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DECEMBER 10-16, 2020

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

Volume 31 - No. 48 • 12 Pages

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Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

USA

DATELINE Judge restores DACA, orders DHS to accept new applications FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

FOR the first time in three years, the program that has protected young undocumented immigrants from deportation will accept new applications.

Judge Nicholas Garaufis of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on Friday, December 4 ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program will be restored to its original form, and that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security must post a public notice by Monday that it will review new applications.

The approved applications will receive work permits for two years.

This comes after the Trump administration in 2017 moved to terminate the program, but the legality of the program has been weighed by several federal courts, including the Supreme Court this summer.

DACA, which was introduced by former

Report: Record hunger in the Philippines as COVID-19 continues

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

AS the coronavirus pandemic persists, the Philippines is experiencing record levels of hunger, according to a recent report by Agence France-Presse

(AFP).

Due to COVID-19 restrictions and job losses, Filipinos have started relying on food handouts to survive.

“Charities are struggling to meet the ever-growing demand for food as millions of families go hun-

World Bank: PH economy to bounce back in 2021

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

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Donaire withdraws from title fight after testing positive for COVID-19 NONITO Donaire Jr. withdrew from his fight against Emmanuel Rodriguez after testing positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as reported

by BoxingScene.com on Wednesday, December 9.

Nonito Donaire Jr. The FilipiPhoto from Instagram_@nonitodonaire no Flash with a record of 40 wins against six losses and the Puerto Rican Rodriguez (19-1) were supposed to fight for the World Boxing Council bantamweight title in the main event of Showtime’s

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gry across the country,” the article by AFP reporter Allison Jackson said.

Rise Against Hunger, an international hunger relief organization, admitted that the Philippines is failing to provide food for its people. u PAGE A2

OVERLOADED. Two commuters ride on the estribo (rear) of the passenger jeepney speeding along Marcos Highway in Antipolo City on a rainy Thursday, December 10. Passenger jeepneys may not exceed half of their regular seating capacities under a new government regulation amid the pandemic.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

THE World Bank expects the Philippine economy to start recovering in the next two years as the country eases quarantine restrictions, allowing more industries to resume operations.

The multilateral lender on Tuesday, December 8, forecasted the Philippines an economic growth of 5.9% in 2021, and 6.0% in 2022.

“With the steady decline in daily cases despite the gradual re-opening of industries, the risk of reversing to stricter quarantine restrictions is likely reduced,” said Rong Qian, World Bank Senior Economist.

“If the positive trend persists, the infection curve is likely to flatten in the first half of 2021, which will help pave the way for a sustainable economic recovery in 2021-2022,” she added.

The World Bank noted that government spending for infrastructure projects next year would help ensure a stable economic footing as the programs would create and provide job opportunities.

“Regaining momentum on the public infrastructure program will support economic recovery and increase growth potential which might have been negatively

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Online registration for overseas Drug board: PH may not voting in 2022 PH elections begins be drug-free by 2022

by AJPRESS

OVERSEAS Filipinos may now register to vote online for the 2022 Philippine elections.

The Philippine Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) iRehistro, which has been operational since December 1, is accepting applications for new registrants, transfer and reactivation of voter records, the change of name or correction of entries on record, and inclusion of records in the book of voters/reinstatement of name in the list of voters.

The online facility also requires the applicants to provide their personal information, citizenship details, and residency data.

However, the poll body stressed that accomplishing the online form does not automatically make the applicant a registered voter.

“Take note that using this online facility only attempts to facilitate the process of accomplishment of the Application Form.

It does not automatically mean approval of your application,” Comelec said in an announcement on its website.

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Filipina nurse administers first COVID-19 vaccine in UK

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

Filipina nurse May Parsons administers the COVID-19 vaccine to 90-year-old grandmother Margaret Keenan, the world’s first person to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine outside a clinical trial, on Tuesday, December 8, in Coventry, central England.

Photo by National Health Service

A FILIPINA nurse was part of history this week as she administered the first COVID-19 vaccine outside of clinical trials to a 90-year-old woman in the United Kingdom.

National Health Service (NHS) nurse May Parsons on Tuesday, December 8, administered the vaccine to Margaret Keenan, the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine after its clinical approval in the country.

“It’s a huge honor to be the first person in the country to deliver a COVID-19 jab to a patient,” Parsons said in a state-

ment released by NHS. “I’m just glad that I’m able to play a part in this historic day.

The last few months have been tough for all of us working in the NHS, but now it feels like there is light at the end of the tunnel,” she added.

Following Keenan, an 81year-old man named William Shakespeare was the second individual to receive the vaccine.

In an interview with “Good Morning Britain,” the Filipina nurse said she was proud to participate in a step toward curbing COVID-19.

“I’m really glad to be telling all the Filipinos in the country

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by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

ELIMINATING illegal drugs in the Philippines may not be achieved by 2022, the country’s Dangerous Drugs Board admitted this week.

“Ang ginawa nating optimistic target doon sa ating campaign was to sana, magkaroon tayo ng drug-free communities by 2022. But realistically, mukhang hindi natin maa-attain ‘yan (Our optimistic target in our campaign was to hopefully achieve drug-free communities by 2022.

But realistically, it seems we wouldn’t be able to attain that),” DDB chairman Catalino Cuy said Wednesday, December 9.

According to Cuy, 14,308 barangays have yet to be cleared of illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s latest report said at least 20,538 of the 42,045 affected barangays have been declared drug-free.

Cuy also maintained that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s war against drugs was effective, noting that the number of drug users have gone down from 3 to 4 million in 2016 to only 1.6 million as of the latest national survey on Filipinos aged 10 to 69.

“All the while the President was thinking that dumarami ang

DDB chairman Catalino Cuy Photo from ddb.gov

ating mga drug dependents (drug dependents are increasing) but it turned out na nabawasan (that they were lessened) so somehow he was relieved to know that,” he said.

“What is important is that we had sustained an effective anti-illegal drug campaign,” he added.

However, Cuy admitted that the country’s drug problem will never be solved as long as there are patrons of illegal drugs.

“Hindi natin totally ma-eradicate ang drugs (We can’t totally eradicate drugs). It’s just like telling ma-eradicate mo ang crimes.

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december 10-16, 2020 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JOUrNAL

From The FronT Page

Report: Record hunger in the...

PAGE A1 “I’ve never seen hunger at this level before,” Jomar Fleras, executive director of Rise Against Hunger in the Philippines, told AFP. “If you go out there everybody will tell you that they’re more afraid of dying from hunger than dying from COVID. They don’t care about COVID anymore,” he added.

One of the many unfortunate Filipinos who rely on charity drives every day to be able to eat is Daniel Auminto.

Auminto, 41, lost his job and then his home due to the pandemic, forcing him and his family to live on the streets and join long queues of mostly homeless people to receive a free meal

from an outdoor food pantry.

“On some days, the family gets two meals from different pantries; other days, it is just one.

Sometimes, they have no food at all,” the AFP noted.

Demand for food is constantly increasing, according to Father Flavie Villanueva, who runs a program in Manila where volunteers “prepare around a thousand meals of chicken, vegetables and rice that are packed into boxes and given to the hungry.”

“We started doing this in April and began with 250 (people lining up). It increased to 400, and then 600, then 800. Three weeks ago, it was 1,000,” he was quoted saying.

Fleras, meanwhile, said food

donation drives might have to feed 200,000 families this year.

A September survey from the Social Weather Stations revealed that the number of people going hungry in the Philippines has reached a record high during the pandemic.

Nearly one-third of families or 7.6 million households did not have enough food to eat at least once in the previous three months.

Of the total figure, a record 2.2 million families experienced “severe hunger.”

“For the country’s legions of poor, the pandemic is just another challenge in their lives — and not even the most serious,” the AFP said. n

Judge restores DACA, orders DHS to accept...

PAGE A1 President Barack Obama in 2012, granted renewable deportation protections of two years to certain young undocumented immigrants, known as “Dreamers,” who were brought to the United States illegally as children.

Aside from being able to stay in the U.S., recipients were able to work legally which allowed many to pursue higher education and other career goals. The program, however, does not offer a pathway to citizenship for the grantees.

On November 14, Garaufis ruled that the Trump administration’s rules limiting applications and renewals for DACA were invalid because Chad Wolf was not legally appointed acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

Wolf in July suspended the DACA program pending DHS review, despite the U.S. Supreme Court blocking the Trump administration’s plan to dismantle the program a month before.

Around 650,000 individuals

have benefitted from the DACA RISKY JOBS. Vendors sell snacks and drinks along Edsa in Cubao, Quezon City on Wednesday, December 9. These vendors risk life and limb just to earn a living.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler program.

According to Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice), an affiliation of five independent civil rights organizations, at least 16,000 DACA recipients PAGE A1 “The expected growth con- projection. are of Asian American or Pacific affected by the pandemic,” Qian traction in 2020 is likely to in“Siyempre po nalulungkot Islander (AAPI) descent. said. crease poverty in the short term, tayo diyan dahil ibig sabihin Between 2012 and 2017, at Additional 2.7 million poor resulting in an additional 2.7 mas marami maghihirap sa pagleast 3,880 Filipinos were granted Filipinos million poor people in 2020,” bagal ng ating pag-unlad. Pero DACA protection, according to The World Bank forecasted Qian said, basing the poverty iyan naman po ay naging resulta the U.S. Citizenship and Immigra- that the economy would con- line on a $3.2 or roughly ₱150 ng pandemya at ng mga sigalot tion Services (USCIS). (Christina tract even deeper at 8.1% in daily per capita income for mid- na sunod-sunod na dumaan sa M. Oriel/AJPress) 2020, a revision from its -6.9% dle-income countries. ating bansa (Of course, we are forecast last October.

“The poor and vulnerable, are sad because it means more peoThis is due to several “shocks” especially likely to experience ple will suffer due to our slow like the COVID-19 pandemic as significant welfare losses, given growth. But it is the result of the well as Typhoons Quinta, Rolly, their limited capacity to manage pandemic and the series of disand Ulysses which battered risks,” she further said. ruptions that hit the country),” parts of the Philippines between The multilateral lender also Presidential Spokesperson HarOctober and November.

PAGE A1 pointed out that private con- ry Roque said Tuesday.

“The series of natural disas- sumption, which accounts for “Kaya po natin ito, baban“You still have to personally appear before the concerned ters that hit the country while two-thirds of the country’s econ- gon tayo (We can do it, we will Philippine embassy or consulate we are battling the pandemic omy, also declined at a record recover) we will do better in together with the printed online highlights the importance of pace due to high unemployment 2021,” he added.

The spokesman reminded the application forms (3 copies) for mainstreaming disaster risk and falling incomes.

“While addressing the pan- public to follow the minimum QR scanning and biometrics cap- reduction and climate change ture to complete the filing pro- adaptation into policy and plan- demic, the country needs to health protocols placed to prening,” said Ndiame Diop, World sustain focus on the structural vent the further spread of COcess,” it added.

Biometrics capture may be Bank Country Director for Bru- reform agenda,” Qian stressed. VID-19.

“Speeding up reforms that “And pagdating po sa pandone only at Philippine embas- nei, Malaysia, Thailand and the improve the business environ- demya, kaya po natin ito, sunsies and consulates during office Philippines.

“While the Philippines is fi- ment, foster competition, and din lang natin ang sinasabi ng hours.

Comelec also said that the nancially resilient, stronger strengthen resilience against Presidente: Mask, Hugas, Iwas.

Election Registration Board coordination, execution and natural disasters will support Pag-ingatan ang buhay para (ERB) will approve the applica- implementation will help fur- the economic recovery and sa hanapbuhay (And when it tion on the scheduled date for ther improve social and physical boost productivity growth in the comes to pandemic, we will resilience to frequent shocks,” long term,” she added. overcome this, just follow what the next ERB hearing.

‘Do better’ the President said: wear face The voter registration period Diop added.

The contraction is expected to Malacañang, for its part, mask, wash hands, physical disresumed last September 1 and will run until September 30, increase poverty in the country, vowed to do better in 2021 fol- tancing. Protect life for work),” according to the World Bank. lowing the World Bank’s latest said Roque. n 2021. n

World Bank: PH economy to bounce back...

Online registration...

Filipina nurse administers first...

PAGE A1 and in the world that we can make a difference,” Parsons said, continuing “...It’s a historical event for Filipinos all across the globe, making sure we are proud of what we’ve achieved…and the care that we give. I’m very proud to say to everyone that I’m a British-Filipino today, making history.”

“I’m very proud to say to everyone that I’m a British-Filipino today, making history,” she added.

Parsons, a Filipina migrant, has been working in the UK’s NHS for the past 24 years now.

She inoculated the vaccine to Keenan at a local hospital in Coventry.

Keenan, for her part, expressed her gratitude for the Filipina nurse as well as the NHS staff for their service.

“I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against COVID-19. It’s the best early birthday present I could wish for because it means I can finally look forward to spending time with my family and friends

in the New Year after being on my own for most of the year,” she said in a separate statement released by the NHS. “I can’t thank May and the NHS staff enough who have looked after me tremendously, and my advice to anyone offered the vaccine is to take it – if I can have it at 90, then you can have it too!” added Keenan.

In a tweet, British Ambassador to the Philippines and Palau Daniel Pruce called the event a “fantastic moment.”

“A fantastic moment! And great to see that the vaccine is administered by Nurse May Parsons from the Philippines – one of the many thousands of Filipino healthcare workers making such an enormous contribution to the #NHS,” he wrote.

The UK is the first country to start a mass vaccination campaign in the world. It has secured 40 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine after clinical trials showed an efficacy rate of 94% against SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the United States’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is moving ahead with its process to determine whether to provide emergency use authorization for Pfizer’s vaccine.

On Tuesday, the FDA announced that its review found the vaccine to be safe and effective after one dose.

According to Dr. Greg Poland, director of the Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group in Rochester, Minnesota, he could “see absolutely no reason why this emergency use authorization would not be granted.”

If granted the EUA, the first round of vaccine rollout in the U.S. is expected to be distributed within days.

The Philippines, on the other hand, is waiting for a number of vaccines to be evaluated by the country’s FDA for use in the country. It recently signed a tripartite agreement for two million doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine with the help of the private sector, and plans to acquire 20 million more doses using public money. n

US transfers military hardware to PH

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

THE Philippines has received an additional P1.4 billion ($29.3 million) worth of military equipment from the United States, demonstrating the longstanding and steadfast U.S. military commitment to the Philippines.

Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller on Tuesday, December 8, met with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jr., announcing the recent transfer of the defense articles, including sniper and anti-IED equipment, to senior Philippine military officials.

The turnover of the defense equipment will support the modernization goals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The new equipment will strengthen the AFP’s joint precision strike, sniper, riverine, and counter-improvised explosive device capabilities.

“I am grateful for the oppor-

tunity to visit the Philippines, the United States’ oldest treaty ally in Asia. It was an honor to meet with Secretary Lorenzana and Secretary Loscin to discuss deepening our alliance and supporting a free and open South China Sea and Indo-Pacific region,” Miller said.

During the meeting, Miller stressed the importance of the U.S.-Philippine alliance to national and regional security, and discussed opportunities for greater bilateral security cooperation to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

He likewise highlighted the more than P1.1 billion ($23.4 million) in U.S. COVID-19 assistance and disaster relief for recent typhoon victims, as well as ongoing U.S. support for Philippine counterterrorism and maritime security efforts.

“We are grateful for the support provided by the United States as we continuously work on the enhancement of the Philippines’ defense capabilities,” said Lorenzana.

“The modernization of the AFP will ultimately allow us

to respond more effectively to both traditional and non-traditional security threats to our maritime nation. Our government expresses our deep appreciation for the US government’s assistance in protecting our borders from external threats,” he added.

Miller’s visit followed the November 25 visit of U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett, as well as U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien’s November 22-23 visit, during which he announced P868 million ($18 million) in supplementary military equipment and training for the AFP. “The Philippines is by far the largest recipient of U.S. military assistance in the Indo-Pacific region,” noted the U.S. Embassy in Manila.

“Since 2015, the United States has delivered more than P33 billion ($650 million) worth of planes, ships, armored vehicles, small arms, and other military equipment to the Philippines, while training side-byside with our Filipino allies,” it added. n

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Maria Ressa lands on 2020 Bloomberg 50 list by aJPress RAPPLER co-founder and veteran journalist Maria Ressa is among 2020’s Bloomberg 50, an annual list of influential leaders, icons, and innovators who helped define the year.

She is only the second Filipino to land on the list, following Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corp., who was honored in last year’s line-up.

Ressa, a vocal critic of the administration of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, was convicted of cyber libel this past June for a 2012 Rappler article about a businessman, sentencing her to a penalty of imprisonment ranging from six months to six years.

“In June a judge ruled on the charge, which can be initiated when a party who believes he’s been defamed requests a prosecution. The ask had come from businessman Wilfredo Keng, who said Rappler defamed him when the online news site cited a report about his alleged links to drug smuggling in a story,” read Ressa’s profile on the Bloomberg website.

Ressa, for her part, said the verdict was “not unexpected,” and vowed to continue fighting.

“Freedom of the press is the foundation of every single right you have as a Filipino citizen. If we can’t hold power to account, we can’t do anything,” she said in a press conference following the verdict.

Dateline PhiliPPines

Arrests mar commemoration of International Human Rights Day

by Kristine Joy

Philstar.com

Maria Ressa

Bloomberg lauded the Rappler CEO for her unflinching journalism, which included investigations of alleged police abuses in the president’s anti-drug efforts.

“She’s carried on despite what journalism advocates say is a campaign of official intimidation, including a tax evasion case and a claim by regulators that financial support Rappler received violated a ban on foreign ownership of media,” it said.

“Free on bail, she’s fighting all those allegations — and still publishing,” it added.

Photo from Twitter/@mariaressa

Ressa, who was among TIME’s 2018 “Persons of the Year,” was recently honored with the international 2020 John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award by the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Aside from her, Bloomberg also honored Billie Eilish, singer-songwriter; Bong Joon-ho, director of Oscar-winning film “Parasite;” Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix; Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and Tsai Ing-Wen, president of Taiwan. n

A

Patag

MANILA— Six trade union organizers and a journalist were arrested on Thursday, December 10 as the world commemorated International Human Rights Day. Human rights advocates and progressive groups in the morning of December 10 marched to Mendiola to commemorate the International Human Rights Day as they called for accountability for alleged violations.

Protests were also held on Osmeña Boulevard in Cebu City on Thursday, The Freeman reported.

In a press release on Thursday afternoon, the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said the arrests were part of “intensifying police operations against loose firearms and criminal gangs,” saying search warrants were implemented simultaneously in Quezon City, Manila, and Mandaluyong City around 2 a.m. on Thursday.

Trade union organizers arrested in Quezon City, Manila Defend Jobs Philippines reported that Dennise Velasco was arrested at around 3:00 a.m. in

his house in Quezon City.

The group said members of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group “raided” their residence, based on a search warrant issued by Quezon City trial court executive judge Cecilyn BurgosVillavert. According to the CIDG, the other warrants served in the raids were issued by the same judge.

Villavert is the same judge who issued search warrants that resulted in arrests of dozens of activists in Negros and Manila in 2019.

“We slam the planting of fake [evidence] such as firearms and explosives on Velasco’s possession as evidence,” Defend Jobs Philippines said in a statement.

It added that the arrest followed reported surveillance of their office on the night of December 3.

The group also said Velasco has been active in their campaign against contractualization and various labor disputes. The arrested trade union organizer also served as lead initiators in disaster relief efforts for typhoon victims in Metro Manila.

CIDG said their arresting team

seized a grenade, a rifle, a pistol, and bullets in the raid along with “assorted suspected subversive documents.”

Also arrested, according to the CIDG press release, were Mark Ryan Cruz, Romina Astudillo, Jaymie Gregorio and Joel Demate. They said police recovered grenades, guns and bullets in searches of their residences in Quezon City and in Manila.

Rights group Karapatan, in a statement on Thursday evening, said they are also trade union organizers and called the arrests “a full mockery of International Human Rights Day.” Journalist arrested in Mandaluyong City Just hours later, journalist and Manila Today editor Lady Ann Salem was reported arrested by the police in her residence in Mandaluyong.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said that police have yet to release details on charges against Salem.

The journalists’ group said Salem is the communications officer of the International Association of Women in Radio and Television. IAWRT was the first PAGE A5

Drug board: PH may not be drug-free...

PAGE A1 We cannot do that,” he said.

Based on government data, Duterte’s drug campaign has killed at least 5,903 suspects while over 259,000 have been arrested.

Malacañang, on the other hand, remained optimistic that Duterte’s vision of a drug-free

Philippines can be fulfilled before he steps down from his post in 2022.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday insisted that it is possible if the local government units (LGUs) cooperate with the national government.

“Kung makikipagtulungan

po talaga ang mga lokal na pamahalaan, yung natitirang 14,308 barangays eh magiging drug-free na rin pagdating ng pagtatapos ng termino ng ating Presidente (If the LGUs will cooperate, then the remaining 14,308 barangays will be drug-free by the end of the president’s term),” he said. n

Donaire withdraws from title fight after...

PAGE A1

triple-header at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut on December 19.

Donaire, 38, was originally scheduled to fight title holder Nordine Oubaali in November but the French also tested positive for COVID-19 and pulled out

of the bout.

The cancellation led Showtime to replace Oubaali with Rodriguez.

With Donaire out, BoxingScene.com also reported that another Filipino — Reymart Gaballo — is being considered to fight Rodriguez in the main

event.

The 24-year-old Gaballo, who holds a perfect record of 230 with 20 KOs, was originally scheduled to face Chile’s Jose Velasquez (28-6-2, 19 KOs) in the opener of Showtime’s tripleheader. (Niel Victor C. Masoy/ ManilaTimes.net)

E-TRIKES. Drivers of electric tricycles wait for passengers at the vacant lot in Barangay Salitran 3, City of Dasmarinas, Cavite on Thursday, December 10. The Land Transportation Office (LTO) earlier said it would soon require registration of all kinds of electric vehicles including e-scooters and two-wheeled e-bikes.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga

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DECEMBER 10-16, 2020 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

OPiniOn

Body cameras vs abuse

FeatUres

IN 2017, surveillance camera footage belied the police version of the killing of 17-year-old student Kian de los Santos in Caloocan City. The video footage together with eyewitness accounts led to the conviction of the policemen who summarily executed De los Santos as he knelt on the ground and pleaded for his life.

That was one of the rare cases in the brutal drug war wherein the three executioners were not only caught but also convicted and sent to prison for life. Justice came swiftly mostly because of the evidence on video, corroborated by the eyewitnesses.

De los Santos’ execution did not put an end to the killings in the war on drugs, but it led to proposals to use body cameras so anti-drug operations would be properly documented and abuse of police power prevented.

In September this year, about 2,600 body cameras arrived for use by the Philippine National Police. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, tasked by law to lead the campaign against illegal drugs, has also procured its own body cameras.

The cameras can be used not only for the drug war but also for other police operations against criminality. Law enforcers themselves will find body cameras useful in belying accusations of sus-

pects about planting of evidence and unlawful arrest. Body cameras are useful particularly in areas where there are no closed-circuit television cameras – and there are still many places all over the country without CCTV. Video footage used as evidence will also speed up adjudication of cases, so law enforcers will see the fruits of their work paying off.

A bill is pending at the Senate, requiring the use of body cameras in police operations and their activation particularly when lives are at risk. Recordings must be retained for six months before deletion, unless these are needed as documentary evidence. The proposed Body Camera Act includes provisions to protect the privacy of crime victims, people in their homes, and informants.

Law enforcement agencies need not wait for the passage of the law to start using body cameras.

Enactment of the law, however, can enhance the utilization of the devices. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Readers weigh in: Should Biden pardon Trump to unify the country? Could Trump pardon himself and his children?

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS

stated his definitive stand on this issue. In a town hall meeting during the presidential campaign, Biden already gave a firm answer to this very question. He pledged that he would not use his new executive powers to pardon President Donald Trump of any potential crimes.

“We never saw anything like the prostitution of [the presidency] like we see it today,” Biden said. “What’s going on is an absolute travesty. A travesty of justice.”

Filipinos in America who read the article posted their comments on social media. Here are some of them: “Absolutely NO PARDON. Trump should be made an example of how a president should NEVER be and how his destructive actions should NEVER be repeated by any future president. Pardoning him is sending the wrong messages. Lock him up and throw away the key.

Any president in the future shall shudder at the thought of abusing power.” - Lee Leon “Ask this question on January 20th.” - Karen Kay Kelly “I will regret that I voted for Biden if he does that!” -Manolo Patoot “What would VP Biden pardon Trump for if the former

JOE BIDEN has officially secured enough electors to become president. He accrued more than 270 electors when California certified its presidential election on Friday, December 4, and appointed 55 electors pledged to vote for Biden, officially handing him the Electoral College majority needed to win the White House. Biden now has 279 electors, which is over the 270 threshold for victory.

As the Associated Press reported, “The electors named Friday will meet Dec. 14, along with counterparts in each state, to formally vote for the next president. Most states have laws binding their electors to the winner of the popular vote in their state, measures that were upheld by a Supreme Court decision this year. There have been no suggestions that any of Biden’s pledged electors would contemplate not voting for him.”

As all election processes and results lead the way to Biden’s inauguration as the 46th President of the United States on January 20, 2021, the issue of PARDON has been talked about in the news and on social media.

This is especially relevant in light of all the charges Trump

could be facing after his term due to his reported abuse of the power, resources, and public trust accorded to him by the Office of the President.

This is not even including other charges against him that are already in court, but he could not be indicted because of the Department of Justice memo that prohibits deposing a sitting president.

This is in part fueled by Trump’s tweets in 2018 claiming he can pardon himself, contrary to the law.

Trump was also reportedly in talks with his advisers about granting preemptive pardons to his children Don Jr., Eric, Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, a White House senior adviser.

Last week, I wrote an article about what the law says about presidential pardons and clemency, as well as other legal perspectives pertaining to Trump pardoning himself and his children.

Some Trump supporters have been opining that Biden as president should consider pardoning Trump like what President Gerard Ford did to his predecessor Richard Nixon. They contend it could help heal and unify our divided nation.

Of course, Biden already

Street Talk

Wanted: A perfect president

GREG B. MACABENTA TWO years before the end of the six-year term of President Rodrigo Duterte, social media networks have been ablaze with criticisms of Philippine presidential wannabes that people don’t like.

And, in the U.S., a few weeks before President-elect Joe Biden assumes office, Trump fanatics are grieving over the loss of their “greatest president since Lincoln,” while spouting dire warnings about the oncoming Biden tenure. Of course, the Biden-ites are eager to experience a period of civility after four years of President Donald Trump’s chaotic and divisive tenure. They expect relief in Biden’s centrist policies while the progressives in his party are said to be planning to see their liberal agenda eventually implemented.

Exactly what does “progressive” and “liberal” mean? Socialism? Free health care, education and other benefits paid for by the tycoons but not by “average” or “middle income” Americans? Of course, businessmen — not just tycoons

Philstar.com photo

— don’t relish the idea of carrying the weight of a welfare society. They are asking: where do these pseudo-socialists draw the line?

The other day, someone told me that in the U.S., those earning $400,000 a year are now merely middle income. So what does make of retirees making less than $2,000 a month from Social Security? And how about those unable to feed their families and pay the rent on their hovels?

In the Philippines, the selfappointed soothsayers and social media kibitzers dislike outgoing President Duterte for being “what he is and what he is not.” Fill in the blanks.

They have also expressed dismay over the reported presidential ambitions of Manny Pacquiao. Why? Because, fill in the blanks.

They also think Sen. Bong Go should go to (fill in the blanks) instead of aspiring for Malacanang. Why? Because he is allegedly a Duterte Mini-Me. As many kibitzers don’t relish the idea of a President Sara Duterte (anooo?? Duterte na naman???).

They think she will be as prone to violence as her father.

In such a case, they would pre-

fer Sen. Ping Lacson?

Or maybe, they would like Ronnie Poe resurrected in Sen. President Tito Sotto? Or would they rather have former President Fidel Ramos? Or Erap Estrada? Or Imelda Marcos? Or Bongbong?

Everyone I have asked has only been able to describe the things they dislike in a presidential wannabe. But no one has been able to adequately describe the “ideal” president.

Following is a Facebook exchange between me and a friend who was one of the finest account management persons to come out of Philippine advertising. He was also a former president of a telecommunications company and a former senior executive of a multinational firm. In sum, a pretty intelligent and knowledgeable individual.

My post read (loosely translated from the original Tagalog): “With due respect to my friends, what are the qualities of an ideal president? Brilliant like Marcos? A great speaker like Ninoy Aquino? Wealthy like Mar Roxas? A widow like Cory?

A bachelor like Noynoy? Honest like RM? Disciplined like Ramos? An economist like Gloria?

A sports icon and wealthy from personal efforts like Pacquiao?

takes office as president? All accusations on Trump were unfounded. The question is: would he be able to pardon his son since he could not pardon himself. Biden’s only recourse would be to resign snd the VP becomes President who, in return, pardons him as Ford did to Nixon. Remains to be seen!!!”

- Evelyn Andamo “How will a Biden pardon for Trump unify the country?

His supporters will only accept Trump’s return to power, nothing less. A united United States of America, redundant and funny as it sounds is not going to happen soon (if at all) as long as Trump is around.” - Alex Aison “I think we will still be divided even if he pardons him.

It will encourage others to become as reckless as Trump because they will count on a pardon after all the destruction they create. Trump should be subjected to the consequences of his actions according to law.

He is what he is now, because growing up, he was always shielded from the consequences of his actions. Pardoning him will create many more Trumps in future generations.”

-Angela Vergel de Dios “Thank you for this article.

Saved me from doing my own

research. I don’t think anyone in this group wants Biden to pardon Trump. But, like you said, if trump wants a pardon, he has to admit he did something wrong.

He will never admit that he did something wrong.” -Grace Bustamante “Trump should not pardon Biden for stealing the election!

You are disgusting for being biased. Not all Asians support your hypocrisy.” -Josie Robb “With all the anger, confusion and division he started in America...He deserves to be punished and feel the pain we suffered.”

-Vilma Camaya “Why should Biden pardon Trump? In fact, the DOJ should prosecute Trump for his crimes.” - Malou de Asis “Justice, law and order cannot be sacrificed for the sake of unity. If Trump, his family and cult members broke the laws, they should all be persecuted and punished. No one is above the law. - Rogelio G. Sion “If Biden pardons the POS traitor then Biden becomes complicit in the crimes.” - Peter Cabal “A pardon will be a stupid move and a betrayal of the voters who voted to oust Trump.”

-Jet Guerrero “Anybody in their right sense

knows inside them that TRUMP is as delusional as it gets! This is an awful period of our generation and things should be done RIGHT....what is going on!?!?!?

Nobody seems to be doing anything about this President!?!?!?

I am quite shock[ed] that the people...the Republicans just let him still do what he please[s]... nobody to stand up against his lunatic behavior... Where is the hero against all [these] misfit character[s]... I thought at one time... there was one guy!?!?!?”

- Mary Rose Amistad “Truth Prevails...Justice Prevails...No one can defy the Constitution. No one can be above the Law. God Bless America” - Joy Carpio ***

Excellent in English like Manglapus? A successful businessman like Danding? Business tycoons like Pangilinan or the Zobels? Tough like Duterte? A martyr like Rizal? Courageous like Bonifacio? A rebel like Aguinaldo? A good actor like Erap? Or all of the above? Next question: Has there ever been a politician who did not make money in office? Who among those currently in office can lead the Philippines? Has that person been born? Or is that person dead?”

My friend’s response was a non-answer: “You keep changing presidents until you find the perfect one. Like water will get you drunk as long as you keep drinking until it does. Hehe.

Actually no president is perfect that’s why we limit their tenure.

In our case, 6 years no reelection. However, some of them want to stay longer. While not perfect, they don’t want to leave and also want to pass on the position to their children.”

Another friend offered an analogy: “Choosing an ideal president is like choosing a wife or husband. You take a chance that WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get). Some are lucky.

Others wake up feeling miserable on the morning after the night before. Like a hangover after a New Year’s party.”

INDEED, there has to be a better way to choose a presi-

dent or a partner-for-life. The English poet Rudyard Kipling wrote, “If,” a piece that could provide some guidance: “If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise; If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with triumph and disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools; If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”; If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings—nor lose the common touch; If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run— Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

Of course, Rudyard Kipling was hardly an ideal human being himself. He was a jingoist and an imperialist. He also wrote the miscegenistic lines, “East is east and west is west and neither the twain shall meet.” ***

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

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

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

*** gregmacabenta@hotmail.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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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • dEcEmbER 10-16, 2020

PH last in math, science among 58 countries

by John

Eric MEndoza ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippines ranked last among 58 participating countries in the international assessment for mathematics and science for Grade 4 students, according to a report.

Filipino Grade 4 students only got an average scale score of 249 in science and 297 in math, ranking last in both tests, according to the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2019 (Timss) by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement.

Timss assesses the knowledge in mathematics and science of Grade 4 and Grade 8 students around the world every four years.

The Philippines only took part in the Grade 4 assessment.

In contrast, Singaporean Grade 4 students scored 625 in mathematics and 595 in science, leading all participating countries.

Grade 8 students of the city state also scored the highest in mathematics and science at 616 and 608, respectively.

The Timss set four interna-

tional benchmarks to gauge students’ competencies on the two subjects: advanced benchmark (625), high benchmark (550), intermediate benchmark (475) and low benchmark (400).

The study reported that many countries are educating their students with a minimum proficiency in mathematics and science, with a median of 92%.

Only 13% of Filipino students, however, fell under the low benchmark in science, indicating that they had “limited understanding of scientific concepts and limited knowledge of foundational science facts.”

Eighty-one percent of Filipino students did not even reach this level.

Five% were under the intermediate benchmark, which means they have demonstrated “ knowledge and understanding of some aspects of science,” while only 1% can “communicate and apply knowledge of life, physical and Earth sciences,” under the high benchmark.

In mathematics, 19% of Filipino students reached the low benchmark, which means they are able to “have some basic

mathematical knowledge.”

Seventy-four% did not even manage to achieve this level.

Only 6% of students “can apply basic mathematical knowledge in simple situations,” falling under Intermediate Benchmark, while only one% falls under the High benchmark, which enables them to “apply conceptual understanding to solve problems.”

The Department of Education vowed “deep reforms” after lackluster performance in previous assessments.

Prior to this, Filipino students ranked dead last among 79 countries when it came to reading comprehension in 2018.

The country also ranked second lowest in both mathematical and scientific assessment in the Program for International Student Assessment.

The Education department launched “Sulong Edukalidad,” which aims to review the K to 12 curriculum, improve learning environments, and “upskill and reskill” teacher’s skills, among others.

The Manila Times sought the Education department for comment, but it is yet to respond as of press time. n

China firm-funded Dito recruits former soldiers as managers

by Prinz

Magtulis Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippines’ third major telco partly funded by a Chinese firm is hiring retired military people to fill up its ranks.

So far, a “minimum of nine” former soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are holding managerial positions in the company, Rodolfo Santiago, himself a former AFP member and Dito’s chief technology officer, said in a briefing on Thursday, December 10.

“I find working with them very easy,” Adel Tamano, chief administrative officer, said in the same briefing.

“These men who are working with us, these are people who had been sworn to protect our country and for me, why there would even be a shadow of doubt that we will let our national security be compromised?” he said.

Of the nine former AFP personnel with Dito, seven were designated to lead security of regional Dito offices under Tamano. The company, chaired by Davaobased tycoon Dennis Uy, opened its network operations center

in an undisclosed location last December 7 and is set to rollout brick and mortar stores in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao soon.

At least one was pirated by Dito from active service, Colonel Roleen del Prado, who is now in charge of the telco’s cybersecurity, a task she previously held at the military. “I know the reputation and expertise of the guy,” Santiago said.

“I need an expert (in cybersecurity)…because that is part of our commitment. We have to ensure that our network will not be utilized to threaten national security. I’m sure he will not compromise national security,” he pointed out.

Santiago however fell short of saying whether putting former people in uniform a strategy to assuaged persistent fears that Dito, 38.9% owned by state-led China Telecom, can be utilized to spy on the Philippines.

More recently, a decision to allow construction of Dito’s cell sites in camps did not sit well with legislators despite assurances national security will be protected. Globe Telecom Inc. and PLDT Inc. also station telco sites in AFP camps.

On their part, Dito officials have persistently tried to calm anxieties, stressing that the telco remained majority owned by Udenna Corp., a Filipino firm.

Currently, the telco provider is busy preparing for an assessment by RG Manabat & Co. auditing firm, a third-party assessor, tapped to evaluate whether Dito would meet speed and coverage commitments to regulators before its formal launch 2 months after.

This assessment had been delayed by 6 months after the pandemic botched company rollout plans, including building telco sites. If by March the audit reveals Dito fell short of its goals, Tamano said a “remediation period” of 6 months would kick in to work on meeting the targets, without prejudice to going to the market by July.

For the first of 5 years starting next year, Dito pledged at to cover 37.03% of the population with minimum internet speed of 27 megabits per second.

“It’s best for the public for us to succeed,” Tamano said.

Shares at Dito CME Holdings Corp. closed down 1.1% to P7.17 apiece. n

that he’s more powerful than 70 congressmen. Unti-unti, #BabalikDinAngABSCBN,” he wrote in the caption.

In another tweet, Jon asked for the support of the public in his first project with ABS-CBN, a movie starring Maymay Entrata and Edward Barber.

“Thank you so much sa suporta, mga Kapamilya! Since this is blowing up, I would like to ask you to please support my first project with ABS-CBN Films, Princess (Daya) Reese starring Maymay Entrata and Edward Barber. Streaming on OTT and Cable platforms on Jan. 1, 2021.

Hugs!” he wrote.

No details yet are available on how many retrenched employees were rehired.

The House of Representatives denied ABS-CBN’s application for franchise renewal last July 10. About half of the network’s 11,000 employees were reportedly let go after congressmen voted 70-11, with majority of the votes going for franchise denial.

The network, however, continued to operate digitally and now created a deal with A2Z network to be able to broadcast some of their programs on free TV. n

also has 553 deaths and 4,657 recoveries.

Asia continues to keep its death toll at nine with some 1,390 recoveries.

Europe — where Britain has begun vaccinating its citizens with shots from Pfizer/BioNTech — accounts for 1,415 Filipino cases, along with 96 deaths and 1,010 recoveries.

Americas in its 10 countries, meanwhile, have 769 infections, 521 recoveries and at 189 deaths, hold the second highest death count among Filipinos.

Globally, the novel coronavirus has infected over 68.3 million individuals, nine months since the disease caused by it was declared a pandemic by the World Health

Organization on March 11.

The United States continues to have the most number of infections and deaths at 15.17 million and 286,338, respectively.

This was followed by India with 9.7 million cases, Brazil with 6.6 million, Russia with 2.5 million and France with 2.3 million.

Brazil accounts for the second highest number of fatalities at 178,159, with India trailing at 141,360, Mexico at 110,874 and the United Kingdom at 62,130.

The Philippines’ 444,164 confirmed cases put it at the 27th spot and continues to rank as the second in Southeast Asia with the most count of infections, next only to Indonesia’s 592,900. (Christian Deiparine/Philstar.com)

ABS-CBN rehires retrenched employees

by Jan

Milo sEvEro Philstar.com

MANILA — An ABS-CBN employee revealed that some of the retrenched workers are now coming back to work with the Kapamilya network.

Jon Montesa, brand communications manager of the network, took to his Twitter account to announce his comeback with the network.

He posted a screenshot of his conversation with her mom when he was retrenched and is now coming back to work.

“God’s way of reminding me

Filipinos abroad with COVID-19 near 11,700 MANILA — The foreign affairs department on Wednesday, December 9 said four more Filipinos abroad have contracted the coronavirus to bring the total to now at 11,699.

Officials in a daily bulletin said the additional infections came from the Asia Pacific region, which has reported 1,971 cases to date.

No new deaths and recoveries were reported by December 9, with fatalities staying at 847 and the number of persons who got well at 3,274.

Still, some 3,274 Filipino patients are receiving treatment for the COVID-19 in 82 countries.

The Middle East in 32 countries has 7,544 confirmed cases, and it

Arrests mar commemoration of...

PAGE A3 to issue an alert on Salem’s arrest.

Manila Today is a member of alternative media network AlterMidya and hosts a chapter of NUJP. An official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict recently alleged AlterMidya and its member organizations are part of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ National Propaganda Bureau — an accusation denied by the group and condemned by journalists’ groups.

CIDG said in its press release that police officers recovered four grenades, four pistols, and bullets in the raid on Salem’s res-

idence, where Rodrigo Esparago was also arrested. Police did not give further details on Esparago but identified Salem as a journalist.

Karapatan identified Esparago as a trade union organizer as well.

“Cases for violations of RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Law) and RA 9516 (Illegal Possession of Explosives) are being readied for filing against the arrested persons,” police said.

Karapatan, which documents alleged human rights violations, said the charges against the seven were fabricated and that the arrests “follow a clear modus operandi ever since the series of

police raids and mass arrests in Negros and Manila in October and November last year.”

It added that the raids are part of a crackdown on dissent that it said has included trumped-up charges, planted evidence “or worse, cold-blooded rub-out operations disguised as another ‘nanlaban’ case.”

Karapatan added that complaints against the seven “will be predictably used by the rabid red-taggers in the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict as so-called proof to discredit and vilify activists as ‘criminals’ and ‘terrorists’ — and we assert that these are nothing more than cheap propaganda tactics.”

A

RAINY DAY. Cyclists in their raincoats speed along a bike lane on East Avenue, Quezon City on Thursday, December 10. The weather bureau said Metro Manila is affected by a low-pressure area (LPA), which will bring light to moderate rains.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Greenpeace: Climate crisis is a human rights issue by gaEa

KatrEEna Philstar.com

cabico

MANILA — Climate crisis is not only an environmental or political problem but also a human rights issue that threatens people’s rights to life and livelihood, an environmental organization said on Thursday, December 10.

In a forum coinciding with the Human Rights Day, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Executive Director Yeb Saño pointed out that climate crisis poses danger to the realization of human rights.

“Climate emergency is not just an environmental conservation dilemma. It’s now the single biggest threat to lives, livelihood, human dignity, security. It is absolutely a human rights issue,” Saño said.

“Climate crisis is not an issue about disaster event alone. It is compromising human existence, the fundamental dignities of people, their lives, livelihood, their health, home and all the basics that people need in order to survive,” Rep. Edgar Chatto (Bohol) also said.

The Philippines is an archipelagic country highly vulnerable to the catastrophic impacts of climate change such as sea level rise, increased frequency of extreme weather events and rising temperatures.

“Climate crisis is indeed generational and Filipino communities are at the forefront of the

impacts. The Philippines has been facing impacts of climate emergency not only today but from many decades already,” Saño said.

“We cannot anymore keep on telling ourselves we are resilient and through our resiliency, we can rise up and pick up the pieces every time and stand back on our feet. We need to stop romanticizing our resilience,” he added.

The historic Paris climate accord, signed five years ago, called for blocking global warming at well below 2 degrees Celsius and 1.5 degrees Celsius, if possible.

Earth’s surface has already warmed 1.2 degrees Celsius on average, and new study shows that a return to 2019 levels of carbon pollution would likely push the planet past the 1.5 degrees Celsius milestone around 2030.

Climate emergency Last month, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution declaring a climate and environmental emergency. The declaration urges local government and government agencies to adopt policies to mitigate the effects of climate change, but does not legally compel them to act.

“The House resolution declaring climate and environmental emergency is not just a mere symbolic gesture but it should be an instrument that aims to ensure coherent actions in the executive and legislative agenda of

our government,” Chatto, chair of House committee on climate change, said.

Saño said the climate emergency declaration is the start of “big steps” toward addressing concurrent crises.

“This declaration is a call to initiate an urgent whole-of-government and whole-of-society mobilization to respond to the climate emergency,” Saño said.

Better normal Bill Bontigao, a Bicol-based youth leader, called on the government to set priorities to tackle the climate crisis and hold big polluters accountable for their contribution to the warming of the planet.

He also called on young people like him to act on the crisis to attain a “better normal.”

“I don’t want my nieces and nephews, including the next generations, experience a future where they can’t enjoy the rain nor the warm feeling of the sun because the world has changed so much… I don’t want them to experience a future where their survival is being challenged rampantly,” Bontigao, a survivor of Super Typhoon Rolly (Goni), said.

“I don’t want them to question me and my generations, telling me, ‘Uncle, what did you do when you had the chance to take action? Did you just do TikTok or Facebook? You and your generations failed to make a better world for us.’” n

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • dEcEmbER 10-16, 2020

VEGAS&STYLE Journal

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LIfeStyLe • CONSUmeR GUIde • COmmUNIty • mARketpLACe

Features

B december 10-16, 2020 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JOUrNAL

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Food and beverage gifts from Gifts that showcase Filipino/Fil-Am artisanship Fil-Am businesses that deliver tasting experiences at home a “uniquely Filipina” modern accessories and home goods Continuing on the theme brand that pays homage to of supporting local and small traditional design and cultural ventures, here are several one- practices. the line’s onyx of-a-kind gift ideas that high- Lunar Drops are earrings that light Filipino/a talent — from serve as protection against scented candles to unique n e g a t i v e e n e r g y a n d h e l p guide intuition, and use ethijewelry pieces.

Statement jewelry hand- cally-mined metal and sustainably-sourced earth stones. or made by Filipina artisans if you’re looking to gift a the Sebu Ring, “a contiguous jewelry piece for someone on spiral ring that represents your list, check out MAAARi, refuge and security,” made by by

by

ChristinA M. Oriel / AJPress You” in tagalog), an online shop Philippine cacao. Proceeds from

though the past year has been challenging, the holiday season is an opportunity to show support for small Filipino American businesses and restaurants in the community, as well as to deliver some joy to family, friends, coworkers and others on your shopping list. Purchasing a gift card to your favorite Fil-Am restaurant, which likely has had to minimize operations to takeout and delivery due to stay at home orders, will go a long way in helping keep it afloat, while giving someone on your list a dining experience to enjoy from their homes.

Aside from a prepared meal, several Fil-Am chefs, restaurants and shops are offering edible holiday treats and sets that go beyond the traditional gift basket, and are available regionally or can be shipped nationwide. here are 12 options to choose from as gathered by the Asian Journal editorial team.

Food-themed gift boxes celebrating Filipino/a artisans Filipina American sisters Michele and Anna-Marie Josue introduced Para Sa’Yo (“For

selling curated gift sets featuring Filipino/a artists and businesses for anyone on your list. For the nostalgic, the So Filipino ($50) box features staples Fil-Am kids grew up with like Sky Flakes and Jufran banana ketchup. the box also comes with a Vicks Vaporub! For those who start their day with a cup of joe, the But First Kape ($110) set features a pair of porcelain mugs, handwoven abaca coasters, and smallbatch, single-origin Philippine light roast Arabica Coffee from Asukar. Sets come with an added greeting card of your choice and can be viewed at shopparasayo. com.

Open up a taste of the Philippines the Filipino Food Movement has rolled out a collection of some of the best Filipino food products that you can share with your loved ones this holiday season. the “Patikim” boxes come in three types: the Pearl Edition ($160), gold Edition ($85), and Silver Edition ($60) with an array of items from signature sauces from San Francisco-based restaurant the Sarap Shop to chocolate bars from oodaalolly, which uses

the fundraiser will benefit gawad Kalinga’s Kusina ng Kalinga project, an initiative to end the hunger of Filipino children, and the FFM’s projects for the year. the boxes can be purchased at filipinofoodmovement.org/.

Satisfy wanderlust with travel-inspired ice cream flavors in time for the holidays, SoCalbased Wanderlust Creamery is now shipping pints of their travel-inspired ice cream nationwide.

For the ice cream aficionado and jetsetter grounded at home, the over a dozen pint flavor options — from Australian Pavola to Sakura — will transport them on an international palette journey starting at $12 a pop. to get into the holiday spirit, the shop has also introduced seasonal flavors like Christmas Cookies & Sea Salt Cream, Food For the gods, and Christmas in tokyo (bittersweet uji matcha ice cream with housemade strawberry “kit kats”).

Can’t decide on the individual flavors? the Pilipino Pint Pack comes with five pints inspired by favorite Filipino desserts like brazo de mercedes and sapin sapin.

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Twelve food and beverage gift options from Fil-Am businesses promise to pack in rich Filipino sweet and savory flavors.

AJPress

t’boli artisans using upcycled brass and metal scraps. Most items are made to order and can be purchased at maaari. co.

Sustainable, handmade candles and home decor Launched during the pandemic, Lu France interiors (lufranceinteriors.com) is a Pinay-founded e-commerce site that curates sustainable and handmade home decor PAGE B5

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Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS COVID-19 news: As of December 8, 2020, 12:48 GMT, worldwide, there were 68,057,474 cases with 1,553,408 deaths; USA, 15,371,268, with 290,649 deaths; and The Philippines, 442,785, with 8,670 deaths. In the USA, 42 States showed continued rise in COVID-19 cases. Only 8 appear (Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) more stable. Officials across the USA “are rolling out a patchwork of restrictions on mask and social distancing…

Restrictions are ramping up in many areas as cases surge nationwide. Health officials warn that easing restrictions too soon could bring new outbreaks, but many states forged ahead.”

Let’s be wise, disciplined, and complaint to shorten this pandemic. It is, after all, ONLY in “(We) The People”’s hands.

The genetically altered yellow fever vaccine (proven effective against yellow fever for 80 years, among 500 million worldwide who developed life-long immunity) was highly effective in animals, reports NATURE journal.

If it passes clinical trials, the new single-shot vaccine would have some advantages over other SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, like those of Pfizer-BioNTech’s 2 shot (one month apart) vaccine. The Pfizer-B vaccine has been distributed last Monday for all first responders and seniors and other vulnerable persons first, then for the public starting early next year. This inspires hope among peoples around the world.

The Community Healthcare System hospitals in Northwest Indiana are using “a new antibody therapy treatment called Bamlanivimab to treat COVID19 and reduce its symptoms.”

This monoclonal antibody treatment is given as an hour-long intravenous infusion to patients with mild to moderate COVID19 symptoms who are at higher risk for related complications.

The U.S. FDA has issued “emergency use authorization for the yet-to-be-approved medication, because use of this drug showed “a decrease in viral loads and reduced rates of symptoms and hospitalization.” Further research and clinical trials are required to insure its effectiveness and safety. Other drugs for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 are in the pipeline.

What controls the urge to eat?

While there are other hormones involved, there are two main ones, which signal the brain when we are hungry or full. The hunger hormone is

Community Journal

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COVID, Ghrelin, orgasm...

Ghrelin, which is secreted by our guts (stomach and intestines). When its level goes up, we feel hungry and have the urge to eat. The level of Ghrelin goes up when we get less sleep or not enough sleep. This is the reason why those who are trying to lose weight should get adequate amount (about 8 hours) of sleep. An imbalance meal and stress also elevate the Ghrelin level. Food deprivation obviously increases the Ghrelin level, hence it is better to keep the level of this hormone on an even keel and not fluctuate too much by eating regularly (or even more than 3 times a day) but at a controlled total calorie ceiling, to maintain health and body weight. So, starving oneself is not a good way to lose weight, since this will lead to a Ghrelin “boomerang” in the latter part of the day.

The satiety or “counter” hormone, which is called Leptin, signals the brain when to stop eating. It controls the appetite. This “satiety hormone” is produced by fat cells in the body. When a person loses weight, the leptin level in the blood stream also goes down. As a result, there is less signal to the brain for the individual to stop eating, resulting in a “rebound” weight gain. The best strategy in losing and maintaining a desired weight level is to lose in a slow and steady pace, about one to two pounds a week, and not more. In this manner, there will still be an effective level of leptin in the body to control the urge to eat.

Does sun exposure make the skin age faster?

Yes, constant exposure to the sun makes the skin age prematurely, especially on the face.

This is called dermatoheliosis or extrinsic aging. The skin changes may appear like those seen among patients after undergoing radiation therapy for cancer for a period of time. This condition is seen more commonly among North American and European people who love to bathe in the sun. Asian women have been noted to have younger-looking skin because they use umbrellas and hats a lot to protect their face from the direct sunlight, even on the beaches. And they are really the wiser and the healthier for that, because this practice also reduces the incidence of ultraviolet-induced skin cancers among Asian women compared to their American and European counterpart.

Is camote tops “cure” for dengue?

The internet abounds with claims that camote (sweet potato) tops extract “is effective in preventing or in curing dengue….because they are excellent sources of antioxidative compounds, mainly polyphenolics, which may protect the human body from oxidative stress

that is associated with many diseases including cancer and cardiovascular diseases, and that it boosts the immune system.”

To put things in their proper perspective, there has been no original scientific research, much less randomized, doubleblind, clinical studies to support this claim. Indeed, it would be terrific if this were true. Hopefully, future investigations in the laboratory and in human will prove this to be so.

In the meantime, for the safety of the patient, most of them children, it is best to rely on the currently proven and accepted medical therapy, rather than abandoning this scientific treatment and dangerously gambling on camote top extracts.

Does frequent orgasm prolong life?

The answer appears to be yes.

A study conducted in 1997 and published in the British Medical Journal, involving 918 men aged 45 to 59, who were followed up for ten years, revealed that “those who ejaculated less than once a month were twice as likely to die during the study than men who had orgasm at least twice a week.” In another report, sex was found to have some degree of protection from prostate cancer, all other lifestyle factors being equal. Sex also reduces stress and produces endogenous secretion of “happy hormones” in our body, which lessen depression and even strengthens the immune system. The more you know about the human body and its mind-boggling intricate physiology, the more you marvel at its creation and “complicatedly simple perfection,” which, to date, no man-made machine, no matter how sophisticated, can equal or even come close to. *** 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 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 NetworkUSA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian and antigraft foundation in the United States.

Visit our websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com

Barbie wants the power to stop stress and anxiety

by Alex

BrosAs Inquirer.net

WITH the pandemic, life has changed for young star Barbie Imperial. From a fun-loving gal, she has become stressed. Given that, Imperial wants to have the power to put a stop to stress and anxiety.

“Gusto kong matanggal iyong anxiety and stress ng mga tao ngayon (I want to take away the anxiety and stress that people have now),” she articulated when asked what kind of power she wants to have during the online conference for “Mang Kepweng: Ang Lihim Ng Bandanang Itim.”

Imperial recalled how happy she was before the pandemic.

“Sobrang masayahin po ako before pandemic happened. Siguro din po dahil ang tagal na naka-lockdown, nag-stay lang ako sa bahay ko. May mga days na nai-stress po ako na walang dahilan. Siguro dahil po nasa loob lang ako ng bahay at hindi ko na po nagagawa iyong mga bagay na nakasanayan ko like lumabas at magtrabaho,” she said.

(I was a very happy person before the pandemic happened.

Maybe it’s because of the long lockdown, that I was just staying at home. There are days when I got stressed over nothing. Maybe it’s because I am always at home and I don’t get to do things I used to like going out and working.)

Leaving home is such a sad situation for Imperial.

“Nakakalungkot po kasi siyempre kailangan naming magtrabaho, malayo kami sa pamilya namin at para safe sila, iiwan na lang namin sila sa mga tahanan namin,” she said.

(It is sad because we need to work, we are far from our families and to be safe, we leave them at home.)

“Kahit bumalik po kami ng bahay, hindi pa rin naming puwede silang makasama kasi baka may dala kaming sakit sa kanila,” she

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • dEcEmbER 10-16, 2020

Barbie Imperial

added.

(Even when we go home, we can’t be with them because we might have the virus.)

With that, she reiterated her wish to have the power to stop stress and anxiety.

“Kung magkakaroon ako ng superpower pa aside from mawala ang COVID-19, sana may power ako na matanggal iyong stress at anxiety ng lahat ng tao na nakakaexperience kung ano rin ang naexperience ko,” she said.

(If I would have a superpower, aside from stopping COVID-19, I hope I have the power to remove the stress and anxiety of people who have experienced what I went through.)

Imperial is a first-timer in doing comedy and she relished the experience on “Mang Kepweng,” although she was surprised during instances when improvisation and ad-libs were utilized during actual takes.

Photo from Instagram_@msbarbieimperial

“Ang dami pong eksena na sobrang nagugulat talaga ako kasi iyong na-rehearse namin ay iba doon sa take mismo. Sobrang tawang-tawa po ako; hindi ko mapigilan iyong tawa ko kasi ang galing talaga ng mga binibitiwan nilang jokes,” she noted. “Hindi lang po si Vhong (Navarro), lahat ng cast ng Mang Kepweng ay sobrang galing nilang magbitaw ng mga linya.”

(There were so many scenes where I got so surprised because the actual take turned out different from what we rehearsed. I was laughing so hard; I could not contain my laughter because they were so good at cracking jokes.

Not just Vhong (Navarro), all the cast members of Mang Kepweng were good at throwing lines.)

“Mang Kepweng: Ang Lihim ng Bandanang Itim” will be released on Upstream, where the virtual Metro Manila Film Festival is taking place, starting on Dec. 25.

Holiday cheer arrives at McDonald’s as fans can enjoy the favorite menu items of Santa Claus, the Grinch, and more From Dec.14 through Dec. 24, the Golden Arches will offer daily deals from iconic holiday characters through the McDonald’s App CHICAGO – This year, goodies won’t just be found tucked under the tree. McDonald’s is tapping its elves to offer delicious daily in-app deals that feature the festive favorites of classic holiday characters – including the McFlurry that Frosty the Snowman just melts over and the syrupy Hotcakes for which Buddy the Elf goes gaga.

Starting Dec. 14, each day, McDonald’s will feature a different character and give away* the menu item they crave, exclusively through the App with a $1 minimum purchase. The daily deals will conclude on Dec. 24 with a certain jolly someone’s most treasured treat, free soft-baked Chocolate Chip Cookies (glass of milk not included).

“After a year like 2020, I think we could all use some extra cheer this season,” said McDonald’s U.S. Chief Marketing Officer, Morgan Flatley. “What better way to celebrate and get into the holiday spirit than with free McDonald’s menu favorites for everyone including Rudolph, the Abominable Snow Monster and yes, even Scrooge.”

Following the launch of celebrity signature orders at restaurants in September and October, these beloved holiday characters are the latest icons to be paired with favorite menu items featured at participating restaurants nationwide. Additional daily in-app deals

will celebrate characters from classic holiday movies like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Gremlins, and Die Hard (yes, Die Hard is a holiday movie).

Aside from the free Chocolate Chip Cookies, all offers require a minimum $1 purchase in the App and will be activated through Mobile Order and Pay. To access the daily deals, simply download the McDonald’s App and visit the deals section to add to your order.

Everyone can get in on the treats this holiday season – it truly is a Festivus for the rest of us!

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.

[SEINFELD and all related characters and elements © & ™ Castle Rock Entertainment. ELF and all related characters and elements © & ™ New Line Productions, Inc. GREMLINS, NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros.

Entertainment Inc. (s20)] *At participating McDonald’s.

Valid 1x/day with $1 min. purchase (excl. tax) from Dec 14-24.

See app for details.

B december 10-16, 2020 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JOUrNAL

EntErtainmEnt

Jane addresses those who still do not like her to be ‘Darna’

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

KAPAMILYA actress Jane De Leon revealed how she handles bashers who still cannot accept her as the new Darna.

In her exclusive contract signing with Star Magic last week, Jane said it’s normal to feel down upon reading negative comments against her.

“I think it’s very normal to feel down if it’s a negative comment.

Kailangan lang talagang matuto akong mag-manage no’n kasi it’s normal sa showbiz. And I do understand also na wala pa naman, sino ba ‘ko? ‘Di ba totoo naman?

Baguhan ‘to. Saan nanggaling ‘to? Ayon ‘yung mga tanong ng mga netizens,” Jane said.

“Even me, ‘wag kayong magalala, kahit ako tanong ko ‘yon sa sarili ko na bakit ba ako ‘yung napili? Kasi ako pine-pray ko naman kay Lord na gusto kong magkaroon ng project, ng opportunity, pero siyempre hindi ko rin po inexpect ang Darna,” she added.

Positive comments, on the other hand, empower her.

“Sa lahat ng nagsusuporta naman po sa akin, like positive comments, maraming maraming salamat po sa pagtitiwala niyo kahit na hindi pa po natin naipapakita. Pero po ‘yung suportang binibigay niyo sa akin is

Jane De Leon

hindi kayo nag-give up, salamat din po sa pagbibigay niyo ng positivity. Maraming salamat po,” she said.

After the movie production

Photo from Instagram_@imjanedeleon

of “Darna” was halted due to coronavirus pandemic, ABS-CBN recently announced that the Mars Ravelo classic will be adopted into series starring Jane.

Cruz

EMPLOYMENT

by niña

Guno Inquirer.net

Kristine Hermosa and Oyo Sotto

Photo from Instagram_@osotto

Food and beverage gifts from Fil-Am...

Inquirer.net

IT was in March when actor John “Sweet” Lapus said he became certain that he was suffering from autophobia, or the fear of being isolated or alone.

Sweet experienced anxiety when everyone, including the friends he usually hangs out with, was forced to stay in their homes after the government ordered a Luzon-wide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Persons suffering from autophobia feel the need to be around other people in order to feel safe, even though they are in a usually comforting place like home. Being alone can cause severe anxiety for people with this condition.

“There were nights when I couldn’t sleep. I struggled with being alone and experienced panic attacks, especially during the first two weeks of the ECQ (enhanced community quarantine),” Sweet recalled.

“Not all days were bad, though.

The ‘good’ ones, I later realized, were the ones when I got to talk with my friends,” he explained.

“That’s why on the third week of quarantine, I asked some of them to come over—we made sure that it was a gathering of fewer than 10 people—and then we played card games while drinking. We made sure to practice social distancing, too.”

Shortly after this, Sweet’s friends set up a 24-hour Zoom meet to make sure that at least one of them would be able to check on him throughout the day. Sweet said he was grateful for this gesture, and for the fact that his friends had been very patient with him as he battled with his phobia.

This was also why Sweet felt he should go public with his ordeal. He said he wanted to be of help to others who might be going through the same thing.

“Anxiety/depression should be admitted and talked about.

It’s part of the healing process.

Kristine, Oyo expecting 5th child KRISTINE Hermosa announced today, Dec. 10, that she and husband Oyo Sotto are expecting their fifth child, stating that the pregnancy was “another answered prayer.”

The actress revealed the news on Instagram, where she shared photos of a positive pregnancy test, a sonogram and a handwritten prayer from their daughter Andrea asking for a baby girl.

“Salamat God sa mga pahabol na sorpresa ngayong taon,” wrote Hermosa.

She called the pregnancy the “[best] Christmas and [anniversary] gift from above.”

Sotto, meanwhile, shared the pregnancy test and wrote, “Nag POSITIVE (It turned out positive)!!!”

“Positive na mapapahiyaw ka sa tuwa! Grabe ka Lord (Positive that you will cry out in joy! You are amazing Lord)!”

Sotto and Hermosa tied the knot back in January 2011. Their four kids are Kiel, Dre, Kaleb and Vin. The pregnancy news comes after Sotto’s cousin Gian Sotto welcomed their sixth child this year.

How John Lapus deals with his fear of being alone and other pandemic blues

by Marinel

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

John Lapus

How will your loved ones know how to help you if you will not tell them? By doing so, people will also be made aware that this can happen to anyone,” he told Inquirer Entertainment.

These days, work is helping Sweet keep his mind away from his condition. He is a cast member of the drama series “Paano ang Pasko?” now airing on TV5.

“It’s funny because I kept asking God that question, ‘Paano na ang Pasko ko?’ He answered me by giving me this show with the same title. Ang bongga ni Lord!

Tuloy ang Pasko,” said Sweet, laughing. “The last seven months had been really tough for most industry people. That’s why to have work today is really an answered prayer for me. Being unemployed makes me feel worthless and confused. Thinking about it triggers my anxiety.”

In “Paano ang Pasko?” Sweet plays Manang Kitty, the family governess and bearer of a lot of their secrets. “Manang Kitty is an important character because, after all the crying, she will make you laugh so hard. She will prepare you for another episode of crying the following day,” Sweet explained.

He then recalled what it was like to be working under the “new normal” setup. “These days, you can no longer say ‘mag-artista ka na lang!’ because being one at the time of pandemic is so

Photo from Instagram_@korekkajohn

difficult. People can no longer look down on artists involved in making movies and TV shows,” he said. “Under the new normal, you will definitely lose your job if you’re not a good actor. You won’t last if you’re nothing but a pretty face. I’m telling you, it’s about time that you start looking for another job.”

“Paano ang Pasko?” is a creation of Palanca award-winning writer-filmmaker Jun Robles Lana. It is a collaboration among directors Eric Quizon, Ricky Davao and Perci Intalan.

The series revolves around the family’s holiday gathering, and how old wounds and struggles threaten to dampen the supposed joyous occasion. Serving as the family’s lynchpin is Faith (Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan), the loving mother to three daughters, Love (Julia Clarete), Hope (Beauty Gonzalez) and Joy (Devon Seron).

“I’m thankful that this became my first soap during the pandemic. The directors are so calm and mild-mannered. They don’t scream at their talents. I guess with the difficult new normal setup, you would really resent a director who terrorizes his actors,” said Sweet. “That’s why they’re also blessed to be working with good actors—also the ones who are very professional and aren’t divas at all.”

EMPLOYMENT

PAGE B2 Or there’s the Asian Jet Set pack with six pints that transport you through the continent from the Sticky Rice and Mango to Ube Malted Crunch. Orders, which require a minimum purchase of four pints and arrive at the recipient in an insulated shipping box with dry ice, can be placed at shop.wanderlust.com.

Self-care in beverage form 2020 has been tough on everyone and more than ever, folks are seeking ways to practice self-care safely and conveniently at home.

Enter Droplet, a Pinay-founded line of sparkling beverages with real fruit and adaptogens, nontoxic substances derived from plants that help one’s body adapt and regulate the natural ability to respond to stressors. The “drop” in the brand’s name pays homage to Dalikamata, a clairvoyant and health goddess in Visayan pantheon, who was depicted with thousands of eyes on her body and whose tears would form morning dew drops. According to the legend, drinking the drops had healing effects, such as relieving eye problems. The new beverage company offers the “Next Level You Wellness Kit” ($20, shipping included), a starter set of Droplet’s three flavors: Pretty Balanced (passion fruit, cacao, vanilla bean and rhodiola) for anti-anxiety, energy boasting and skin-hydrating effects; Pretty Balanced (white peach, lemon verbena, moringa and ashwagandha), the go-to for a stress balancer and digestive aid; and Pretty Bright (yuzu, ginger and reishi mushroom) for a reset and mood enhancer.

“The entire idea behind Droplet was our own roots as Filipina Americans and our experiences with herbal medicine,” Celeste Perez, founder and CEO of Droplet, said in an interview with the Asian Journal. The set can be purchased through drinkdroplet. com.

Enjoy a round of sparkling craft cocktails safely at home Meeting up with friends and partaking in a round (or multiple) of drinks at a bar is an experience that will have to wait until after it’s safe to go out again. But that doesn’t mean you can’t distantly imbibe a flavorful cocktail and reminisce on nightlife from the comfort of your home. Los Angeles-based Vervet has four canned cocktails in a can full of ingredients local to the region and concocted with the city’s diversity in mind, including of course, the Filipino community. Not to miss is the Tiki Tea — a nod to the city’s Filipino bartenders and Tiki culture — with prickly pear vodka, oolong tea, lime, allspice, ginger, clove and vanilla.

“People are home, but they

still want to drink well...It’s nice to crack open a bottle of wine or beer, but it’s really such a limited experience and we want to bring something complex and that tastes like it was made in front of you,” Alex Rosenblum, who is half Filipino and one of the Vervet co-founders, told the Asian Journal. The cocktails, which start at $5.99 a can, be purchased at select stores in the Los Angeles area or can be delivered/shipped to your gift recipient online at drinkvervet.com.

Artisanal chocolates that taste as beautiful as they look Giving chocolate as a gift is never a bad idea, but instead of the usual big-name brands, turn to a small batch purveyor that molds and designs each piece by hand. Romeo Chocolates, based in Long Beach, California, offers nationwide shipping on perfectly boxed and wrapped gift sets featuring its truffles with a flavor range from Tanduay rum to Calamansi Mojito. Have someone on your list who considers chocolate a main food group? The shop offers a subscription gift box starting at $48 with a mix of fine chocolates and local fine goods each month. Orders can be placed at Romeochocolates.com.

Spread kindness with an assorted box of cookies In the midst of the pandemic, we saw dozens of examples of Fil-Ams starting businesses from home, whether it’s mask-making or desserts with Filipino flavors.

Young Filipina Americans Malia and Kailani started Conscious Kid Cookies from their own kitchen to “change the world through sharing kindness through cookies.”

Now their venture operates out of a commercial kitchen, and cookies can be shipped nationwide by ordering at consciouskidscookies.com. Cookie flavors range from the classic chocolate chip to Filipino-inspired like pandan, and can be purchased individually or in boxes by the dozen, starting at $36. Ten percent of the proceeds benefit No Kids Hungry.

Cook a full Filipino dish with sauces from a jar For the individual who wants to make classic Filipino dishes while in a time crunch, a new Fil-Am business is making it easier with a line of bottled simmer sauces. Fila Manila’s Variety Pack ($29) features three sauces — Adobo, Kare Kare, and Caldereta — which are gluten-free and have no added sugar or artificial colors. All the home chef has to do is add water, protein and veggies of choice and the jar of sauce and simmer until cooked. Orders ship free nationwide at filamanila.com.

A surprise to satisfy Pinoy snack cravings while giving back

EMPLOYMENT

Recreate the pasalubong experience by sending a box of beloved snacks and ingredients to someone who needs to satisfy their appetite for Pinoy flavors.

E-commerce site Filiflavors.com offers the “sopresa” (surprise) box filled with sweet and savory items. For a limited offer, use the code PR10OFF until 12/18/2020 to receive 10% off your Filiflavors order. Additionally, for the holiday season, a free pack of Filipino Spaghetti Sauce will be included in your order.

“Filiflavors aims to provide you with the most convenient and delightful experience to get a taste of what the Philippines has to offer,” said Bianca Trinidad, Filiflavors founder and owner. A percentage of each sale is donated to San Francisco-based nonprofit Support for Families of Children with Disabilities.

Insta-worthy pancakes for Christmas morning Noche Buena on Christmas Eve is considered the staple feast in Filipino tradition, featuring a feast from ham to rice-based desserts. But what about for Christmas morning after opening gifts?

Though Ninong’s Cafe in Northridge, CA closed its doors recently, their photogenic ube pancakes can be made at home with the Breakfast Regalo ($48.50) in partnership with Bakersfield’s Umaga Coffee. The set comes with a 12 oz bag of Single Sourced Bokod Arabica Medium Dark Roast (either beans or grounds); the pancake mix, which only requires water to cook; two jars of Ninong’s Ube Cookie Butter which would pair perfectly with the pancake stack or on anything else; and a Maligayang Pasko greeting card from Manila Oriental. The special can be purchased at umagacoffee.com.

Butters for pan de sal and more For those who want to get creative with what to put inside of a pan de sal, Chef Barb Batiste of Big Boi offers a Filipino Butter Jar Sampler ($40), which comes in a set of three butters — Ube, Ensaymada, and Buko Pandan.

Slather them on pancakes, waffles, and anything else you can think of. Orders for nationwide shipping can be placed at www. shopbigboi.com/.

Lumpia delivered to your door Those in the greater Los Angeles/Orange County area can fry Petite Peso’s lumpia and enjoy them from the comfort of their homes. The Downtown LA-based restaurant is offering frozen lumpia, either pork or impossible meat straight to the gift recipient’s door in the Southern California region starting at 25 pieces for $20. Orders can be placed at pesogoods.com.

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • dEcEmbER 10-16, 2020

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Nico on fatherhood: It’s been amazing! Gifts that showcase Filipino/Fil-Am artisanship

by Ricky Lo Philstar.com

LIKE any first-time father, Nico Bolzico asked himself many questions before Thylane Katana, his and wife Solenn Heussaff’s first child, was born on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 2020.

“My biggest fear before Thylane was born was if I would be a good father to her,” confessed Nico, the AIA Philam Life brand ambassador. “Will I be able to let her be what she’ll like to be — giving her freedom. Will I be able to make her understand what right or wrong is? How to be humble, and how to be modest? And up until now, I don’t know if I’m capable of doing these things.”

Luckily, Nico, 36, said that he has his own father to look up to as an example. Nico grew up on a farm in Argentina, with hours and hours spent in nature, strolling with his dad. “He taught me how to ride a horse, how to farm, a lot about business, and how your work and honor is something that you cannot buy,” he related.

“Up to now, I call him all the time when I’m not sure about what I’m doing. I always picture myself doing something and what my dad would think about it. That always helps me make sure that I made the right choice.”

This close contact, regardless of physical distance, has strengthened the bond between father and son. It manifests now in how Nico starts his days with his girl.

“I made a promise to myself that the first two hours of my morning are dedicated to Thylane,” he said.

Becoming a parent a few weeks before the pandemic, Nico already had his eyes set on a safe and secure future. “I’m always looking at savings. I think financially we need to find a way to be sort of financially independent in the sense that Thylane will be protected even if we’re not here,” he shares. “Unfortunately, we cannot control everything. If emergencies and unexpected things happen, we need to have insurance.”

Thankfully, AIA Philam Life has recently introduced AIA Med-Assist for children, a variable life insurance plan with medical benefit rider designed to address medical expenses due to hospitalization of 0 to 17-year-olds, covering 90 percent of in-patient hospitalization and other incidentals.

Funfare asked Nico more questions.

Please tell us the significance of your daughter’s name.

“Thylane is basically a Vietnamese name that Solenn chose because there is a French girl that she loves that has the same name and it means wild orchid. If you know how wild Thylane is, you will see that the name is perfect for her.”

Nico Bolzico with wife Solenn Heussaff and daughter Thylane Photo from Instagram_@tatlerphilippines

How has your “fathering” been so far?

“My El Padre so far has been amazing, the best experience of my life. Every day is better than the day before. Every day, I want to spend more and more time with her and it’s been the best experience of my life.”

Was there ever a time when you and Solenn “disagreed” on how to raise your daughter?

“We never disagree, me and Solenn in raising Thylane because we have very, very simple highlights, very simple expectations.

Basically we want her to be a humble, good person, and that’s how we’ll educate her; the rest she will choose. We don’t want to impose anything in her life as long as she has good principles, she’s a good person and she respects everyone and she is humble.”

Having been both raised abroad, is there any similarity (or any difference) in your parenting styles?

“Solenn was raised not abroad, she was raised in the Philippines, she has a very Filipino way of living, she only studied abroad. Me, I was raised in Argentina, on a farm, but I think, at the end of the day, you know we’re based on the Pinoy culture. We are raised in the Pinoy culture for sure, and again you have to be a good person and just humble. We don’t want to impose anything on (Thylane), she can choose what she wants/loves in life.”

Between you and Solenn, who do you think will be the disciplinarian and who will be less so, especially since your firstborn is a girl?

“Between me and Solenn, definitely Solenn will be the disciplin-

Why Joseph stays with Star Magic despite having international career

by Jan

MiLo SeveRo Philstar.com

KAPAMILYA actor Joseph Marco renewed his contract with Star Magic last week.

In a recent virtual press conference, Joseph said this year’s signing was a bittersweet experience because of the network shutdown.

“Iba-iba talaga siya, you know, for the past couple of years naexperience naming mag-sign but this one, ano siya eh, para siyang bittersweet na parang from the things na pinagdaanan ng management but we’re still here, we’re standing and we’re hoping na it’s gonna be good in the future. I’m just really thankful and blessed to be given this opportunity,” he said.

Last June, Marco was launched as among the new cast members for the second season of international TV series “The Bridge,” a Viu and

Joseph Marco

Double Vision co-production in cooperation with HBO Asia Originals. “The Bridge” aired in more than 188 territories or countries and spawned localized remakes in the U.K., France, the United States, Mexico, Germany, Austria, Russia, Estonia, Serbia and Croatia.

When asked why he chose to stay with Star Magic instead of pursuing his Hollywood dreams following the success of “The Bridge,” Joseph said he’s happy with the way Star Magic takes care and manages him.

“One thing for sure na masasabi ko, I’m really happy with Star Magic, how they take care of me and how they manage us.

Talagang wala kong masasabi,” he said.

Joseph recently joined the “Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin” cast and will be part of two Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entries this year, “The Missing” and “Isa Pang Bahaghari.”

Photo from Instagram_@josephcmarco

ary one. I cannot say no to her, it’s so hard. With girls, it’s so hard to say no. I see Solenn more disciplinary than me. The moment she says I love you daddy, I melt.”

Years from now, would you let your daughter be in showbiz?

“It will be her choice; we won’t stop her. Whatever endorsements she’s doing now are basically not showbiz. We let her have fun as a baby. She has her own bank account that we are investing for her college fund and at the end of the day, it will be her money.”

PAGE B2 pieces that pay homage to the skills, traditions and artistry of artisans from the Philippines and beyond. Starting at $25, the site offers soy candles in various scents from bamboo coconut to sampaguita that would be elegant stocking stuffers. Other gift ideas on the site include a set of kahoy (wood) round dishes and silk charmeuses — which can be used as a scarf, tapestry or wall art — naturally dyed by the site’s founder, France, in San Diego.

An array of scents to destress Lighting a candle is an effortless pleasure to unwind after a long day. With scents ranging from jasmine and orange blossom to grapefruit and mangosteen, Los Angeles-based Santos Candles’ products (starting at $21.99) will help create a relaxing ambiance and fill your space with alluring aromas. For holiday-specific gifts, the online shop has introduced scents like Frosted Juniper (“reminiscent of a fresh morning after snowfall”) and Under the Mistletoe (“a simple reminder of classic holiday traditions and festivities”). Candles can be shipped nationwide.

Self-care stocking stuffers Looking for stocking stuffers for anyone on your list? Kaya Essentials, a Pinay-founded organic coconut skincare line, has small, yet impactful products from calamansi lip balms to charcoal salt milk baths.

The site (kayaessentials.com) has also partnered with various

Some small gift options from Fil-Am businesses Santos Candles, Lu France Interiors, Kaya Essentials, FWD Floss and MAAARI.

Filipino artisans that produce goods like Rags2Riches’ face masks (using fabrics sourced from indigenous communities) and parol ornaments featuring upcycled fabric. Every purchase made through Kaya Essentials provides a school meal for a child in the U.S. through No Kid Hungry and in the Philippines through Gawad Kalinga.

Eco-friendly dental hygiene Floss may seem like a mundane gift, but it can be a tiny re-

minder to the recipient to take time out of their day for some dental care beyond brushing.

FWD Floss is a new Fil-Am business that uses activated charcoal for enhanced cleansing, and is packaged with earth friendly recyclable materials to reduce single plastic waste. Starting at $5.99 per pack, the floss can be purchased at fwdfloss.com.

Five percent of each purchase is donated to non-profit organizations that provide dental care for those in need.

B december 10-16, 2020 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JOUrNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

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