

Also, do yourself a favor and tune out television and 95% of mainstream media. Do it for your mental well-being. All you hear is Covidcovidcovid ad infinitum scare propaganda and quite possibly fudged, mascustomers is integral to their saged numbers, according to a brand, “Innovation is crucial to concerted script using the same the success of any organization verbiage. Modern liestream and we are being conscious of media puts Goebbels to shame. how we can use digital technolWe cut cable years ago, saved ogy to help service our commoney and have relative peace munity more effectively is top of mind seeking reliable inforof mind for Island Pacific.” mation from credible sources

(Advertising Supplement) who have no skin in the game and wholesome entertainment elsewhere. Cultivate a hobby if you can. Millions have done so.

Don’t be left behind.

Then there is the mandatory Angeles and California State University, San use of masks when in public and Bernardino School of Business Administration. the sad and sorry concept of He has extensive CPA experience prior to law social distancing. The jury is still practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, out on this. We shall see in hindP.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite sight what the effects truly are 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 on health and human behavior or e-mail kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com. Web: over the long term. When we kenreyeslaw.com are well past this, and we will be (Advertising Supplement) after the true verifiable results of

4 ways filing for divorce can...

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

entertainment the election on November 03, 2020, we shall also know how this period of our human story has affected our way of life, as we know it.

As with anything that tries men’s souls, just remind yourself often: THIS TOO, SHALL PASS. ***

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.

*** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

T h e As ian Jour nal M D W K M A G A Z I NE - N ov em be r 2 5 , 2 0 2 0

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