FILAM November 2020

Issue 33, November 2020

Petronila Garcia The new Consul General in New York

Joe Biden #46

Josh Vasquez: Travelin’ Man

Letter from the Editor

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Joe thBiden,our 46 President

e rejoice in the possibilities of the future with Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. on the cusp of being elected the 46th president of the United States.

The election repudiated a government that is distinctive for its 20,000-plus lies and gaslighting of everything, including injecting bleach to fight coronavirus, and his breathtaking inability to accept responsibility for anything that goes wrong. The people – white, black, and brown – refused to let the country go down a rabbit hole of racism, misogyny, white supremacy, and a corruption that is shameless and pervasive.

Everybody else for Donald Trump are “losers” and “suckers.”

His abiding motto appears to be “what’s in it for me?”

Now the hard work begins as we bind the nation’s severe wounds inflicted by what can only be called a banally evil administration.

Covid-19 needs to be vanquished by science-based policies because the toll -- almost 250,000 deaths and 10 million cases -- has been horrendous. That should be at the top of the Biden agenda. The truism that fixing the disease will revive the economy is basic.

Systemic racism, income inequal- spoke no evil.” We should work only with those Republicans who placed ity, a crushing student debt burden, country above party. There is a place and repairing our relationship with for thoughtful and enlightened allies will be among the challenges conservatism in our society, not the Biden and his team will face in narrow and selfish kind that favors just the first three months of his the interests of the wealthy. term, and may likely keep them Now, let us turn our attention to preoccupied for the next four years. the sins of the past as committed by Like other Democratic presidents who followed disastrous Republican Trump, his family and enablers.

While it would be understandable administrations in the 20th and that President Biden will have noththe 21st centuries, these issues will need to be tackled with urgency ing to do with the cases to be filed to push the country forward and against his predecessor, the Justice create a more perfect union.

Department and state prosecutors It will have to be done despite the must be allowed a free hand into obstructionism and caterwauling of pursuing whatever charges they Republican enablers, led by Senator believe Trump and his children had Mitch McConnell, who did nothing engaged in. to stop the previous administration There will be insistent cries to and behaved like the monkeys “move forward” but accountability who “saw no evil, heard no evil and demands that Trump et al face up

Contributing Writers Tricia J. Capistrano Ludy AstraquilloOngkeko Joel David Mariel Padilla Wendell Gaa Maricar CP Lindy Rosales Hampton Danielle Vania Angelito Cabigao Bonus

Founding Editor Cristina DC Pastor Address P.O. Box 8071 New York, NY 10116

Contact Thefilamny@gmail.com

The FilAm is a publication of A&V Editorial THE FILAM |

to their responsibilities in their violations of the law. If that means prison, so be it. People easily forget. Reconciliation is wonderful, but it must come hand-in-hand with justice and a willingness to admit fault.

The country is fortunate that its people are vigilant in defending the democracy for which thousands have given their lives to uphold. We came very close to throwing it away along with its promise of equality for all. The Russians will always be lurking and attempting to subvert our democracy; we will not let them.

It is our profound hope that the incoming administration will restore our faith in the simple decency of the American way. For that, we have to thank the millions upon millions of ordinary citizens who took the time and lined up for hours to ensure that our Democracy lives.

This is only the beginning. There is a lot more to repair knowing our country is deeply divided. We took the first step, and that is to remove Donald Trump so we can proceed with rebuilding our institutions, our society, and our nation.

Someone said and we paraphrase: America is great only when its people are good people.

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White House observes FilAm History Month

By Maricar CP Hampton

Ninio Fetalvo, the White House communications advisor, is one of many FilAm government officials who led the celebration of Filipino American History Month (FAHM) in October.

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he President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (PAC-AAPI) hosted its third quarterly meeting on October 15 coinciding with a virtual celebration of FAHM. Fetalvo was one of the speakers together with Herman Martir, a commissioner of the PAC-AAPI; Kelly Ilagan, a senior advisor to the International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce, and others in the private sector.

Born Ninio Joseph Fetalvo, his journey to the White House began in 2013 when he became a War Room Intern for the Republican National Committee (RNC). He was then a senior at George Washington University studying Political Communication. For more than three years at the RNC, he held a series of positions that involved liaising with media outlets usually Asian American and Pacific Islander news organizations. In 2016, he became Communications Director for the state of Florida.

Following Donald Trump’s election, Fetalvo rose to prominence when he was named Assistant Press Secretary to Sean Spicer. He held that position for one year and 11 months, a role that elevated his profile within the FilAm community.

In 2019, he joined the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services as a communications officer, and very briefly — for three months — became as Associate Advisor to the Vice President’s Coronavirus Task Force.

In college, the young, idealistic Fetalvo was on a search for leaders who “stand up for their convictions.” The road led him to Senator Marco Rubio, who like him is a child of immigrants, a Catholic, and grew up in Florida.

“I really like that he is inspiring,” said Fetalvo in an interview with The FilAm Metro D.C. in 2014. “His story of how he reached the American

White House Communications Advisor Ninio Fetalvo: ‘Republicans are not anti-immigrant. We wholeheartedly support legal immigration.’ Linkedin photo

With former Brunswick, Ohio Mayor Ron Falconi. White House photo

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Dream as a son of immigrants is what resonates not only with me but with most Asian Americans who came to this country in search of the American Dream.”

He took pride in FilAm politicians who have made strides, such as former Brunswick, Ohio Mayor Ron Falconi and former Milpitas, California Mayor Jose Esteves. “They inspire our community to be active in politics,” he said.

“Young Filipinos are becoming more involved in politics than their parents were in their time,” said Fetalvo, 26, noting how the FilAm community has a tradition of engagement with the Republican Party. “They understand that their beliefs match well with what the Republicans are trying to accomplish.”

Born in Fort Myer, Florida, to Nelson Fetalvo, a technician for Acura automotive, and Minerva, a registered nurse, Fetalvo said it was his traditionalist upbringing that prepared him for the GOP. He and his sister Tina grew up in Port Charlotte and learned from his parents — both from Camarines Sur – values, like respect and studying hard in school.

“I was taught to treat others with respect. That is something my peers would say about me: that I am a very respectful person, and I think that’s being a Filipino American,” he said.

Fetalvo said his parents encouraged their children to immerse themselves in different cultures and have a well-rounded life. “(They wanted me to) learn about my culture and about all the other cultures and how we all fit in together and celebrate the greatness of our country,” he said.

As a student of politics, he realized that his personal beliefs and way of thinking is more aligned with the Republican Party. “The Republican Party has been very welcoming,” he said.

He took exception to the notion that Republicans are anti-immigrant. “We wholeheartedly support legal immigration, and we believe in prioritizing border security,” he said. He called the GOP “a big tent party” that welcomes anyone who identifies as Republican.

Fetalvo does not discount the possibility of one day running for public office. “Right now I just want to help the party and make sure that the Filipino Americans are inspired by Republicans to do what is best for the country.”

Losing my friends to COVID-19: Attorney Emil de Guzman (Part 1) November is the Feast of All Saints Day/All Souls Day. I remember and pray for the souls of two dear friends, Attorney Emil de Guzman and Dancing Instructor Dodie Potenciano. They died this year from COVID-19.

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mil had a very successful immigration law practice in Lower Manhattan when he was stricken by the coronavirus. In five days, on March 24th, he was gone.

His bereaved wife, Emma Ruth, said that he would meet with his clients not only from the Philippines but also from Korea, Japan, South and Central America, Egypt, and other countries and would bring the client into the conference room for privacy. That was probably how he got the virus.

Emil was two years below me at the University of the Philippines College of Law. He graduated at 22 years old, the youngest graduate in the law school’s history. His mother enrolled him in Grade 1 when he was only 4 years old!

Emma Ruth Diaz met him at the Central United Methodist Church in Ermita, while he was reviewing for the Bar Examinations. There was immediate chemistry. Both of them are from Pangasinan and both belonged to the same church and were devoted Christians.

When Emma Ruth was transferred to Japan by her work with Crowell McMillan, Emil followed her in Tokyo because he was the lawyer for the Fuji-Xerox Manila. They got married in Japan in 1977, and Emil stayed comfortably as Corporate Counsel to Fuji-Xerox for seven years.

Emma Ruth and Emil studied at the Sofia University in Tokyo for their MBA in International Business. At the same time, she was teaching at the Aoyama Gakuin Daigaku University in Tokyo, Japan. Then, destiny took a turn.

During one of Emil's visits to New York, he bumped into a Kappa Alpha Psi

Emil donated hectares of land for a children’s school in Dagupan City in Pangasinan province.

Also in photo is his wife Emma Ruth. fraternity brother, Atty. Roman Mosqueda, his schoolmate at UP Law School. With the encouragement and help from Mosqueda, Emil was able to gain approval from New York State Bar Association to practice law in New York State without having studied in a U.S. law school and without taking the NY bar exams.

So, in 1981, the couple immigrated to The Big Apple.

His first office in New York was with the lawyer son of William Quasha, Emil's boss, in the Philippines where he worked after passing the Philippine Bar. Emma Ruth, in the beginning, admitted that they had very little funds but plenty of credentials. Eventually, Emma Ruth, who spoke Japanese and several other languages, was eventually hired by Goldman Sachs. A few months later, she was pirated by Nippon Kangyo Kakumaru, a Japanese trading Emil at far left, when he was christened ‘The Benjamin,’ the youngest in the UP College of Law house on Wall Street. With a generous compensation she 1969 Class. He became a lawyer at 22.

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was able to put together enough capital for Emil to start his own law office.

After a couple of years on Wall Street, they decided to adopt as son from Manila in 1986 whom they named Solomon Emildavid. Senator Miriam Defensor, Emil’s classmate in UP took care of the legal work and in two years, Solomon was able to join his parents in the U.S. Before Solomon turned 2, they were praying to adopt a Korean baby girl.

Sure enough, one of their Korean clients provided them information of a baby who was being offered for adoption for religious reasons. As soon as the baby girl was born, within three days, Emil and Emma Ruth brought their daughter in their home in Passaic Park, New Jersey.

They named her Takkrid, an amalgam of several names.

During quiet evenings, Emil would play classics on the piano. Emma Ruth would sing as a soprano. Both Solomon and Takkrid would play their violins.

Solomon at times would join his mother singing. Now, Solomon is a veterinarian who always loved animals growing up.

Takkrid is finishing her MD/PhD. Last year, Emil and Emma Ruth returned to the Philippines to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Emil’s UP law class of 1969. Among those in attendance were former Senate President Franklin Drilon and racing track billionaire Boy Reyno. The late Senator Miriam Defensor was blatantly missed during the milestone reunion.

Up to now, Emma Ruth continues to receive emails, letters, texts, and telephone calls from clients of Emil. He was not only their lawyer, he was also their counselor who advised them on family matters. They never forget to tell her how much they loved and adored him.

Emma Ruth shared her husband’s philosophy. “The practice of law is not just a profession. It is a calling to serve.” Emil did not just serve God as an ordained Minister, but served humanity with his life by his service to God’s people.

NEXT: Dancing Instructor Dodie Potenciano

New York has a new Consul General: Petronila Garcia Petronila P. Garcia officially assumed on October 17 her post as Philippine Consul General in New York.

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career diplomat with the rank of Chief of Mission I, Garcia has served the government for 40 years. She previously served as the Philippine Ambassador to Canada from January 2014 to September 2020, becoming the first female ambassador to Canada since diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1949. She also served as the Philippine Ambassador to Israel from 2007 to 2011 and the first woman ambassador assigned by the Philippines to an Arab country, the Arab Republic of Egypt, with concurrent jurisdiction over Sudan from 2004 to 2007.

Garcia told the 14th Filipina Leadership Global Summit Gala Awards Ceremony of the Filipina Women’s Network that she was honored on two occasions to have been named the first woman envoy — to Canada and Israel.

“I have countless stories to share about the challenges I have faced. But tonight is not the time to tell you those stories,” she said, proceeding instead to congratulate the honorees.

She said, Filipino women have long broken the glass ceiling when Corazon Aquino became the first lady president. “We are Filipinas. We are leaders. And we shall lead others.”

Garcia’s other foreign assignments include the following: Minister and Chargé d’affaires, a.i. at the Philippine Embassy in South Korea from 1997 to 1999; Counsellor and Chargé d’affaires, a.i. at the Philippine Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa from 1995 to 1997; Counsellor at the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv from 1993 to 1995; Consul at the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney, Australia from 1987 to 1992; and Third Secretary and Consul at the Philippine Embassy in Singapore from 1984 to 1987.

In Manila, Garcia held the position of Assistant Secretary at the Office of Middle East and African Affairs from 2011 to 2014. She also served as Executive Director at the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs from 2003 to 2004, Executive Director at the United Nations and International Organizations from 2002 to 2003, Special Assistant at the Public Information Services Unit from 2000

Interviewed in 2015 on the state visit of then President Benigno Aquino III to Canada. She is the first Filipino woman ambassador to Canada.

She has served the government for 40 years as a career diplomat.

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to 2002, Head of the Department Legislative Liaison Unit from 1999 to 2000, Director at the Office of Middle East and African Affairs from 1991 to 1993, Assistant Director at the Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs from 1983 to 1984, Assistant Director at the Office of European Affairs from 1983 to 1985 and Principal Assistant at the United Nations and International Organizations from 1981 to 1983.

Garcia joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1981, after passing the Foreign Service Officer’s examination. She also passed the Career Minister’s examination in 1994.

She is a member of the High IQ society, MENSA. She replaced Ambassador Claro Cristobal who retired from the service.

Comfort experience and ‘barkada’ vibes at Tradisyon

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By Angelito Cabigao

e may have experienced missing our favorite Filipino comfort food as a result of the pandemic. Some of our favorite restaurants have closed down and we ended up getting the ingredients to cook them ourselves.

Some restaurants have pivoted to stay open to satisfy our food cravings. One of them is Tradisyon restaurant located in Hell’s Kitchen (790 9th Avenue). You may have seen them on Yelp’s Instagram celebrating Filipino American History Month. Pinoy New Yorkers can now order their Pancit and Lumpia by delivery and enjoy them in the comfort of their homes without having a bunch of leftovers stored in Magnolia ice cream containers. Jo Koy knows what I’m talking about.

Kicking off FAHM in October, I decided to head to Tradisyon after my friends Sean and Cris told me to check it out. After a walk from Times Square to Central Park — and getting lost in the park for a bit — I was ready to feast on some Filipino food. However, before I get to the food, I want to mention the best part of my visit to Tradisyon, which was the people! I met the Tradisyon team — owner Joey Chanco, and chefs Anton Dayrit and Bianca Vicente. I liked how they made you feel at home by interacting with you, other customers, and the delivery folks. They also introduced me to other FilAms who I was able to have conversations with. Zak told me about a cookie place that “rivals Levain cookies” located in Alabang, Nanding talked about tourism in the Philippines, and Franco told me about a business he is part of that sells Ube cakes in NYC. As a result, I can say my visit to Tradisyon was more of a comfort experience rather than solely for the comfort food.

Let’s get back to the food. We will not forget their delicious comfort food.

Personally, I feel if a place can get their Lechon Kawali right then it already sticks out for the better. After being born and

raised in NYC/NJ eating Filipino food in various restaurants and also living in the Philippines, I have tasted some pretty bad soggy Lechon Kawali to some good crispy Lechon Kawali.

Tradisyon’s Lechon Kawali ($13) reminded me of the freshly cooked Lechon Kawali dish I would have in Quezon City. It had that crispy taste you would expect of a good Lechon Kawali. The dish includes your choice of white, brown, garlic, or Quinoa and two veggies to help balance the taste. Quite a filling meal. Did I mention they also include the mandatory Mang Tomas lechon sauce?

Not a meat eater? Do you have trouble deciding what to get? Not a problem at Tradisyon. I liked how their menu is mostly composed of vegetable dishes. I got my eye on the Laing and Kangkong Bagoong veggie dishes for the next visit. I also liked the simplicity of the menu that does not make you overthink of what to get. It is a one pager that provides just enough great choices to choose from.

Since I do have a sweet tooth, dessert had to be special. You will notice that some of the typical choices of an ice cream scoop or Halo Mange are not there. Instead, you will see popsicle choices which is a familiar sight for those who chased the ice cream truck growing up in NY/ NJ for the WWF and

The Tradisyon trio, from left: Owner Joey Chanco, and chefs Bianca Vicente and Anton Dayrit. Photo: Tradisyonnyc.com

Lechon Kawali: Just the right crispiness.

The popular Chocnut and Calamansi Meringue popsicles. Photos by Angelito Cabigao THE FILAM |

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Firecracker popsicles. I went with the Calamansi Meringue popsicle ($5), but ended up getting the Chocnut popsicle ($5) as well because I saw a fresh batch that just came in. The Calamansi popsicle is perfect for a light dessert, while the Chocnut is great for chocolate lovers.

This comfort experience at Tradisyon was a great way to kick off FilAm month. The great people experience combined with the great food of the Philippines in New York City makes you feel at home in America and the Philippines. I experienced the barkada/ friends vibes. Special shoutout to Joey for really checking up on me during my whole time there, giving me great recommendations, talking to me in Tagalog at times, and introducing me to the other customers. I experienced the “if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere” identity of the Tradisyon crew sharing in NYC the comfort food of the Philippines before, during, and moving forward from the pandemic.

Thank you, Tradisyon.

From 800, it’s now a 10,000 waitlist for Kora doughnuts

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By Lindy Rosales

oughnuts named after her recently departed grandmother, Corazon, and selling for $6.50 apiece. What’s so special about Kora doughnuts that it has woven this legend that 800 people are on a waiting list to buy them?

It’s no legend. I found out from a visit to their Fabula Café pop-up event the waiting list is real and probably longer by the time this article is out.

It was a lovely fall afternoon as I was driving down 61st street in Woodside looking for a parking spot. There was a line circling around Fabula Cafe for the first pop-up

by Kora, a doughnut venture by the NYC-born chef Kimberly Camara whose family hails from Batangas province. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Camara co-founded Kora with a friend, Kevin Borja.

She was previously a Research & Development Cook at the Union Square Hospitality Group.

Outside the coffee shop access cards were handed out to those who were still in line when the doughnuts ran out. The cards will give them priority for pick-up when orders become available. The card is valid for a single box of up to 5 doughnuts. Orders can be made via Instagram, and the doughnuts are usually ready on Fridays. As of this writing, there are 10,000 people on the waiting list, according to one of the members from Kora’s team. All the doughnuts are made in the chef’s kitchen in her Woodside apartment.

What’s special about Camara’s doughnuts? Distinct Filipino flavors, such as Buko Pandan, Champorado, Halo Champurrado, Leche Flan, and Ube. And freshness. We tasted it. It’s so rich and the fillings so creamy.

Each doughnut has its own filling and decorations on top, like each is personalized and customized. One whole doughnut is enough to fill you up.

Let’s get to know Camara and find out what inspired her divine sweets.

The FilAm: Congratulations on the success of your first pop-up. How are you feeling right now?

Kimberly Camara: Thank you so much. Super exhausted. We had a really long day, lots of happy people, lots of unhappy people who couldn’t get donuts.

There’s a lot of people waiting many hours and all I can say is we’ve been working really hard to make more and we can only do so much. We obviously expected a big turnout. But not a five-block turn out. That was just really a shock for all of us.

TF: Where did you get the idea for your doughnut business: KC: It just came from circumstance…where I had some leftover dough and I decided to fry it. I had just made an ube cake for my friend and I used that filling. I

Baking doughnuts from a Woodside apartment kitchen.

Instagram photo.

Kimberly Camara: ‘We expected a big turnout but not a five-block turnout.’ Facebook photo filled the dough and I fried it up and it was pretty good.

And I think people might buy this. And then I started brainstorming. What other Filipino flavors can I play with? Almost everybody loves doughnuts and that’s kind of where it started. That was like four months ago.

TF: Do you think your success has something to do with the pandemic?

KC: You know maybe so, because people are home and they want to get out and experience new things.

We made it a point that I didn’t want to expand any sort of advertising beyond Instagram. I kind of wanted to keep it low-key because I didn’t have the capacity to make so many doughnuts.

TF: Are you planning to open a brick-and-mortar shop?

KC: We’re looking at it, but we also want to make sure we do that it in a sustainable way. Right now, I’m still producing out of the apartment. We can’t just go from the apartment immediately to the shop. It takes time, we need the capital to build it. There’s a lot of planning involved so it’s not gonna happen overnight.

But it’s definitely something that we are looking to have in the future.

TF: Are you planning to go back to your work?

KC: You know, I thought about that for a long time.

And I think you know, me having something of my own has been a long time coming in my life. Not necessarTHE FILAM |

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There’s a minimum order of five doughnuts. Photo by Boyet Loverita ily making doughnuts but just putting my name on something because I’ve been cooking all my life. And going to culinary school I knew that eventually down the line. I don’t know what it was if it was a restaurant or what kind of business it was. But I definitely knew I wanted something. And so I think this is it. My entire family is involved and it just feels like something that had just come from the core of me. Which has been leading up to this point in my life. Yeah, I think this is probably where my life is headed.

TF: How many doughnuts did you cook for today?

KC: We’re not allowed to say the number. It’s in the hundreds.

‘ Not a good time to be a gig worker right now’ Gig economy workers, who now comprise more than one-third of the U.S. labor force, lost an estimated 75 percent of their income in the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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ig economy workers comprise app-based drivers for ride-share and food delivery services, such as Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, and Postmates. They can also work through online platforms, such as TaskRabbit, Fiverr, and AirBnB. House-cleaners, gardeners, temp workers, and independent contractors are also categorized as gig workers. As the pandemic hit, demand for such services exponentially dropped, leaving workers with no money and no financial safety nets such as unemployment or savings.

This emerging labor force is overwhelmingly made up of people of color and newer immigrants, who are largely underpaid, often below minimum wage. The Bureau of Labor Statistics noted in 2017 that 55 million people worked in the gig economy; that number is expected to grow to 43 percent of the U.S. labor pool.

Veena Dubal, a professor of law at the University of California Hastings School of Law, characterized appbased driving as “one of the most dangerous jobs in America,” at an Oct. 2 briefing organized by Ethnic Media Services. She noted that drivers are grossly underpaid, have no health insurance, no sick or paid family leave, and no unemployment insurance.

Drivers work more than 40 hours a week, and net about $10.17 an hour, according to data from the Economic Policy Institute.

“This is a highly exploitative model that really lowers labor costs for companies and cuts the ability of workers to make a living,” said Dubal.

“Right now, quite frankly, is not a good time to be a gig worker,” said Alexandrea Ravenelle, author of “Hustle and Gig,” at the briefing.

“Gig workers are in jobs that carry a high risk of exposure to COVID because they are often working in close proximity with strangers, whether they are driving strangers in their personal cars or being asked to go into a stranger’s private home to

do organizing or cleaning work,” said Ravenelle, a professor in Sociology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, who is currently studying the impact of COVID-19 on gig workers in New York.

Many gig workers who were eligible for unemployment chose not to take the benefit, fearing for their immigration status, said Ravenelle.

Moreover, as unemployment levels hit historic highs during the initial onslaught of the pandemic, many former employees turned to the gig economy to make rent and feed their families as unemployment benefits were delayed. This created more competition for existing gig workers, she said.

The sociologist said that gig workers are increasingly vulnerable to scammers amid the pandemic, who use bait-and-switch techniques to lure people in, sometimes into sex work. “So it’s very much a scary Wild West out there for workers who are unemployed or underemployed during this pandemic,” said Ravenelle.

She also predicted that the U.S. labor force would increasingly move towards the gig model, leaving workers without the health and financial protections of past generations.

“We are considered free human capital,” stated Roberto Moreno, who has been driving for both Uber and Lyft since 2017. Drivers spend 60 to 80 hours a week on the roads, but 15 to 20 hours of that time is unpaid as they wait for rides. Moreover, the company will charge a customer, for example, a $55 fare, but pay the driver his cut of only a $40 fare, he alleged.

Drivers also often have to drive long distances to pick up a small fare: they are not allowed to reject rides and don’t know the length of the ride until the passenger is in the car.

Drivers are also not allowed to reject riders with low ratings, which may put them in hazardous situations with unruly passengers. – Ethnic Media Services THE FILAM |

Gig workers, like Uber drivers and food delivery guys, are mostly underpaid and work long hours.

Section 8 Waiting List Beginning 11/04/2020 we are accepting applications for the Section 8 waiting list for the following properties/projects:

Grace Van Vorst Housing - 44 units - 270- 272 2nd St.; 282 2nd St.; 564 Jersey Ave.; 566 Jersey Ave.; 568 Jersey Ave.; Jersey City, NJ 07302 Marion Ave Rehabilitation - 46 units - 2466 Marion Ave, Bronx, NY 10458 738 St. Marks Ave Rehab - 20 units - 738 St Marks Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216 1041 Bushwick Ave Apts. - 47 units - 1041 Bushwick Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11221 Bedford Stuyvesant NSA II - 74 unit - 70-72 Decatur St.; 466 Madison St.; 129 Patchen Ave.; 425 Nostrand Ave.; Brooklyn, NY 11221 Pulaski Manor – 64 units – 365 – 375 Pulaski St., Brooklyn NY, 11206 Separate applications required for each property’s waiting list

Interested persons may receive an application by emailing to: Section8applications@gmail.com Or write to: Truman Management 1800 Popham Ave. - Mgmt. Office Bronx, NY 10453 Due to COVID-19 walk-ins will not be welcome.

Apartment sizes varies by Property. Eligibility will be based on Section 8 federal guidelines Completed applications must be sent via regular mail by 12/05/2020 to the address indicated on the application form. Applications received after this date will not be processed until all application received by deadline are processed.

Rented and managed by Truman Management LLC Equal Housing Opportunity

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COVER STORY

Josh Vasquez: Travelin’ Man

By Maricar CP Hampton & Cristina DC Pastor

Joesyl ‘Josh’ Vasquez’s coming-of-age was marked by a pair of tragedies. His father Edgar, a painter, died when he was 15. He was followed to his grave by his wife Rosario, an educator, four years later.

“I

lost my dad from a heart attack when I was 15, while my mom died from cancer when I was 19,” said Josh, Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) area manager for New York and the East Coast. For a guy who is back-patting jovial and known for his irrepressible laughter, an early adversity in the family did not seem like a part of his life.

The death of his parents – who are both from Leyte -- made Josh and elder sister Eda Rose closer. “We became each other's protector and source of strength and support,” he said in an interview with The FilAm. “When my mother told me she had cancer, I was devastated,” he spoke as if he was musing. “So during the whole Summer of 2000, I just stayed by her side and took care of her.”

Josh was then an incoming college senior. He promised his mother a graduation medal in the hope she would find the strength to fight her ailment so she could pin it on stage. “Unfortunately, she lost the fight.” His mother was buried in a cemetery on a sweltering summer afternoon. Her death only fueled her son’s desire to do well in school. Josh graduated with Cum Laude honors from the Pamantasan Ng Lungsod Ng Maynila.

Early on, he saw Travel in his future.

He recalled watching a travel show on TV that featured one of Thailand’s Floating Markets. He was mesmerized.

“The idea of the world being bigger than how I know it and that there are thousands of amazing places abroad I have to see, and interesting cultures I need to experience, I promised myself I will be traveling the world someday,” he said.

As PAL’s head honcho, Josh leads a staff of four -- plus three at the airport -- in an intimate office in Times Square four blocks away from his Hell’s Kitchen apartment. He wades through swarms of tourists to go to work, walks to his favorite restaurants for lunch and meets up with friends for coffee anywhere in the city. Jollibee is a stone’s throw away; so is the Philippine Consulate on Fifth Avenue.

“True to what it is known for, New York City life is indeed fast-paced,” he said. “It

At his neighborhood in Times Square, living and working in the Center of the World. was initially overwhelming, but I believe I have also adapted such a lifestyle. The city also teaches one to be tough in order to survive, physically and mentally.”

He has experienced much of the spectacle NYC has to offer – the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Halloween, Gay Pride, Broadway theatre and concerts at Madison Square Garden. He’s cheered

for his favorite teams at Citi Field, visited museums, had picnics at the park, and even participated in the Santa Con. In New York, he said, “There is always something to do and places to explore regardless of the season.”

On a regular day, he is usually running by the Hudson River or reading a book at Bryant Park. He loves The Met and

||Traveling Josh

Fast forward to 2013. The young PAL sales associate got his first foreign assignment in Bangkok as Country Manager for Thailand. After three years, Josh was sent to Vancouver for five months as District Sales Manager. It was a brief tenure because in 2017, New York was waiting for him to oversee sales operations throughout the U.S. East Coast.

This is the only snapshot Josh has of his parents Edgar and Rosario Vasquez. They passed away when he was in his teens.

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Celebrating Christmas 2019 with his Philippine Airlines staff, from left: Goldwyn Salazar, Charisse Arboleda. Gina Mendoza, and Erwin del Rosario. Mendoza left the company in early 2020.

just staring at exhibits he has come to know by heart. Trying new cuisines at restaurants is something he enjoys with friends or by himself.

When the pandemic erupted, “The city suddenly fell asleep.”

“When I first came to New York, one thing I complained about the most was that the city was always so busy and loud, with noises coming from everywhere. But during the pandemic, all these undesired noises are gone, and the usual busy crowds of Times Square are lost.” He welcomes that the city is now stirring back to life and that the clangor and clatter are “music to my ears.”

||PAL amid the pandemic

Amid the pandemic hit, PAL has suffered an 85 percent reduction in services resulting in employees being furloughed. When things were nice and nifty, PAL was flying daily between New York and Manila. Today, he said, flights are down to once a week.

“Due to wide health and safety concerns, the demand for travel dropped

massively plus governments around the world have imposed travel restrictions.

This means vast number of flight cancelations, a situation that no one was prepared for,” he said. “Travel remains at very low levels compared with before the pandemic which is aggravated also by the ongoing travel restrictions to the Philippines.”

He remains optimistic. “Once these restrictions are lifted, we will definitely look at increasing our flights especially during the Christmas season.”

||When ‘homesick’ hits

He believes traveling for a living makes him a stronger person and boosts his desire to be independent. But he continues to grapple with being homesick. “Even in this age of technological advancement, social networking can’t replace personal interactions with people who really matter,” he said.

He remains in touch with his sister’s family in Manila through Facebook, and occasionally travels with his niece and nephew when they find a time they can

A Hong Kong holiday with his family: Elder sister Eda Rose and her children Phoebe Rose and Lance Gabrielle. all be together. He misses his parents and wished they were around to travel with him to places he knew they would enjoy.

“I hope my parents are proud of what I have become,” he said. “My greatest regret is not being able to repay them,

now that I am able to, for all the sacrifices and hard work they had to endure to ensure my sister and I grow up with proper guidance and education. I wish I could tell them how blessed I am to be their son.”

2 films are generating major buzz on FilAm History Month ||‘Yellow Rose’

After doing the festival route last year — including the huge XXII Guanajuato International Film Festival (GIFF) in Mexico where it was part of the Spotlight on the 100 Years of Philippine Cinema –“Yellow Rose,” the immigration drama with an unforgettable soundtrack, came to the big screens on October 9. The film won in 2019 the Special Jury Award-Best Narrative Feature at the Asian American International Film Festival in New York City and the Grand Jury Prize-Best Narrative Feature and Best Breakout Performance for Eva Noblezada at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

The narrative feature debut of Diane Paragas stars Eva Noblezada (Hadestown, Miss Saigon) in her feature film debut, Tony Award winner Lea Salonga (Once on this Island, Miss Saigon), Princess Punzalan (Mula sa Puso), Dale Watson (Friday Night Lights), Gustavo Gomez (The Walking Dead), Libby Villari (Boyhood) and Liam Booth (Ghosts Never Sleep).

The film is a timely story about a Filipina teen from a small Texas town who fights to pursue her dreams as a country music performer while facing the threat of deportation. An ABS-CBN Cinematografo 2017 seed grant selection, it became the first Filipino and Filipino American film to be acquired by Sony Pictures for theatrical release in the U.S. Paragas produced, directed and wrote ‘Yellow Rose’ with Annie Howell and Celena Cipriaso based

Eva Noblezada in the immigration drama ‘Yellow Rose;’ Isabel Sandoval stars in ‘Lingua Franca’ which she wrote, directed, and produced. on a story by Paragas and Andy Bienen. Also producing are Cecilia R. Mejia, Rey Cuerdo and Orian Williams. Executive Producers are Olivia De Jesus and Karen Elizaga.

||‘Lingua Franca’ One of recent arrivals is “Lingua Franca” which made history last year at the prestigious Venice International Film Festival as the first film THE FILAM |

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directed, written, edited and produced by and starring an openly trans woman of color, Isabel Sandoval. The film won Best Picture in 2019 at the 25th Festival Cheries Cheris in Paris, France, Best Performance for Sandoval at the 30th Young Critics Circle Film Desk in Manila, Philippines, and just a week ago, Best Film at the 24th Queer Lisboa in Lisbon, Portugal.

In ‘Lingua Franca,’ the protagonist Olivia (Sandoval) is an undocumented Filipino trans woman who works as a caregiver for an aging Russian expat Olga (Lynn Cohen) in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn.

Olivia has been anxiously saving money to marry someone in exchange for a green card. Fearful and stressed from previous green card setbacks, things change when she unexpectedly becomes romantically involved with Alex (Eamon Farren), Olga’s troubled son who struggles with dependency issues and a distrustful family. The film weaves through issues of identity, civil rights, immigration and love. Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY acquired the title for release in select theaters and on Netflix.

In Rotten Tomatoes’ Best Films in 2020 list, ‘Lingua Franca’ registered 83 percent on Tomato meter, with the following Critics Consensus: “Lingua Franca brings warmth and humanity to its social issue-driven plot with sensitive performances and writer-director Isabel Sandoval’s gently empathetic touch.” Three-time Tony and Grammy winner Jhett Tolentino is a producer for the film.

6 items that are hard to find amid the pandemic

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eople are spending more time focusing on home projects and hobbies.

They're avoiding the gym and exercising at home.

Entertaining often means sitting outside with friends to avoid coronavirus exposure.

Many items that would enhance these activities remain difficult to find or are unusually expensive as retailers boost prices on items remaining in stock.

Some have been scarce since COVID19 hit in the spring and still haven't become more readily available. Others, like patio heaters, are facing seasonal shortages as people try to extend their ability to socialize outside in cooler weather.

Experts predict the pandemic will continue to impact global commerce in the future. David Marcotte, an expert in international commerce at Kantar, a market research firm, says he expects to see shortages in web cameras and internet routers, for example, as Americans continue to work from home.

"Current and future demand is a complete mystery to everybody,” says Marcotte. “There's no rhyme or reason to 2020 and that creates an enormous amount of uncertainty."

Here are some things that are still hard to get.

||4. Patio Heaters & Outdoor Heat Lamps As the weather cools, restaurants and those who want to continue to entertain outside are driving a surge in demand for patio heaters and heat lamps.

Online furniture retailer Wayfair said searches for patio heaters have increased by more than 70 percent compared to this time in previous years, and Amazon reported a similar increase in outdoor heater sales. Overstock.com reported a 225 percent increase in outdoor furniture sales, including outdoor heat lamps.

||5. Pressure Treated Wood The rising popularity of home improvement projects combined with a boom in housing construction has decreased the availability of pressure treated wood, according to Marcotte. The shortages are even more pronounced as many homeowners focus on remodeling projects such as building decks, fences and garden enclosures, reflecting more time spent at home during the pandemic.

Sewing machine. Photos: Getty Images

||6. Laptops

||1. Bicycles A surge in demand for socially distant, outdoor activities has caused massive disruptions in the bicycle industry. April sales for traditional bicycles and cycling accessories grew by 75 percent compared with the same period last year, according to data from the N.P.D. Group, a market research company.

Eric Bjorling, the director of brand marketing and public relations at Trek Bicycle, says the increased demand for bikes began in March, just as bicycle manufacturers were forced to shut down production at factories in Asia.

Bjorling called the increase in local demand and decrease in global supply “a perfect storm” that created months-long back orders in the United States.

Bicycle.

||2. Sewing Machines

||3. Exercise Equipment

Americans wanting to make their own masks have created sewing machine shortages.

George Moore, who runs Moore's Sewing Centers, a chain of six sewing stores in Southern California, says many people began buying new machines and repairing old ones at the beginning of the pandemic. “Factories are working at max capacity with long back orders of machines. Many of our most popular models we are preselling with shipments being sold prior to their arrival,” Moore says.

Gym closures caused massive demand for personal exercise equipment beginning in late March.

The surge in demand has made it hard to find common gym items, including kettlebells, dumbbells and iron plates, according to Marcotte.

"Anything that's cast iron, there's a huge shortage right now,” says Patrick Regan Sr., vice president of procurement at Life Time, a fitness company with health clubs across the country.

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Laptop orders increased in the spring as many employees began working from home. Supply has yet to catch up, however, in part because of recently imposed tariffs by the Trump administration.

The world's three biggest computer companies — Lenovo, HP and Dell — have announced a shortage of nearly 5 million laptops.

On July 20, the Commerce Department imposed sanctions on 11 Chinese companies it said were implicated in human rights abuses against a Muslim minority population, the Uighurs. The sanctions impacted the manufacturer of multiple models of Lenovo laptops, which the company says added to existing delays.

Many school districts also submitted laptop orders to help accommodate online learning. Most orders, however, have not been filled, prompting concerns that shortages will worsen educational inequities.

"All of the sudden everybody needs a laptop. And you know, it takes a while to gear up manufacturing,” Marcotte says. -- AARP

The story of George and Primo in ‘The Hows of Us’ "The Hows of Us" -- Filipino cinema's historic box office record breaker in 2018 – is now available in the iTunes Store and Google Play. It is currently available on Amazon Prime Video and iWantTFC platforms.

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he film stars Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo, one of the most popular reel and real life couples in the Philippine movie industry for the last decade. Cathy Garcia-Molina directed the film for ABS-CBN Star Cinema, with Carmi G. Raymundo, Crystal S. San Miguel and Gillian Ebreo co-writing the screenplay.

"The Hows of Us" is about two college students, George (Bernardo) and Primo (Padilla), who fall in love. George is into science, wanting to become a doctor.

Primo is into the arts, aspiring to hit it big as a band musician. George inherits a house from her grand aunt where she and Primo decide to live together while dreaming of success in their respective fields and pledging undying support for each other no matter what.

But life becomes real: Primo fails to get the big music break he's been working for. George continues to be faithful and supportive, but a frustrated Primo turns into a difficult person with a capacity for prideful arrogance, creating a nimbus of exhausted love for the couple. It reaches a point when George gives up, and Primo walks away. Is there still a second chance at love for this couple who once professed together forever to each other?

For her performance, Bernardo won Best Actress at the 35th PMPC Star Awards for Movies and Entertainment Editors' Choice Awards for Movies (EDDY'S) in 2019. She was given the "Phenomenal Box Office Queen" award for her performance as George in the movie. "The Hows of Us" also broke multiple records in Philippine cinema at the 50th Guillermo Mendoza Box Office Awards and received the prestigious Camera Obscura Award from Film Development Council of the A love story with a second-chance twist.

Philippines.

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The couple known as Kathniel appearing in ‘Tonight with Boy Abunda.’

Daniel Padilla, who is also a recording artist, is one of the most influential stars online as recognized by ABSCBN entertainment website PUSH. com.ph. His Twitter account as of 2016 has 5.4 million followers.

Appearing on the show “Tonight with Boy Abunda,” the pair addressed the possibility of appearing separately in movies. For the sake of “growth,” Bernardo said she is open to the idea. She said, “Time will come that they would need to part ways for the growth of each other,” and that she won’t be “selfish” because there are a lot of projects awaiting him. Padilla echoed her statement.

The star couple also has a new groundbreaking film -- a digital movie series -- entitled, "The House Arrest of Us" which became available in October to viewers worldwide on iWantTFC and TFC IPTV, with a new episode dropping every Sunday.

For ‘third culture kids,’ where is home is an ambiguous question

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By Maribelle Biscocho-Omar

dentity is a concept that sounds simple enough, usually defined by name, ethnicity, hometown, or sexuality. When it comes to cultural identity, a certain ambiguity emerges. One is never just from his or her birth country. A strong sense of belonging, especially for the youth, becomes just as important.

There is a group of young individuals who tend to feel conflicted with their cultural identity while also questioning where they really belong. Known as the third culture kid (TCK) generation, these young adults were raised in two or more countries that are different from their ethnic roots.

One of the reasons behind this phenomenon is the parents’ job assignment which usually requires them to bring their families along. This causes TCKs to have to confront the dreaded question: Where are you from?

The term is believed to have originated in the 1950s when sociologists John and Ruth Useem visited India to study overseas Americans who were living there. While conducting their study, they also brought their children with them.

While the term originally identified Americans who grew up in different countries, the definition began to apply to almost anyone who grew up in different countries other than their passport or ethnic country throughout their development years. While TCKs may be unique, they are also quite common especially with the increasing number of careers that require living overseas. Children of expatriates or diplomats are often TCK kids.

President Barack Obama is a third culture kid. He lived in Indonesia when his mother remarried an Indonesian man. Obama also has Kenyan roots since his father was Kenyan. Other famous TCKs are actress Uma Thurman, athlete Kobe Bryant and former Secretary of State John Kerry.

As a third culture kid myself, I can say that there are numerous challenges that we face. Racial discrimination was a hurdle I had to overcome when I moved to Australia when I was 12 years old. As an Asian, I was often taunted for being brown or being told to go back to my country by bus or boat. Eventually, I was able to overcome this cultural barrier. As time went on, I was able to immerse myself in the Australian culture to the point wherein the country became a part of my home.

Some Filipino TCKs find it difficult to move back to the Philippines. Lorenzo Capinpin was one in the beginning.

Growing up in the United Kingdom, Vietnam, and the United States, he saw himself constantly trying to synchronize himself with the Filipino way of life due to the vast differences in culture and attitudes.

“My family and I moved to the United Kingdom when

The author with fellow ‘third culture kid’ Lorenzo Capinpin: ‘Our ethnic homeland draws us back’

TCKs all: From top, Former President Obama, actress Uma Thurman and the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant I was 3 years old, and though as expatriates we didn’t face many of the challenges that immigrant families do, we too went through many changes. I had to adjust to a society that was polite, organized, and disciplined – traits I could not say for my own society. Although I also lived in Vietnam and the United States I could not identify myself to any one culture,” he said.

Culturally, Asian and Western countries have significant perceptional differences towards the concepts of authority and hierarchy. In Western countries, people usually vision respect and authority on an equal basis wherein regardless of how old you are or where you are from, respect should be given. On the other hand, Asian countries perceive that respect and authority are usually given to the elderly or adults since they are known for their profound wisdom.

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For Lorenzo, the Western mindset he had was a challenge when he moved back to the Philippines.

“I often clashed with people in the Philippines personally and professionally because I would disregard hierarchy and groupthink in favor of individualism and knowing my own worth. In many ways I lived outside what was the norm because I had a strong sense of self and a worldview beyond just the Philippines,” he explained further.

“When I moved back to the Philippines for college, I felt an ironic feeling of being lost in your own homeland.

My college freshman year consisted of adjusting to a different social landscape and getting used to speaking Tagalog on a daily basis. However, it saddened me how whenever I spoke with my fresh Australian accent back in the day, I would usually get intense stares that left a lingering feeling of alienation.”

Despite all these challenges, third culture kids like Lorenzo and myself end up longing for our ethnic homeland. Even with the constant misunderstandings and tensions towards our own ethnic society, we always long to come back and be part of the change that will improve our country.

“Growing up outside of my homeland allowed me to see that the world is full of self-made success stories, that I was only limited by the size of my dreams, and change is natural and shouldn’t be feared. Like many of the Ilustrados, I want to push the Philippines further, yet for me and others like me the frustration is very real.

The temptation to leave is very real. The urge to give up on myself and settle is very real. Yet while I don’t feel at home in other countries, I still feel the call to make a difference in my own country, if not the world,” Lorenzo continued.

At the end of the day, third culture kids still dread the question: Where are you from? However, we feel that no matter where we end up, our ethnic homeland draws us back to where it all started.

Born in the Philippines, Maribelle Biscocho-Omar was raised in Australia and the United States throughout her childhood and teenage years. She pursued a master's degree in Media Studies at Queens College.

A Zoom Thanksgiving: Do we still gobble gobble?

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ll talk about the results of the November 3 election – whether the president is newly elected or reelected -- will take a back seat as Americans dive into the next most important item in the agenda: How to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Dr. Anthony Fauci has provided a preview of how some families will be celebrating the holidays: apart from each other. He, for one, is skipping the traditional Thanksgiving dinner with family gathered around a well stuffed turkey, concerned about his children traveling in a time of public health crisis. Their children are worried about his health as well. A decision was reached, according to reports: Fauci’s daughters said, “We want you and mommy to have a nice, quiet dinner…Maybe have a neighbor next door that always comes over the house that you know that’s negative, and we’ll send our love via Zoom.”

||Thanksgiving dinner via Zoom

L.A. County Program Manager Cecile Ochoa had her family’s Thanksgiving feast all figured out.

Keeping health protocols in mind, the Ochoas plan to still gather their brood of three sons and two daughters-in-law in their North Hollywood home “socially distancing within the big room divided by dining, den and living rooms,” she said.

“The brothers may later bond at the porch of our 1947 home probably sharing a beer or two, maybe a ‘tagay’ of Jameson.”

Socializing may be limited to two to three hours, she continued.

By Cristina DC Pastor

Corazon Reyes. Photo by John Gaddi; Cecile Ochoa “Some (family members) work outside the home and thus we’re ensuring no one is bringing possible contamination at home. Both Dante (Cecile’s husband) and I are of age with underlying medical conditions and so the kids are always extra careful.

We always wear masks when seeing each other but of course at dinner time those masks are removed.

That’s the plan so far.”

The plan is a work in progress as the Ochoas await inputs from the in-laws. “We haven’t heard from the wives’ families who of course would want to spend some time with my sons’ spouses. It could be staggered visits between our home and the in-laws’ places,” she said.

Cecile, the editor-publisher of The FilAm L.A.,

The Ochoas of California plan to socially distance all across the family dining room, den, and living room. Photo by Maria Bunag Ochoa

feels “weird” that she is not feeling especially festive at this time when the pandemic has claimed several thousands of lives. With vaccines still under development, there does not seem to be any reason for celebrating. But the family tradition will go on.

“The boys are used to these get-togethers and I hate to dampen their spirit,” she said. “I’m seeing them more often during this pandemic and I guess it’s because either they want to be assured of our wellness or this isolation is getting to them.”

Retired corporate nurse Corazon “Corge” Reyes sees the family Thanksgiving will be scaled down and possibly celebrated apart from each other -- the Fauci way. “What used to be a happy occasion is now curtailed due to COVID. We’ll now just go to Zoom from wherever my children are,” she said.

For the Reyeses of Manhattan, Thanksgiving used to be a “big” event with sons from New Jersey and a daughter from California – and their families -- coming together for a weekend at their Upper West Side home, grandchildren sprawled out all over the house.

“My daughter usually cooks the turkey. I never learned how to do it,” she said.

Much of the food is catered but the most important thing for Corge was the entire family joined at the table saying grace and giving thanks for the year that just passed.

“Life has changed so much in this pandemic but I like it in a way,” she said as if in meditation. “Subdued, relaxed at home, a walk in the park with no make-up, there’s a time for everything and no need to hurry. Parang 1950s.”

The Reyes family of New York, New Jersey, and California. Facebook photo

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COVER STORY

My violin, my voice

By Joanna Ruth Tumpalan

I

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” t was a question I was often asked as a young girl. I dreamt then that I wanted to achieve great heights, possibly as a lawyer or a scientist. But never did I think that I would end up becoming a concert violinist making people happy with my music.

I grew up in Pasig with my four siblings. My father is a Baptist minister and my mother is a housewife. My mom home-schooled me and my siblings and regularly brought us to our music activities and rehearsals. I started playing piano at the age of 5, but only studied the violin at age 11.

It was then when I really fell in love with music.

For others, that might be considered late, but I was determined to excel as a violinist. At age 15, I became a violinist for the Manila Symphony Orchestra where I played for 10 years.

As a student, I studied at the College of Music, University of the Philippines, Diliman where I graduated with cum laude distinction in 2009. In 2014, I attended the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival in Vermont, where I had a scholarship. In 2015, I went back to the U.S. to pursue my masters with full scholarship in Violin Performance at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst under the tutelage of the renowned Elizabeth Chang, a faculty member at Juilliard School. My scholarship allowed me to be part of the UMASS Graduate Quartet and teach undergraduates. I was able to work with an amazing set of faculty from the Juilliard String Quartet and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (a frequent Grammy winner), among others.

As a performer, I had the privilege to represent the Philippines in the Asian Youth Orchestra’s (AYO) concert tours throughout Asia in 2010 and 2011. It was an amazing experience – moving from city to city and performing at prestigious concert halls almost every night. I remember barely staying awake for a concert in Beijing right before a concert that I had to whiff White Flower to stay alert! They were such precious memories; however, none of these compares to the memory of how sparks flew when I met my now-husband, Cyd, who was also part of the AYO concert tour.

He is a talented percussionist and used to be the lead percussionist of the Hong Kong Disneyland Marching Band. We got married six years later.

After AYO, I joined the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) as Assistant Concertmaster in 2012. I was also privileged to play as their featured soloist.

With husband Cyd Tumpalan, who is a percussionist.

Music has also given me the opportunity to share the stage with international artists, such as Michael Buble, Cecile Licad, and Ryan Cayabyab, and so much more. Other memorable stages that I got to perform at are the Carnegie Hall in NYC, Tokyo Opera City, Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Esplanade in Singapore, and more.

They are such great and beautiful concert halls where the sound was incredible and where legends have performed.

I am honored to receive different awards, such as the 1st place at the American Protege Piano and Strings International Competition in 2019. Earlier this year, I also received the Ani Ng Dangal (Harvest of Honors) Award from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

The awarding ceremonies were held at the MalaTHE FILAM |

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The author: She studied the violin at age 11 and that’s when ‘I really fell in love with music.’ cañang Palace with President Rodrigo Duterte in attendance.

Just like everyone else, COVID has changed my life this year. All my students had to switch lessons from in-person to online. It was definitely a challenge. Not being able to have my hands on the students to mold and demonstrate, plus poorer sound quality, occasional audio and video synchronization lag and screen freezing, and not being able to have the same interaction were not easy. But it has taught me many more ways to communicate — ways that required more problem solving and focus for both me and the students.

On a positive note, I now have witnessed the pros that this has brought. Students are now taking more charge of their playing, tuning their own instruments, exploring the violin more for themselves, etc.

In different creative ways, we also learned how to do ensemble playing online! In a time where everything seemed uncertain, I’m so happy that I still get to keep music alive with my students.

Together with my siblings, husband, and in-law, we also started our own music school, Play It Forward School of Music, where I also teach. I also hold a studio in Lindeblad School of Music and Intune Music School. I am grateful to be part of my students’ lives and their families through music. To me, teaching music is not just a way to develop the next generation of musicians, but it is more to enrich lives, and to be able to enjoy the process and take pleasure in the skills acquired from it.

Music has been and continues to be an exciting journey and I give God all the glory. Although it’s not always easy, I'm grateful for all the memorable experiences it has brought. Whether online or on a stage, music has brought joy and inspiration to me and hopefully others around me. I now look forward to what else music can do, not only for me, but as well as to my students and hopefully those I get to inspire with it.

Joanna Ruth Tumpalan is a violinist and a teacher of violin. She has about 50 students who share her love of music. She and husband Cyd Tumpalan live in New Jersey and regularly perform as a duo around the Greater New York City area.

Teaching her 3-year-old niece Chloe Cali to keep music alive through the violin.

New comedy series about a gay Pinoy in Nashville

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comedy series, “Trying Hard,” created by and starring newcomer Maki Bonifacio, debuted on October 11 – which is National Coming Out Day in the U.S. — on YouTube.

“Trying Hard” follows the intimate story of Maki, a gay professional from the Philippines, as he navigates the Nashville, TN dating scene while trying to overcome insecurities, family pressure, and challenges brought about by race and his status as a foreign worker. There are occasional references to immigration procedures, with Maki voicing how tough it is to acquire a work visa.

The Philippine-born Bonifacio, 29, worked as a news producer for broadcast company GMA Network from 2011 to 2014. Their team coverage of Super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) won a George Foster Peabody Award in 2013. He moved to the U.S. the following year to study M.S. Television Management at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

After graduation, he relocated to Nashville to work at CMT, a CBS Viacom cable channel. To find his way around the Music City, he took improv classes

at Third Coast Comedy Club where he ended up performing regularly.

“I have a background in improv comedy,” Bonifacio told the FilAm. “I want to pursue acting, writing and producing. I want to tell more Filipino stories on international platforms.”

His eight-episode series tackles a variety of issues surrounding queer foreigners in the U.S., such as cultural and language barriers, identity crisis, stereotypes, body image, and assimilation. “’Trying Hard’ is based on my experiences but it’s not (entirely) my life story,” he said.

In the first episode, Maki meets Barry at a bus stop on Valentine’s Day and they agree to swap contact info. Some interesting episodes include unconventional ways to meet potential dates; and the pressure to find love where Maki’s character realizes that “dating is hard AF.” Bonifacio said he is currently single and focusing all his energy on the web series. He said dating in the U.S. and dating in the Philippines are definitely different. “If the person I’m going out with is not Filipino or does not have any Filipino background, THE FILAM |

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Maki Bonifacio stars in ‘Trying Hard,’ a web series he created on YouTube.

I have to adjust because American and Filipino cultures are different.”

He would like to see better representation of the LGBT community so “we can tell more complex and diverse stories.”

Episodes are released on YouTube every Wednesday at 8 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Issue 33, November 2020

Ninio Fetalvo

White House official greets community on FAHM

Third Culture Kids

Photo by Johanan Eunice Livioco

Where is home is an ambiguous question

Joanna Ruth Tumpalan My violin, my voice