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APRIL 10-16, 2020 Volume 13 - No. 23 • 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
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PH gov’t extends Luzon-wide community quarantine to April 30 by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
THE enhanced community quarantine in Luzon will be extended until April 30 to further contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID19) in the country, a cabinet official said on Tuesday, April 7. Previously, the quarantine was set to end on April 14. President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management President Rodrigo Duterte updates the nation on the government’s efforts in addressing COVID-19 at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on Monday, April 6. of Emerging Infectious Dis-
u PAGE 2
Malacañang photo by Ace Morandante
DATELINE
USA
SWAB BOOTH. Dr. Mary Kathleen Bartolome-Juangco (inside the booth), Quezon City General Hospital (QCGH) ENT chief, demonstrates some of the basic functions of the COVID-19 swab booth at the Quezon City General Hospital compound on Wednesday, April 8. A swab booth is used to take specimen to lessen the exposure of healthcare workers to droplets from people infected with the virus. It will also reduce the need for personal protective equipment. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler
Fil-Am front-liners in the East Coast perish in fight against coronavirus
In the 10 states covered by the Philippine Consulate General in New York, the reported number is less than 10, according to Consul AMONG the highest number of casualties in Arman Talbo who also issued a correction on this global public health crisis are on the front earlier media reports that said 40 doctors and lines and since the coronavirus outbreak across nurses have died because of COVID-19. The number as of press time stands at 22 the globe began, over 100 doctors and nurses around the world have died. FOR several Filipino American designers, the u PAGE 4 File photo shows Philippine Statistics Authority employee showing the sample of the Philippine National ID. Inquirer.net photo spring season usually brings in orders for wedding dresses, debutante gowns, and outfits for other special occasions. But amid the coronavirus pandemic, cities Earth are not immune to the by AJPRESS like Los Angeles have ordered the closure of coronavirus. As the pandemic nonessential businesses and put large gatherFIFTEEN Filipino tycoons tightened its grip on Europe ings on hold. landed on Forbes’ 31st annual and America, global equity Instead of sitting idly by, designers are reranking of the world’s billion- markets imploded, tanking shifting their focus and putting their sewing by DIVINA NOVA JOY DELA CRUZ aires, with former Senator and many fortunes,” the business machines to work to meet the national demand ManilaTimes.net real estate tycoon Manuel Vil- magazine said. for face masks, including those for front-line Villar, the richest Filipino, lar leading the pack. A LAWMAKERs pushed for the immediate health care workers. Forbes said this year’s roster ranked 286th globally with implementation of the National Identification (ID) “It was natural for me to do this because of was made up of 2,095 billion- a $5.6 billion (about P280 System to help the government deliver services to my training. I knew the need firsthand because aires across the globe, noting billion) fortune. Among his the people in times of crisis such as the current most of my California brides are Filipina nurses. that it was 58 fewer than those businesses are AllHome Corp., coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Many of my regular Filipino clients are in the recorded in 2019, and 226 Golden Haven Inc., Starmalls House Committee on National Defense and Sehealth care industry, whether as doctors, operfewer than just 12 days earlier Inc., Vista Land & Lifescapes curity Chairman and Iloilo 5th District Rep. Raul ators of home care, rehab, or spa businesses,” Real estate tycoon Manuel Villar is the before March 18 when the list Inc. “Boboy” Tupas said the current crisis shows “how Oliver Tolentino, a celebrity couture designer richest among 15 Filipino billionaires Following him in 565th who made it onto Forbes’ annual was finalized. u PAGE 2 “The richest people on u PAGE 4 u PAGE 4 ranking. Inquirer.net photo FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Fil-Am designers shift from dress making to sewing masks to fill shortage
by MOMAR
G. VISAYA
AJPress
15 Filipino tycoons among the world’s billionaires National ID system pushed to ease delivery of social services
April 10-16, 2020 • NEW YOrK AND NEW JErSEY ASiAN JOUrNAl
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From the Front Page
National ID system pushed to ease... PAGE 1 badly” the country needs the National ID System in mapping out beneficiaries of financial aid, especially those in the informal sector and the poor in rural and urban areas. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is currently struggling to identify to the 18 million poor families qualified to receive the P5,000 to P8,000 financial aid under the the social amelioration program provided in the Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act in response to the economic impact of Covid-19 crisis. “A national ID system complements the roll out of the social amelioration measures. It reinforces the targeting system of the DSWD and provides government the means to map out the informal sectors,” Tupas said. Republic Act 11055 or an Act Establishing the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) has been signed into law in 2017. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) had started registration of some
sectors under the Philsys in November 2019 and had initially targeted to complete enrollment of all Filipinos by mid-2020. Tupas said the National ID System must push through this year, giving priority to the informal sector workers, minimum wage earners, indigenous peoples, farmers, fisherfolk, livestock raisers, drivers, athletes, household helpers, persons with disabilities, seniors, and solo parents. “These segments of our population are the ones who faced great difficulties because of Covid-19 quarantine measures. Many of them simply had no ID to present,” he said. “Lack of identification also means zero or little access to basic public services, including banking and financial transactions. Many are among the unbanked or outside of the financial system just because they have no IDs,” he added. Tupas also pointed out the immediate need for job order, contract of service, and
casual employees to acquire a National ID as they could easily lose their jobs due to the unstable or unsure nature of employment. He said employees who have member IDs from the Government Service Insurance System or the Social Security System do not urgently need the National ID. He also pushed for registration of newborn babies under the PhilSys. Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte, deputy speaker and co-author of the House version of the PhilSys bill, has pointed out that the National ID System would help the government identify beneficiaries of financial assistance. Aside from the National ID System, he also pushed for the “Bangko sa Barrio” (Bank in Villages) bill to ease delivery of emergency aid. The proposed measure would facilitate access of “unbanked Filipinos” to financial services, especially those living in remote villages without branches of private or staterun banks. n
HELP FROM CHINA. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (9th from right), Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. (8th from right) and PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar (7th from left) welcome the arrival of a medical expert team from the People’s Republic of China at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Parañaque City on Sunday, April 5. The medical team will assist the Department of Health in the coronavirus emergency response. PNA photo by joey O. Razon
PH gov’t extends Luzon-wide... PAGE 1 eases to extend the quarantine, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said. During his televised address Monday night, Duterte said he was inclined to extend the quarantine until the end of April. “This was the recommendation of the IATF which President Duterte announced last night (Monday). After his announcement, we verified it and the answer was the ECQ is hereby extended until 11:59 p.m. of April 30,” said Nograles. He added that all exemptions granted by the IATF and the Office of the President will continue to be in effect for the duration of the extension. “Provided further that such extension of the ECQ shall be without prejudice to the discretion of the President to relax the implementation of the ECQ in some local jurisdictions, or the granting of exemptions in favor of certain sectors, as public health considerations and food security may warrant,” the secretary said. Extension necessary Nograles pointed out that the quarantine extension is necessary to give the government more time to ensure the Philippines can flatten the curve and not reach the peak number of confirmed cases. The extra time will help
determine the impact of the quarantine and further increase health capacity in Luzon and other areas with reported cases. “When we say increasing health capacity, it included testing. Experts say that to manage COVID-10 effectively, we need to increase the country’s testing capacity that we may reach 8,000 to 10,000 tests per day,” he said. Around 2,000 tests can be done daily because there are only 10 certified laboratories nationwide. However, Nograles expressed confidence that 13,000 to 20,000 COVID-19 tests can be done daily by April 27 through gradually certifying more subnational laboratories. He added that the government is also targeting to have a 24-hour turnaround time for the release of COVID-19 test results. “This is our game plan while we haven’t seen the peak yet. If we can make these changes, experts said we can push the peak of COVID-19 in the country to 2021. Hopefully, by then, there is already a vaccine,” Nograles said in Filipino. P200B not enough Duterte on Monday admitted that the P200-billion-worth of aid for low-income households, farmers, and fisherfolk is not enough amid the pandemic, asking
Finance Secretary Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez III to look for more sources for the government’s fund. “The P100 billion for one month or the P270 billion for two months that was programmed as earlier estimated is not enough. I’m calling on the Secretary of Finance to generate, you steal, you borrow, I don’t care, just produce the money,” he said in Filipino. While he said the government is exploring other options to adjust the budget, he stressed that resources are finite, and that there’s “not enough money to go around.” The president signed the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act on March 24, granting him special powers to address the COVID-19 threat in the country. Under the law, P200 billion will be allocated to lowincome households affected by the enhanced community quarantine enforced in Luzon. Duterte reiterated his call for the public’s cooperation. “Once again, I am asking the utmost cooperation of the public in these trying times. Let us heed the needs of our poor brothers and sisters who are hit the most by the pandemic,” he said. He added, “Be patient and understand the government. We will appreciate it.” n
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 10-16, 2020
April 10-16, 2020 • NEW YOrK AND NEW JErSEY ASiAN JOUrNAl
Fil Am frontliners perish in fight against... PAGE 1 deaths in the community and that includes the front-liners. This number only represents the deaths reported to the Consulate by different sources in the community. But because of some restrictions and some deaths have been unreported, it is hard to get an accurate figure. Dr. Leo dela Cruz, CarePoint (Christ) Hospital (Jersey City Among the doctors who have perished due to the coronavirus is Dr. Leo dela Cruz, a physician from Jersey City. He treated COVID-19 patients at CarePoint Hospital (formerly Christ Hospital) in Jersey City. died on Tuesday at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, New Jersey. Dela Cruz, a geriatric psychiatrist, has been a low-key member in the community. He was a board member of Jersey City-based community organization Pan American Concerned Citizens Action League (PACCAL). Araceli Buendia Ilagan, Jackson Memorial Hospital (Miami, FL) Araceli Buendia Ilagan, a 63-year-old ICU nurse, was the first Filipino American nurse reported to die from complications of COVID-19. She worked at Jackson Memorial Hospital for 33 years, treating some of the hospital’s most critically ill patients. She started developing the symptoms on March 24, while working a shift. Three days later, she died. “During her long and storied career, she also mentored and trained other nurses, and was a champion for the profession,” a statement released by JMH said. “As we battle this global public health crisis, caregivers throughout the world are bravely serving on the frontlines, often putting their patients’ lives before theirs. These medical professionals — people like Araceli — are the true heroes, and we salute them all.” Daisy Doronila, Hudson County Jail (Kearny, NJ) Daisy Doronila, a nurse at the Hudson County jail in Kearny died on Sunday, April 5 of complications related to the coronavirus. Doronila worked at the county jail for more than two decades. She was initially diagnosed by her private doctor with strep throat and was admitted to a hospital later on after developing fever and dry cough. Eight days later, she was on a ventilator fighting for her life, her daughter posted on Facebook. A single mom who lived in Nutley, Doronila recently celebrated her 60th birthday. In a tweet, New Jersey Gov-
Araceli Buendia Ilagan
Daisy Doronila
Divina ‘Debbie’ Accad
Dateline USa
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PH stops deployment of Filipino health workers by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
THE Philippines has temporarily suspended the deployment of health care professionals abroad amid the coronavirus pandemic to guarantee that the country itself has a sufficient number of medical front-liners. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration last week approved the resolution to suspend sending Filipino health care workers abroad until the current crisis is over. Signed by POEA Governing Board chairman and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III, the resolution calls for prioritizing the “human resource allocation for the national health care system at the time of the national state emergency.” Among the professions that are temporarily barred from leaving the country are medical doctors/physicians, nurses,
microbiologists, medical biologists, medical technologists, clinical analysts, and respiratory therapists. Pharmacists, laboratory technicians, X-ray/radiologic technicians, nursing assistants/aides, operators of medical equipment, supervisors of health services and personal care and repairmen of medical-hospital equipment are also included. This comes as the country’s health care system is becoming overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases and reports that hospitals do not have sufficient medical personnel. POEA chief Bernard Olalia said that those affected by the suspension in deployment will be mobilized if necessary to replace, substitute or reinforce the existing health care workforce in different medical facilities nationwide. He also said that negotiations of bilateral labor agreements for government-togovernment deployment of
health care workers are also temporarily suspended for the duration of the national state emergency. The department is set to come up with guidelines that will “amend, clarify, and/or provide program support to this resolution pursuant to lawful orders.” President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, April 5 signed an order giving a special allowance to front line health workers during the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon. The provision includes a one-time allowance — an extra 25% of monthly basic pay — to regular, part-time or casual health workers. “There is a need to recognize the heroic and invaluable contributions of our public health workers throughout the country, who bravely and unselfishly risk their lives and health by being at the forefront of the national effort to address the public health emergency,” the president said in his order. n
Fil-Am designers shift from dress making... PAGE 1
Noel Sinkiat
ernor Phil Murphy honored Doronila for her service to the state as “she gave tirelessly to her family and community.” Divinia ‘Debbie’ Accad, Detroit VA Medical Center (Detroit, MI) Divinia Accad, a long-time nurse at the VA’s John D. Dingell Medical Center in Detroit, died Monday, April 6 of complications related to COVID-19. The 72-year old nurse was hospitalized with pneumonia and spent 11 days at a Taylor hospital before she died. Her son Mark Accad said he hopes her death raises awareness of the risks that health care workers face during the pandemic. “She sacrificed her life for our troops. I want my mom to be known for what she did,” Accad told the Free Press. Noel Sinkiat, Howard University Hospital (Washington, D.C) Noel Sinkiat was a year away from retirement from his job at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C, where he had worked for 41 years. The 64-year-old Sinkiat is the second known Fil-Am nurse
Dr. Leo Dela Cruz; Christ Hospital (Jersey City, NJ)
based in Beverly Hills, California who spent the earlier months of the year designing attire for red carpet events, told the Asian Journal. His masks are made of polyethylene fabric — a common material used for surgical face masks — mimicking the pattern used by major manufacturer 3M with pleats, a nose wire and garter. “I use non-toxic glue to seal floral wire (or ‘twisties’ used to seal bread loaves) [on] the top of the mask so it can fit snugly around the nose. I sew the pleats at the side and double-stitch the garter to secure it,” Tolentino added. Once he posted a photo of himself making masks on social media, he started receiving messages from followers
from around the United States and back in the Philippines asking whether he would sell his creations. However, he said he will be donating them and not charging. Kristine Amarillo, who has her LA-based line Tale for Esther, began production with fabric she already had on hand after her own family members and friends who are nurses and caregivers desperately said they needed face protection. “My sister is a nurse and she was very disappointed to find out that the CDC recommends only wearing surgical masks if you are directly taking care of a suspected COVID patient and wear the N95 respirator only when intubating a patient during a code blue. This is brought upon by the worldwide shortage of PPEs,”
in the U.S. and the first member of the 155,000-member of National Nurses United to fall victim to the coronavirus. “It was so fast,” Lourdes Gerardo, Sinkiat’s wife, told the Washington Post. The couple had just returned from a trip to the Philippines where they celebrated a reunion with classmates from his high school. He went back to work and did his usual 12-hour shift at Howard. Sinkiat began experiencing flu-like symptoms on March 22, PAGE 1 and $2 billion respectively. which he initially thought was place is port terminal operator Elizabeth, their sister, also his allergies acting up. He went and integrated gaming tycoon placed with her $1.6 billion to an urgent care facility near Enrique Razon, Jr. with a $3.4 net worth. their home in Olney, Maryland billion (about P170 billion) net In the eighth and ninth place where he was tested for COVID- worth. He runs the International are tobacco magnate Lucio Tan 19 his wife told The Post. The Container Terminal Services, and property tycoon Andrew result came back positive after Inc., the biggest port yard op- Tan with their respective estihe died. erator in the country, and So- mated fortune of $1.9 billion His wife brought him to a hos- laire Resort & Casino operator and $1.8 billion. pital on March 27, his health rap- Bloomberry Resorts Corp. Also included are businessidly deteriorating. Doctors had Siblings Hans, Herbert, Hen- men Roberto Ongpin ($1.8 bilto intubate him within an hour, ry Jr., Harley and Teresita Sy lion), and Jollibee founder Tony his heart failed and they could all made it into this year’s list, Tan Caktiong ($1.5 billion) as not resuscitate him, according as well, with their net worths well as San Miguel Corp. presito SF Gate.e him, according to estimated at $2.3 billion, $2.2 dent and Eagle Cement chair SF Gate. n billion, $2.1 billion, $2.1 billion Ramon S. Ang ($1.5 billion),
Amarillo said. Her sister’s hospital was reportedly following those recommendations so fellow nurses have been worried since individuals can also have the virus but be asymptomatic. “The thought of having these health care workers — especially having a family member — battle this pandemic with little protection pushed me to help. I gathered whatever materials I have and started making masks,” she added, describing the creation of washable and re-usable masks with pocketing in the inner lining so the health care workers can change the filter daily. So far, she has made over 100 pieces and has shipped them to contacts across CaliPAGE 7
15 Filipino tycoons among the world’s ...
Robert Coyiuto Jr. ($1.4 billion), and Eduardo Cojuangco ($1.1 billion). Forbes’ list was topped by Jeff Bezos, the man behind e-commerce giant Amazon, with a $113-billion fortune. His ex-wife Mackenzie came in 22nd with a net worth of $36 billion. Trailing behind Bezos are Microsoft founder Bill Gates with $98 billion, Bernard Arnault of LVMH with $76 billion, and Warren Buffet with $67.5 billion. Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg landed at No. 7 with $54 billion. n
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 10-16, 2020
OPINION
FEATURES
Harassing the heroes AROUND the world, songs have been performed for them. In the Philippines, the Department of Tourism has put together a video cheering them on. Pope Francis, in his homily to mark the saddest Palm Sunday of his ministry, hailed the “real heroes” in this dark hour of humanity – “they are not famous, rich and successful people; rather, they are those who are giving themselves in order to serve others.” The pontiff need not spell out who he was referring to; in Rome and the rest of Italy, and nearly the entire planet now affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, health workers are on the frontline of a battle against an unseen, deadly enemy. Many are ill equipped for the war, but soldier on nevertheless, carrying out their sworn duty to save lives even at the risk of losing their own to COVID-19 and endangering their loved ones. So why are health workers suffering not
5
just discrimination but even violent attacks in the Philippines? One health worker was splashed with bleach. Others have complained of being kicked out of their rented dwellings by landlords worried about COVID-19 contagion. Most people understand the great risks being taken by health professionals in this battle, and are aware that physicians account for nearly a tenth of all the COVID-19 cases in the Philippines. That same awareness, unfortunately, makes people consider health professionals as top risks for spreading the coronavirus. Such concerns are behind people’s efforts to avoid health professionals in public places. The avoidance is in fact encouraged in this Philstar.com photo season of physical distancing. Discrimination and violent attacks, however, are unconscio- themselves to facilitate contact tracing and nable. This also goes for similar maltreatment prevent more infections. of confirmed COVID-19 cases, who forgo Both the national and certain local governtheir privacy rights and publicly identify ments are moving to stop the harassment and
Editorial
discrimination. Appealing to people’s best nature may not be enough; those who commit such acts must be identified and penalized. (Philstar.com)
Magdasal po tayo ng sama-sama: Lenten reflections Filipino health care workers on the coronavirus front lines and prayers as we all carry the cross of the coronavirus Street The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS SEMANA SANTA. For the first time in my lifetime, my family will not be able to go to church for the mass of the palaspas, stations of the cross, washing of the feet, seven last words, retreats and recollections, salubong, confession, Visita Iglesia, Easter Sunday mass — traditions that we all share as Filipinos and as Catholics during Holy Week. This is because of the “social
distancing,” “shelter in place”, “stay at home” orders implemented in almost all states in America to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 that is transmitted faster when people gather together in especially in an enclosed space, just like how it is in churches in observance of Lent. The churches may be closed for now, but thank God we have online services to attend mass, and participate virtually in most of these traditions. But wherever we may be, Lent is a good time to reflect on our faith and the meaning of the promise of Easter as we all feel like we are on the Good Friday — the Biyernes Santo
of our lives. Many of us may be wondering or asking God why He would allow the pandemic to happen, kill so many lives and disrupt our own life as we know it. We have no answers, except that we believe as Christians that everything — including crises such as the coronavirus or a recession — work together for our good. This Lenten Season, allow me to share poignant messages from Pope Francis and other prayer warriors as we all navigate our life during these challenging and heartbreaking times, and also a prayer from the Catholic Bishops’ ConferPAGE 10
Talk
GREG B. MACABENTA SEVERAL years ago, I produced a special TV report on the topic, “What would happen if Filipino health care professionals in the U.S. do not report for work?” The point I wanted to make was the vital role that Filipino doctors and nurses, and other health-care professionals, play in America’s health-care system. In the face of the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, it would be heartless to even
contemplate that possibility. Filipino doctors and nurses are now in the thick of the deadly struggle against the pandemic, like soldiers sent to the front lines. And, like soldiers, some of them may not come back alive. We should all hope and pray that no harm will befall them and that they will continue the good fight, despite the lack of rest and sleep and, worse, despite the lack of adequate protection against the unseen foe. So many lives depend on them. I feel personally concerned because some members of my family could be involved in the struggle. My elder sister, Dr. Evangeline Garcia, is a medical practitioner in Maryland. Because she is 84 years old, she
has been advised to stay home. I should thank the Lord for that, although, knowing her, she will probably want to go to the front lines. I recall that during the first Iraq War, as a reserve Lt. Colonel in the US Air Force, she volunteered for active duty. Mercifully, Saddam Hussein’s forces surrendered before she could be dispatched to the battlefront. But she was actively involved in caring for trauma victims following the 9/11 attack in New York. One of my daughters-in-law, Anne Marie, is a nurse. Born and raised in New York, she is now doing her share, attending to patients in the San Francisco Bay Area. However, her 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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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 10-16, 2020
Dateline PhiliPPines
IATF approves release of P5 billion aid for workers by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
The Philippine Department of Labor and employment will be receiving P5 billion in additional funding for programs designed to help formal sector workers affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The aid package for formal sector workers was approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of emerging Infectious Diseases through Resolution No. 21 issued Monday, April 6, according to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles. “The recommendations of the Department of Labor and employment for the social
amelioration program for the formal workers sector as presented are hereby approved,” he announced Tuesday, April 7. “For this purpose, the IATF supports the approval and immediate release of the requested budget by the Department of Labor and employment amounting to P5 billion,” he added. The additional fund will be for DOLe’s COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), a one-time P5,000 assistance for affected formal workers; Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD), an emergency employment program for displaced workers; and the Abot Kamay ang
Pagtulong (AKAP) sa OFWs program, a program that aims to provide relief to migrant workers. DOLe said that the additional P5 billion it requested will help more workers affected by the pandemic. Previously, the agency expressed hope that it can provide cash aid to more than 350,000 formal and informal sector workers by utilizing the P1.5 billion budget earlier allocated for CAMP and TUPAD. “Provided that the beneficiaries of the aforementioned shall be separate and distinct from those already covered by social amelioration programs by other agencies of the national government,” Nograles said. n
DOJ starts probe of Pimentel by JoMaR
canlas
ManilaTimes.net
The Department of Justice has started its preliminary investigation of the criminal complaint filed against Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III who was accused of violating quarantine protocols. DOJ Prosecutor-General Benedicto Malcontento has issued an order to start the investigation and assigned Assistant State Prosecutor Wendell Bendoval to the case. Bendoval is expected to issue a subpoena against Pimentel. The case against Pimentel was electronically filed by former University of Makati
College of Law Dean Rico Quicho after a social media firestorm erupted on March 24 when Pimentel accompanied his pregnant wife, Kathryna, to the Makati Medical Center, despite being a person under investigation for Covid-19. Pimentel tested positive for the coronavirus. his visit to the hospital triggered a storm of criticism. The hospital also censured the senator for exposing MMC medical workers to the virus. The criticism grew when S&R released a statement confirming that Pimentel went to its Bonifacio Global City branch on March 16. Quicho said Pimentel com-
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III ManilaTimes.net photo
mitted several violations. The National Bureau of Investigation is also conducting a separate criminal probe against the former Senate president. n
Smokers, vapers ‘more vulnerable, likely to die’ from COVID-19 — DOH by John
eRic Mendoza
ManilaTimes.net
The Department of health (DOh) on Wednesday, April 8, warned smokers of cigarettes, tobacco products or electronic cigarettes that they are most likely to develop complications brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) that may lead to their death. “Smoking is known to weaken the immune system, making it less able to respond to infection,” said health Special Assistant Beverly ho. Forty-two percent of Filipino men are smokers, while
one million are “vapers”, according to data from the Department of health (DOh). Men are also more likely to contract the novel coronavirus than women. “That’s why there is a need to remind them that they are more vulnerable to Covid-19,” said ho in Filipino. She also cited the World health Organization (WhO), which said that smokers were more likely to contract the virus. “The act of smoking means that the fingers and possibly contaminated cigarettes are in contact with the [smoker’s] lips, which increases the
possibility of the virus to be transmitted from hand to mouth, making smokers more vulnerable to Covid-19,” she said. exhaled air through smoking and vaping is also not safe, said ho, as “some form of spreading by air is playing a role in transmission of the coronavirus.” Which is why the Doh reminds the general public to avoid “second hand smoking” from cigarettes and vapes, regardless of the virus. “Because of this, we requested smokers to stop smoking for their health,” she said. n
SANITATION. Antipolo City government conducts sanitation and disinfection in public areas in Barangay Bagong Nayon, such as the basketball court. This is part of the government measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
COVID-19 cases in PH climb to 3,870 by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
The Philippine Department of health on Wednesday, April 8, announced 106 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, bringing the official count to 3,870. The agency noted how the number of new cases dropped from a high of 414 to a low of 104. “It is too early to tell if these cases are already actually decreasing. But rest assured we are exerting our maximum effort to track all cases to see a better picture at the soonest possible time,” said Special Assistant to the health Secretary Beverly ho. The DOh also announced that over 200 healthcare workers have contracted the virus. Of the number, 152 are doctors while 63 are nurses. The professions of the remaining 37 were not indicated. health chief Francisco
Duque III on Tuesday, April 7 pointed out that most COVID19 cases in the country are in the National Capital Region. “More than half or more or less 80% [of the cases] were recorded in Metro Manila,” he said. The Davao region and Central Visayas are the two areas outside of Luzon that registered the highest number of COVID-19 cases, with 79 cases and 39 cases respectively. “Dito [Luzon] rin po kasi unang nakapasok sa Pilipinas ang virus buhat ng volume ng flights na dumarating sa Metro Manila (It’s because the virus first entered in Luzon due to the volume of flights that landed in Metro Manila),” Duque explained. “Mas kaunti po ang kasong naitala sa Visayas at Mindanao dahil dulot na lang po ito ng local transmission mula sa Kamaynilaan (There are lesser cases recorded in Visayas and
Mindanao because they are due to local transmission from the metropolis),” he added. The DOh also reported five additional fatalities, bringing the official death toll to 182. It added that at least 12 doctors have died from COVID-19 in the country. however, the Private hospitals Association of the Philippines recorded 21 deaths from the Philippines’ frontliners. Doctors who have succumbed to COVID-19 include Philippine Pediatric Society president Sally Gatchalian, cardiologist and internist Raul Jara, anesthesiologist Gregorio Macasaet III, oncologist Rose Pulido, and Dr. Mary Grace Lim from Asian hospital and Medical Center. The tally of recuperation in the country, meanwhile, has risen to 96 as 12 more patients have reported recoveries from the virus. PAGE 10
Fil-Am designers shift from dress making... PAGE 4 fornia and in Florida, hawaii and Montana, and will continue producing until her fabric runs out. While business for Alexis Monsanto, also a couture designer, hasn’t entirely slowed down since clients have events later this year, he turned his atelier along Melrose Avenue in LA into a production line for making medical grade masks. “I currently have orders for weddings but I’ve pivoted my production to the facial masks to help meet the demands in the market,” he said, sharing
stories of nurses having to reuse their PPe or get creative to shield themselves. As of the beginning of April, he and his crew of five sewers have produced 1,400 washable masks, following standards by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), using 100% egyptian cotton with an 800 threadcount for the outer layer and an inner layer of polypropylene. Of that number, 800 will be donated to various organizations, including Downey Rehab Facility, Asian Pacific
AIDS Intervention Team, and the AIDS healthcare Foundation locally in LA, while the remaining 600 will be shipped around the country. each mask is packaged in plastic to ensure cleanliness. Last month, Mayor eric Garcetti announced “LA Protects,” a partnership with the fashion and garment industry to make protective gear and other medical supplies for frontline workers. The initial target for the initiative is the manufacturing of 5 million non-medical masks PAGE 10
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Fil-Am designers shift from dress making... PAGE 7 for people who need protection — grocery store workers, non-medical staff in hospitals, and others providing essential services during the COVID-19 crisis, according to the mayor’s office. “I have fabric vendor connections, factories and friends willing to pitch in financial help to pay labor cost to the contractors. It’s made in Los Angeles and in doing so, I’m keeping the operators on their livelihoods instead of them getting laid off,” Monsanto said, adding that he’s in touch with the offices Garcetti and California Governor Gavin Newsom who have a list of hospitals and facilities in dire need. Monsanto said he will continue pushing out 1,500 to 2,000 a week and move to sell them as this week, LA issued guidance directing residents to wear face coverings — such as a bandana, scarf or other cloth — when leaving their homes. The city, however, said medical grade masks should be reserved for front-liners. The CDC on Friday, April 3 also updated its guidance for Americans to cover their faces in public areas where social distancing is hard to maintain, such as the grocery store, because the virus can “spread between people interacting in close proximity.” Joey Galon said he was
starting to get “stir crazy” staying in and was compelled to create with his hands since orders for formal attire have ceased. Galon’s designs are washable, breathable and decorative, using lace and sequin embellishments or whimsical patterns like snake print or florals. However, they should only be used by those who are stepping out for an activity like going to the market and not those who work in the medical or other essential fields. “For me, one challenge has been keeping up with the demand of the orders,” he said, sharing that one local company has ordered 100 masks while groups in Hawaii and Atlanta have requested as well. “It’s a simple template and pattern but it’s amazing how many hundreds of orders are coming in. I’m just a one man show, not a manufacturer with a lot of machinery.” He added that he’s also looking to work with the mayor’s office for fabrics to join in the LA Protects effort. Other Fil-Am small businesses have also shifted to mask making. Handbag designer Gina Alexander announced her efforts to produce medical grade masks. Manahan+Co, an apron company, is selling masks and will donate $1 of the proceeds to Pilipino Workers Center.
ELLERALI, a brand that uses upcycled fabric, has donated 100 masks to hospitals and is selling masks that include a pocket for extra filter protection and a slit for a removable nose bridge. Hawaii-based designer Kini Zamora, who’s known for his stint on “Project Runway,” told the Asian Journal that he knew people would need to fill their time under quarantine, so he decided to record a series of “how-to” videos on YouTube. The first release in mid-March was a tutorial on how to make a personal mask using cotton fabric, elastic and basic tools from the comfort of their homes. By making their own masks, Zamora said, it would prevent regular individuals from buying the ones reserved for front-liners. He and his team also started making dozens of masks for health care professionals in the Honolulu area before he closed down his workshop. “I love that everyone is just collaborating and so many designers are coming on board every single day to help with the efforts. It’s not just designers, but everybody at home who’s pulling out their sewing machines,” Zamora said. “That was my intent when I created the YouTube video to make sure that people are keeping busy at home and helping out.” n
Magdasal po tayo ng sama-sama: Lenten... PAGE 5 ence of the Philippines that I wish we can all say together and offer up to the Lord in faith. “It is not the time of your judgment, but of our judgment: a time to choose what matters and what passes away, a time to separate what is necessary from what is not. It is a time to get our lives back on track with regard to you, Lord, and to others.” —Pope Francis “This virus is teaching us that from now on, living wages, guaranteed health care for all, unemployment and labor rights are not far left issues, but issues of right vs wrong and life vs death.” — Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II Oratio Imperata against the spread of coronavirus God our Father We come to you in our need To ask your protection against the 2019 N-Corona Virus, That has claimed lives And has affected many. We pray for your grace For the people tasked with
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We pray for those afflicted May they be restored to health soon. Grant us the grace to work for the good of all And to help those in need. Grant this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, your Son. Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen. Mary Help of all Christians, pray for us. St. Raphael the Archangel, pray for us. St. Rock, pray for us. St. Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for AJPress illustration by Kendrick Tan us. Sr. Pedro Calungsod, pray studying the nature and cause Of this virus and its disease for us. *** And of stemming the tide of Gel Santos Relos has been in news, its transmission. Guide the hands and minds talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN of medical experts That they may minister to and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital the sick With competence and com- broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for the passion, And of those governments community. You may contact her through email at gelrelos@icloud.com, or send and private agencies That must find cure and so- her a message via Facebook at Facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos. lution to this epidemic.
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COVID-19 cases in PH climb to 3,870
PAGE 7
“The recovery of COVID-19 patients is long. It will take around two weeks for those with mild cases to recover, while three to six weeks for severe or critical cases,” Ho noted. Over 500 Filipinos abroad
positive for COVID-19 The Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday announced that there are now 594 Filipinos abroad who tested positive for the disease. Three deaths were recorded in the Americas and Europe,
bringing the death toll to 37; while 164 have recovered. According to Johns Hopkins University’s Coronavirus Resource Center, 1.4 million people have been infected with COVID-19 globally, with 300,000 recoveries and more than 82,000 fatalities. n
Filipino health care workers on the coronavirus...
PAGE 5 younger sister, Allison, and her mother, Sonia, who are also both nurses, reside and work in New York. New York City, from the latest reports, has become the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. As of the latest count, there were 29,158 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the city and over 52,000 in New York state. But these are only the figures that have been officially reported to health authorities. Who knows how many there are who have not yet been accounted for but are — or could be — infected? Of the confirmed cases, as of this writing, 517 have died in New York City and 728 in the state. Dreadfully, the numbers could grow exponentially tomorrow and before this column goes to press. A January 2008 analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data indicates that, of the 215,000 Filipinos residing or working in New York, 3 out of 10 are nurses or health care professionals. Many of the rest are their spouses and children. Like many Filipinos, I have relatives and friends in New York and I’m worried about their safety. At Seton Hospital in Daly City, one of the largest medical facilities in Northern California, 60% of the employees are Filipino. Many of them are nurses. According to Philippine government records, the Philippines is the largest exporter of nurses in the world. As of 2019, one-third of foreign-born nurses in the U.S. are Filipino (that figure does not include my daughter-in-law and her sister because both are nativeborn New Yorkers). Since the mid-60s, when U.S. immigration law favored the entry of professionals, some 160,000 Filipino nurses have joined the U.S. health-care system. The latest figures indicate that Filipino nurses account for 17.6 percent of registered nurses (RNs) in California. The Golden State is one of the hardest-hit by the pandemic. According to official records, as of 2016, the Philippines provided the third-largest number of actively licensed
foreign doctors in the U.S. at 13,507, next to India and the Caribbean. I also know of several Filipino doctors who had a medical practice in the Philippines but not in the U.S. due to licensing issues. And I understand that some of these doctors have become RNs. Also, according to records, the University of Santo Tomas College of Medicine accounts for the largest number of Filipino doctors in the U.S. (4,545), followed by the University of the Philippines (2,044) and the University of the East (2,070). I believe my elder sister, a UST alumnus, and a first cousin, Dr. Eriberto Tanpiengco (Far Eastern University College of Medicine), were among the earliest doctors from the Philippines to join the American medical corps. The fact is that Filipino nurses and doctors are among the largest number of health care professionals in the world. This also means that many of them are on the coronavirus global battlefronts. Wherever the diaspora has dispatched workers from the Philippines, a significant number likely comprises of health care professionals. The two European countries that have reported the largest number of coronavirus cases, Spain and Italy, also have large Filipino populations, with an estimated 150,000 in Spain and 108,000 in Italy (plus undocumented Pinoys whose estimated numbers vary from 20,000 to 80,0000). In the United Kingdom, where even Prince Charles and Prime Minister Boris Johnson have been found positive for the coronavirus, Filipino nurses make up the largest number of foreign RNs at 10,719, according to a parliamentary report dated April 8, 2019. A 2004 report of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) indicates that the UK is the third most preferred destination for Filipino nurses, with Saudi Arabia and the U.S. ranking first and second, respectively. Also, according to the POEA, of the 2.3 million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) officially accounted for in
2018 (excluding the undocumented), 25% are health-care professionals. That’s a whopping 575,000 conceivably out there on the world’s pandemic front lines. Needless to say, this massive drainage of health-care professionals has resulted in a decline in the availability and quality of health services in the Philippines where the coronavirus has also become a major threat. We would, understandably, wish that these health-care professionals were in the Philippines, attending to our countrymen. Years ago, I asked a younger brother of mine, Dr. Vic Makabenta, if he wanted to join my sister and me in the U.S. to continue his medical practice. His response embarrassed me. He said there were more than enough doctors in America and he was needed more urgently in the Philippines. He worked as an assistant provincial health officer in Biliran sub-province until he died in his mid-40s. But we cannot begrudge those who chose to work overseas. They have their own valid reasons, mainly economic. We should only pray for their safety as they minister to the sick and dying in the midst of the contagion. Newsweek reported that, as of March 27, more than 50 doctors had died from coronavirus in Italy. A BuzzFeed News report dated March 26 stated: “Health care workers fighting the coronavirus outbreak across the country are getting sick and dying, nurses and doctors say. And despite the fact that they’re essential to fighting the epidemic, no one in the US seems to be keeping track. “At least 35 California health care workers on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak have already tested positive for COVID-19, state officials reported on Wednesday.” Who knows how many of these heroes and heroines are Filipinos…or relatives and dear friends? We can only pray that the numbers are few. (gregmacabenta@hotmail. com)
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COMMUNITY Journal
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New hope for maintaining status when attorney messed up Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ ON April 2, 2020, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that if an alien failed to maintain lawful status (or went out of status) as a result of his or her attorney messing up and missing a filing deadline or providing wrong advice, there could still be hope or relief for that alien: “When a non-citizen’s failure to maintain lawful status results from her reasonable reliance on the assistance of counsel, nothing more is needed to show that the fail-
ure [to maintain lawful status] has occurred “through no fault of [her] own.” In that particular case, an alien’s attorney had failed to properly file the paperwork necessary to obtain an extension of her lawful H-1B immigration status. As a result, the alien became “out of status.” When she later applied for a green card and adjustment of status, her adjustment application was denied because she had been out of status for more than 180 days when she filed her adjustment application. She tried to argue that she was entitled to relief because the statute provides that a person could still be eligible for adjustment if the failure to maintain status was “through no fault of his own or for technical reasons.” In
her case, it was not her fault that her attorney missed a filing deadline and/or did not properly file the extension. She was placed in removal/ deportation proceedings, and both the immigration judge and BIA upheld the USCIS’s denial of her adjustment application, concluding that her attorney missing a deadline did not excuse her going out of status. The Ninth Circuit reversed, concluding that an attorney missing a deadline, or failing to properly file an extension or other application, resulting in the alien going out of status, definitely constitutes the person going out of status “through no fault of her own.” As a result, she was eligible to adjust status. PAGE 12
THREE DIVINE SIGNS GUIDED FAMILY TO HUMANITARIAN REVALIDATION APPROVAL. Nanay Beatriz petitioned her sons Romeo (left) and Mario (not in photo) back in 1994, and when she became a U.S. citizen, the category was updated from single child to married (F-3). However, Nanay Beatriz was diagnosed with late stage cancer, and her final wish was that her daughter, Juliet (3rd from left), make sure that her brothers make it to the U.S. by retaining leading U.S. immigration attorney MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL (right). The devout Juliet prayed for three signs to know how she should proceed, since after her mother died, the petition for her brothers “died” with her. And the signs came while Juliet was watching an episode of Citizen Pinoy. Find out what these three signs were, and see how the power of prayer and a dedicated team at the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel were able to make Nanay Beatriz’ final wish come true on an encore episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)
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april 10-16, 2020 • NEW YOrK aND NEW JErSEY aSiaN JOUrNal
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA THIS Holy Week when the churches are empty because of mandatory shelter-inplace isolation and forced social distancing caused by the Wuhan China coronavirus pandemic that has affected more than 150 countries, it is a good idea to tune out cold turkey from the media-driven hysteria and go deep into the silence. Turn off your TV. Shut down all electronic devices. In a word — UNPLUG. Instead, dig into the roots of our Christian faith. There, we shall find the courage, the peace and the quiet assurance that THIS TOO SHALL PASS. Consider the life of Saint Paul. Paul, aka Saul of Tarsus, lived more than two thousand years ago. He had something to say about what does matter in life. He spoke about a special kind of love that in Greek is called Agape (ahgah-pay). Agape is unconditional love, a kind of love that has no agenda or motivations, a kind of love that is exemplified in God sending His only Son, a kind of love that if emulated by humans, sets us apart from all of God’s creatures, makes us a little closer to the angels and truly created in God’s own image and likeness. But Paul didn’t start out as a defender of the Christian faith. He was, in fact, an avid persecutor feared by early Christians. As a Jew and a Pharisee who was also an educated man and a class above because he was a Roman citizen, he used everything in his power and position to quash the growth of the church persecuting the members of the then budding Christian church. Saul was his Jewish name. Paul was his Roman name. Paul stood by watching the cloaks of the stone throwers, tacitly approving the stoning to death of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Paul was a young, rising brilliant star of his time eager to make his mark in the Judaic tradition. At first, Paul was hot and bothered by the intensity of the love and fervency of the Apostles and early believers. This start-up movement was a threat to his career track and his Judaic core belief system. Paul thought he
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Love as the John shares pain of not seeing center of gravity dad’s wake due to Luzon lockdown “… And now faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is LOVE.” was going to make it his life’s work to eliminate Christ’s early followers and eradicate what Christ himself has started. If murder and mayhem were the tools to get it done, he was going to use them. But God had other plans for Paul. On his way to Damascus on a mission to arrest and persecute Christians, a blinding light shone on him. He fell off his horse while Jesus’ voice is heard asking him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” This dramatic, miraculous conversion when he temporarily became blind was a critical juncture for the Christian church. Inspired by the Holy Spirit who suffused his entire being when the scales of his blindness fell off his eyes, Paul’s teachings and writings have an eternal shelf life - true today, as it was then, and will be for much of human history. In the quiet of your soul during this holy season amid these troubled times, read the gospels. Also, you just might discover the exquisite beauty, range and depth of human emotions made known to God, contained in the Psalms, all 150 of them. And then read Paul. You’ll be surprised at the clarity and current relevance of many of his writings to today’s unfolding story. He has a wealth of wisdom to share with anyone seeking meaning in a confusing world seemingly hell bent on self-immolation. In a swirling fast-paced technological world full of self–love, vanity, illusions and artifice that only tend to distort and act as centrifugal forces pushing God away as the center of our lives, Paul’s directives make absolute sense. His words have the power to keep us all centered, as they were intended to be, not on ourselves, but on God. Ironically, it’s like being in the eye of the storm where there is peace while swirling forces rage about in the periphery. This one below, if etched in many hearts and minds and lived out in our daily rounds through thoughts and more specifically in even the tiniest of actions, particularly in couples, already married or planning marriage in the foresee-
able future, could remarkably bring down the alarming rate of break-ups and a whole universe of heartaches among couples. This has the power to preserve FAMILIES, the last best hope of humanity on steroids. These days, the very structure and integrity of the family unit are heavily assaulted from many fronts with popular culture, insane power hungry globalists, Hollyweird, media and the internet leading the charge at a time when the church has been rendered weak by internal abuses and scandals in the not so distant past. Thankfully, the persecutions of Christians around the world which was at a terrifying, alarming rate and intensity is coming down with the ascent of conservative leaders among Christian countries. With unceasing prayer and fasting among millions on bended knees, good people will bring forth a strong and fervent resurgence of a stronger Christian faith in most parts of the world. FEAR NOT. Let not our hearts be troubled. As history will bear and as written in the song, “Canticle of the Turning,” which is based on the Blessed Mother Mary’s “Magnificat,” it is when the church is at its most vulnerable, when the forces of heaven align to defend itself and go on the offensive in subtle yet dramatic ways. The blood of early Christians spawned the rise of the early Church. Now as then, the pattern remains the same. History does repeat itself. Marriage as a bedrock institution between man and a woman is in serious danger, as man-made laws masquerading as civil liberties, are enacted to challenge it, all in the name of political correctness. There is a growing pushback against political correctness and the often times wanton moral depravity the lies of political correctness seek to promote. With courageous, right leaning Christian leaders who will defend the Christian faith, more and more people are emboldened to call a spade, a spade and think and act accordingly. The courage to confront the evil
By Jan
Milo Severo Philstar.com
ACTOR John Arcilla mourned the death of his father Dominador Alemania Arcilla, but clarified that his dad did not die of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In a lengthy Instagram post, the “Heneral Luna” star aired his frustration for not seeing his father’s remains because of the enhance community quarantine.
“Dear friends, my father is gone not because of COVID. If not for the Quarantine which I believe is necessary, and this painful circumstance which understandably need not to favor with our grieving family, I would not express anything about my Father’s fate,” John said. “I do not feel good announcing the passing of someone very Dear to me. But the feeling of not seeing even his body for the last PAGE 15
John Arcilla
Inquirer.net photo
New hope for maintaining...
PAGE 11 I know there are many people who desperately tried to maintain status, but a previous attorney messed up, and either did not file an extension, petition, or application on time, or they filed the paperwork and it was rejected after the deadline because they did not include all the necessary forms. As a result of the attorney’s acts or omissions, the alien fell out of status. My office has handled several similar cases in the past, which were fortunately approved. In one case, an attorney was supposed to file an extension for an H-1B visa holder, along with his H-4 wife. The attorney filed an extension only for the H-1B visa holder and forgot about the wife. Therefore, she went out of status. We were able to get her extension granted, showing her failure to maintain status was “through no fault of her own.” In a different case, an at-
torney’s incorrect advice resulted in the client going out of status, and his adjustment was denied. Again, we sought reconsideration, arguing that it was through no fault of the alien that he went out of status, and were able to get the case approved. Looking back, we were able to accomplish this without the alien being put in removal, BIA appeals, or 9th Circuit petitions, as happened in this published opinion. While I am not “guaranteeing” success or results in your case, this Ninth Circuit decision clearly and indisputably establishes there could be hope for a person who went out of status because their prior attorney messed up. If that’s the case, you may want to consult with a different attorney, who can evaluate your situation, and see if you meet the requirements for relief, by demonstrating your failure to maintain status was through no fault of your own. ***
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 reenactments) 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 attorney-client 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)
in our time is getting stronger as people quietly humble themselves before God and ask for His grace and mercy not only this Lenten season but through all seasons. Strong family units built on LOVE are so essential in creating strong societies from the ground up. Each generation builds upon and learns from the ones that came before it. The passage below is a favorite among couples and wedding planners and for good reason. These words are more than the pretty, superficial veneer of rituals in weddings. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians 13, are words to live by telling us what really mat-
ters as he did then to members of the early church who were probably just as lost, confused and disconcerted as most of us probably are. Set your hearts on the greater gifts. I will show you the way which surpasses all the others. If I speak with human tongues and angelic as well, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong, a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and, with full knowledge, comprehend all mysteries, if I have faith great enough to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give everything I have to feed the poor and hand over my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs, it is not snobbish. Love is never rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not prone to anger; neither does it brood over injuries. Love does not rejoice in what is wrong but rejoices with the truth. There is no limit to love’s forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure. Love never fails. …And now faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is LOVE. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@asianjournalinc. com.
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Celebrities help post bail for San Roque 21
FRANKIE Pangilinan, together with parents Sharon Cuneta and Kiko Pangilinan and other celebrities, contributed to post bail for the “San Roque 21” or the 21 members of the San Roque community that were recently detained after rallying for food on the streets of EDSA in Quezon City. According to a statement the Save San Roque Alliance sent to Philstar. com, Kapamilya actors Ria Atayde and Enchong Dee, as well as other celebrities, contributed for the needed amount and legal fund for the group’s release. The statement added that the following documents were requested in order for the detainees to file bail: an affidavit of undertaking; waiver; house sketch; barangay certification of residency and clearance; handprints; nine copies of 2x2 photos; bond money of Php 15,000 and processing fee of Php 2,500; and certificate of detention from Camp Karingal. According to Nanoy Ra-
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John Lloyd gets out of hiatus to boost COVID-19 frontliners’ morale By Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com
Frankie Pangilinan
fail of the Save San Roque Alliance, the whole process showed “how anti-poor the current justice system is.” “From the bail bondwhich is equivalent to more than a month’s wage, to the mountain of requirements – these already put the marginalized families at a disadvantage,” he said. “It is also ironic to think how slow their release has been taking, as compared to their swift arrest just a week ago,” added Jmar Atienza,
Photo from Instagram/@frankiepangilinan
one of the Alliance’s co-conveners. The San Roque 21 spent almost a week in jail since they went out in EDSA to ask for food. The Alliance extends its gratitude to the massive support the people have shown toward the San Roque community. It can be recalled that in a Twitter post last week, Frankie said that she and her family are willing to pay for the bail of San Roque 21.
SERVICES
ON-leave Kapamilya actor John Lloyd Cruz has a brief message of support for the frontliners in the battle against novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In a fan page account, John Lloyd said in a video how thankful he is for all the frontliners in this fight against COVID-19. “Maraming salamat sa inyo. Sa lahat ng frontliners, mabuhay kayo. Mabuhay kayo,” John Lloyd said. “Kulang. Kulang itong efforts… para pasalamatan ang mga frontliners natin sa kanilang serbisyo. Maraming salamat sa inyo,” he added. The award-winning actor is also set to make an appearance in “Mamatay Kang Hayup na COVID Ka!,” an online event that aims to raise funds for COVID-19 relief. Viewers of the event are encouraged to pledge donations. This online telethon
John Lloyd Cruz
will run 24 hours a day for 10 days. Apart from John Lloyd, performers include Aia de Leon, Caliph 8, Gloc 9,
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Johnoy Danao, Leanne & Naara, Curtismith, Juan Miguel Severo, Reese Lansangan, Rhian Ramos and Donita Rose.
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APRIL 10-16, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
• (212) N E W http://www.asianjournal.com YO R K / N E W J E R S EY 655-5426 A P R I L 1 0, 2 0 2 0
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From registered nurse to first Fil-Am co-owner of a US hospital: How Vicki Rollins transformed a struggling medical center into a five-star rated hospital
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CHRISTINA M. ORIEL / AJPress
NLY two hospitals in the city of Los Angeles received the highest five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) this past January — and one of them is in the heart of Historic Filipinotown and is run by a Filipina American. Formerly known as the Silver Lake Medical Center, the Los Angeles Downtown Medical Center (LADMC) along West Temple Street has undergone a complete transformation in the last 12 months under the leadership of Vicki Palana Rollins, the first Fil-Am to coown a hospital system in the United States. Rollins, along with business partner William Nelson, purchased the struggling medical center after it went into bankruptcy in February 2019. Today, the 36,000squaref o o t hospital holds 219 inpatient beds and has a 24/7
urgent care center with over 1,600 staff members total — about 65% of whom are of Filipino descent — to deliver quality and culturally sensitive health care to Historic Filipinotown as well as to the surrounding neighborhoods of Echo Park and Silver Lake. “The hospital had a bad history and reputation, with two bankruptcies…Our timeline to rehabilitate the hospital was like two years but miracles can happen,” Rollins told the Asian Journal following the first anniversary of LADMC on March 5. She added, “When you just really focus on what you want to do for the operations and the patients, then everything falls in place. We were able to change the culture of the people here.” The reinvigorated morale w a s evident during t h e anniversa-
Vicki Rollins during a celebration for LA Downtown Medical Center. Photo courtesy of LADMC
ry as the staff and community celebrated the strides over the past year. Among them are the recruitment of 60 new medical and surgical staff for the operating rooms and psychiatric services, and the upgrades of digital X-ray systems, surgical and pulmonary function test equipment. “On the other side of the urgent care, we’re doing behavioral mental health screening, the ones who are going to be admitted to the psych unit of the hospital, so the acute hospital has a 40% behavioral component,” Rollins described. “All the services came back because we were able to recruit a bunch of physicians, including a few Cedars-Sinai physicians and some from St. Vincent’s Hospital after it closed.” (CedarsSinai is the only other fivestar hospital in the city.) In addition to the Historic Filipinotown hospital, the sale came with the center’s Ingleside campus, which has 118 psychiatric beds, in Rosemead about 10 miles away. With the coronavirus pandemic on everyone’s minds and affecting LA County at a growing rate, LADMC said it is prepared to take in patients and abide by guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is also pushing telehealth ser-
vices for non-emergencies so patients can see a doctor instead of physically coming to the hospital as social distancing measures are in place. Rollins, who is originally from Tolosa, Leyte, began her career as a registered nurse when she migrated to the United States in the early ‘80s and worked her way to becoming a psychiatric nursing and clinical instructor and a licensed nursing home administrator. “At the time I migrated, if you wanted to be a manager, it was tough because as a woman and a minority, you had to do your homework four, six times more than your counterparts,” she said. She and Nelson formed Rollins-Nelson Healthcare Management in 1998 and together, they are the owner/operators of several skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities and acute care hospitals across Southern California in cities like Long Beach, Torrance, Glendora and Perris. The first acute hospital the duo acquired was West Covina Medical Center, a short-term hospital with 46 staffed beds, in 2014. As operators of skilled nursing facilities, this purchase was the natural next step as the two services need to work in unison to provide the contiPAGE 15
LA Downtown Medical Center, located along Temple St. in Historic Filipinotown, is one of two hospitals in the city that received a five-star rating. Photo courtesy of LADMC
LA Downtown Medical Center owners Vicki Rollins and William Nelson, who for the past two decades have owned and operated several skilled nursing and long-term care facilities in Southern California.
Nanay Fedelina Lugasan (3rd from right), a Filipina human trafficking victim, was reunited with her family after 65 years. During a celebration at Pilipino Workers Center, she was joined by supporters, including Nelson and Rollins, who own a skilled nursing facility she lives in. AJPress photos by Noel Ty
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 10-16, 2020
Actress Iza Calzado shares From registered nurse... her battle with COVID-19 By Ritchel Mendiola AJPress
AFTER battling the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), ABSCBN actress Iza Calzado candidly shared her experience. During an interview on “Magandang Buhay” on Monday, April 6, she said the symptoms she had were fever, cough and loss of appetite. After she was confined in the hospital, the doctors found that she had also contracted a bacteria called “Acinetobacter Baumannii” aside from COVID-19. “Ito po ay hindi COVID (This is not COVID). Ito po ay isang bacteria na hindi namin alam kung ‘yun ba ay daladala ko na nung pumasok ako sa ospital (This is a bacteria which we didn’t know if I was already carrying when I went to the hospital) or it could have been something I got nung pumasok ako sa ospital (when I went to the hospital),” Calzado said. She added, “Sa totoo lang, kung COVID lang ang binattle ko, mahirap siya pero mas lumala dahil dito sa bacteria. Dalawa na ‘yung nilalabanan kasi nasa lungs ko din ‘yung bacteria (Honestly, if COVID was the only one I was battling, it was difficult but it worsened because of this bacteria. I was fighting two since the bacteria was in my lungs as well).” The actress also said she had a bad reaction to one of the antibiotics given to her, sharing that she couldn’t feel her “mouth, lips, tongue.”
Iza Calzado Photo from Instagram/@missizacalzado
While she didn’t have to be intubated or be moved to the intensive care unit as her condition improved, she realized a lot of things about her life. For one, her experience humbled her. “If you’re faced with a life and death situation, ‘yung mga material na bagay walang maitutulong (the material things will not help). Hindi natin puwedeng i-deny na (We can’t deny that), of course, I was being taken care of in a nice hospital. If you think about it, sasabihin ng tao, ‘Mayaman ka and may pera ka pang ospital’ (People would say, ‘You’re rich and you have money to afford a hospital’),” she said. She called for universal access to hospitals and that Filipinos shouldn’t have to worry about how to pay for medical treatment. Apologies The actress also took to Instagram to apologize for her comment about COVID-19 being “the universe’s way
John shares pain of...
PAGE 12 time while we’re just here 5 hours away from him, isn’t easy to handle. His body is in Baler and due to this situation, wakes and calebrations of mass are not allowed,” he added. His family wanted to cremate the remains of his father, but there is no crematorium in Baler and travel permits are complicated. “Our family wishes to Cremate him and pray together with his URN after this LOCKDOWN but we don’t have crematoriums in Baler and travel permits are complicated. The Funeral services can not send their services with my father’s remains in Cabanatuan or Manila,” he said.
“They can get a travel permit from the origin, but their staff has to be quarantined for 2 weeks or more in their second destination, and has to settle another set of travel permit. So my father’s body will just stay in a Funeral Chapel for two days without the wake and will be buried with restricted attendance of people the next day,” he added. John also said that most of his siblings and his father’s grandchildren are living in Manila and they will try to get a travel permit to attend the wake. “Half the numbers of my siblings are here in Manila and all the grandchildren are based here. We also need to settle travel permits but
of making the world a better place moving forward.” “When I started getting sick, I made a comment on an IG post that was totally misconstrued. I understand how and why that happened and I am sorry if anyone was offended and felt bad about it. Please know that I would never intentionally say anything to hurt others nor celebrate anyone else’s suffering. I am a hopeful person and always try see the silver lining in every dark cloud. I am sad that you missed my heart but I also understand your sentiments,” she wrote. “After 2 weeks of battling Covid 19, pneumonia and a nasty bacteria called Acinetobacter Baumannii, I am alive and for that I am truly grateful. I know that so many of you sent your love and support, and I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you. Please know that even if I didn’t get to read all the messages, I felt the love and good energy and that you helped me pull through one of the darkest moments of my life,” she added. The actress also expressed her gratitude to the front-liners at Asian Hospital as well as her family and friends. “My deepest gratitude to my friends and family who prayed hard and made me feel their love and care for me, especially my number 1 nurse, my husband, Ben. I could never have done this without you, my Love. We did it, by God’s grace, we made it!” she added. they can not guarantee if the checkpoints will allow us to travel back to Manila after 23 days. Most probably, they will send us back to Baler or we have to be quarantined for 14 days or so in Baler or in between towns,” he said. The veteran actor clarified that he’s not blaming anyone in their situation and he’s just trying to express it because it hurts him. He also asked for prayers for his family especially for his father. “I do not blame anyone for the situation. My sense of judgment and reasons fully understood the consequences. I just need to express something that is too much to bear. Please pray for our family most specially for my beloved father Dominador Alemania Arcilla. Thank you for reading this. God bless you all,” he said.
PAGE 14 nuity of care for patients. “The delivery of care will be much better and the price of delivering care would be cost-effective. Our patients were going to different acute hospitals and we would lose some of our patients because they would not come back to our facilities,” Rollins said. Four years later, the first opportunity to purchase Silver Lake Medical Center was presented to the company, but the transaction fell through. The hospital soon went into bankruptcy and the RollinsNelson Group joined the auction in February 2019. The campus had undergone a series of misfortunes over the years before the current ownership. When it was City of Angels Medical Center, the former CEO was sent to prison for a massive scheme to defraud Medicare and MediCal programs by recruiting homeless patients for unnecessary medical services. The name changed to Silver Lake Medical Center in 2009 and some controversies followed, including a $550,000 settlement by LA City and LA County prosecutors after the facility illegally dumped homeless patients at bus and train stations, according to the Los Angeles Times. “Our company specializes in taking over troubled facilities. That’s what we do best. When there’s a lot of room for improvement, we see that we can do a lot. That been our pattern of success,” Nelson, who serves as chief executive officer of LADMC, said. Added Rollins, “Fundamentally I think that people were good here. They just needed direction, reeducation, nurturing, guidance and leadership.” With several facilities under their belt, the duo says they bring the “RNG philosophy” to each one, which includes personalized attention and care for employees as much as they do for their residents and patients. Rollins touts that given the patients of different cultures and backgrounds who come through the LADMC doors, delivering culturally relevant care is at the forefront. That also means serving food that suits the patient’s preferences and culture, providing immedi-
ate transportation so patients aren’t waiting too long after being discharged, or easing family members’ anxiety as they’re waiting for loved ones, she said. When asked about the CMS’ five-star rating — the first time in the hospital’s 45-year history — Rollins said the overall hospital culture is reflected in that. The CMS uses a five-star quality rating system, with 57 quality measures across seven categories from the effectiveness of care to morality, to evaluate the experiences Medicare beneficiaries have with their health plan and health care system. “That’s the philosophy and the culture that we’ve been promoting with personalized care. It takes all of the people here in the hospital to unify and look at the mission and vision of the hospital and really work towards that goal,” she said. “Those little touches mean so much and our staff gets it. They go ahead and don’t have to wait for us [to approve] it.” For the staff, Rollins and Nelson implemented free lunches every Tuesday and Thursday, a small investment they said would contribute to team building within departments. By the eight month of operation, every single staff member, from the housekeeping staff to managers, received salary adjustments. Rollins wanted the housekeeping and maintenance staffers to receive their raises first before managers did. “We brought in the housekeeping department, told them they were receiving raises and shared how important housekeeping is because when family members come into a hospital, they may not know much about the doctors or how good the hospital is. But when they see a clean environment, the staff is friendly and the mood is upbeat, then they feel good,” Nelson narrated. Though she holds an executive position now, Rollins isn’t above throwing herself into the action. There will be instances when she puts on her nursing uniform and helps move beds around when they’re busy. “What Vicki brought here to [LADMC] was a can-do spirit. It’s all about teamwork. The days of ivory
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towers where people are too important to do things, everything’s delegated, don’t communicate together. That was the dysfunctionality that we inherited and that we eliminated,” Nelson said. “We created a spirit of work together. We set an example that we pick up the litter and we expect our managers to do everything to work together.” Outside of the company, Rollins dedicates time to giving back and paying it forward. After Super Typhoon Yolanda — which ravaged areas in the Visayas including her hometown — she and her family helped in Tolosa’s rebuilding efforts, including setting up a vocational and technical school and providing scholarships for students. In 2018, another unlikely, world’s collide moment came when Rollins heard about the case of Nanay Fedelina Lugasan, an 83-yearold human trafficking victim who was rescued from the San Fernando Valley after six decades of abuse from a Filipino family. Lugasan, who happened to be from the same province as Rollins, was placed at one of the skilled nursing facilities in Long Beach operated by Rollins-Nelson. “I mean, what are the odds? If she landed in Hollywood, for example, they would send her to a random facility,” Rollins said. “Whereas she found a home in our facility, she has a private room and has transportation when she wants to go out. She has a normal life now. The reward in life is when you give back.” As the nursing field continues to be dominated by Filipinos — the second largest group of California’s active registered workforce at nearly 18% — Rollins said she vows to continue to mentor nurses, especially those who seek leadership roles at their organizations. “They always come to me and I tell them, ‘Find your niche and find where your heart is…Don’t lose focus on why we come to work daily and that is to take care of patients,” she said. She added, “When you lead an organization, whether it’s health care or any other type of business, you want to be on top of your game and just be fair to everybody and do the right thing. Then nothing is really complex at the end of the day. It’s the people who make things complex.”
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april 10-16, 2020 • NEW YOrK aND NEW JErSEY aSiaN JOUrNal
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