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DECEMBER 17-23, 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. 50 • 12 Pages

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DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Jollibee to open 28 stores in the US, Canada in 2021 POPULAR fast-food chain Jollibee has set its sights on 2021 and will add 28 stores to its North American network, 19 in the United States and nine in Canada.

The 2021 expansion will mark Jollibee’s largest ever addition to its North American store network in company history as it works towards its goal of amassing 300 stores by 2024.

2020 was previously the brand’s most aggressive year yet. Already this year, the largest fast food chain brand in the Philippines safely and successfully opened 12 stores across North America amid the pandemic.

Jollibee opened its 21st store in California on Thursday, Dec. 3, located at 8436 Mira Mesa Boulevard in San Diego. The new store marks the brand’s return to Mira Mesa and a concerted effort to build up its store network in the San Diego area which is home to a sizable Filipino community. There is an existing store in National City and the previous Mira Mesa store operated from 2007 to 2013.

The new store, which stands at 3,100-

Nevada extends ‘statewide pause’ until January 15

by AJPRESS NEVADA will continue to see restrictions until January 15, 2021 in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Governor Steve Sisolak said this week.

Sisolak said the “statewide pause” will be extend-

ed for the next month into the new year to manage the surge of cases in the Silver State.

“I know the mitigation restrictions in place under the current ‘Pause’ are devastating to many Nevadans who just want to go back to ‘normal.’ Who are worried about their jobs, their businesses, keeping their

homes, and getting their kids back to school,” Sisolak said during a press conference on Sunday, Dec. 13.

“But as I’ve said for 9 months now – we must do what we can to protect the health & safety of the public.

That remains more important than ever as we experiu PAGE A2

Palace: PH won’t cooperate with ICC on drug war probe

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

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Crisis within a crisis: Survivors, legal experts discuss the dual struggles of surviving domestic violence Lorenzana: Ties between US and PH will not change during a pandemic

PUTO BUMBONG. A vendor takes out a freshly cooked puto bumbong at her stall at the Saint Joseph Parish in Las Pinas City on Wednesday dawn, December 16 during the first day of Simbang Gabi. Puto Bumbong is a popular street food bought by churchgoers after Misa de Gallo.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

THE Philippines is under no obligation to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) should it launch a full-blown investigation into the war waged

by President Rodrigo Duterte against illegal drugs, Malacañang said on Thursday, December 17.

“When we withdrew our membership from the Rome Statute we also withdrew from the obligation to cooperate, so we are under no obligation to cooperate with the ICC,” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque at a news conference.

ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda on Tuesday, December 15 released a report saying there is “reasonable basis to believe” that the Philippines committed crimes against humanity in its mission to eradicate its drug problem.

The crimes, which took place between July 1, 2016 and March 16, 2019, included murder, torture, infliction of serious physical injury and mental harm.

“The office is satisfied that information available provides a reasonable basis to believe that the crimes against humanity of murder, torture, and the infliction of serious physical injury and mental harm as

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by RITCHEL

AMONG Filipinos, there are certain things you don’t talk about that the community has deemed shameful, or nakakahiya.

Chief among these topics include mental and emotional health, and even though there have been significant breakthroughs destigmatizing these complex issues, there’s still so much to unpack and specific areas that are still continually swept under the rug.

There are a multitude of reasons why people, especially Filipinos, avoid talking about domestic violence: it’s messy, it’s painful, and it doesn’t make sense. But according to what we now know about the twofold complications of domestic abuse during a pandemic,

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MENDIOLA AJPress

THE relationship between the Philippines and the United States will stay the same under the administration of President-elect Joe Biden, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.

In a Laging Handa public briefing on Friday, December 11, he maintained that the PH-U.S. ties would “generally be the same as always,” despite the possibility of “a few changes.”

However, Lorenzana said that he would have to wait for Biden to take office on Jan. 20, 2021 to know for sure “what his specific policies would be regarding their dealings with other countries, including the Philippines.”

In the past, several national government officials VICTORY. U.S. President-elect Joseph R. Biden II and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana

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Philstar.com file photo

Lacson blames Duque for missed Pfizer deal

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

Philippine Senator Panfilo Lacson and Health Secretary Francisco Duque

Inquirer.net photos

PHILIPPINE Senator Panfilo Lacson has named Health Secretary Francisco Duque III as the Cabinet member who “dropped the ball” in securing 10 million doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine as early as January for the country.

“The negotiation between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and [Foreign Secretary] Teodoro Locsin Jr. as arranged by [Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez] started as early as July,” he said Wednesday night, December 16, in a series of text messages sent to reporters.

“Thus, they could have secured

the delivery of 10 million Pfizer vaccines as early as January next year, way ahead of Singapore but for the indifference of Secretary Duque who failed to work on the necessary documentary requirement, namely, the confidentiality disclosure agreement (CDA) as he should have done,” the senator added.

On Tuesday, Locsin disclosed that the Philippines was supposed to receive 10 million doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine as early as January, but someone bungled the deal.

The purchase was supposed to be financed by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

“That said my thanks just the same to US Sec of State Mike

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delivered victory speeches on Saturday night, November 7 at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware. They were joined by their spouses, Dr. Jill Biden (right) and Douglas Emhoff (far left), who will be the country’s first second gentleman.

Photo courtesy of the Biden-Harris campaign

Electoral College makes Joe Biden’s presidential win official

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

DEMOCRAT Joe Biden is the next president of the United States after the Electoral College formalized his victory over President Donald Trump this week.

Voting 306 to 232, the members of the Electoral College met on Monday, December 14, to cast their ballots. The votes will be sent to Congress to be counted formally during a joint session on January 6.

Biden and his running mate, Vice President-elect Kamala Har-

ris, will be inaugurated at noon on January 20, 2021.

“Our democracy — pushed, tested and threatened — proved to be resilient, true, and strong,” Biden declared in a speech after the Electoral College formally confirmed his victory.

He also condemned Trump’s accusations of a widespread voter fraud in the election, as well as his attempts to overturn the results.

Trump, despite his clear loss during the November 3 election, continued to claim he was the

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

december 17-23, 2020 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JOUrNAL

From The FronT Page

Nevada extends ‘statewide...

PAGE A1 ence these record numbers.”

Under the pause, which was first introduced in November, private gatherings are limited to 10 people or fewer from no more than two households, while public gatherings are capped at 50 individuals or 25% capacity, whichever is less.

Meanwhile, restaurants offering indoor and outdoor dining, gaming establishments, libraries, zoos, museums, arcades, activity centers and amusement parks must adhere to a 25% occupancy limit.

Further on Sunday, Sisolak said that a new eviction moratorium

would be in place until March.

The moratorium, which took effect on December 15, would “ensure Nevadans can say in their homes during this critical stage.”

However, it does not relieve renters from paying rent in the future nor does it prohibit certain evictions, such as those based on breaches of a lease for unlawful activity or nuisance, Sisolak clarified.

“The State has already created and provided lease addendums where landlords and tenants can work on repayment solutions together,” he said.

“With the extension of this pause, the evictions moratorium,

the cooperation of Nevadans and a vaccine on the horizon, I am hopeful we can continue to stand together in this fight against the virus,” the governor said. “We are fighting the virus, we cannot fight one another.”

On Wednesday, December 16, the state reported a record-high of 57 new COVID-19 related deaths, with 43 in Clark County alone.

According to Nevada Health Response, the 14-day average is 22 deaths per day.

As of this writing, Nevada has recorded 196,379 cases and 2,673 deaths. Clark County alone has reported 148,411 positive cases and 2,094 fatalities. n

Jollibee to open 28 stores in the US...

PAGE A1 t square-feet offers an outdoor patio and a drive-thru window. It is located in the area’s biggest retail hub, near Mira Mesa Mall and in close proximity to the University of California San Diego, the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and Scripps Memorial Hospital.

Before year’s end, Jollibee will open four new stores, led by openings in San Antonio, Texas, the brand’s third Houston-area store on Westheimer Road and first store in Delano, California, and a store on downtown Toronto’s historic Yonge Street, an area often referred to as the ‘Times Square of Toronto’ as it is a major retail hub with heavy pedestrian traffic.

In total, these December openings will bring Jollibee’s count to 17 new stores this year.

Though the pandemic has delivered challenges across the restaurant industry, Jollibee has been able to persevere by focusing on off-premise channels apart from dine-in. At the onset of the pandemic, the brand encouraged its customers to experience the joy of Jollibee from the comfort and safety of their own homes via call ahead pick-up, take-out and drive-thru. By April, Jollibee announced the launch of its nationwide delivery service via DoorDash.

“We have remained nimble and optimistic which has led Jollibee to defy expectations amidst an extremely difficult year and experience double-digit sales growth across North America,” said Ma-

BAYANIHAN. Residents help each other scoop water from a creek to support firemen putting out the fire that hit a residential area in Zamora, Paco, Manila on Wednesday, December 16. Several houses were razed by the blaze.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Crisis within a crisis: Survivors, legal experts...

Jollibee is working towards its goal of 300 stores in North America by 2024. It recently opened a new location in Mira Mesa, California.

AJPress file photo by Noel Ty

ribeth Dela Cruz, President of Jollibee Group North America, Philippine Brands. “Make no mistake though, we would not be weathering these hard times without the support of our customers. They’ve showed up for us and now we want to show up for them. This month we will be opening long-awaited stores across Texas, California, and Ontario, Canada. We’re incredibly grateful for the continued support we’ve received from across these regions and are thrilled to deliver a small spark of joy as we enter the holiday season.”

Texas plays a key role in Jollibee’s U.S. expansion strategy.

Opening its first location in San Antonio, the second largest city

in the state, represents a major milestone for the brand and is a sign of Jollibee’s continued growth in the U.S. Located at 5033 NW Loop 410, this also marks Jollibee’s first store in south central Texas as the brand has three other stores across the greater Houston area.

To provide a safe environment for customers and store team members in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the dining rooms of all of these stores will remain closed until further notice. Each store will offer a mix of alternative channels for receiving food, including call ahead and pick-up, take-out, drive-thru and delivery services. (Momar G. Visaya/AJPress)

SOUTHERN NEVADA REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Procurement Dept.

340 N. 11TH Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101

INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) B21018 GC CONSTRUCTION SERVICES: REHAB OF 2 FIRE DAMAGED UNITS PRIMARY CONTACT PERSON(S): Note: Contact with any other SNRHA staff other than the named here, including SNRHA’s Residents and Board of Commissioners will result in your Proposal being rejected.

Linda P. Simpson, Contracts Administrator Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority Contracts & Purchasing lpsimpson@snvrha.org or Wanda Beckett, Contracts Administrator procurement@snvrha.org

HOW TO OBTAIN THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS ON THE APPLICABLE WEBSITE:

DOWNLOAD AND RESPOND TO THIS SOLICITATION: Housing Agency Marketplace website: ha.economicengine.com (no “www”) Registered Users: “Log in and insert Solicitation No. IFB B21018.

1RQ 5HJLVWHUHG 8VHUV <RX PXVW ¿UVW UHJLVWHU your company before downloading the Solicitation. Click on “New Vendor” to register.

Problems accessing the system or registering, call customer support at 866-526-9266, M-F, 9 AM (EST) – 5 PM (PST)

PRE-BID MEETING VIA WEBEX.COM Meeting No. 126 146 1855 Password: U6VmgArUD92

Mon., Dec., 21, 2020, 9:30 AM (PST)

SITE VISITS:

Mon, Dec., 21, 2020; following Pre-Bid Conference Refer to Solicitation Document, Attachment H

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS DEADLINE:

Thurs., Jan., 7, 2021, 10:00 AM (PST)

SEALED BIDS SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

Tues., Jan., 19, 2021, 10:00 AM (PST)

SEALED BIDS SUBMISSION LOCATION:

Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority Attn: Linda P. Simpson Contracts & Purchasing 340 North 11TH Street, Suite 180, Las Vegas, NV 89101

ELECTRONIC BID SUBMISSION: ha.economicengine.com

Your two (2) hard copy bids must be sealed in an envelope and/or boxes and must be received in-hand and time-stamped by the SNRHA’s 3URFXUHPHQW 2I¿FH QR ODWHU WKDQ WKH GHDGOLQH date and time. Additionally, electronic pricing must be entered at the noted website by the same deadline date and time. Submitting one without the other deems your bid non- responsive. LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED – NO EXCEPTIONS.

NO PUBLIC BID OPENING:

Results will be posted on the applicable websites.

APPROVAL BY BOC, IF NECESSARY:

Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, 12N

WOMEN AND/OR MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE

PAGE A1 maybe it’s actually the best time to talk about it.

In a webinar hosted by the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) and the Philippine Embassy in the United States on Thursday, Dec. 10, experts shared the personal, psychological and legal perspectives of domestic violence as part of the Philippines’ 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women.

Earlier this year, the United Nations released a report that found that cases of physical, psychological and emotional domestic abuse spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though the demographic makeup of victims and survivors is diverse, domestic violence continues to disproportionately target women and girls.

About 243 million women and girls (aged 15-49) were subject to sexual or physical violence by an intimate partner from April 2019 to April 2020, according to Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, executive director of UN Women.

As families and couples continue to be quarantined due to the pandemic, domestic violence, or intimate partner violence (IPV), continues to be an increasingly worrying threat.

Domestic violence is usually characterized as abuse of a spouse or partner in a home setting, and in the United States, it affects more than 10 million people of all genders every year, according to Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel del Gallego Romualdez, who delivered remarks during Thursday’s webinar.

“Let us be resolved in our commitment to stopping domestic violence and ending violence of the rights and dignities of anyone who is forced to endure such experiences,” he said.

Domestic violence can manifest in many ways, and one person’s experience can look completely different from someone else’s.

For journalist Christine Lee, a victim and survivor who has dedicated her life to shedding the stigmas of domestic abuse among the wider Asian American community, it began innocently in a relationship with a man who would become her abuser.

“First he was so charismatic and that’s what drew me in. We just had this instant connection.

I felt like someone finally understood me,” Lee says in a video, describing the “honeymoon phase” of what would become an abusive relationship.

Her partner then began calling her unsavory names when he was upset and became verbally and emotionally abusive, but she said she “kept letting that go because I did want to believe that it was me, that if I fixed this aspect about myself, he would be the prince charming that I originally met.”

But one night after a date, an argument devolved into her partner striking and choking her to the point where she didn’t think she would live. She got the courage to leave the relationship, but she still found herself in a quandary when it came to talking about the topic with her family.

“This is still very much a hushhush topic in our family. They don’t understand why I’m still talking about this,” Lee explains.

“The thing is, I don’t enjoy talking about this because every time I talk about it I’m re-traumatizing myself, but then I think, ‘Is there anyone else out there that’s going to talk about this?’”

Lee’s experience happened years ago, but she knows that the more she destigmatized these conversations in the Asian American community, the closer it gets to providing more resources to victims and survivors within that community.

For Filipinos, the thick barrier between wanting to openly rectify the plight of IPV survivors and community support continues to stifle progress, a longstanding struggle for Filipino American

victim advocates for years.

In 1981, a Filipina American domestic violence survivor named Nilda Rimonte opened the first women’s shelter in the U.S. that specifically catered to Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women who were experiencing domestic abuse and sexual violence.

Rimonte knew personally the complicated dynamics and emotional complexities of AAPI domestic abuse, especially among immigrants, who at that time didn’t have many mental health support options. Rimonte knew that the concept of acceptable behavior within AAPI marriages and couples was blurry, that many Asian cultures did little to curb what she called “wife beating.” “[Husbands] go home and feel safe, so they feel they are able to hit their wives. They have been told it is OK to hit them…(that) it might be good for her,” Rimonte told the Los Angeles Times in 1986.

The Every Women’s Shelter in LA became a safe haven for AAPI women, most of whom were immigrants, and it offered counseling and legal support as well as a place for AAPI women to support each other.

The programs Rimonte created evolved into the Center for the Pacifc Asian Family (CPAF) which continues its work in community engagement and violence prevention, providing multilingual and multicultural transition programs for survivors of IPV. (The center’s website includes 24/7 multilingual hotlines for victims who need help.)

Rimonte’s work created a foundation for the kind of activism and destigmatization surrounding IPV that we see today, but understanding the warning signs and red flags in a relationship could be the preventative measure that saves lives.

“Police usually get calls related to domestic violence when an abusive incident turns violent, and I’ve covered countless stories over the year as a TV news reporter on homicides, murder suicides and things like that, and eventually I thought that domestic violence just meant extreme physical assault,” Lee explained, emphasizing that there are many non-violent forms of abuse that could predicate physical violence.

The road to eradicating domestic abuse is a long and winding one, riddled with misconceptions and obstacles that require an undoing of cultural stigmas and victim-shaming. All the panelists on Thursday’s webinar acknowledged the harm that “Well, why didn’t they just leave?” arguments do to the vast community of IPV victims.

Even when the red flags are present, it’s common for victims to believe that what they’re going through doesn’t warrant abusive behavior. It only becomes clear in retrospect, as in Lee’s experience.

“When I reflect on my past relationship with my abuser, I knew it was much more,” she went on.

“Yes, it was assault; that made me finally leave and that’s what prompted the call to the police.

But months led up to that incident and in many cases victims and survivors experience years of abuse that’s more than just physical violence. It started out [as] emotional, psychological and verbal abuse.”

Some of the non-physical abuse that Lee detailed included that “honeymoon phase” where the abuser lured her in with “too good to be true charm” that secured her commitment to the relationship. He then began losing his temper in private and in public, often blaming Lee or others instead of taking accountability.

He spoke negatively about Lee to her face and isolated her from her family.

Isolation is a key characteristic of domestic abuse and it manifests in codependency and

control, according to Ana Jayme, a licensed marriage and family therapist and co-founder of the Long Beach-based group psychotherapy practice Bridges to Healing Counseling and Training Center.

By isolating the victim, the outside world becomes distant, making it difficult for victims to seek help and break away from the relationship. Jayme points out that leaving an abusive relationship is not as easy as deciding to call the police and walking out the door — doubly so for victims who are immigrants.

“Because of isolation, the abuser might be the sole economic supporter of the family and the survivor might not have any knowledge or control of money,” Jayme explained. “They may be thinking. ‘Even if I am to leave, where am I going? I don’t know where to go.’”

The fear that an undocumented immigrant victim would be penalized if they came forward with their story is real, but what many of them may not know is that they actually have specific rights.

“Many Filipino Americans here in the United States on fiance visas or different types of visas may feel afraid or uncomfortable with coming forward and jeopardizing their legal status,” said Joyce King, chief counsel at the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office in Maryland.

King, who is Filipina American, said that undocumented victims can self petition for legal status under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), apply for cancellation of removal under the VAWA or apply for a U-visa under VAWA, which is for victims of crime.

King also emphasized that these options differ from other legal criminal processes, which usually require victims coming forward and either swearing by written testimony before a judge or providing an open court testimony. These protocols are “by paper only and they’re not contingent on you having to file a police report” or “deal with the police ever.”

She stressed that anybody who is going through an IPV situation or knows someone who is should seek legal advice. She added that even if a victim who has outstanding criminal charges still can obtain a restraining order against an abuser.

“A lot of these individuals don’t realize how many rights they actually have and how many resources they do have in the law,” King said.

It makes sense that talking about domestic violence, or IPV, is difficult and it’s a struggle trying to unpack the complexities of any given situation. Jayme noted that abusive behavior is cultivated and learned; it’s not inherent.

There’s a social and community responsibility attached to knowing what are and are not healthy behaviors in a relationship. Abusers often have either been the targets of abuse or witnessed domestic abuse themselves, both Jayme and Lee acknowledged.

Although this doesn’t excuse abusive behavior, it can help inform and develop healthy, non-abusive family structures.

Years after she left her abusive relationship, Lee admitted that she still feels like she hasn’t received the justice she deserved.

“How can you bring true justice to a situation like mine, where my life was in danger or someone intentionally tried to cause me harm?” Lee remarked, adding that she hopes her abuser fully understands what he has done and the trauma he’s put her through.

“I have a really hard time forgiving my abuser, and I know that is a really important step in the healing process. I’m not quite there yet, but I’m a lot closer than I was several years ago,” she said.

If you’re undocumented and PAGE A5

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From The FronT Page

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • dEcEmbER 17-23, 2020

Palace: PH won’t cooperate with ICC on...

LEARNING MODULES. Elementary school teachers, led by Editha Buen and Claire Labay (left), remind parents to observe physical distancing while submitting their children’s learning modules for Grade 3 students during the last day of submission for the first quarter of the school year 2020-2021 at Dr. Jose P. Rizal Elementary School in Brgy. Sto. Cristo, Dasmarinas City, Cavite on Wednesday, December 16. Learning modules are among the options implemented by the Department of Education in its blended learning initiatives amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga

Electoral College makes Joe Biden’s presidential...

PAGE A1 real winner. His allies and supporters, meanwhile, filed lawsuits in several key states.

“This legal maneuver was an effort by elected officials and one group of states to try to get the Supreme Court to wipe out the votes of more than 20 million Americans in other states and to hand the presidency to a candidate who lost the Electoral College, lost the popular vote and lost each and every one of the states whose votes they were trying to reverse,” Biden pointed out.

“It’s a position so extreme we’ve never seen it before. A position that refused to respect the will of the people, refused to respect the rule of law, and refused to honor our constitution,” he

added.

The U.S. Supreme Court, for its part, rejected the Republican appeal on Friday.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell congratulated Biden for the first time after the Electoral College “has spoken.”

“Many of us had hoped the presidential election would yield a different result,” McConnell said in a statement. “But our system of government has the processes to determine who will be sworn in on Jan. 20. The Electoral College has spoken.”

He also congratulated Harris, saying “all Americans can take pride that our nation has a female vice president-elect for the very first time.”

Biden further declared that

“it’s time to turn the page.”

“In this battle for the soul of America, democracy prevailed,” he said.

He added, “We the people voted. Faith in our institutions held.

The integrity of our elections remains intact. And so, now it is time to turn the page. To unite.

To heal.”

Biden also brought focus to the country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, recognizing there is “urgent work” ahead.

“Getting the pandemic under control to getting the nation vaccinated against this virus. Delivering immediate economic help so badly needed by so many Americans who are hurting today — and then building our economy back better than it ever was,” the President-elect added. n

Lorenzana: Ties between US and PH will...

PAGE A1 have insisted that the bilateral relations between the two countries will not see any change no matter who won the U.S. presidential election.

“We trust that with close ties between the Philippines and the U.S., we will continue and even see better relations under President (Rodrigo) Duterte and President-elect Biden,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in November.

Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez likewise echoed the sentiment.

“The alliance between our two countries remains very strong and it doesn’t matter who the

president of either country is,” he said on Nov. 17, as previously reported by the Asian Journal, “We feel that this relationship is so strong that it has withstood many wars and many conflicts in the past worldwide, and perhaps even some issues we may not agree on, but at the end of the day, because of our special relationship, it has endured,” he added.

Lorenzana also maintained that the defense articles that the Philippines received from the U.S. has nothing to do with U.S. President Donald Trump’s departure from the White House.

According to the defense chief, the military hardware “have long

been programmed,” but only arrived this December.

The Philippines received $18 million worth of precision guided munitions and other weapons systems for use by the military when U.S. national security adviser Robert O’Brien visited the country on November 23.

The country also attained a ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial System for the Philippine Navy, as well as P1.4 billion ($29.3 million) worth of defense articles, including sniper and anti-IED equipment, when U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett and Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller visited on separate occasions. n

PAGE A1 other inhumane acts were committed on the territory of the Philippines between at least July 1, 2016 and March 16, 2019 in connection to the WoD (war on drugs) campaign launched throughout the country,” she said in her report.

The preliminary report focused on allegations that President Rodrigo Duterte and law enforcement officials “actively promoted and encouraged the killing of suspected or purported drug users or dealers.”

However, Bensouda said she has not yet decided whether she will move the phase to a formal investigation, attributing the delay to the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Office anticipates reaching a decision on whether to seek authorisation to open an investigation into the situation in the Philippines in the first half of 2021,” she said.

Based on government data, a total of 5,903 suspects have been killed in anti-drug operations.

Local and international rights advocates, on the other hand, argue that as many as 27,000 people have died in extrajudicial killings.

Limited investigations Bensouda, in her report, noted the “limited number of investigations and prosecutions” in the country.

This is despite the creation of an inter-agency drug war panel by the Philippine Department of Justice in June. The panel was tasked to reinvestigate the more than 5,000 people killed in police operations.

However, the DOJ missed its deadline to submit its report in November.

“Open-source information indicates that a limited number of investigations and prosecutions have been initiated (and, in some cases, completed) at the national level in respect of direct perpetrators of certain criminal conduct that allegedly took place in the context of, or connection to, the War on Drugs campaign,” said Bensouda.

“The information available also indicates that criminal charges have been laid in the Philippines against a limited number of individuals – typically low-level, physical perpetrators – with respect to some drug-related killings,” she added.

Bensouda promised that her office will “continue to closely

monitor” the activities of the drug war review panel.

ICC retains jurisdiction Roque on Tuesday maintained that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the country.

The Philippines withdrew from the ICC in February 2018 after Bensouda started a preliminary examination of the communication filed by lawyer Jude Sabio regarding the country’s drug war.

“The ICC does not have jurisdiction over the Philippines after the country withdrew from the treaty that established ICC,” Roque said.

He added, “The Philippines has quit the ICC and does not recognize its jurisdiction.”

But according to Bensouda, the ICC retains its jurisdiction over crimes committed during the time the state was party to the statute.

“The Court retains jurisdiction over alleged crimes that have occurred on the territory of the Philippines during the period when it was a State Party to the Statute, namely from 1 November 2011 up to and including 16 March 2019,” she said.

‘Grossly unfair’ In response to Bensouda’s findings, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said the report was “grossly unfair and one-sided.”

“The report of the ICC that there is ‘reasonable basis’ to believe that crimes against humanity of murder, torture and the infliction of serious physical injury and mental harm as other inhumane acts were committed during the PH war on drugs campaign, was grossly unfair, unjustifiable and one-sided,” the PDEA said on Wednesday, December 16.

“The [PDEA] remains skeptical on how the ICC came up with their findings solely on the basis of open-source information. Like all other well-founded reports, the ICC report should show proof and undergo the standard validation and vetting process before arriving at any firm conclusions,” it added.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) likewise demanded the ICC to show “pieces of evidence” to support its claims.

“Kailangan naman po siguro na makita ho ano ba ‘yung mga pieces of evidence na nagsasabi na may (Perhaps, pieces of evidence must be presented to show that there is) violation of human rights,” PNP spokesper-

A

son Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana said.

According to PDEA, the ICC should have waited for the DOJ’s report before issuing any statement.

“The ICC should have waited for the release of the report of an inter-agency panel created by the [DOJ] to investigate the apparent drug-related killings, rather than issuing general statements that are yet to be proven without the aid of a formal and local investigation,” the agency said.

Acknowledge ICC findings The Philippine Commission on Human Rights (CHR), meanwhile, urged the government to address the ICC’s findings.

“As the country’s national human rights institution, CHR urges the government to acknowledge and address the observations of the ICC, with regards to its findings, and calls for greater transparency and accountability from the government in the movement towards providing redress for cases of human rights violations,” it said on Wednesday.

The CHR stressed that the primary responsibility to protect the human rights of individuals remains to be with the state.

“Thus, the government is called upon to squarely address all the violations that have resulted from the campaign against illegal drugs,” it said.

The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers also urged the government to take the report seriously.

“Our government and law enforcers must take this seriously and get the message loud and clear,” Secretary General Edre Olalia said in a statement.

“Finally, rays of hope have peeked out of the pitch-dark clouds of impunity. We hope real and effective redress can be achieved in time,” added Olalia.

Karapatan, for its part, welcomed the ICC report.

“We welcome this significant development and its implications on what can only be described as a rapidly deteriorating human rights crisis in the Philippines,” said Karapatan secretary-general Cristina Palabay.

“As we await the decision of the Office of the Prosecutor, we press our calls for justice for the Duterte administration’s crimes against the Filipino people,” she added. n

A4

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

DECEMBER 17-23, 2020 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

OPINION

The gift of health

FEATURES

AS people plan holiday celebrations in the time of COVID, the World Health Organization is urging everyone to consider giving the most precious Christmas present in this pandemic: the gift of health.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued the reminder as people prepare to celebrate the most joyous event in Christendom, shopping for gifts and readying special meals for holiday get-togethers. Over the past weeks, Tedros reminded everyone, there has been a 60 percent increase in COVID cases worldwide.

Even as countries begin rolling out the first vaccine against COVID, the pathogen continues its rampage across the globe, as virulent and deadly as ever. As COVID vaccination with the Pfizer shots got underway in the United Kingdom last week, the United States registered a record high number of deaths in a single day, with 3,124 Americans succumbing to COVID on Dec. 9.

In the Philippines, experts are worried that the slowdown in COVID transmission in recent weeks could be reversed during the holidays, with cases already beginning to rise in the past days. Officials have urged people to temper Christmas and New

Editorial

FOLLOWING the rule of law as set forth by the Constitution, January 20, 2021 marks a new chapter in the history of the United States when Presidentelect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be sworn in to lead the nation in building back better from the rubbles and ashes of the Trump presidency.

The American people have spoken. Joe Biden won during the November 3 presidential elections, garnering the greatest number of popular votes in the history with 81,283,495 votes compared to outgoing President Donald Trump’s 74,223,753 — a solid 7,059,472 margin of victory.

The Electoral College has spoken. Pursuant to election laws, Biden won the majority vote, surpassing the 270 electoral vote threshold, garnering 306 electoral votes or 51.4%, versus Trump’s 232, or 46.9%.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia have certified the

Year’s revelry.

In recent days, shopping has been particularly problematic for enforcers of health protocols, as consumers crowd outdoor public markets. As people prepare to celebrate Christmas in this year of tragedy, it would be useful to heed the reminder from the WHO director general: “The festive season is a time to relax and celebrate but... celebration can very quickly turn to sadness if we fail to take the right precautions. As you prepare to celebrate over the coming weeks, please, please consider your plans carefully. If you live in an area with high transmission, please take every precaution to keep yourselves and others safe. That could be the best gift you could give – the gift of health.”

(Philstar.com)

election results, upon which the electors cast their votes and handed Biden the victory.

Trump has desperately tried to hold onto power with all his brazen evil attempts to overturn the election results and trash the will of the American people with his baseless claims of massive election fraud and conspiracy theories that Biden and the Democrats — and basically the whole infrastructure of our democratic institutions and processes — stole the votes and the presidency from him.

But, the rule of law will and shall prevail. Biden won.

Trump lost.

The Judiciary has spoken.

The Supreme Court and 86 judges, appointed and elected

by Republicans and Democrats alike, ruled against Trump’s and his cohorts’ efforts to overturn the results of the election.

The Legislature has spoken.

Our representatives in Congress have affirmed the will of the people. The day after the election and with Biden

The United States Supreme Court has twice denied the desperate efforts of Donald Trump to overturn the election of Joe Biden as president and Kamala Harris as vice president, respectively.

Even before the elections, Trump had warned, without any basis, that the only way he could lose to Biden was if the Democrats cheated.

Thus, when the poll numbers in the battleground states trended inexorably in Biden’s favor, Trump began repeating the lie that he had been planting in the minds of his fanatic supporters.

He was cheated.

Dinaya!

Despite the results of the popular vote and the electoral votes that gave the Biden-Harris team a clear victory, Trump continued to insist that he had won and would serve a second term.

Trump was clearly in denial!

Trump then mustered a battery of lawyers, led by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, to file a flood of lawsuits in the courts of the battleground states to invalidate the results. Except for two or three minor instances where the courts sided with the Trump legal team, over 40 dismissals and denials were slapped on Trump’s efforts to overturn Biden’s victory.

already leading significantly, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote, “Joe Biden’s election will be historic, propelled by the votes of a record-shattering 70 million Americans—the most votes ever received by a presidential ticket in American history.” And she was right.

Meanwhile, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell congratulated Joe Biden on Tuesday, December 15, saying, ”I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden. Many of us had hoped the presidential election would yield a different result, but our system of government has the processes to determine who will be sworn in on Jan. 20.

The Electoral College has spoken.”

McConnell called Biden someone “who has devoted himself to public service for many years.” He also congratulated Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, saying “all Americans can take pride that our nation has a female vice president-elect for the very

first time.”

The transition of executive power from the outgoing to the incoming administration has always been procedural and ceremonial, until Trump came along. Sadly those who value their own political survival chose to ignore the rule of law and the Constitution and instead vowed their adoring loyalty to Trump.

Trump himself continues to urge his blind followers to continue fighting for him, spewing even more toxic lies, and milking his fans with money he needs for his legal woes and campaign debts.

While McConnell’s acknowledgment of Biden’s victory gave other Republicans the impetus to abandon the sinking Trump ship and support the incoming administration, others remain Trump fanatics despite all the challenges we are facing as a nation.

Hence, the move of Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (DN.J), who has been outspoken against Republicans backing

Trump’s baseless allegations of voter fraud.

As USA Today reported, “Pascrell authored a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Administration Committee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren arguing the 126 House Republicans who signed on to support a lawsuit, which asks the Supreme Court to invalidate election decisions in several key states in hopes of overturning Biden’s win over Trump, were attempting to ‘demolish democracy’ and steal the election.”

The New Jersey Representative cited provisions in the Constitution outlining “that a person cannot serve in Congress if they have “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against” the Constitution or the country and asks the leaders to ‘evaluate steps you can take’ in holding Republicans accountable.”

Indeed, the chaos we are facing, the division and misplaced priorities can be linked to these government officials’ derelic-

tion of their oath to abide by and defend the Constitution and the American people. Their loyalty must be to the country and not the party nor Trump.

On top of the list is no less than Trump himself, enemy No. 1 of democracy, the nation and the American people.

Making them accountable will deter another Trump and his minions. This is our sacred duty as citizens of the United States of America. *** 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.

Trump’s plan A, B, C... and D?

Street Talk GREG B. MACABENTA

Philstar.com photo

Change is coming: Joe Biden is officially elected 46th US president with VP Kamala Harris

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS

Year’s Eve celebrations, limiting family gatherings and observing health safety protocols while shopping for the holidays. Even the use of torotot or horn noisemakers is being discouraged during the New

But that may only have been Plan A. Giuliani revealed that the court filings were merely intended as leverage for a subsequent appeal to the Supreme Court.

That, in effect, was Plan B. A few days ago, the High Court unanimously denied a Republican petition to invalidate the results of the Pennsylvania election. Inexplicably, Trump and his allies led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, filed another suit with the Supreme Court to invalidate the elections in three other battleground states of Michigan, Georgia, and Wisconsin in addition to Pennsylvania.

It seemed to be a “long shot.”

Texas had no business questioning the way the elections in the other states were conducted.

Trump had made it known that he was counting on his three appointees to the High Court to support his protest. He had gone on network TV calling on the Justices to “have the courage” to rule in his favor.

The Justices did display their courage — they decided against Trump. Much earlier, Attorney General Bill Barr also declared that he saw nothing in the election that could warrant overturning Biden’s victory. Until then, Barr had been accused by detractors of acting more like Trump’s personal lawyer than the head of the Department of Justice.

But the Supreme Court has sent Trump’s hopes crashing a second time.

Denied!!!

Was this the final nail on the coffin that buries Trump’s presidential fantasy?

Not quite. Those who know how Trump’s mind works, are not underestimating his talent for translating a loss into a win.

A LegalZoom article published on November 24, 2020

by Monica Sanders had the intriguing headline, “How Does Trump Repeatedly File For Bankruptcy And Still Stay On Top?” The article relates how he filed for several bankruptcies for his casinos, thereby avoiding his financial obligations, but how he arranged to retain control of the businesses, along with a fat salary. The bankruptcies were, in effect, a win-win for Trump.

During the presidential campaign, Trump was asked about the bankruptcies, a fact that would ordinarily cast a cloud on his purported genius as a businessman. Trump gloated that he took advantage of what the laws of the land allowed, in order to stay ahead.

While working on Plan A and Plan B, Trump has apparently already been activating Plan C. You see, by repeating the lie that the presidency was stolen from him, Trump intends to keep his voter base agitated and motivated all the way up to 2024 if he decides to run again

for the presidency. At the same time, Trump will retain his stranglehold on the Republican Party.

By means of his loyal voter base, Trump has succeeded in intimidating GOP leaders who are concerned about their political careers. Although many have privately expressed disdain for Trump’s ways, they don’t dare to admit it publicly.

The “long shot” suit filed by Paxton may not have been as frivolous as one might think — neither was the support of 126 Republican legislators for the apparently baseless and hopeless Supreme Court filing.

Paxton is currently under investigation by the FBI for allegations he abused his office to benefit a wealthy donor — a problem Trump could eliminate with a presidential pardon. On the other hand, GOP legislators may have simply been trying to remain in Trump’s good graces by reassuring Trump that they have his back.

Since his loss to Biden, Trump has managed to raise over $207 million in contributions from supporters, ostensibly to cover his legal expenses. In fact, only a small portion of that amount has so far gone to legal costs.

It is suspected that the rest — plus future contributions — will go to a political action committee to fund a 2024 campaign.

Trump’s enemies may be waiting to unleash criminal and civil cases against him, once he

leaves the White House. While he has begun to wield his pardoning power to buy loyalty — he is reportedly planning to also pardon himself — this authority only covers federal crimes, and not indictments slapped on him

by States like New York.

The Southern District of New York is reportedly waiting to charge him for a number of violations of state law. That could mean a prison term for Trump.

But would that disqualify him from running for president?

Not at all. The U.S. Constitution allows convicted felons, even those behind bars, to run for public office.

The 50 states have different laws governing those who can vote, but with respect to running for president, one only needs to be a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, and must have resided in the U.S. for 14 years.

But can Trump win, even as a convicted felon? The odds would weigh heavily against him, of course. But no one can ever underestimate the loyalty of Trump’s voter base. Remember how he bragged that he could shoot someone in the middle of Manhattan and not lose a single vote?

The 73 million Americans who voted for Trump could be persuaded to rally to his cause if he succeeds in portraying himself as the victim of injustice — just like Nelson Mandela who spent decades in prison

and emerged as the President of South Africa.

It should now be clear what Trump’s Plan C is. He will repeat the lie about being a victim of “massive fraud” — over and over and over again until most Americans take it as gospel truth. That is already happening even now.

Like a vampire, Trump has tasted blood and wants more of it. There are enough suckers among his voter base to feed on.

Dinaya will be his mantra.

That mantra will be in addition to the lies that he will tell about anyone who stands in his way — and that will include not just Democrats but also ambitious Republicans who may be eyeing the presidency — like Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio.

Those who think that they can deal with Donald Trump in the usual orthodox or traditional manner will be in denial.

Trump is loyal only to himself.

Everyone else is fit for throwing under the bus.

No one should be surprised if Trump is also activating Plan D. A dictatorship? *** 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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Lacson blames Duque for missed...

PAGE A1 Pompeo we – Babe Romualdez and I – got 10 million doses of Pfizer financed by World Bank and ADB to be shipped thru FEDEX to Clark in January. But somebody dropped the ball,” Locsin tweeted.

Neither Locsin nor Romualdez named the individual in question, but Lacson, who was in communication with the Philippine envoy, hinted that it was a Cabinet member who “keeps dropping the ball” but stays in the game because “the coach refuses to replace him.”

Duque, for his part, insisted that no one dropped the ball on the Pfizer deal.

“First of all, there is no such thing as dropping the ball. The negotiations are ongoing,” the health chief said Wednesday.

However, Lacson pointed out that Duque’s statement was not the whole truth. “[But the] negotiation, according to Ambassador Romualdez, is a renewed initiative after they missed the bus the first time,” he said.

“The more important question is, how many lives would be saved between January and when [if at all] the vaccines may be made available again to Filipinos,” Lacson said.

Prudent and cautious In response to Lacson’s accusations, Duque denied that he cost the country’s early access to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.

“I have the chronology of events so that this is all documented and there is no such a thing that I did not act quick enough,” he said on Thursday, December 17 in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel.

“The thing is you go through a process, and when you go through a process, you cannot just be hurrying up things just like that. You have to be prudent and cautious especially because you are talking about a brand new, novel vaccine at that,” he added.

According to Duque, Pfizer sent an overview of their pro-

posal on June 24. The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) on June 29 referred the proposal to the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), which is the lead agency for the evaluation of COVID-19 vaccines.

On August 6, the DOH told Pfizer in a letter that its vaccine has to go under the evaluation of the DOST. The next day, the health agency met with the pharmaceutical firm to discuss the new mRNA technology it used in producing the vaccine.

On August 11, Pfizer sent its CDA draft, which was initially meant to be signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

“As a medical professional, my overriding principle in my practice of medicine is always to err on the side of caution, so I really needed to make sure that the concerned offices would clear the CDA document that was by the way only submitted [by Pfizer] on August 11,” said Duque.

“And up to that, that CDA was in fact intended to be signed per Pfizer request by the Office of the President, the Executive Secretary being the representative,” he added. “That would have spared Pfizer from signing a confidentiality agreement with many other government agencies, so isa na lang dapat (only one was required).”

However, the ES on September 24 informed the DOH that it would be the signatory to the CDA instead.

Duque signed the CDA on October 20, while the DOST and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. signed it in November.

No guarantee of 10M vaccine doses Duque also clarified that there was no agreement that Pfizer would provide the country 10 million doses of its vaccine.

“No, walang ganoon (there was no such thing like that). It was all indicative numbers. There was no definitive supply,” he said.

“There was nothing binding.

Nothing in our talks. So this was

Dateline PhiliPPines

all open-ended, exploratory, and it was really meant to just get the data from Pfizer to know more about the safety profile of the vaccine, efficacy, result of the clinical phase 1 and 2 trials because at that time they are still not done with their clinical trials phase 3,” he added.

The health chief insisted that there was no definitive number guaranteed by Pfizer.

“The thing is I do not recall that na mayroong ganoong definitive, na, ‘ah makakakuha tayo ng (we will get) 10 million doses.’ There was nothing like that. Everything was indicative,” he said.

Palace: Locsin, Duque spat doesn’t matter Malacañang, for its part, said that President Rodrigo Duterte doesn’t see any major lapse with Duque.

“I think from the overall demeanor of the President, he didn’t see any major lapse because we’re talking about a contract and he knows Secretary Duque is not a lawyer,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in Filipino.

“And no damage occurred because we will still get the Pfizer vaccine,” he added.

Roque also pointed out that the deal with Pfizer to supply 10 million doses of its vaccine to the country was “impossible.”

“It looks like it would be impossible for us to really get Pfizer vaccines as of January because their January deliverables are completely paid for already by the rich countries,” he noted.

According to the spokesman, the conflict between Locsin and Duque doesn’t affect the country’s procurement of the vaccine against COVID-19.

“They can all fight if they want.

The President has made it clear: there is only one person in charge of getting the vaccine, it’s Secretary Galvez,” said Roque.

He added, “These conflicting opinions between Secretary Locsin and Secretary Duque in the end does not really matter because it’s Secretary Galvez who has full authority.” n

Crisis within a crisis: Survivors, legal experts...

PAGE A2 are currently experiencing domestic abuse, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles is a legal and civil rights organization that provides legal support to undocumented immigrants. To reach out by phone, you may call (213) 977-7500; for the Tagalog

hotline, please call (855) 3002552.

To contact Jayme’s psychotherapy group center, Bridges to Healing, please call (562) 5280606 or email at bridgestohealing@gmail.com.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7/365:

1-800-799-SAFE, or you may communicate with a counselor on their website. (For safety purposes, the hotline advises users to clear internet browser history after visiting their website.)

If there’s an emergency, always call 9-1-1. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • dEcEmbER 17-23, 2020

A

UN hails PH as champion of migrants’ welfare

by Bernadette

e. tamayo

ManilaTimes.net

THE United Nations on Wednesday, December 16 hailed the Philippines as a champion of migrants’ welfare and safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In presenting the tribute, UN Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez cited the Philippines’ key role in the adoption of the UN Global Compact for Migration (GCM) in December 2018.

“Through the GCM, we set a moral standard for the world in upholding the rights and dignity of every migrant,” Gonzalez said.

Kristin Dadey, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Philippines chief of mission, agreed with Gonzalez.

“The Philippines continues to be a global champion when it comes to migration governance and we stand with them,” she said.

In his speech accepting the tribute, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said migration governance policies “remain a work in progress in the Philippines; even though, across four decades, we put up the governmental institutions to manage international migration flows.”

“This paved the path for us to become a sort of model country of origin. I wouldn’t say a perfect model. But we’re better than a lot of others. So, I am proud that we have become a champion country of the Global Compact,” Locsin said.

Gonzalez and Locsin jointly launched the Bridge program that aims to safeguard the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Locsin said he expects 80,000 more Filipinos to come home before the end of this year.

The Bridge program promotes fair and ethical recruitment of OFWs. It was designed to help the Philippine government secure jobs for OFWs displaced by the pandemic.

Funded by the Migration MultiPartner Trust Fund (MPTF), the program provides several governments funding for projects for the welfare of their migrant workers.

The UN said the Philippines’ Bridge program is one of only six projects that had been selected among 76 proposals submitted by 56 countries in 2020, the MPTF’s inaugural year.

The governments of Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany,

Mexico, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey and the United Kingdom provide support to the Bridge program.

According to the Philippines National Migration Survey and the Global Estimates of Modern Slavery, forced labor remains to be a challenge for migrant workers.

Gonzalez described migration governance as “one of the most urgent and profound tests of international cooperation in our time.”

But he acknowledged the Philippine government’s admission that it needs to reinforce its implementation of the GCM, particularly the provisions on ensuring fair and ethical recruitment and the safe and dignified return of migrant workers and their reintegration into the Philippine labor sector.

Locsin lauded the efforts of the UN Country Team in the Philippines, particularly the IOM, International Labor Organization and UN Women for the endeavor.

The GCM, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2018, laid out 23 objectives to open legal migration and better manage the influx of migrants. n

Hunger situation improves, but 4 million families still without food MANILA — Although an improvement over earlier figures, some four million Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger over the past three months, new survey results suggest.

According to the latest Social Weather Stations report published Wednesday evening, some 16% of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger, defined as hunger due to lack of food to eat, at least once in the past three months— good for a new record in terms of average hunger at 21.1% after eclipsing the record of 19.9% in 2011 and 2012, and double the average 9.3% in 2019.

“The November 2020 Hunger rate is 15 points below the record-high 30.7% (est. 7.6 million families) in September 2020. Nevertheless, it is double the pre-pandemic 8.8% (est.

2.1 million families) of families in December 2019,” the report reads.

“With hunger at 16.7% in May, 20.9% in July, and 30.7% in September, the average hunger rate for the full-year 2020 is a new record 21.1% of families.

It surpasses the previous record of 19.9% in 2011 and 2012, and is double the average 9.3% for 2019.”

Of these numbers, moderate hunger stands at 12.6% while severe hunger is 3.4% of those surveyed.

Of note, SWS said, is that the overall hunger proportion rose across the board and among both the families who described themselves as poor and those who felt they were non-poor.

A total of 1,500 working-age Filipinos participated nationwide in the institution’s research through face-to-face interviews, yielding sampling error margins of ±2.5% for national percentages, ±4% for Balance Luzon, and ±6% for Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Families who participated in

the survey were asked: “Nitong nakaraang tatlong buwan, nangyari po ba kahit minsan na ang inyong pamilya ay nakaranas ng gutom at wala kayong makain?

(In the last three months, did it happen even once that your family experienced hunger and not have anything to eat?)”

Those who experienced hunger were asked the follow-up question: “Nangyari po ba ‘yan ng minsan lamang, mga ilan beses, madalas, o palagi?” (Did it happen only once, a few times, often, or always?)

Despite high approval ratings for the administration, SWS surveys as of late continue to paint a picture of how the pandemic and government response affected the Philippines, with hunger and unemployment having reached record-highs for a time, all culminating in what the polling nonprofit institution said was the “worst trend in survey history” in terms of quality of life.(Franco Luna/Philstar.com)

A

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Spread ChriStmaS Cheer, not the viruS:

How Filipinos around the world will celebrate the holiday by

Ritchel Mendiola / AJPress

T’S been over 10 months since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a I pandemic, and the virus is still raging. The situation may not be as bleak as before, with the promise of two vaccines coming to provide some hope, but we’re still far from the “normal” life we were once used to.

As it stands, the world will be celebrating Christmas this year with a lot of restrictions.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly advises against traveling and going out during the holidays lest another wave of infections happen, and world leaders have echoed the sentiment. Large gatherings and Christmas parties are a no-go, as well — which has left a lot of people feeling disheartened.

“Celebrate with people in your household. If you have plans to travel, you have to think twice, three times before doing so. This is really not the time because it’s not just bad for you, but bad for the people you’re visiting because you don’t know what you’re bringing to them,” said Dr. Jasmine Eugenio, a Filipina American pediatrics specialist at Martin Luther King, Jr. Outpatient Center in Los Angeles.

For many, Christmas was seen as a reprieve from the monotony that the pandemic has afforded.

No one wants to be alone during the holidays, not when we’ve been isolated for more than half a year already.

“Reach out to family members through Zoom or other means.

Call your lolo and lola, but you don’t have to visit them. They say Christmas only comes once a year, but there will be other Christmases,” Eugenio added.

Still, many are willing to make the necessary adjustments, especially Filipinos, who have always been big on family-oriented celebrations. Around the world they’re prepared to comply with the safety measures imposed by their governments, welcoming Christmas Day with as much warmth and conviviality as they can in their situations.

“Here, gatherings are restricted especially in public. But if you’re staying at home, you’re allowed to celebrate provided that there won’t be any guests.

Same with work, we can only celebrate by ourselves since there is a huge penalty if you invite someone from outside,” said Zeny Martin, from Abu Dhabi.

Greg Villar, who resides in Los Angeles, California, is also holding off on inviting his extended family for the holidays.

“My daughter and I will be celebrating Christmas at my house. We usually have cake, ham, lechon kawali, and leche flan,” he said.

“Back when my wife was alive, we used to host a Christmas party and invite her siblings and relatives alongside mine, and though my daughter and I still do that after she passed away two years ago, we won’t be inviting anyone this year because of COVID-19,” he added.

Meanwhile, Beth Cruz is finding ways to connect and celebrate with her loved ones in Dubai.

“Every year, we celebrate Christmas with our family, AJPress Illustrations by Godwin Gasacao friends and relatives at home.

However, due to the situation and restrictions, we will celebrate Christmas Eve with our family at home and organize small gatherings separately with friends and relatives at the park or restaurants,” she said.

According to her, the pandemic won’t deter her from celebrating Christmas, but stressed that she’s going to exercise caution while doing it.

“This pandemic will not keep us from celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus, we just have to practice precautionary measures for the safety of all our loved ones,” said Beth.

Likewise, Minda Lesaca from Toronto, Canada refuses to let the pandemic dampen her Christmas spirit.

“Christmas will continue despite the pandemic, however, there are many restrictions due to health protocols. We can’t invite relatives or neighbors, and we also can’t go outside to celebrate with others. There’s

a limit in the number of people celebrating,” she said.

Lesaca lamented the restrictions in doing normal holiday celebrations, but reasoned that they’re needed for the sake of everyone’s lives.

According to her, being considerate is important during these unprecedented times.

“It’s sad to think about, but we really can’t do anything but comply with the rules to avoid getting infected or infecting others. We need to obey to protect not only our family but also everyone else,” Minda said.

“We really need to keep others in mind. We can still celebrate Christmas without any grandiose plans, anyway,” she added. “Christmas won’t be gone. It’s still the most important occasion because it’s the birth of Jesus Christ.”

To date, COVID-19 has infected around 69 million people worldwide and has taken more than a million lives.

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • dEcEmbER 17-23, 2020

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For Sunshine, age is nothing but a Vogue says Heart is rumored to join number as she stays youthful and fit ‘Crazy Rich Asians 2’ cast by geralD

DIzon Philstar.com

faces this head-on, always improving herself in the process.

Today she shares with us her habits and the wisdom that lets her stay healthy and youthful even through crisis.

Accepting change As a working, single mom, Sunshine shares that it had been hard to stay healthy at first, what with the community quarantine necessitating strict stay-at-home measures and limiting things she used to do.

“It was quite a challenge. Being in my 40s, I’ve noticed that it is easier for me to get tired and

gain weight,” she admits.

But soon as the instinct for self-care kicked in, she’s learned MUCH like the shifting of the to adjust and stay healthy even seasons and all the changes that when indoors. She’s chosen come with it, life too offers up to look at the brighter side of its own myriad of surprises as things, and focus even more on we age. Through the years, we her girls. become more and more aware Putting in the work of different aspects of ourselves, Because of the current health especially our bodies. crisis, it’s natural that this mom While everyone deals with of three worries. This is why she’s aging differently, 43-year-old taken the necessary precautions actress Sunshine Cruz is here to together with her children. inspire us that age is nothing but For one, exercising had bea number. Yes, it comes with a come a must for boosting the imdifferent set of challenges but she mune system. She goes on to say that the long-drawn quarantine has made her realize that an exercise regime doesn’t need to be fancy nor should her gym equipment be pricey to get results.

“There are so many ways to incorporate movement even if we are just at home, like playing or walking the dogs, doing household chores and emulating simple workouts on YouTube, or copying TikTok videos with the kids—all of these can be a good exercise and actually double down as bonding time with the kids,” she shares.

Loving oneself “We always have to remember to love ourselves enough to stay fit and healthy,” she reiterates.

Dedicating a fraction of her time to doing self-care is never time wasted. It’s all part of the discipline that makes her stronger, not just in body but also in mind.

She complements her fitness activities with a low-carb, highprotein diet that she had adopted since 2013. She confesses she still eats what she wants though, albeit in moderation. Fruits, veggies are regular in her diet, but Sunshine Cruz, now 43, is here to inspire us that age is nothing but a number. Yes, it comes she especially highlights milk as with a different set of challenges but she faces this head-on, always improving herself in the a major player in her arsenal for process.

Photo from Instagram/@sunshinecruz718 good nutrition.

By Kata

DayanghIrang Philstar.com

WHAT are the chances that Heart Evangelista will bag the role of Colette Bing in the sequel to the mega-hit 2018 “Crazy Rich Asians”?

Heart is among the rumored to play the spoiled brat fashion blogger who is a daughter to mega-billionaire Bao Gaoling in the sequel “China Rich Girlfriend.”

Production has yet to start and if the sequel follows the said second book in the popular series penned by Kevin Kwan, then Colette is a fitting character to play for Heart.

But she has to contend with her closest competition for the role — Netflix darling Lana Condor, the star of the two movies in the “To All The Boys I’ve Love Before” movie adaptations.

Kwan shared the Vogue Australia article that mentioned the rumors about Condor, Heart and Taiwanese-Australian actress Hannah Quinlivan on his Facebook page on December 4.

“A fun bit of speculation from our friends at Vogue,” he wrote and shared the link to the article.

Kwan himself met with Heart and he tagged her as “The Real Crazy Rich Asian” in the Harper’s Bazaar YouTube clip.

Colette is an important character because she will affect the story of the two main characters

by Ian

BIong Inquirer.net

Richard Yap

Sharon Cuneta with daughter Frankie PAngilinan Photo from Instagram_@reallysharoncuneta

for being a good example to them – and most of all for loving me the way you do, and making me feel like I am the best mother in the world in spite of my imperfections,” Cuneta stressed.

“May God give you everything

your heart desires, my #2 baby.

You deserve nothing less. I soooo love you,” she added.

Pangilinan, Cuneta’s second eldest daughter, is the Megastar’s first child with husband Sen. Kiko Pangilinan.

Jackie opens up on struggles of moving out during a pandemic by alex

Brosas Inquirer.net

various cities around the world because of her husband Michel Franken’s job in a multinational company.

“What’s more exhausting than moving out of and into a house?

Moving out of town… what’s more exhausting than that? Moving in the midst of a pandemic.

As my own plans and dreams of what would be fade into the background,” she said in her post.

Moving out is a choice, Forster believes and she is reminded “YET AGAIN that God is always in control”.

“He ultimately has our best interests at heart. We can only

listen intently and trust in the answers we receive and pray we chose the right path,” she said.

ACTRESS Jackie Forster is The pandemic has ultimately once again moving out to a new made plans change for the achome — and in between she is tress and she and her family have reminded that everything hapreceived signs that they have to pens for a reason. move out.

Posting a few photos of boxed “COVID changed everything furniture and items, Forster for our plans to be here for a articulated the pains of moving longer period but with all the out as she spoke about her decianswers we received it was clear sion to leave her home as per her that this next step is the right Instagram post on Wednesday, choice,” she mused.

Dec. 16.

“As difficult as the last few She did not mention where she months have been with all the and her family would be moving uncertainty and now surrenderto next, though they have lived in ing all thoughts of all that could have been, I trust what He sent us here to do was done,” she said, adding that the “price we pay for being obedient is nothing compared to the blessings He gives us in return.”

As it is two weeks shy of 2021, Forster admits she has become an “emotional wreck,” what with the various “errands, paperwork, packing, car sale, house turn over and house hunting.”

“I just felt like I needed to take this time to remind everyone reading this… that we can’t let our fears and selfish wants dictate our future. Learn to surrender in faith and in [love],” she said.

Believing that God has our back, she is sending big virtual hugs to all who are weary.

Giving encouragement, she Jackie Forster with husband Michel and their her kids Caleigh, Jared and Yohan.

Photo from Instagram_@jackie_forster said, “We got this.”

Photo from Instagram_@iamhearte

will see good character development and a noble title to boot.

Now, does Colette Bing seem tailor-fit to be Heart Evangelista’s first international role after being rumored, too, of supposedly playing the role of Cho Chang in the “Harry Potter” series?

We’ll just have to wait and see.

Richard officially transfers to GMA

Sharon to Frankie turning 20: ‘You deserve nothing less’ SHARON Cuneta had nothing but loving words for her daughter Frankie “Kakie” Pangilinan as the latter turned 20 years old on Wednesday, Dec. 16.

The Megastar had nothing but gratitude to Pangilinan for being a good child, noting that she is “one of God’s most precious gifts whom I will be eternally grateful for,” as seen on Cuneta’s Instagram.

“Happy 20th (Whaaaa..?!!!!)

Birthday, Kakie! I CANNOT… Oh.Em.Gee. TWENTY already?!!!

I love you so much my Baba. I thank God for your love and constant presence in my life without even any horror stories when you were in your teens,” the doting mother said.

Cuneta’s greeting came with a photo collage of her and Pangilinan, which includes throwback pictures of the birthday girl when she was just a baby.

“Sana (I hope) you never change, except for the better.

Thank you my Kakie – for being such a good, loving and understanding Ate to Yellie and Gugie,

Heart Evangelista

of the books and movie adaptations, Nick Young and Rachel Chu. If there will be a third movie to the movies and it will also be based on the books, Colette will see a major character development after her “fall” in the second book. In the third book, “Rich People Problems,” Colette

GMA photo

EVERYONE’S favorite “Ser Chief” Richard Yap is now officially the newest Kapuso artist.

The GMA Artist Center took to Twitter just earlier today, Dec. 16, to tease the announcement of the actor’s addition to its roster of talents.

Although Yap’s image was blurred in the announcement, fans were still able to figure out the identity of the actor as his features were still distinguishable.

Further confirming the transfer, Yap actually tweeted “Thank you” to one fan who replied to GMA’s announcement, saying, “Yes! Sir Chief in The House!!”

Yap is most famously known for his role as Richard “Sir Chief” Lim,

the leading man to Jodi Sta. Maria’s Maya dela Rosa in ABS-CBN’s hit 2012 series “Be Careful with My Heart.”

He is also well known for starring in the 2011 TV series “My Binondo Girl” alongside Kim Chiu. Yap last appeared in ABS-CBN’s “Kadenang Ginto” in 2018, alongside Dimples Romana and Beauty Gonzalez.

Aside from acting, Yap also regularly posts vlogging content via his YouTube channel, simply called Richard Yap. Just last October, actor Khalil Ramos also transferred from ABSCBN to GMA, joining his girlfriend Gabbi Garcia among the network’s roster of young actors. (Ian Biong/ Inquirer.net)

Features

B december 17-23, 2020 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JOUrNAL

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS COVID-19 Update Worldwide: nearly 74 million cases, with almost 1.7 million deaths; the Philippines: about 452,000 and 9,000 deaths; the United States: around 17 million cases and 310,000 deaths.

Last Saturday, there were almost 200,000 cases, with about 1,400 deaths in one day in the U.S. The first-dose supply of the FDA-approved Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against the SARS-CoV2 virus of COVID-19 was delivered to 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Priority recipients are healthcare workers and first responders, to be followed by seniors with health issues. The rest of the population will be getting the vaccine early to middle of next year.

Even after getting the vaccine, people will still have to wear mask properly (covering nose and mouth) in public and do social distancing (with a healthy dose of paranoia and medical vigilance) until we know more about the effectiveness, length of protection it confers, side-effects, and whether some of those vaccinated could still get COVID-19 and transmit it. Letting the guard down after receiving the vaccine is a serious mistake. We will have more vital clinical data by 2022.

The reason COVID-19 has spread like wildfire, infecting 74 million and killing almost 2 million, is because more than 50 percent of the people refuse to follow COVID-19 guidelines. The more compliant we all are, the sooner this pandemic will end.

Does coffee raise our blood pressure?

Yes, most definitely. A cup of regular coffee or two can abruptly blood raise blood pressure (8 mm in systolic and 6 mm in diastolic) even among those not predisposed to hypertension. For those who suffer from high blood pressure, drinking coffee, even only a cup a day, makes the blood pressure shoot up for at least four hours, but not to a dangerous level, especially among treated persons. The BP is no longer affected by coffee among those chronic drinkers who are on BP meds.

Healthy lifestyle, regular medical check-up, taking prescription medications and moderation are the keys to health.

Does condom protect one from AIDS? Only complete abstinence from sexual activity and from needle sharing (especially among addicts) can guarantee protection from AIDS. The use of condom, in general and to a great extent, may lessen the transmission of AIDs, but this is not a guarantee.

A significant number of condoms come from the factory – defective, or with tiny holes, or weak spots.

There are more than 17 million people in the world who are HIV-

Warning: Grapefruit Santa doesn’t need your Social Security number infected. Don’t be one of these statistics.

Is durian an aphrodisiac?

Durian, a popular Asian fruit that has the distinct reputation for its “bad smell but heavenly taste” (for some people) has been bantered around as one that increases sexual libido. There is no scientific evidence durian is an aphrodisiac. If anything at all, the smell alone might turn off some lovers, or excite those who love its taste.

Is wine really good for our heart?

Yes, more specifically red wine.

It is not the alcohol in it that is good for our heart. The ingredient in red wine called resveratrol has been found to be cardio-protective. This comes from the skin of the Pinot Noir grapes used to make red wine. Pinot Noir has the highest resveratrol content among red wines. Somehow, white wine does not confer the same significant health benefit.

Neither do beer nor most liquor, which do not contain this special ingredient.

Does grapefruit affect some medications?

Yes, there are several medications that should not be taken with grapefruit or grapefruit juice. This fruit or its juice inhibit a group of enzymes in our body (CYP3A4), resulting in higher level of the medications getting out of our intestines into our blood stream and the entire body. So, this can lead to overdose. One glass of grapefruit juice can inactivate these enzymes for half a day to 36 hours.

Some of the groups of medications affected include certain calcium channel blockers, hormones, chemotherapeutic agents, sedatives and tranquilizers, some cholesterol lowering drugs, some psychiatric drugs, and the antiarrhythmic heart medication called Amiodarone. The most prudent thing to do if you are on any medications and love grapefruit or grapefruit juice is to discuss this with your physician.

Is self-medication safe?

Buying over-the-counter medications on your own, or following advice from friends or relatives who may be taking such drugs as prescribed by their physician, is dangerous. Allergies and some deadly complications have been reported in medical literature, even with the ingestion of so-called “common and simple” household pills like aspirin. There is no drug which has no possible side effects.

None. All medications, including prescription meds, have possible adverse effects among some people – some mild, others severe or even fatal. Each person reacts differently to specific drugs. What is good and effective for one may be harmful to others. About 25 years ago, I did open heart surgery on a patient in Hobart, Indiana. She was recovering very well but complained of her gout. On the fourth day after surgery, her internist ordered a pill for her gout.

She had a violent reaction to the medication and rapidly went on to

develop kidney, liver, and general organ failure, and subsequently died within four days from taking the medication. Always consult a physician before taking any medication you have not taken before.

Is taking antibiotics often dangerous?

Yes, it is not only expensive but very dangerous. In our body, there are so-called “good bacteria” which help in the normal metabolism and function of our body, and are thus essential to our health. The bacteria we want to kill with antibiotics are the “bad bacteria” that cause us diseases. If we have an infection that is properly diagnosed by a physician, he/she will prescribe the specific antibiotic that is effective for a particular bug or groups of bugs causing the malady. Not all germs are killed by the same antibiotics. If one takes antibiotics indiscriminately, the “good bacteria” in our body will die and fungus infection will emerge because the normal (protective) balance is disrupted. Also, if antibiotics are used often, the “bad bacteria” will get used to them and become resistant to the antibiotics, making them ineffective in fighting infection.

Is dental flossing necessary?

Brushing our teeth thoroughly after each meal is an excellent idea, but it is not enough. Using the toothpick is not enough.

Brushing does not remove all food trapped in between our teeth. While toothpick helps get rid of the bigger particles, the smaller pieces caught in between the tighter spaces between our teeth can only be removed by dental flossing. If not removed, the trapped food particles decay, much like a rotten piece of dead meat, causing severe halitosis (bad breath). Using mouthwash (with stabilized chlorine dioxide) should also be a part of the daily routine because this kills germs that cause bad breath. Chewing gums (sugarless) helps. *** 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 Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian and anti-graft foundation in the United States. Visit our websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

5 ways SSA.gov saves you time

by Annie WAlters Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Nevada

Our online tools and services save you time and make your life easier. Often, there’s no need to contact us. Here are five of our webpages that can make your life easier: 1. With your own personal my Social Security account, you can request a replacement Social Security card, verify your earnings, get future benefit estimates, obtain benefit verification letters, and more at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

2. Need answers to your Social

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

Security-related questions? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page at www.ssa.gov/faq.

3. You can complete and submit your online application for retirement benefits in as little as 15 minutes at www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement.

4. Access our publications library with online booklets and pamphlets, including audio versions, on key subjects at www. ssa.gov/pubs.

5. Check out our blog for Social Security news and updates at https://blog.ssa.gov.

Please share these pages with your friends and family.

EMPLOYMENT

THIS year, during the pandemic, your holidays might be moving a bit online. On the 10th day of Consumer Protection, maybe you’re planning to send e-cards to family and friends.

Or maybe your kids are writing their letter to Santa online, using a site that promises a customized letter back from Santa.

Before you share your personal information — and certainly before you pay: • Check out the website. Do a quick online search for the site or company name, plus the words “complaint,” “review,” or “scam.” What do people say about them? (Knowing, of

course, that those glowing reviews could be fakes…)

• Share only what you need to share. Does the site really need your home address, your age, or access to your contacts?

And none of these companies needs your bank account or Social Security number. (Frankly, Santa probably already knows, so why would he ask?)

• Don’t click links in unexpected texts or emails. Nothing good comes of that. Instead, check them out first, and then type in the URL yourself so you know where you’re headed.

• Ignore calls for immediate action. Scammers try to get you

to act before you have time to think. Take your time. Legit offers will still be there.

If you decide to move forward with your card or Santa letter, pay with a credit card to get the best protections. But only pay if the site’s URL starts with “https.” That means your transaction will be encrypted — but that, alone, doesn’t mean the site is legit.

If you spot a scammy e-mail, text, or website, tell your friends and family so they can avoid it, too. Then tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

(Jim Kreidler/Consumer Education Specialist, FTC)

Kati Daffan (left), Assistant Director, Legal Services Collaboration and Every Community Initiative, Division of Marketing Practices, FTC; Rhonda Perkins (right), Attorney, Every Community Initiative, Division of Marketing Practices, FTC

FTC’s ‘Operation Income Illusion’ targets get-rich-quick scams IN the midst of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, criminals are brazenly floating “get-richquick” schemes to fleece unsuspecting people seeking financial security for themselves and their families.

Speaking at a mid-December ethnic media conference call, the Federal Trade Commission issued urgent warnings that people need to be on their guard to avoid being robbed.

Kati Daffan and Rhonda Perkins, two lawyers in the FTC’s Division of Marketing Practices, spotlighted a variety of scams promoted in advertisements online or in TV, radio and newspapers and even within religious communities.

In a year’s time, Daffan said, there was a 70% increase in this kind of crime. “In the first nine months of 2020 alone,” she said, “people reported losing at least $50 million.”

And those victims are just the ones who came forward.

Most people don’t, Daffan said, so “it’s a tiny fraction of what’s going on in the marketplace.”

To combat the scams, the FTC has launched “Operation Income Illusion.”

Both speakers urged everyone to contact the FTC with any suspicions. You can do so at www.ReportFraud.ftc.gov, or www.ReporteFraude.ftc.gov or by phone at (877) 382-4357.

The FTC receives thousands of reports every week, Perkins said, making individual responses difficult to guarantee, but the reporting is a key driver of both domestic and international enforcement efforts. “It’s a real public service for people to let us know what they’re seeing,” she said.

Besides alerting ethnic media directly, the FTC has posted examples of criminal schemes and tips about how to protect yourself from being victimized on its website in more than a dozen languages (www.ftc. gov/languages), including English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean,

Vietnamese, Tagalog, Amharic, Arabic, Dari, French, Russian, Haitian Creole, and Somali.

New in 2020 are COVIDrelated schemes. The FTC has seen phony cures, phony vaccinations, phony home test kits, and phony research schemes seeking people’s personal information. Now, with real vaccinations starting to become available, the FTC expects new scams (https://tinyurl.com/FTCvaccinescams) and is warning people not to pay out of pocket, put their names on lists, pay for early access, or provide a caller with Social Security or bank account numbers to get a vaccine.

Some scammers mimic traditions from specific communities.

One type of rip-off Operation Income Illusion is fighting are savings clubs (https://tinyurl. com/FTCfakeclubs), modeled after West African and Caribbean “sou sous,” in which people who know each other will pool their money and take turns getting a payout. In the Filipino community, the name is “paluwagan.”

Another is phony coaching deals (https://tinyurl.com/FTCcoachingscams), where victims pay for things like real estate seminars, or help in making money on the stock market or online selling.

Investment scams (https:// tinyurl.com/FTCinvestmentscams) have been the most costly, but the most common are the work-from-home propositions (https://tinyurl.com/FTCsellingandpyramids), which sometimes include the victim getting a check in the mail. In these, the fraud is only revealed some time later, after the victim has sent a portion of that money back, or bought and distributed products or gift cards, only to find that the check to pay for them ultimately bounced.

“It’s incredibly important to watch out for any kind of money-making opportunity that involves putting money in and

EMPLOYMENT

recruiting other people to join.

Those people are likely to get hurt,” Daffan said.

Many scams are targeted to specific ethnic communities, such as Moda Latina, which advertised that you could make big money working from home selling jewelry and other luxury products. Victims were sometimes threatened that if they didn’t have a money order ready when a delivery driver showed up with the merchandise, they could be reported and face severe consequences.

But when the boxes were opened, the contents were far from luxurious: shoddy, not fit to be re-sold, not even worth the cost of the initial purchase.

Some con artists set their sights on specific groups, such as the “Raging Bull” investment scam that targeted seniors, or MOBE, a scam in 2018 that robbed students and veterans of $300 million before it was shut down.

Then there are “pyramid schemes” (https://tinyurl.com/ FTCsellingandpyramids). The FTC has identified a few by name, such as: “The Circle Game,” “Blessing Loom” and “Money Board.”

The FTC works with numerous law enforcement agencies in pursuing scam thieves, both domestically and internationally. In some cases, it can recover some of the money victims have lost, but Rhonda Perkins advised that the better strategy is to avoid being scammed (https://tinyurl.com/FTCavoidandreport) in the first place.

If you’re concerned about the wisdom of making a deal someone is offering you, she said, do some research on the company, its reputation, a record of complaints against it.

“Do your research, check out that company’s reputation and talk to other people, people you trust in your community,” Perkins said.

(Mark Hedin/Ethnic Media Services)

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • dEcEmbER 17-23, 2020

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Applications now accepted for 2021 Cox Diversity Scholarships $35,000 available to local high school seniors

Las Vegas – December 17, 2020 – Cox Communications is encouraging graduating high school students in Clark County to apply for one of 10, $3,500 Cox Diversity Scholarships.

Applications and submission instructions are available online from The Public Education Foundation at thepef.org/scholarships.

The deadline to apply is February 14, 2021.

Cox will present $35,000 in scholarships in spring 2021 in

partnership with The Public Education Foundation and the following Southern Nevada-based diverse organizations: 100 Black Men; Asian Community Development Council; Chicanos Por La Causa; Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce of Nevada; Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada; Historic Westside Chamber; Junior League of Las Vegas; LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada; Nevada Hispanic Business Group and OCA Las Vegas.

The competitive scholarships require applicants to be on track for graduation with a minimum 2.5 grade point average, provide demonstrated leadership and community service as well as submit an essay focused on a significant leader from their respective diverse community.

Cox Communications has presented $245,000 in Cox Diversity Scholarships to high school graduates in Clark County since 2014.

Alden to star with ‘idol’Bea in remake of South Korean film

Sunrise Travel holds office blessing for new Las Vegas location SUNRISE Travel, a longstanding travel agency serving the Filipino American community and beyond in Las Vegas, opened its new office along Maryland Parkway with a blessing on December 4 attended by a small group of family and friends.

Eppie Cruz, owner and founder of Sunrise Travel, shares “I have been in the travel agency business for over 40 years. In 1999, I opened Sunrise Travel out of my own home. Thanks to countless hours of hard work from my family, coworkers, and business partners, we were able to open our first office on West Sahara in 2009. For the 11 years we were at that location, I was grateful to have accomplished so much

thanks to the help of my team.

Fast forward to today, like most small businesses, we were deeply affected by the pandemic. Luckily, we were given the opportunity to move to a new location! Serving customers, connecting family and friends, and traveling are my passions, so we are blessed that our services are still a necessity during this time. While we primarily focus on travel to Asia, mainly to the Philippines, we are also highly knowledgeable and have first hand experience in various fam tours, Europe tour packages and of cruise lines. We also conduct a few religious group travels, including a possible group trip to the 2022 Oberammergau Passion Play.

Kathryn denies nose job anew: ‘It’s all natural’

by Niña

GuNo Inquirer.net

KATHRYN Bernardo once again put to rest rumors that she had her nose done.

The actress appeared on the vlog of celebrity dermatologist Dr. Aivee Teo, “Aivee Day,” last Wednesday, Dec. 9, where they played the game “Never Have I Ever.”

Both the 24-year-old and Teo responded to statements that went from skincare to their personal lives. Among them was the statement, “Never have I ever had surgery.”

The “Hello, Love, Goodbye” star immediately reacted. “Doc, please pakilinaw naman. Siyempre ‘pag sinabi kong never, sasabihin nila

Kathryn Bernardo Photo from Instagram_@bernardokath

dine-deny ko na naman.”

(Doc, please, can you explain?

Of course when I say never, others will say I am denying it again.)

Teo said that it was a “common question” she would receive and that she would always tell people “no.”

“No, I swear. Kasi si Doc Aivee ‘di ka naman niya pipilitin (With Doc Aivee, she will not force you) if you’re not comfortable with it.

And I’m happy with my nose,” said Bernardo.

Teo explained, “Kasi when your face gets slimmer, lumalabas ‘yung feature mo. So nag-dedevelop din iyong nose as you get older.”

(Because when your face gets slimmer, your features come out.

Your nose develops as you get older.)

“I swear si Doc Aivee walang ginawa sa nose ko (Doc Aivee has done nothing with my nose) or any doctors before Doc Aivee just to be clear,” Bernardo reiterated.

She also said that she has no problem with people getting surgery if they want it.”

“For me talaga (really) no, it’s all natural,” Bernardo stressed.

She previously went on record on “Tonight with Boy Abunda” in 2018 to say that she never had surgery done on her nose.

The actress does have skin tightening procedures done, such as thermage, which was demonstrated in the video. Teo explained that it is to lift, tighten and contour the skin, since Bernardo complains about her face getting “fuller.”

Again, thank you everyone for your support, hard work and dedication to this company. We look forward to continuing our services, and we are excited to see what the future holds for Sunrise Travel!”

Sunrise Travel is located at 2770 S. Maryland Parkway #215-F, Las Vegas, NV 89109. For more information, please call 702-889-2750 or visit sunrisetravelandtour.com.

ALDEN Richards will be partnering up with his “idol” Bea Alonzo in the upcoming Philippine adaptation of the hit South Korean film “A Moment to Remember.”

Principal photography for the adaptation is set to start next month, January 2021, as per Philippine Entertainment Portal yesterday, Dec. 14. The film will be co-produced by Viva Films and GMA Pictures.

Richards will be taking on the role played by actor Jung Woosung while Alonzo will be playing actress Son Ye-jin’s role.

Back in August, Richards admitted that it is his dream to work with Alonzo as he is a fan of the actress, noting that he loves her onscreen tandem with John Lloyd Cruz.

While the two have never worked in a film or series before,

Alden Richards and Bea Alonzo

Photos from Instagram_@aldenrichards02, @beaalonzo

Richards and Alonzo have already worked together in a shampoo commercial earlier this year.

The South Korean film, released in 2004, was based on the 2001 Japanese drama “Pure Soul.”

“A Moment to Remember” tells the story of a man who falls in love

with a woman with Alzheimer’s disease.

Nuel Naval, who also helmed the Philippine adaptation of the South Korean drama “Miracle in Cell No. 7,” will be directing the said film, as per report. (Ian Biong//Inquirer.net)

B december 17-23, 2020 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JOUrNAL

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

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