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Volume 20 - No. 47 • 14 Pages

T H E F I L I P I N O A M E R I CA N C O M MU N I T Y N E WS PA P E R

Volume 18 - No. 17 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

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Go: Pres. Duterte will not US eyes reinforced defense ties with PH prevent Quiboloy extradition DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

SENATOR Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said the United States is exploring the possibility of strengthening its Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the Philippines to prevent further incursions into its territory.

The EDCA supplements the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement between the U.S. and the Philippines. It was signed in Manila on April 28, 2014.

Flying in on a private plane on Saturday, November 20, Lacson visited Pag-asa Island, the second largest island in the disputed Spratlys chain in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Pag-asa is about 500 kilometers from Palawan and within the jurisdiction of the municipality of Kalayaan. “Gusto nilang [U.S.] i-enhance pa ‘yung EDCA (they want to further enhance EDCA), including funding requirements,” Lacson, a presidential candidate, said.

“I think the United States is becoming a little more aggressive when it comes to the West Philippine Sea issue, which is a good indication,” he added.

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo will not get in the way if the United States requests for the extradition of his friend and spiritual adviser Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, according to Senator Bong Go.

The senator on Monday, November 22, noted Duterte’s close ties with Quiboloy, saying that the Chief Executive will offer moral support to his adviser.

“The President is there to give moral support kay (to) Pastor Quiboloy. Kaibigan sila (They are friends),” Go said in a chance interview with report-

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ICC suspends probe into PH drug war

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

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Attorney General Bonta co-leads multistate coalition in support of DACA

ers in General Santos City.

“Si Presidente pag kaibigan ka, kaibigan talaga (When the President says you’re friends, he really treats you as a friend),” he added.

However, Go maintained that Duterte will not prevent the U.S. from extraditing Quiboloy should

INTERCONNECTIVITY. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte inspects the Port Integrated Clearance Office inside the Port Operations Building Complex of the Philippine Ports Authority at the Makar Wharf in Barangay Labangal, General Santos City on Monday, November 22.

Duterte said the completion of the port project will greatly boost the interconnectivity and revive the agro-industrial and eco-tourism prospects of Southern Mindanao.

Malacañang photo by Alberto Alcain

CALIFORNIA Attorney General Rob Bonta is co-leading a coalition of 24 attorneys general in a comment letter in support of the federal government’s efforts to preserve and fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

In the comment letter sent Friday, November 19, the coalition highlights the critical contributions of hundreds of thousands of Dreamers to broader public health efforts, the economy, and communities across the country — and urges the federal government to finalize regulations strengthening DACA and ensuring that states can continue to benefit from the program.

Since 2012, DACA has protected from deportation and extended work authorization to approximately 825,000 individuals who grew up in this country, most of whom have known no home other than the United States.

California is home to more DACA recipients

CDC approves COVID-19 boosters for all adults

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by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA

AJPress

ALL fully-vaccinated adults in the United States are now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine boosters, giving them more protection amid the pandemic.

Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) authorized its advisory committee’s recommendation to expand vaccine booster eligibility to all adults ages 18 years and older who received a PfizerBioNTech or Moderna vaccine at least six months after their second dose.

“After critical scientific evaluation, today’s unanimous decision carefully considered the current state of the pandemic, the latest vaccine effectiveness data over time, and review of safety data from people who have

THE International Criminal Court (ICC) has suspended its investigation into the killings linked to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-narcotics crackdown following a deferral request from the Philippine government.

“The prosecution has temporarily suspended its investigative activities while it assesses the scope and effect of the deferral request,” ICC prosecutor Karim Khan wrote in a court notification dated November 18.

“The Prosecution will, however, continue its analysis of information already in its possession as well as of any new information it may receive from third parties, and actively assess the need for applications to the pre-trial chamber for authority to conduct necessary investigative steps for the preservation of evidence under Article 18(6) of the Statute,” he added.

Based on court documents released by the ICC, Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands Eduardo Malaya requested the deferral on November 10, in which he said that the administration was already looking into the

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already received a COVID-19 primary vaccine series and booster,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said Friday, November 19.

“Booster shots have demonstrated the ability to safely increase people’s protection against infection and severe outcomes and are an important public health tool to strengthen our defenses against the virus as we enter the winter holidays. Based on the compelling evidence, all adults over 18 should now have equitable access to a COVID-19 booster dose,” she added.

Earlier that day, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) unanimously voted to recommend booster shots to all Apollo Quiboloy adults. It also recommended that every adult ages 50 and over should receive a booster.

Philstar.com photo

Lawyer defending Apollo Report: 1 in 5 AAPIs experienced a hate incident in the past year Quiboloy confident amid US sex trafficking case

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

AFTER the most disturbing rise in crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) of the 21st century, a national hate crime tracker reported recently that anti-AAPI hate continues to proliferate across the nation.

Stop AAPI Hate, the national coalition of AAPI organizations dedicated to addressing antiAAPI discrimination, released new findings on Thursday, Nov. 18 bring the total number of reported AAPI hate incidents and

crimes to 10,370 between March 19, 2020 and Sept. 30, 2021.

In addition to the tally, Stop AAPI Hate also conducted a survey between Sept. 21 and Oct. 8 of this year that yielded a concerning statistic: 1 in 5 AAPIs have experienced a hate incident in the past year. In terms of average number, that translates to 4.8 million Asian Americans and 320,000 Pacific Islanders.

According to Stop AAPI Hate, verbal harassment and shunning continue to make up the largest share of types of incidents, comprising about 79% of total incidents. Like previous findings,

a majority of incidents take place in public, and women — who comprise 62% of the reports — are more likely to be the targets.

Stop AAPI Hate’s finding coincides with other survey findings. Last month, a survey from NPR and Harvard found that 1 in 4 Asian Americans feared their families would be attacked because of their race.

In the spring, Morning Consult relased a report that found that 3 in 5 Asian adults feel that the rise in anti-Asian harassment and violence greatly affected their mental health.

Notably, Asian American

respondents with a high school education (41.2%) are experiencing hate twice as much as those with college degrees (19.8%). One in three Asian American parents also reported their child was targeted in a hate incident at school.

“It’s tragic but not surprising that Asian Americans with lower education levels are experiencing more hate,” said Cynthia Choi, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate and co-executive director of Chinese for Affirmative Action, in a statement. “Anti-Asian hate is tied to systemic racism against u PAGE 3

by ROBERTZON

RAMIREZ

Philstar.com

MANILA — The legal counsel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name (KJC) expressed confidence in the defense its founding leader, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who has been indicted for sex trafficking charges by prosecutors in the United States.

“We are confident and ready to face whatever is hurled against Pastor Quiboloy and the Kingdom

leaders. We trust the process of justice and we certainly expect the truth to prevail, and the Kingdom ministry will continue to prosper,” the “KJC Legal Counsel,” who was not named, said in a statement.

Days earlier, U.S. prosecutors announced the filing of sex trafficking charges against Quiboloy, “international administrator” Teresita Dandan who is the top overseer of KJC’s operations in the U.S., and sect u PAGE 3

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November 26 - December 2, 2021 • NorcAL ASIAN JoUrNAL

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

From the Front Page

Go: Pres. Duterte will not...

PAGE 1 it happen.

“Abugado si PRRD at ako po’y naniniwala na sumusunod sa batas ang ating presidente. Bilang presidente, naniniwala ako siya nagpapatupad sa anumang treaty (President Rodrigo Duterte is a lawyer and I believe our President follows the law. As president, I believe that he implements any treaty),” he said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) pointed out that there will be no need for extradition if Quiboloy turns himself in to the jurisdiction of the U.S. authorities.

“All talks about possible extradition will be mooted if the person sought to be extradited opted to voluntarily surrender to the jurisdiction of the requesting state and defend himself/herself with the assistance of counsel in the appropriate legal proceedings in the requesting state,” said Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra in a separate statement.

On Friday, Nov. 19, U.S. pros-

ecutors charged Quiboloy and two other top church officials for participating in a conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion.

In a 74-page indictment, the three church leaders were alleged to have recruited females ranging from approximately 12 to 25 years of age to work as personal assistants or “pastorals” for Quiboloy.

“The victims prepared Quiboloy’s meals, cleaned his residences, gave him massages, and were required to have sex with Quiboloy in what the pastorals called ‘night duty,’” it added.

Five females allegedly fell victim to this, three of whom were minors when the supposed sex trafficking began.

For its part, Quiboloy’s camp dismissed the sex-trafficking charges filed against him in the U.S. “Once again, another vicious attempt to bring down Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy and some of the Kingdom leaders has been

organized just recently in the United States, but (Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name) and all its followers remain steadfast and committed to faithfully respond to its mission, its ministry and its divine calling despite all the detraction efforts made against them,” the KJC Legal Counsel said in a statement.

It also said that accusations will not “detract” the KJC from its mission and ministry.

“People may have tried to silence Pastor Quiboloy, but they cannot put down the Kingdom nation. They will never detract from the mission and the ministry of The Kingdom. It will never stop. It will go on forever,” said the KJC Legal Counsel.

“We are confident and ready to face whatever is hurled against Pastor Quiboloy and the Kingdom leaders. We trust the process of justice and we certainly expect the truth to prevail, and the Kingdom ministry will continue to prosper,” it added. n

MORE TIME OUTDOORS. A girl poses at a Christmas display inside a mall in Quezon City on Sunday, November 21. As quarantine restrictions have been relaxed in Metro Manila, children get to enjoy more time outside their homes so long as they continue to adhere to the health protocols.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

ICC suspends probe into PH...

PAGE 1 alleged crimes against humanity committed during the drug war.

Malaya also said that the Philippine government “has undertaken, and continues to undertake, thorough investigations of all reported deaths during antinarcotic operations in the country.”

In September, the ICC’s pretrial chamber found a “reasonable basis” to proceed with a full investigation into Duterte’s bloody war against illegal drugs.

The decision was signed by Presiding Judge Péter Kovács, Judge Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou, and Judge María del Socorro Flores Liera.

“On the basis of the above, the Chamber concludes that there is a reasonable basis for the Prosecutor to proceed with an investigation, in the sense that the

crime against humanity of murder appears to have been committed, and that potential case(s) arising from such investigation appear to fall within the Court’s jurisdiction,” the judges said.

No jurisdiction For its part, Malacañang welcomed the ICC’s decision to suspend its drug war probe.

Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Saturday, Nov. 21, maintained that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippine government.

“This, however, does not preclude the government from communicating with the ICC, and it should be stressed that the government’s communication to the ICC was conditioned on the fact that in making that communication the Philippine government was not waiving its position regarding the ICC’s lack of jurisdic-

tion,” he said.

“In any event, we welcome the judiciousness of the new ICC prosecutor, who has deemed it fit to give the matter a fresh look and we trust that the matter will be resolved in favor of the exoneration of our government and the recognition of the vibrancy of our justice system,” he added.

Meanwhile, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that the ICC’s decision is proof that the Philippine institutions are “working.”

“This order is a recognition that the Philippine institutions are working and that the ICC will not exercise original jurisdiction precisely because sovereignty and jurisdiction provides that it is Philippine authorities that must investigate, punish, and prosecute these alleged instances of illegal killings in connection with the drug war,” he said Sunday, Nov. 21. n

CDC approves COVID-19 boosters for...

PAGE 1

Likewise, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the requests of American drug makers Pfizer and Moderna to clear the booster doses for all fully vaccinated adults 18 and older.

“Authorizing the use of a single booster dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 18 years of age and older helps

to provide continued protection against COVID-19, including the serious consequences that can occur, such as hospitalization and death,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock.

According to the FDA, streamlining the eligibility criteria and making booster doses available to all adults “will also help to eliminate confusion about who may receive a booster dose and ensure booster doses are

available to all who may need one.”

In October, the CDC and FDA approved the mixing and matching of booster shots, allowing vaccinated adults to get a different brand as a booster than was used for an initial vaccination.

Based on the latest numbers from the CDC, more than 35 million people in the U.S. have received a booster shot. n

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US eyes reinforced defense ties...

PAGE 1

U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Friday his country is standing with its longtime ally, the Philippines, following mounting tension in the WPS over the Ayungin Shoal incident.

Last November 16, three Chinese coast guard ships fired water cannon to turn back two civilian boats resupplying Filipino troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded Philippine Navy ship in the Ayungin Shoal that has been converted into a Philippine Marines outpost.

Price agreed that the actions of the Chinese vessels directly threatened peace and stability in the region and infringed on the freedom of navigation guaranteed under international law.

Lacson, chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation said diplomacy must still reign in dealing with issues concerning the WPS. Citing his own observations following his visit to Pag-asa Island over the weekend, he said one of the best ways for the Philippines to defend its territorial integrity is to create a “balance of power” in the region.

The Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer recognizes that China is a force to reckon with in terms of its military might and economic influence. “A direct confrontation, therefore, would only put our country at the losing end so we need to build a strong alliance with other nations that could rival China’s strength,” Lacson said.

By aligning with other nations that support freedom of navigation in the disputed waters, he believes the country could deter China from bullying its weaker neighbors, which are trying to maintain maritime rights in their own exclusive economic zones (EEZs).

Lacson indicated plans to increase the defensive capabilities of Philippine troops guarding outlying islands and territorial waters, as well as providing livelihood, housing and education to Pag-asa residents.

With Lacson were Partido Reporma president and former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, secretary general and Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib, senatorial candidate

Sen. Panfilo Lacson

and former Philippine National Police chief Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, spokesperson Ashley Acedillo, and former Interior Secretary and National Unity Party chairman Ronaldo Puno.

In an online message to reporters on Sunday, November 21, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said China has no right to harass Filipino ships within the country’s EEZ. Lorenzana and Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Andres Centino ordered the resumption of resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended the action of the Chinese coast guard vessels, saying the Philippine boats “trespassed” Chinese waters.

Zhao Lijian, the ministry’s spokesman, said the coast guard ships “performed official duties in accordance with the law and upheld China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime order.”

Lorenzana stressed it was China who has been violating the Philippines’ sovereign rights.

He said the 200-nautical-mile EEZ was established by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).

China was among the nations that ratified the Unclos, Lorenzana said.

“Therefore, they have no right to impede, prevent or harass our ships within our EEZ whether we are fishing or bringing supplies to our detachment in [BRP] Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal,” he said.

He said he has been in talks with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian since the night of November 16, when the incident transpired until November 20.

He said Huang had assured him the Chinese “will not interfere” with supply missions to Ayungin Shoal.

Attorney General Bonta co-leads multistate coalition...

PAGE 1

than any other state in the country.

“From defending DACA in court to supporting new federal efforts to fortify it, California will continue to lead the way in standing up for our nation’s Dreamers,” said Bonta. “DACA is critical, it is needed, and it’s important we get these updated regulations done. DACA recipients — many of whom are on the front lines of this pandemic — deserve to have peace of mind about their status. Bottom line: For hundreds of thousands of Dreamers across the country, home is here. They continue to show up for our communities and we’re going to keep showing up for them.”

The DACA program has allowed recipients to live, study, and work across the United States free from the fear of being forcibly separated from their families and communities.

DACA has enabled hundreds of thousands of grantees to enroll in colleges and universities, complete their education, start businesses that help improve our economy, and give back to our communities as teachers, medical professionals, engineers, and entrepreneurs — all on the books. These contributions became especially evident as the deadly coronavirus pandemic began to sweep through the nation and thousands of DACA recipients stood, and continue to stand, on the frontlines as essential workers. As of April 2020, an

estimated 27,000 healthcare workers and support staff depend on DACA for their authorization to work in the United States, including nurses, dentists, pharmacists, physician assistants, home health aides, technicians, and others. DACA has also advanced public health and societal interests in another way: by giving its recipients the opportunity to procure employer-provided health insurance, which has been particularly critical as the states fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the comment letter, the coalition asserts, among other things: • DACA has public safety and public health benefits for the states; • The states benefit economically from DACA and DACA recipients; • DACA and DACA recipients are important to the states’ higher education institutions; • The states have adopted laws, regulations, and programs in reliance on DACA; and • Opponents of DACA are unable to substantiate any alleged harms.

In filing the comment letter, Attorney General Bonta is joined by the attorneys general of New Jersey, New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. n

Report: 1 in 5 AAPIs experienced...

PAGE 1 our community. Stopping hate is not about quick fixes like law enforcement but about deeper investment in our communities.”

The hate crime tracker — which gathers self-reported hate incidents via website submissions — has been tracking anti-Asian hate since the beginning of the pandemic when anti-Asian xenophobic harassment began rising. Stop AAPI Hate has been among the leading organizations pushing for more communitybased solutions and investment from lawmakers to prioritize solutions that address anti-AAPI harassment, discrimination, and violence.

“The levels of Asian American children experiencing hate in school is devastatingly high,” Russell Jeung, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate and professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University, said in a statement. “There needs to be an urgent push toward incorporating solutions that promote racial understanding in schools, including through investment in Ethnic Studies.”

Victims can anonymously report the details of an incident on the website after which they will prompted questions about how they feel about what happened and if they’ve sought any legal or emotional counsel. n

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvembeR 26 - DeCembeR 2, 2021

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Lawyer defending Apollo Quiboloy...

PAGE 1

The KJC believes that the told reporters in a Viber message people who hurled accusations that the Inter-Agency Council leader Felina Salinas.

The KJC said they will remain against Quiboloy in California Against Trafficking (IACAT) will steadfast and committed to are the same people trying to perform its mandate under the respond to its mission despite drag Quiboloy into the case in law, regardless of the persons “another vicious attempt to Hawaii, where its leader Salinas involved in the case.

“We have an existing bring down” Quiboloy and two was charged with currency extradition treaty with the of its top officials. “With the smuggling.

The U.S. District Court of U.S. We also have an existing growing ministry and followers of the Kingdom comes also the Hawaii dismissed the case against agreement on mutual legal growing opposition who are Salinas and reduced her sentence assistance in criminal matters trying their best to destroy it and to about a month’s detention and with that country,” Guevarra said all the Kingdom leaders. While a small fine for allegedly lying when asked if they received an jealousy and evil will never stop, about a suitcase with hidden extradition request from their we strongly believe that good cash found in Quiboloy’s plane U.S. counterpart.

He said that in the event always triumphs over evil,” the flying back to the Philippines in ManilaTimes.net photo KJC said. The religious group, 2018. their U.S. counterpart requests “We will see if they are true now with churches around the In a related development, for Quiboloy’s extradition, the to their word as our navy will world, started in 1985 with only Department of Justice (DOJ) National Bureau of Investigation proceed with the resupply this 15 members.

Secretary Menardo Guevarra (NBI) would step in. n week,” Lorenzana said.

Vice Admiral Ramil Roberto Enriquez, commander of the military’s Western Command which covers the West Philippine Sea, said the supply boats involved in the incident were still under repair after incurring damage.

Even after the repairs are completed, the boats still have to undergo sea trials before being deployed again, Enriquez said.

He said bigger ships from the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources cannot be used for supply missions because of the shallow approaches to Ayungin Shoal.

“One wrong move can lead to the ship running aground,” he said.

“What I want to assure our fellow Filipinos is that we will WAITING FOR VAX. Adults and teenagers wait for their second dose against COVID-19 at the Commonwealth General Hospital and Medical not stop securing our seas,” Center in Fairview, Quezon City on Monday, November 22. As of November 20, the National Task Force against COVID-19 said the Philippines has administered 73,921,542 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, with 32,993,083 Filipinos now fully vaccinated.

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez Enriquez said. n

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November 26 - December 2, 2021 • NorcAL ASIAN JoUrNAL

Date lin e USa

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Pregnant? Planning to become pregnant?

Get vaccinated against covid-19

by AngelA

nishio, MD, oB-gYn Medical Director, Women’s Health Services Providence Saint John’s Health Center

ThroughouT the pandemic, I have been treating pregnant patients at Providence Saint John’s health Center in Santa Monica, CA. Before the vaccines, there were a lot of unknowns and people were worried. But today, I recommend the CoVID-19 vaccines to my pregnant patients. I tell them it is part of taking good care of themselves and their babies.

When I meet a patient who is hesitant to get vaccinated while pregnant, I start by telling them how the vaccines were studied and tested, and how the technology used in the vaccines has been around for more than 20 years. The biggest myth is that people think these vaccines are new and unstudied. So, we talk about how the vaccines are safe, and how getting CoVID-19 during pregnancy could be so much worse.

I do have one patient who got seriously ill while pregnant and now regrets not getting vaccinated. Instead of getting what we know is a safe vaccination, she ultimately had to have seven or eight different medications to treat her serious CoVID illness while pregnant. At my hospital, we also have had unvaccinated pregnant women die from CoVID-19. It is heartbreaking. I don’t want anyone to go through that.

To help pregnant people or people seeking to become pregnant from across California understand the importance of getting vaccinated against CoVID-19, I’m sharing my answers to these frequently asked questions about pregnancy and the vaccines I have heard from members of our community. I hope this FAQ helps make your vaccination decision easier.

Q. If I am pregnant, is it safe for me to receive a COVID-19 vaccine?

A. Pregnant and lactating people may receive any of the three CoVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for use in the u.S. These vaccines use a small piece of the virus that can’t cause infection but trigger an immune response

in the body – causing the body to produce protective antibodies. All three vaccines are safe and effective for people who are pregnant, seeking to become pregnant or breastfeeding.

Q. Were the vaccines studied in pregnant people?

A. The u.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has followed pregnant women who received the CoVID vaccine and as of oct. 18, 2021, more than 168,000 women have been tracked. Based on this information and what is known about how these vaccines work and their ingredients, researchers found no safety concerns for pregnant people receiving the CoVID-19 vaccines.

Q. Why should I get vaccinated while I’m pregnant?

A. Pregnant people are at higher risk for severe CoVID-19 than people who are not pregnant.

I have seen this in my own patients. Severe illness means that a person with CoVID-19 may need hospitalization, intensive care, a ventilator or other special equipment to help them breathe. According to the CDC, symptomatic pregnant people have more than a two-fold increased risk of requiring ICu admission and ventilation, and a 70% increased risk of death. Additionally, premature infants born to people with CoVID-19 are also at increased risk for admission to the Neonatal ICu (NICu). getting vaccinated is the best way to remain safe. The vaccines do a great job of preventing and lessening the severity of CoVID19 symptoms.

Q. What if I don’t get vaccinated and contract COVID-19 during my pregnancy?

A. Pregnant people with CoVID-19 are at higher risk for pregnancy complications, such as high blood pressure, bleeding disorders, death and stillbirth.

Don’t take the chance. The vaccine is safe and effective. Talk to your doctor and schedule an appointment to get vaccinated for the safety of you and your baby.

Q. Will getting the COVID-19 vaccine help my baby?

A. The CoVID-19 vaccine may provide your baby some protection from CoVID-19. recent studies show that vaccinated pregnant people pass antibodies to their developing baby in the womb, so the baby is born with some protection from day one. I tell my vaccinated pregnant patients they are protecting their babies in the placenta now, and via their breastmilk later.

Q. What about my partner?

Should they also get vaccinated?

A. CoVID-19 vaccination is recommended for everyone who is eligible, including pregnant people, those who are planning to become pregnant and their partners. Expectant parents should also encourage family members or friends who plan to visit their newborn baby to get vaccinated now.

Q. I am not yet pregnant, but I am planning to become pregnant. Will the vaccine affect my fertility or my partner’s?

A. There is no evidence that CoVID-19 vaccines cause any loss of fertility. Many people have become pregnant after receiving a CoVID-19 vaccine, including some who got vaccinated during the CoVID-19 vaccine clinical trials.

Q. I am breastfeeding my baby. Should I wait to get vaccinated?

A. The CoVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all people 12 years and older, including people who are breastfeeding. recent reports have shown that breastfeeding people who have received mrNA CoVID-19 vaccines have antibodies in their breastmilk, which could help protect their babies.

Q. Are there any other concerns for pregnant people regarding the COVID-19 vaccines?

A. As with anyone who receives the CoVID-19 vaccines, pregnant people may experience mild side effects, such as body aches, chills and tiredness. These side effects are normal and a sign that your body is building immunity. n

covid-19 vaccine-or-test requirements increase work and costs for governments

by AMAnDA

Michelle goMez AnD Phil gAlewitz Kaiser Health News

and local governments offer insights into what Biden’s rule might mean for the wider private sector as companies deal with AMANDA Kostroski, a 911 dis- setting up and paying for testing patcher in Madison, Wisconsin, and then monitoring the results. leaves her busy job once a week The regimen adds more work to go to a county health clinic to for government managers even be tested for CoVID-19. in localities like Dane County, She’s been making the 15- where nearly 90% of adults are minute drive from work since at least partly vaccinated. late September, when Dane Nationally, about 81% of County mandated all employees adults are at least partly vacget vaccinated or tested weekly. cinated against covid, although The testing is free, and she is rates vary widely among states, typically back to work within an according to the Centers for Dishour. ease Control and Prevention.

Kostroski is among 10% of Jurisdictions run by conservacounty employees who are un- tive officials tend to have lower vaccinated and get weekly tests. vaccination rates and are unShe chose not to get immunized likely to require vaccinations or because she thinks the vaccines testing for workers — meaning are too new and she fears side experiences to date don’t reflect effects. areas that have had strong opKostroski said she doesn’t un- position to vaccines and other derstand the need for the shots covid requirements. or why vaccinated people are not Local and state governments tested, since they can sometimes that have embraced the testing also transmit the virus. “I think option have done so because it it’s pointless,” said Kostroski, 34, straddles the line between crewho has always tested negative. ating a safe work environment She’s been told by vaccinated and giving reluctant employees colleagues that they feel bur- a way to opt out of the vaccine dened filling in for people getting without losing their job. tested.

Blaire Bryant, associate legisDane is one of several dozen lative director for health at the counties, cities and states that re- National Association of Counquire workers to get a covid vac- ties, said, “It’s too early to give cine or get tested regularly. While a definitive answer on how well some employees complained it’s going, but so far [we have] about the policy, county officials not heard any major issues.” say, it helps keep the workplace Counties are relying on free safe with modest interruptions. covid testing in their communiThey also say vaccinated workers ties, paying for it through federal don’t need testing because they covid relief dollars, or having are less likely to get infected and, their health insurance compaif they do, are less likely to con- nies foot the bill. tract a severe case of covid. But it Local governments have a has been costly, often requiring smorgasbord of policies on who governments to use federal covid is subject to the vaccine-or-test relief dollars they would rather requirement and how it’s enhave spent elsewhere. forced. For example, all unvacSome private employers have cinated employees of San Diego adopted similar policies. And County, California, who do not starting Jan. 4, the Biden admin- work in a health care setting istration will require private em- need to provide proof of weekly ployers with 100 or more work- testing to their supervisor, said ers to insist on shots or weekly spokesperson Michael Worktesting. man.

But opposition to those manMiami-Dade County’s policy dates runs deep among some applies only to nonunion workworkers, unions and conser- ers, or about 9% of its 29,000 vative leaders. More than two employees. About 380 undergo dozen republican state attorneys weekly testing. The Florida coungeneral sued the administration, ty is still negotiating with unions arguing the federal government about adding the requirement. lacks the authority. A federal Virginia’s Department of Corappeals court agreed with them rections requires unvaccinated and temporarily blocked the or- employees who work in crowded der, and the case might end up settings to get tested every three before the Supreme Court. days, and the rest, every seven Still, these early efforts by state days. And the expense? It cost

the department nearly $7,000 to test 442 staff members over two days in october. The state is tapping federal covid relief funds to pay for the testing.

Securing scarce testing supplies can be difficult. The Virginia State Police had to wait more than a month to start a testing program in part because of delays in delivery.

While the Biden administration hoped its rule would motivate more people to get vaccinated, counties have had mixed results. officials in Fairfax County, Virginia, outside Washington, D.C., said they have not seen a significant increase in employees submitting vaccination verification since its mandatory shot policy took effect in october. More than 80% of county employees are vaccinated.

The county distributes and pays for self-administered tests for its 2,300 employees who need them, said spokesperson Dawn Nieters. The cost ranges from $35 for a rapid test to $53 for a PCr test, considered the gold standard for detecting covid.

Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, which includes Charlotte, did see the needle move.

Employees there are responsible for getting their own tests. The vaccination rate jumped from 62% to 85% one month after the requirement was implemented in early September. george Dunlap, chairman of Mecklenburg’s Board of County Commissioners, said he prefers the vaccine-or-test requirement to a vaccine-only mandate because “you have to allow for human behavior that might be different than yours.” But he isn’t sure the policy will encourage any more workers to get vaccinated.

“The people that I know personally who decided to do the testing are still getting testing.

They didn’t change their mind about the vaccination,” he said.

Some health experts question the value of testing as a backup and instead favor mandating the shots.

“A vaccine-and/or-testing policy is second best,” said Jeffrey Levi, a professor of health management and policy at george Washington university. “A testing policy catches a problem early. It doesn’t prevent a problem, whereas the u PAGE 7

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Dateline PhiliPPines

PAL reroutes more flights to alternative gateways

by Richmond

meRcuRio Philstar.com

MANILA — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is rerouting flights to alternative gateways outside Manila to accommodate the high demand this holiday season and prevent greater inconvenience.

“We are utilizing new ports of entry to accommodate more returning Filipinos and prevent cancellations of flights due to arrival limit at NAIA,” PAL said.

“Our top priority is to help more of you fly home for the holidays,” the airline said.

International arrivals to Manila are currently limited to 4,000 passengers daily, which are shared by all international airlines.

Given this existing cap at

NAIA, PAL has recently rerouted flights from Bangkok to Panglao, Los Angeles and San Francisco to Cebu, Kuala Lumpur to Laoag, Doha to Subic, and Dubai to Subic, Davao or Cebu, among others.

“We realize that any change of routing affects your travel plans and regret the inconvenience. However, we believe this is better than scaling back on flights that would make it harder for Filipinos to proceed with their homecoming plans,” PAL said.

“With December just around the corner, we recognize that more and more of you need to find a way to fly home and reunite with your families. With the help of enlightened government intervention to open up alternative airports and liberalize

health and quarantine protocols, we will do our best to adjust our network so that we can fly more people home and support the revival of our local economy,” it said.

PAL said passengers whose flights are rerouted to a new gateway may complete their quarantine at their port of entry in any accredited hotel.

They can also fly onward to their final booked destination with PAL at no extra cost.

“Philippine Airlines welcomes the latest government decision to increase the strict limits on flying overseas passengers into Manila. We continue to appeal for further increases that will help us add more flights on more routes from Asia, the Middle East, Australia and North America,” the airline said. n

‘There are things I have to do before retiring’- Duterte MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, November 22 said he ditched his plan to retire from politics after his term ends in June next year because there are still goals he wants to achieve.

“There are just things that I have to do before retiring. But not really staying for something na (that) it’s no longer our time,” Duterte said in a speech in General Santos City.

He did not elaborate what these goals are but reiterated that “there’s always a time for everything.”

“A time to be great, a time to be small, a time to be a shining star, but a time to fade and just maghanap ka na lang ng kanto kung saan magkakasya. Ganoon ang tingin namin sa buhay namin (look for a place to fit in. That’s what we think about life),” he added.

Duterte said it does not really matter if his administration was remembered for their accomplishments because it is their job to serve the country and people.

“We do not really care if we are remembered or not. That’s something na (that’s) irrelevant kasi (because) as I have said trabaho

namin ‘yan (it’s our job) and we are just doing what we are supposed to do,” he said.

On October 2, Duterte announced that he will retire from politics.

He, however, surprised many when he filed his candidacy for senator via a representative in the 2022 elections.

His certificate of candidacy was filed by representative Melchor Aranas during the last day of the filing of statements of withdrawal and substitution at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Intramuros, Manila on November 15.

He substituted a certain Mona Liza Visorde, who withdrew her certificate of candidacy for senator.

Duterte, who chairs the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino– Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), is running for senator under Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS), an allied party of the PDP-Laban.

The PDP-Laban earlier planned to field Duterte as vice president with his long-time aide, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go as president.

He later withdrew his vice

President Rodrigo Duterte Malacañang photo by Ace Morandante

presidential bid in consideration of public sentiment that his intent to seek the second top post violates the Constitution.

He was referring to the June 23 to 26 polls conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), which showed that 60 percent of 1,200 adult Filipinos believed that his vice-presidential run could violate the intention of the Constitution, “which should be amended first before he may run for office again.” (Azer Parrocha/PNA)

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SFIO officially signs $100-M agreement with Omnicor Industrial Estate & Realty Center to develop a resort condotel in Batangas, Philippines ThE memorandum of agreement will see omnicor Industrial Estate & realty Center, Inc., a subsidiary of Filipino publicly listed company AbaCore Capital holdings, contributing land by the bay of Batangas for SFIo to develop into a resort-like condotel property. The announcement of the project has been made official by offering further details to the public.

In a recent announcement, SFIo revealed that they signed last october a memorandum of understanding with omnicor Industrial Estate & realty Center, Inc. to pursue a joint venture that would see a two-hectare, bayside property in Batangas, Philippines developed into a $100 million eco-friendly, tech village.

SFIo said that the planned development, which is strategically located in Montemaria, Batangas City, just south of Metro Manila, will service residents looking for a new kind of work-life balance, with it being at the crossroads of breathtaking marine biodiversity, historical religious sites, and a suite of modern amenities fit for a better normal.

Asset management company SFIo, recently named one of the “20 Promising Companies Everyone Should Know in 2021” by global Business Leaders Magazine, will be developing the 500-unit tech village as part of a 10-year development plan with omnicor’s parent company,

AbaCore Capital holdings, Inc. This agreement establishes SFIo as the preferred developer of projects across AbaCore Capital holdings’ over 200-hectares of real estate around Montemaria.

As part of SFIo’s investment roadmap into future-oriented industries, this tech village blends residential luxuries with the hyper-connected amenities necessary for modern work. ground floor office and retail spaces give way to resort-like recreational facilities and residential units, making it an ideal space for high-value firms and professionals to embrace remote work.

Just a few miles from the Verde Island Passage, one of the most biologically diverse water ecosystems in the world, the tech village project will embrace eco-friendly development practices, such as solar roofing. An environmental compliance certificate has already been issued over the site, allowing immediate commencement of preliminary survey and design.

The project also aims to cater to religious pilgrims looking to visit the Mother of All Asia Tower of Peace, a 316-foot tall statue of the Virgin Mary. Taller than New York’s Statue of Liberty, and nearly three times taller than rio De Janeiro’s Christ the redeemer, this is the world’s tallest statue dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Intended for longer-term residents, the tech village will be de-

signed as a timeshare concept, catering not only to working professionals and tourists but also to expatriates and Filipinos from around the world looking for a vibrant community to spend a short vacation or their

retirement years in.

While SFIo and AbaCore Capital holdings see this project as the first of many that will thrive in the coming post-pandemic economic boom, both companies see health and wellness as a continuing priority across all their future projects.

Work is already underway at SFIo’s recently established Technology and Software Development Division on a suite of state-of-the-art, smart-building technologies designed to ensure the long-term, holistic well-being of communities. Set to be piloted in Montemaria, these technologies are expected to set a new gold-standard for community health systems across resorts and residential developments.

SFIo, which has just filed their Q3 financial reports in line with their broader plans to uplist onto the Nasdaq Exchange, aims to complete this development project by 2024. Permits to commence pre-selling of units are already pending approval.

(Advertising Supplement)

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Date lin e Ph iliP P in e s

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvembeR 26 - DeCembeR 2, 2021

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PNP defers to Comelec on drug testing for candidates

MANILA — The Philippine to the requesting body. An inves- “The Source” on Monday mornNational Police said it would tigation will follow if someone ing, Carlos also said that the take the cue from the Commis- will test positive for drug use,” possible probe is purely an inision on Elections on procedural he said of potential drug tests. tiative of the PNP and is not a Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Sen- result of a direct order from the guidelines on the possibility of mandatory drug testing for na- ate President Vicente Sotto III president. tional candidates after President — candidates for president and He could not directly answer Rodrigo Duterte’s nallegation vice president — have under- whether or not the PNP investithat an unnamed presidential as- gone voluntary drug tests. gators would have to consult the Most candidates have indicat- president in order to investigate pirant uses cocaine renewed talk ed they are willing to take drug the claim, or whether the inforof drug tests for candidates.

Comelec said the Supreme tests. mation would have to come from No timeline for ‘fact-finding’ the commander-in-chief.

Court has long ruled that a proposal to make drug tests manda- review so far “That can be undertaken [but] Carlos earlier said that that’s presidential information. tory is unconstitutional.

“The most that we can do is to Duterte’s public accusations We’ll take action; if the president support the suggestion for po- prompted “fact-finding” by the will give us the name, then we litical aspirants to submit them- PNP’s anti-drug unit, though he will work on it,” he said. selves to a voluntary drug test to was quick to clarify that no for“We’re going back to the lists mal investigation had actually prove to their followers and supand data...I can’t say who it is SUPPORT. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) deputy director, Eleanor Rachel Angeles (2nd from right), receives a check worth P8.82 specifically, but at the end of the million from Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma (2nd from left) in a ceremony at the PCSO main porters that they are clean,” Po- been launched yet.

The chief executive made day, we have an effort to identify office in Mandaluyong City on Monday, November 22. The amount represents the bureau’s share from PCSO’s STL earnings for the second lice Gen. Dionardo Carlos, the the person.” quarter of 2021.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon chief of the PNP, told reporters the allegation in a speech last in a press briefing on Monday, week, a move reminiscent of the Asked if the PNP has a timecampaign period of the 2019 line on its fact-finding on the November 22. elections. Duterte, president’s allegation, Carlos “We will be ready to facilitate, mid-term and we can use our PNP Foren- whose administration’s flagship said: “Well, why put a timeline?

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte said, referring to Chi- conclusion of an effective and sic Group, but let us cross the “drug war” has killed thousands It’s a daily thing that we do to acDuterte, speaking at a regional nese coast guard vessels block- substantive Code of Conduct in bridge when we get there,” he according to police data, did not complish the task. They are prosummit with China, has raised ing and water-cannoning two the South China Sea”, a goal that said, pointing out that there are name the candidate nor provide fessional enough to work on it. I the issue of Chinese ships block- supply boats headed to Ayungin ASEAN and China have been no orders for that at the mo- evidence to support his allega- don’t think I have to tell them to tion. ment. finish it in a week. We will work working on for decades. ing efforts to resupply Philippine Shoal last week.

Speaking in an interview on it.” (Franco Luna/Philstar.

“Once the result is out, the Absent a binding code of conAccording to the Armed troops on Ayungin Shoal, the Palace said Monday, November Forces of the Philippines, some duct among claimants in the PNP will immediately submit it aired over CNN Philippines’ com) of the Chinese ships have left South China Sea, the Philippines 22.

According to a Palace state- Ayungin Shoal — where a Phil- and China have put in place the ment, Duterte raised the South ippine Navy ship is grounded Bilateral Consultation MechaChina Sea issue at the ASEAN- and serves as an outpost — nism on the South China Sea. China Special Summit to Com- leaving only two Chinese coast The mechanism, established in memorate the 30th Anniversary guard vessels in the area as of 2016, is meant as a venue for parties to address differences of Dialogue Relations, where he Sunday.

1 studio, 9 one-bedrooms and 3 two-bedroom homes priced from $312,569 – $409,435 Duterte stressed that the UN and ease tensions. stressed that the dispute cannot “There is simply no other be solved by force. Manila calls Covenant on the Law of the with parking and $283,812 – $366,434 without parking. parts of the South China within Sea and a 2016 arbitral ruling way out of this colossal problem the Philippines’ exclusive eco- invalidating China’s sweeping but the rule of law,” the Palace Applicants must be first-time homebuyers and cannot exceed the following income levels: nomic zone the West Philippine nine-dash-line claim over the quotes Duterte as saying. The South China Sea “provide legal president has repeatedly said Sea. “We abhor the recent event in clarity…pointing us to a just and that the Philippines does not 100% of Area Median Income 2021 the Ayungin Shoal and view with fair solution to our disputes,” the stand a chance against China One person - $93,250; 2 persons - $106,550; 3 persons - $119,900; 4 persons - $133,200 etc. and has cautioned against escagrave concern other similar de- Palace also said.

The Palace said the president lating tension between the two velopments. This does not speak well of the relations between our urged China to remain com- nations over the South China Applications must be received by 5PM on Thursday, January 6, 2022. Apply online nations and our partnership,” mitted to working towards “the Sea. (Philstar.com)

‘PH raised Ayungin incident at ASEAN-China summit’

13 new “Below Market Rate” homes for sale at The Oak, 55 Oak Street

COVID-19 vaccine-or-test requirements...

PAGE 4

vaccination requirement helps to prevent it.”

Marc Elrich, the executive in Montgomery County, Maryland, in suburban Washington, supports a vaccine-only mandate in theory but worries imposing it would result in workers leaving for jobs in neighboring jurisdictions without similar requirements.

“I wish the federal government would impose a [vaccine-only] mandate, because

if the feds were to do it, there wouldn’t be any job portability,” said Elrich. “I wouldn’t have to deal with an employee’s ability to go from, particularly in this region, Montgomery County Police Department to pretty much every other police department around here.”

Robb Pitts, who chairs the Fulton County Board of Commissioners in Atlanta, would also like to do away with the testing option.

“But I don’t think my colleagues would necessarily go along with

that,” he said. About a third of county employees have opted for testing instead of vaccination.

“Why did I compromise? Because I felt, well, we had to do something,” Pitts said. “A lot of times, politics is the art of compromise.”

According to Pitts’ office, Fulton County saw its largest increase in vaccinations since May in September, when the vaccineor-test policy was implemented.

The vaccination rate now hovers around 72%. n

through DAHLIA, the SF Housing Portal at https://housing.sfgov.org. Due to COVID-19, applicants will apply online as we are not accepting paper applications. Applicants must complete first-time homebuyer education and obtain a loan pre-approval from an approved participating lender. For more information or assistance with your application, contact HomeownershipSF at (415) 202-5464 or info@homeownershipsf.org.

For questions about the building and units, contact The Oak’s sales team at (833) 800 – 5777 or info@theoaksf.com.

Units available through the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development and are subject to monitoring and other restrictions.

Visit www.sfmohcd.org for program information.

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FeatURes

OPiniOn

Preventing a resurgence

AFTER jumping to 2,227 new cases on Sunday, November 21, COVID infections again fell below 1,000 yesterday for the first time in a week. The daily tally of 984 did not include data from five laboratories, according to the Department of Health.

DOH officials have repeatedly warned the public against complacency as pandemic restrictions are eased to revive the economy in the final quarter of the year and allow people to have some cheer during the Christmas season.

In Europe, restrictions are being reimposed in several countries amid a fresh surge in COVID cases attributed to the highly contagious Delta strain and its sub-variant that is said to be even more infectious.

Beginning Nov. 22, Austria became the first European country to reimpose a full COVID lockdown, with Germany saying it might do the same, sending jitters through financial markets. The Netherlands has been under partial lockdown since Nov. 13. Beginning Feb. 1 next year, vaccination will also be required for all Austrians.

Even with new infections slowing in the Philippines, health experts have also pointed out that COVID deaths remain high.

Last Sunday, 175 deaths were recorded; 99 were added on Monday, November 22, bringing the total to 45,808. The numbers

do not include the people who die after recovering from the illness but suffer from post-COVID complications such as cardiac and respiratory problems.

As restrictions on minors are lifted, there is also growing concern about pediatric infections, since most children are not yet vaccinated against COVID. Tracking infection trends, the OCTA Research Group says daily cases could go down to as low as 500 by December, allowing Metro Manila to be eased to the lowest Alert Level 1 – but only if people continue strictly observing COVID safety protocols.

Tossing out those protocols is one of the reasons being cited for the resurgence of COVID in Europe. Masking and physical distancing have been junked even as vaccine hesitancy persists in many areas, while efficacy of the jabs has also started waning among the first groups to be inoculated.

The world is now seeing the consequences of all these factors. If Filipinos want to avoid a return to lockdowns, there must be no room for complacency. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Thanksgiving reflections: Offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to God even before He answers our prayers

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THANKSGIVING is a very special holiday, very much like Christmas minus the tree and decorations, gift giving, carols, and festive parties.

But like Christmas, such love and beauty of the season makes our hearts sing praises of joy and thanksgiving, especially when our family gather together, hold hands in prayer before our Thanksgiving feast, acknowledging the pure solemnity of the moment that we have everything within our reach all that are essential and important — our life, our family, our faith.

However, when there are dark clouds hovering over us, when times are so difficult and the pain becomes excruciatingly hard to bear, when the toxicity of lies and deception cause us to be blind to what is real and what is important, when the hurdles of sickness, loneliness, lack cause us to lose hope, it becomes so hard to pray to offer praise and thanksgiving.

It is easy to offer praise and thanksgiving when times are great, when people get along in harmony, when our plans go well, when we get what we want, but what if these are not real in our life?

It does not require much faith to praise and thank God when the good times are rolling. But what about in the bad times? This is when the test of our faith comes in.

The Bible says “bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the Lord.” (Jeremiah 33:11).

It is thought provoking why the word “sacrifice” was used in this verse. But this is what God asks of us — to offer praise and thanksgiving even in the midst of our pains, suffering, hopelessness as our sacrifice, because a sacrifice is something that is hard to do , especially under these circumstances.

But we do them anyway — to offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving because of

our strong faith in God that He will answer our prayers, that He will make everything work together for our good.

This Thanksgiving Day, let me share with you some messages of hope that we can hold on to. Whatever it is we are going through as a person, as a family, as a nation, remember to keep the faith that this, too, shall pass. Weeping may endure for the night but joys comes in the morning. God promises beauty for ashes. But let us do our part — pray, believe, offer praise and thanksgiving, and God will reward us.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Phil 4:6 “Being thankful is not always experienced as a natural state of existence, we must work at it, akin to a type of strength training for the heart.” - Larissa Gomez See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to

do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. -1 Thessalonians 5:1518 “I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness - it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.” - Brene Brown “…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” Isaiah 61:3 “Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” - Melody Beattie “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”

Col. 2:7 “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” - Willie Nelson

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.” Ps. 28:7 “I looked around and thought about my life. I felt grateful. I noticed every detail.

That is the key to time travel.

You can only move if you are actually in the moment. You have to be where you are to get to where you need to go.”

- Amy Poehler “I will praise the name of God with song, and shall magnify Him with thanksgiving.” Ps. 69:30 “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” - Gilbert K. Chesterton Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. -James 1:2-4

“If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.”

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” - Epictetus Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. -Psalm 107:1 Happy blessed meaningful Thanksgiving! *** 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.

BSD: A vision for US-PH relations in the coming decade

Babe’s Eye View BABE ROMUALDEZ OUR two-day meeting with officials of the Pentagon and the Department of State for the 9th Bilateral Strategic Dialogue (BSD) between the Philippines and the United States went extremely well with our signing of a “Joint Vision Statement for a 21st Century United StatesPhilippines Partnership” that outlines the areas of cooperation that would definitely boost and strengthen our military and economic ties. I have attended three of these dialogues but I must say this is probably the most significant one that will clearly define our relationship with the United States.

The U.S. delegation was headed by Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner, along with Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Lindsey Ford, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Oceans and Inter-

national Environmental and Scientific Affairs Valda VikmanisKeller, Assistant Legal Adviser for the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau Robert Harris and USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Craig Hart.

I headed the Philippine delegation with Defense Undersecretary Cardozo Luna, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Asst. Secretary for American Affairs Kira Azucena, along with Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo, Justice Undersecretary Adrian Ferdinand Sugay, Defense Assistant Secretary Teodoro Cirilo Torralba and experts from the Departments of Agriculture, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Justice, National Defense and Trade and Industry, as well as the Office of the President, Anti-Money Laundering Council, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute.

Our discussions were pretty much straightforward on a wide range of issues that include mutual security and defense, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, maritime issues, emerging common threats such as cybercrimes, transnational crimes

and terrorist networks, trafficking in persons, the pandemic, clean energy, climate change and other mutual concerns.

With so many challenges we faced compounded by the pandemic, we at the embassy in Washington, DC had to double up in extensively making the relationship stronger and more stable and, most especially, more meaningful because we are marking 75 years of diplomatic relations and 70 years of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty. These are the key pillars in our bilateral defense and security relations. Shortly following President Biden’s victory in the Nov. 3 U.S. presidential elections last year, we immediately reached out to Biden’s key advisers so as not to lose time in building our relationship.

The BSD is an annual consultative mechanism to discuss the full range of political, security and economic cooperation between the Philippines and the United States and, as I said, this is probably the best of the lot with the joint vision statement clearly cut in terms of the direction where the partnership is headed, and the commitments made by our two coun-

tries given the changing geopolitical landscape and emerging challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Obviously, one of the key challenges that both nations face today involves the situation in the South China Sea. In the joint vision statement, both nations recognized the importance of diplomatic efforts in “building an international coalition that supports the international law-based maritime order” and share the view that “China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea are inconsistent with the international law of the sea” as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the unanimous July 12, 2016 arbitral award that the Philippines asserted once again during the virtual 11th ASEAN Maritime Forum last Tuesday, Nov. 16.

The recent incident in Ayungin Shoal where Chinese Coast Guard vessels blocked and water sprayed Philippine Coast Guard boats on a resupply mission is a clear example of why the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty is critical, particularly the Article IV obligations to respond to an armed attack on either the

U.S. or the Philippines in the Pacific area. Certainly, we welcome the position of the U.S. as articulated in a July 13, 2020 statement that the Pacific area includes the South China Sea. Not surprisingly, the latest act of aggression displayed by the Chinese has sparked outrage and condemnation not only from legislators and Cabinet officials that include Secretary Locsin, who told the Chinese to “back off,” and acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles who said, “We will continue to assert our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over our territory,” but also local leaders in the municipality of Kalayaan who denounced the bullying as “a gross infringement of our sovereignty and a grave intrusion of our waters.”

Many Fil-Ams are outraged, even going so far as to say that the filing of diplomatic protests is “not enough,” considering the continued aggression displayed

by China, claiming almost all of the South China Sea – which is simply preposterous.

We proposed that the BSD working groups continue working together regularly to address current realities and

challenges, and that frank exchanges and regular interactions between both sides must be sustained to keep our momentum.

Obviously, we must also continue efforts to enhance the defense capabilities of our Armed Forces given the current geopolitical tensions. To this end, avenues will be pursued, including funding arrangements, to strengthen the alliance. After all, it is in the best interest of both nations to have a strong and capable Philippine military that can significantly contribute to the partnership in the area of defense and security.

Together with Secretary Locsin and Secretary Lorenzana, we are confident the work we have done in reinforcing the special relationship between the United States and the Philippines will meet common challenges we will face in the next decade and beyond. *** 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.

*** Email: babeseyeview@gmail.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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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2021

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THE ASIAN JOURNAL

MAGAZINE

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N O R T H E R N

C A L I F O R N I A

Friday, November 26, 2021

INSIDE >>> L I F E S T Y L E • C O N S U M E R G U I D E • C O M M U N I T Y • M A R K E T P L A C E Immigration Corner ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ THANKSGIVING is again being celebrated differently this year. Thankfully, although we are still in the midst of a pandemic, we may finally be able to have a gathering of loved ones, with masks, vaccinations, social distancing, and other protocols.

We are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, in all areas of our lives, including immigration, and I hope we can finally get back to “normal.” The pandemic created such turmoil, frustrations, delays, and hardship for so many in connection with their immigration matters.

Embassies and USCIS offices were closed, no interviews were being conducted, there were travel bans, immigration bans, and lockdowns.

Thankfully, embassies are slowly reopening, visa interviews

Thanksgiving message are being scheduled, and visas are again being issued, allowing families to be reunited in the U.S. USCIS offices also are reopening and scheduling interviews.

Therefore, we do have a lot to be thankful for, compared to how the situation was last year.

In the coming year, I hope the pandemic will further subside, and we can all get back to our normal lives. I also hope Congress can stop all its bickering and infighting, and get together and come up with comprehensive immigration reform, as both parties have continuously promised, but have yet to deliver, including a possible amnesty for the approximate 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. My personal Thanksgiving wish is to be able to assist eligible applicants in achieving legalization and their American dream, enabling them to be reunited to celebrate with their families in America.

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

*** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 40 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

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

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

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

DADDY’S GIRLS FINALLY GET THEIR VISAS THIS SUNDAY ON CITIZEN PINOY. Cathlene (left) and Corinne (2nd from left) were petitioned by their U.S. citizen father while he was living in the Philippines in 2017.

By law, a petitioner must be “domiciled” or living in the U.S. in order for family members to be issued immigrant visas. Since the father was still residing in the Philippines, the Embassy refused to issue the daughters’ visas. Their mother, Malou, (2nd from right) consulted with the office of leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (extreme right) to help establish the petitioner’s domicile in the U.S. and have the children’s visas issued. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” this Sunday, November 28 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.

(Advertising Supplement)

UP Alumni Association in America receives 2021 UPAA Distinguished Service Award for an alumni chapter

Outgoing UPAAA, Inc. president Daisy Rodriguez of California

Incoming UPAAA, Inc. president Dr. David Jose of New York

ELK GROVE – The University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) hailed the UPAA in America (UPAAA), Inc. as its 2021 Distinguished Service Awardee for an Alumni Chapter.

The award is bestowed in recognition of a UPAA Chapter anywhere in the world for its exemplary leadership, outstanding achievements and exceptional contributions to the university and the community that it serves.

Incumbent president Daisy M. Rodriguez from California expressed her gratitude to everyone who made this award possible.

She said, “Thank you to our team of leaders on the 2020-2021 board who made this organization stand out among all the other UPAA chapters. We worked hard in serving

the university and our community through our expanded scholarship program, financial support for needy students, support for international students studying in the US, and donations to victims of disasters in the Philippines.”

Ms. Rodriguez is a retired nurse educator.

She authored books and published articles in the nursing field. She completed both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master’s in Nursing from the UP College of Nursing.

She also holds a master’s degree in Public Administration/Health Services from the University of San Francisco. As a strong community advocate, Ms. Rodriguez organized this year the UPAAA’s initiative on Anti-Asian Hate and Racial Discrimination in the U.S.,

and a global forum with European counterparts.

The 2021 Distinguished Service Award for an Alumni Chapter is a well-deserved honor for UPAAA, Inc. Dr. Jose David from New York is the incoming president for 2022-2023.

Dr. David said, “My leadership will create a more functional Executive Team and Board of Directors to increase UPAAA’s involvement in the university and the community.

We will heighten the group’s active presence in online and social media outlets. We will create big fundraising activities. I am also working on getting advisory support from my friends to ensure that we achieve more in the next two years for UPAAA.” (Ryan Tejero)

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November 26 - December 2, 2021 • NorcAL ASIAN JoUrNAL

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

FOOD AS A LOVE LANGUAGE

Angela Dimayuga on ‘Filipinx’ and her mission to help drive Filipino cuisine forward

By MoMar

G. Visaya

AJPress

Chef Angela Dimayuga wanted to explore filipino food seriously as a professional cook but when she was just starting, she was told that that euro-centric cuisine was the way to go in order to be seen. When she started to cook european food, she realized that the food she had at home growing up, the dishes from her Lola and mom were actually very technique-driven and needed to be honored on their own.

Through the years, she made waves as a celebrated chef and an activist. This year, she added ‘author’ to her name and came up with her debut cookbook called filipinx: heritage Recipes from the Diaspora.

“The idea, that we can all come together to really celebrate our cuisine as a love language to communicate with each other and bring us closer together, I think this is the moment. It has been a moment and I’m just coming to it but I feel very welcome,” Dimayuga told us at their book launch party in Brooklyn.

The book, co-written with Ligaya Mishan of the New York Times, offers 100 personal recipes culled from her family and the years of learning the cuisine from her mom and Lola. The title is a nod to the neighborhood

Dimayuga grew up in San Jose, which was predominantly filipino and Mexican.

“I grew up in the San francisco Bay Area around a lot of Latinx culture where there were a lot of filipinos and Mexicans, so I like to call that a merge of brown culture. I chose to use the word filipinx in honor of the gender neutrality that Latinx brings because that’s very important to me,” she shared.

The book is deeply personal for her because it was her inward journey of thinking about her heritage, honoring her ancestors - both living and the dead, and exploring the idea of who she is and what home is.

Dimayuga is the fifth of six children of filipino parents who emigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s. for this book, she collaborated with Ligaya Mishan, one of her favorite writers, to come up with this dream project.

The idea that she wanted to do a book with Mishan began as early as 2017. At that time, however, Dimayuga went through career changes and she had a family project to work on.

A different opportunity materialized in 2019: her 10-recipe suite for New York Times where she got to work with Mishan and felt that the moment was right to dive deep into this book project.

Doing that spread for The

In her debut cookbook, acclaimed chef Angela Dimayuga shares her passion for Filipino food with home cooks.

AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya

Filipinx offers 100 deeply personal recipes—many of them dishes that define home for Angela Dimayuga and the more than four million people of Filipino descent in the United States.

Times (Angela Dimayuga’s 10 essential filipino Recipes), Dimayuga had to draw from inspiration from her own experiences.

She was then creative director for food and culture at the Standard hotels, coming from her successful stint as the star chef at Mission Chinese food.

“I knew it because this is what I grew up with. I feel really lucky that I grew up around really delicious filipino food because that’s, you know, that’s a privilege.

That’s not an experience that everyone gets to have,” she shared.

“But that was a way of expressing love if we didn’t always say it, we would always have the food. And so the process was also it came very intuitively.”

The two began working on the book around March of 2020, the beginning of the pandemic. By this time, Dimayuga had already left her job at Standard, which made diving into the project easy and really quick.

Trained in restaurant kitchens in New York City, Dimayuga returned to her roots, discovering in her family’s home cooking the same intense attention to detail and technique she’d found in fine dining. filipinx was made in six Angela Dimayuga with her mom, who flew in from San Jose to attend the book launch in months, all work done remotely.

Brooklyn.

They wanted to cook with family and friends but the lockdowns prevented them from doing that so doing it remotely was the only way to go.

“So I feel honored that I had something so meaningful to do during such a quiet time. I wanted to get to know my family better by just understanding how I feel about them,” she said.

Dimayuga said she felt overwhelmed the first time she held the book.

“I still feel like it’s very surreal to hold an object that is a relic of this time. I think of it, it feels like a time capsule. And even the recipes that I did there, it’s kind of like capturing being a young person up until the point that I was 35 and even my relationship to those recipes are already evolving.”

The 36-year-old chef was included in the Zagat’s “30 Under 30” List in 2015 as an upcoming culinary star and was nominated for a James Beard foundation Award in 2016 and named a 2017 Rising Star Chef.

An industry veteran, Dimayuga has been, in her own words, “quietly cooking, putting my head down and doing what I do”. Now, she is being given the opportunity to share her deep culinary

Angela Dimayuga said she wanted to collaborate with New York Times food writer Ligaya Mishan for Filipinx.

knowledge and her experiences in numerous kitchens with the world.

“The idea of sharing filipino food, knowing that other folks have paved the way is a true honor and a way that I can communicate what I feel about filipino culture and my own place in it, and everybody’s experiences so for me, it’s a language. food is a language to explore our culture and drive it forward,” she said.

Dimayuga hopes that the book becomes an opportunity for readers to see a reflection of their own experience whether they’re filipino or not.

“I would really hope that nannies around the world, working in spaces where they’re not around other filipinos can see versions of their food being celebrated, and

I want it to be also for honorary filipinos. I feel like we have many of those that want to understand our culture and our cuisine,” she said.

Dimayuga said that her mom and Lola are a huge part of this book. She mentioned that she was lucky enough to receive a lot of her mom’s recipes, compiled in a Microsoft Word document. The collection includes, among others, Tita’s version of this, Tito’s version of that may be the same dish, but different recipes.

This gave her the creative freedom to modify their recipes based on ingredients that were readily available when she was growing up in the Bay Area.

Now, it is her turn to share these recipes with the world.

“Well, I think it’s really interesting that now people can reach my food by opening the book and making it at home. I provide a lot of opportunities for people to be creative themselves, replicating something that I made or riffing off of them,” she said. for now, Dimayuga has embarked on a book tour, going to different cities across the United States. There’s also a dinner she is doing in Mexico City to promote the book. Beyond that, she hopes to make more books someday and explore her art practice.

“My ultimate dream is to continue finding opportunities to explore myself, explore our stories and continue to share them,” she said.

Internationally known boxing champ Manny Pacquiao celebrityworld heads list of famous December birthday celebrants

By Ferdie Villar is located at the southernmost tip of Mindanao island and is part of what is known as the Soccsksargen (South Cotabato-CotabatoSultan Kudarat-Sarangani-General Santos) region.

Other prominent personalities celebrating their birthdays in December are: December 4: former Miss Republic of the Philippines-USA winner Sarah Atienza Leong, pop rock singer-songwriter Yeng Constantino; December 6: Philippine News Today vice president for operations/promotions Thelma Cruz; December 7: GMA Network Inc. chairman/CeO Atty. felipe Gozon, model/actor/TV host Derek Ramsay, Daly City medical assistant Susan Gonzales, San Jose jewel designer/manufacturer Josie harris; December 8: filipina caregiver Aida Marinas; December 9: Marina Seaside World famous boxer Manny Pacquiao, who is running for president of the Philippines in the May community leader Anita Lom- 2022 national elections, celebrates his 43rd birthday on Friday, December 17 and heads the list of prominent December birthday celebrants.

Photo from instagram/@mannypacquiao boy; December 10: former Miss RP-USA World eva Reyes; December 11: former Philippine Medical Society of Northern California president Dr. Carmelo Lim Roco; December 12: Concert Queen Pops fernandez, TV host/rap artist/actor/model Carlos Agassi, hillsborough successful businesswoman Upeng Abad Sy; December 13: former senator and billionaire businessman Manny Villar; December 15: Cupertino jetsetter Rema Zafrani Vasa; December 16: Multi-awarded actress Gloria Romero, actress/ politician Aiko Melendez, health Professionals Inc. chief accountant elvie Angeles, the late and original Queen of Philippine Movies Rosa del Rosario; December 17: former Miss United Nations International Anna Satorre, actor/comedian/ recording artist Michael V (of the top-rated GMA Pinoy TV show “Bubble Gang”); December 18: “The Gift” telesThelma Cruz, vice president for operations and promotions Former Miss Republic of the Philippines-USA winner Sarah Atienza of Philippine News Today, celebrates her birthday on Monday, erye actress Mikee Quintos; celebrates her birthday on Saturday, December 4.

December 6.

December 20: South San franfOR the merry month of December, internationally known boxing champ, Philippine senator and presidential aspirant Manny Pacquiao heads the list of prominent celebrities who will be celebrating their birthdays this month. The eight-division world champion boxing legend turns 43 on friday, December 17.

Known by his monicker “PacMan,” Senator Pacquiao added to his list of accomplishments when he became the oldest welterweight boxing champion in history in a thrilling split decision victory over previously undefeated WBA titleholder Keith Thurman at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in 2019.

According to Wikipedia, Pacquiao is the only boxer to hold four world championships across four decades – 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s.

Prior to his current senatorial post, Pacquiao had been elected as Congress representative for the province of Sarangani, which

Former Miss United Nations International winner Anna Satorre celebrates her birthday on Friday, December 17.

Hotel executive Marc Garvida celebrates his birthday on Thursday, December 23.

Rema Zafrani Vasa, a Filipina jetsetter based in Cupertino, celebrates her birthday on Wednesday, December 15.

Former Miss RP-USA winner Marilen Bernardo celebrates her birthday on Tuesday, December 21.

Facebook photo

cisco community leader the late Connie Belleza Gaspar; December 21: Actress/TV host/ endorser Valerie Concepcion, former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, former Ms. Republic of the Philippines International and fashion model Marilen Bernardo, former Mrs. Republic of the Philippines World Christine Acha, filipino restaurateur Manny Noguera; December 23: Multi-awarded actress Lorna Tolentino, hotel executive Marc Garvida; December 27: Gilroy auto mechanic/shop owner Dar Rabon-

za; December 28: former Mrs. Republic of the Philippines Las Vegas and fashion designer Nina Alberto, former LBC treasurer fely Ruiz; December 29: San Ramon businesswoman flora enriquez; December 30: Star Cinema talented actor and model Jake Cuenca (born in San Jose, California). happy Birthday to all December celebrants, and advance happy holidays to all Asian Journal readers!

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

Health @Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS A CArDIOLOGIST friend of mine in Indiana, who had referred countless patients for open-heart surgery to me in the 80s and 90s, had a freak accident at home that broke his neck (like actor Christopher “Superman” reeves, who fell from a horse), which left him quadriplegic, unable to breathe on his own, with total paralysis of his arms and legs. Connected to a ventilator, he lived for about 10 years. He retained a mind that was brilliant and clear as ever to the end. Unfortunately, the injury to his spinal cord remained “without a cure,” even to this day.

A potential hope for patients with broken spinal cord, with paralysis from the hip down (paraplegia) or from the neck down (quadriplegia) might be in the offing, albeit this could be years down the line. Human neural (nerve) stem cell can restore mobility in cases of chronic spinal injury,” suggests a study from the University of California Irvine, following successful results of transplanted human stem cells in mice, which recovered from their 30-day laboratory-induced spinal cord injury.

This encouraging preliminary findings in stem cell therapy for spinal cord injury is indeed promising. The therapeutic strategy will need more laboratory confirmations and, later, application to human clinical trials, before the final verdict is made. At least, it is a spark of hope. *** Vitamin C has been found to rapidly improve a person’s mood state, especially among acutely hospitalized patients, in a doubleblind clinical study at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital and the affiliated Lady Davis Institute for Medical research. While Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid or L-ascorbate) supplements are available in pills, this antioxidant and essential nutrient is abundant in these plant sources, in the order of level of vitamin C content: kakadu plum, camu camu, rose hip, acerola, jujube, red pepper, red hot chili, guava, parsley, broccoli, kiwifruit, brussels sprouts, papaya, strawberry, orange, kale, lemon, melon, cantaloupe, lime, mango, blackberry, potato and other fruits and vegetables. The phyto-phenols and Vitamin C in

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Great medical news these foods also boost immunity. *** The gene that increases an individual’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, tagged MTHFD1L, a gene on chromosome 6, has been identified in a genome-wide study at the John P. Hussman Institute of Genomics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. This discovery will help the scientific community understand Alzheimer’s better and potentially develop a marker for higher risk persons, and hopefully, discover a preventive regimen, if not an effective treatment for this tragic disease.

Today, there are drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors that can help with the cognitive and behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease “by blocking the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which breaks down the neurotransmitter (brain chemical) acetylcholine, which plays an important role in cognitive functions like thinking and remembering.” Low acetylcholine levels cause memory loss. Some of these medications include Aricept (donepezil), for all stages of Alzheimer’s; and Exelon (rivastigmine) and razadyne (galantamine), for early and the middle stage of Alzheimer’s.

As the dementia progresses, the level of acetylcholine goes down and even these medications may not be beneficial anymore. *** Medical Xpress reports that “researchers at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering are using generative adversarial networks (GANs) – technology best known for creating deepfake videos and photorealistic human faces – to improve brain-computer interfaces for people with disabilities.”

The team was able to “teach an AI to generate synthetic brain activity data which were fed into a machine-learning algorithms to improve the useability of brain computer interface (BCI), which analyzes a person’s brain signals and translating that neural activity into commands, allowing the user to control digital devices using only their thoughts.”

These devices can obviously help improve the “quality of life for people with motor dysfunction or paralysis, and those fully conscious but unable to move or communicate.” *** Those who hold their breath during sleep, snorers or not, and wake up several times during the night gasping for breath, most

likely have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). They are usually sleepy and feeling tired by noon.

Undiagnosed and untreated, OSA increases the risk for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer, due to chronic lack of oxygen during those breath-holding (apneic) moments, which could be dozens, [or even] a hundred.

A sleep test is needed to confirm the diagnosis. The good thing about OSA is that today, there is a proven, fully beneficial, treatment for it: the CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine.

Users love it and feel more secure using it for a restful sleep every night. *** Anger and any form of stress, especially emotional, can make one ill. Psychosomatic disorders are real. Anger, for instance, causes the release of stress hormones, like adrenalin, cortisol and noradrenalin, which increase heart rate, breathing, body temperature, muscle tone, sweating, alertness, and elevated blood pressure. All these also lead to the constriction of arteries in most organs, lessening their blood supply, and channeling a large share of blood supply to the muscles as a part of the body’s defense mechanism.

This is normal physiology when anger sets in, as it prepares the body for fight or flight. Anger also depresses the immune system, slows down digestion, and the alertness it causes impairs sleep.

Chronic emotional stress and anger do cause a lot more illnesses, and aggravate existing diseases (depression, heart condition, impending stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, insomnia, even allergies and skin diseases, etc.).

On the other hand, positive thoughts, laughing, listening to soothing music, relaxing, loving and the knowledge of being loved, spending quality time with family and friends, feeling happy and having serenity and peace, all these allow the body’s built-in “pharmacy” to produce the good hormones, called endorphins (from the word endogenous, meaning produced by the body, and the word morphine, which is like opium, heroin, and the medical pain killer, morphine). This gives us a high when produced by our body in abundance, circulating in our blood stream. Endorphins switch PAGE 12

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvembeR 26 - DeCembeR 2, 2021

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Mariah Carey takes the holidays up an octave with 12 days of McDonald’s® deals Each day from Dec.13 through Dec. 24, US customers can get a different menu item for free from the Mariah Menu on the McDonald’s app with a $1 minimum purchase

CHICAGO – All McDonald’s wants this holiday season is for you... to join Mariah Carey for 12 days of deals. Because when an iconic holiday superstar is a fan of the Golden Arches, it’s only right to begin the season by gifting customers an entire menu full of free* goodies. From Mariah’s own favorite, a classic Cheeseburger, to soft-baked Chocolate Chip Cookies, we made a list of some of our fans’ favorite menu items and checked it twice. The Mariah Menu will make its debut in the U.S. on Dec.13, featuring a different free item** each day with a $1 minimum purchase on the McDonald’s app.

“Some of my favorite memories with my kids are our family trips to McDonald’s, and of course, each of us has our go-to order. Mine is the Cheeseburger, and I get it with extra pickles,” said Mariah Carey. “Bringing together some of our favorite food from McDonald’s with my all-time favorite season is a holiday wish come true.”

The Mariah Menu takes our celebrity signature orders to the next level with daily deals that are exclusively available through the McDonald’s app and specially curated to kick-start the holiday season. More than just a meal, it’s a whole menu, fit for one of the best-selling female artists of all time.

“Mariah goes with the holidays like ketchup and fries, so we couldn’t think of a better partner to help us celebrate the upcoming season,” said Jennifer Healan, Vice President, U.S. Marketing, Brand Content and Engagement of McDonald’s USA. “Just like McDonald’s brings people around the table with their favorite orders, Mariah’s music connects us all during this time of the year.

We’re so excited to team up to bring even more holiday cheer to our fans.”

The Mariah Menu items will be served in fun and festive packaging inspired by Mariah’s love for the holidays and chic style. We have worked with Mariah to create a design we know the Lambily and McDonald’s fans will love.

You’ll know the bags when you see them... just like you know

her famed holiday jingle from the song’s first notes.

Stay tuned on the McDonald’s app for more surprises from McDonald’s and Mariah Carey!

To access the daily deals, simply download the McDonald’s app and visit the deals section to add to your order.

McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to nearly 25 million customers every day.

Ninety-five percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women.

For more information, visit www. mcdonalds.com, or follow us on

Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook. www.facebook.com/mcdonalds. *Available only at participating McDonald’s in the local area. Valid 1x/day with $1 min. purchase (excl. tax) from Dec. 13-24. See app for details. **Full list of daily deals: Dec. 13 – Big Mac®; Dec. 14 – McChicken®; Dec. 15 – Bakery Item; Dec. 16 – 6-pc Chicken McNuggets®; Dec. 17 – Cheeseburger; Dec. 18 – Hotcakes; Dec. 19 – McDouble®; Dec. 20 – Apple Pie; Dec. 21 – Sausage McMuffin® with Egg; Dec. 22 – Double Cheeseburger; Dec. 23 – Sausage Biscuit; Dec. 24 – Chocolate Chip Cookies.

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November 26 - December 2, 2021 • NorcAL ASIAN JoUrNAL

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

There’s always room for desserts that Saweetie makes ‘Saturday Night Live’ debut you can find at 99 Ranch Market by

MOST people save dessert for the last meal of the day, but really you can have dessert whenever you want. The next time you’re browsing your local 99 Ranch Market, check out what delicious, sweet treats we have to offer! From ice cream to cheesecake, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

If you’re someone who likes to have a cup – or two – of coffee in the morning, a slice of cake would pair wonderfully. Roll cakes are a slightly sweetened sponge cake that’s rolled up with a layer of whipped cream. 99 Ranch has flavors like green tea, vanilla, and chocolate. These cakes are light and fluffy with just enough texture to keep things interesting.

Take a sip of your morning coffee and take a bite of your roll cake. It’s the perfect breakfast combo, but these roll cakes can also be enjoyed at any time of the day. Just be careful: these are addicting; once slice can quickly become five!

Another great cake to try from 99 Ranch is Golden Leaf’s handmade cheesecake. With a variety of flavors like original, green tea, mango, coconut, and even black sesame, there’s bound to be a slice for everyone. These luscious creamy cheesecakes are already sliced into 12 pieces for convenience and you can even get one that includes two flavors. It’s the best of both worlds! Cheesecake is another one of those treats that are good to eat in the morning with a cup of coffee or tea. Of course, you can always save a slice to have it as a dessert after having your dinner.

If you like cakes, but want to try something a little different, grab a box of Mizuho’s Durian Crepe

Scan the QR code to enjoy a safer and more convenient online shopping.

Cake. This durian cake is made of thin layers of crepes with whipped cream in between each layer.

The saying goes, “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!” Ice cream and popsicles are one of those cold sweet treats that almost everyone can enjoy. 99 Ranch offers classic flavors like vanilla and chocolate, but also more fun varieties like red bean and sesame. If you’ve never had Melona before, you have to try it next time you’re shopping! Of course, we offer the classic melon flavor, but we also have Melona in flavors like strawberry and coconut.

Speaking of classics, we also have ice cream mochi! If you like mochi and you like ice cream, then you’re probably going to love ice cream mochi. It’s basically a ball of ice cream wrapped in a chewy mochi layer. If you’re someone who can bite into cold things without flinching, then props to you. However, if you’re someone with sensitive teeth, then we recommend letting your ice cream mochi defrost for a few minutes before biting in.

And of course, if you’re looking for something fun to try, we always have boba popsicles, Taiyaki ice cream fish, and even White Rabbit ice cream cups. Yes, you read that right! Our favorite chewy childhood White Rabbit candy now has an ice cream and popsicle version for everyone to enjoy.

And if you like your sweets more on the creamy side, be sure to try out some of our milk flavored ice If warm desserts are your cup of tea, 99 Ranch creams. Dong Bei Da Ban is one Market carries the Meet Fresh Signature of our milk flavored ice creams.

Starch Balls in the frozen section. Just follow These have a simple and delicious the directions and you’ll have your warm bowl flavor profile that’s creamy and reof sweet goodies in no time. freshing. If you like fruitier flavors, try out a grapefruit ice bar! And if you like some texture to your ice cream, check out Taiyaki ice creams. Taiyaki is a Japanese dessert that’s similar to a pancake but fish-shaped. It can be stuffed with

fillings like red bean, custard, and even ice cream.

If you’re someone who likes to make your own desserts, then be sure to check out some of the great jellies and toppings we have.

If you’ve never had halo halo before, you’re missing out. Halo halo means “mix mix” in Tagalog and is basically Filipino shaved ice with layers and layers of sweet treats.

You can put evaporated milk, sweet red beans, ube ice cream, coconut jelly, and whatever else floats your boat. Making halo halo at home can be a super easy process, and you can buy all the individual ingredients at 99 Ranch. But here’s a tip if you want to make the process even faster, get your hands on Tropics’ fruit mixture in syrup.

This product is basically a jar with all the toppings you need for halo halo. All you need is shaved ice and you’re ready to start mixing. And if you’re into shaved ice that tastes a little fresher, try cutting up thin slices of strawberries and drizzling a little bit of condensed milk over it for a quick and refreshing treat!

We’ve mentioned a lot of cold desserts, and now it’s time to put a spotlight on some of our favorite warm desserts. If you like Meet Fresh, but don’t want to wait in line at a store, you’re in luck! We have Meet Fresh’s Red Bean Soup with Starch Balls in stock! All you have to do is follow the instructions on the package and you’ll have your own bowl of chewy goodness.

Whether you’re someone who craves desserts for breakfast or saves your sweet treats for after dinner, 99 Ranch has something you’ll love. The next time you’re shopping for your weekly groceries, take the time to look at all the wonderful desserts and sweet things we have to offer. Just don’t hold us accountable for any cavities or sugar rushes you have! The desserts are available at our local stores and on the 99 Ranch Market app too. Please download the free 99 Ranch app now or scan the QR code to immediately enjoy a safer and more convenient online shopping!

The new store of 99 Ranch Market in Fremont is open now, visit this new location and enjoy a sweet shopping experience. 99 Ranch Market Fremont (Warm Springs) is located at 46551 Mission Blvd., Fremont, CA 94539. For more information, visit the 99 Ranch Market website at www.99ranch.com.

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For convenience, customers can purchase the Masagana or Tropics brand of fruit mixture in syrup to make halo halo.

BLACK and Filipina American hip-hop darling Saweetie performed a brand new single as she made her musical debut on “Saturday Night Live” over the weeked.

The 28-year-old rapper on Saturday, November 20, performed new single “Icy Chain” in front of massive lit-up block letters spelling out “ICY.” She also performed a medley of her hits such as “Tap In” and “Best Friend,” which originally featured Doja Cat. Released on Friday, Nov. 19, ahead of her SNL guest appearance, “Icy Chain” will be included on Saweetie’s long-awaited debut album, “Pretty Bitch Music,” which has been pushed to 2022.

“Pretty Bitch Music was supposed to come out this month, but I was really living with it,” she said during an interview with Big Tigger in June.

“And one of my goals is for people to really feel something with every song, so I had to go back and reconstruct some songs. Just know that I’m a perfectionist, and it’s on the way,” she added.

In a separate interview, Saweetie told Billboard: “This album needs to have feelings, it needs to have soul, it needs to have spirit. And I have a lot of room for improvement, so I’m gonna work on that.”

Saweetie, whose real name is Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper, was born to an African Ameri-

99 Ranch Market carries a huge variety of frozen treats, including ice cream, popsicles, mochi ice cream, Taiyaki ice cream and even White Rabbit ice cream cups. Photo above shows the Meloni brand of mochi ice cream, which is a ball of ice cream wrapped in chewy layer of sweet glutinous rice flour.

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

Photo from Instagram_@saweetie

panel had red, yellow, blue, and white for the Philippine flag.

In a previous interview with the Asian Journal, Saweetie said her mother reminded her to speak up about her background and culture.

“I remember my mom telling me that it’s important for me to share my heritage, to share my culture. So anytime that it makes sense, I do let people know that I am half-Filipina,” she said.

Fil-Am artists Olivia Rodrigo, Bruno Mars win big with BTS at AMAs 2021 AfiniDAD-bernArDo Philstar.com

WITH seven nominations, Filipino-American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo was the most nominated artist at this year’s American Music Awards broadcast live from Los Angeles earlier today.

The 18-year-old “Good 4 U” singer was slated to break records as a first-time nominee with the most wins if she bagged five of her seven nominations.

She has so far won as New Artist

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99 Ranch Market sells a great variety of roll cakes that tastes good with your morning coffee or as an after-dinner dessert.

Saweetie

can father and Filipina-Chinese mother.

In September this year, she put her Filipino and Black heritage on display at the 2021 Met Gala, where the theme was “American Independence.”

She wore a rose-colored Christian Cowan gown with an iridescent train split in two panels. One panel had the colors black and red to represent the Black American heritage flag, while the other

From left: Olivia Rodrigo, BTS and Bruno Mars at the American Music Awards 2021 in Microsoft Theater on November 21, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

AFP / Getty Images / ABC / Amy Sussman, Kevin Winter, Shaun Hoffman

By Deni

99 Ranch Market has all the individual ingredients to make the Filipino favorite, halo halo.

AJPress

of the Year.

She also reaped nominations for Artist of the Year, Favorite Female Pop Artist, Favorite Pop Album for “Sour;” and Favorite Pop Song, Favorite Trending Song and Favorite Music Video for “Drivers License.” Fellow Filipino-American singer Bruno Mars, together with Anderson .Paak, was also nominated under Favorite Music Video for “Leave The Door Open.”

Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, who form the duo Silk

Sonic, also got the Favorite R&B Song nod for “Leave The Door Open.”

Other Filipino-American artists who bagged nominations included Saweetie (Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist) and H.E.R. (Favorite Female R&B Artist, Favorite R&B Album for “Back of My Mind” and Favorite R&B Song for “Damage”).

Korean superstars BTS swept three AMAs, including Artist of the Year, Favorite Pop Duo or Group, and Favorite Pop Song for “Butter.”

Great medical news

OFF the nerves in the frontal lobe of the brain, inhibiting pain, and this part of the brain is then flooded with endogenous dopamine, resulting in the sense of euphoria, the reason why many are addicted to drugs.

Let’s us encourage our mind and body to produce these endorphins more often and be addicted to them, for a cheaper, healthier, safer, and legal way of getting high.

*** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life.

Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate

SERVICES

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

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvembeR 26 - DeCembeR 2, 2021

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