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DECEMBER 24-30, 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. 51 • 12 Pages

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USA

DATELINE Supreme Court rejects Trump challenge excluding undocumented immigrants from Census FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

THE U.S. Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s plan to exclude undocumented immigrants from the calculations used to allocate seats in the House of Representatives.

“At present, this case is riddled with contingencies and speculation that impede judicial review,” the court said in an unsigned 7-page opinion.

The Supreme Court added that the challenge from New York state was premature.

“Consistent with our determination that standing has not been shown and that the case is not ripe, we express no view on the merits of the constitutional and related statutory claims presented. We hold only that they are not suitable for adjudication at this time,” the court continued.

US Congress passes $900 billion coronavirus economic relief bill

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

FOLLOWING months of inaction, the United States Congress on late Monday, Dec. 22, passed the long-awaited stimulus package that includes $600 in direct payments to millions of American

taxpayers as well as a flurry of other funding measures that are unrelated to the COVID-19 economic crisis.

The 5,593-page spending bill’s eleventh hour passing this week arrived after months of partisan arguments and speculation over whether or not ranking members of Congress would compromise

on a bill that could provide aid to individuals and businesses grappling with the financial burden of the ongoing pandemic.

The $900 billion stimulus bill is roughly half the size of the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed u PAGE A2

Police SMSgt. Jonel Nuezca

Duterte on Tarlac shooter: Lock him up

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by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

PNP CHIEF IN TARLAC. Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Debold Sinas visits the wake of Frank and Sonya Gregorio on Tuesday, December 22. The two were shot dead by Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca in Tarlac. Following the crime, some lawmakers have come out to voice out their support—renewing their push for the others—to reimpose the death penalty in the Philippines. PNP photo Photo from Instagram/@iam_joshjacobs

Black Fil-Am Raiders player Josh Jacobs named to 2021 NFL Pro Bowl LAS Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs has been named to the 2021 NFL Pro Bowl roster.

The NFL on Monday, December 21, announced its 2021 AFC Pro Bowl roster, which includes Jacobs as well as his Raiders teammate, tight end Darren Waller.

Jacobs, who is Black and Filipino American, is currently sixth in the league with 970 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 13 games, according to Sports Illustrated. He developed a

u PAGE A3

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has condemned the police officer who shot a mother and son dead in Paniqui, Tarlac.

In a taped speech, Duterte said Police Senior M/Sgt. Jonel Nuezca should be locked up for shooting and killing Sonya Gregorio, 52, and her son Frank Anthony, 25, after an altercation on Sunday, December 20.

“Ang pagmamahal ko sa trabaho lang natin (My love is for the work we do). You do something which is not u PAGE A3

PH to raise age of consent from 12 to 16 US approves Moderna vaccine

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippines is set to raise the age of sexual consent from 12 years old to 16 years old.

According to a recent report by Agence France-Presse (AFP), the country has one of the lowest ages of consent in the world, allowing adults to legally have sex with children as young as 12.

“Child rights activists have lobbied for decades to increase the age – enshrined in the penal code since 1930 – but faced resistance from what they describe as a ‘culture of patriarchy’ in a country where abortion and divorce are illegal,” the online news

portal noted.

“Congress now looks set to approve a bill to raise the age to 16,” it added.

On December 1, the Philippine House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to raises the age for determining statutory rape to 16 years old.

Statutory rape, in common law jurisdictions, is non-forcible sexual activity wherein one of the individuals is below the age of consent or the age required to legally consent to the act.

Two hundred and seven lawmakers casted affirmative votes to approve House Bill 7836, which amends amend Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Chil-

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‘SPIRIT OF HOPE’

Fil-Am health care workers among first to receive COVID-19 vaccine in LA County

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

Anna Medrano (left), a Filipina American nurse practitioner, was the first health care worker at City of Hope in Duarte, California to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, December 16.

Photo courtesy of City of Hope

FOR the first time since the pandemic hit Los Angeles County, Anna Medrano walked into work hopeful.

With a quick jab to her left arm, the Filipina American nurse practitioner became the first health care worker at City of Hope in Duarte to receive a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID19 vaccine on Wednesday, December 16.

Some nine months on the frontlines of the virus, Medrano didn’t hesitate to sign up for the vaccine as it was an opportunity “to lead by example.”

“The vaccine experience was surreal. There was a spirit of hope in the air as we received the first delivery of the COVID19 vaccine. Laughter and tears filled the room, and I was excited to share everyone’s joy in such a momentous time in history! We all knew that this would be the

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by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE United States has authorized a second vaccine against the coronavirus for emergency use, with shipments starting to arrive this week.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday, December 18, granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) to Moderna Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine a day after the agency’s advisory panel endorsed it as safe and effective.

“With the availability of two vaccines now for the prevention of COVID-19, the FDA has taken another crucial step in the fight against this global pandemic that is causing vast numbers of hospitalizations and deaths in the United States each day,” FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. said in a statement.

Moderna’s vaccine has a 94.5% efficacy rate, occurring at least 14 days after the second dose. It is authorized to be distributed in the U.S. for use in individuals 18 years of age and older, following Pfizer’s vaccine, which began its national rollout last week.

Both pharmaceutical firms utilize the new messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology for their vaccines.

“Through the FDA’s open and transparent scientific review process, two COVID-19 vaccines have been authorized in an ex-

pedited timeframe while adhering to the rigorous standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization that the American people have come to expect from the FDA,” said Hahn.

“These standards and our review process, which are the same we have used in reviewing the first COVID-19 vaccine and intend to use for any other COVID-19 vaccines, included input from independent scientific and public health experts as well as a thorough analysis of the data by the agency’s career staff,” he added.

U.S. President Donald Trump, for his part, lauded the authorization.

“Congratulations, the Moderna vaccine is now available!” he said in a tweet.

Likewise, President-elect Joe Biden hailed the FDA’s decision.

According to him, the authorization of the Pfizer and the Moderna vaccines “assures us that brighter days lie ahead,” but stressed that the fight against COVID-19 is not over yet.

“We know the immense challenges ahead, including scaling up manufacturing, distribution, and the monumental task of vaccinating hundreds of millions of Americans. We need to make sure we have the resources to do all of this and to do it quickly,”

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

december 24-30, 2020 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JOUrNAL

From The FronT Page

US Congress passes $900B...

PAGE A1 size of the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed in March that provided, among other things, an unprecedented $1,200 in direct payments to millions of taxpayers.

The four Congressional leaders at the helm of the bill — Reps. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

and Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) — have spent months in partisan gridlock negotiating a deal as wages and employment plummeted during the pandemic.

The bill passed with overwhelming majorities in both chambers of Congress: 359 to 53 in the House and 92-6 in the

Senate.

“Today, we have reached agreement with Republicans and the White House on an emergency coronavirus relief and omnibus package that delivers urgently needed funds to save the lives and livelihoods of the American people as the virus accelerates,” Pelosi and Schumer said in a joint statement. “We are going to crush the virus and put money in the pockets of the American people.”

The $600 payments to individuals are expected to arrive via mail or direct deposit next week, and eligibility is contingent upon yearly income: individuals who earn up to $75,000 a year and married couples who earn up to $150,000 with an additional $600 per dependent under 18 years old living in the same household. The bill also extends unemployment with an additional $300 a week.

The bill also includes: $284 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses as well as $69 billion for vaccine distribution and $82 billion for schools, McConnell said on the Senate floor on Sunday.

Pelosi and Schumer added that $25 billion will be allocated to rental assistance and eviction moratoria, $13 billion in food assistance and $7 billion to increase internet access as schools across the country continue to operate through distance learning.

President Donald Trump is expected to sign the bill in the next few days, but because annual government funding was set to expire on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at midnight, lawmakers tacked on a separate measure to avoid a week-long government shutdown.

Public backlash over the bill immediately followed the bill’s passing, largely over the decision to give taxpayers half of what they received earlier this year through the CARES Act. And, although the stimulus checks and immediate financial aid remain a priority to Americans, tucked away in the lengthy bill are other stipulations and questionable financial allocations that stray far from the bill that was designed to assist struggling individuals.

PAGE A3

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Fil-Am health care workers among first...

PAGE A1 t start of a new beginning,” Medrano, who works at the medical center’s department of hematology and hematopoietic cell transplantation, told the Asian Journal in an email.

Following the inoculation, Medrano was monitored for any allergic or adverse reactions.

Hours after and into the next day, she reported experiencing tenderness at the injection site, generalized body aches and a low-grade fever.

The symptoms “were minimal enough” that she said she was cleared to return to work and see patients the day after.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which became the first mRNA vaccine approved for wide use, does not contain SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

“An mRNA vaccine delivers the instructions for making a bacterial or viral protein to our cells. Our immune system then responds to these proteins and develops the tools to react to future infections with the pathogen,” according to Medical News Today.

Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center also began administering its vaccines to several medical staff — one of whom was Dr. Philip Mercado, chief of the hospital’s general surgery department.

“I am a firm believer in preventative care and vaccines. I was more than happy to receive the vaccine the first moment I could,” Mercado told the Asian Journal after receiving his vaccine on Thursday, December 18.

These health care professionals joined thousands across the country to be vaccinated this week, days after the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for the vaccine.

They also represent a sample of Fil-Am medical professionals who continue to serve on the frontlines of the pandemic.

As previously reported, the FilAm community has been among the ethnic groups disproportionately affected by the coronavirus. One of the factors being the number of Fil-Ams who work in the medical field.

Nurses of Filipino descent comprise 4% of the country’s nursing population, but make up nearly a third of those who’ve died of the virus, according to a National Nurses United report released in September. But that toll has also extended to the community’s doctors, lab technicians and other workers providing critical services, though no exact statistics have been collected.

But what has made health care workers optimistic amid the grim numbers and defiance from members of the public is the belief that science will prevail.

“What gives me hope is when I see people respecting science.

Conversely, what make me sad is when people dismiss scientific

Doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were distributed across hospitals in Southern California this week, including City of Hope.

Photo courtesy of City of Hope

Fil-Am registered nurse Martin Reyes, who works in the ICU at LAC+USC Medical Center, received a COVID-19 vaccination on Dec. 18 as part of LA County Health Services’ effort to vaccinate more than 10,000 front line healthcare workers by the end of 2020.

Photo courtesy of the County of Los Angeles

facts. There are no such things as ‘alternate facts.’ Science is science,” Dr. Mercado said.

California received 33,000 doses two days after the FDA’s authorization, and subsequently disbursed them down the state.

The state, which is prioritizing high-risk health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities, is expected to receive around 233,000 vaccines, fewer than previously announced.

In LA County, the campaign began on Monday, December 14 as five health care workers at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in East Hollywood kicked off vaccinations in the state.

The County Health Services announced that it would administer 10,000 vaccinations by New Year’s Eve; 6,000 of which are expected to be completed

by Christmas. Frontline workers in high intensity departments, such as ICUs and emergency rooms, would be prioritized at three county hospitals: LAC+USC Medical Center, Olive ViewUCLA Medical Center, and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

Martin Reyes, a Fil-Am ICU nurse at LAC+USC Medical Center, got his jab as part of the initiative on Friday, December 18.

Once the vaccine is available for mass distribution — projected by early next year — Reyes and other professionals encourage the greater Fil-Am community to do their research using reliable news and medical sources to determine whether to get the vaccine.

US approves Moderna...

PAGE A1 t said Biden.

The U.S. has agreed to purchase 200 million doses of Moderna’s vaccine, of which 5.9 million doses are already ready to ship nationwide.

The country expects to have 40 million doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines by the end of the year, enough to vaccinate 20 million people.

Over 17.8 million people in the U.S. have been infected by COVID-19 since the beginning of the outbreak, resulting in a total of 317,684 deaths.

30M doses of Novavax vaccine

The Philippines, meanwhile, has been assured of 30 million doses of Indian-made Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, which may be expected to be available in July 2021.

“Thirty million dosages of the Indian-made Novavax vaccines are assured, possibly with no cash advance. It will be available

by July 2021,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. announced Monday, December 21.

“The term sheet might be signed before the year ends. The good thing though, remember this is not a rumor, is that this is based on a press release made

by Serum Institute of India (SII),

“Ano ang sasabihin ko sa mga kapwa ko Filipino na natatakot na makuha yun vaccine sa ngayon, hindi sila dapat matakot (What I want to tell my fellow Filipinos who are scared to get vaccinated is that there’s nothing to be afraid of),” Reyes said, adding, “Mas maraming tao na mas maging vaccinated, mas makakatulong ito para malaban ang COVID-19 (The more people who get vaccinated, the more it can help in the fight against COVID-19).”

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine comes in two doses with the second to be administered 21 days later.

While recognizing that the vaccine is a step toward curbing the virus that has infected 17.3 million and killed over 312,000 individuals in the United States, health care professionals said they will continue to follow public health guidelines like wearing a mask and social distancing.

As Christmas is an important holiday for Filipino families, they also are reminding them that the risk of infection, especially in LA County, is still pervasive.

“My fellow Filipino Americans, please remember that ‘This too shall pass!’ I grew up in the Philippines and truly understand the importance of togetherness with family and close friends, especially during the holidays,” Medrano said. “However, the year 2020 is different, and we will come out of this stronger than before. In the meantime, let’s all take the time to be still!” n

the giant manufacturer,” he added.

So far, the Philippines has secured over two million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine with the help of the private sector.

The country is also looking into purchasing 25 million doses of a vaccine from China’s Sinovac Biotech, as well as securing four to 25 million doses of vaccines from Moderna and Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. The Philippines currently has the second-highest number of COVID-19 infections and fatalities in Southeast Asia, with 461,505 cases and 8,957 deaths. n

PH to raise age of consent from 12...

PAGE A1 t dren Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. Only three lawmakers opposed the measure.

Campaigners say the bill would help protect children and adolescents in a nation that has become a global hotspot for online child sex abuse and exploitation.

“This is a victory for Filipino children,” said Patrizia Benvenuti, UNICEF’s chief of child protection in the Philippines.

She added, “Pegging 12 as the age of consent is really not consistent with scientific studies on brain development.”

One Filipina teenager who realized too late that she had been too young for a sexual relationship is Rose Alvarez (not her real name for protection).

She was 13 when she started being intimate with a man who was more than twice her age.

She got pregnant at 14.

“I was still a child then, I didn’t know anything about sex,” Alvarez, now 16, told AFP at a clinic run by the Likhaan Center for Women’s Health in Navotas, Ma-

nila.

“I was telling him to use a condom… but he removed it.

He didn’t want to use it,” she added.

According to Alvarez, she was drunk the first time she slept with the man, who was about 29 when they met on Facebook.

“When I woke up I was shocked to see blood in my underwear and it hurt a lot,” she recalled. “I was too intoxicated to know what was happening.”

Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros on Dec. 2 expressed hope that the Senate version of HB 7836 could still be approved on the third and final reading by the end of the year.

“I’m hopeful we could pass this and catch up with the parliamentary status in the House, and we pass it within the year,” said Hontiveros, co-author of the measure and chairwoman of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality.

“This amendment to the current Anti-Rape Law places consent, or the lack of consent, front

and center of the crime of rape and provides more protection to teenage girls especially against statutory rape,” she added.

Citing data from the Center for Women’s Resources, Hontiveros stressed that a woman or child is raped nearly every hour. Seven out of 10 victims are children and the vast majority are girls.

Rowena Legaspi, executive director of the Children’s Legal Rights and Development Center, pointed out that prosecuting adult perpetrators in rape cases involving children has been difficult because they can argue the sex was consensual.

“Imagine a 12-year-old… that girl is still a minor. How could she have consented?” she told AFP. Under HB 7836, the crime of statutory rape is committed when the victim is below 16 years old, or if the victim is older but is suffering from physical, mental or psychological disability It also metes out stiffer penalties for rape, sexual exploitation, and abuse, as well as shifts the burden of proof of consent on the part of the offender. n

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

Duterte on Tarlac shooter: Lock...

PAGE A1

— out of the ordinary just pulling a gun and shooting people, you must be… Eh ikulong ninyo ‘yon.

Huwag ninyong bitawan ‘yang y*** na ‘yan (Lock him up and do not let him out),” he said Monday night.

He stressed that Nuezca should be detained for committing a serious offense. “(Nuezca) should not be allowed to go out because double murder ‘yon eh (that’s double murder). Double murder is a serious offense, a grave offense. So from the time you are arrested up to the time that you are hailed to court to answer for the death of those two persons, innocent ones, walang bail ka (you have no bail),” said Duterte.

“So ‘pag nahuli ka, diretsodiretso na ‘yan (when you get caught, you head straight to jail).

And I don’t think that you can escape the rigors of justice because nakuha sa TV (it was caught on TV),” he added.

Duterte admitted that he was shocked by the brutality displayed

by Nuezca.

“Pati ako napanganga (Even my jaw dropped),” he said.

“That’s unfair and brutal masyado (too brutal). Kung ako ang nandiyan, ewan ko lang (If I were there, I don’t know),” he added.

According to Duterte, he does not condone oppression, noting that some policemen abuse their power.

“I do not like oppression at ‘yang nag-ano ng tao – papahirapan niyo ang tao (and making people suffer). Usually kasi itong pulis (these policemen) you tend to exhibit your authority even in matters not connected with police work,” he said.

Duterte also described Nuezca as “crazy,” wondering how he passed his neuropsychiatric examinations.

“Isa lang itong klaseng pulis na ‘to. May sakit ito sa utak. Topak (This policeman is one of a kind.

He’s sick in the head. Crazy). And I’m just wondering why he was able to – nakalusot sa (pass the) neuro. You could detect a person by the way he answers in a – ‘yung mga tests sa neuro (in the neuro tests),” he said.

He called for the Philippine National Police to lock Nuezca up.

“I’d like to call the PNP: Be sure that he is detained ha. He should not be allowed to go out kasi (because that’s a) serious offense ‘yan. There’s no bail,” Duterte said.

The Executive Chief reminded

policemen to act in accordance with the law.

“Di ba sinabi ko (Didn’t I say): You do it right, I’m with you. You do it wrong, and there will be a hell to pay. Iyon ang sinabi ko sa aking (That’s what I said during my) SONA (State of the Nation Address),” Duterte said.

He added, “Do your duty enforce the law. Your actions must be in accordance with the law.

You do not follow the law, magsalvage ka, magpatay ka diyan (if you murder someone), then I’m sorry, that is not part of the agreement of how we should do our work.”

The shooting incident in Tarlac was caught on camera and has gone viral online with the hashtags #StopTheKillingsPH, #JusticeForSonyaGregorio, and #EndPoliceBrutality.

No mercy Senator Panfilo Lacson, former PNP chief, urged the force to make sure Nuezca rots in jail.

“If what’s on video tells the whole story, I enjoin the Philippine National Police leadership to show no mercy. They should spare no effort to make sure that he rots in jail. He’s the last policeman that they need in the force,” he said in a statement.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo also condemned the actions of Nuezca.

“This murderous act has no place in any civilized society. That the suspect is a member of the PNP is symptomatic of an incipient cancer that lies in the body of the police force that must be excised instantly,” he said.

“No person of authority, or any person for that matter, has any right or license to unjustifiably kill anyone at will, more so over a petty proprietary dispute triggered by a mere nuisance,” added Panelo.

Isolated case Philippine Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, meanwhile, said the shooting incident was an isolated case, urging the public not to condemn the whole police force.

“This is an unfortunate but isolated incident. While there are unfortunate incidents like this, the vast majority of our PNP personnel perform their sworn duties everyday with honor and integrity to protect and serve the people,” he said.

“The sin of Nuezca is not the sin of the entire Philippine National Police. As we have seen during this pandemic, they place their very lives on the line as frontliners in our COVID response,” he

From The FronT Page

added.

PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas echoed Año’s sentiment.

“The PNP considers this an isolated act of criminality that does not reflect the PNP’s policies and practice,” he said.

“In no way will such an incident affect the sworn duty of the 221,000 police personnel to serve and protect our people.

Our organization remains committed to carry out our mandate and we will always be ready to selflessly provide our people the services that they deserve from their Philippine National Police,” he added.

Sinas also condemned the murders, assuring the victims’ family that justice will be served.

“The PNP leadership strongly condemns to the highest order the criminal act committed by one of our police personnel that had gone viral. Words are not enough to assuage the feelings of the bereaved family of the victims, Mrs Sonia Gregorio and her son, Frank. But we assure them and the Filipino people that justice will be served,” he said.

Culture of impunity Human rights and civic groups argued that the Tarlac shooting incident was not an isolated case, contrary to what Año and Sinas have said.

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW) deputy Asia director Phil Robertson, killing was “just the latest incident” of the reality that “many members of the Philippine police are simply out of control.”

“As with many incidents of recent police violence, the killing by Nuezca of Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank was brazen and underscores the impunity that prevails in the Philippines,” he added.

HRW also pointed out that Duterte has excused police misconduct countless times in the past.

“Sunday’s killings in Tarlac province are an inevitable result of the Philippine government’s failure to hold erring law enforcers to account,” it added.

Artist-activist group Dakila likewise said that Duterte has normalized the “culture of impunity” in the country.

“This culture of impunity and violence – normalized by the President himself – has encouraged uniformed personnel to abuse their power and use their force outside duty. Their authority doesn’t give them a license to kill and violate law,” it said. n

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • dEcEmbER 24-30, 2020

US Congress passes $900B...

PAGE A2 More than $110 billion will be set aside toward tax breaks for niche industries like liquor producers, the motorsports entertainment industry and electric motorcycle manufacturers, according to the bill’s text.

Among the more controversial components of the bill include $500 billion is allocated to Israel’s defense programs, an increase from 50% to 100% deductibility of business meals, funding for two new Smithsonian museums and the creation

of a new U.S. consulate office in Tibet (the bill also includes providing support to the Tibetan Buddhist faith community for the future “reincarnation” of “any future Dalai Lamas”).

These elements — which stirred criticism among tax experts, policy experts and every day Americans alike — are a part of one of the largest government spending bills in American history. The corporate tax breaks — like the one granted to producers of beer, wine and spirits — continue to reflect the

A

influence corporate lobbyists have on major federal policy, economy experts fear.

“They are a gravy train for members and lobbyists, who repeat the same exercise every year or two,” Howard Gleckman, tax policy expert at the Urban Institute, told the Washington Post. “The lobbyists get to keep billing hours. The members get campaign money from the same people. Many of these are classic special interest tax breaks that do not benefit the overall economy in any way.” n

Black Fil-Am Raiders player Josh Jacobs named...

PAGE A1 promising 2019 rookie campaign after rushing for 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns.

The 5’10” 22-year-old from Tulsa, Oklahoma played college football at the University of Alabama and was drafted by the Raiders in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

The 2021 Pro Bowl Game

originally was scheduled to be played Jan. 31, 2021 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, but was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The venue will host the 2022 Pro Bowl instead.

According to the NFL, it is working with EA Sports to create a week-long series of matchups featuring celebrities, NFL Legends, current players and

streamers playing the official Pro Bowl rosters on Madden NFL 21.

“The week culminates in a virtual Pro Bowl game with 2021 Pro Bowl players playing within Madden, which will be available for fans to watch across a variety of platforms,” it said in a statement on its website. (Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress)

Supreme Court rejects Trump challenge...

PAGE A1 In a 6 to 3 vote, the three liberal justices who dissented said that the effort to exclude people in the country from the population for the apportionment of House seats is unlawful.

“The government has announced a policy to exclude aliens without lawful status from the apportionment base for the decennial census,” wrote Justice Stephen Breyer. “The government does not deny that, if carried out, the policy will harm the plaintiffs.”

According to USA Today, the quick decision in a case argued Nov. 30 signaled the court’s hope that it can avoid a more consequential ruling on an issue that could affect the balance of political power in Congress for the next decade.

Last July, President Donald Trump announced his intention to exclude up to 10.5 million undocumented immigrants from the tabulation on the theory that they are not permanent residents and do not merit political representation.

“My administration will not support giving congressional representation to aliens who enter or remain in the country unlawfully, because doing so would create perverse incentives and undermine our system of government,”

Trump said in a written statement at the time.

“The president, to be sure, has made clear his desire to exclude aliens without lawful status from the apportionment base. But the president qualified his directive by providing that the secretary should gather information ‘to the extent practicable’ and that aliens should be excluded ‘to the extent feasible.’ Any prediction how the Executive Branch might eventually implement this general statement of policy is ‘no more than conjecture’ at this time,’ the court stated in its decision.

“Everyone agrees by now that the government cannot feasibly implement the memorandum by excluding the estimated 10.5 million aliens without lawful status,” the majority said.

New York Attorney General Letitia James led a coalition of 19 states, 10 cities, and five counties in filing the lawsuit against President Trump and others after they announced that they would leave millions of undocumented immigrants out of the apportionment base that follows the decennial census count.

In a statement, AG James vowed to continue protecting the census because Trump’s plan was illegal and unconstitutional.

“President Trump’s efforts to pick and choose who to include in the apportionment base of the census is as illegal today as it was when he made this announcement.

All today’s decision does is kick the can down the road until this lameduck president knows whether he will receive the data he needs to violate the Constitution and the Census Act with the few weeks he has left in office,” James said. “The law is clear — every person residing in the U.S. during the census, regardless of legal status, must be counted — and any further efforts by the president or his administration to violate the law will be met with fierce opposition, and we are confident we will win. We will continue to do whatever is necessary to stop the president from putting politics above the law.”

Dale Ho, director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, said in a statement that the court did not rule for Trump.

“This Supreme Court decision is only about timing, not the merits,” he said. “The legal mandate is clear — every single person counts in the census, and every single person is represented in Congress. If this policy is ever actually implemented, we’ll be right back in court challenging it.” (Momar G. Visaya/AJPress)

A4

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DECEMBER 24-30, 2020 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

OPINION

Sans vaccine, boost testing FROM what could have been delivery of 10 million doses this January, Filipinos hoping to get the COVID vaccine developed by Pfizer / BioNTech will now have to wait until July at the earliest for the shots.

Even the vaccines apparently preferred by the government, from Chinese companies, can arrive in the Philippines no earlier than March, according to the officials involved in vaccine procurement.

Every day that passes sees more people getting sick and dying of COVID, more businesses closing, more jobs lost. The Department of Health has said the confidentiality disclosure agreement with Pfizer went through the usual government process.

But these are unusual times, and that statement says a lot about why the deal fell through.

With the government dropping the ball – as described by two officials involved in the negotiations – on the Pfizer vaccine, it should at least improve COVID testing capability. Even with price caps set on the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction swab test, the gold standard for COVID testing remains expensive for millions of Filipinos.

There are now cheaper and still accurate tests

FEATURES

available in other countries. But the Philippine Red Cross and certain business groups have been waiting forever for regulatory approval for the cheaper, faster, less invasive but still accurate saliva test for the coronavirus.

While waiting for this green light, another product has received the seal of approval from the US Food and Drug Administration: the first-ever rapid COVID test that can be administered at home and bought over-the-counter, without prescription, for the equivalent of about P1,000. Produced by Australian digital diagnostics firm Ellume, the test kit produces results in about 15 minutes, with no need for laboratory processing and the consequent wait of at least a day for results. Accuracy of the test is reported to be from 94 to 96 percent.

The saliva test developed in Israel produces results in seconds, but there seems to be little official interest in the Philippines for new products that can revive the travel industry and other pandemicbattered sectors. Perhaps Philippine officials will the Food and Drug Administration. be interested in procuring the Ellume test kits, or Around the planet, the urgency of saving lives at least facilitating procurements by the private and reviving foundering economies has led to a sector and speeding up the products’ approval by scramble for access to COVID vaccines and im-

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THE WORST crisis that parents (and grandparents) perhaps have to face is to see our helpless babies and children fight for their lives. If only we can take their place so that they will not have to suffer, we will do it in a heartbeat.

This Christmas, and during the coronavirus pandemic, the main focus of these parents is to be with their child in the hospital where they have to stay for weeks, and months for treatment, or to stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for premature babies.

Many of these families live more than 50 miles away from the hospital, and so the toll of commuting every day to be with their child, or the expense of staying in a hotel near the hospital adds to the load of the cross they have to carry for the love of their children.

This is where the Ronald McDonald House becomes a blessing to these families.

I first heard about this charity from my daughter Christine, when she gave birth to our first grandchild Azshara prematurely at 24 weeks and five days, instead of around 40 weeks in the womb.

She and her husband Dave live in Missouri with no other family with them as a support system.

Azshara stayed in the NICU of the hospital for 120 days.

Street Talk GREG B. MACABENTA MY wife and I would have wanted to spend this Christmas in the Philippines, but unfortunate circumstances prevented a trip. First of all, there is COVID19 and the quarantine protocol being strictly enforced by the government. Secondly, U.S. citizens now need a visa to enter the Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte’s tit-for-tat response to the visa that Pinoys need to enter the U.S. And thirdly, my former company driver, when I was CEO of a Manila ad agency, just died and is lying in state at our house in Parañaque.

Two years ago, we spent Christmas in the Philippines for the first time in 32 years. That trip brought back fond memories that I would like to share with you.

“Singko lang po, singko lang po, Singko lang po ang ibigay niyo Ayos na ang buto-buto!”

“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” never had such a less literal translation. Funny how I caught myself singing it.

It was 1986. Our first Christmas in America. I was imagining

Philstar.com photo

proved testing kits vetted by reliable regulators.

The Philippines can’t afford to sit on the sidelines, twiddling its thumbs and carrying on at a pre-pandemic business-as-usual pace. (Philstar.com)

Ronald McDonald House: Home away from home during the holidays for families with chronically sick kids and premature babies Thankfully, there is a Ronald McDonald House within walking distance to the hospital where parents like them can stay so that they can always be there for their children during these most critical moments of their lives.

I got to talk to a family who is staying at Ronald McDonald’s House (RMDH) - Stanford in Palo Alto, California. Dad Trevor and Mom Auburn Vanrooyen recalled how RMDH has been blessing their life through all these challenges.

They found out about the Ronald McDonald House 15 years ago when their son Thayde was also born prematurely in Alaska. Their son Thayde had a heart problem when he was born prematurely and so they were sent to Portland, Oregon at Emmanuel Hospital.

There they had a Ronald McDonald House and that was the first time that they had the experience of staying in what has become their home away from home.

Mom Auburn remembers their experience when they arrived in Portland. “It was an emergency situation. It was completely unexpected and I was actually out of state when he was brought here.

I got here the very next day, and we were in the hospital for just a couple of days and we were just trying to make the best of it, but they were able to get us a room within three days of us getting here.”

“And it just makes you feel like I have, we have a place to go, we can both be here we can take to being with him so he’s never alone but then we have a place to go where we can just take a breath unwind let out our emotions, whatever we needed to do.

And it was close and it was safe.

It’s huge, really.”

“We knew if there was going to be an issue, either one of us or both of us would only be a moment or two away,” Dad Trevor said, reliving those difficult times.

“We don’t have to worry about a one four hours away five hours away at home. If something happens, that’s way too long that’s way too far, the peace of mind that being here is really, really indescribable.”

The Vanrooyen family now lives in Gridley, Northern California — a five-hour drive to Stanford where Thayde will be having open-heart surgery.

Mom said Thayde is homeschooled, and their 14-year old daughter attends online classes.

“And now that Thayde is on the mend, he can start doing a little bit more school as needed, but his teachers have assured me not to stress about it so having a room and quiet with no interruptions for, like, at the hospital. It’s been really good for them.”

I asked Trevor how a day is like for the family to stay at the RMDH. “With COVID it’s been different,

Missing Pasko

our two youngest kids, Jojo and Jinky, and their playmates scurrying around the neighborhood in Parañaque, knocking on doors like Halloween trick-or-treaters, holding homeowners hostage with their repertoire of carols until they were paid a ransom of coins and crumpled pesos.

My wife, four children and I were spending the yuletide season slushing through the snow or shivering by the fireplace, bundled in layers of clothing, our fingers stiff and frozen, our ears and noses threatening to fall off from the cold. If anybody had told us how fun it was to ride in a onehorse open sleigh, we would have disagreed.

We had a house in a little town on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake, perhaps not much bigger than Bethlehem. And if a place could have inspired the song, “Silent Night,” Cambridge, Maryland would surely have done so.

Enduring the cold winter nights, huddled by an open fire, we wondered when Jack Frost would stop knocking at our door. And as we listened to the carols being sung by television choirs, we all pined for the Pasko that we had known all our lives back home.

Home. There we were in our own snow-covered cottage, actually experiencing the white Christ-

mas we had dreamed and sang about, and we still thought of the house in Parañaque as home.

Lest I be misunderstood, Christmas in America has always been a joyful experience for our family, having been fortunate to be always together. But even to this day, Pasko is the time of year when we miss the Philippines most.

Ah, the flood of nostalgia. The old hometown, the old neighborhood, the relatives and friends.

The sights, the sounds, the fragrances, the things we did as the months began to end with “Ber.” “Ber” – that was the signal that the yuletide season was upon us.

Septem-Ber was when the first carols could be heard on radio.

Then would follow Octo-Ber and the retail stores began to hang holiday displays. Novem-Ber was when the first installment of the Christmas bonus or the thirteenth month pay was given. Time for gift shopping before prices went up. And then came Decem-Ber when the count-down to Araw ng Pasko began in earnest.

The airwaves would reverberate with carols that served up a confusion of sounds and images, of red-nosed reindeers and carabao sleds, of Pastores de Belen and Santa Claus and of “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit” and “The

working very hard to keep everyone safe. So they open specific times for us to come down and have meals majority of the time we’re in the room where it’s safe and then we’re comfortable.”

“But the pre-COVID, we had, we had open kitchens we had playrooms the kids were able to interact with each other family members could have gatherings, they’re really fabulous. I can’t stress that enough we, as as the head in the family, taking care of everybody worrying about logistics, not having to stress about that.”

The RMDH also helps the Vanrooyen family get the moral support they need from families who come and visit. “We don’t have to worry about where to do that, how to do that, when to do that we just tell them to come and, or they just come and we’re able to host them have them have, feel the support and the love and it’s really, really a blessing. “ Thyde himself agrees. He says staying at the Ronald McDonald House is more comfortable than staying in the hospital because it feels like home. He just walks to the hospital for treatment.

The Ronald McDonald House Charity facts and figures: • Currently, the Stanford House serves 48 families (133 individuals) • From Jan 1-Dec 8, we have housed 827 families at Stan-

ford (1,400 individuals), providing 18,200 nights of accommodations, which totals nearly $8.5M worth of housing, meal, and family services • Thousands of families are being fed meals each day at Stanford, San Francisco and Oakland, prepared without the help of volunteers due to COVID visitor restrictions • All non-critical procedures have been delayed due to the pandemic, so the families that we are serving now are the sickest of the sick in the Bay Area Roger Cordoba oversees the operation at the Stanford House.

“We’ve done everything within our power to maintain that extra support because even during this Covid time, you know, crazy times, we’re still having sick kids right, they still need to receive treatments. So being able to support that ongoing with the challenges we have is our biggest mission right now,” he said.

Ronald McDonald House is a charity that depends on the help of people in the community. McDonald’s is one of the core sponsors of the RMDH, and it also serves free meals to the families every Friday. They also have jars in the restaurants where people can give donations to the Ronald McDonald House Charity.

How can we help? Cordoba said: “Donations go a long way with everything we’re trying to

do in the operations. We have three different major services accommodations, the meal service which seems to be one of the biggest ones right now.”

“Obviously, we normally don’t have the funds to be feeding families three meals a day. So anything that comes our way helps us in every aspect of it, including the holiday, giving comfort and joy that we are currently running to make sure the families can have as much as normal Christmas as possible.”

If we have healthy children, we are far more blessed than these families. I hope we can join McDonalds and other donors in helping these families to be there for their sick children and premature babies as our act of gratitude for the cross we did not have to carry.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! ***

Twelve Days of Christmaas.”

But for the children, the cacophony invariably blended into one warm package called Happiness. Even adults, despite having to hustle for extra cash for gifts and the festive table, always managed to survive the season with a smile.

How can we ever forget Pasko?

Brightly-colored parols hanging at every window, bidding welcome to men of goodwill. Ersatz fir trees covered with ersatz snow, laden with shiny balls and bells, little angels and Santa Claus cut-outs and the fold-out cardboard Belen at the base.

The Misa de Gallo commencing on December 16. A great way to cleanse one’s soul for Advent and a perfect opportunity for flirtation and young love.

Then on Christmas Eve, the Midnight Mass. And the Media Noche. Puto bumbong, suman and bibingka. Queso de Bola and Lechon de Leche.

And the next morning, the stream of kumares and kumpares with children in tow, all reminding you that you were ninong and ninang at that baptism so many unremembered years ago, and gently adding that you still owed your inaanak the aginaldo for Christmases past.

Throughout the season, community choral groups serenading for funds. Professional carolers

canvassing neighborhoods like appliance sales teams. And children scampering from house to house, wielding makeshift instruments and screaming at the top of their lungs.

And the office Christmas parties. What’s Pasko without them?

The one day in the year when the Scrooges showered their benevolence on the Cratchits.

I remember one office party where I replaced the lyrics of Levi Celerio’s classic, “Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit” with lines of my own: “Ang Pasko ay dumako, tayo ay mangagsitago Pagka’t ang ating bonus, kulang pa sa mga gastos.”

The Chairman of the Board didn’t think that was funny, especially coming from his CEO. But the happiest gatherings of all were the family reunions.

A time to remember lolas and lolos, aunts and uncles, nephews and nieces. To meet new in-laws and prospective ones. To see the grandchildren and some great grandkids. To be reminded how ancient you had become.

A time for kissing hands and bussing cheeks. For loud laughter and teasing and pinching. And, yes, a time for profligate consumption of food and drink, including that bottle of “stateside” so carefully kept for such a special occasion.

But my reverie must end here.

Christmas Day was always cel-

ebrated at the house of an elder brother, Manong Danding. Sadly, he passed away shortly after our visit to the Philippines two Christmases ago.

We also observed the Feast of the Three Kings at the house of another elder brother, Manong Fredo. And New Year was always greeted at the house of an elder sister, Manang Adoracion, and her husband, ManongKakoy.

They, too, have passed away.

December 24 was always celebrated at our house, along with our wedding anniversary. Gigi and I were married on the day before Pasko.

But, even that would not have been possible, even if we had gone home this Christmas because my former driver is lying in state at the old house in Parañaque.

However, God willing, we may live to celebrate more Christmases to come. I would love to teach our U.S.-born grandchildren to sing the Pinoy version of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”: “Singko lang po, singko lang po.

Singko lang po ang ibigay niyo.

Ayos na ang buto-buto.” ***

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

*** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for the community.

You may contact her through email at gelrelos@ icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos.

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

*** gregmacabenta@hotmail.com

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.

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D ateline PhiliPPines 16 early presidential contenders listed

by William

Depasupil ManilaTimes.net

A RESEARCH firm has listed 16 names as potential contenders in the 2022 presidential elections, based on their popularity on social media.

BluePrint.PH said that among those in the list are Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo; Senators Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros and Mary Grace Poe; and tycoon Ramon Ang. Also included are human rights lawyer Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno, Davao Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio, former speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto 3rd, Cavite Gov. Juanito Victor “ Jonvic” Remulla, Sen. Pilar Juliana “Pia” Cayetano, former senators Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Manuel “Manny” Villar, Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres- Gomez, and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.

In a statement, BluePrint.PH said it scanned 344,761,479

data points or Facebook engagements, such as likes, shares, reactions and comments, from June 1 to November 30.

“If we go by our big data metrics, about 16 names are frequently being mentioned on social media, particularly Facebook, as potential presidential candidates,” said Eero Brillantes, BluePrint.PH chief executive officer.

Brillantes highlighted the powerful influence of social media in determining the country’s next president.

“All have paths to the presidency. Social media networking activities alone through Facebook can generate 22 percent to 35 percent of the votes in 2022,” he said.

He enumerated four components to a serious election campaign: ground game, the air war through mainstream media, network engineering (social media) and big data for decision support.

Brillantes said the 16 names have at least one of these components, but none have all four.

He said ground game and

mainstream media through advertising and public relations would account for the 65 to 78 percent of vote generating potential.

Big data will be crucial in determining the right messaging and priority spending across many segments of the electorate.

Among the personalities with the highest media coverage on traditional media and posted on Facebook were Robredo followed by Pacquiao and Moreno.

Moreno also ranked highest in the ability to engage social media influencers to promote ideas that could generate interest and potential votes, followed by Robredo, Go, Pacquiao, Duterte-Carpio, Marcos, Remula, Hontiveros, Sotto, Poe, Cayetano, Diokno, Torres-Gomez, Cayetano, Ang and Villar.

Torres-Gomez, Ang, Remulla and Hontiveros ranked highest in the list of candidates with the most growth potential on social media. These personalities have a small number of followers and influencers but indicate good potential. n

China’s military expels US destroyer sailing near Spratly Islands — report MANILA — Chinese military warned off a US destroyer after sailing in the waters off Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, which the Philippines also claims.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) accused USS John S. McCain of trespassing into its territorial waters, according to a report from China stateaffiliated Global Times.

The PLA Southern Theater Command “organized naval and aerial forces, warned and expelled it,” Global Times reported, quoting the Chinese military command.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer John S. McCain (DDG 56) launched its freedom of navigation operations in the Spratly Islands, which, the US said, is consistent with international law, on December 22.

A report from the US 7th Fleet said the operation challenges restrictions on innocent passage imposed by China, Vietnam and

Taiwan.

These three countries require either permission or advance notification before a foreign military vessel conducts “innocent passage” in their territorial sea.

“All interactions with foreign military forces were consistent with international norms and did not impact the operation,” the US 7th Fleet said.

The Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia also claim sovereignty over some features in the Spratly Islands.

Manila claims the northeastern section of the Spratly Islands, which is also called the Kalayaan Island Group, in addition to Panatag or Scarborough Shoal, according to the National Bureau of Asian Research.

The US Navy stressed that “unlawful and sweeping” maritime claims in the South China Sea, part of which is the West Philippine Sea, pose a “serious threat to the freedom of the seas.”

“The United States challeng-

es excessive maritime claims around the world regardless of the identity of the claimant.

The international law of the sea as reflected in the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention provides for certain rights and freedoms and other lawful uses of the sea to all nations,” the US 7th Fleet said.

Beijing continues to reject the July 2016 decision of a United Nations-backed arbitral tribunal that ruled in favor of the Philippines, invalidating China’s excessive claims over the South China Sea. In July, US Secretary Mike Pompeo declared that Washington will consider Beijing’s pursuit of resources in the South China Sea as illegal.

“We are making clear: Beijing’s claims to offshore resources across most of the South China Sea are completely unlawful, as is its campaign of bullying to control them,” Pompeo earlier said. (Patricia Lourdes Viray/ Philstar.com)

Lawyers demand action over rise in attacks on colleagues MANILA — Legal practitioners on Tuesday demanded that the Supreme Court act on the rise in killings of lawyers in recent years, citing the adverse impacts of the attacks against the legal profession and on the independence of lawyers.

“The continuing, increasing and more brazen killings on Filipino lawyers and judges have been going for many years now but we noticed a sharp increase since President Rodrigo Duterte came to office in 2016 and has made the legal profession one of the most dangerous careers in the country,” over 70 signatories said in a letter addressed to Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta.

“When lawyers, judges, prosecutors, and workers in the justice sector are murdered with impunity and alarming regularity, no one feels safe, our people lose trust and faith in our government and its justice system, and the unscrupulous are emboldened to take the law in their criminal hands,” the Integrated Bar of the Philippines also wrote in a separate letter sent to Vice President Leni Robredo and to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

In their letter to the high court, the lawyers called for “a thorough, prompt, impartial, and independent investigation into

all the killings of lawyers,” a dialogue between the SC and state security forces, and accountability for the victims of extrajudicial killings and of violence against lawyers and judges.

The past two months have seen a string of killings of lawyers Joey Luis Wee and Baby Maria Concepcion Landero-Olealso in Cebu and of Eric Jay Magcamit in Palawan. Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Maria Teresa Abadilla was reportedly shot dead by her clerk of court who then killed himself.

On Monday evening, the National Bureau of Investigation announced that a body found in Tarlac in October was that of retired Court of Appeals Justice Normandie Pizarro who had been reported missing that month.

Government mandated to protect lawyers An earlier report by the human rights office of the United Nations noted in July this year that many in the legal field in the country have been killed, with others have faced threats and most of the cases have remained unresolved. That same month, the chief inquest prosecutor of Manila City was shot dead by unidentified men in broad daylight.

They all join the list of now more than 50 individuals in the legal profession who were mur-

dered in recent years.

“We would like to reiterate that under the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, governments are mandated to ensure that lawyers are able to perform their profession without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference,” the letter, whose signatories include Bayan Muna chairperson Neri Colmenares, lawyer Tony La Viña, former dean of the Ateneo School of Government, and former Supreme Court spokesperson Ted Te, also reads.

IBP national president Domingo Cayosa also said in a separate statement that “the unabated killing of lawyers, too often with impunity, is a sad reflection of the spiraling violence and disregard of, if not contempt for the rule of law in our land.”

“As we recognize our responsibilities and limitations, we seek concerted action on the part of our leaders in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government, many of whom are fellow lawyers,” he also said.

Cayosa also pointed to the killing in daylight of a mother and son in Paniqui, Tarlac at the hands of an off-duty police officer, which drew mass outrage in social media on Monday. (Franco Luna/Philstar.com)

Lawyers submit a letter to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, December 22 urging action on the killings of lawyers.

Photo courtesy of National Union of People’s Lawyers

A

BUCKET OF GOODS. Some 250 buckets filled with food packs are placed at the covered court in Sitio Karugo, Wawa Dam, Brgy. San Rafael, Rodriguez, Rizal on Saturday, December 19. The goodies were given to the residents affected by the recent typhoons during the gift-giving event dubbed “Pamanang Kawayan: Tugon sa Hamon ng Panahon, Pamaskong Handog” as part of the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council’s initiative to promote bamboo as a source of livelihood.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

SWS: 6 in 10 Filipinos believe quality of life got worse in 2020 MANILA — Around six in 10 Filipinos believe that the quality of their lives got worse in the past year, according to a new survey released by private pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The poll conducted from November 21 to 25 revealed that 62% of adult Filipinos said that the quality of their life got worse in the past 12 months (called by SWS as “losers”), while 24% said it remained the same and only 14% said it got better (“gainers”).

These numbers were an improvement from September’s poll data, where 82% were losers and 6% were gainers.

The resulting net gainers score, or the difference between losers and gainers, is an “extremely low” -48, which is better compared to the last survey’s “catastrophic” -76, one of the worst survey trends in the history of SWS’ polling.

The net gainers score improved across all regions, but remained “catastrophic” in Metro Manila and the Visayas.

It also eased in all educational levels, but remained “catastrophic” for individuals who have only graduated elementary

and junior high school.

The SWS said hunger is greater among losers, with 19% of Filipinos falling under this category.

The poll was the first to be conducted using face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults since

the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

The sampling error margins are ±2.5% for national percentages, ±4% for Balance Luzon, and ±6% for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao. (Xave Gregorio/Philstar.com)

A

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Dissecting the classic Staying at ABS-CBN not a tough choice for Regine and Ogie Noche Buena spread BY

IF the long list of Christmas trends and traditions was any indication, Filipinos love celebrating the yuletide season. Be it decorating the house with lanterns and ornaments as early as the Ber months begin, going Christmas caroling, or completing the Simbang Gabi, Filipinos are known to never run out of ways to signify the festivities.

However, nothing marks the season more than preparing the Noche Buena spread.

Noche Buena, which is Spanish for “night of goodness,” is an important Filipino custom that brings together two of Filipinos’ most beloved things: food and family.

After attending the last Mass of Simbang Gabi on Christmas Eve, Filipinos go back home to a large feast adorning the dining table.

The spread of various dishes is then shared with their extended families and invited friends

RiTCHel meNDiOla / AJPRESS

as they welcome Christmas Day. And while every Noche Buena spread is different, there are still a couple of staple dishes that you’re likely to find in every Filipino household. Here are some of them: • Christmas ham or hamon – this mainstay dish is not only found on dinner tables, but in Christmas care packages gifted to friends and/or employees, as well.

The hamon is usually marinated in pineapple juice, sugar, salt and spices, for that sweet and savory flavor all Filipinos crave.

• Keso de bola – this ball of Edam cheese, which usually has a red paraffin wax covering, is the perfect companion for the beloved hamon.

• Lechon – no Filipino festivity is ever complete without lechong baboy (roasted pig). This popular delicacy is usually stuffed with spices such as lemongrass, garlic, onions, laurel, ground black peppercorn, and salt, and then roasted on a large bamboo spit over an open fire. Filipino lechons are also popular for their perfectly

crispy skin, and flavorful tender meat.

• Kakanin – sweet, sticky, and rice-based cakes like bibingka and puto bumbong are the crowd favorites especially after attending Simbang Gabi, but these also never leave the dining table during Noche Buena.

• Lumpiang Shanghai – this finger food is the Filipino version of spring rolls. Deep-fried and stuffed with ground pork, green onions, carrots, and water chestnuts, this crunchy bite-sized dish is everyone’s favorite appetizer to eat before the main dish.

• Fruit salad – this one is the Filipinos’ choice dessert for the holiday season. It’s very easy to make: just mix a drained canned fruit cocktail with cream and sweetened condensed milk in a large container, refrigerate it for a few hours, and you’re good to go.

The Noche Buena is the mostanticipated dinner gathering of the year, and with all these dishes served on the table, it’s easy to see why. But more than that, the highlight of Noche Buena is being able to share the feast with your family, bonding over good food, stories, and love.

AJPress Illustration by Jillian Peñalosa

KAPAMILYA singer Regine Velasquez and her crooner husband Ogie Alcasid chose to remain at ABS-CBN even after the network lost its broadcast franchise.

Speaking with ABS-CBN entertainment reporter MJ Felipe at the backstage of the network’s Christmas special, the “Asia’s Songbird” said they have no place to go.

“Oo. Hahaha! Saan ba kami pupunta? May pupuntahan ba kaming iba?” Regine said.

Regine also found this year’s Christmas special as a standout affairs compared to other specials the network staged in the past.

“That is so special, siyempre, nandoon lahat ng artista, ang daming tao, special na special

talaga iyon. Plus, you know, iyong mga ganito kasing gatherings, dito mo lang din nakikita iyong ibang artista na hindi mo madalas nakikita, nakakasalamuha, so you get to talk to them lalo na kapag may rehearsal,” she said.

“But this year, parang for me, it’s more intimate. A lot of the numbers are tagos na tagos sa puso, so ayun special pa rin,” she added.

Ogie echoed his wife’s sentiment.

“Hindi ko sinasabing mas okay ito kaysa sa malalaking concert, it’s just that I guess, it’s also the year that has been. Itong taong ito ay kakaiba not only because of the pandemic, but because of what we all went through,” Ogie said.

Regine Velasquez with husband Ogie Alcasid Photo from Instagram/@reginevalcasid

Regine joined ABS-CBN in October 2018 in a much-publicized transfer from rival GMA Network.

(Philstar.com)

Maine, Arjo celebrate 2nd anniversary by iaN

BiONG Inquirer.net

JUST a few years ago, a thenteenaged Maine Mendoza called Arjo Atayde a “cutie” on Twitter.

Fast forward to 2020 and the two stars are marking anniversaries together.

To mark their second year as a couple on Monday, Dec. 21, Mendoza took to Instagram to share a photo of her and Atayde simply captioned, “happy second.”

Although it was not disclosed if it was recently taken, the photo shows the two with smiles on their faces as they chilled at a beach.

Atayde likewise took to Insta- Maine Mendoza and Arjo Atayde gram to mark their special day by Photo from Instagram/@mainedcm sharing a wacky photo of them also at the beach. possibly imagine. Happy 2nd “I love you more than you could Anniversary bubs!” the doting

boyfriend said.

Mendoza and Atayde revealed that they were “exclusively dating” in January last year, back when speculations were being made about their relationship.

It is as if they were destined to be together: Mendoza made the famous “Arjo cutie” tweet back in 2013 — which has been dug out several times by fans, who claim that Mendoza “manifested” being Atayde’s lover.

The said tweet was made by Mendoza, who rose to fame over her Dubsmash videos, even before she officially became a part of GMA 7’s “Eat Bulaga.” She took on the persona of Yaya Dub back then and was partnered with actor Alden Richards, creating the famous Aldub tandem.

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Morissette Amon engaged to ‘answered prayer’ Dave Lamar social media, along with photos of her and Dave wearing engagement rings.

Asia’s Phoenix revealed that although their relationship once faltered, it was ultimately able to rise out of the ashes.

“We were fortunate enough to get a second chance at love. And take note, we really broke up and thought it was really over. Pero ‘pag para sa’yo, para sa’yo ta-

laga,” she posted as an Instagram backstory.

The couple had been engaged SINGER couple Morissette for months, letting only their Amon and Dave Lamar proved families and closest friends in on second chances at love are posthe plan. sible after announcing their enThey were ready to share the gagement on Monday evening. news to the world a day after Dave “More than just an 11:11 wish, celebrated his 30th birthday on you’re an answered prayer. I love Sunday. you, Dave Lamar, always have and “Nine years since we’ve met, always will,” Morissette posted on best friends for seven, our second round at love, each other’s firsts... and now, last and only...

It’s definitely a Y E S to a forever with you!” Morissette addressed her fiancé.

Dave, meanwhile, recounted the “twists and turns” of his life journey with Morissette.

“Thank you for saying yes to a lifetime of adventures with me. I adore you with all my heart and I am so blessed and excited that I get to experience the rest of this life with you by my side. I know everyone says this, but you have truly been my best friend and my rock, and I am so so excited that I will get to marry my best friend,” the groom-to-be posted.

“Morissette, thank you for being mine! Gihigugma tika (I love you).”

The couple was congratulated by their celebrity friends, including Vicki Belo, Janine Berdin, Singer couple Morissette Amon and Dave Lamar just got engaged.

Moira Dela Torre, Darren Espanto, Photo from Instagram/@itsmorisette and Mimiyuuuh.

by Ratziel

San Juan Philstar.com

Sharon misses out on Christmas Special

by Jan

Milo SeveRo Philstar.com

KAPAMILYA actress Sharon Cuneta explained the reason why she’s not on ABS-CBN’s Christmas Special last Sunday.

In her Instagram account, Sharon posted the logo of the network asking her fans not to blame the network for her absence on the Christmas special.

“Please do not blame ABS-CBN for my absence in their Christmas Special last night! It was not their fault. Ako ang hindi pumuwede,”

Sharon wrote.

“But I was getting several calls and texts from my Boss to go.

Sorry for the mix-up! I couldn’t make it and am so sorry because I really wanted to be there!” she added.

Despite the non-renewal of its franchise, the Kapamilya network managed to create the Christmas special for their fans. Talents of the network performed in the event held only on a studio, far from its annual tradition of doing the show in Sharon Cuneta Araneta Coliseum.

Photo from Instagram/@reallysharoncuneta

Andi and Philmar are engaged! by neil

aRwin MeRcado

Inquirer.net

ACTRESS Andi Eigenmann and surfer Philmar Alipayo are now engaged!

In an Instagram post Sunday, December 19 Eigenmann shared a photo of her and Alipayo with her engagement ring.

“I never thought about how my engagement would go because quite honestly, I didn’t think I’d have one. It would’ve been ok regardless, but it did happen,” Eigenmann said.

“And it happened the way I wanted it and so much more,” she added.

Andi Eigenmann and Philmar Alipayo

EMPLOYMENT

According to Eigenmann, the engagement was “nothing grand,” “unprompted,” “simple,” and “sincere.”

“That’s us. That’s him. That is how I want the rest of my life to be. I am over the moon, so stoked to be spending it with you my mahal,” Eigenmann said.

In a vlog posted Sunday, the couple also shared about their engagement.

“After a few moments of silence, Papa (Alipayo) started whispering nice things to me about our life together and our growing family… He doesn’t normally talk about his feelings a lot so I was surprised,” the text

in their vlog reads.

Later in the video, Alipayo asked Eigenmann to marry him.

“From my whole heart, I am asking you if you will marry me,” Alipayo said, as he pulled out the ring from his pocket and kneeled before a crying Eigenmann.

The couple earlier announced that they are finally going to have their “little happy islandBOY” next month.

The boy will be Eigenmann’s second child with the pro surfer, just a little over a year after Lilo was born. The two first revealed that they were expecting another baby back in August.

Photo from Instagram/@andieigengirl

EMPLOYMENT

Angel Locsin, Maja Salvador, Billy Crawford, Liza Soberano, and Enrique Gil.

Photos from Instagram/@therealangellocsin, @iammajasalvador, @billycrawford,@lizasoberano)

PH showbiz in 2020: With ABS-CBN’s shutdown, where are its Kapamilyas now?

By KatRina

HallaRe

Inquirer.net

“THIS is ABS-CBN, now signing off.”

These were the words Peter Musñgi, the man behind the Kapamilya network’s golden voice, said for the last time as the country’s biggest network signed off at exactly 7:52 p.m. on May 5.

This was hours after the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) order to shut down ABS-CBN’s operations after its franchise expired a day before.

Two months, 70 lawmakers killed ABS-CBN’s bid for a fresh franchise.

For many of ABS-CBN’s biggest stars, it was a heartbreak hard to bear — with some either making the painful decision to leave the network that they called home, or parting with ABS-CBN’s talent arm, Star Magic.

With ABS-CBN’s shut down, where are some of its stars and personalities now?

The Kapamilya stars who left Pokwang One of those who left the Kapamilya network was comedienne Pokwang.

In an interview with Inquirer Entertainment, Pokwang, or Marietta Subong in real life, revealed that she was not with ABS-CBN anymore.

“I don’t have a contract with ABS-CBN anymore. The management understands that I also need to make a living. I’m not as rich as the Zobels and the Ayalas,” Pokwang said.

Moving forward, she is now one of the hosts of TV’s talk show “Chika BESH (Basta Everyday Super Happy)” alongside Ria Atayde and Pauleen Luna. Aside from this, she also hosts another TV5 show, “Fill in the Bank” with Jose Manalo.

“Right now, my contract is on a per-show basis,” Pokwang stressed.

Maja Salvador Maja Salvador, who starred in ABS-CBN’s most successful teleseryes such as “Wildflower” and “The Killer Bride”, also crossed over to the Kapatid network.

These days, Salvador is one of the presenters of TV5’s Sunday variety show “Sunday Noontime Live” (SNL) with beauty queen Catriona Gray, Jake Ejercito, Donny Pangilinan, and Piolo Pascual.

But Salvador, in an Instagram post back in September, somehow hoped her fans would still support her despite the move to TV5.

“Mga kapamilya, sasamahan ko po muna ang aking tatay na si. MR.M kaya sana wag po kayo magulat kung makikita niyo akong lumabas sa ibang network at patuloy makapagbigay ligaya

sa inyo kahit sa anong paraan at plataporma.”

(Kapamilyas, I will join Mr. M so I hope you won’t be surprised if you see me in another network and continue to give joy to you through a different platform.)

Mr. M is Johnny Manahan, cofounder of Star Magic and veteran TV and live show director.

Manahan is now also the director of “SNL”.

It was also through Manahan that Brightlight Productions, TV5’s most recent blocktimer, that many of ABS-CBN’s stars were featured in different shows under the Kapatid network.

Though making the tough decision, Salvador said that switching networks would somehow help people who were displaced by the pandemic “A big part of why I said ‘yes’ was because I wanted to help people displaced by the pandemic and the network shutdown get back up again,” she said in a media gathering.

“I’m thankful to Mr. M for trusting me,” she added.

Ted Failon Not only did ABS-CBN lose some of its brightest stars and employees, but also some of its longtime faces of broadcasting journalism.

Ted Failon, who has been with ABS-CBN for 30 years, bade adieu to the network as he also crossed over to TV5’s Radyo Singko 92.3 FM. On his last day, Failon could not help but be emotional as he looked back on his journey with the Kapamilya network.

“Mahal na mahal ko ang radyo, alisin niyo na lahat sa akin, ‘wag lang ang radyo. Bata pa lang ako talagang gusto ko na maging radio announcer. I fell in love with radio since I was a child,” Failon recalled as he once turned down a job as a TV anchor.

(I really love radio. Take everything from me, but not radio.

Since I was a child, I’ve always wanted to be a radio announcer.)

These days, the veteran journalist, along with co-host DJ Chacha, now hosts “Ted Failon at DJ Chacha sa Radyo5.” Failon added that he could not be certain whether he would be back on television, saying he wants to focus on radio for now.

“I want to be able to watch my grandkids grow and kiss them when they wake up in the morning,” he told Inquirer in an interview. “I’ve come to a point in my life and career when I want more time for myself.”

Billy Crawford TV host Billy Crawford also found it hard to leave ABS-CBN. At one point, he let his tears flow as he told his friend, comedian Vice Ganda, how much he valued their friendship.

SERVICES

During their conversation, Vice hinted that Crawford was set to transfer to another network — which was later revealed to be TV5.

“I love you at gagalingan mo sa mga gagawin mong trabaho at alam mo, sa pamilya, ‘di ba, sa pamilya meron kang kapatid na lilipat ng bahay (I love you, and do well in the work you will do and you know that with family, you will have a sibling who will move away),” Vice told Crawford, his former “It’s Showtime” co-host.

“Pero hindi porke’t lilipat siya ng bahay, hindi mo na siya kapatid, hindi mo na siya kapamilya.

Hindi mo na siya mahal (But just because they move to another place, that does not mean you are no longer siblings, you are no longer family. That you no longer love them),” the comedian added.

Crawford now hosts TV5’s noontime variety show “Lunch Out Loud”, as well “Masked Singer Philippines.”

For Crawford, he says that ratings and competition between TV networks is not a big deal these days, as the opportunity to work is what matters the most.

“I think, we all speak on behalf of every artist na lumipat or pumunta dito. We’re really just trying to spread humility as well and just be humbled na we are here and we are still given the opportunity to work,” Crawford said in a press conference.

“So the playing field para sa mga ratings, parang ‘yun ‘yung last na iniisip namin,” he added.

The Kapamilya stars who remained Angel Locsin And while there were stars who chose to leave ABS-CBN, there were also those who remained a Kapamilya — one of which was Angel Locsin.

The actress, who has been vocal in support of her network’s fight for a franchise permit, was also undaunted in calling out her fellow celebrities who remained silent in the wake of ABS-CBN’s shutdown.

“Sa mga kapwa kong artistang hindi nagsasalita, may career pa ba kayo? Wala na kayong network!” she said in a noise barrage outside ABS-CBN headquarters in Quezon City last July.

(To my fellow actors who are not speaking, do you still have a career? You don’t have a network anymore!)

“Kahit magpa-cute kayo diyan sa Instagram, nagsend kayo ng mga sad face, hindi n’yo nadadamayan ang mga katrabaho n’yo na dahilan kung bakit kayo sumikat!”

(Even if you try to look cute on Instagram, sending a sad face, you are not sympathizing with PAGE B4

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Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS A NEW, 70 percent more rapidly transmissible, strain of SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) have been detected in up to threefourths of cases in the United Kingdom today. PM Boris Johnson has ordered a new and strictest lockdown and travel ban yet in London and Southeast England. Whether this new strain, a variant, which was first detected in September, is more deadly is still unknown. Is it already in the United States, under the radar currently? Will the vaccines available today also be effective against this new strain? We do not know yet. Scientists are on it.

Regardless of this new [or another] strain and whether it is amidst us or not, it is prudent for all of us to continue the discipline and behavior of wearing a facemask (or two, like me, plus a neck gaiter because of my vulnerability) whenever we are outside our home, doing social distancing, and minimizing travels and exposure to crowd. Thou shalt not COVID thy neighbors!

Looking like Darth Vader is not all bad during the pandemic, especially going to a bank teller asking for money.

Moderna’s vaccine was made available three days ago, following Pfizer-BioNTech’s which has started to get distributed. With the first quarter of a million shots, there were six cases of severe allergic reaction. Hence, people who are given the vaccines are observed for about 30 minutes before being sent home. Some people are also allergic to other types of vaccines, including the Flu vaccine, but the risk and danger of COVID-19 is much worse, and could be deadly, compared to the risk of getting the vaccine.

Are these COVID-19 vaccines safe?

Yes, most definitely. Some fear the vaccine because they feel it has been developed real fast (11 months) when compared to development of past vaccines, like Polio (23 years), the Flu shots (15 years), Chicken Pox and HPV (20 years), Hepatitis B (4 years), and Typhoid (29 years). There was no shortcut or rushed development.

Proper stages of clinical trials and observation were made.

What made it possible was the improved and more rapid technology in vaccine development.

An analogy: Simply because cars today are manufactured more rapidly compared with those of 100 years ago does not mean cars today are less safe. As a matter of fact, cars today are a lot safer and more comfortable with high-tech features, even compared to 55 years ago, when I bought my first car, a Plymouth GTO ($2,400 brand new!). Vaccines today (24 in a million) are safe. Realistically, there is no vaccine or drug or surgical procedure that is guaranteed 100 percent without potential risk because each person is different.

What makes sense is to compare the risk of the vaccine with the nature and risk of getting infected with the SARS-CoV2 virus and developing COVID-19.

Does the vaccine confer instant immunity?

No, before and immediately after getting the first shot (52 percent effective), the individual is still not immune to COVID-19 and could get infected when exposed to the virus from another person. The immunity gradually develops, depending on how healthy and efficient the person’s immune system is. A second shot (95 percent effective) of the vaccine given 21 days later for the Pfizer-BioNTech version, and 28 days after the first for the Moderna vaccine is needed to achieve the 95 percent plus immunity and effectivity. Missing the second shot will not protect the person from getting COVID-

COVID-19: New strain?

19 infection. It is best to get the second shot. There are five more vaccines in the pipeline (230 around the world), and one of them requires only one shot. The other 4 also require 2 shots.

The second shot three to four weeks later will increase the immunity to its fullest potential.

Since these are new vaccines, and science does not yet know everything about it, the individual, after getting the shot, must continue to wear facemask and do social distancing, so long as COVID-19 cases are still around (hopefully not any longer than December 2021 or early 2022).

The wise and prudent demeanor of the person after getting the vaccine is to behave as if he/she has not had the shot yet. Strict medical vigilance (with a bit of paranoia as I have said in the past) should continue till we wipe out the SARS-CoV2 virus and its variants.

How long will the immunity last?

The vaccines are too new to know exactly how long the protection it would confer to recipients. But the clinical observation among those who have recovered from COVID-19 infection, [seems to be that] it appears to continue to protect the person from re-infection, so far. The medical community continues with its clinical observation about the virus, the new strain in the UK, and the effects of the vaccines. Hopefully, the immunity would be long term. The vaccine is our hope around the globe, the beginning of the end of COVID-19.

Which is the worst pandemic?

The Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918 (Avian in origin, lasted 15 months, affecting 500 million) killed 50 million people worldwide and 675,000 in the U.S. The Great Plague of London (16651666) killed at least 70,000, a third of the Continent. It is a part of the Black Death in 1347 that resulted in 200 million deaths in Europe, and it lingered for centuries. Smallpox, which was reported about 3,000 years ago, had killed more than 300 million until British doctor Edward Jenner developed the vaccine in 1796. COVID-19 deaths as of last Monday, December 21, 2020, was around 1.7 million. Seasonal flu kills about 250,000 to 500,000 each year worldwide in various countries, about 60,000 in the U.S. Why is this pandemic getting worse?

Since we, the people, are the vectors (carriers responsible for spreading the SARSCoV2 virus, human-to-human), we are to blame. The reason why the pandemic is getting worse is obvious and clear: majority of us, generally speaking, have been careless, non-compliant, ignorant or refusing to believe that wearing facemask and social distancing (including avoiding crowds, minimizing travels) are effective in limiting the spread of COVID19. Many believe their civil rights – to do whatever they wish – are more important than protecting themselves and the public from this deadly viral disease. The virus can access our body only through the eyes, nose, mouth, and wounded skin. If we cover all those access points PROPERLY, we significantly (or even totally) prevent the entry of the virus. If there is poison gas in the room we are in, what do we do to prevent death? Wear a gas mask or get out of the room. It is plain common sense. If we do not behave with intelligence and wisdom, this pandemic will linger and the virus will have more chances to mutate and develop a deadlier version for its own survival. Sometimes, I suspect, the virus is less arrogant and smarter than many of us.

Should we get the vaccine?

My wife, who is a retired pediatrician, and I will definitely get the vaccine as early as possible.

My daughters, sons-in-law, my son, who are physicians themselves and front-liners, have got-

Bea on what’s the score with John: ‘I’m always in love with him’

by Niña

GuNo Inquirer.net

BEA Alonzo opened up on her love life in a vlog, answering questions about past relationships — and if she has one at present.

The actress got candid with celebrity dermatologist Aivee Aguilar-Teo in a video shot in October, Alonzo’s birth month, but was only released last Wednesday, Dec. 16.

One of the questions that probed into Alonzo’s love life was if she was ever in love with screen partner John Lloyd Cruz.

“I’m always in love with him. I feel like our partnership will nevPAGE B4

Community Journal

Bea Alonzo Photo from Instagram/@beaalonzo

ten their shots. While there are potential risks, the value of the vaccine outweighs them when it comes to preserving life. This is an educated decision we must make, based on science, and not on a political, social, or religious one. After all, our life is our own.

Just a reminder, though: it is the only one we have, and there is no spare in the trunk.

To one and all, and to the world, a very Merry Christmas, and hopefully, a COVID-less(er) Happy New Year! *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/ author, a Health Public Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United NetworkUSA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian and antigraft foundation in the United States.

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

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B

Multidenominational Prayer Zoom unites Filipino American NV Community

by Gloria

T. Caoile

IN a unique and difficult holiday season, the Fil-Am NV Community Prayer Zoom brought together leaders from four different churches on Wednesday, December 16, 2020. Pastor Sergio “Jun” Marcelo of Lord of Harvest, Larry King, an Elder at Paradise Seventh Day Adventist Church, Father Manny Guico, Retired and serves at several Catholic Churches in Las Vegas and Pastor Bay Tambucon of the Point Ministries all led prayers and gave blessings during the event.

Additionally, Amie Belmonte opened the prayer zoom with an inspirational message. Community members were able to honor folks who have passed.

With social distancing guidelines in place, the service had to be held virtually, but it was

powerful nonetheless. Attendees were able to safely “gather” and feel connected to the community.

It was an opportunity to reunite, reflect, and celebrate. “With deep gratitude we thank Sonny Miquel and June Saaveddra for setting the tone of this solemn evening with their rendition of Amazing Grace,” said Sally Ballecha.

“We have all faced challenges this year, and that’s why it was so important for us to come together and lift each other up,” says Alex Pena.

“The holidays are a time for togetherness, even when circumstances keep us apart,” adds Leo Belmonte During the prayer service, Dorothy Domingo paid tribute to Joe Tinio and Nadia Jurani remembered Lamberto “Bob” Balazo, both of whom sadly passed this year. There was also time for com-

munity members to share their experiences fighting COVID-19 and their reflections on this year in general.

“It was so powerful to hear from two of our nurses who recovered after bad cases of COVD-19,” says Minda Banaria. “They reminded us that good health is a blessing,” continued Frank Banaria.

“We are all struggling in our own ways, but the Prayer Zoom gave us a chance to draw strength from our faith and each other,” Cynthia Deriquito notes. “Our community recognizes that some wish to pray for their loved ones in the privacy of their homes. We respected this and not mentioning their names was not a neglect but to abide by this.” reassured Bernie Benito.

The prayer zoom ended with a wonderful song by Rutherine Umali of How Great Thou Art.

More money from the government?

CONGRESS has just passed another bill to help the people whose finances are taking a beating from the pandemic.

Once again, some of us will be getting money by check or direct deposit. The timing and details are still TBA, but here’s what we know: • The government won’t ask you to pay anything up front to get this money. Anyone who does is a scammer.

• The government won’t call,

text, email, or contact you on social media to ask for your Social Security, bank account, or credit card number. Anyone who does is a scammer.

• There’s no such thing as getting your money early, or faster. Anyone who says they can hook you up now (or soon) is both lying and a scammer.

We know from the early days of the CARES Act that scammers will be using numbers 1, 2, and 3, above, as part of their play-

book. So, if you spot someone who says any of these things, you (a) know they’re a scammer; (b) can warn someone you know about the scam, because (chances are) they’ll get that call, text, or email, too; and (c) can tell the FTC so we can work to stop scammers and warn people about them: ReportFraud.ftc. gov.

(Jennifer Leach/Associate Director, Division of Consumer & Business Education, FTC)

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The unsinkable Martin-Pops tandem Why Aubrey is supporting online plant sellers by ricky lo

by Alex

BrosAs Inquirer.net

Philstar.com

THROUGH the years, we have been the insatiable witnesses to what has become the most exciting spectator show this side of showbiz — yes, The Martin & Pops Show whose ups and downs, and ins and outs are being laid bare for, ehem, gossipmongers to gobble up with gusto (burp, burp!!!), dished out in roller-coaster, Ferris Wheel fashion. Everything is for real, no scripts, no cuts, no nothing.

So what else is there about uncouple Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez that you and I don’t know?

“That we can exist together even if we are not together,” said Martin who has found a new love (not the mom of his son Santino).

“The point is exes should get along. For several years now, Pops and I have been co-parenting our sons Robin and Ram. Viewers can learn nice lessons, magic lessons, after every episode.”

Pops could only say “Amen!” to that. It’s Pops and good friend Joji Dingcong who are the producers, together with another show, Louie O Live with Robin Nievera, which premieres on the same channel tomorrow night at 9 o’clock, with Robin directing both shows.

“Actually,” revealed Joji, “we pitched four shows and all of them were approved, thanks to the station’s supportive big bosses Robert Galang and MVP. The two other shows are scheduled next year yet.”

According to Louie O(campo), his show with Robin will be “raw, different and organic,” with guest

Pops Fernandez with Martin Nievera

musicians (Jose Mari Chan in the maiden episode) not only singing their songs but also talking about the back stories. The show comes full circle with three generations of Nieveras (patriarch Bert who could have appeared as guest if he were alive, Martin and Robin).

Besides the “nice and magic lessons,” what’s interesting about eXes & whYs is the line-up of guests.

“I would love to have Brad Pitt on the show,” wished Martin. “Our guests could be anybody sikat or not sikat who has interesting stories to tell. The show will be something like Penthouse Live (of yesteryear where Martin and Pops first met. —RFL).”

“Ako, I would love to have Sharon (Cuneta) as guest,” said Pops.

To make it more exciting, why don’t they invite their own exes?

“Hey,” Martin exclaimed, “that’s a great concept!”

Pops, addressing Martin, “Mas

Philstar.com photo

marami kang exes!”

Martin replied, “We need more furniture for that. Great idea!”

Pops said, “Maybe we can invite Derek (Ramsay) so he can explain everything.” (Pops was wrongly mentioned as the cause of Derek’s break-up with Andrea Torres.)

“The truth,” Martin joked, “is that I was the cause of the breakup. I have better abs than Derek.”

Seriously now, what tips could they give “un-couples” who should be “coupling” again?

Martin: “Pops and I are okay because we have remained friends.

Our foundation is friendship and that’s the most important thing.”

Pops: “Everything takes time to heal. You cannot escape that process. Go through the sadness, the hurt and the pain but don’t linger on them, don’t enjoy them.

After that, move on ka na. Forget everything that happened because if you keep recalling them, they will pull you down.”

Martin: “Let it go!”

ACTRESS and certified plantita Aubrey Miles is showing tremendous support for online plant sellers.

Miles is giving these fellow plant lovers the love because she is inspired by online plant sellers’ stories, she explained in her Instagram post yesterday, Dec. 19.

“I know you’ve been seeing me supporting a lot of new online sellers, especially now that shipments are starting to open again,” she said. “Signs that somehow prices of plants will slowly normalize. Maybe it’ll take years but for sure it will happen one day.”

“Anyway, I do support nurseries like [Arid & Aroids] because they’re one of the pioneers,” she said, adding that she’s known them since she started her plant collection. “I think most of you understand it. Most reputable and trusted of collectors and sellers too.”

Miles also appreciates online sellers because they had different jobs and stories before the pandemic.

“This wasn’t their main source of income. I admire what they’re doing now. Can you imagine most of them started their plant

Aubrey Miles

business during lockdown?” she said.

Miles is happy that most online sellers are doing brisk sales now, all because of their hard work and perseverance.

“No wonder they’re so many online plant sellers now. Because they inspire each other. You know that saying ‘If you can do it, I can do it, too,’” she added. “Build-

Photo from Instagram/@milesaubrey

ing a good business in a matter of months is pretty impressive.

Tama ba? Galing ‘di ba? Mahal man or mura ang halaman lahat tayo working hard.”

(Isn’t that right? Isn’t that great? Whether a plant is expensive or not, we are all working hard.)

“I have to admit it’s motivating,” Miles said.

PH showbiz in 2020: With ABS-CBN’s...

PAGE B2 Locsin, who was hailed as one your fellow workers who are of this year’s “Leaders of Tothe reason why you became fa- morrow” by Tatler Asia’s Gen T mous.) list, currently hosts the inspirational program “Iba ‘Yan” aired on the Kapamilya channel and A2Z, ABS-CBN’s joint venture with Zoe Broadcasting Network through a block time agreement.

Kathryn Bernardo While she was fighting for her mother network, Kathryn Bernardo once again talked about politics — a topic which, she said, had a “traumatic” experience with as she and her family I were attacked for it.

“Pero ngayon, andito ako kasi pakiramdam, ko kailangan. Pakiramdam ko kahit walang kasiguraduhan na marinig ‘to, at least may ginawa ako. Pakiramdam ko, kailangan kong maging boses ng iba,” Bernardo previously said.

(But now, I am here because I feel it is needed. I feel that even if there is no certainty that this will be heard, at least I did something. I feel that I need to be the voice of others.)

But as her network was not granted a franchise, Bernardo said she chose to stay with ABSCBN out of gratitude.

“Ito ‘yung way ko para pasalamatan ‘yung network sa kung ano ang meron ako ngayon. Lahat ng blessing namin ay dahil sa kompanya,” the young actress then said in a press conference for hers and Daniel Padilla’s digital series, “The House Arrest of Us.” It was all thanks to ABS-CBN that made Bernardo the star that she is today — from her child actress days until she reached “Phenomenal Box Office Queen” status.

Bernardo felt that she made a wise decision on choosing to stay as a Kapamilya, as she feels ABS-CBN’s toughest times are actually the times where the network needed her the most.

Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil One of ABS-CBN’s most popular love teams “LizQuen”, consisting of Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil, is not going anywhere despite being offered projects from GMA, TV5 and entertainment company Viva, manager Ogie Diaz assured.

Diaz, in his YouTube channel last August, even said that ABSCBN was not willing to let go of the reel-to-real couple, and that

the network will do what they can to keep the love teams.

“May ginagawa sila para maitawid ang mga love teams na pinoprotektahan nila, sinesecure nila,” Diaz said.

(They are doing things for the love teams that they are protecting, that they are securing, so they could get by.)

At one point, ABS-CBN issued a statement standing by Soberano after she was warned by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. to withdraw her support of women’s group Gabriela, which, he claims, is part of a terrorist organization.

Soberano, in her own words, said that she was remaining a Kapamilya.

“That is true I have received offers and I’m grateful for them but I told my manager Tito Ogie that for now, I want to be here and support ABS-CBN, especially at a time like this,” she previously said in an interview over ANC’s “Headstart.”

“I think what they need is unity and they need to see that they are supported by the people that have been there with them since the beginning.”

Enchong Dee Enchong Dee is also one of the stars that ABS-CBN was able to keep.

Last Dec. 4, the 32-year-old actor was one of the artists who renewed their contracts with Star Magic, ABS-CBN News reported.

But despite staying, Dee believes that the loyalty of Kapamilya artists shouldn’t be questioned when he/she decides to stay with the beleaguered network or find work to rival networks.

Dee also said that the fact he decided not to accept any work from rival networks does not make him any better than other ABS-CBN artists who chose to do so.

“One of the things that I realized was that it’s not right to judge people in relation to loyalty at a time like the present. A lot of my colleagues are breadwinners,” Dee said in a press conference for a financial services company.

“You can’t take away from them the opportunity to work elsewhere, especially now that we’re battling a pandemic and our home network has shut down,” he added.

Bea on what’s the score...

PAGE B3 er work if I was not in love with him. So nandoon lagi iyon (it’s always there),” she said.

She explained that their relationship had gone through all the levels it could have.

“We were friends, we were enemies, we were almost lovers,” she related. “Iyong relationship namin, nata-transcend niya na iyong level of just romance (Our relationship transcends the level of just romance).”

“Now, he’s more than just that to me. That’s the beauty of it,” she added. “Maybe I’m also in love with the idea of what we are.”

When Aguilar-Teo asked if she meant the idea of them as a couple, Alonzo clarified, “Parang hindi mo alam kung ano siya (It’s like you don’t know what it is), and I’m in love with that idea.”

The doctor to the stars asked if there was a possibility of falling in love with Cruz again. Alonzo reiterated that she is always in love with him, but noted, “Some-

times, love is not enough. There’s more to a relationship than just love.”

Alonzo also revealed which ex she would get back with and said that it would be Zanjoe Marudo.

“My relationship with Zanjoe lasted for six years. Until now we’re good friends. I’m friends with the family,” Alonzo said.

“Kung pag-uusapan ay (If we are talking about) good memories, it has to be with him.”

She admitted that she has only ever gotten back with one ex. Alonzo briefly dated co-star Gerald Anderson in 2010. There were speculations that they were an item in 2017, and by July 2019, Alonzo confirmed their breakup.

When asked if she is currently dating, Alonzo quipped, “I’m dating. And guys, if you’re interested, you can just comment below.

Leave your number, char.”

The “One More Chance” star has been linked to actor Dominic Roque, though both have been tight-lipped about their relationship status.

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EntErtainmEnt

Why Vhong feels lucky doing Mang Kepweng’s latest installment

By Jerry

Donato Philstar.com

THE fantasy-adventure-comedy genre is represented by Vhong Navarro’s starrer, Mang Kepweng: Ang Lihim ng Bandanang Itim, at this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). The movie will delight family and friends, like its 2017 prequel Mang Kepweng Returns, and remind them of comedy icon Chiquito and his well-loved character.

“I feel privileged because this is my very first movie that had a part two,” said Vhong of how special his latest movie is, compared to his other equally-important big screen outings in a recent virtual media call. “Spirit Warriors had a part two but I was starring in it with my (dance) group (Streetboys). This (latest installment of Mang Kepweng) is a continuation of the first that I starred in. Kumbaga ang sarap (ng feeling) na nagustuhan ng tao, nagustuhan ng producer at nagtiwala muli.”

Given the audience’s patronage and the producer’s trust, Vhong took on the role again and became part of the team that created the Mang Kepweng part two. “I worked with the writers and director (Topel Lee) para pagandahin at palakasin (ito).” They thought of ways to challenge Mang Kepweng, also known as MK, in dealing with Joross Gamboa’s villain Maximus Tolonges, who stole the itim na bandana (the black bandana) from the Kingdom of Engkadia.

MK continues on with his traditional faith healing, shared Vhong. But with his newfound popularity, MK’s attitude towards his self-worth undergoes change.

“Nagkaroon siya ng yabang o hangin sa katawan (He has become conceited). He thinks he can do everything because of his popularity and doesn’t need help from friends. Later on, nagkaroon ng problema yung red polka dot bandana, it is losing its magical powers. This leads to the appearance of the black bandana.”

Part two will see MK and friends look for the ingredients to restore the red polka dot bandana’s healing power. “Thus, (my character and his friends) go on a search, they (all) travel (together).”

Vhong added that the latest installment is more adventure-filled and action-packed. Fantastical, folklore characters like kapre (a tall, black hairy creature), ser-

Vhong Navaroo

ena (mermaid), manananggal (a creature that victimizes pregnant women) are also part of MK’s new journey.

Although all this speaks of the right mix to get and hold viewers’ attention, Vhong was aware of the challenge in doing a part two: It usually suffers, especially if the first one was a success. “We made sure that part one and part two were on the same level (in terms of adventure and entertainment),” he said, “(or the latter could surpass) the first because (MK will have) more adventures.”

As for his own version of Mang Kepweng, Vhong recalled that he looked for copies of Chiquito’s movies on YouTube but they were “medyo madilim talaga, hindi po halos makita (they were blurred),” he said. Growing up, he watched the comedian’s movies and considered Chiquito one of his comedy idols. That’s why playing MK the albularyo is a career highlight for Vhong.

“Hindi naman masamang maniwala kung kailangan talaga natin ng hope lalo na sa pinagdadaanan natin ngayon (I don’t see any problem with believing in it, especially if one needs hope to hold on and given what every-

Photo from Instagram/@vhongx44

one is going through now),” said Vhong of the alternative healing’s following. “Matagal na nandyan na yan at hindi (ito) mawawala sa mga probinsya (It has been around for a long time, like in the provinces), kapag hindi nila kaya yung budget (na pumunta sa doktor) o walang pera, ang takbuhan nila ay (ang) albularyo, kumbaga paniniwala po talaga yun (some turn to faith healers because of budget consideration in availing of medical services). Kung may faith ka, gagaling ka. ‘Yun po ang para sa akin. (If you have faith, you’ll get healed and that’s what I think.)”

Aside from playing the character not just once but twice, having an MMFF entry during these trying times makes Vhong feel more grateful. He said this time of the year is also usually for family and friends to come together to watch Filipino films inside the theater.

But it can’t be done because of the global health crisis. Good news is Mang Kepweng: Ang Lihim ng Bandanang Itim and other MMFF official entries can be watched via upstream.ph. It is a new experience of family bonding and movie watching, Vhong concluded. Everyone should embrace it.

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • dEcEmbER 24-30, 2020

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B december 24-30, 2020 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JOUrNAL

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