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DECEMBER 31, 2020 - JANUARY 6, 2021

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. 52 • 12 Pages

2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Suite 201 Las Vegas, NV 89109 Tel: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

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

USA

DATELINE Non-profit offers US citizenship test materials in 9 languages, including Tagalog

Senate fails to approve $2K stimulus checks Trump signs COVID-19 relief bill

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

THE path to U.S. citizenship may be more difficult as the naturalization test now features an expanded version of the civics portion — but a free educational tool is helping applicants prepare with study materials in their native language.

USAHello, a non-profit dedicated to providing an online center of information and education for refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers, has released translations for the 2020 version of the U.S. citizenship test in nine languages on its website (usahello.org).

The organization partnered with Translators Without Borders to translate the civics test in Spanish, Arabic, French, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Tagalog, Swahili, and Vietnamese.

“For the citizenship test in particular, we have found that many people in pre-

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Tuesday, Dec. 29 blocked the House bill that would have fulfilled President Donald Trump’s request to increase the coronavirus relief stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000, noting that senators will soon “begin a process” to address the issue.

Trump signed Congress’ long-awaited $900 bil-

PH expands travel ban to more countries over new COVID-19 variant

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippines has expanded its travel ban to 19 more countries in an effort to address the threat of the new COVID-19 variant.

In a memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Malacañang said President Rodrigo Duterte has banned the entrance of all foreign passengers coming from the following countries:

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Census Bureau releases 2020 demographic analysis estimates THE U.S. Census Bureau released its 2020 Demographic Analysis, which provides a range of estimates — low, middle and high — for the nation’s population as of April 1, 2020.

Instead of collecting responses from households like the 2020 Census, Demographic Analysis uses current and historical vital statistics records and other data to estimate the size of the U.S. population. By releasing these estimates ahead of the first results from the 2020 Census, Demographic Analysis offers an independent measure of the population for comparison with the official census counts.

Based on varying assumptions about the population, Demographic Analysis produced three different estimates for the size of the U.S. population on April 1, 2020: Low: 330,730,000 Middle: 332,601,000 High: 335,514,000 “The Census Bureau goes to great lengths to ensure the quality of our work,” said Dr. Ron Jarmin, Census Bureau deputy director and chief operating officer. “Demographic Analysis is a valuable resource to help us

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LUCKY FRUITS. Round fruits, like oranges, melons, and apples, are on sale at the Kadiwa Public Market on Congressional Ave., Dasmariñas City, Cavite on Tuesday, December 29. Filipinos believe that having 12 kinds of round fruits during the traditional Media Noche will bring good luck to the family.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga

• Iceland • Denmark • Italy • Ireland • Lebanon • Japan • Singapore • Australia • Sweden • Israel • South Korea • The Netherlands • South Africa • Hong Kong, SAR • Canada • Switzerland • Spain • France • Germany The order took effect starting Wednesday, December 30, until Jan. 15, 2021. u PAGE A2

FDA approves Janssen’s application for vaccine trial in PH

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the application of Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. to conduct clinical trials in the country for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

“Out of the three applications for independent trials, we have approved one yesterday. And that’s the one by Janssen (of Johnson & Johnson),” FDA Director General Eric Domingo said Tuesday, December 29.

“This has been given the go signal by FDA and maybe, they will already start with the clinical after the New Year,” he added.

Meanwhile, applications of Sinovac Biotech Ltd. and Clover Pharmaceuticals are still being evaluated by the FDA. “For Clover, we are still awaiting a few documents from the proponents so they can complete their requirements,” said Domingo.

“For Sinovac, they requested slight changes in their protocol design, research

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Fil-Am cyclist Gerrard Nieva remembered after fatal crash outside of Las Vegas

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

Fil-Am Gerrard Nieva, 41, was one of five bicyclists killed by an impaired truck driver on Thursday, December 10, 2020 along U.S. Highway 95 near Searchlight.

Photo courtesy of Nieva family

the bill, the House immediately approved legislation that would have increased the stimulus checks to $2,000 in a vote that included nearly all Democrats and a few dozen Republicans.

McConnell and other Senate Republicans — who have been wary of the cost of pandemic aid — now face mounting pressure from Democrats and Trump, both of whom argue that the increased stimulus checks would provide more relief to economiu PAGE A2

lion COVID-19 relief bill on Sunday, Dec. 27 after a lengthy back-and-forths between congressional Republicans and Democrats, as previously reported in the Asian Journal.

That bill approved the heavily debated stimulus checks that would provide millions of American taxpayers a $600 stimulus check and extend unemployment benefits for the jobless and independent workers.

On Monday, Dec. 28 after the president signed

AN avid cyclist, Gerrard Nieva took the day off from work on Thursday, December 10 to participate alongside nearly 20 bicycle enthusiasts in their annual 130-mile Nipton Loop ride outside of Las Vegas.

The group began at M Resort Spa Casino in Henderson and charted a route that would take them through Searchlight to Nipton, California.

Before departing, Nieva had exchanged several text messages with his younger brother Donalrey as he routinely did each

morning.

But in an unexpected turn, Donalrey later received a call from a friend who wasn’t on the ride, delivering news that there had been an accident.

The 41-year-old Filipino American was one of five bicyclists killed when a box truck drove through the group along U.S. Highway 95 near Searchlight.

“When I got the call, my heart just sank because deep down, I knew he was one of them…”

Donalrey Nieva told the Asian Journal in a phone interview.

“We were all devastated and shocked. This stuff happens to other people, but not our family,

right?”

Along with Nieva, the victims are Erin Michelle Ray, 39; Michael Todd Murray, 57; Aksoy Ahmet, 48; and Thomas Chamberlin Trauger, 57. Four other riders were injured, including one who was in critical condition, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.

The suspect in the fatal collision was identified as Jordan Alexander Barson of Kingman, Arizona, who was arrested on Tuesday, December 15 after blood test results showed that he had high levels of methamphetamine in his system, according

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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

Malacañang photo by Alfred Frias

Duterte warns US: No vaccine, no VFA

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has warned that he will terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) if the United States fails to provide the country with COVID-19 vaccines.

In a meeting with the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Saturday, December 26, the chief executive urged the country’s ally to deliver at least 20 million doses of the vaccine. “‘Yung Visiting Forces Agreement matatapos na. Ngayon ‘pag hindi ako pumayag, aalis talaga sila. ‘Pag di sila naka-deliver maski minimum ng 20 million vaccines, better get out (The Visiting Forces Agreement will be ending.

If I don’t extend it, they will really

leave. If they cannot deliver even a minimum of 20 million vaccines, better get out),” he said.

“No vaccine, no stay here,” Duterte added.

Malacañang clarified the president’s remarks, however, saying that it was an exercise in the Philippines’ independent policy.

“Wala pong masama dyan, hindi po ‘yan blackmail. ‘Yan po ‘yung ibig sabihin ng independiyenteng panlabas na polisiya o independent foreign policy. Hindi po tayo sunud-sunuran. Hindi po tayo didiktahan ng kahit sino (There is nothing wrong with that, it’s not blackmailing. That’s what independent foreign policy means. We are not blind followers. We cannot be dictated by anyone),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

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A

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

december 31, 2020 - January 6, 2021 • LaS VeGaS aSIan JOurnaL

Duterte warns US: No vaccine...

PAGE A1 t The Philippines on February 11, 2020 sent a notice to Washington that terminated the defense agreement.

In June, the abrogation of the VFA was suspended “in light of political and other developments in the region.”

Duterte admitted that he became “a cynic” to the U.S., stressing that if the country really wants to help the Philippines, it should show through delivering vaccines against COVID-19.

“Do not believe in that sh*t, na America delivering kaagad.

Hindi nga nila ma-deliver agad sa kanilang lugar, dito pa (Do not believe in that sh*t that America will deliver immediately. They can’t even deliver it right away in their area, what more here)?” he said.

“Naging cynic ako sa kanila.

Kung ibigay, eh di ibigay (I’ve become a cynic to them. If they give it, then give it). If you want to help, you deliver (and) stop talking. What we need is the vaccine, not your verbose speeches,” he added.

Pfizer applies for EUA in PH U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. has applied for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of its COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines, according to Malacañang.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director-General Rolando Domingo confirmed Pfizer submitted its application on Dec. 23.

“It will take FDA 21 days to evaluate and approve the EUA but vaccination would start as soon as stocks become available,” he ex-

From The FronT Page

plained Saturday.

Domingo, for his part, said Pfizer will not have difficulties in obtaining the EUA for its COVID vaccine.

“Pag nanggaling na sa (If it has already come from) stringent regulatory authority like the U.S. FDA and UK, there would be minimal requirement,” he said.

Meanwhile, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. announced that U.S. drugmaker Moderna is “on board” and “accelerating” a huge shipment of COVID-19 vaccine to the country.

“More good news from [Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez]: Moderna on board and accelerating huge shipment. Everything’s falling back into place,” he said in a tweet. n

Fil-Am cyclist Gerrard Nieva remembered...

PAGE A1 t to the Clark County District Attorney’s Office.

He has been charged with five counts of driving under the influence resulting in death, six counts of reckless driving, and one count of DUI resulting in substantial bodily harm, court records show.

“My brother and the four cyclists lost their lives, and it has impacted my family and a whole community. We do hope justice is served and that [Barson] goes to prison for a very long time,” Donalrey said.

Nieva, who was born in the Philippines, migrated with his family to Las Vegas in 1991.

He started his career as a dialysis tech in 1999 and then became a biomedical technician six years later. Though Nieva rarely spoke about his work, co-workers expressed admiration for the compassion and care he extended to others. At the time of his death, he worked at Fresenius Medical Care in Las Vegas, ensuring that machines were functioning smoothly for patients receiving treatment.

Together, the Nieva brothers bonded over a fascination with road bikes and discovering trails.

“We grew up riding bikes, but we both got into cycling together — track bikes and fixed-gear bikes — around 2007. I would see my brother once or twice a

President Donald J. Trump signs H.R. 133, a consolidated appropriations Act for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2021, Sunday evening Dec. 27, 2020, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. The consolidated appropriations Act will provide $2.3 trillion for coronavirus stimulus and government funding.

Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead

Senate fails to approve...

PAGE A1

Gerrard Nieva (right) is pictured with his brother Donalrey, mother Gloria Suarez Fowler, and sister Ria Nieva Pitts.

Photo courtesy of the Nieva family

year, most of the time in Denver where our sister lives. Since the riding there is really good, we’d take our bikes out,” Donalrey said.

Though Nieva was a “homebody,” but he instantly connected with whomever he met and developed his own community of enthusiasts when he got into road cycling and racing.

The younger Nieva, who lives in New York, flew out to Las Vegas, as did other family members coming from other states to attend a memorial at Las Vegas Cyclery on Saturday, Dec. 12.

Those who spoke at the vigil remembered the crash victims and called on drivers to share the road with cyclists.

The family laid Nieva to rest in a separate service that had to be limited due to ongoing COVID19 restrictions.

In addition to Donalrey, Nieva

is survived by his mother Gloria Suarez Fowler, sister Ria Nieva Pitts, wife Cristina Gonzales and three stepchildren.

“He wasn’t very vocal about it, but hearing stories of how he was as a father to his stepchildren made me more proud of him. I wish I knew more about that side of him,” Donalrey said.

“He treated his stepchildren as if they were his own.”

Michael Anderson, a retiree of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and one of the cyclists who joined the Dec. 10 ride, set up a GoFundMe page for the victims. As of this writing, it has amassed $106,900 out of its $110,000 goal.

Breakaway Cycling also launched its own website (lasvegascyclistmemorial.com) honoring the victims and with a memorial fund to raise $1 million for the bereaved families. n

cally stricken families across the country.

“Unless Republicans have a death wish, and it is also the right thing to do, they must approve $2000 payments ASAP. $600 IS NOT ENOUGH!” Trump tweeted on Tuesday morning in response to McConnell’s decision to block the bill.

As Senate Republicans fight to keep their majority ahead of a pair of key run-off elections in Georgia next week, McConnell brought back the Senate

this week to override Trump’s veto of the annual National Defense Authorization Act and outlined three major conditions that Trump had when he signed the $900 billion relief bill: heftier stimulus checks, amending a bill that includes protections for Big Tech firms and unsubstantiated concerns over election fraud.

If the Senate ends up considering new legislation that would increase stimulus check payments, all 48 Democrats (and independents who caucus with them) are expected to vote for

it, but they would need support from at least 12 of the Senate’s 52 Republicans.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is likely to issue the $600 payments as early as late this week; those who have bank information on file with the Treasury Department will likely receive direct deposits and others will receive checks in the mail.

If Congress ends up approving legislation on the $2,000 stimulus payments, that will be an additional direct payment. n

PH expands travel ban to more countries...

PAGE A1 Those who are already in transit and will arrive before December 30, including returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), will be allowed to enter. However, they are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine period regardless of their negative reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) test result.

Duterte also approved the extension of the temporary suspension of flights from, and the prohibition of entry on all trav-

elers coming from or transiting through, the United Kingdom until Jan. 15, 2021.

Filipino citizens coming from the aforementioned countries will be allowed to enter provided they undergo an absolute facility-based 14-day quarantine despite a negative RT-PCR test result.

“That was the decision of our president. He was very firm in deciding that the restriction will only apply to other travelers from [the] UK and the 20 other countries. And he ex-

empted our OFWs, because he said, I want our OFWs to go home to their families,” said Philippine Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. Earlier this month, the UK detected a new COVID-19 variant called VUI 202012/01, which is believed to be more transmissible than other known variants.

Countries like Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan, and France later announced that they have confirmed cases of the new COVID-19 variant. n

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

From The FronT Page

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • dEcEmbER 31, 2020 - JANUARy 6, 2021

A

More than 2,900 health care workers died Non-profit offers US citizenship test materials... this year — and the gov’t barely kept track MORE than 2,900 U.S. health care workers have died in the COVID-19 pandemic since March, a far higher number than that reported by the government, according to a new analysis by KHN and The Guardian.

Fatalities from the coronavirus have skewed young, with the majority of victims under age 60 in the cases for which there is age data. People of color have been disproportionately affected, accounting for about 65% of deaths in cases in which there is race and ethnicity data. After conducting interviews with relatives and friends of around 300 victims, KHN and The Guardian learned that one-third of the fatalities involved concerns over inadequate personal protective equipment.

Many of the deaths — about 680 — occurred in New York and New Jersey, which were hit hard early in the pandemic.

Significant numbers also died in Southern and Western states in the ensuing months.

The findings are part of “Lost on the Frontline,” a nine-month data and investigative project by KHN and The Guardian to track every health care worker who dies of COVID-19.

One of those lost, Vincent DeJesus, 39, told his brother Neil that he’d be in deep trouble if he spent much time with a COVID-positive patient while wearing the surgical mask provided to him by the Las Vegas hospital where he worked. DeJesus died on Aug. 15.

Another fatality was Sue Williams-Ward, a 68-year-old home health aide who earned $13 an hour in Indianapolis, and bathed, dressed and fed clients without wearing any PPE, her husband said. She was intubated for six weeks before she died May 2.

“Lost on the Frontline” is prompting new government action to explore the root cause of health care worker deaths and take steps to track them better.

Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services recently asked the National Academy of Sciences for a “rapid expert consultation” on why so many health care workers are dying in the U.S., citing the count of fallen workers by The Guardian and KHN. “The question is, where are they becoming infected?” asked Michael Osterholm, a member of President-elect Joe Biden’s COVID-19 advisory team and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. “That is clearly a critical issue we need to answer and we don’t have that.”

The Dec. 10 report by the national academies suggests a new federal tracking system and

Over 2,900 health care workers are estimated to have died from the COVID-19 since March.

Kaiser Health News collage

specially trained contact tracers who would take PPE policies and availability into consideration.

Doing so would add critical knowledge that could inform generations to come and give meaning to the lives lost.

“Those [health care workers] are people who walked into places of work every day because they cared about patients, putting food on the table for families, and every single one of those lives matter,” said Sue Anne Bell, a University of Michigan assistant professor of nursing and co-author of the national academies report.

The recommendations come at a fraught moment for health care workers, as some are getting the COVID-19 vaccine while others are fighting for their lives amid the highest levels of infection the nation has seen.

The toll continues to mount.

In Indianapolis, for example, 41-year-old nurse practitioner Kindra Irons died Dec. 1. She saw seven or eight home health patients per week while wearing full PPE, including an N95 mask and a face shield, according to her husband, Marcus Irons.

The virus destroyed her lungs so badly that six weeks on the most aggressive life support equipment, ECMO, couldn’t save her, he said.

Marcus Irons said he is now struggling financially to support their two youngest children, ages 12 and 15. “Nobody should have to go through what we’re going through,” he said.

In Massachusetts, 43-yearold Mike “Flynnie” Flynn oversaw transportation and laundry services at North Shore Medical Center, a hospital in Salem, Massachusetts. He and his wife were also raising young children, ages 8, 10 and 11.

Flynn, who shone at fatherdaughter dances, fell ill in late November and died Dec. 8.

He had a heart attack at home on the couch, according to his father, Paul Flynn. A hospital spokesperson said he had full access to PPE and free testing on-site.

Since the first months of the pandemic, more than 70 reporters at The Guardian and KHN have scrutinized numerous governmental and public data sources, interviewed the bereaved and spoken with health care experts to build a count.

The total number includes fatalities identified by labor unions, obituaries and news outlets and in online postings by the bereaved, as well as by relatives of the deceased. The previous total announced by The Guardian and KHN was approximately 1,450 health care worker deaths. The new number reflects the inclusion of data reported by nursing homes and health facilities to the federal and state governments. These deaths include the facility names but not worker names. Reporters cross-checked each record to ensure fatalities did not appear in the database twice.

The tally has been widely cited by other media as well as by members of Congress.

Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.) referenced the data citing the need for a pending bill that would provide compensation to the families of health care workers who died or sustained long-term disabilities from COVID-19.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) mentioned the tally in a Senate Finance Committee hearing about the medical supply chain.

“The fact is,” he said, “the shortages of PPE have put our doctors and nurses and caregivers in grave danger.”

This story is part of “Lost on the Frontline,” an ongoing project from The Guardian and Kaiser Health News that aims to document the lives of health care workers in the U.S. who die from COVID-19, and to investigate why so many are victims of the disease.

This story was produced

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

(Christina Jewett, Robert Lewis and Melissa Bailey / Kaiser Health News)

Census Bureau releases 2020 demographic...

PAGE A1 t analyze the completeness of the 2020 Census population count.”

Demographic Analysis estimates are developed using birth and death records, data on international migration, and Medicare records. The range accounts for the levels of uncertainty in the input data and methods used to produce the estimates.

For example, birth and death estimates are regarded as relatively precise since they’re based on the National Vital Statistics System which is very accurate and complete. However, there is greater uncertainty in the estimates of international migration because administrative records are not available to produce those estimates. Instead, we use data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and other sources to estimate international migration.

“Demographic Analysis enables us to utilize already existing data, such as current and historical administrative records and survey data, to estimate the size of the population,” said Dr. Eric Jensen, senior technical expert for Demographic Analysis in the Population Division. “We have done Demographic Analysis since the 1960 Census, and over time our estimates have benefited not only from methodological improvements, but improvements to the available administrative records.”

The final 2020 Census results will be compared against the 2020 Demographic Analysis estimates to produce estimates of potential net coverage error by age, sex, broad race and Hispanic origin groups. A report detailing the 2020 Demographic Analysis estimates of net overcounts and undercounts is planned for release in 2021.

Additionally, in 2021 and 2022, we plan to produce new, experimental sets of estimates, including: Estimates for the Hispanic and non-Hispanic populations by sex

for ages 0 to 39 (expanded from ages 0 to 29 released today) in 2021.

Estimates for young children (ages 0 to 4) will be available for the first time at the state and county levels in 2022. These estimates will incorporate current birth records, which are not yet available from local jurisdictions.

Estimates for the population ages 0 to 17 for White, Black or African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and Two or More Races, and by Hispanic origin in 2022. These estimates incorporate race detail available in both birth and death records since 2003.

The Demographic Analysis estimates are one of two methods used to measure coverage in a census and help us understand what population groups may have been undercounted or overcounted. The other method is part of the Coverage Measurement Program and uses information from the Post-Enumeration Survey, an independent Census Bureau survey, to estimate how many people and housing units were missed or counted erroneously in the 2020 Census. Coverage estimates from the Post-Enumeration Survey are scheduled to be available in November 2021.

The Census Bureau is working hard to process 2020 Census data in order to deliver complete and accurate state population counts as close to the December 31, 2020, statutory deadline as possible.

Demographic Analysis Highlights In addition to the estimates of the total population for the nation, 2020 Demographic Analysis also provides national-level estimates of the U.S. population by age, sex, broad race and Hispanic origin groups.

Specifically, estimates are available for the number of people who are: Black alone/non-Black alone by

sex for ages 0 to 85 and above.

Black alone or in combination/ non-Black alone or in combination by sex for ages 0 to 85 and above (expanded from 0 to 29 in the 2010 Demographic Analysis).

Hispanic/non-Hispanic by sex for ages 0 to 29 (expanded from 0 to 19 in 2010).

These estimates can only be produced in limited race detail because they rely on historical records and measures of race that have changed over time.

Other highlights from today’s release include, in order of low, middle and high estimates: The median age of the U.S. population was estimated to be 38.4, 38.5 and 38.7, respectively.

The percentage of the U.S. population estimated to be Black alone was 13.5, 13.7 and 13.9, respectively.

The percentage of the population estimated to be Black alone or in combination with other races was 14.9, 15.1 and 15.4, respectively.

The sex ratio (number of males per 100 females) for the total population was 98.1 in the low and high series and 98.2 in the middle series. The sex ratio for the population under the age of 30 was 104.2 in the low series and 104.3 in the middle and high series.

For the population under the age of 30, the percentage estimated to be Hispanic was 23.0, 24.6 and 26.0, respectively. Demographic Analysis estimates of the population by Hispanic origin are not produced for all ages because the Hispanic origin option was not widely available on birth and death records until the 1990s.

Demographic Analysis only estimates the national population for these demographic categories, so its estimates cannot be compared to more detailed 2020 Census data that will show the population in states, cities, counties, census tracts and at the block level. n

PAGE A1 t paring for the exam were focused solely on memorizing the English questions and corresponding answers,” Sarah Ivory, president of USAHello, told the Asian Journal in an email.

“Time and time again we found that when people failed to pass the civics portion of their exam, it was because the phrasing was slightly different in the in-person interview and the memorization tools they had used were not triggered,” she added.

The free translations aim to not just help future Americans study for and pass the exam, but to help them fully understand the content so they are answering the questions with the benefit of the larger context.

“Rather than repeating memorized responses, people who learn in their first language may be more likely to comprehend the material,” Ivory explained.

USAHello released the translated study materials based on the number of speakers

of those languages inside the U.S. Of the nine offered languages, seven represent the top languages spoken in the country.

Tagalog, a language spoken in the Philippines, ranked fourth, with 1.7 million speakers in the U.S. Spanish leads the ranking right after English with 41 million speakers. Other languages in the top seven are Chinese (3.5 million), Vietnamese (1.5 million), Arabic (1.2 million), French (1.2 million), and Korean (1.1 million).

USAHello said it is planning to add more languages soon.

The naturalization test has two components: an English test, which has not changed, and an expanded version of the civics test.

The English test allows the applicant to demonstrate an understanding of the language including the ability to read, write, and speak basic English.

Meanwhile, the revised civic test assesses applicants’ knowledge of American his-

tory, government and civic values. An immigration officer will ask the applicant 20 questions from a list of 128 civics test questions. The applicant needs to answer at least 12 of the 20 questions correctly to pass the revised version.

Previously, the civics test only asked the applicant up to 10 questions from the list of 100 civics test questions. The applicant needed to answer six questions correctly to pass the test.

The revised civics test did not change the passing score, which remains at 60%.

Applicants who apply for naturalization on or after December 1, 2020 will take the updated version of the test.

USAHello also offers trustworthy and verified information about recent news and policy updates, such as changes to immigration programs like the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals, as well as articles about understanding American laws and cultures, educational opportunities, and job preparedness. (Ritchel Mendiola / AJPress)

FDA approves Janssen’s application for vaccine...

PAGE A1 t design so we had to give it back to the reviewers,” he added.

Domingo also said that so far, Pfizer has been the only pharmaceutical company to apply for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for its COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines.

“This (application) was submitted to us late in the afternoon of December 23. This was submitted online to the FDA and we have downloaded their submissions yesterday, and have distributed them to the reviewers and regulators,” he said.

He expressed hope that the FDA can complete its evaluation of Pfizer’s vaccine within two weeks.

Unauthorized vaccines FDA reminded the public that it has not granted EUA to any COVID-19 vaccine candidate following reports that some individuals have received shots of China’s Sinopharm vaccine.

“As of date, the FDA has not issued any Emergency Use Authorization to any vaccine for COVID-19. Without the proper authorization, there is no guar-

antee on the safety, quality and efficacy of said vaccine as the same has not undergone the required technical evaluation by the FDA,” Domingo stressed.

The agency also pointed out that “manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, advertisement, or sponsorship of any unauthorized vaccine” remain prohibited.

Over the weekend, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte revealed that “almost all soldiers” have been inoculated with Sinopharm despite not having the EUA. The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Monday confirmed that members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) were the first among military personnel to be immunized.

“Per our inquiry, members of the PSG were the first ones from the AFP who were vaccinated owing to the nature of their mission and function,” AFP spokesperson Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in a statement.

He added, “As the unit pri-

marily tasked to protect and secure the highest official of the land, the PSG will have to ensure that the President is safe from all threats — including COVID-19.”

The Philippine Department of Health, for its part, underscored the risks of unauthorized vaccines.

“All vaccines should undergo the evaluation and regulatory process of our regulatory and expert bodies. We also reiterate that the use of unregistered products poses harm to a person’s health and safety. This is why only vaccines which have been approved and found to be safe should be administered,” the agency said.

Meanwhile, the FDA said it will conduct an investigation on the early COVID-19 vaccination activity.

“Yesterday, I gave an order to our regulatory enforcement unit to conduct investigation to determine the status of vaccination activities. What happened, which vaccine was used. But, of course, that will probably take a few days,” said Domingo. n

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DECEMBER 31, 2020 - JANUARY 6, 2021 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

O PINION Christmas tragedy

FEATURES

FOR a family in Taguig, it has been a horrifyingly tragic Christmas. It started on Christmas Eve, when 28-year-old mother of two Karina Siacunco was found dead at their home. Relatives disputed her husband Aiko’s claim that she had hanged herself.

On Christmas Day, Aiko, wearing a bloodstained shirt, showed up at a police station in the city and said he had strangled to death his threeyear-old daughter and one-year-old son in their room. Aiko himself had reportedly tried to hang himself. Police rushed to his home, where they found the children’s bodies on a mattress.

Police said Siacunco had been depressed and had been fighting with his wife, who worked at a call center, over his failure to find a job since lockdowns were imposed in mid-March to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The tragedy that befell the Siacuncos is an extreme manifestation of the mental distress that health professionals say has been on the rise as a result of the difficulties arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. For household breadwinners in particular, the loss of jobs or sources of livelihood can be deeply stressful and can put a strain on family relationships.

The Department of Health, the University of the Philippines and private civic organizations

have been operating hotlines to assist those who are suffering from mental distress and to dissuade people from committing suicide. The hotlines have recorded spikes in calls since the start of the COVID lockdowns.

Such mental health services, however, remain limited. Even in organizations that provide psychological counseling and require members to pass psychiatric exams, the services can be inadequate. This has been manifested in the coldblooded murder of a mother and her son in Paniqui, Tarlac on Dec. 20 by police M/Sgt. Jonel Nuezca during a heated altercation.

The government has institutionalized the promotion of mental health, with the enactment of Republic Act 11036 in 2018. Yet limited resources and the lack of trained personnel have slowed down the rollout of mental health programs, and millions of Filipinos lack access to such services.

This campaign also calls for support from local governments as well as the engagement of the

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THE doctors, nurses, and caregivers who are fighting on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic are our modern-day heroes. They work long hours and are exposed to the COVID-19 virus on so many levels.

What happens when these heroes get infected by the virus?

What happens when the doctor becomes the patient?

Let me share with you my interview with a colleague of my husband at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Redwood City, California.

Dr. Eric Kwon is an Asian American urologist and is among the frontliners who have no choice but to continue serving and providing care to his patients despite the threat of COVID-19. In March, when the coronavirus was declared a pandemic, and just when the whole world was still learning more about this new virus, Dr. Kwon was infected by COVID-19. The doctor became the patient.

Q: Tell me about how you found out you were infected by the coronavirus.

Dr. Kwon: It was late March. We were learning how to put on and take off PPE, what to do in case someone had symptoms. And it was just it was actually very confusing.

There was a lot of change, a lot of information. A lot of uncer-

Babe’s Eye View BABE ROMUALDEZ WITH clear instructions from President Duterte that anything that has to do with vaccine procurement begins and ends on COVID task force chief General Carlito Galvez’s desk, we can now all be assured that we are in good hands. Secretary Galvez can very well leverage his experience as a logistics expert to consolidate the diverse tasks needed to carry out the country’s national vaccine roadmap.

We have already turned over all the information including delivery timelines provided by American pharmaceutical firms ready to supply our country with their vaccines – and the rest is now up for Secretary Galvez’s perusal. I spoke with him a few days ago and he said they are looking at four or five suppliers of the vaccines assuring us of a supply of 60-70 million doses no later than the

Philstar.com photo Philstar.com photo

community and various sectors such as schools and spiritual counselors. The tragedy that befell the Siacuncos lends urgency to the need for a

more aggressive campaign to promote mental health together with physical wellness in this pandemic. (Philstar.com)

Honoring our heroes on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19: What happens when the doctor becomes the patient? tainty. And a lot of change, all at once.

And then one Saturday morning, I woke up and I felt I felt a little sick. A little runny nose, a slight cough headache. But mostly I was tired. That was [an] overwhelming feeling that I had throughout the entire disease process. So, took some Tylenol took a nap, what I thought would be a nap and eight hours later, I woke up. And to my surprise, the entire day had passed. And, but I felt better. So I didn’t think much of it. So I went about my evening.

The next day, Sunday, no problem, no symptoms. I thought, ‘Oh this must have been just a hard week at work, and I was just tired.’ You know sometimes when you’re really tired, you can feel sick.

That Monday, I went to work.

I was okay. That next Tuesday, I went to work, and around nine in the morning when our team huddled to talk about the day, I remember having a headache.

And I said, ‘Oh, that’s funny, you know, I got a good night’s rest, took an Advil, got through my morning.’

And then right around noon, when we’re finished with the morning patients, my partner came over to me and said, ‘Hey let’s go get lunch.’ I remember putting on my white coat, and as I put my arms into the sleeves, I could feel it was like sandpaper.

My body just ached and I felt a slight fever. ...My whole body was just very achy [and at] lunch, [I] didn’t think much of it...And I was thinking to myself, I wasn’t thinking I have coronavirus.

I was just thinking: ‘Gosh, I hope I’m not getting sick with the flu.’ Because the very next day, Wednesday, was the start of spring break for my kids, and I was supposed to be off for two weeks. And the trip that we had planned was already canceled.

So we were thinking, what else are we going to do, we’re going to, maybe, you know, do something local, you know, spend some time with the family.

And then that night, I got home. And that’s when it really got serious with fevers, chills, more body aches, headache, joint pains, but really just feeling terribly tired. I just wanted to lay down, I could not get out of bed. And so that was the beginning of it.

Q: How do you think you got infected?

Dr. Kwon: The next morning I get up, I’m thinking I’m looking back [at] what happened. At that time, we were not wearing masks...So, we did not understand that this was an airborne disease. So we were talking about six feet social distance.

We were talking about hand washing and cleaning surfaces.

But really, in hindsight, we now

Back on track middle of next year. As soon as he instructs us, we will try to work on earlier deliveries from this end.

The secretary has also issued an assurance that the country is “on track” and that we are still able to make up for the delays in the negotiations.

“We are working on getting a fair share of the vaccines in the global market, given that 80% of the vaccines have already been procured by the manufacturers’ country of origin and countries now in the height of the ‘second wave,’” he said.

The private sector is joining forces with the government to support the massive logistical requirements in the rollout of the vaccines as seen in the big turnout during the recent virtual Vaccine Logistics Summit. Coordination between the public and private sectors, including global agencies, was emphasized in the fight against the pandemic.

As underscored by Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation president Butch Meily, “Collaboration between the govern-

ment and the private sector in the distribution of the COVID19 vaccines ensures the best use of trucks, airlines, hospitals and other resources in one of the most complex logistics exercises ever.”

The whole world is hoping to recover from the ravages of the pandemic, although the case rate is still very high, especially here in the United States where over 18 million have been infected. More than one million Americans have been vaccinated starting with the frontliners, with more than 20 million doses set for distribution in the next few weeks.

But as health experts have cautioned – foremost among them U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Dr. Anthony Fauci – people still need to be vigilant with the wearing of masks and the practice of social distancing. Based on past history and even during the time when no vaccines were available, wearing masks is an effective way to stop the spread of an infectious disease.

know that this is an airborne virus. So, if you’re indoors, even if you’re six feet apart — it doesn’t really matter. Masks can help. It’s not everything.

But you really need to provide protection for your airway.

So before I became sick, even though we knew this virus was raging, we did not even in the hospital, and in the clinic here at the Medical Center, we did not have a mask policy. In fact, we were worried about using up the limited supply of masks that we had. So we were very much in the mode of preserving masks and PPE rather than just making sure that everyone was using them everywhere.

And of course, depending on the advisory coming from [the] CDC and the health officials.

But the fact is we’re just learning more about this on COVID19... In my personal opinion, I think probably a lot of people would agree that the way we responded, our initial response to this virus was a complete public health failure.

Q: How did this experience change you?

Dr. Kwon: You know, I’m middle-aged. Before this happened. I considered myself to be young and healthy. Now, I know that I’m old. And I know that because I realized that I am no longer invincible.

When you’re young, when you’re healthy, you don’t think

that something bad like this can happen to you.

And as a physician, maybe as health care workers, we might have this little voice in our head, that says, I’m one of the good guys. Right. So, in a moral universe where there’s maybe you believe in karma. If you do good, good will come to you, if you work hard, you will be rewarded. If you do the right thing. Maybe that will somehow protect you from being in harm’s way. All of those myths evaporated in a heartbeat — being young being healthy, never, ever hospitalized, don’t really go to the doctor ever, and wasn’t taking any medications.

Occasionally, you know, go in for vaccination for work, get the flu vaccine once a year. But other than that, my interaction with the medical world actually as a patient was quite minimal.

And so, I had this thinking that it would not affect me at all — what a mistake that was. And now on the other side of having gone through a relatively severe bout of COVID, being in the ICU for several days, being sick and symptomatic for a couple of months. And now having some residual long haul symptoms that I’m still recovering from.

Q: How was it like being a patient? What insights did you learn from this health crisis in your own life?

Dr. Kwon: It’s been very hum-

bling. And the thing that I think the way that I really changed is my perspective on the people, the people that we depend on that. They’re always there quietly doing their work. And they’re in the background...when you really need them.

These are exceptional people that do the work every single day with hardly any recognition.

They’re not getting awards. This is not Hollywood. These are real life, everyday heroes. And the people who are most impactful for me, who have been the most impactful have been the nurses.

They are the ones that are literally on the frontlines putting themselves at risk, more, more than anybody else really and doing the hard work, providing the care. So, before all of this, of course, I am friends with the nurses and I know them, some of them personally, mostly in the operating room, where we have teams and we work together.

But after being a patient and directly receiving that care that that human touch, literally. You know I was quarantined for a total of five weeks. And during that five weeks, the only people that ever touched me were nurses, and that warm hand on my arm was reassuring.

The reassuring words, the medicine they brought, the ice

In the past few weeks, new strains of the novel coronavirus have been detected in South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Initial reports indicate that the “UK variant” could be 70% more transmissible, although scientists say it does not seem to cause more severe illness.

Experts are also confident that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines would still be effective as they can be tweaked to combat the new strains.

It was quick on the part of President Duterte to suspend flights from the UK to ensure public health and safety. We have to accept the fact that developments like this will happen every now and then, which is why we have to continue to be vigilant, and people must maintain health and safety protocols for at least a year until the World Health Organization officially declares the pandemic over.

As the saying goes, it’s not over till it’s over since it will take time for the immunization of at least 60% of the world’s population. Clearly, lessons can be learned from this pandemic – described as unprecedented because the virus behaved in a

manner that defied all expectations, as it would not manifest any symptoms for one person while it could be fatal for another.

What is very clear is the need for a more accurate system of reporting and tracking to prevent the further spread of the virus. Definitely, all these lessons will help countries prepare better for any potential pandemic that could take place again. Billionaire Bill Gates’ foundation warned about a major pandemic 15 years ago.

No doubt it’s been a really difficult year, with so many sectors having been affected, especially our overseas Filipino workers. But deployment is starting to slowly pick up, according to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

Several countries are also set to reopen their borders to foreign workers once their respective vaccine programs start to roll.

The government has also put together a package of livelihood assistance programs for OFWs who have been displaced due to the pandemic, along with college scholarships provided for their children.

In the meantime, Finance

Secretary Sonny Dominguez will be launching several virtual economic briefings to attract more companies that are relocating to Asia. Secretary Dominguez is confident that “the worst is over” and that the Philippines will be able to rebound strongly in 2021 given the “green shoots” that are coming up, among them our record-high gross international reserves that stood at $104 billion as of the end of October. The peso is also projected to strengthen even further in 2021 as the market “continues to focus on the Philippines’ strong macroeconomic fundamentals,” according to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor Ben Diokno.

All of us will never forget 2020, but we are all certainly looking forward to 2021 – confident that we are “back on track for the health and wealth of our country.” ***

u PAGE A7

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

*** Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com

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A

Dateline PPALhiliPPines readies fleet for vaccine transport

PH internet speed ranks 110th out of 139 countries worldwide

by Ritchel

mendiolA AJPress

THE Philippines’ internet connection saw a slight improvement in November this year, according to a global speed test.

In Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index, the Philippines ranked 110th out of 139 countries in mobile broadband, with a speed of 18.49 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads — a spot above its 111th ranking in October with a speed of 17.83 Mbps.

The United Arab Emirates emerged as the country with the fastest mobile internet connection with a speed of 170.30 Mbps, while Afghanistan ranked last with 6.31 Mbps.

On the other hand, the Philippines ranked 103rd out of 176 countries in fixed broadband, with a speed of 28.69 Mbps compared to October’s 27.07 Mbps.

Singapore ranked first with an impressive speed of 241.10 Mbps. This is followed by Hong Kong (222.92 Mbps), and Thailand (213.14 Mbps).

Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index analyzed web access performance metrics around the world based on millions of tests taken by real people using the internet.

“By having multiple servers in every country and major city, Speedtest ensures an accurate view of performance without requiring long, or even international transit, to perform a test,” Ookla said on its website.

“As a result of this testing infrastructure and the enormous number of tests taken using Speedtest, Ookla has no need to extrapolate data to fill in gaps because its applications collect information from every imaginable location and every type of device at all hours of the day,” it added.

Penalize internet providers

Makati City Representative Luis Campos Jr. on Sunday, December 27 pointed out that the country’s internet connection is still too slow, adding that it lags behind its peers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“We clearly still have one of the slowest Internet speeds in the world and in Asia,” he said.

Campos, who filed House Bill 7479 which seeks to slap a fine of P1 million daily to telecoms that fail to reach a mandatory internet speed, stressed that the Filipinos deserve a faster internet.

“Filipinos deserve faster Internet speeds, which have been associated with higher economic productivity, stronger jobs creation and greater quality of life,” he said.

“We want the NTC to set faster Internet speed targets every year, and then penalize the service providers that fail to deliver,” he added. n

Duterte slams ICC anew

by Alexis

RomeRo Philstar.com

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has accused the International Criminal Court (ICC) of interfering in the Philippines’ internal matters almost two weeks after the tribunal’s prosecutor claimed there was “reasonable basis” to believe crimes against humanity were committed in the country because of the war on drugs.

Duterte questioned ICC’s authority to prosecute him and claimed that the tribunal was peddling “nonsense.”

“Maya ko na sagutin ‘yang ICC-ICC na ‘yan. Puro kabulastugan man rin ‘yang inyo (I will answer the ICC later. It’s all nonsense),” the president said during a televised address last Monday.

“In the first place, why are you interfering in the affairs of my country and other countries? And who gave you

the authority? By what divine law gave you the authority... to prosecute me in a...foreign land tapos ang nakaupo puro kayo mga puti na u*** (and all the sitting judges are white fools)?” he added.

Duterte reiterated that he is ready to land in jail because of his campaign against illegal drugs, which has left about 6,000 drug suspects dead, based on police data.

“You must be crazy... We have the courts here functioning. And if the courts say that I should go to jail, I will go to jail. I have no problem with that... I did what I embarked to do. It was an election promise,” he said.

‘Pag ‘yan ang suwerte inabutan ko, so be it. Iyon na ‘yon (If that’s my fate, then so be it.

That’s it).”

Earlier this month, ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said the crimes against humanity linked to the Philippines’ anti-drug campaign are murder, torture, and infliction of serious physi-

cal injury and mental harm. The ICC prosecutor may decide on whether to seek permission to begin a probe on the Philippie situation in the first half of 2021.

Malacañang has claimed that the Philippines cannot be compelled to cooperate with the ICC since it has withdrawn from the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the tribunal.

Duterte, whose strong stance on crime catapulted him to the presidency in 2016, said drug lords and kidnappers deserve to be burned alive.

“The drug lords, even the kidnappers, the drug pushers, bring them to a place where not so many people will be scandalized. Pour gasoline on them and set them on fire. They deserve it,” he added.

Critics claim that Duterte’s fiery rhetoric has led to extrajudicial killings and other abuses but officials deny this, saying the president respects the rule of law and that he is just fond of “colorful language.” n

by Richmond

meRcuRio Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is preparing its fleet to help in the transport of COVID-19 vaccines to the country and around the region.

“PAL is readying its fleet of wide body aircraft for the task of transporting vaccines to the Philippines and around the region,” it said.

The carrier has continuously been operating repatriation flights that bring home stranded overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and other Filipinos from all over the world, along with allcargo flights to transport essential goods.

In terms of commercial flights, PAL has also been increasing domestic services on various routes in line with its network restoration plan and in time for the holiday season.

The airline has doubled services on the prime trunk route between Manila and Cebu, from 14 to 28 round trip flights weekly since Dec. 1.

Flights between Manila and Cagayan de Oro is set to grow to three times daily, while flights between Manila and Tacloban were doubled to two times a day.

The flag carrier has resumed services to Antique, as well as to Catarman and to popular tourist destinations Coron (Busuanga), Siargao and Boracay.

Its Cebu hub also continues

“PAL is readying its fleet of wide body aircraft for the task of transporting vaccines to the Philippines and around the region,” the airline said.

Philstar.com file photo

to expand with flights to Clark, Puerto Princesa, Legazpi, Bacolod, General Santos and Siargao.

PAL is likewise operating regularly from Davao to Zamboanga and vice versa and revived its service to Tagbilaran (Panglao airport) in November after the reopening of Bohol province to domestic tourism.

The airline said it is likewise increasing flight frequencies on most domestic routes, including those from Manila to Laoag, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Kalibo, Cotabato, Butuan, Ozamiz and Pagadian; and likewise between Cebu and both Davao and Butuan.

“We are mobilizing more air-

craft and hiking flights throughout our network to further help boost the recovery of the economy, including the tourism sector which is a major provider of jobs and business,” PAL senior assistant vice president for Philippine sales Harry Inoferio said.

“At the same time, we are here to help our fellow Filipinos come home to be reunited with their families this Christmas and fly them back to their residences and work sites abroad,” he said.

PAL has resumed services to 25 domestic and 32 international destinations.

Prior to the pandemic, it was flying to 38 international destinations and 30 domestic destinations. n

Honoring our heroes on the frontline...

PAGE A6 t packs that they put around me.

When my body felt like it was on fire. Those are the people. They are my heroes, and I appreciate them way more than I ever did.

Our mothers, our fathers in this war against the coronavirus...It’s really important to understand that, because there are only so many of them.

Our nurses have gotten sick, particularly in the spring, when PPE was in such short supply...

You know nobody likes to admit this but the United States, our healthcare system, we just were not prepared for, for many reasons. Supply chain being one of

them. We just didn’t have what we needed. Let’s just face the facts.

So we were making do with what we have reusing and N-95 masks. We’re still reusing them.

So, unfortunately, a lot has not changed. But at least we are.

We’ve learned. But it’s not like we have a whole army of nurses that we can just call upon to fill in. We have a limited workforce.

You know they’re working very hard, under extremely stressful situations.

And we have to protect them.

We have to treat them as a valuable resource and a limited resource. And the way we do that is with our own behavior [and]

to protect each other.

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.

*** 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.

A

december 31, 2020-January 6, 2021 • LaS VeGaS aSIan JOurnaL

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VEGAS&STYLE Journal

inside

LIfeStyLe • CONSUmeR GUIde • COmmUNIty • mARketpLACe

Filipino traditions to welcome 2021 Self-care in 2021: Resisting commercialized by

Ritchel Mendiola / AJPress

2020 has been a turbulent year all around, offering no reprieve as it doled out concerning news and tragedies month after month.

It’s no wonder then, that everyone is eager to say goodbye to this year and welcome 2021 with boundless hope that it will be better than the last. Countries like the United Kingdom and the United States have already begun their COVID-19 vaccine campaigns, so the new year is looking a little less bleak.

Just like with Christmas, we can’t celebrate the new year the way we used to. Restrictions are in place to keep the public from contracting COVID-19 and ev-

eryone is encouraged to stay at home.

Still, even without the usual fanfare, we Filipinos can still welcome 2021 by partaking in traditions that are supposed to help in making the new year better, happier, and more bountiful — right in our own homes. Here are some of those traditions: 1. Eating media noche Filipinos love eating — but more than that, they love eating together with their families.

New Year’s eve gives them that opportunity to celebrate, complete with an impressive spread to welcome the incoming year.

Roughly translated as “midnight,” Media Noche is a Filipino custom where family members, their relatives, and friends

all gather together to eat and drink. The menu differs for every family but there will always be some food that remain a staple in every household such as pancit (long noodles), which represent good health and long life; and sticky rice, which represents tighter family bonds.

2.

Having circles/round shapes everywhere Filipinos and Chinese alike believe the round shape is a symbol of prosperity, so it’s common to see circles during New Year’s Eve. More often than not, you’ll see 12 round fruits displayed on the dining table (one fruit per month for a prosperous year) or people wearing polka-dotted clothes.

PAGE B2

New Year’s Eve gives families that opportunity to celebrate, complete with an impressive spread to welcome the incoming year.

Illustration by Kendrick Tan

wellness and appreciating what you have Plus, taking a look at the radical history of self-care

by KlaRize

Medenilla AJPress

IT could not be said enough: 2020 was awful.

Nearly everybody could agree, and no matter what kind of silver-lining spin you try to put on it, it’s an immovable fact that this was a year marked by the ongoing coronavirus crisis which has threatened economic stability, political security and, most importantly, the health of millions of people across the globe.

According to the World Health Organization, there have been nearly 80 million confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus globally as of Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.

Nearly 1.8 million people have passed away from complications over the virus.

On a local level, the staggering numbers paint a much more dire situation, especially in Los Angeles County, in which hospitals continue to be swamped with COVID-19 patients and where a new stay-at-home order may be on the horizon.

All in all, the current climate doesn’t make conducive the prospect of optimism and safety. But no matter what the circumstances are in the outside world, there’s always room for self-care.

Self-care isn’t a new phenomenon but it quickly became shorthand for mental health around 2016. Searching the #selfcare hashtag on Instagram yields more than 15 million posts that depict everything from a fresh manicure and a haircut to col-

lections of luxury aromatherapy and yoga poses on mountain tops. Google searches for the term doubled in 2016, and interestingly, the term was Googled twice as much in April and May of this year, signaling the pandemic as a catalyst for self-care.

But what does self-care actually entail? A concept so individualistic means that one person’s vision of self-care differs from the next, but popular conceptions — taking breaks from social media, adopting an exercise or diet routine, Marie Kondo-ing your closet — seek to provide universal balms to the burns of anxiety, depression and mental exhaustion.

The popularity of self-care has devolved the phenomenon into a commodifiable concept; for $492 you can buy a vial of sandalwood essential oil. For about the same price, you can book a spot at The Silent Meditation Retreat in North Carolina (if you book

by Dec. 31, the price is a special COVID-19 discount at the relatively equally astonishing price of $295). Online marketplaces like Gwyneth Paltrow’s wellness empire GOOP regularly hawk quirky, exorbitantly priced selfcare products and services (like a $135 at-home coffee enema designed to detox your rectum and, allegedly, provide a caffeine boost).

By 2018, the global health and wellness space became a $4.5 trillion industry, obscuring the point of self-care from an authentic mission to care for oneself to a muddy marketplace rife

with grifts and sham cures.

The truth is that there isn’t (and, some would argue, shouldn’t be) a price tag on selfcare. And it wasn’t designed that way.

The term self-care was first documented in the 1950s among the medical community to describe behavioral and attitudinal changes in institutionalized patients who needed to preserve physical independence through daily tasks like personal grooming or exercising.

In the 1960s, academics began to look more closely at the concept of self-care, particularly in the context of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among first responders: hospital workers, social workers and firefighters who all became overworked during one of the most tumultuous times in American history.

This included expanding the list of needs that affected folks required to establish boundaries between work and personal life — an explicit precursor to the plight of front line workers of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the concept of self-care took off in a big way in the 1970s at the cross section of the women’s liberation and civil rights movements. The Black Panther Party promoted it to the Black community as a way to maintain strength of character while experiencing repeated abuses of systemic racism.

Notably, the Black Panther Party wanted to provide a channel of care at a time when the PAGE B3

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‘YAHOO YEAR IN REVIEW’ Angeline looks back on fulfilling dream to be a singer: ‘Law of attraction‘ The Philippines’ top searches in 2020

by Ryan

aRcadio Inquirer.net

ANGELINE Quinto recalled how she dreamed of becoming a professional singer from a young age, adding that the law of attraction helped her achieve her goal.

The award-winning artist reminisced the time she simply dreamed of her current career on her Instagram page on Dec. 27.

Quinto shared a photo of herself from an old yearbook.

Beside her picture were the phrases “Nothing is impossible” and “To be a professional [singer] someday.”

Referring to the image and her goal at the time, Quinto simply said: “Law of attraction.”

Quinto’s dream eventually became her reality after she won the TV talent contest “Star Power” back in 2001. She has since released five studio albums. Her

Angeline Quinto

Photo from Instagram/@loveangelinequinto

latest effort was called “@LoveAngelineQuinto” and premiered in 2017.

Aside from her singing career,

Quinto has also ventured into acting. She last starred in the 2017 romantic comedy “Foolish Love.”

Filipino traditions to welcome...

PAGE B1 3. Jumping when the clock strikes 12 The most popular tradition that Filipino adults and kids do as soon as the clock strikes January 1. Jumping as high as you can is believed to be a way to help you grow taller in the new year — there’s no scientific explanation to support this belief, but it’s fun and exhilarating to

do anyway.

4. Opening doors and keeping all the lights on When the new year arrives, Filipinos would open all the doors in their houses to allow good energy and good fortune to come in, and turn on all the lights to welcome a brighter year.

5. Making loud noises to drive off evil spirits

Firework displays are a common sight in every country when they welcome the new year, but in the Philippines, fireworks light up the sky because it is believed loud sounds would scare off evil spirits that bring bad luck. Aside from this, Filipinos usually play loud music in the open, and use horns or toy instruments to produce ear-piercing noises.

BY any measure, 2020 has been one of the most momentous years of the past century. The past 50-odd weeks have kept netizens in the Philippines glued to their devices in search of information, ideas and opinions through a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic.

From the eruption of the Taal Volcano, and the NBA, to local and Korean entertainment choices, there has been a flood of online activity this year as netizens sought out their passions online like never before.

As the year draws to a close, “Yahoo’s Year in Review 2020” takes a look at the top happenings, people, and trends that captured the interest of the Philippines’ online community in 2020.

Top newsmakers of 2020: Uncertainty, tragedy and politics headline search.

Taal Volcano, one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes, was the top searched news in the Philippines this year — its activity in January threatened the lives of nearly a million people across Calabarzon, Metro Manila and some parts of Central Luzon and Ilocos region. Late NBA superstar Kobe Bryant ranked second in the search list as basketball-obsessed Philippines reeled from news of his untimely passing.

Local and international politics featured prominently, with the US Presidential Elections (3rd) and President Donald Trump (6th), as well as our own President Rodrigo Duterte (4th) and his additional

According to Yahoo, Taal Volcano was the top searched news in the Philippines this year.

ManilaTimes.net photo

authority to combat COVID-19 granted through the Bayanihan Act 2020 (5th), also known as the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, ranking high on users’ searches.

The arrest and ongoing saga of businessman and popular internet personality Francis Leo Marcos (7th) for alleged violation of Optometry Law also kept users on the edge of their seats.

Most searched celebrities: Ivana Alawi and Raffy Tulfo take tops spots.

Filipino celebrities dominated the most searched female celebrities list this year, taking eight out of the 10 top spots. Catapulting into the top spot was Kapamilya actress Ivana Alawi whose wildly popular YouTube channel drove her meteoric rise to fame in just a year. Sarah Geronimo ranked second on the list as news of her surprise secret wedding sent users on a frantic hunt for details of the “AshMatt” nuptials. Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray’s (3rd) controversial breakup with her ex Clint Bondad was thrust back into the public light as alleged photos of them circulated on social media.

There was no resisting the charm of South Korean oppas as they took up almost half of the spots in the most searched male celebrities list. Gaining international popularity with “Crash Landing on You,” 2020 was a shining year for Hyun Bin (2nd) as he also clinched a commercial deal with telco Smart Communications. Other South Korean male celebrities who made the list were Lee Min-Ho (6th), Park Seo Joon (9th), and Ji Chang Wook (10th).

Broadcast journalist and host Raffy Tulfo surged to the top of the list as he edged out even the best looking South Korean male celebrities to take the coveted top spot.

Remembering the King of Philippine Movies Fernando Poe Jr., legislation filed in Congress to rename an avenue after him sparked interest, ranking him third on the search list. Subject of false reports of his death, Marcelito Pomoy (4th) whose outstanding solo performance of the classic duet “The Prayer” captivated millions of viewers on America’s Got Talent, and the Philippines’ favorite son, Manny Pacquiao (5th) rounded off the top half of the list.

Most searched movies and TV shows: Local showbiz holds on, K-drama rises.

No surprises this year as local showbiz continued to be popular, even as the Korean wave con-

tinued making inroads into the Philippines.

K-drama “Crash Landing on You” was the most searched in the list as stars of the series clinched commercial deals in the country — a couple even had photoshoots themed after the series. “The World of the Married,” another South Korean series, came in seventh as ABS-CBN quickly clinched airing rights for the show with a Filipino-dubbed version. Rounding up the list was Oscar-winning South Korean film, “Parasite” (10th).

Not to be beaten, local showbiz with a mix of local TV series, newscast, and variety shows were also popularly searched. Encantadia was second most searched, with TV Patrol (3rd), Wowowin (6th), and Ang Probinsyano (8th) proving time-tested favorites.

While it dominated the list in 2019, the popularity of Hollywood waned in 2020 — only America”s Got Talent (4th) and Frozen 2 (5th) were featured in the list. #Covid19: Users searched for updates, symptoms, lockdowns and vaccine.

As Covid-19 upended the lives of Filipinos and people around the world, “Coronavirus Update”, “Coronavirus Philippines” and “Covid-19 symptoms” became the top three pandemic search terms amongst users. “Covid 19 update worldwide”, “Covid-19 vaccine”, “Covid-19 tracker”, “Quarantine”, “Pandemic”, and “Lockdown” were hot on the heels of the top search terms, coming in from fourth to ninth place.

Interestingly, Italy was a country of interest to users in the Philippines, due to its status as one of the largest European migration destinations for Filipinos. “Coronavirus Italy” (10th) made an appearance as one of the popular searches related to Coronavirus.

Travel in style with AR filters: Until travel is possible again, users can satiate their wanderlust while they look back into 2020 with the “Travel in Style” series of augmented reality (AR) filters.

Three AR filters, created by Yahoo, will be available on Facebook and Instagram. From basking in the sun in stunning Santorini, to grooving on the streets of trendy Tokyo, to diving in the deep sea — the filters take users on a journey to travel in style as they look back into 2020.

For the biggest moments online and other surprises from the year, click on Yahoo’s Year in Review 2020 on www.ph.yahoo. com/topics/ph-yir.

Ivana Alawi and Raffy Tulfo are the most searched male and female celebrities.

Photos from Instagram/@ivanaalawi, @raffytulfoinaction

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For Gabbi, social media ‘a gift, not a weapon’ by allan

PolicarPio Inquirer.net

IF Gabbi Garcia could give a reminder to her fellow social media users, it would be this: “Look at it as a gift; not a weapon.”

“I feel like sometimes people, myself included, forget that it’s a gift used to connect with each other. It’s not meant for hurting others,” Gabbi pointed out in a virtual conference for “IRL (In Real Life),” a new youth-oriented reality show that she hosts on GMA News TV. “I hope we can stop fighting each other,” she added. “At the end of the day, we all want the same things—to improve, make life better. Let’s stick to our goals as much as best as we can … As long as our intentions are pure and we’re not stepping on anyone, then it’s all good.”

Social media can be a powerful tool to influence others. And so it’s important that everyone, especially those with considerable followings, uses his or her platform responsibly.

“We’re free to speak our minds, but let’s make sure we know what we’re talking about. As long as you have done your research and have educated yourself, as long as you don’t hurt or disrespect anyone, go ahead—express what’s on your minds,” said the 22-year-old Kapuso star, who has over 6.8 million followers on Instagram and 1.16 million subscribers on YouTube.

“In Real Life,” which airs Thursdays at 9:15 p.m., “features the latest on travel, music, sports, fashion, gaming, career, love and relationships, and everything else inside and outside of their digital world.”

“It’s a magazine show where we can talk just about anything under the sun. In this age of social media, lots of people, especially

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • dEcEmbER 31, 2020 - JANUARy 6, 2021

Embracing self-love and weight gain: Celebrities who spoke out about body positivity

by Kata

Dayanghirang Philstar.com

Gabbi Garcia

Photo from Instagram/@gabbi

my Generation Z fellows are looking for safe spaces to discuss such topics. And I want the show to provide that,” she said.

The COVID-19 pandemic, she said, has compelled her to hit the pause button and reflect. “We have to value whatever we have.

Sometimes we forget that there’s a higher being who controls everything. It had me thinking about the importance of family or loved ones,” she said.

But it’s good to finally be working outside. One of the best things about the show is shooting on location—a breath of fresh air after months of quarantine.

“It was nice to go out and see and talk to people,” said Gabbi, who shot the maiden episode in Tagaytay with her guest cohost, boyfriend Khalil Ramos.

“Safety protocols were followed, of course.”

While she started out in show biz as an actress, Gabbi adjusted to hosting fairly easily, thanks

to her experience as a vlogger and her propensity for public speaking.

“As an actor you’re used to following scripts; in television, you usually read from prompters. So at first I wondered how I could talk more naturally … But vlogging helped me,” she related.

“I was also a part of the student council and I love public speaking.

I loved doing opening remarks, leading the prayer … I think that helped, too.”

But she still has a lot to learn, Gabbi admitted. “It’s still a learning process for me … I have a lot to improve. I have to do more research and build more confidence as a host.”

“What I want to achieve is to create a vibe where it feels like I’m just chatting with my viewers as I share my insights about certain topics. I love that I don’t have to follow a script all the time. I’m given the freedom to speak about what’s on my mind,” she said.

STARS are saying and standing by weight and self-love.

Sandara Park, also known as Dara, recently shared a trivia that surprised everyone. During her guesting for the December 29 episode of “Problem Child in House,” Dara shared that she has found an unlikely way to gain weight.

She started, “I’ve never been over 38 - 39 kg in my life. I’ve never been really into food. I don’t eat if I’m not feeling well, and I don’t eat if I’m busy. My lifelong wish was gaining weight. I’ve tried a lot of different things to try and gain weight.”

The 2NE1 star was a guest of the show that tapped Super Junior’s Heechul as its current host.

Dara then revealed that she recently gained “about 7 - 8 kg.”

She attributed her weight gain by hanging out with her “Video Star” co-hosts Kim Sook and Park Na Rae. “They both love food very much. I eat with them often, and suddenly, I realized that I wasn’t putting my chopsticks down either,” she shared, adding that she now wears two sizes up.

“Sook unnie was so happy that I started gaining weight and told me that I look really good,” Dara

Ivana enters ‘100 Most Beautiful Faces’ list by ratziel

San Juan Philstar.com

Ivana Alawi Photo from Instagram/@ivanaalawi

KAPAMILYA star Ivana Alawi is the most beautiful Filipino, according to TC Candler, which annually publishes lists of “The 100 Most Beautiful/Handsome Faces.”

The actress and social media sensation placed 11th on “The 100 Most Beautiful Faces of 2020” released Monday afternoon, ahead of the only other Filipino nominee, Liza Soberano, who placed 14th.

This marks Ivana’s first time on the yearly list.

She barely missed entering the top 10, comprised of Nancy Jewel McDonie, Josie Lane, Nana, Halima Aden, Thylane Blondeau, Emilie Jennylyn Mercado Nereng, Tzuyu, Meika Woollard, Lalisa Manoban and first-placer, Photo from Instagram/@mercadojenny Israeli model Yael Shelbia.

Meanwhile, it is Liza’s sixth appearance overall, with her claiming the “most beautiful” title in 2017. It took her two initial appearances before she topped the list, placing sixth in 2015 and second in 2016.

Ivana and Liza were announced in April as official nominees by TC Candler.

Self-care in 2021: Resisting commercialized...

PAGE B1 American medical system — which, at that time, lacked racial diversity — failed to diagnose illnesses rampant among the Black American community, like sickle-cell anemia and lead poisoning.

Simultaneously, women’s clinics began popping up around the country as a way to escape a white, patriarchal medical system, a radical corrective to the “claiming [of] autonomy over the body as a political act against institutional, technocratic, very racist and sexist medicine,” Natalia Mehlman Petzrela, associate professor at the New School and author of many academic articles about the wellness industry, told Slate in 2016.

There became a push to reexamine health care beyond just the physical and the socioeconomic factors that contribute to low mental health, according to Jennifer Nelson’s book “More Than Medicine: A History of the Feminist Women’s Health Movement”: women in poverty were constantly described as “vectors of disease,” hostility toward reproductive rights increased and racist attitudes and practices over who deserves the best medical care.

This era of self-care was built upon the idea that, at the heart of it, self-care relies on agency, awareness and nuance: understanding that there may be mental and emotional issues present and it is a valid and radical act to preserve physical, emotional and mental autonomy.

As Audre Lorde wrote in “A Burst of Light” in 1988, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

So in a climate that is so charged by quarantine fatigue and rampant political division, what does self-care look like?

The COVID-19 crisis has taken a huge toll on our lives, whether it’s putting front line family members at a daily risk or causing an economic plunge that threatens basic livelihoods.

Given the cultural and political implications of self-care, and the current state of affairs, it makes sense that there is a hunger for meaningful introspection and ways to achieve peace of

B

mind; if you’re willing to spend $500 for a silent retreat, essential oils or whatever newfangled wellness commodity the marketplace offers, then there truly is no expense spared when it comes to self-care.

The new year often brings to the fore resolutions, ways to stimulate productivity and positive change and, in general, feel better mentally and emotionally.

Losing weight, spending less time in front of a screen, learning a new language and decluttering are common long-term goals, but new year’s resolutions famously don’t last longer than a month.

This idea of a new year’s resolution is usually based on self-care and rooted in the idea that we become newer, better versions of ourselves. But what that kind of rhetoric does is encourage a way of thinking that values productivity over mindfulness and ignores the fact that maybe what we need, we already have. That there isn’t a sweeping master plan toward self-care that involves major life decisions or purchases.

Jenny Odell — a Filipina American artist and professor at Stanford — wrote in her best-selling book “How to do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy” that perhaps the secret to living a more fulfilled life is by “doing nothing.”

What that means is resisting the persuasions of a cultural, political and media landscape that forces us to believe in a toxic view of upward mobility, that to remain in one place is to remain mentally stagnant. It’s the radical thought that there is plenty to learn from and build up what we already know how to do.

“But beyond self-care and the ability to (really) listen, the practice of doing nothing has something broader to offer us: an antidote to the rhetoric of growth,” Odell writes. “In the context of health and ecology, things that grow unchecked are often considered parasitic or cancerous. Yet we inhabit a culture that privileges novelty and growth over the cyclical and the regenerative. Our very idea of productivity is premised on the idea of producing something new, whereas we do not tend to see maintenance and care as

productive in the same way.”

As members of a culture that prioritizes optimization over maintenance, it makes sense that we generally don’t see what’s directly in front of us, our focus moving away from the attainable foreground to an ideal faraway place of perfection.

Maybe what we need to do in the name of self-care and selfsatisfaction doesn’t truly thrive in the supposed utopias that modern technology and capital enterprise promise.

Many of us, especially in the Filipino American community, have lost friends and family members to COVID-19 — possibly the most tragic, unconscionable loss in a year full of losses.

Earlier this year, in a story about the Lakers championship win, the Asian Journal spoke with Annalynn Rosario, a graphic designer in Lake Forest who lost her father to COVID-19 in June.

For that story, Rosario recounted what it was like to watch the Los Angeles Lakers win their 17th title without her father, who was a fervent Laker fan and with whom Rosario bonded over the Lakers.

“There’s nothing like losing your parent. It happens all the time, and everyone can agree is sad and tragic, but experiencing it, especially if you were close to that parent like I was, was lifechanging, in good and bad ways believe it or not,” Rosario said in October.

Rosario added that the loss of her father made her “really reevaluate what I value in life. If I knew that I was going to die tomorrow, what would my thought processes be? Would I be wishing that I made more money or went on more vacations? Would I be full of all these regrets?”

She continued, “I don’t think it would be, and I don’t think that was what my dad thought either. I would be making a plan to spend time with my family, speak with my friends [and] play with my dog and listen to my favorite music because what I have and who I have in my life is more than enough. I don’t need anything else.”

In other words, maybe selfcare, real self-care, lies in what we already have and not what we don’t.

Sandara Park

Janella Salvador

shared.

Aside from her, two women also displayed their idea of self-love by calling out body-shaming.

Janella Salvador posted on December 26 on Twitter: “Filipinos are the worst body shamers. Let me enjoy my Christmas pudding in peace. Happy holidays to you too,” she posted.

“Can we discontinue this toxic Filipino trait na tuwing nagkikita ang hilig mag komento tungkol sa physical looks ng iba tulad ng - ‘Uy tumaba ka’. It’s not okay.

First of all it’s rude, second it may trigger some people na may Ed. Maling-mali,” the lead star of the recently ended “Descendants of the Sun” Philippine adaptation posted.

Netizens gave their approval with the actress with 30,900 likes and 5,045 retweets.

People started sharing their

Photo from Instagram/@daraxxi

Photo from Instagram/@superjanella

own stories of dreading to go home especially on holidays because they are faced with the seemingly normalized holiday greeting of “You’ve gained weight.”

Twitter netizen @piecesofchi reacted on the actress’ post, “I stopped going to major family occasions because of this. My aunts’ favorite question is, ‘o ano, mahirap ka pa rin?’ Closely followed by, ‘magpapayat ka na. ok lang na pangit basta sexy.’

It’s easier to isolate myself from them than to pretend their words don’t hurt.”

Jennylyn replied, “Bessie, your looks and status sa life don’t dictate your worth as a person...

Don’t let how they treat you dictate how you live your life. You are worthy just as u are and u deserve to be happy. I feel so bad don’t know what to say.”

B december 31, 2020 - January 6, 2021 • LaS VeGaS aSIan JOurnaL

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS THE other day, I received a startling video clip from a friend in Texas who forwarded it from his Messenger account, showing a nurse being interviewed after getting the anti-COVID-19 vaccine. The video showed she felt ill right there and then, and passed out. The video clip ended there. The printed message on the video said, “Nurse died after taking shot of COVID vaccine.”

Tiffany Dover, a nurse at CHI Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, who fainted after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, was wildly circulated in the social media around the world as having died from the shot.

News like this will obviously create fear and panic among people who are waiting to get the vaccine and may opt out of it. That would be a disaster. The public is already worried about the safety of the vaccines because they were developed rapidly (about 11 months rather than the old conventional way, which took years, even decades, to develop).

COVID-19 data update Currently, worldwide, there are almost 81.3 million cases of COVID-19 and nearly 1.8 million deaths: U.S. – about 19.6 million, with about 342,000 deaths; the Philippines – around 471,000 cases and 9,200 deaths.

A new strain (variant) with 20 mutations of SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) virus, 70 percent more transmissible, is spreading in the United Kingdom and first detected on December 14, 2020. Other countries with this new strain include Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia.

All passengers on flights from the UK to the U.S. are now required to have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their flight. It is not certain at this point that if this new strain is already in the U.S. An egregious act Whoever circulated the incomplete video and the resultant halftruth – fake news –must be censured. CHI Hospital confirmed Tiffany is alive and well and back to work. Fake news – false information like this – instantly circulates throughout the world in this day and age of the internet and social media. The harm this person had done, obviously intentional, could kill countless people, especially those gullible, innocent and ignorant who would develop deathly fear of the vaccine and refuse to get it. The act, an abuse of our first amendment right by an apparent mentally deranged person, borders on criminality. It is a great disservice to humankind as a whole. If we cannot help end this ravaging pandemic, we must at

Community Journal

Did the nurse die? least not endeavor to worsen it and kill more people around the globe. As recipients of fake news, we, on the other hand, have the responsibility not to disseminate them, without doing a due diligence first. All lives matter. All lives are valuable. We have more than enough deaths!

Hurried vaccines?

Scientifically, the impressive speed with which these antiCOVID-19 vaccines evolved was due to a newly discovered faster, more efficient, process (with mRNA) in vaccine manufacturing. There was no rush or shortcuts taken here. The same strict, rigid, intensive laboratory and 3-stage clinical, evidencebased, randomized studies and trials were followed, involving at least 80,000 subjects for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, and released for public use a week ago only after passing the stringent safety milestone of, and approval by, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). With this new and improved process of vaccine production, future vaccines will also be developed faster.

As we have stated in an earlier article, simply because vehicles today are manufactured a lot faster than those of 80 years, or even 50 years ago, does not mean our cars of today are less safe. As a matter of fact, with the amenities and smart features in vehicles today, they are a lot safer, more comfortable and a joy to drive.

The faster speed of development is due to the more efficient, more precise way of manufacturing vehicles today.

Of course, vaccines, medications and surgical procedures are not perfect, not 100 percent without risk or possible complications. Life is full of risk. We have all read about people crossing the streets, climbing ladders, biking, skiing, etc., who were killed.

That is reality. The trick is not to abandon them, but to evaluate and take all precautions.

Shot or no shot As far as the vaccines against the SARS-CoV2 virus of COVID-19, what we have to weigh is which one is less risky, less deadly to have. The scale definitely, scientifically, practically and wisely tips in favor of getting the vaccine. It’s a no-brainer.

We must take advantage of what modern medicine has to offer to save our life and maintain good health.

Those with history of allergies are observed at the place of vaccination for at least 15 minutes after the vaccine is given. All those facilities have anti-allergy medications, steroids, etc., in readiness, even for the more severe reactions. This is reassuring.

In one clinical study of a quarter of a million people given the anti-COVID-19 vaccine, there were six who developed severe allergic reactions, a miniscule incidence of 0.000024 percent.

Evidently, as the manufacturers

announced, these vaccines are safe. More common side effects noted are pain in the area of the shot, fever, tiredness, and headache, which last for a day or two.

The world, each country, would acquire herd immunity and stop this pandemic only when 75 percent of the(ir) population get the anti-COVID-19 two-shot vaccine.

Post-vaccination behavior After getting the shot, all of us should behave as if we have not had it yet, continuing our frequent handwashing, limiting ourselves to essential travels, using facemask and doing social distancing. This is the safe demeanor post-vaccination because there are a lot we do not know about the clinical course of the vaccines.

The vaccines are new, and the medical community and the public should (would) learn more about it: How long after the vaccination does protection (immunity) start, and at what level (about 52 percent after the first week?

How about after the first day, second day, etc.?). During this first week of vaccination, can we still get the infection, and can we still transmit the virus to others?

After the required second shot (21 days for the Pfizer-BioNTech and 28 days for the Moderna vaccine), how much protection do we get and when do we get the 95 percent the manufacturers reported, and for how long? Do we have to get the vaccine every year like the Flu vaccine? Anyway, hope is now here.

In the meantime, let us rejoice that the vaccines are here – the silver lining, the light at the end of the tunnel – which hopefully symbolizes the beginning of the end of this COVID-19 pandemic within the next year. We are all in this together globally. Let love, compassion, and peace reign as we usher in a healthier and more prosperous new year for the world. *** 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 anti-graft foundation in the United States. Visit our websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888. com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

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

Registration now open for Vegas Strong Academy Semester Two Financial aid available for qualifying families REgISTRATION is now open for the second semester of the Vegas Strong Academy, a city of Las Vegas program that will provide the community a safe, caring and affordable childcare option that offers recreation and cultural activities with support for distance learning. The program will resume Jan. 4, 2021.

Registration is available online at www.lasvegasnevada.gov/VegasStrongAcademy.

Space is limited due to social distancing and other safety guidelines mandated by the governor’s directives. Temperature checks, social distancing, hand washing and sanitizing protocols will be adhered to at Vegas Strong Academy locations. In addition, staff and students at the locations are required to wear face coverings.

The cost for all academies is $20 per day per child, or $100 per week. There is also a one-time $20 registration fee.

Financial assistance is available for qualifying families based on household size and income. Aid is not applicable towards registra-

tion or late pick-up fees. Applications are available at all academy locations or online atwww.lasvegasnevada.gov/VegasStrongAcademy. Completed applications must be submitted in-person at an academy location and take approximately one week to be processed. For more information, call 702.229.CARE (2273).

The Vegas Strong Academy will be open Monday through Friday, from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., for school-age children in kindergarten through eighth grade.

The academy is offered at the following city locations: • Cimarron Rose Community Center, 5591 N. Cimarron Road • Doolittle Community Center, 1950 N. J St. • East Las Vegas Community Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave. • Mirabelli Community Center, 6200 Hargrove Ave. • Stupak Community Center, 251 W. Boston Ave. • Veterans Memorial Community Center, 101 N. Pavilion Center Drive Through a partnership with Las

Vegas-Clark County Library District, the academy is also offered at the following locations: • Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road • East Las Vegas Library, 2851 E. Bonanza Road • West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd.* • Windmill Library, 7060 W. Windmill Lane *The West Las Vegas Library location includes limited availability for high school-age participants.

High school participants will focus on leadership, community service, workforce development and college preparation, along with their distance learning curriculum.

In addition, a Vegas Strong Adaptive Academy is being offered at the Dula Community Center, located at 441 E. Bonanza Road. For more information on the adaptive program call 702.229.

PLAY (7529).

For more information about the program, call 702.229.CARE (2273) or visit www.lasvegasnevada.gov/VegasStrongAcademy.

Wrapping up 2020 with more car wrap scams WE just heard from more companies that scammers are using their names to trick people into a car wrap scam. This time, scammers are saying they’re Marlboro or Purell (but they’re not really).

The gist of the scam is this: scammers send emails and post to social media and job boards with messages like “gET PAID TO DRIVE.” They offer to pay you up to $700 a week if you’ll drive around with your car (or truck or bike) wrapped to advertise a well-known product. But they’re not really affiliated with the brand.

They just want your money.

If you message them back, they’ll send you a check to deposit into your bank account. Then they’ll say to use some of that money to pay their “decal agent” to put the ads on your car. They’ll tell you to pay by money order, Walmart money services, or by making a cash deposit directly into the decal agent’s bank account — all ways that are hard to cancel or get your money back.

So what’s really going on?

Well, the “decal agent” is really the scammer. And that check you just deposited? That was fake — which means the money you

Image capture from consumer.ftc.gov

sent is coming out of your own pocket. So, if you deposited a $1,500 check and sent $500 to the “decal agent,” you’re out $500 of your own money. (And you don’t get to keep that $1,000, either.)

Another thing: an FTC analysis published earlier this year showed that fake check scams (https:// www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/

how-spot-avoid-and-report-fakecheck-scams) hit 20- and 30-yearolds hard in the wallet. People reported a median loss in 2019 of $1,988.

Spotted a scam like this? We want to hear about it. Let us know at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

(Ari Lazarus/Consumer Education Specialist, FTC)

Joseph shares most terrifying moment of his life

by Marinel

Cruz

Inquirer.net

THE most terrifying moment for actor Joseph Marco was the time he experienced sleep paralysis.

“It felt like there was a giant man on top of me, trying to get my comforter. I knew I was awake but my vision was blurry. I also couldn’t get up. I panicked. I thought I was already dying,” Joseph told reporters during the virtual media gathering to promote his latest movie, Easy Ferrer’s horror-thriller “The Missing.”

Sleep paralysis is a state, during waking up or falling asleep, in which a person is aware but is unable to move or speak. During an episode, a person may hallucinate or see things that are not there, and this often results in fear. This generally lasts for a few minutes.

“I said, ‘this is it! I’ll be dead soon,’ so I started praying for my family. Yes, I’ve reached that level. After that episode, I went back to sleep because I was still feeling tired. Thankfully, it never happened to me again,” Joseph declared.

Joseph said this happened when he came home after a really tiring day. “I remember that I came from taping (for a TV series) GMA photo and then working on an ‘MMK’ admitted, “Yes we had worries (“Maalaala Mo Kaya”) episode, for Ate guy before starting the and then playing at the sports fest locked-in but game na game din for Star Magic,” the actor said. “I si Ate guy.” was really tired. Nasagad ko ang Pastorfide assured that they katawan ko.” had taken all the necessary meaJoseph claimed he has learned sures, including swab testing the his lesson. “I don’t plan to overdo entire team for everyone’s safety. myself again. I will not push my And especially for Aunor, they body the way I did that time ever sought her doctors’ approval first again. Even machines or gadgets to make sure she is physically fit need to recharge, what more our to return for work. mortal bodies?”

“But still, sa set, kailangan These days, Joseph’s schedule bantayan pa rin si Ate guy and is still as hectic. He is taping for be extra careful kasi di ba senior “Ang Sa Iyo ay Akin” and procitizens ang pinaka prone sa in- moting two Metro Manila Film fections sa Covid so we needed Festival (MMFF) entries, the other to make sure that everybody one being Joel Lamangan’s drama observes all the health protocols,” film “Isa Pang Bahaghari.”

Pastorfide finally shared.

“I can’t complain. Right now, So to all of the show’s followers I’m just really thankful that I have as well as the Noranians, no need work. Even though it does get tirto worry as the team successfully ing if you’re promoting, I just try wrapped up their shoot for the to enjoy every moment. I know entire show without a glitch, and that watching all these films will with Aunor still in the pink of surely entertain people—that’s health. enough for me to push myself.

Noranians need not worry as Superstar returns to TV

by Christina

alpad ManilaTimes.net

IT was in February when fans of “Superstar” Nora Aunor excitedly followed their idol’s TV comeback via the afternoon prime show, “Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit.”

An adaptation of her 1989 award-winning film of the same title, viewers got to see La Aunor — as she is called in the business — working with equally talented actresses, Mylene Dizon and Kyline Alcantara. Together, the trio plays Cedes, Nolie, and Maggie — three generations of women who will take on a quest to pursue their dreams and to avenge the indignities they suffered from those who have wronged them.

Unfortunately, the show had to take a hiatus as the country battles the coronavirus (Covid19) pandemic. The good news is that, on the last month of the year, Aunor and the rest of cast — Zoren Legaspi, gabby Eigenmann, Ina Feleo, Yasser Marta, Divina Valencia, Candy Pangilinan and Isabel Rivas — finally returned to their timeslot.

Directed by Laurice guillen, “Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit.” is currently airing recap episodes from February to refresh viewers of the story.

But come January 2021, all new episodes are set, as the cast early on shot the rest of the show in the new normal way — in locked-in taping arrangement.

As the series airs anew, the cast members shared how they feel about working in the new normal through a Zoom media conference.

“Masaya talaga kasi itong grupo na ito, pwera showbiz.

Sinuwerte kami sa sa isa’t isa, kaya excited kami to reunite and matrabaho agad,” Feleo offered.

Dizon, meanwhile, shared what she appreciates most about

Nora Aunor

working in the new normal, “Magkakasama kaming lahat sa set, araw-araw kaming nagtatrabaho so it’s easier to stay in character. ‘Yung timeframe rin, mas mabilis naming natatapos ‘yung work. Nagkakaroon talaga ng tunay na bonding ang lahat ng tao sa set.”

“Challenging po dahil isang bagsakan binigay sa amin ‘yung script pero masaya rin po dahil mas naging close ang lahat sa set.

Masarap sa pakiramdam dahil suportado po namin at inaangat ang isa’t isa,” Alcantara added.

But perhaps one of the biggest concerns of the fans upon the return of the show is the well-being of Aunor.

At 67 years old, Aunor is among the many senior citizens who are asked to take extra caution as they are more susceptible to Covid-19.

To this concern, program manager Anthony Pastorfide

Joseph Marco

It gives me a sense of purpose.

I become more driven,” the actor said.

Joseph said it helped that, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, working hours are now regulated. “We can no longer exceed 12 hours of work. Surprisingly, we are now able to finish 20 sequences a day during tapings.

This is a good thing for us actors,” he said.

He then recalled what it was like to shoot in Saga, Japan, for “The Missing.”

“I’ve experienced shooting abroad thrice and I can say that, most of the time, it was really challenging. For example, you can’t just park close to the location site. You have to walk long to reach it from where you left your car. I feel for the cameramen and crew because they have to carry heavy equipment,” he said. “But for this film, everyone was so cooperative. I saw that everyone did their part to help so the shoot wasn’t so difficult.”

In “The Missing,” Joseph plays Job, an engineer who seeks the

Photo from Instagram/@josephcmarco

help of his ex-girlfriend Iris (Ritz Azul), an architect, to lead the restoration of a century-old ancestral home in Karatsuga, Saga.

The experience proves to be lifechanging for them, especially for Iris who is also experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder.

“I just built Job’s character from what was given to me in the script. I made some add-ons to his backstory so it would have more layers. At the same time, I studied Japanese with a language coach,” Joseph told Inquirer Entertainment.

When asked what he thought was still missing in his life, in relation to the film’s title, Joseph replied: “I can’t say that there’s something missing because I’m really contented with what I have in my life right now but, of course, there are things that I hope to achieve and tasks that I want to accomplish. At this point in my life, I just want to focus on improving myself. I want to be a better person. I plan to work on being a better actor, son, and brother.”

EntErtainmEnt

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

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • dEcEmbER 31, 2020 - JANUARy 6, 2021

B

Cherie on ‘fearless’ Andi’s engagement

by Dolly

anne Carvajal Inquirer.net

Phyllis Grae Grande (left) and Angelina Canapi

For the first time, PH short film makes it to Sundance

By Marinel

Cruz

Inquirer.net

I JUST tried my luck and filled out their online application form,” said filmmaker Sonny Calvento on how his 15-minuter “Excuse Me, Miss, Miss, Miss” got included in the Short Film Program of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival in Utah, United States.

Starring Phyllis Grae Grande and Angelina Canapi, the film is a social satire about the plight of contractual workers in the Philippines. It debuted in the 2019 QCinema International Film Festival (winner of the Audience Choice Award) and also competed in the 2020 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

“What really gave me hope was the idea that Sundance requires a ‘premiere status’ in order to be considered in their short film program,” said Calvento when Inquirer Entertainment asked him to recall how his film got into the prestigious festival. “But at the same time, this was also why the competition to get into the festival is way more stiff. You will be fighting it out with other short films that have bigger production value and also premiered in other reputable festivals.”

According to the Sundance digital archives, “Excuse Me, Miss, Miss, Miss” is the first Filipino short film to ever make it to the festival.

“When they first sent an email a month ago, I couldn’t open it because I was having trouble with my internet connection.

I could only read the subject headline that it’s an email from Sundance,” said Calvento, recalling the time he first learned of the good news.

“I thought it was a rejection letter from them. I was ready to put it directly in the trash bin, but then moments later, I realized that five other members from their team were CCed on the email. I asked myself, ‘Why would they inform five other staff that my film is rejected?’

My heart began to pound. I had to rush outside our house to look for a good LTE signal,” the director recalled.

“I started cursing repeatedly when I read that it was actually a congratulatory letter from them,” he said. “I’m still in dis-

Sheryl Cruz

Scene from “Excuse Me, Miss, Miss, Miss”

belief until now. Madami akong tulala moments! I know that it’s a once-in-a-lifetime feat and it might not happen again so I’m cherishing this moment.”

Calvento pointed out that amid the pandemic, there’s one great reason for him to be happy. “This has brought a different kind of happiness for me.

I’m also delighted because this recognition is a clear validation of my real voice as a filmmaker,” he declared.

Calvento said that while his plan as a film director was really “to delve into social realism,” he wanted to focus more on “the absurdities of Filipino living, for the meantime. I want to tackle funny but tragic moments in the lives of Filipinos.”

The 2020 Sundance Film Festival, which will run from Jan. 28 to Feb. 3, is organized by the Sundance Institute and is the largest indie filmfest in the United States.

Calvento said he expected to learn a lot from his experience.

In fact, only last Wednesday, Sundance organizers already asked him to preview some of the short films from our program since he would be participating in one of their online forums this week.

“I’m excited to learn more about emerging filmmakers from other countries and how they tell their stories,” he added.

“I am also interested to learn their impression on Philippine cinema. And also, I hope to meet people, especially producers and content developers, who would be interested to develop similar stories with me.”

GMA photo

Sheryl: Am I pregnant (daw)? by riCky

lo Philstar.com

As in most showbiz yarn, the subject is the last to know.

Texted by Funfare about the rumor (reported both in “blind items” and “wide-awake” items), Sheryl Cruz asked, “What tsismis?”

That she’s, ehem, pregnant.

“Oh, wow! Hahaha!!! And who is the father daw?”

Jeric Gonzales who was being linked to her when they started doing the soap Magkaagaw which is set to resume airing soon on the Kapuso Afternoon Primetime Drama after it was put on hold due to the pandemic. Sheryl is divorced from John Norman Bustos (a sheriff with the San Francisco Police Department in the USA) by whom she has a teenage

daughter, while Jeric claimed in a Funfare exclusive interview (out next week) that he is single.

“I just came back from a lockin taping of Magkaagaw and got my period on the second week of the taping, so that’s my answer,” adding, “and if the tsismis is true, wow, ang ganda o ang guapo siguro ng magiging anak namin.”

So what’s the real score between her and Jeric?

“Hahaha! It’s probably our fans wanting us so much to be together. Jeric and I are okay naman. And if I do date or have a steady boyfriend, I won’t deny it to the entire world.”

And then Sheryl plugged her YouTube Channel That’s SHERYLtainment and maybe to quash the tsismis, she invited Jeric to appear as guest on its Christmas special edition over the weekend.

CHERIE Gil is best known for her brilliant portrayals of “kontrabida” characters. But when she talks about her niece Andi Eigenmann, Cherie turns into a softie.

“Just like me, Andi is fearless,” she points out. “She’s a risk-taker and a lover of life.”

What are her thoughts on Andi’s engagement to Philmar Alipayo? “I wish I could give her marriage advice, but I’m not the best person to do so. Instead, I will just wish her everything wonderful in this new junction of her life,” she says. “Andi is obviously very happy. She’s been clear from the get-go on how she wants to see herself hereon in this life. She’s got it all figured out. She found her niche with her beautiful babies and the man of her dreams.

Too bad the other important man in Andi’s life is no longer around, her dad Ralph (aka Mark Gil), who was a dear friend of mine. I remember when he told me during the time Andi began making waves, “Andi used to be known as ‘anak ni Mark Gil.’ But now, it’s more of me being known as the ‘dad of Andi Eigenmann.’”

According to Cherie, she’s sure that Ralph is smiling from up above as she sees Andi living her “happy-ever-after.”

Then, I told Cherie, “If only we could also find our perfect match, like Andi has.” She shot back, “Nothing’s perfect. The only perfection is to be complete with yourself.” I replied, “The line ‘You complete me’ must be changed to ‘You complement me.’”

Suddenly, our interview turned into a love consultation sesh. Ah! I could listen to that Eigenmann “woman of substance and grace” all day.

John not sitting on his laurels In last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), John Arcilla played a mean jail superintendent in “Miracle in Cell No.7.” This time around, John portrays a good guy (Father Suarez) in the MMFF entry, “Suarez: The Healing Priest.”

Show biz insiders say that he’s a shoo-in for the festival’s best actor award. That Arcilla bravura never fails.

Here’s my chat with John: What’s your fondest memory of Fr. Suarez?

It was our first meeting, when he told me stories about his life.

What I saw was a very positive person, who wasn’t even affected by the sexual molestation controversy at all. He was not even trying to justify nor defending himself.

He just entrusted his whole fate to God and wholeheartedly submitted himself to the will of the Almighty. This charismatic priest, admittedly a proud fan of ‘Heneral Luna,’ told me he personally handpicked me to portray him.”

What’s your fave scene and line in the movie?

It was when I, as Fr. Suarez, was locked inside a rehab center with drug addicts and criminals.

It was an act of disciplinary action through the recommendations of his Bishop mentor, and I was praying and crying, asking God why I had to go through it. But I said, “If it is God’s will, I will accept the suffering.”

Cherie Gil

John Arcilla

Inquirer.net photos

The next real incident was not used in the film: It is when a cyclone directly hit the rehab center, took off its roof and totally wrecked the facility.

After bagging countless awards already, what makes you not sit on your laurels?

I still want to do a lot of things.

I still want to tell a lot of stories.

This world still has a lot to talk about “loving, living and laughing.” Our country is still “young” in a lot of aspects … we still need a lot to learn as a nation, and I wish I can contribute something to make this world a friendlier place.