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MARCH 27 - APRIL 2, 2020 Volume 13 - No. 21 • 16 Pages 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 • 2500 Plaza S. Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 • Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

New York is now the center of outbreak in the US as coronavirus infections continue to spike by MOMAR

G. VISAYA

AJPress

THE number of coronavirus cases in New York State continues to double almost daily that it is now reaching a critical point, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo who said the outbreak spread is “accelerating like a bullet train.” The state has registered the highest and the greatest rate of infection and death toll is now 210, with 25,665 positive cases confirmed. New York City continues to have the bulk of the

DATELINE

cases with 14,904 confirmed cases. “We’re not slowing it, and it is accelerating on its own,” Cuomo said, citing the rate of infection in New York which is now doubling every three days. The governor has called on the federal government to release ventilators needed for people in respiratory distress and to procure more using special powers to order them from private industry. “What happens to New York is going to wind up hap-

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

‘He died alone’: Filipino father among New Jersey’s coronavirus victims

Peter John Dario (left) shared a photo with his late father Peter Dario (right) after the latter died from the coronavirus on March 19. Photo courtesy of Peter John Dario/Twitter

pening to California and Washington state and Illinois; it’s just a matter of time. Deploy the resources here for our apex and later deploy the ventilators to other parts of the country where they are needed,” he said. The apex, he said, could get here in as soon as 14 to 21 days. NYS on Pause Over the weekend, Cuomo put “New York State on PAUSE” with an executive order, a 10point policy to assure uniform

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DISINFECTANT LANE. Personnel of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) flag down some vehicles for not passing through the disinfectant lane while entering Roxas Boulevard before Quirino Avenue, in the City of Manila on Monday, March 23. Disinfectant lanes are used to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Duterte signs law granting himself special powers vs virus

COVID-19 cases in PH jump to 636

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, March 25, signed a bill that grants him special powers to address the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) threat in the country. Under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act (Senate Bill 1418), the president is authorized to adopt several “temporary emergency measures” to contain COVID-19 as well as mobilize at least P200 billion to help over 18 million low-income families. Duterte is also granted the power to pro-

President Rodrigo Dutere Malacanang photo by Ace Morandante

vide compensation of P100,000 to public and private health workers who may contract CO-

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Washington state names Fil-Am as head of health care response team by MOMAR

G. VISAYA

AJPress

A FILIPINO father from Edison, New Jersey died on March 19 from the coronavirus, GOVERNOR Jay Inslee has named retired his son confirmed over the weekend. Navy Vice Admiral Raquel Cruz Bono as WashPeter Dario died from COVID-19 two days ington state director for COVID-19 Health prior and was “alone because the hospital System Response Management. restricted all visitors in order to contain the As the former chief executive officer and u PAGE 2 director for the Defense Health Agency, Bono

led a joint, integrated support agency that enabled all branches of the U.S. military medical services to provide health care services to those engaged in combat. Bono is currently a senior fellow with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. “I am honored and delighted to join Governor Inslee and the Washington state health

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DIY FACE MASK. A vendor sells do-it-yourself (DIY) face masks along Anonas Street in Quezon City on Wednesday, March 25. Health authorities say the DIY face masks (washable) may not guarantee 100percent protection but can provide some degree of shield against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). PNA photo by Joey O. Razon by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippines has 84 additional cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total count to 636, the Department of Health reported on Wednesday, March 25. The department also recorded three additional deaths, bringing the official death toll to 38. The fatalities include a 56-year-old male Filipino resident of Quezon City with no travel history who

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From the Front Page Washington state names Fil-Am as head of health... New York is now the center of outbreak... PAGE 1 care community in their collective leadership and expertise to develop a model of care for all Washingtonians and others during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Bono said. She is the first woman surgeon in the military to hold the rank of vice admiral. “Vice Admiral Bono will help bolster our existing coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic across our state’s health care system,” Inslee said. “She brings an impressive medical background, a long and distinguished military career and a deep understanding of complex medical delivery systems. Her expertise will help us ensure that we can meet the needs of Washingtonians who are sick, or will become ill from COVID-19.” In this role, Bono will advise the governor, his staff and state agencies on actions needed to address the capacity and strain across the health care system. She will work closely with acute care facilities, long-term care facilities, clinics, tribal facilities, and the federal government to assess and address

the greatest needs. Her role will include work to ensure medical staffing needs are met, as well as develop standard protocols across facilities and coordinate with the state Emergency Operations Center to operationalize statewide efforts. “We are very pleased to have the expertise and leadership of Vice Admiral Bono in our coordinated efforts between the public health and health care system as we continue to respond to this unprecedented public health crisis,” Secretary of Health John Wiesman said. “Her leadership will enhance our response on behalf of all Washingtonians.” Bono obtained her medical degree from Texas Tech University and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She completed a surgical internship and a general surgery residency at Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia, and a trauma and critical care fellowship at the Eastern Virginia Graduate School of Medicine in Norfolk. Bono served in operations

PAGE 1 safety for everyone. He also announced an initial delivery of hospital supplies to the Jacob K. Javits Center where FEMA has started to build a 1,000-bed temporary hospital that will help increase New York’s hospital capacity to combat COVID-19 and open next week. The “NYS on Pause” executive order states that effective at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, all non-essential businesses statewide will be closed. Non-essential gatherings like parties, celebrations and other social events are also canceled or postponed at this time. Social distancing must be practiced where there is any concentration of individuals Retired Navy Vice Admiral Raquel Cruz outside their home and these Bono Photo by Monica King/U.S. Army are limited to workers providDesert Shield and Desert Storm as head of casualty receiving for a fleet hospital in Saudi Arabia. Upon returning, she worked PAGE 1 as a surgeon at Naval Medical outbreak,” his son Peter John Center in Portsmouth and as a Dario posted on Twitter on surgical intensivist and attend- March 21. ing surgeon at Sentara Norfolk The younger Dario continGeneral Hospital. n ued, “My deepest regret was not saying bye to him when I brought him to the hospital. I thought it was going to be a ‘Take care, see you back home.’” As of this writing, Dario’s Twitter thread has garnered over 11,000 replies, from in-

ing essential services. The same holds true for public individuals who must be at least six feet away from others. Businesses and entities that provide other essential services must implement rules that help facilitate social distancing. Individuals should limit outdoor recreational activities to non-contact and avoid activities where they come in close contact with other people. The public should also limit use of public transportation to when absolutely necessary and should limit potential exposure by spacing out at least six feet from other riders. Sick individuals should not leave their home unless to receive medical care and only after a telehealth visit to determine if leaving the home is in the best interest of their health.

Young people should also practice social distancing and avoid contact with vulnerable populations. Use precautionary sanitizer practices such as using isopropyl alcohol wipes. Additionally, Cuomo announced that the state is opening a drive-thru COVID-19 mobile testing facility in the Bronx, following the success of the mobile testing centers in New Rochelle, Rockland County, Staten Island and Long Island. Drive-through mobile testing facilities help keep people who are sick or at risk of having contracted coronavirus out of healthcare facilities where they could infect other people. New York is currently testing more than 16,000 people per day, more than any other state and more than China and South Korea on a per capital basis. n

‘He died alone’: Filipino father among New Jersey’s... dividuals around the world expressing their condolences and sharing their own experiences of family members dying from the virus. He advised others to “cherish every moment with your loved ones” and “to help the people in the frontlines of all this.” “There’s no room for hate or blame. I refused to let my dad become another number on the death toll,” Dario wrote in

another tweet. “I told his story and you all should too.” New Jersey has at least 2,844 known coronavirus cases with 27 deaths, officials announced Monday, March 23. Of the seven new deaths reported, they were five men and two women ranging in age from 57 to 91. Governor Phil Murphy ordered all state residents to stay home and all nonessential retail businesses to close on Saturday. (AJPress) n

Duterte signs law on additional powers... PAGE 1 VID-19 while families of health workers who died of COVID-19 while fighting the outbreak will be given 1 million. The law further ensures a COVID-19 special risk allowance to public health workers in addition to their hazard pay granted under Republic Act 7305. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation will shoulder all medical costs of health workers in case of COVID-19 exposure or any work-related injury. The president would be allowed to temporarily direct the operations of “privately-owned hospitals, medical and health facilities including passenger vessels and other establishments.” However, the management of these businesses and establishments will be retained by the owners. Additionally, he is granted the powers to expedite and streamline accreditation of testing kits and facilitate prompt testing; ensure that all Local Government Units (LGUs) are acting in

line with the rules issued by the national government; continue to enforce measures to protect the people from hoarding, profiteering, injurious speculations, manipulation of prices, product deceptions, and cartels; and prioritize the allocation and distribution of medical supplies to coronavirus-referral hospitals, public and private laboratories, and health facilities that have capacities to test and care for suspected COVID-19 patients. Duterte’s authorized powers “shall be valid for three months, unless amended by Congress.” According to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, the president would use the special powers under the 1987 Constitution. “The Filipino people are assured that the powers granted the president shall be enforced strictly in accordance with the Constitution. The grant of powers is for a limited period and subject to the restrictions contained therein,” Panelo assured Tuesday, March 24.

The Bayanihan to Heal As One Act, authored by Senate President Tito Sotto III and Senator Pia Cayetano, was approved by the Senate on Tuesday. It received affirmative votes from Sotto, Cayetano, Majority Leader Sherwin Gatchalian, and Senators Christopher “Bong” Go, Francis Tolentino, Panfilo Lacson, Lito Lapid, Manny Pacquiao, Grace Poe, Ralph Recto, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., and Richard Gordon who were physically present in the plenary. Meanwhile, Sens. Ronald dela Rosa, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Sonny Angara, Joel Villanueva, Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay, and Francis Pangilinan voted in the affirmative via phone patch. Sen. Risa Hontiveros was the only senator who voted negative. “There is an urgent need to implement measures that will help address the health scare brought about by the spread of COVID-19 in our land,” Panelo

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Dateline USa

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PAL cancels international flights from March 26 to April 14 by ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

DECONTAMINATION. A Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) member decontaminates a Philippine National Police (PNP) officer after his duty at a checkpoint on the Marikina-Cainta, Rizal border, Marcos Highway on Tuesday, March 24. The Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine enters its second week of implementation to curb the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Money, fear and racism: Navigating the complex relationship between health and hysteria As the world continues to fight the new coronavirus, the global Asian and Pacific Islander community pushes back on hate, discrimination

There are fewer global phenomena that make a bigger impact than a viral pandemic. As told by history, the emergence of a new, deadly pathogen — especially one for which there is no known cure or robust preventative measure — stops the world, disrupting everyday life for all humans in a way that permanently impacts the zeitgeist. COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019, is a specific disease caused by a virus named SArS-CoV-2 and stems from a family of viruses called the coronaviruses (named so due to the crownlike spikes that cover the virus’ surface). Coronaviruses can also trigger a wide range of known ailments from the common cold to more severe diseases like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SArS) and Middle east respiratory syndrome (MerS). As most people are acutely aware, COVID-19 is the latest disease to rock the world, transforming and, hopefully,

advancing the ways in which we deal with global health crises in a time where humans are more connected than ever. In the same way that the virus itself has rapidly disseminated across cities, counties, states and countries, so have broad isolation measures to stop the spread of disease. The World health Organization (WhO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have both urged governments to enact such measures. Last week, California became the first state to implement a statewide stay-athome order for its nearly 40 million residents, and shortly after more than a dozen states followed suit. The COVID-19 outbreak is multi-faceted and affects all areas of modern life. School districts have shut down and there are currently efforts to compensate workers of all industries and provide ample sick pay as more governments adopt stay-at-home measures. As of press time, much of the world has adjusted to this

restrictive stasis. The WhO has praised both China and South Korea for “flattening the curve” but in other countries, like the U.S., the virus’ impact continues to inflate and seep into all areas of American society. Averting another recession As it is with most things in the United States, all roads lead to the economy, and how to mitigate capital damage during this outbreak and amid stay-at-home orders. President Donald Trump, who prior to announcing a national emergency on March 13 downplayed the virus’ impact on the United States, and his administration have prioritized the prevention of a major economic fallout. On Tuesday, March 24, the Trump administration (led by Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin) and Congress negotiated a $2 trillion stimulus package, the largest emergency stimulus package in American economic history. In short, the Senate bill would direct one-time payments of $1,200 to most PAGE 10

PAGE 2 added. Duterte thanks Congress Duterte on Tuesday expressed his gratitude to Congress for granting him special powers that are necessary for dealing with the current health situation in the country. “I especially thank Congress for granting the executive department with special pow-

ers through the ‘Bayanihan to heal as One’ Act to effectively respond to the challenges caused by the Covid-19 global pandemic,” he said. “I express my sincerest gratitude to all of you for granting our most urgent requests. Finally, the executive department can move, decide, and act freely for the best interest of the Filipino people during this

health crisis,” he added. Duterte also acknowledged the country’s frontliners for risking their lives to treat infected patients and lamented the deaths of workers who died after contracting the disease. “I rarely salute people but when it comes to our doctors, health workers who died, I salute you,” he said in Filipino. n

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

Duterte signs law on additional powers...

FLAg-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Tuesday, March 24, announced that it is temporarily suspending international flights from March 26 to April 14 as more people around the world become infected with the coronavirus (COVID-19). The airline said in a statement that it “could no longer sustain even a limited number of international flights” as more countries implement strict travel and entry restrictions due to the pandemic. Following the ‘enhanced community quarantine’ in Luzon, PAL joined the country’s major airlines in ceasing operations of domestic flights on March 17 until at least April 12. It also attributed the decreased demand for travel for its suspensions, as well as the “continuing challenges” with regard to the staffing of its Ma-

nila airport hub amid the lockdown. “Accordingly, our last flight to depart from Manila this week will be Pr 104 bound for San Francisco at 10:10 PM on March 25. Several flights will continue to arrive in Manila on March 26 from Los Angeles, Tokyo Narita, and Jakarta, and on March 27 from New York JFK, San Francisco, and Los Angeles,” the airline said. “Our firm goal is to resume operations starting 15 April 2020, if warranted by Philippine and international authorities, global public health conditions and the travel environment,” it

Inquirer.net file photo

added. PAL said it will now focus on conserving its resources for its workers and be on standby for select flights to “retrieve stranded passengers.” “We shall continue to make aircraft and service personnel available for special flights to retrieve stranded passengers as well as cargo flights to keep intact critical supply chains across our islands,” PAL added. COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World health Organization as it has already infected more than 386,960 people worldwide and killed more than 16,750. n

Fil-Am lawyer David Lat remains in critical condition, given ‘experimental’ drug therapy by MoMar

G. Visaya

AJPress

NeW York continues to grapple with skyrocketing coronavirus cases and because of the spiking numbers, the state launched earlier this week a clinical trial for an experimental drug treatment to heal those who are critically ill. One of those patients in critical condition is Filipino American lawyer David Lat who has been intubated on a ventilator and sedated inside the NYU Langone hospital, according to his mother Zenda garcia Lat. In an update to family and friends through social media, Dr. Lat said that her son’s doctors have put him “on hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin and an experimental drug to ease the inflammation in his lungs which are heavily damaged.” “It will take a while before we really see much progress but at least, he is stable. hopefully, he will put up a good fight,” she said. “It has indeed been a very difficult and trying time for us, especially because we cannot see him at all and it takes a lot before we get through to anyone in the ICU to get updates.” The federal government cleared the way for New York to experiment with the malaria and lupus drug hydroxychloroquine and the antibiotic Zithromax (generic name azithromycin) as a treatment for COVID-19, gov. Andrew Cuomo said over

the weekend. David’s husband Zachary Shemtob is recovering and their 2-year-old son, harlan is with Lat’s parents, emmanuel and Zenaida, who are both doctors. They are not allowed to visit Lat at the hospital because of the very contagious virus. According to Shemtob, the doctors at NYU Langone are also treating him with an IL 6-inhibitor to fight the inflammation of Lat’s lungs. Lat, author and the founder of the legal blog Above the Law has been hospitalized since March 16 due to a COVID-19 infection. The 44-year-old lawyer experienced intermittent fevers, joint aches, chills, fatigue and coughing for more than a week. he went to the emergency room on March 15 because by this time, he was already having difficulty breathing. In an interview with the New York Law Journal, Shemtob said he was told about his husband waking up Saturday, despite being under sedation, by an attending nurse at the hospital. The nursing staff then asked Lat to go back and get more rest. Last week, Lat documented his experience with the virus in a series of tweets on Twitter, giving it the hashtag of LivingWithCovid. his latest tweet was on March 18, a comparative graph showing various countries and how many coronavirus tests were done per one million people. Dr. Lat called on for more

Fil-Am lawyer David Lat shares a photo of him on March 20 using a ventilator after being admitted to the hospital for COVID-19. Photo courtesy of David Lat/Facebook

prayers for her son, as she thanked acquaintances, friends and family who have been sending them prayers and good wishes. “Thank you so much for your outpouring of prayers for David, your kind thoughts and well wishes. It brings us a lot of comfort and we truly appreciate it,” Dr. Lat said, adding that they are also mourning the loss of four of their physician colleagues back in the Philippines. Shemtob also expressed his thanks to everyone, including “people we don’t even know who have been touched in some way by this.” “We appreciate everyone’s love and thoughts and prayers,” he said. “I just want to stress again, for folks to stay safe and to stop congregating together, to please take this stuff seriously.” n

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 27 - APRIL 2, 2020

OPINION

Safe hands on World Water Day EVEN under normal circumstances, people are aware of the importance in life of the most basic need for survival, water. Residents of Metro Manila and several neighboring areas saw the consequences of an acute water shortage last year. Now the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has heightened this importance. For World Water Day 2020, observed on March 22, the theme shifted from the original emphasis on the inextricable link between climate change and water security, to the importance of water in fighting the contagion, with people urged to “show our best hand hygiene moments to fight COVID-19.” With community quarantines imposed in Luzon and other parts of the country, people are strongly reminded to observe proper hygiene, starting with the most basic – regular hand washing. Health professionals have stressed that instead of smothering hands with alcohol or sanitizers, it is better to wash hands regularly

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FEATURES

with soap and water. This simple advice is obviously difficult to observe in communities that lack running water. When you have to buy water by the container or fetch the day’s supply for the household from a communal artesian well, regular hand washing becomes a luxury. At the same time, the need to conserve water is emphasized on World Water Day. The global population continues to grow, putting a strain on fresh water resources. Analysts have warned that international conflicts are likely to be sparked by water resource exploitation. Water is used not just for sanitation and keeping pathogens at bay, but also for irrigation and energy generation. Efficient water resource management, through recycling and conservation practices, can prevent shortages. On World Water Day, as people are urged to promote “safe hands” amid the COVID-19 contagion, everyone is also reminded not to forget to turn off the tap. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

What is more important to you: The survival of your family and public health or Trump’s call for the US economy to open by Easter?

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS “THE cure is worse than the problem,” President Donald Trump has been echoing Fox News in his unbelievable call to scale down drastic efforts toward the containment of the coronavirus pandemic and open the U.S. for business by April 12. This cure, prescribed by Trump, is indeed worse than the problem because he will have blood in his hands for the death of more Americans. PEOPLE ARE DYING! As of press time, the coronavirus pandemic has infected more

than 52,000 people and killed more than 691 in the United States. Globally, the number of people that have tested positive with the COVID-19 has topped 416,000 and the death toll is now more than 18,500. The coronavirus pandemic is on an upward trajectory, with the rise in the number of Americans getting infected and dying more than doubling every week. Meanwhile, New York — the hotspot of the outbreak — records a doubling every three days. And this is just about to get worse, AND

could be the future faced by other states. As hospitals are getting overwhelmed by the growing cases of coronavirus infections, our doctors, nurses, and other front liners’ lives are now in danger; some have already died in the line of duty. Overworked and stretched to the limit, they have not been supplied with all the needed hospital gears to help them protect themselves and their families. Meanwhile, many Americans are dying because testPAGE 7

Philstar.com photo

Why not news about those who get well from the coronavirus?

Street Talk GREG B. MACABENTA CHRIS Cuomo, the host of the CNN news-commentary program, “Cuomo Prime Time,” had good news about someone who had been found positive for the strain of coronavirus, known as COVID-19. The good news was that the patient was recovering. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the COVID-19 mortality rate at 3.4%. That’s the bad news. On that basis, shouldn’t it be good news that 96.6% of those infected survive? Even in Wuhan, China, where the disease first began to

spread, the mortality rate was 4.9%, early on. In other words, being found positive for COVID-19 is not necessarily a death sentence. In fact, a full recovery is likely. In this millennium, the world has experienced two other types of coronavirus epidemics — and we survived. In the fall of 2002, the world reeled from the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV), a type of coronavirus (named after its crown-like spikes). The SARS epidemic, which was reported mainly in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Toronto, was brought under control by the middle of 2003 — or in less than a year — “by means of

syndromic surveillance, prompt isolation of patients, strict enforcement of quarantine of all contacts and, in some areas, community-level quarantine. By interrupting all human-tohuman transmission, SARS was effectively eradicated.” (Source: The Lancet). Vaccines have since been developed but research continues. In 2014, another type of coronavirus called Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERSCoV) was traced to Saudi Arabia. Only two confirmed cases of MERS infection were identified in the U.S., while more than 1,300 tested negative. However, in the Middle East, PAGE 10

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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Optimism in resilient real estate by aMy

r. rEMo Inquirer.net

IT’S stating the obvious: the COVID-19 pandemic and the month-long, Luzon-wide quarantine imposed by the government would dampen the growth of the Philippine economy. American investment bank JP Morgan Chase Bank had reported that it lowered the country’s full year gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast to 5.1 percent year on year from a previous forecast of 6.2 percent, noting that “the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the Philippine economy may be larger than first anticipated.” Economists from Union Bank of the Philippines were reported to have said that the country’s 2020 GDP was seen to grow by only 5.4 percent, “as the enhanced community quarantine locked down 73 percent of the economy and restricted the movement of people.” Local and international stock markets likewise reeled from this

pandemic, with downturns not seen since the last global financial crisis more than a decade ago. Resilient industries Despite all these, some quarters continue to be optimistic that there remained bright spots in the economy—with certain industries seen to be resilient amid the growing threat of COVID-19 on the health and lives of people, and the global economy. P ro f. E n r i qu e S o r i a n o III, executive director of Wong+Bernstein Advisory Group, pointed out that real estate is one of those resilient sectors, especially in the case of the Philippines where a huge demand for housing remains unmet. “For the long term, I would still bet my last centavo on real estate. Real estate investing, when done right, will continue to be a local play for most investors. Unless you are a methodical stock market player, the risk is higher in capital markets as stock movements are heavily correlated to

regional and global events,” Soriano said in an interview. “The sector has been on an upswing for close to 10 years already. It is bound to slow down with or without COVID-19. Behaviorally, in any downturn, the real estate market will naturally correct itself. In due time, it will start picking up again. The upside is clear: it is a very resilient sector struggling to cover more than six million housing units. All these housing requirements are based on real demand,” he further said. Soriano further pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic is unlikely to have any significant impact on the supply of housing stock. Any prolonged uncertainty, however, will likely reduce demand and a decline in price points on selected geographies, and this slowdown—albeit a temporary one—may weigh heavily on housing developers with a limited capital base. Still, there are plenty of bright spots, according to PAGE A7

Metro crime rate down – PNP

(PNP) said over the weekend. PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said 766 crimes MANILA — The number of were recorded in the National crimes in Metro Manila went Capital Region from March down by 67.6 percent since 15 to March 20. The figure is the government enforced a lower by 67.6 percent comLuzon-wide enhanced com- pared to 2,367 crime during munity quarantine to contain the same period last year. Banac attributed the dethe coronavirus disease 2019, the Philippine National Police crease to the strict enforceby EMManuEl

Tupas

Philstar.com

ment of the localized quarantine where people, except those providing medical and other essential services, are required to stay at home. Cases of murder, homicide, physical injuries, rape, robbery, theft, carjacking and motorcycle thefts decreased by 65.4 percent from 211 to 73. n

DOH: No VIP treatment for politicians over tests by John

Eric MEndoza ManilaTimes.net

THE Department of Health (DoH) on Monday, March 23 denied allegations that politicians and government officials were given priority over persons under investigation (PUIs) in testing for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). “’Yung mga na-test na highlevel officials, most of them pumasok sa criteria namin (Those ManilaTimes.net file photo tested were high-level officials, most of whom qualified for our geire in a radio interview. Covid-19 were “qualified” for She stressed that the politi- the criteria of testing, as they eicriteria),” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Ver- cians who were tested for PAGE A7

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No, we’re not comparing ourselves Optimism in resilient real estate to healthcare frontliners – Cayetano by Neil

PAGE 5 Soriano. “Developers have now realized that technology is a business disruptor and they will be compelled to pursue a multitude of technological applications to boost safety in their housing projects and workplaces. Combining infrastructure with healthcare innovation will now be a powerful value driver both for survival and sustainability. In the end, technology will disrupt real estate economics making the complacent players obsolete,” he explained. “It should be business as usual for investors. Managing the risk as a result of the current uncertainty is the only

ArwiN MercAdo Inquirer.net

MANILA — Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano explained the story behind the photo opportunity during a special session of Congress that drew flak and the ire of netizens on social media amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. On Monday, March 23 Cayetano and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, as well as several members of the House of Representatives, posed for photo while holding a poster with the message: “Together with doctors and frontliners, we went to work for you, so please stay home for us.” This, however, did not sit well with those on social media, who took note of the lawmakers comparing themselves PAGE 10

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea pose for a photo that drew flak on social media during Monday’s special session at the House of Representatives. Cayetano said they were not comparing themselves to heroic healthcare workers and were just out to stress to the public the importance of observing strict quarantine rules to combat the coronavirus disease 2019. The chamber tackled President Duterte’s call for wider presidential powers in leading government efforts to contain the viral illness. Inquirer.net photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta

COVID-19 cases in PH jump to... PAGE 1 succumbed to community-acquired pneumonia; a 57-yearold male from Caloocan City who died of acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to pneumonia and COVID-19; and an 82-year-old female Filipino from Marikina City who had a travel history to the United States. The DOH reported six recoveries, raising the national tally of recovered patients to 26. Mass testing still not an option Mass testing cannot be implemented as the country lacks enough test kits and is still expanding the capacity of its laboratories, according to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire. “While we already have 100,000 testing kits, we expect more to arrive, these are not enough to conduct mass testing,” she said. “For now, mass testing is not in our consideration because we lack capacity. Even if we have testing kits but we do not have laboratories, we cannot do it. So we are completing the establishment of extension laboratories nationwide,” she added. Vergeire noted that mass testing may be possible once the government has sufficient resources. “Once we stabilize all our laboratories, we can decide if we can do mass testing or not,” she said. The second week of Luzon’s enhanced community quarantine opened with President Rodrigo Duterte asking the Con-

gress “for a limited period and subject to restrictions” powers that are necessary for dealing with the current health situation in the country. Last week, he signed Proclamation 929, which declares a state of calamity for a period of six months unless lifted earlier extended “as circumstances may warrant.” The declaration enjoins all government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to render full assistance in combating the spread of the disease. “All government agencies and LGUs are enjoined to render full assistance to and cooperation with each other and mobilize the necessary resources to undertake critical, urgent, and appropriate disaster response aid and measures in a timely manner to curtail and eliminate the threat of COVID-19,” stated Duterte’s proclamation. His declaration also directs law enforcement agencies, with the support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, “to undertake all necessary measures to ensure peace and order.” The president also placed Luzon on an enhanced community quarantine to contain the spread of the virus in the country. “I have come to the conclusion that stricter measures are necessary. For this reason, pursuant to my powers as President under the constitution and RA 11332, I am placing the entire mainland of Luzon under enhanced community quarantine

until April 12, 2020,” he said in a nationally televised address on March 16. An enhanced community quarantine suspends mass public transport, and land, air, and sea travel. It also implements a strict home quarantine for every household, regulates provisions for food and essential health services, and heightens the presence of uniformed personnel to enforce quarantine procedures. Duterte urged the public once again to stay inside their homes. “Everyone will stay at home, leaving their houses only to buy food, medicine, and other things necessary for survival,” he said. Private establishments providing basic necessities, such as those related to food and medicine production, are allowed to operate with a skeleton force. Among those businesses include public markets, supermarkets, groceries, convenience stores, hospitals, medical clinics, pharmacies and drugstores, food preparation and delivery services, water-refilling stations, and banks. Malls, meanwhile, have already announced their temporary closure until further notice. Different cities in Metro Manila have also implemented a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. during the quarantine period — among them are Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Muntinlupa, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, and Taguig. n

hurdle for property players to overcome,” Soriano further said. 7 trends For its part, real estate service firm Santos Knight Frank pointed out that “despite the impact of COVID-19 and downturn in international stock markets, the Philippine real estate industry continues to have reasons to be optimistic.” Advertisement In a statement, Santos Knight Frank said this optimism stemmed from the seven trends seen to shape Philippine real estate in 2020. These include the roll out of real estate investment trust (REIT), which is seen to unlock a number of opportunities in

the property market; continued expansion of business process outsourcing industry as fueled by healthcare, animation and game development; and the growth of co-working spaces. Other trends include: developers’ new focus on sustainability as they become increasingly aware of their environmental impact; the growing requirements of industrial and logistics industries, which have turned their sights outside the capital region for new sites for expansion; Metro Manila remaining a prime residential market; and finally, the growth of co-living spaces, as well as the rise of the micro-studio as a halfway home for Metro Manila’s workforce. n

What is more important to you: The survival... PAGE 5 ing has not been optimized on a scale required to help mitigate the spread, and the federal government has not been able to fulfill the number of ventilators urgently needed right there and then to keep patients alive. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been calling out Trump for not acting urgently to the needs of the states given the power and resources accorded to the Office of the President and the Federal Government. As the Hill reported: “Cuomo and other governors have pleaded with the Trump administration for more ventilators from the national stockpile of medical supplies.

There are about 12,700 ventilators in that stockpile, but Cuomo said the administration has only sent 400 to New York.” “What am I going to do with 400 ventilators when I need 30,000?” Cuomo said. “You pick the 26,000 people who are going to die because you only sent 400 ventilators.” In several television interviews, Cuomo also urged Trump to use the Defense Production Act (DPA) to force manufacturers to make more ventilators. Cuomo stressed that given the urgency of the need for ventilators, businesses need start-up capital and contracts with the federal government to get ventilators out to states

in such a short period of time. Yet as state governments and other countries implement more proactive and drastic measures to help slow down the pandemic and save the lives of the American people, the President of the United States has been obsessed with the numbers: falling stock market, growing unemployment rate, businesses closing because of the pandemic. On Monday, March 23, Trump has expressed weariness about social distancing’s impact on the economy and has expressed the need to scale back on the drastic measures local governments have PAGE 10

DOH: No VIP treatment for politicians... PAGE 5 ther had travel history abroad, known exposure to a virus carrier or both. She said testing some politicians was a “matter of national security.”

“Meron namang mga tao na ite-test natin (There are also those who we test) because of national security reasons… We need to preserve high people in government na specific lang, I’m not saying everybody,”

Vergeire added. Politicians who requested to be tested are queued, but will never be prioritized over vulnerable PUIs, such as the elderly and those with underlying conditions, she said. n

Why not news about those who get well... PAGE 5 3 or 4 out of 10 infected died of the ailment, making the mortality rate, as a percentage of those infected, alarmingly high. In an online report, the mortality rate of MERS was estimated at 34%, while that of SARS was 9.6%. Both are considerably higher than the 3.4% death rate of COVID-19. However, because SARS was contained within a year and the incidence of MERS was mainly in the Arabian Peninsula, they did not cause the panic we are now witnessing. In contrast, the impact of the

COVID-19 epidemic has been worldwide, thousands have been infected and hundreds have died. And because of the lack of information, it has made everyone fearful, like being afraid of the dark. SARS and COVID-19 are said to be similar in many respects. The difference, according to experts, is in the latter’s transmissibility (it is transmitted more rapidly and, therefore, is more contagious). Worse yet, the mild outward symptoms can be deceptive, making those positive for the virus less aware of the danger of infecting oth-

ers, until it is too late. This makes pre-emptive testing imperative. We should not wait to get sick before being tested! The problem in the U.S., however, is finding a testing facility, although the federal government has vowed to solve that. Meanwhile, because of inadequate testing kits, health authorities have advised that only those showing symptoms should be tested. This is one cause of anxiety and panic. In contrast, one can have a flu vaccination even without flu symptoms. Remember the adPAGE 10

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No, we’re not comparing ourselves... Money, fear and racism: Navigating the complex... PAGE 7 to frontliners who are exposed on a daily basis to the risks of the viral illness. But in a Facebook live session, Cayetano cleared the air and clarified that they were only intending to send a message to the public. “No, we’re not comparing ourselves to the frontliners. Hats off kami, malayo (It’s not a similar comparison). Ang mga frontliners (Our frontliners), every single second they’re risking their lives. Kaya nga kami (That’s why), we are just extending the message, stay home,” Cayetano said. “Kung meron pong symp-

toms (If you have symptoms), isolate yourselves. Kung positive at kailangan na nasa hospital, pumunta na sa ospital (If you are positive and you need to be in the hospitals, go to hospitals),” Cayetano said. In his opening speech during the special session for COVID-19 response, Cayetano lamented that many Filipinos are not observing social distancing despite the enhanced community quarantine placed all over Luzon. “Marami pa rin po sa ating kababayan ang hindi nagsosocial distancing. Medyo parang piyesta pa sa kanilang lugar, nagiinuman sa tabi and

they don’t see that we can become dangerous to each other,” Cayetano said. (Many of our countrymen are still not observing social distancing. It seemed there are still fiestas in their communities, drinking on the side of a street, and they don’t see that each one is a possible threat.) A report by the Associated Press defined “social distancing” as the process of limiting people to gather and spreading the virus—a move that is being practiced in Italy and Japan where there are also reported positive cases of the disease. n

Why not news about those who get well... PAGE 7 age, “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure”? The median incubation period of COVID-19 is estimated to be 5.1 days. According to studies, “under conservative assumptions,” 101 out of every 10,000 cases will develop symptoms, within 11.5 to 15.6 days of active monitoring or quarantine.” This explains the 14-day quarantine period that health authorities require. The race is now on to develop a vaccine for COVID-10. But authorities calculate that it will take at least 18 months to develop a vaccine and get it cleared for use on humans. However, authorities believe that the ailment can be mitigated with the SARS vaccine. Here’s what one online report states: “Researchers in the US have mapped a SARS-CoV-2 protein, which could help use drugs developed to treat SARS coronavirus as effective treatments for the new COVID-19 disease... the Nsp15 protein from SARSCoV-2 is 89% similar to the SARS-CoV protein. Previous SARS studies published in 2010 show that Nsp15 inhibition can slow viral replication, offering hope for the use of Nsp-15-targeting drugs to treat COVID-19. Mapping of a 3D protein structure allows better insights into the virus’ replication in human cells.” But what is even more reassuring is an authoritative article in UCHealth Today, a publication of the University of Colorado Hospital (ranked America’s best in pulmonology), that stated that “most people who fall ill recover within two weeks. People with more severe cases generally recover in three to six weeks.” Health authorities stress, however, that the disease is “very contagious.” This is one reason why people are panick-

ing in the U.S. But the bigger reason is the lack of sufficient knowledge about the epidemic, the inadequate testing capability, and the incompetence of President Donald Trump. Unfortunately, the hysteria has been made worse by media reports on the number of those infected and the number of fatalities, with little or nothing said about those who have recovered. Of course, raising false hopes is not helpful either. But the facts should be stated clearly, objectively and credibly. It, therefore, doesn’t help to have a president who habitually lies. Health professionals have cautioned older people about their greater vulnerability to COVID-19. The death rate for seniors is much, much higher. The elderly, especially those with heart, lung and immunological conditions, are more susceptible to infection. In one senior facility, all those who had succumbed to COVID-19 already had a respiratory or another ailment. In other words, the younger and healthier a person is, the greater the chances of recovery. But doctors advise against taking the ailment for granted. Even NBA players have been found positive after exposure to infected parties. And the flu, with a mortality rate of less than 1%, can still cause death (UCHealth Today points out that the flu is a strain of coronavirus). It is best to avoid crowds; best to wash hands with soap and warm water; use a disinfectant on hands, on door handles, and on high traffic surfaces; avoid touching your face; and cough and sneeze into a tissue, and properly discard it. Most of all, it is best to be tested. At any rate, the prospect of recovery from COVID-19 does not justify the idiotic comments of Trump when the coronavirus

red flag was first raised in the U.S. Calling the epidemic a hoax being spread by the Democrats, Trump said: “So if, you know, we have thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better just by, you know, sitting around and even going to work...some of them go to work, but they get better. They’ll get better very rapidly, they don’t even see a doctor, they don’t even call a doctor.” Trump has since done an about-face. In his message to America on Wednesday, March 11, he advised people to “stay home” if they were sick or had symptoms. From calling the alarming reports a hoax, Trump also declared a national emergency last March 13 and mustered both government and private sector resources to contain the virus. Perhaps, much of the hysteria caused by COVID-19 would have been avoided if China had been more transparent concerning its surge in Wuhan; if Trump had avoided making idiotic remarks, and had displayed effective leadership in confronting the crisis; if more intelligent information about the epidemic had been promptly disseminated; and if adequate testing capabilities had been immediately marshalled. To a large extent, the panic could have been minimized if the media had provided more balanced reports, telling the good news along with the bad. Unfortunately, the tendency to sensationalize may be ingrained in every media person. In journalism school, this is what’s drilled into the heads of aspiring reporters: “What is news? Dog bites man is not news. Man bites dog is news.” *** gregmacabenta@hotmail.com

PAGE 7 American adults; establish a $500 billion lending program for companies, states, and cities; extend $367 billion for small businesses to deal with payroll issues; strengthen the unemployment insurance system and funnel $150 billion toward hospitals. After weeks of plummeting and experiencing its biggest one day decline since the 1980s, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has risen 2,113 points in one day in anticipation of the Congress bill, providing optimism for airlines and the cruise lines, two industries which have taken a toll since the outbreak began. Indeed, the economic impact has dominated much of coronavirus-related news and developments coming from Washington. And as previously reported in the Asian Journal, Trump has argued against the

expansion of testing for COVID-19 and placed focus on economic damage control. (Trump said that he wants the “country opened” by Easter.) But despite the efforts to save the economy and protect the private sector from financial ruin, the number of people testing positive for the virus is skyrocketing. According to a New York Times interactive, at least 52,215 people across the U.S. have tested positive for the virus as of Tuesday. Moreover, 675 U.S. patients have so far died from coronavirus-related causes. What began as a regional scare in Wuhan, China last year has accelerated to become a global panic that has preyed on the fears of the public. The natural reaction to the media reports of death tolls and lockdown announcements has triggered panic behavior that reflects the tendency for some

PAGE 7 implemented, such as secure in place orders and lockdowns. This move toward loosening restrictions on social distancing and similar measures go against facts and the warnings of senior U.S. health officials, including Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who have been disclosing the science-based fact that the United States has not yet felt the worst of the pandemic. People who tuned in to Monday’s White House Press briefing were wondering why Dr. Fauci was not in the briefing, but Trump’s doubling down on lies he had been fact-checked on by Dr. Fauci and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Stephen Hahn in the past would explain why. During the briefing, Trump again reiterated the lie that the malaria drug chloroquine has already been approved by the FDA, and that the manufacturing and distribution of this drug will be happening quickly. This assertion is NOT true and this is dangerous! The drug has yet to be proven to be safe and truly effective to be prescribed as a treatment to COVID-19 based on scientific clinical trials done under the auspices of a protocol. . CNN reported that a man from Arizona is dead and his wife is under critical care after the two took chloroquine phosphate in an apparent attempt to self-medicate for the novel coronavirus. NBC News spoke to the wife, who said they took the drug after they learned of chlo-

roquine’s connection to the coronavirus during a President Donald Trump news conference. CNN also reported that health officials in Nigeria have issued a warning over chloroquine after they said three people in the country overdosed on the drug, in the wake of Trump’s comments about using it to treat the coronavirus. With all the mixed messages coming from Trump, Fox News, and the Republicans vs the health officials, science experts and the facts of what is going on in other countries, Trump decided to silence Dr. Fauci, who could only speak now on matters approved by the Trump Administration. VP Mike Pence would now be controlling all coronavirus messaging. On Tuesday, the reality superstar-turned president just announced that he wants to re-open the U.S. economy by April 12, and was describing how great it would be to see people flock their churches for Easter Sunday. He said he wants the United States to open businesses, restaurants, theaters, bars, and casinos and ask “less vulnerable” people to go back to work. WHAT IS TRUMP THINKING? April 12 is just a little more than two weeks away. Scientists and health officials say the virus is still spreading at a rapid rate by that time. What makes him think he can just do this and have our hospitals get even more overwhelmed and get more people infected and killed? Will you allow the United

people to cling on to misinformation and hysteria. Public health scares and minorities in America: an ugly history Like any government agency, a public health care system is meant to provide care to all patients who enter its facilities, a service which, ideally, is void of any discriminatory standards. But in the United States, a country with a tainted history of xenophobic and racist policies and practices, that unsurprisingly wasn’t always the case. A 2004 study from the American Journal of Public Health that explored Depression-era standards and practices towards Mexicans and Filipinos in Los Angeles detailed the extensive effort to rid sick Filipinos from hospitals and, eventually, deport them. After thousands of Mexicans left the state and reduced hospitals’ n

What is more important to you: The survival...

States to be the next epicenter of the coronavirus in the world? We would have not been in this desperate situation had Trump not eliminated the White House National Security Council Directorate for Global Health Security and Biodefense, established by President Barack Obama, to prepare the United States for future pandemics like COVID-19. This is consistent with Trump’s obsession to erase Obama’s legacy in America. We would have not been in this desperate situation had Trump not cut huge funding for health institutions like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has undermined COVID-19 containment efforts. We wouldn’t have been in this desperate situation had Trump not covered up and undermined the threat of coronavirus despite warnings of a pandemic from the scientists and health officials because he deemed this will hurt the economic numbers he has been bragging about and therefore, could cost him his re-election. NOW that coronavirus has escalate to be a pandemic and has killed many Americans, Trump is still denying scientific facts because he is obsessing over good economic numbers — Wall Street index, low unemployment rate and high GDP — not because he cares for you. He is putting our health and safety at risk for his political survival. ENOUGH! Speak up and speak out! Our life depends on your voice. n

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COMMUNITY Journal

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ WITH the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, along with “stay-at-home,” “shelter in place,” quarantines, travel bans, etc., there has been a profound effect on immigration. Here are some of the restrictions, limitations, changes at the present time. This is not an exhaustive list, and is subject to change literally on a daily basis: 1. The Department of State (DOS) is temporarily suspending routine visa services at all U.S. Embassies. Embassies and consulates will cancel all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments as of March 20, 2020. Interviews will be re-

11

COVID-19 and its effects on immigration scheduled as soon as possible, but no specific date can be provided at this time. 2. The U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines noted that as of March 16, 2020, they have stopped processing routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visas due to the Philippine government’s announcement of an enhanced community quarantine for Luzon. Applicants will be advised of any new interview dates. 3. There are U.S. travel bans imposed for China, Europe, UK, etc., and airlines have suspended international flights. Therefore, even if visas were issued, people would have a very difficult time entering the U.S. 4. ICE is temporarily adjusting its enforcement pri-

orities, and will focus on apprehending and deporting those who pose a public safety risk and are “subject to mandatory detention based on criminal grounds.” In other words, ICE will go back to the Obama administration’s policy of going after only those who pose a risk to society. 5. Immigration courts are canceling and will later reschedule hearings for those who are not being detained. They are also closing some courthouses. 6. USCIS has suspended in-person services, including all interviews and naturalization ceremonies. 7. ICE is rescheduling in-person check INS of immigrants who are not in PAGE 13

PETITION APPROVED ALMOST 15 YEARS AFTER DENIAL: SEE THIS STORY UNFOLD ON CITIZEN PINOY THIS SUNDAY. Marvin was petitioned by his father as a single adult child of an immigrant in 2001. However, his father moved and did not notify the USCIS of the new address. When the USCIS served a request for evidence, the family never got the notice, and did not reply. The petition was therefore denied due to abandonment in 2005, and the family almost gave up. Finally, Marvin’s family consulted with the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel who, in 2015, fought for the family, arguing the case should not have been denied. But victory did not come easy. Each time a motion to reopen/reconsider was filed, it was denied as untimely and that the denial was proper. But the Law Office did not give up and finally, after the 4th motion, the case was approved in 2019! Watch how the team of Atty. Gurfinkel was able to get Marvin to enter the U.S. as an immigrant after 18 grueling years, on all-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

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Petition finally approved 14 years Dance is opening doors for Fil-Am newbie in Jason Derulo’s music video after denial, 4 motions to reconsider on a brand-new Citizen Pinoy this Sunday

By AllAn PolicArPio Inquirer.net

THANKS to the fastgrowing dance community on the internet, FilipinoAmerican newbie Ken San Jose has managed to gain recognition and build online presence at such a young age: His dance covers on YouTube are viewed by millions, and, at just 15, he was tapped to be part of an international pop star’s music video. He has proven his mettle as a dancer. This time, Ken, who’s now based in the Philippines, wants to prove that he can sing, too, in the hope of following in the footsteps of his idols, Billy Crawford and Gary Valenciano. “The online dance community was getting bigger, and I feel blessed to have been caught in that wave when I was just starting out,” Ken, who danced for the music video of the 2017 Jason Derulo single, “If I’m Lucky,” told the Inquirer in a recent pocket interview. But because he became more associated with dancing, many people get surprised, he said, when they find out that he can hold a tune. “They don’t know that part of me. But I have always loved singing. Some of my favorite artists are Billy, Gary V, Chris Brown and Bruno Mars—artists who sing and dance,” he said. In fact, it was singing he fell in love first. “My late father was part of the Papuri Singers group, so I have been singing since I was

PERSEVERANCE and persistence will get one the results they hope to get, as evidenced in the story of Marvin, who was petitioned by his father more than 18 years ago. However, when the family moved to a new home, they failed to inform the USCIS. So, when a request for evidence was mailed to the old address, the family never got it and failed to reply on time. The petition was then denied in 2005 due to aban-

Ken San Jose

young. It’s just that the earlier opportunities I got were more for dancing,” pointed out Ken, who was born and raised in Los Angeles. The 17-year-old artist recently released his second single, “A Chance to Hold”—a danceable track that was recorded in collaboration with the Academy of Rock Singapore and Cornerstone Music. “I wanted something true to my style. So, when the Academy sent the song to my management, it was given to me. I was the one they immediately thought of because the song was catchy and upbeat. And I simply fell in love with it,” said Ken, who came up with the choreography for the song. Aside from his stint in the aforementioned Derulo

Photo from Instagram/@kensanjose

video, he has also taken the stage at the Radio Disney Music Awards, and appeared in various television shows. He likewise conducts dancing workshops around the world; his most recent one was at Boston University. “I love sharing my passion with young people,” he said. Upon relocating in Manila, Ken joined the 2018 reality talent search “World of Dance Philippines,” where he topped the junior division and placed third overall. “The show has helped me put my name in the mainstream,” he said. One of the contest’s judges was Billy, to whom Ken has gotten close with ever since. “I want to ask him to collaborate with me on a song. Hopefully, something maPAGE 13

COVID-19 also kills the young Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS THE younger generation is also vulnerable to get COVID19! It is a deadly misconception that they are not, a fake news that puts the elderly at even greater risk. Irresponsible people of any age could make this pandemic worse than the virus itself, by being arrogant and inconsiderate, not cooperating with the health authorities. Some of the Florida spring-breakers on

beaches shown on TV a few days ago, disregarding warnings to stay home or practice social distancing, tested positive for COVID-19! It is obvious that those young people on their school break – celebrating on beaches and bars, etc., not heeding the call to hunker down and do social distancing, not staying home to self-quarantine themselves – do not realize how vital isolation is when it comes to a killer infectious disease, like COVID-19. Perhaps believing they are invincible because of their robust immune system, they apparently did not know that in the United States alone, almost 30 percent of those hos-

pitalized for COVID-19 were between 20-44 years old, and 18 percent between 45 and 54, as reported by CDC. In France, more than 50 percent of COVID-19 infected patients in the ICU are under the age of 60. While it is true that seniors are at a higher risk to die from COVID-19 infection, especially those super seniors with medical issues (diabetes, COPD, high blood pressure, heart and/or lung disease, etc., who are at the highest risk, like those immuno-compromised patients), young people, are nonetheless at risk of catching the virus and possibly die from it. To protect the elderly, young people must be far away from

donment. The family was crushed upon finding out, until they decided to consult with, and retain, leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel almost a decade later. The team at the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel worked hard, persevered, and fought for Marvin’s case by filing motions to reconsider, arguing the denial was in error. But USCIS kept denying the motions as untimely

and that the original denial of the petition was proper. But the Law Office would not give up. Finally, on their 4th attempt, the USCIS agreed, and approved the petition in 2019. After 18 years, Marvin celebrated his first Christmas with his family in the US. Watch this inspiring story of perseverance and determination on an all-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

COVID-19 and its effects on...

PAGE 12 detention to “minimize the impact” of Covid-19. 8. USCIS will accept photocopies of signatures on many petitions and applications, as opposed to original, “wet ink” signatures. Let us also hope USCIS will not be serving requests for evidence (RFE’s), denials, etc. during this pandemic, where people are supposed to respond within a certain time limit, especially when people are confined to their homes, with limited ability to gather documents and prepare decent responses. In addition, if a person should miss a deadline because of the Covid-19 pandemic, in certain circumstances there could still be relief available based on “extraordinary circumstances.” “For my part, my office is still open and operational in

order to serve our clients and community. While we are all operating from our homes, all of our staff members are equipped with technology and tools to continue to call clients, work on cases, and keep clients informed at all times. Consultations are still done by phone. This is a testimony to our commitment in serving our clients, and we are prepared to do so no matter what. This is a very difficult time for all of us, requiring virtually an overnight retooling in the way we operate. But we are up to the challenge, and we will continue to keep you informed of any further developments.” *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services

are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)

them, and everybody is safer at home. Postpone our appointment with God Let us try to postpone our meeting with God as long as we can. This is a wonderful world we live in. And we can certainly make it even more wonderful, with understanding, patience, forgiveness where needed, love and compassion among all peoples of all nations on this planet Earth. During this crisis, all who can must stay home and enjoy family bonding. We have so many electronic gadgets plus internet access to help us “beam” ourselves (like Captain kirk) to any part of the world. With Amazon, YouTube, Netflix, Vudu and others, with Google, Alexa, Siri, Bixby, not

to mention Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Messenger, Tango, Skype, we can do a lot to enjoy at home. Our spirit and our mind can still soar to greater heights in this age of endless information and mind-boggling technology during this crisis, while all countries around the globe commune with each other to defeat a vicious invisible common enemy. No handshake, no hugging Self-quarantine, isolation and social distancing are all vital and very effective in our battle against COVID-19. Smiling and greeting each other, instead of handshaking or HiFiving, or hugging, or cheekkissing, even with our elderly parents or grandparents are part of our DIY strategy to

protect the more vulnerable among us – the seniors, especially those with health issues. Most of the carriers, asymptomatic or with symptoms, are usually the young ones who are out on the street. Let us stay home, remain healthy, and not be the carrier and courier of death. Also, washing hands well after touching money, our mail, and delivered packages will help prevent a disaster. Heroes amongst us Our healthcare providers, physicians and nurses, allied care personnel, and the first responders, who are on the frontlines of this war against killer COVID-19, are our unsung heroes who risk their health and their lives to serve patients of this pandemic. Some of them have actually PAGE 15

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99 Ranch Market makes public announcement

99 RANCH Market, via a public announcement signed by CEO Alice Chen, recently shared a public announcement on how the company and its stores are addressing shoppers’ needs during the coronavirus crisis. Here’s the announcement in full: To our valued customers and the 99 Ranch Market community: As we continue to monitor the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation very closely, we wanted to share the actions that 99 Ranch Market is taking to better serve customers, employees and community. Gratitude for our dedicated employees As we have been given the social responsibility to keep our stores open and provide food for our communities, our loyal employees have risen up and met the challenge. In order to meet unprecedented demand, our employees have dedicated their days and nights to keep our stores stocked so our customers

FOR RENT

have food to buy. In recognition of the incredible contributions of our frontline store employees, for 4 weeks starting March 15, 2020, we have allocated a special budget to enact a temporary raise of $2/hour for all our hourly store employees. We truly appreciate our employees’ teamwork and loyal service during this challenging time. The health and safety of our customers, employees remain our top priority We take great pride in maintaining the highest standards of cleanlinees, hygiene and safety. In response to the Coronavirus, 99 Ranch Market has taken additional measures developed in consultation with global and local public health authorities (including the WHO and CDC) to make our cleaning protocols even more rigorous and to ensure the safety of our customers and employees, including: • Increased frequency of cleaning high-traffic areas (including shelves, product displays, cashier stations and

restrooms) and have continued the use of hospital-grade disinfectants. • Increased deep cleanings of our stores and distribution centers. • Increased accessibility of antibacterial hand sanitizers for customers and employees. • Providing disposable face masks and gloves to our store employees. • As a precautionary measure, we have suspended all food samplings and demonstrations and closed all of our dine-in areas (Take-out orders are still available). • Ensuring that all of our employees stay home if they are feeling unwell. • Suspending employee travel internationally and all other nonessential travels. This weekend, 99 Ranch Market has also begun: •Installing plexiglass shields at every cashier checkout aisle. • Limiting the number of customers in the stores to approximately 50% capacity. •Implementing social dis-

SERVICES

tancing both within the stores and in any lines that may form outside the store by requiring that all persons keep within at least 6 feet of one another whenever possible. • Reducing business hours to allow stores to clean and restock to better service the community. Meeting the needs of our most vulnerable communities All of our stores have reserved the first hour of business on weekdays to accommodate the elderly 60+, expectant mothers, persons with disabilities, and/or persons with compromised immune systems. We ask that our customers respect these hours for those who are most at risk in our communities. Together we will fight, support one another 99 Ranch Market, Cravings by 99 Ranch Market and our

partners offer our deepest sympathy to those who have been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. We are prepared to navigate these challenging circumstances with everyone’s safety in mind. While our stores remain open for business, we recognize that you may choose to shop from home. IN an effort to provide you with the highest customer service, we are offering the following alternatives should you choose to shop from home: • Shop online at 99ranch. com to get dry groceries delivered to your home. • Shipt – a third-party grocery delivery service, offers same-day delivery to your home. Available nationwide. • Coming soon: in-store pick up and local delivery via 99ranch.com will be available in 15 stores across regions:

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Northern California – Milpitas and Sacramento; Southern California – Anaheim, Chino Hills, Corona, Irvine-Culver, Monterey Park and Van Nuys; Texas – Austin and Houston; Washington State – Edmonds; Maryland – Gaithersburg; Massachusetts – Quincy; New Jersey – Edison; Oregon – Beaverton. We firmly believe that it is our responsibility to prioritize the health and well-being of our employees and customers. In an effort to protect our customers and employees, and slow the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, we vow to play a constructive role by supporting local and government health officials. Thank you for being a loyal 99 Ranch Market customer. We look forward to continuing to serve you. (Advertising Supplement)

Dance is opening doors for Fil-Am... PAGE 12 terializes because I look up to him as someone who has made it in the fields of music and dance. That would be something great,” Ken said. “I also hope I can come up with an EP soon.” One of his goals is to be-

come a well-rounded performer. And so, Ken is also determined to learn other aspects of music and the business. “I don’t want to have limitations. Aside from honing my singing and acting, I would also love to be able to play an instrument

SERVICES

or compose my own songs someday,” he said. Does he see himself eventually getting into acting and doing teleseryes? “Why close doors when you have the opportunity? If there’s one, I will grab it and enjoy the moment,” he said.

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(212) 655-5426 N E W http://www.asianjournal.com YO R K / N E W J E R S• EY M A R C H 27, 2 0 2 0

people events arts culture entertainment

How Fil-Am businesses in LA County are navigating impact of virus outbreak

E

by

CHRISTINA M. ORIEL / AJPress

vent cancellations, work from home, no dining in restaurants, doors shuttering — these are a few ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic that businesses across the country are facing. Here in Southern California, new guidelines have caused Filipino American business owners to change the way they operate or even, close temporarily. Following California Governor Gavin Newsom’s directive, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Sunday night, March 15 ordered the temporary closure of bars and nightclubs that don’t offer food, movie theaters and entertainment venues, and gyms and fitness centers. Restaurants and retail food facilities, as well as bars that have food, face restrictions to only provide delivery, takeout or drive-thru. The restrictions will remain in place until noon on March 31, but are subject to extension. LA County officials followed suit with a similar announcement on Monday as new coronavirus cases continue to be reported; the county has 144 cases as of press time. At Wanderlust Creamery, a Fil-Am owned artisanal ice cream shop inspired by global travels, flavor sampling and cash payments have been suspended. Its four locations, which include Atwater Village and Tarzana, now only offer takeout pints and no-contact delivery through Postmates and UberEats. Taking out the sampling “kills us the most because it’s essential to the Wanderlust experience,” chef and creative partner Adrienne Borlongan said in an email. The company also has electronic and physical gift cards available for future use, and plans to roll out an overnight shipping option across the state and to Nevada and Arizona in the coming week. AC Boral, who opened Bebot Filipino Soul Food last fall

Christian Esteban of Chaaste Family Market in Pasadena, California prepares turo turo dishes ahead of the grocery opening for the day. Contributed photo

in Long Beach, said they have been experiencing more e-gift card sales and generous gestures — a customer offered to pay for gas for food deliveries, for example. “Our needs as a restaurant are definitely monetary, but boosting our morale helps too. We’re not a corporation, we have a big heart. Knowing that the restaurant will be okay once we’re all okay means a lot,” he said. Boral’s restaurant began free deliveries to healthcare workers across LA and Orange County to “boost morale for those with the demanding, stressful responsibilities their jobs hold.” “I really do think my contribution is so little compared to theirs — being vulnerable to an uncertain virus and dealing with the panic and unknowns of the situation we’re in as a community. Healthcare workers are the front line. I just

hope serving a good meal to them is a small gratitude they can feel and appreciate,” he said. But beyond serving food, it also means getting creative and keeping customers engaged, such as creating a “house account program” for regulars that includes rewards like free dessert, and taking Venmo as a form of payment to avoid the extra fees from credit card merchants, Boral said. Anna Marie Cruz, founder of Entrepinayship, said, “In these uncertain times, some of the best assistance will come from [the] community. Do not hesitate to reach out to friends, family, and your network for support, especially as we navigate an unprecedented crisis of this magnitude. You are not alone.” Joe Bernardo and Elaine Dolalas, who are among the hosts of This Filipino Ameri-

can Life podcast, started a Facebook group called “Support LA’s Filipino Small Businesses” last Saturday to centralize updates and raise awareness of businesses in the community that need the most help. The idea was inspired by Bernardo’s friends in Seattle who were posting recommendations of businesses to patron in the city’s Chinatown-International District, an area that has been hit hard by xenophobia and racism associated with the coronavirus. The new Fil-Am business group has hit close to 1,000 members four days later with posts predominantly about restaurants that are still offering delivery and takeout services. “We would like to have more people post them actually going to those places and ordering from them,” Bernardo said. “But we try to moderate posts because there are some people who just promote their businesses that aren’t necessarily affected by social distancing, like they might be an internet company or selling stuff online.” Similarly, Fil-Am digital platform Filuency created a Google map of Filipino businesses across counties in Southern California. “It’s important to know that small businesses such as those on our map are what technically keep the economy moving, and losing these businesses would gravely affect our overall community, ” said Filuency co-founder Lauren Delgado.

AC Boral of Bebot Filipino Soul Food in Long Beach gets ready to deliver meals to healthcare workers across the county. Photo by Janice Dig Cabaysa

Artisanal ice cream shop Wanderlust Creamery announced it will only have pints for takeout and no-contact delivery. Photo courtesy of Wanderlust Creamery

Over the weekend, it was busy at Titas of Manila, a turo turo restaurant in West Covina customers still placed large catering or takeout orders. But on Monday night, the city followed LA county’s orders on public spaces and also declared a local emergency. The restaurant has since

cut hours and is operating on a skeletal force, reducing the number of counter and kitchen staff from 12-18 depending on peak days to now five. “As a business owner, I have to play it by ear. Our schedule is not fixed so if there is nobody coming in, I let the staff go [home],” Titas PAGE 15

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • mARch 27 - ApRIL 2, 2020

How Fil-Am businesses...

PAGE 14 of Manila owner Charina Vergara said, adding that she’s monitoring the health of employees and continuing to provide them with free meals. Though the restaurant has partnered with UberEats — which is waiving delivery fees from all orders from every independent restaurant — Vergara said it will be too labor intensive and she is unsure whether customers will use that service. In LA’s Chinatown, restaurants LASA and Ord & Broadway announced they would cease operations for now but may consider takeout or delivery options in the weeks ahead. Cafe 86, a bakery that specializes in all things ube, announced it would close down its Pasadena store indefinitely and was weighing whether to do the same with its other locations in Chino Hills, Artesia and San Diego, which are still opened for limited hours. However, grocery stores, pharmacies and food banks are not covered by the LA city and county orders. Garcetti advised city residents to not “panic buy” and only buy food appropriate for a week. At Chaaste Family Market, a family-run grocery store and turo turo restaurant in Pasadena, business hasn’t slowed down financially as people have been stocking up on canned goods, frozen meat, noodles and of course, rice. But the personal interaction with customers is withering away. “Financially, the store is doing well but I say this not with happiness,” said Christian Esteban, who together with his brothers, operates the store founded by their mother in the late ‘80s. “Our store is about service and talking to customers because that’s how our mom raised us. We can’t even do that now because we have to maintain this distance and people understandably don’t want to stay and talk. So how are we really doing? It hurts and it’s confusing because emotions are sensitive right now.” This week, the store took away its indoor seating, but Esteban said they have to plan for other possible scenarios, from people being desperate and resorting to stealing or rationed deliveries from suppliers. Meanwhile Island Pacific Seafood Market, which has 16 stores across California and Las Vegas, has pledged not to gouge prices and began

limiting the quantity of products that can be bought from certain categories — that includes one 50-pound bag of rice per customer. The market has also PhilHouse, which serves prepared Filipino dishes and grilled items, in each location and has cordoned off the dining areas. “Staff has been extra diligent by providing customers disinfectant spray and wipes to wipe down all handlebars of carts and surfaces in the store. Staff has been asked to wear gloves at the cashier stations. Our payment systems have been upgraded for touchless transactions,” Giselle Tongi-Walters, a marketing consultant for the market, said in an email, adding that senior citizens — considered the most vulnerable to the virus — are given priority in the checkout lines. She added, “We…are restocking shelves as soon as products come in. We have anticipated the influx of ordering and have upped our supply chain to meet the communities’ needs at this time.” Limiting interactions Aside from the food industry, social distancing is testing the operations of business owners who provide services that require direct human interaction. For Fiona Hilario who owns Lay Bare Salon, a waxing studio in Studio City, the main crux of her business involves employees getting close to customers’ spaces — which goes against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s recommendations that people maintain a six-foot distance from one another. Currently, the salon takes at most three clients at a time and is on “top of disinfecting everything round the clock but we doubled or even tripled that effort. We also set-up alcohol spray stations all over the branch so clients may easily access aside from having sinks in each cubicle,” Hilario said. While the salon continues to operate, Hilario is weighing whether they should close for the remainder of March. “I hope we are allowed to stay open until things get better as our team members are paid hourly and all depend on us being able to operate,” she added. Annie Nepomuceno, who provides piano and vocal lessons as well as event production through her company Music Arts Events, has reported cancellations and postpone-

ments of several community events she was working on. “That means there’s no income that’s going to come in until we can actually execute the events in the future,” she said. But the bright side, she said, is that her music lessons can move online using video tools like FaceTime or Skype. “I’m offering free consultations to see if digital lessons are going to work for your family because I think now is the time for adults to handle the anxiety and the stress by doing some musical activity and it’s the same for the kids so that they will have something to help their brain development,” she added. Patrick Mandap said his photobooth and event coordination company lost an estimated $1,400 in revenue on Tuesday alone, as five events had to be canceled, some of which would have taken place at assisted living facilities. He also received about 10 cancelations for weddings and other parties for the rest of the month and early April. “I honestly don’t know what the solution is right now because no one will be booking events anytime soon,” Mandap said. But in the meantime, he’s hoping his other business that designs labor law compliance posters will bring in some clients. Clement Tagle III, who offers online SAT tutoring through Wyzant, said that he’s experienced about a 10% increase in inquiries and sign-ups. “It’s been a boom for me, despite the horrific circumstances, as students are out of school but still want to accomplish something and get a head start on their college applications,” he said. Following guidance to cancel or postpone gatherings, community organizations like Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) and Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) in Historic Filipinotown have also heeded the call by suspending forthcoming events and moving some services online or by phone, like small business counseling or tax preparation. “We are also creating a list of resources to utilize to address all the businesses’ concerns on financials to operations. We will be sending this out in a few days,” said John Swing, business development specialist at SIPA. Federal and state agencies have begun to roll out assistance for small businesses,

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JC shows off baby girl as nation gripped by COVID-19 locked at home By Niña

V. GuNo

Inquirer.net

JC Santos revealed for the first time a picture of him and his baby girl spending time together during the enhanced community quarantine. The picture on Instagram shared on Monday showed him carrying the infant on a balcony and looking at her lovingly. “Afternoon probinsya air for my little sunshine,” he wrote. Santos did not mention her

JC Santos with his daughter Photo from Instagram/@j.c.santos

name nor when she was born. The baby is his first child with wife Shyleena Herrera. Actor and director Nor Domingo commented, “‘Yan ba si Covid Bryant? Congrats JC!!!” “Hindi. Si Covid Rose Yan!”

Santos replied in jest. The “Vodka, Beer and Regrets” star has been low-key about his personal life, only revealing in interviews this year that he was married and had a child. It was announced on the March 9 episode of “Tonight with Boy Abunda” that he and his wife welcomed their baby girl in February. Santos said on talk show “Magandang Buhay” last January that he and Herrera wed in September 2019.

COVID-19 also kills the young... PAGE 12 died. While we, at home, have the choice to stay away from those infected patients, these unselfish and dedicated heroes are in the war zone, putting themselves in harm’s way, exposing themselves to the bullets and bombs during this pandemic, just to save countless lives. They also risk the lives of their family when they get home to catch some sleep and rest. Indeed, we must never forget them. Without them, hundreds of millions of people would die around the world. The Bubonic plague (Black Death, caused by bacterium Yersinia pestis) of 1347-1351, the worst pandemic, killed an estimated 75 to 200 million people in EurAsia, wiping out about 1/3 of the population of Europe. Let’s protect our health defenders or we all could die. Each of us must make sure these frontline heroes and foundation of our national and individual health are themselves protected. Let us not hoard masks, gowns, medications, and other items they might need while serving the public. Above all, let us follow the guidelines recommended by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and the COVID-19 Task Force, in order not to get infected ourselves and add more patients to an already overwhelmed healthcare system. If we, as individuals, cannot help provide healthcare or

other vital function to society, let us stay home and OUT OF THE WAY of the health providers and not be an added burden to society by catching and spreading COVID-19. As we said in our columns the previous weeks, a clean and well-ventilated home is our best isolation sanctuary from COVID-19 to protect ourselves and others. If only China was transparent According to the whistleblower in Wuhan, the first case of nCorona virus infection (later officially named COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV2 virus), was in November 17, 2019. The official report from China to the WHO was December 31, 2019, 34 days after the fact. If the first patient and all the healthcare providers involved, all the patient’s family members and people the patient had contact with, let’s say 100 of them or even more, were traced and quarantined for at least 2 weeks, the infection could have been contained in Wuhan, and not spread outside of that city and around the world. The outbreak could have been contained within 2 to 4 months right there and there. Isolation works. The Black Death (1347), Spanish Flu (1819), SARS (2003), H1N1 (2009) MERS (2012) have all proven that quarantine worked. Some experts think COVID-19 could infect 40 to 60 percent of the 7.8 billion world population before it

ends. Existential – Who is culpable? After the COVID-19 pandemic is totally defeated and this existential crisis is over, investigation on culpability and accountability must begin. The World Health Organization, the United Nations, in cooperation with any interested nation devastated by this killer virus, must independently conduct a study on China’s health system and all issues and questions (the delay in warning, the lack of transparency. the mysterious death of the young and healthy whistleblower physician), and all other matters surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, which has so far infected more than half a million and killed more than 20,000 people, devastated businesses and national economies in almost 200 countries, and painfully disrupted billions of families and lives around the globe. A preventable cataclysmic horror like this should never be allowed by the international community to ever happen again. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Public Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com; Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.

such as the U.S. Small Business Administration pledging up to $2 million in Disaster Assistance Loans for those affected. The California Franchise Tax Board announced a relief program that allows affected taxpayers to request an extension in filing 2019 tax

returns and make certain payments until June 15. The city of LA is also expected to unveil a loan program within the week to help struggling small businesses. “Everyone can be calm, patient, understanding and also a bit more compassion-

ate towards us in the service industry because we’re trying our best so everybody can have what they need,” Esteban advised. “But I would rather make our regular daily income and people walk out happy than people now walking out sad and confused.”

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