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Over 71,700 overseas Filipino workers DATELINE USA expected to be displaced by pandemic FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Fil-Am student accepted to all 8 Ivy League schools commits to Yale University
THE Filipino American student from Jacksonville, Florida who was accepted to all eight Ivy League schools will be part of Yale University’s class of 2024. Craig McFarland, 18, has committed to the prestigious university in New Haven, Connecticut, he revealed in Fil-Am student Craig McFarland has a recent interview with committed to Yale University after the Asian Journal. being accepted to all 8 Ivy League In total, 17 colleges schools and nine other universities and universities across across the country. the country, including Photo courtesy of Craig McFarland Stanford University, offered him a slot in their freshman class. “I actually planned on committing to Stanford and chose [it] a few minutes before the deadline, u PAGE 2
Fil-Am elected officials share relief options for community, dispel misinformation amid COVID-19 FROM denouncing anti-Asian sentiments to explaining economic relief options, several Filipino American elected officials in California came together in a recent town hall to share resources available to the community during the coronavirus pandemic. Hosted by the Pilipino American Los Angeles Democrats (PALAD) on Saturday, May 2, the conversation included officials on the federal, state and local levels: Rep. TJ Cox, California Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) and Si-
u PAGE 2
by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
AROUND 45,000 overseas Filipinos are expected to return home to the Philippines over the next two months, following the over 20,000 who have been repatriated since the coronavirus outbreak, according to a new report. As the coronavirus continues to affect industries globally, including tourism and hospitality, the Philippines is anticipating Filipino workers coming back to the country in May and June, Bloomberg News reported. Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Hans Cacdac said Filipinos working abroad in cruise ships, hotels, restaurants and retail establishments have been hit the hardest by the pandemic. He added that
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MALACAĂ‘ANG on Wednesday, May 13 released new guidelines for areas under a modified enhanced community quarantine. This comes after President Rodrigo Duterte the day before announced that Metro Manila, Laguna and Cebu City will continue operating under a modified quarantine until the end of the month, following his meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
standards and qualifications by MOMAR
VISAYA
AJPress
A FILIPINO American registered nurse has been appointed director of global standards and qualifications of CGFNS International, Inc., the world’s largest credentials evaluation organization specializing in the nursing and allied health care professions. Jasper Tolarba, a Fulbright scholar, will assume the new position responsible for the oversight of global standards and qualifications for nursing and other health care positions. “I am hoping that in my expanded role as director of global standards and qualifications, I would be able to contribute to the improvement of international nursing eduu PAGE 5
Under the modified enhanced community quarantine, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said people are still required to stay at home, but they are allowed to walk, jog, run, and bike outside as long as they observe safety protocols like wearing face masks and practicing social distancing of at least two meters. Public transportation will also remain prohibited, but government company shuttles, personal vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles, electric scooters, and public shuttles will be allowed provided the people follow safety protocols.
From the 1904 World’s Fair to the Filipino farmworkers:
PBS’ new docuseries ‘Asian Americans’ highlights history of Filipinos in the US cans� — is the result of a groundbreaking program that spans the incredibly tumultuous 150-year AS Asian Pacific American Her- history of Asians in America, a itage Month continues on during country that would have never a time of unprecedented fear been the way it is today without and tension, a new documentary the efforts and exploits of immiseries from PBS celebrates the grants and people of color. complex history of Asian AmeriThe series, which premiered cans through stories of resilience on Monday, May 11, follows the in the face of persecution. journeys of early Asian Americans The five-episode docuseries from the mid-19th century when — simply called “Asian Ameriu PAGE 3 by KLARIZE
MEDENILLA AJPress
seas Filipinos — of which 16,936 are sea-based, and 7,486 are land-based. “Why should we allow 400 to 800 Filipinos or even 3,000 to return home every day? Because they have the constitutional, absolute and total right to come home that no power can suspend, slow down or, in any way, restrict,â€? said Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. “Government has only one power: To bring them home,â€? he added. The DFA has brought home “tens of thousands of overseas Filipino workers the instant they became jobless,â€? the secretary said. “It’s strained our quarantine and testing capacities back home, but I don’t care [that it did because] I won’t leave our people to die in deserts. Period,â€? Locsin added. â–
Nurse credentialing group appoints Filipino Fulbright scholar as director of global
NEW NORMAL. Social distancing spaces and signs are set up at the MRT 3 North Avenue station in Quezon City on Wednesday, May 13. Metro Manila’s mass transport system is preparing for the resumption of operations that adhere to established health protocols under the modiďŹ ed enhanced community quarantine. Inquirer.net photo by Grig Montegrande
Palace releases new ECQ guidelines for Metro Manila, other areas by RITCHEL
the construction sector is starting to report some job losses as well. The agency is asking for $50 million (P2.5 billion) in additional funding from Congress since it has been shouldering the temporary shelter, food and transport of displaced overseas workers, who are required to undergo COVID-19 testing and the obligatory 14-day quarantine. “We need to preserve our budget for reintegration, reskilling and livelihood programs for the postlockdown scenario,� Cacdac told Bloomberg News. Meanwhile, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday, May 11 resumed its repatriation efforts, welcoming home 299 Filipino crew members of the MV Azura from London, United Kingdom. The agency has repatriated a total of 24,422 over-
“Sa Modified ECQ, wala pa rin pong public transportation pero pwede po na mag-deploy ng mga shuttle buses iyong mga industriya na ina-allow na magtrabaho at saka subject din po sa exceptions na ibibigay ng DILG [Department of Interior and Local Government] tungkol dito (Under the modified ECQ, public transportation is not allowed but companies could deploy shuttle buses to ferry workers subject to exception rules of the DILG),� Roque said. The Department of Transportation said that the operation of tricycles may be allowed by the local government. “[Tricycles] are under the jurisdiction of LGUs/DILG. Sila u PAGE 2
PH House committee OKs bill granting ABS-CBN provisional franchise until end of October network’s franchise bid. “Through this measure, we hope to strike a balance between A PHILIPPINE House of Repre- the immediate needs of the peosentatives committee on Wednes- ple amid this crisis and the duty of day, May 13 approved a bill grant- Congress to ensure accountability ing the media giant ABS-CBN a to our present laws,� the bill read. “Providing ABS-CBN with a provisional franchise until the end of October. The House of Representatives Committee of the Whole gave the greenlight for House Bill 6732 or “An Act Granting the ABSCBN Corporation A Franchise to Construct, Install, Operate and Maintain Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations in the Philippines, and For Other Purposes,� which was filed by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano in an effort to give the House and the Senate !.$2%7 " 3(). sufficient time to deliberate the
by AJPRESS
provisional franchise valid until 31 October 2020 will give both the House of Representatives and the Senate to hear the issues being raised for and against the renewal, and assess, with complete impartiality and fairness, whether or not u PAGE 3
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Fil-Am student accepted to all 8 Ivy League...
PAGE 1 but I felt so much regret and sadness personally and just knew that Yale was right for me,” McFarland told the Asian Journal. Yale was his first college acceptance back in December as he applied under the early action program. It was one of those days where everything seemed to go awry, he recalled. “I had many problems that day and I actually only opened the letter because I was like, ‘Let me make this day even worse.’ The next day would feel amazing just by comparison,” McFarland narrated. “When I found out I was accepted, I was freaking out. I was screaming with my mom and hugged her.” He waited until March to hear from other schools, which included admission letters one after another from the seven additional Ivy Leagues ––Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvcard University, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University –– as well as high-ranked institutions like Stanford and Duke University. “I had the same reaction when I found out I was accepted to all the Ivys,” he said, noting that friends and family were not surprised by the news and told him that he shouldn’t doubt himself. “It’s nice that people had that confidence… but I believe that there is absolutely no one who should be confident enough to know that they’re going to be accepted into a school.” McFarland, who is half Filipino
and half Black, entered the exclusive club of being admitted to all the Ivy League schools, which have between a 4 to 8% acceptance rate. As the May 1st deadline to decide approached, McFarland narrowed down his choices to Florida State University, Harvard, Stanford and Yale, which are among the schools that extended full-ride scholarships. Other institutions said he could qualify for a scholarship on top of the private ones he’s received. The pandemic prevented him from visiting schools in person so he resorted to virtual tours, watching YouTube videos, and connecting with current students and alumni for insight. “I often ask them the worst questions, like ‘What do you hate?’ or ‘What would you change?’ because no one necessarily wants to talk about the bad unless prompted but that bad stuff was what was going to determine how much I truly love an institution,” he said. Then, the final round came between the latter two universities. His mother Donabel Santiago said the only advice she gave McFarland was to “pick whatever feels right” and where he would thrive as a student and individual. “I told him that he’d be happy [with] whichever he chose as they’re both amazing…but one most likely [felt] more right than the other, and that one so happened to be Yale,” Santiago, who is originally from Nueva Ecija, Philippines, told the Asian Journal. “When he told me he chose Yale,
With a 4.98 GPA and other academic accomplishments, McFarland has enjoyed entering competitions outside of the classroom. Photo shows an awards ceremony for the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition during which he won multiple awards, including one for visual artwork.
ANTI-VIRUS CANNONS. The Rosita Soliman Foundation, a nongovernment organization that specializes in emergency equipment, on Monday, May 11 donates disinfection misting cannons to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and Department of the Interior and Local Government. Jo Soliman (at the back), who represented the foundation, was present at the turnover, along with Interior Secretary Eduardo Año (right) and MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim (second from right), at the MMDA main office in Makati City. ManilaTimes.net photo by John Orven Verdote
Palace releases new ECQ guidelines...
PAGE 1 ang makakasagot nyan (They are the ones who are responsible for that),” said DOTr Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran. Meanwhile, domestic flights continue to be suspended, while international flights are operating on limited schedules. Roque also said that government agencies may implement skeleton workforces under modiDonabel Santiago (left) with two of her three fied ECQ, while private sector children, Craig, 18, and Mary Alice, 15. workers must be provided shuttle Photo courtesy of Donabel Santiago services. Likewise, several sectors and I just could tell he was not only reservices will be allowed to partiallieved, but happy as well.” As evidenced by his academic record, McFarland has excelled and enjoyed every subject he’s taken and can’t be boxed into either a humanities or math and sci- PAGE 1 ence student. For now, he is lean- erra Madre Mayor Pro Tempore ing towards studying biochemistry Rachelle Arizmendi. and linguistics in college. PALAD President Jessica Calo“I’ve genuinely been interested za, the first Pinay to serve as a in everything,” he said. “I want a commissioner on the LA Board of college experience that provides Public Works, organized the virthe freedom to explore myself be- tual town hall as the first in a secause I’ve been able to do great ries to engage with local Fil-Ams things in math and science but during the pandemic and leading also in foreign languages and law up to November. competitions.” The bright side of hosting During his four years at Stan- the event online was reaching ton College Preparatory School a broader audience as Fil-Ams — which has been rated among from across the country were the top public high schools in the able to tune in. country and from where he will be “We are truly trying to work tograduating valedictorian — Mc- gether towards a common goal to Farland hit the benchmarks that save our country [and] to save our made him appear extraordinary state to make sure we’re protecton paper. ed and come out of this pandemic He maintained a 4.98 grade stronger and that we are able to point average, received near per- get the strength from this that we fect standardized test scores, stud- need to really win in November,” ied 48 courses when only 24 are Caloza said. “What we’ve seen in u PAGE 3 the last few months is that elections have consequences.” Bonta, the first Fil-Am elected to the California Legislature, said that while the state likely won’t have its own stimulus package, its role is “to make sure that we finish the build out around the [federal] stimulus package so that no one is left behind. No one’s forgotten and no one falls through the cracks.” Under the Coronavirus Aid, C<>8C @DD@>I8K@FE `j X 9@> @JJL< k_\j\ [Xpj% D8EP `e fli Zfddle`kp E<<; Relief and Economic Security pfli j\im`Z\j% K_\i\ Xi\ k_fljXe[j n_f dXp nXek kf \og\[`k\ k_\`i i\j`[\eZp fi (CARES) Act, the largest economic glijl\ ]lcc Z`k`q\ej_`g Ylk [feËk befn _fn kf Y\^`e Xe[ n_\i\ kf ^f% stimulus package in the country’s history passed in March, close to $2 trillion was allocated for programs, such as direct payments for up to $1,200 for those making less than $75,000 and unemploy8J@8E AFLIE8CËJ GIF=<JJ@FE8C J<IM@:<J ;@I<:KFIP# n`cc efn Y\ ment insurance of an additional ilee`e^ n\\bcp# \m\ip =i`[Xp f] Efik_\ie :Xc`]fie`X <[`k`fe% $600 per week that also covers independent contracts and selfemployed individuals. However, relief for undocumented families 8AËj GJ; ZXe _\cg PFL i\XZ_ flk kf k_\d X]]fi[XYcp Xe[ \]]\Zk`m\cp% and minority-owned businesses has been largely missing. California announced that it has allocated $125 million to give payments for undocumented residents who don’t qualify for the federal stimulus, becoming the first state in the nation to rec8jb XYflk fli GIFDFK@FE8C @EKIF;L:KFIP G8:B8>< GI@:@E> n_`Z_ ilej ognize the sizeable population, pfli X[ n\\bcp ]fi dXo`dld \ogfjli\ Xk kilcp X]]fi[XYc\ iXk\j% Bonta said. Other efforts the Legislature has pushed for in Governor Gavin Fli gi`ek \[`k`fej ile `e kXe[\d n`k_ 8AËj Gi`ek <[`k`fe Fec`e\% Newsom’s executive orders is fi-
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ly resume operations with 50 percent of their workforce on site. Businesses that can now partially open under modified ECQ include manufacturers of essential goods like food and beverages (only non-alcoholic drinks), hygiene products, medicines and vitamins, medical products (masks, PPEs), pet food, feeds, fertilizers; essential retail stores; telecommunications companies; media establishments; postal, courier, delivery services; office administrative and office support; legal and accounting; management consultancy services; and
publishing and printing. Barbershops, salons, gyms, karaoke bars, cinemas, libraries, museums, cultural centers, and personal care services are still not allowed to operate. “Nag-simula tayo sa ECQ. Gagawin nating modified ECQ papunta sa GCQ at susunod po ang modified GCQ bago po tayo magkaroon ng new normal (We began with the implementation of ECQ. We will now implement modified ECQ. Afterwards, GCQ and modified GCQ before we have the new normal),” Roque said. n
Fil-Am elected officials share relief... nancial support for low-income students so they can complete their studies, compensation for front-liners who may contract COVID-19, and protections for farmworkers who contribute to the state’s food supply chain. Rep. Adam Schiff, who represents the 28th District, also spoke at the town hall about the impact of Filipino Americans on California’s health care workforce, as 20% of the state’s registered nurses identify as Filipino. “So many in the Filipino community, in particular, are on the front lines of this pandemic, and [are] showing just extraordinary courage and compassion, going to work, risking their own health, and coming home and at times having to risk or worry about the health of their family,” said Schiff. The high-ranking congressman said a priority in Congress is to get adequate protective gear for those working in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. His district — which is home to many Filipinos, particularly in Hollywood, Glendale and Burbank — has seen several nursing facilities have COVID-19 outbreaks. One facility in East Hollywood he mentioned had 50 staff and 90 residents test positive for the disease. “I think the top priority for us in Congress has to be protecting our people…those on the front lines, making sure everyone has the gear that they need,” Schiff said, adding that that hazard pay for workers in high-risk professions is another consideration for the next round of federal relief. Cox — who became the first Fil-Am in Congress from California and the first Democrat to represent the Central Valley district since 1981 — spoke about his district’s challenges being agricultural and home to a large minority population. One mission under his office is to combat falsities about cures and the origin of COVID-19, especially as they bring about stigmas targeted toward the Asian American community. “One of the key tools that they use is certainly misinformation and that was something that I
Rep. TJ Cox, who made history as the first Filipino American from California to serve Congress, spoke about the bills he’s introduced amid the pandemic.
know, being Chinese and Filipino, about how dangerous could be to all of us,” Cox said. He introduced two bills: one to combat COVID-19 misinformation and another to call on the Department of Health and Human Services to fund media campaigns to spread factual information. Arizmendi, who became the first woman of color to be on Sierra Madre’s City Council, shared her role as a board member Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON), which spearheaded a reporting site for community members to document experiences of hate and discrimination. The STOP AAPI Hate Reporting Center has reached over 1,500 reports of coronavirus-related discrimination from AAPIs across the country in the first month since it launched. Incidents from California and New York constituted over 58% of all reports, while AAPI women were harassed 2.3 times more than men. Arizmendi said it’s important for victims to report these crimes because the data will help push for more legislation and resources. “We want to be able to demonstrate that with numbers and actual stories so that it’s not just these hypothetical things that are happening in the community,” she said. Saturday’s session kicked off a series of weekly town halls throughout May in recognition of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. (Christina M. Oriel/AJPress) n
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PH House committee OKs bill granting ABS-CBN... From the 1904 World’s Fair to the Filipino... the new development, saying that
PAGE 1 the network shall be granted a franchise for another twenty-five (25) years,” it added. The bill was also sponsored by Representatives Neptali Gonzalez, Raneo Abu, Roberto Puno, Dan Fernandez, LRay Villafuerte Jr., Ferdinand Romualdez, and Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado. “The sudden turnaround by the NTC [National Telecommunications Commission] was both un-
expected and unconscionable. It only disrupted the essential work of Congress, and sowed intrigue and disunity among different branches of government and our people—it was done during this period of crisis,” the lawmakers said. “We cannot, in good conscience, sweep the accusations under the rug,” they added. Cagayan De Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, for his part, welcomed
the chamber is now preparing a committee report that will be presented before the House plenary. “We welcome this. It was a surprise but we were pleasantly surprised because there is now a bill to give a provisional franchise to ABS-CBN,” he said. “It’s just a few months but it’s good enough so we can restore ABS-CBN to the airwaves,” he added. n
Fil-Am student accepted to all 8 Ivy League... PAGE 2 required at school, took 20 Advanced Placement and eight International Baccalaureate exams, and mastered several languages, including French, Spanish, Arabic, Italian and Tagalog. Outside of the classroom, he boasts a long list of extracurricular activities from debate club to varsity track and field, and has won numerous accolades, such as a top award in the local Ethics Bowl and first place in column writing for The Florida Times-Union’s high school journalism competition. Early on, McFarland created a regimented routine so he could manage his academic workload and activities. “I would do my homework right away and pay attention intently in class because the more I paid attention, the less I would have to study after,” he said. “It was out of necessity that I needed to manage my time because I would have track practice, a club, a competition, or a tutoring session, and then try to make time for family and friends.” He has been able to take advantage of the opportunities at his high school, but the downside was being in an environment where students are “competitive, cutthroat and only care about test scores and class rank.” What the Fil-Am student tried to illustrate in the college applications was that he is more than straight As and high marks and that he has a personality and life apart from school. Burying in schoolwork hasn’t deprived him of the experiences that come with the teenage years. He recounts that on the morning he took the SAT, he went through a break-up right before and was crying on the way to the testing center, for instance. He was named homecoming prince, and loves driving around listening to music, getting frozen yogurt with friends, watching “Game of Thrones,” scrolling through Instagram for memes, and watching TikTok videos. (Though he promises he’s not glued to his phone like most Gen Zers.) “I wanted to emphasize that yes, I’m a student, but above all, I am a person,” he said. “I’m more proud of the fact that I was able to accomplish all of that despite everything in a single-parent household and never having a lot of academic resources.” McFarland has risen above his circumstances when the system is typically stacked against someone with his background. He credits his mother for instilling the importance of education and hard work. Santiago, who obtained a nursing degree in her home country, raised McFarland and his two siblings, an older brother and younger sister, by herself while she went back to school for sonography. “Craig knows the struggles we’ve had to go through with me as a single mom, and I hope my experiences have helped drive him to be great,” she said, adding that education “is our wealth that nobody can take away from us.” The family moved around 12 times in the Jacksonville area and lived in a small house with extended relatives for several years. Santiago was able to find a job as a registered cardiac sonographer, though she commutes about two hours each day. “It was pretty much being left to our own devices so we often had to find out how to cook for ourselves and just mature on our own for the times in our lives when my mom was out working or at school,” McFarland said. “That independence, while a bit sad at times, was undoubtedly useful, even today.” Santiago never worried about whether her son finished his homework or studied for exams because of his self-discipline. Whenever she did ask, he would say he did it days before. “He honestly pushes himself harder than anyone has pushed him, and I say that as his mother,” she said. Since McFarland was young, he has been curious and compassionate, and always wears a smile on his face. “I always see him looking out for his friends and even people he barely knows,” she said. “I’ve heard him spend hours on the phone helping friends with their homework or spending whatever small amount of money he has saved up on gifts for friends.” McFarland admits that he was “incredibly shy” as a child, but started coming out of his shell around middle school and explored activities to fill his time, especially those that tested his knowledge on subjects or chal-
McFarland (2nd to right) and classmates hold up a trophy after a win at the First Coast High School Ethics Bowl in February. Photos courtesy of Craig McFarland
lenged him to defend a position on a social issue. “Any competition that involved a requirement of being well-spoken and reaching an audience, I ended up really loving,” he said. Being raised in a single-parent household meant that there was only one source of income for the family. Since his mom is not familiar with the U.S. college process, he researched financial aid opportunities and was able to get the application fees waived. Whatever extracurricular activities McFarland wanted to participate in, he had to raise the money himself by taking on a private tutoring job. “A lot of people don’t understand the privilege of being able to access things, such as a private tutor or a review book, or even just having a parent there with you to advocate for your success at a counselor meeting,” he said. “I didn’t want to ask my mom to pay for the SAT or all these dues for activities.” He also acknowledges teachers who mentored and took an interest in helping him succeed and those who served as “father figures” since he did not have one growing up. Moving to Connecticut this fall will be the third time McFarland has ever left his home state. He’ll be swapping the sunny, humid weather for a Northeast winter, though he has no clue what’s in store for him climate wise and culturally. “I’m extremely sentimental and emotional and part of the reason why I cried when I got accepted to the colleges was because it marked this rite of passage,” he said. “Eventually I’m going to have to leave my mom — that dichotomy of success academically but also having to say goodbye to the only person who’s been a constant in my life beyond my brother and sister.” The other two times McFarland has ventured out of Florida were trips to the Philippines, first at the age of 4 and then at 16. Santiago said she raised her children immersed in their Filipino heritage, whether it was through watching teleseryes, eating the food, observing holiday traditions or teaching them to address and respect elders with mano po. “I’ve told [them] that we Filipinos are strong and smart people. Craig especially has been interested in his Filipino culture. He is a member of his school’s Filipino performance group and dances tinikling for his school’s multicultural club,” she said. McFarland’s biracial identity has presented extra challenges, as he never quite fit in or felt completely welcomed by either side. (Since his college acceptances garnered nationwide press attention, he also received comments about “not being black” or “not being a real Filipino,” he said.) He recalled that he and his younger sister were targets of racial slurs and were discriminated against because of the color of their skin during their 2018 trip to the Philippines. “It’s not necessarily that I hold that against the Philippines as I know it’s a product of colonialism, but it pushes me to want to make social change,” he said. “I hope that my accomplishments provide a testament that certain type of people aren’t dumb or lesser than any other.” While his final high school semester moved online and events like prom were scrapped, McFarland was particularly sad about initial reports saying graduation would be canceled. He will still be able to deliver his valedictorian speech since the school’s ceremony was postponed to July. As the achiever he is, he’s already prepared his remarks and hopes to impart the message that test scores and getting into top schools aren’t the only metrics to measure one’s impact. Before he heads off to college, he intends to enjoy one last summer in his hometown with his best
friends and family and do “normal teen stuff.” “My main goal in college is to be happy and to genuinely live,” McFarland said. “It’s important to be successful but my definition of success isn’t to become a CEO or make a high paying job. It’s being content with what I’ve done and that contentment comes from being able to help others, especially those who are in situations similar to mine.” (Christina M. Oriel/AJPress) n
PAGE 1 Chinese immigrants, who built half of the transcontinental railroad, became the first racial group to be banned from immigrating to the United States. This was a period when Asians had no political leverage or representation in government, rendering numerous uphill legal battles in immigration and equal protections. “These Asian immigrants arrived at a time of great upheaval, reinvention and expansion. Asians will play a crucial role as a new America is being forged,” esteemed Korean American actor and co-narrator of the series Daniel Dae Kim says in the first episode “Breaking Ground” which details the late-19th century to the early 20th century, an important period in American history when Asian Americans helped set precedents in U.S. courts. Five hours is certainly an iota of time if the objective is to recount the epic battles and achievements of Asian Americans, but the documentary makes good on its attempt to illuminate the complicated cultural, legal and political history of Asians in America. As expected, the docuseries shares a bevy of stories of Asian American resilience and the strides early Asian Americans had to endure to ensure the equity and safety of future generations. But the most stark moments of the docu-series lie in the stories of exploitation, the blatant examples of racism and the unnatural belief that certain races held rights and privileges that others do not. The series opens up with the story of Antero Cabrera, an Igorot man from the Philippines who was taken to the St. Louis World’s Fair
Filipino labor leader Larry Itliong (right) talks to Cesar Chavez in front of the National Farm Workers Association headquarters at Delano, California on July 28, 1967. AP photo by Harold Filan
in Missouri in 1904 as a part of the Philippine exhibit. Designed as a display of America’s imperial force, the Philippine exhibit wasn’t so much a true reflection of the Filipino people but a carefully curated interpretation of a “barbaric,” racially inferior community that needs the U.S. in its development. This was a time when scientific racism was widely accepted among renowned anthropologists, who used pseudoscience to declare certain races inherently primitive — and would remain so without the help of American colonialism. By showcasing Cabrera and other Igorots acting in ways that would be considered subhuman — like a live eating of a canine in front of fair-goers — it was visual proof of this pseudoscientific myth. “Anthropology at that time had an evolutionary aspect to it where they believed that there were races that were inherently barbaric and races that were inherently enlightened, and they rated ac-
cording to skin colors,” said Mia Abeya, Antero Cabrera’s granddaughter, adding that the exhibit was “a way for Americans to show that they were superior to the rest of the world.” Despite the humiliation, Cabrera soldiered through the exhibit and other like anthropological displays to make money to send to his family in the Philippines, eventually making enough to live a stable life. But the project created a lasting impression of this “exotic” country in Southeast Asia, a way to show people that “[t]hese are savages. This is how they look and this is how they live. Americans just saw them as objects of display in those human zoos.” Landmark immigration and education cases — like Tape v. Hurley in 1885, which declared the exclusion of a Chinese American student based on her ancestry from a public school unlawful — offset the many, many personal stories of descendants of early Asian Americans and those who
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‘There are still other concerns that need to be resolved’ — Cayetano on ABS-CBN franchise renewal by RitChel
mendiolA AJPress
HOUSE Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday, May 12, stressed that there are more important bills that need to be prioritized before media giant ABS-CBN’s bid for a franchise renewal. This came after 14 lawmakers who authored and co-authored the network franchise renewal bills urged him to immediately tackle the long-pending measures in the lower chamber. We remain cognizant of our responsibility in addressing the pending issue of the ABC-CBN franchise, said Cayetano in a Facebook post. While the deception of the NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) and the meddling of the Solicitor General add exigency to the matter, there are still other concerns that need to be resolved, he added. Cayetano also pointed out that a hearing does not mean automatic renewal of franchise. The hearing will only allow the network to present its case, in the same manner as those who oppose it. The serious concerns that have
been raised can no longer be swept under the rug, and it is absolutely necessary for Congress to give this matter all the time and attention it requires, he said. Ultimately, it is only through a fair, impartial, comprehensive, and thorough presentation and appreciation of the evidence that we can clear the air. Your House of the People will put the interest of the Filipino people first, and in these extraordinary times prioritization, fairness and timing are of utmost importance, he added. ABS-CBN on May 5 shut down its radio and television operations nationwide after the NTC issued the network a cease-and-desist order. The CDO came after Solicitor General Jose Calida warned the NTC against granting a provisional authority to the network. In the lawmakers letter addressed to Cayetano, they expressed their frustrations with the NTC not issuing a provisional authority to ABS-CBN. According to them, the House and its legislative franchises committee are now being blamed for the shutdown of the network and for being off the air since then, as well as for the displacement of
thousands of its employees and workers. While we take strong exceptions to NTC trickery and the Office of the Solicitor General interventionist actions, we firmly believe that the House now has the primary duty and responsibility to put an end to the uncertainties and confusion brought by the pendency of the application of renewal of ABSCBN franchise, they said. We write and appear to your good office, Mr. Speaker, to facilitate the immediate convening of the committee on legislative franchises so that it can tackle with dispatch the pending renewal bills for consideration, they added. The letter was signed by Deputy Speakers Vilma Santos-Recto of ‘CASH STRAPPED. Residents of Barangay Bagong Pag-asa in Quezon City ignore physical distancing as they rush to receive the local Batangas, Rose Marie Arenas of government’s cash aid under the Social Amelioration Program to fight the coronavirus disease. ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez Pangasinan, and Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur, and Representatives Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City, Joy Myra Tambunting of Parañaque, Micaela Violago of Nueva Ecija, Josephine Sato of Occidental Mindoro, Sol Carlito Galvez Jr., chief impleAragones of Laguna, Arlene Brofetch you there to be cremated,” by Alex RomeRo Philstar.com menter of the national policy on sas of Gabriela, France Castro of he added. Act Teachers, Sarah Jane Elago The government has eased COVID-19, said the government MANILA — The Philippines quarantine restrictions in most cannot afford to prolong the of Kabataan, and Carlos Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite and Eufemia Cul- cannot afford a second or third parts of the country except Metro enhanced community quaranwave of coronavirus pandemic, Manila, Cebu City, and Laguna tine (ECQ) because of its limited lamat of Bayan Muna. n President Rodrigo Duterte said, which will remain under “modi- resources. Under ECQ, public as he warned the public that be- fied enhanced community quar- transportation is suspended and ing complacent could cost lives antine” until May 31. Officials fol- only essential services like those even in areas where quarantine lowed the recommendation of the related to food production and measures have been eased. World Health Organization, which health are allowed to operate. “In the absence of a vaccine, Duterte noted that the threat has warned that prematurely easof the coronavirus disease 2019 ing lockdowns coulld lead to a re- all what we can do is prevent and contain it and mitigate its impact. or COVID-19 persists even if the surgence in COVID-19 cases. government is slowly relaxing Duterte reminded the public to The government, however, canlockdown restrictions. observe social distancing and to not endure the ECQ for extended “We will (ease the restrictions) weak masks when leaving their period of time as its resources gradually so we won’t fall...Be- houses. He said such measures are very limited. Hence, it has cause we cannot afford a second have to be followed until a CO- to balance between health and economy,” Galvez said during or third wave. This would happen VID-19 vaccine is discovered. if people many people catch the “Do not go out of your house the meeting of the government’s virus because there are rules that without a mask. That is a must. pandemic task force last Monday, were not followed,” the president Must comply. The police will re- May 11. Galvez said the the national said in a televised address aired mind you. ‘My friend, step aside. Tuesday, May 12. you do not have mask. Where is action plan on the pandemic has “The easing up of the restric- your mask?’ If you do not have been updated and would focus on tions does not mean COVID is a mask, you would endanger the the carriers of the virus. “Our revised operational gone...COVID is very lethal. Do person in front of you,” the presiframework added the prevennot gamble with COVID because dent said. once you get infected, it can go “If you want to die, it’s OK. But tion prior to detection phase and either way. You either go to the the one in front of you may die the adoption of the end-to-end funeral home or sleep at home. If even if it’s not yet time to go just T3 management system for COyou sleep at the funeral home, you because you do not want to com- VID-19 carriers, which mean test, trace and treat,” he said. n won’t wake up anymore. They will ply,” he added.
Duterte: Philippines can’t afford second, third wave of COVID-19 pandemic
NBI nabs teacher who offered P50M to anyone who will kill Duterte by CAtheRine
GonzAles Inquirer.net
MANILA — A public high school teacher was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after posting on Twitter that he will give a P50-million reward to anyone who would kill President Rodrigo Duterte. NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin confirmed the arrest of the teacher, identified as Ronnel Mas. He said the teacher will undergo inquest proceeding. Meanwhile, NBI spokesperson Nick Suarez, in a text message to Inquirer.net, said the teacher was arrested on Monday, May 11 in Barangay North Poblacion, Sta. Cruz, Zambales. According to NBI officer-incharge Eric Distor, Mas is currently teaching social studies, has completed a master’s degree, and is now pursuing a doctorate degree. His tweet read: “I will give P50 million reward kung sino makakapatay kay Duterte (to whoever will kill Duterte).” Distor said Mas was brought to the NBI head office in Manila and will be presented for inquest proceedings before the Department of Justice for inciting to sedition in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and for violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials.
Ronnel Mas with NBI agents followng his arrest after posting on Twitter that he will give a reward of P50 million to anyone who will kill President Rodrigo Duterte. Photo courtesy of NBI
A video posted on Facebook, supposedly taken by an arresting NBI agent, showed an emotional Mas who admitted to posting the incriminating post on Twitter, for which he later apologized to Duterte. “Nagsosorry po ako kay President Duterte at nagawa ko ‘yung tweet na ‘yun. Hindi ko po intensyon ‘yun (I apologize to President Duterte for that Tweet. It wasn’t my intention),” he said. While calling his tweet a “wrong move,” Mas said he did not expect that he would be ar-
rested over that, especially since his intention was only to “seek attention.” “Naghahanap lang po ako ng atensyon (I am just seeking attention),” he said. According to Mas, he mentioned P50 million in his social media post to equate with the P50 million offered by Duterte for any Filipino who would be able to invent a vaccine for the coronavirus disease. In the same video, he also denied he was forced to apologize to the president. n
US skipped in Duterte’s ‘thank you’ list despite P768-million aid by PAtRiCiA louRdes Philstar.com
ViRAy
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte, through spokesperson Harry Roque, expressed gratitude to several governments and groups that have provided assistance to the Philippines in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The president, however, missed the United States, which has so far donated more than P768 million ($15.2 million) to the country. In a recorded video message, Roque thanked the governments of Australia, France, Japan, United Arab Emirates, European Union, as well as the UN humanitarian country team, UNICEF Philippines and UN Human Settlements Program. Roque also mentioned the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, Philippine Red Cross, Philippine
Stock Exchange, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and AirAsia. Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police who donated their salary were mentioned. The Permanent Mission of China to ASEAN was also included in the list, along with the municipal governments of several Chinese areas. Even Chinese video-sharing app Tiktok made it to the list. Just last week, the U.S. Embassy announced an additional P298 million ($5.9 million) to help support the Philippines in its response to COVID-19, which has infected more than 4 million individuals across the globe. The latest assistance from Washington, wherein the U.S. Agency for International Development will partner with 18 local governments in the Philippines’ hard-hit areas, sought to promote
effective crisis management and implement response plans. “Funding will support local governments to rapidly disburse emergency funding and supplies, and strengthen the capacity of local crisis response centers to disseminate accurate and timely crisis response information, manage quarantine measures, set up public handwashing facilities, ensure food supply, and support local business recovery,” the U.S. Embassy said in a statement. U.S. President Donald Trump himself offered additional assistance to the Philippines in a phone call with Duterte last month. According to the U.S. Embassy, Trump “expressed his solidarity and offered additional assistance” to the country as it continues to face the contagion, which has infected 11,086 in the country as of Monday May 11. n
Philippine Navy vows more patrols in disputed sea by demPsey
Reyes ManilaTimes.net
THE Philippine Navy will continue to patrol territorial waters, especially the highly volatile West Philippine Sea (WPS) to provide a reassuring presence to Filipino fishermen. The Navy feels that the patrols are one way to encourage the fishermen to continue fishing in waters where Chinese ships have shown aggressive behavior, Vice Adm. Giovanni Carlo Bacordo, the Navy’s flag officer in command said. The patrols will cover the exclusive economic zones of Manila in the West Philippine Sea. Bacordo also said the Navy would continue to rotate and replenish personnel in the nine oc-
cupied features at the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly Group of Islands). The features are in Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, Likas (West York) Island, Parola (Northeast) Cay, Lawak (Nanshan) Island, Kota (Loaita) Island, Patag (Flat) Island, Panata (Lankiam) Cay, Rizal (Commodore) Reef and Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal. “When we do our patrols, [this is] to encourage our fisherfolk to continue with their livelihood there…Every time they see our ship patrolling at the West Philippine Sea, it gives them strength to conduct their fishing activities there,” Bacordo said in a radio interview. His assurance came weeks after the Department of Foreign Affairs filed two diplomatic protests
against China over its belligerent action in the disputed waters, one of which was aiming a fire control radar gun at the Philippine Navy’s BRP Conrado Yap. The incident in February was downplayed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who said the aiming of the gun was a “test” by Beijing, which was challenged by the BRP Conrado Yap. For Bacordo, the action of the Chinese vessel was unnecessary. The Duterte administration has often taken a softened stance on territorial issues with China. Last year, when a Chinese fishing vessel rammed a Philippine fishing boat in the West Philippine Sea, President Rodrigo Duterte and some security officials initially downplayed it as a “little maritime accident.” n
Palace: ‘Wow China’ show on government radio is ‘part of marketplace of ideas’ by Alex
RomeRo Philstar.com
MANILA — A program about Chinese culture produced and aired by government radio station Radyo Pilipinas has sparked outrage for allegedly spreading proChina propaganda. “Wow China,” which has been airing weekly since 2018, is a collaboration between Radyo Pilipinas and China Radio International. In its opening spiel, the program encouraged the public to get to know their “Chinese brothers” to establish “better relationships and friendship.” Its episode last Sunday, May 10 was hosted by Nimfa Asuncion and Ernest Wang and featured discussions about the coronavirus as well as Mandarin lessons. “Wow China” has drawn more than 16,000 angry reactions on Facebook as of Tuesday, May 12 with some users accusing Filipinos behind the program of “treason.” Some people in the internet also wondered why Radyo Pilipinas came up with a program about China, which has been asserting ownership over South China Sea areas that are also being claimed by the Philippines. Others chided the state-run radio station for using taxpayers’ money to promote China and called for the “shutdown” of the program. Some critics also pointed out that the government allowed a pro-China program to air in one of its radio station but decided to shut down ABS-CBN, the Philippines largest broadcast network. Asked to comment on the negative reactions to ‘Wow China,’
This screenshot shows the title card for “Wow China” a radio show that is a “collaboration between the Philippine Broadcasting Service and China Radio International”. Photo from ‘Wow China’ broadcast
presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the public should just be allowed to form their views on the radio program. “First, it’s part of the free marketplace of ideas. Let us allow our countrymen to form their own opinion about that advertisement or program. Second, it’s not a program under the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson. I would direct your queries to PCOO (Presidential Communications Operations Office) Sec. Martin Andanar,” he said at a press briefing. In a statement later Tuesday, May 12 the Philippine Broadcasting Service defended the show, which it described as “light, informative, and entertaining.” It said the show “in no way whatsoever [espouses or promotes] a particular political view or cause.”
It also said that “apart from China, PBS has also worked with other countries and extended airtime as well, to air their news, socio-cultural, and tourism content — for the educational benefit of Filipinos. These include agreements with UK’s BBC and Thailand’s Sawasdee.” Last month, a Chinese Embassy-produced music video honoring frontliners in the fight against the coronavirus was also heavily criticized by people who doubt the sincerity of China because of its agressive acts in the South China Sea. The video featured the song “Iisang Dagat,” which was written by Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian and performed by Filipino singer and Camarines Sur Vice Governor Imelda Papin and various Chinese artists. n
CBS Sports adds to Pacquiao accolades by Josef
t. RAmos ManilaTimes.net
AS the only eight-division world boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao has earned the distinction of being ranked by the international television network CBS Sports as No. 3 among the greatest welterweight warriors of the past five decades. CBS Sports columnists Brian Campbell and Brent Brookhouse listed the 41-year-old Pacquiao at third place while unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. hugged the second spot and 1976 Olympic gold medalist Sugar Ray Leonard claimed the plum position after the two reporters debated and
voted last April 30. As reported on the website www.cbssports.com, the CBS Sports writers chose the greatest boxers in the 147-pound class since 1970. Campbell mentioned Pacquiao’s “steady rise in the welterweight category over a legendary 25-year career,” which is why the Pacman was put on the list. Campbell said the wins over Oscar Dela Hoya in 2008 and Miguel Cotto in 2009 were the Pacman’s very best. Pacquiao, the reigning World Boxing Association super welterweight champion, also beat Joshua Clottey, Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy
Bradley, Brandon Rios, Jessie Vargas, Lucas Matthysse, Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman. Campbell also cited Pacquiao’s stunning first round knockdown punch against the erstwhile champion Thurman last July 20 in his last bout at the age of 40 in Las Vegas, Nevada. “The fact that he would drop and outpoint unbeaten Keith Thurman 10 years later at the age of 40 to reclaim a title just speaks [of] his overall greatness,” Campbell cited in the joint-article entitled “The greatest welterweight boxers of the past 50 years: Where do Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao rank?” u PAGE 5
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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 15-21, 2020
Nurse credentialing group appoints Filipino... From the 1904 World’s Fair to the Filipino... PAGE 1 cation by looking at best practices and evidence in the field,” Tolarba told the Asian Journal. He is hoping to translate these global standards into useful instructional concepts that nursing institutions globally can reference and adopt with the unified goal of developing caring and competent world-class nurses. Tolarba, who received his doctorate in nursing practice with specialization in leadership and health policy from Yale University in 2015, returns to CGFNS after completion of his research as a J. William Fulbright Scholar at the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) in the Kingdom of Jordan. He first joined CGFNS in 2016 as director of credentials evaluation services. “I’m pleased to welcome Dr. Tolarba back to our team and know that his Fulbright experience, combined with his previous depth of knowledge and expertise, will go far to further strengthen our role in the global standards and qualifications sector,” said Dr. Franklin Shaffer, president and CEO of CGFNS International. “Having migrated from the Philippines and used CGFNS’ services in his own journey to practice nursing in the U.S., Dr. Tolarba’s experience in these areas provides personal insights that enhance our leadership team.” Journey to CGFNS Tolarba joined CGFNS International, Inc. (formerly known as the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) in the summer of 2016 as the director of credentials evaluation and was in charge of various programs such as VisaScreen® service and Certification Program. Prior to this, Tolarba was the director of nursing at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. At CGFNS, he has helped thousands of foreign-educated nurses and other health care professionals (e.g. Physical Therapists, Medical Technologists, Clinical Psychologists, etc.) with their goal of migrating and practicing their profession in the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world. In his new role, Tolarba will lead CGFNS’ programs around global standards and qualifications for health professionals by collaborating with global leaders in the fields of education, regulation, accreditation and practice to promote innovation and the advancement of harmonization to enhance cross-border mutual rec-
ognition. Nursing milestone Last year, the World Health Organization declared 2020 as the International Year of Nurses and Midwives coinciding with the 200th year of the birth of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. “We never expected that this year would also catapult the role of nurses to the limelight with the onslaught of COVID-19 pandemic. Nurses, along with doctors and other healthcare professionals, are deemed modern-day heroes, putting their lives on the line,” Tolarba said. “It is indeed a very challenging time for nurses around the world especially those who are in the front line.” The virus, considered by many now as the treacherous enemy, has taken the lives of many people around the world including those nurses in the frontline fighting this war. This is the reason why he would like to personally call for nurses around the world to be vigilant in the frontlines to make sure they are taking the proper precautions to protect themselves. “They also need to speak up if they feel that they are unsafe going to their patient care assignments,” Tolarba said. “Always wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for patients afflicted by COVID-19 and demand to have proper PPEs.” “Nurses’ lives are priceless, and they too have families. Losing one more life in the fight against COVID19 is too many. The whole world appreciates the work and dedication of all frontline nurses fighting this battle against the coronavirus,” he added. Reluctant nurse “Quite honestly, I never planned on becoming a nurse. I was really planning to take up architecture or journalism in college,” Tolarba told the Asian Journal. When he was in high school, he realized that he had a knack for writing and drawing. Tolarba comes from a modest family and his mother singlehandedly raised him and his five siblings since his father died when he was still a small child. “So, my mother, a public school teacher in the Philippines, asked me (more like told me) to take up nursing instead because my older brother was a senior nursing student that time and this way, I could use his books, old uniforms, and clinical paraphernalia, in order to save money,” Tolarba shared. So despite being less than
thrilled, he soldiered on. On the side, he dedicated his time still doing what he loved, i.e. writing and campus journalism and ended up being the editor-in-chief of the Bicol Universitarian, the official student campus paper of Bicol University. He graduated but still, he didn’t want to become a nurse so instead of taking the board exams for nurses he went to enroll for his second degree, this time in journalism. After two years, he was still unemployed so his mom gave him an ultimatum to take his board exams. To appease his mom, he did and even though two years have passed since he obtained his nursing degree, he passed the board. However, the prospects of landing a job as a nurse in the late 1990s was dim because that was the time when the United States was on retrogression and there was an oversupply of nurses in the Philippines. While waiting for better prospects, Tolarba went to graduate school, finishing a master’s degree in education. He went on to the University of the PhilippinesDiliman and got admitted to the doctorate program for education, where he spent the next three years, until his immigration papers arrived. “It was a hard decision to abandon my Ph.D. studies but beginning a new life in America in 2004 was something I looked forward to because my wife was already in the US at that time,” he said. In the U.S., his first employment was as a staff nurse at a local hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. While working full-time, he also received a master of science degree in nursing. After graduating, his family moved to Connecticut, where he spent more than a decade working before pursuing further studies. Tolarba was one of the 14 inaugural doctoral students accepted to the Yale University Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, among the many achievements he has amassed throughout his career. He has become an international expert in the topics of international nursing education, nursing mobility and migration, and nursing curriculum evaluation. “I am humbled by the opportunities that come my way and I have to thank my mother for showing me the right path even though nursing was not my initial choice. It only proves the old adage, ‘Mother knows best!’” he said. n
PAGE 3 lived to tell their experiences. The docuseries then flows to the labor movement of the 1930s led by Larry Itliong and Filipino farmworkers, the internment of Japanese Americans during the Second World War and legislative achievements like the Voting Rights Act of 1952 which gave Asian Americans the right to vote. Cultural landmarks like the increased representation of Asian Americans in Hollywood following the regular practice of yellowface) and the rise of Asian American entrepreneurship. And it wasn’t just the legislative victories that initiated the emergence of the growing and hustling Asian American community. From the construction of the transcontinental railroad, to the cultivation of California’s farms, to the technological innovations in the auto industry, Asian Americans are inextricable from the overall narrative America. Simply put, the docuseries proves that America wouldn’t be what it is today without the labor and assimilation of Asian immigrants who underwent enormous trauma and sacrifice to cultivate a life for the Asian American. It redefines what it means to be American, that it isn’t based on race or what a piece of paper dictates: it is a mindset and unyielding work ethic that makes you American. But the struggles faced by early Asian Americans are not exclusively things of the past. As films about slavery and the 1960s civil rights movement attempts (and often, fails) to provide a distant memory of America’s ugly past — as if to say, ‘’Look how far we’ve come from blatant racism and discrimination — it
Larry Itliong, who is originally from San Nicolas, Pangasinan, rose to prominence after he and several Filipino farmworkers demanded for better pay, an effort that became known as the Delano grape strike. Photo courtesy of “Asian American”/PBS
may be grating to celebrate the victories and achievements of the Asian American community while undergoing a new wave of antiAsianism in the age of COVID-19. The current generation of Asian Americans, millennials and younger, especially, were fortunate enough to be born after the regular lynchings of Chinese Americans at the turn of the century as well as the gruesome murder of Vincent Chin in 1982. However, although it may seem dampened by the expanding awareness of social justice and activism, the Asian American community faces a new wave of discrimination. The only difference between then and now, however, is a vigorous, outspoken community of lawmakers, celebrities and other Asian American public figures who are leading the charge against anti-Asian racism propped up during this pandemic. “I cannot think of a more important conversation to be having right now,” PBS Newshour correspondent Amna Nawaz said last week during a digital town hall. Nawaz added that “2020 was supposed to be a consequential year for Asian Americans” noting
the crucial 2020 election and the census. “But as we know, the pandemic changed everything, and now 2020 stands to be consequential for very different reasons,” she remarked. It’s a point that the documentary series illustrates in its final episode called “Breaking Through” that progress isn’t a linear journey. There are going to be pitfalls, and even though we’re living in a time of unprecedented success and increased awareness of social justice, times like these prove that society isn’t a perfect construct, and there will be periods upon which resilience and strength of character will be tested. As journalist and activist Helen Zia put it in the final episode of the series: “History has a way of moving in cycles, and if we can learn from history, even a little bit, we can avoid repeating it. But even better than that, we can find the things that have moved civilization forward and have led to greater progress, and if we learn from that, we can really move ahead.” “Asian Americans” is available to stream now on PBS apps as well as its website. n
CBS Sports adds to Pacquiao accolades PAGE 4 Veteran Filipino boxing and sports analyst Ed Tolentino explained to The Manila Times that the ranking of CBS Sports was fair only in the light of the welterweight class and the period of 1970 onwards. “Pacquiao is coming in at No.3, but take note that he is still an active fighter, who is still in the position to improve on his ranking. Leonard is ranked No. 1 on the strength of his unification victory over Thomas Hearns and wins over all-time greats Roberto Duran [in the rematch] and Wilfred Benitez,” said Tolentino. The legendary Leonard was a
CTCP 1/2 HFC
famous boxer from the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. “Mayweather is coming in at No. 2 because, at welterweight, he actually beat Pacquiao and a slew of other great welterweights. Mayweather also defeated Juan Manuel Marquez at the catchweight of 144 lbs, which is within the welterweight limit. Marquez knocked out Pacquiao at welterweight,” he continued. The boxing analyst also justified why Mayweather was chosen as No. 2 by the CBS Sports reporters. “Mayweather was never beaten at welterweight. So, these
factors explain why he is ranked ahead of Manny Pacquiao [who is] at No. 3, which is not bad,” added Tolentino, who began his career as a TV sports analyst in the early ‘90s. “But like I said, he (Pacquaio) can still improve on this because he is still an active boxer.” CBS Sports completed its ranking with Pernell Whitaker at No. 4, Thomas Hearns at No. 5, Felix Trinidad at No. 6, Oscar de la Hoya at No. 7, Miguel Cotto at No. 8, Donald Curry at No. 9 and International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council welterweight titleholder Errol Spence Jr. at No. 10. n
6
MAY 15-21, 2020 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
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OPINION
Modifying the quarantine
FEATURES
WALKING a tightrope between lives and livelihoods, the government has decided to extend the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and Laguna, with the fate of two other provinces to be known later this week. The ECQ, however, will be “modified” after May 15, to allow the gradual reopening of the economy in the National Capital Region after two months of quarantine. So far, various degrees of quarantines and lockdowns nationwide to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic have rendered 2.5 million Filipinos jobless, according to the Department of Labor and Employment. Overseas Filipino workers, forced out of jobs by the COVID-19 crisis in other countries, are also arriving in droves, looking for alternative sources of livelihood. With the start of the modified ECQ in Metro Manila, the country’s most densely populated region, the biggest danger is complacency. Wuhan City in China, where the COVID-19 virus originated and which became the epicenter of the pandemic in that country, reported six new infections over the weekend – the first cases since the city lifted its lockdown. New cases have also been reported in countries such
as South Korea and Germany after they eased restrictions. France, which began easing lockdown measures last Monday, also recorded at least nine COVID cases linked to a funeral. In Metro Manila, its police commander himself has set a bad example of complacency if not outright flouting of quarantine rules even before the ECQ is modified. Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas entertained a large gathering for his birthday celebration on May 8 at Camp Bagong Diwa. Photos of the party showed guests – clearly numbering more than the ECQ limit of 10 persons – digging into the food, unmindful of physical distancing. As in the earlier case of a COVID-infected Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III visiting the Makati Medical Center, those tasked to enforce quarantine rules pre-
Editorial
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS SCARED to go back to work in fear of being infected by the deadly COVID-19? This is what is happening now in the White House after two people working close to President Donald Trump have tested positive for the virus this past week. Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary Katie Miller — who is married to one of Trump’s closest aides, Stephen Miller — and one of Trump’s personal valets have contracted the virus, TIME reported. As a result, the White House has implemented new safety measures: every staff member in close proximity to the president and vice president is being tested DAILY for COVID-19 as well as any guests. Contact tracing is also now being conducted to help patients recall everyone with whom they have had close contact with during the timeframe while they may have been infectious — a laborious and elaborate measure that helps mitigate the spread of the virus. The fear and worries of the people working in the White House are the same concerns of people all over America, especially after President Trump has been pushing to relax social distancing and other safety measures and re-open
Street Talk GREG B. MACABENTA ABS-CBN signed off after its franchise expired on May 4, 2020. Actually, the franchise was left to expire by the Philippine House of Representatives that preferred to second-guess President Rodrigo Duterte rather than do its job. Duterte had made it clear that he didn’t like the network and its owners. Too powerful for their own good. Their source of power had to be crushed. So, the country’s largest broadcasting network had to be knocked off the air. For millions of television viewers and radio listeners all over the Philippines, that is like being deprived of their daily victuals — as much of a habit as kape and pan de sal for breakfast, and kanin, ulam and merienda, the rest of the day. For journalists and civil rights activists, the closure of the network is a brass-knuckled assault on press freedom. To the marketing industry, it is a loss of a potent sales and promotional vehicle. For my colleagues in the advertising agencies, a loss of commissions. And for ABS-CBN’s thousands of employees, talents, production staffers and stars, the loss of jobs and income. For its business rivals and political enemies, ABS-CBN’s going off
Philstar.com photo
fer to see no evil in the case of Sinas. Little wonder that the killer disease is spreading among members of the Philippine National Police, with Camp Karingal, headquarters of the Quezon City Police District,
placed under lockdown. Such irresponsible behavior gives urgency to warnings against easing restrictions and relying on self-discipline to fight the contagion as the country reopens for business. (Philstar.com)
What is good for the White House should be good for all of America before asking people to safely return to work America for business. Many governors from Republican states allied with Trump warned people that either they go back to work or they lose their unemployment benefits. For many Americans, this order from Trump and the Republican governors was like a death sentence, especially since health officials, scientists and many Democratic governors have been warning that to safely re-open the country for business, widespread testing combined with contact tracing need to be implemented as they are still the most effective ways to slow the spread until a vaccine is available. Additionally, protective equipment should be available to ALL Americans returning to work. We would think that after having firsthand experience with the threat of the coronavirus pandemic in the White House, Trump would finally heed the advice of health officials and be more aggressive and proactive in conducting widespread testing, contact tracing, providing protective equipment, making sure social distancing orders are still being followed wherever warranted, to the degree required by their specific circumstances and COVID-19 infection cases in their states. Unfortunately, Trump does not think what is good and safe for
the White House is something he will push and support for the rest of us. As of press time on Tuesday, May 12, the total confirmed cases around the world was recorded at 4,178,156 and counting, killing more than 286,353 people. The United States leads the world in the number of confirmed cases with more than 1,382,630 and a death toll of more than 81,779. The number of cases per 1 million people in the U.S. is now at 4,195 and counting. Despite the death toll and continued threat to infect more people, Trump continues to deny the scientific facts and evidence about COVID-19 and insists that the pandemic will disappear on its own. ABC News reported that during a White House meeting with Republican House lawmakers last week, Trump again said, “I feel about vaccines like I feel about tests. This is going to go away without a vaccine.” Trump has been touting that no other country in the world has been testing like the United States, but this claim is misleading because he is boasting based on the absolute numbers without reference to the over-all total population of the nation. A country as big as the U.S. would require more testing. It still lags behind countries like Italy and
Denmark in per capita [per how many persons] tests performed, ABC News reported. How can he address the need for more testing if he denies the fact? Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top epidemiologist, has been pushing for more testing, something that Trump undermines. Dr. Fauci said in a National Geographic interview, “I don’t think there’s a chance that this virus is just going to disappear.” “Shame on us if we don’t have enough tests by the time this socalled return might occur in the fall and winter,” he said, suggesting that the U.S. needs to make sure there’s an adequate supply of tests and a system for getting those tests to the people who most need them before a second wave of the virus hits. “It’s going to be around, and if given the opportunity, it will resurge.” Response coordinator for White House Coronavirus Task Force Deborah Birx estimated that about 2.5% of all Americans have been tested, adding that the number is increasing by half a percent every week. As ABC News reported, she agreed with many experts, stating that testing and contact tracing are proven to be critical to helping identify cases locally and contain the spread. Birx also stressed in the report
the importance of “being proactive about testing,” and monitoring high-risk places with vulnerable populations such as prisons, long-term care center and inner city communities after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, announced required twice-weekly testing for nursing staffers in his state. Even more important numbers to consider: According to the COVID Tracking Project, testing for the coronavirus in the U.S. has steadily improved to around 264,000 tests a day — nearly 9 million tests total as of Monday — but the U.S. is still below proposed benchmarks from several experts. Researchers at the Harvard University, for example, calculated that the U.S. would need to do approximately 500,000 tests per day, as a bare minimum, by May 1 — a figure they have since revised to 900,000 for May 15 as more states ease restrictions. WHY is Trump doing this? It is all about POLITICS. “I will tell you, you look at some cases, some people think they’re doing it for politics,” Trump was quoted by ABC News, suggesting some Democratic governors are moving slowly to undercut him politically. “Here we go again. But they think they’re doing it because
it will hurt me the longer it takes to — to hurt me in the election, the longer it takes to open up.” “The media likes to say we have the most [coronavirus] cases, but we do, by far, the most testing. If we did very little testing, we wouldn’t have the most cases. So, in a way, by doing all of this testing, we make ourselves look bad,” Trump said last Wednesday, May 6. What is worse than being attacked by the COVID-19 pandemic? It is to have a president who denies science and facts, misleads people, just because to him, his personal interests and political survival are more important than saving the lives of the people he has sworn to defend and protect. SPEAK OUT! Do not wait for you and your family to be casualties of this invisible enemy before you call out this president for the dereliction of the duty and betrayal of public trust under the United States’ highest office. *** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for the community. You may contact her through email at gelrelos@icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos.
Old networks never die, they get resurrected
the air means one pain-in-the-neck gone. For its allies, one platform for gaining prominence and visibility lost. But not for Pinoys in America and the OFW enclaves in the Middle East, Asia and Europe. They will continue to have their daily serving of news, tear-jerkers, action serials, fantasies and showbiz tsismis that remind them of home. For the Lopez family, owners of the network, the closure is just one more chapter in the corporate complex’s storied existence in Philippine business and politics. Just one more predictable consequence of being in and out of power. It is déjà vu. But, as in the past, ABS-CBN will go on the air again. Indeed, old networks never die. They get resurrected. In 1972, following the declaration of martial law by President Ferdinand Marcos, the network was forced to close down — its assets taken over by business and political rivals and its executives jailed and subsequently forced into exile in the U.S. This was the same Ferdinand Marcos whom the Lopezes helped in winning the presidency in 1965, along with the vice presidency of one of the family patriarchs, Fernando Lopez. The same Marcos that the family helped to depose in the 1986 People Power revolution, en route to resurrecting the network and re-
claiming its dominance I have no doubt that ABS-CBN will outlast Rodrigo Duterte, just as it outlived Marcos. And, as sure as day follows night, Duterte’s current allies will become Lopez allies when the Davao cartel’s time has come. In Philippine politics, there are no permanent enemies or friends, just ongoing interests. Don’t be surprised if even ABSCBN’s arch tormentor, Solicitor General Jose Calida, will become a member of the Lopez cheering squad at the network’s resurrection. I have a unique affinity for ABSCBN. For me, the network is like an old rich neighbor, whose family members I have known most of my life, whose kids I practically grew up with, befriended, and even fought and competed with. Can one ever avoid fighting with the neighbor’s kids? As a boy in Manila, fresh off the boat from Leyte, I performed in soap operas aired on the network’s DZAQ Radio, broadcasting from the Republic Supermarket Building on Avenida Rizal. I was also among the earliest on-camera talents when television was introduced in the Philippines by Alto Broadcasting System, the ABS part of ABS-CBN. This was in 1954. As an ad agency producer in 1960, I wrote and co-directed a weekly radio show on DZXL Radio. Located in the Chronicle building on Aduana, it was owned by the Chronicle Broadcasting Network,
the CBN part of what would become the Philippines’ largest broadcasting network. And then in late 1965, the merged ABS-CBN, housed in a huge broadcast complex on Roxas Boulevard, hired me as a manager for program evaluation and development. I also became head of script quality control and executive producer of the network’s prime TV property, Buhay Artista (which starred the comic duo, Dolphy and Panchito). It was presidential election season. On the instruction of network chairman Geny Lopez, Jr. I produced a daily satire that helped defeat reelectionist President Diosdado Macapagal and helped catapult Ferdinand Marcos to Malacañang. The title of the daily satire was “Alis Diyan!” I had a great admiration for Geny Lopez, whom everyone reverently referred to as Capitan, although I only worked for ABS-CBN for less than a year. In the early 1990s, I was retained by the network, this time, under Geny’s son, Gabby or Eugenio Lopez III, who had begun laying the groundwork for ABSCBN’s expansion to the United States. However, as luck would have it, it was ABS-CBN’s rival, GMA Network, that I eventually helped to break into the U.S. market. Did I say that I fought and competed with ABS-CBN, just like fighting with the neighbor’s kids? I did. The Lopezes are fierce com-
petitors and dislike business rivals with a passion. Because I was associated with rival GMA, I was also disliked. ABS-CBN top management even had me “dis-invited” to a special event despite receiving a formal invitation from the network’s middle managers in my capacity as National Chairman of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA). Of course, being an equally fierce competitor myself, I also had ABS-CBN expelled from a Fil-Am community festival that I had cornered exclusively for GMA. Those were just two of the many instances when ABS-CBN and GMA, which I used to represent, pre-empted each other, in dealings with the Fil-Am community. But these things I have never taken personally against the network and its people. I have a lot of respect for them as industry colleagues. Besides, many of them are friends. However, I take personal offense over the closure of ABS-CBN in the Philippines. I consider it an assault against things I hold dear. Press freedom, particularly. And the freedom to speak out for or against a country’s leaders, as well as the freedom to compete in business with a passion. I do not grieve for the fortunes of the Lopez family and their business empire. The family has enough wealth to last many generations and the corporate complex can outlast several presidential tenures and political enemies.
Will the network lose money with the closure of its Philippine operations? For sure. But it will continue to make money from its worldwide operations. The owners of the network are savvy entrepreneurs and it will take more than a Duterte and a Calida to sink them. I do not grieve the loss of the tear-jerkers, action serials and fantasies of the network. They can always be revived when friendlier times come. Show business, like the Phoenix, will always manage to rise from the ashes. But I grieve for the staffers of the network, especially the journalists and production people who have lost their jobs and their means of livelihood. Many of them are isang kahig isang tuka. Most of all, I grieve for the loss of the freedom to criticize and hold accountable the leaders of my beloved Philippines. I resent the raw use of power and the way the law has been bent and used as a weapon of oppression. In this regard, I am glad that the network’s U.S. and overseas staffers are still in harness and I hope that those who have lost their jobs in the Philippines will be employed again. They are professionals who have nothing to do with corporate and political power struggles. I regard them like good neighbors. And, to paraphrase the slogan of an insurance company, like a good neighbor, they can count on me to have their backs. (gregmacabenta@gmail.com)
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 15-21, 2020
‘Secret evidence’ denials are unconstitutional Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ
LEADING U.S. IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL EXPEDITES CASE TO ENSURE “CHILD” LANDS ON U.S. SOIL BEFORE HIS 21ST BIRTHDAY. One of Atty. Gurfinkel’s favorite cases is from 23 years ago, but the lessons are timeless and valuable to the present, where the family’s efforts to save money resulted in extra delays and a child who was about to age out in a matter of days. This was before the Child Status Protection Act, and back then, the child must arrive in the U.S. before midnight of his 21st birthday or the case would be lost. Time was running out for Steve (2nd from left) when the family realized that “Miracle Worker” Atty. Gurfinkel (right) was their only hope. As soon as the family agreed to retain the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel, the latter worked non-stop to ensure that Steve would land on U.S. soil before his 21st birthday. Watch the events unfold on an all-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)
An amazing race to beat the deadline before eldest son aged out on an all-new Citizen Pinoy this Sunday
THIS success happened 23 years ago, but the lessons resonate until today. Steve was 10 years old when his parents migrated to the U.S. and left him and his siblings with their grandmother. It was almost 11 years later, when Steve was about to turn 21, that the parents got their green cards. The couple immediately flew back to Manila in December 1996 to help process Steve’s papers as he was turning 21 on January 30, 1997. In an attempt to save money, the father tried to handle
his case on his own, took a while in making decisions, and was still taking advice from well-meaning friends while precious time was running out. With barely a week to go, the family finally resolved to retain and trust the services of “Miracle Worker” Atty. Gurfinkel. This was before the Child Status Protection Act, so Steve must arrive in the U.S. before midnight of his 21st birthday, or the visa would be lost. While in Manila, Atty. Gurfinkel worked non-stop, coordinating with his Glendale offices to follow up on documents, com-
plete forms, and ensure all cable notifications were sent and received (this was before email and other forms of modern communication) and medical results were acquired. Hours before Steve would have aged out, he ran the most incredible race of his life to ensure that he stepped foot on American soil barely two hours before he turned 21. Get the details of this race to the finish line on a brandnew episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)
ON April 14, 2020, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (which is one level below the U.S. Supreme Court) ruled it is unconstitutional for the USCIS to deny a petition or application based on secret or undisclosed evidence. This case is very important for people who had their cases denied based on USCIS’s claims that it had obtained an affidavit or confession from some unnamed witness or ex-spouse, or it uncovered some undisclosed record or evidence, but never provided the statements or evidence to the person, in order to give the person a chance to rebut or challenge the incriminating evidence. In that case, a U.S. citizen’s petition of his alien spouse was denied on the grounds that the alien spouse’s prior marriage to a different U.S. citizen was fraudulent or fixed. (By law, if a person is ever caught in a fixed marriage, no future petition can be approved.) Apparently, USCIS had relied on an apartment-rental application the alien’s former husband had previously submitted to USCIS, which required him to list his past addresses. However, none of the prior addresses he listed included the residence he and the alien supposedly lived together at. Therefore, USCIS concluded the alien did not live together with the first spouse. However, in denying the second U.S. citizen spouse’s petition, USCIS never told the couple it had used that rental application in making its fraud determination about her prior
marriage. It was only when her case finally made its way to the federal court that USCIS submitted the rental agreement as part of the record. That was the first time the alien was ever made aware of this derogatory or negative evidence. Had they been given the derogatory evidence sooner, they could have been able to refute (or at least attempt to refute) the accusation that she had not lived together with her first husband. The Ninth Circuit held that the government’s use of undisclosed records in making its marriage-fraud finding violated the person’s constitutional right to due process, as it denied her a meaningful opportunity to respond. This case is important because many times, a person’s case is denied because USCIS states it has obtained certain records, documents, or affidavits, but fails to produce or provide that evidence. Other
with the evidence being used against them, so they have the opportunity to defend themselves and refute the claims. Many times, there is a reasonable explanation for discrepancies, or there was a spiteful exspouse who lied in an affidavit, by claiming the marriage was not bona fide. I’ve encountered many such cases, and was able to clear my client’s name. If your case was denied based on secret or undisclosed records or statements, and you believe you are legitimately entitled to that immigration benefit, you should consult with an attorney, who can require the government to produce the derogatory evidence and give you the constitutional right to due process and an opportunity to be heard. *** 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 attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw, Twitter @GurfinkelLaw and YouTube: US Immigration TV 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
“By law, if a person is ever caught in a fixed marriage, no future petition can be approved.” times, the USCIS may have obtained a “confession” of someone, such as an ex-spouse, but quotes only portions of that statement, when other parts of that confession or statement exonerates the alien, or demonstrates their eligibility. The ruling is not limited to only marriage cases. Other times, USCIS or the embassy will deny a case but never really explain the basis for the denial, or they give some general explanation, such as the person “does not have the required relationship,” or they committed fraud, but don’t explain what the fraud was, leaving people guessing. This case confirms a person has the right to be provided
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May 15-21, 2020 • NORCaL aSIaN JOURNaL
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Friday, May 15, 2020
OMETHING
ILIPINO
Award-winning Fil-Am author Erin Entrada Kelly releases sixth novel about famous space shuttle incident, family dynamics
E
by Christina
M. Oriel / AJPress
RIN Entrada Kelly is a product of 1980s pop culture, from having names for each Cabbage Patch doll to collecting sticker books to rewatching “E.T.” countless times.
Kelly holds a copy of “We Dream of Space, which was released on May 5 by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Photo shows Entrada Kelly (center) as an infant held by her mom, Virgilia Sy Entrada, while her older sister Anna stands to the left.
But what the author — who was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana to a Filipina mother and a white father — remembers the most from her elementary school days was when the space shuttle Challenger launched on January 28, 1986 and subsequently exploded, killing all seven astronauts on board. Decades later, Kelly revisited news about the incident and delved deeper into the stories of the astronauts. With that research, coupled with how the incident has been almost forgotten by subsequent generations of young students, she knew this historical moment would be the backdrop of her sixth middle-grade novel, “We Dream of Space.” Released on May 5, “We Dream of Space” brings readers into the lives of the Nelson-Thomas siblings, 12-year-old twins Bird and Fitch and their older brother Cash, and the weeks leading up to the Challenger launch. Along the way, we read about Bird’s dreams of being NASA’s first female shuttle commander and the dynamics of this middleclass family in Delaware. We also get introduced to their science teacher Ms. Salonga and see the recurring themes, such as loneliness, found in Kelly’s work, namely “Hello Universe” (2017), for which she received the 2018
celebrity world By Ferdie Villar THE movie and music industries in the Philippines are saddened deeply with the loss of scriptwriter/director Peque Gallaga and singer/actor/councilor Sonny Parsons as both passed away within days of each other early this month. Gallaga, who directed the 1982 opus “Oro, Plata, Mata,” passed away on May 7 due to pneumonia after being admitted to the hospital on May 5 due to his past health conditions. Parsons, meanwhile, was said to have died of a heart attack while riding his motorcycle in Lemery, Batangas on his way to Quezon province last May 10. Peque Gallaga was an awardwinning director, scriptwriter and production designer. He majored in commerce and liberal arts at the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod, and taught theater and film there. A member of the Film Academy Classification Board in the 1980s, Gallaga was known for his professionalism, generosity, love and kindness to people that he worked with and mentored, including actors and fellow directors. Among his more famous and recognizable movies aside from “Oro, Plata Mata” include “Scorpio Nights,” “Virgin Forest,” “Hiwaga sa Balete Drive,” “Darna: Ang Pagbabalik,” “Magic Temple,” “T’yanak,” “Seduction” and perennial Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Shake, Rattle & Roll,” where he directed or co-directed certain segments in the film series’ first four iterations. In various news reports and social media posts, some celebrities posted tributes to the late director. Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo
for having the chance to work with Gallaga. “Your passion for your craft is undeniable in so many ways… your wisdom in many things, your honesty, professionalism, genuine love and kindness to everyone around you, your hugs and laughter I will miss the most… thank you for allowing me to know you personally,” Santos-Agoncillo said in her post. Comedy queen Ai Ai delas Alas said goodbye to the director in an Instagram post, while adding “Halos lahat ng shake rattle and roll ay kasama ako dahil gusto mo ako ksama direk maraming salamat sa iyong napaka ganda at napaka husay na kontribusyon sa sining ng pelikulang pilipino.” Pepe Diokno, meanwhile, lauded the director for his generosity and for being true to himself. “He was larger than life and unapologetic, and I wanted to be like him one day,” Diokno said in a social media post. “Years later, as I was struggling w/ my first film, he took my call and gave me advice. He was so generous. RIP, Direk.” Sonny Parsons was a member of the popular group Hagibis – the all-male group that spawned the hits “Lalake,” “Legs” and “Katawan,” among many others. Hagibis dominated local airwaves with their hits and were regular guests on local television programs and variety shows in the late 1970s and 1980s. It is said that Hagibis was the Philippines’ first boy band and were later recognized as The Village People of the Philippines (in reference to the all-male U.S. group which spawned the hit “Y.M.C.A.”). Parsons was among the many PAGE 10
Newbery Medal, the most prestigious award in children’s literature. Kelly, a former journalist who is now a full-time author based in Delaware, spoke to the Asian Journal about how her upbringing as a Filipina American has shaped her writing, the development of her latest release, and what’s next for her award-winning novel. Asian Journal (AJ): You’ve written and released six novels in the past five years. How do you begin developing a story? Erin Entrada Kelly (EEK): The story kind of grows and blossoms. For several months, I’ll spend time just thinking about the characters and the story. Once I feel like I have it kind of fleshed out in my head, then I’ll get a notebook and start writing things down longhand. I’ll just write down the characters’ names and the seeds of the idea that I have and let it go from there. AJ: Once you’ve filled the notebooks, do you have sticky notes or other tools to help map and organize the story? EEK: I’m a very linear writer so I write in order by chapter. Usually I’ll do a chapter outline, but it changes so I’ll cross things out and add things. This is the only mapping I really do. I write several chapters in the notebook PAGE 8
Kelly’s spring book events have turned virtual. Photo shows the author delivering the keynote address for the Pocono Mountain Retreat organized by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
A copy of Erin Entrada Kelly’s award-winning “Hello, Universe” and her notebooks that contain early drafts of the novel. Photos courtesy of Erin Entrada Kelly/Instagram
Research for “We Dream of Space” included newspaper clippings of the Challenger tragedy.
Showbiz circles mourn passing of Gallaga, Parsons
Award-winning director, scriptwriter and production designer Peque Gallaga passed away on May 7 due to complications brought on by past health conditions. He is noted for directing the opus “Oro, Plata Mata,” which was released in 1982. File photo from manilatimes.net
Hagibis frontman Sonny Parsons died on May 10 while riding his motorcycle in Batangas. He was a successful singer and actor, and former councilor in
Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo thanked the late director Peque Gallaga for his honesty, professionalism, genuine love and kindness in a social media post.
Dingdong Dantes, known as the Primetime King in the Philippine entertainment world, recently sold his favorite motorcycle in order to help poor families who are victims of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Philippines. File photo from inquirer.net
GMA Pinoy TV and GMA Records artist Bianca Umali’s debut single, “Kahit Kailan,” is available for download and streaming in digital platforms worldwide. A viewer of her music video recently shared that “the song deserves million views.” Instagram photo (@bianxa)
James Reid celebrated his 27th birthday last May 11. He received a quiet greeting from erstwhile screen and real life girlfriend Nadine Lustre.
Nadine Lustre made a subtle birthday greeting to former boyfriend James Reid via her Instagram account showing a picture of the couple during a trip to Mt. Ulap in Benguet in January of this year, and captioned with a seedling emoji.
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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 15-21, 2020
‘Float,’ Pixar’s first-ever short featuring Award-winning Fil-Am author... Filipino characters, earns Peabody nod BY
AJPRESS
PIXAR’S first-ever short film featuring Filipino characters has been nominated in this year’s Peabody Awards. Filipino American storyboard artist Bobby Alcid Rubio took to social media to share that his seven-minute short, “Float,” is one of the nominees in the award ceremony’s entertainment category. “So honored to have @Pixar #PixarFloat to be nominated for the #PeabodyAwards. I am grateful that our #SparkShorts #ShortFilm about Acceptance and Celebration of our Differences is being recognized. I share this achievement with my wonderful producer, Krissy Cababa @cababapalooza, my amazing crew #TeamFloat and the entire Pixar Family!” Rubio wrote in an Instagram post on Thursday, May 7. The organization on Wednesday, May 6 revealed this year’s 60 nominees, chosen by a board of 19 jurors from nearly 1,300 entries, for the most compelling and empowering stories released in broadcasting and digital media during 2019. “Float,” written and directed by Rubio and produced by fellow Fil-Am Krissy Cababa, tells the story of a father trying to keep his infant son’s special ability to fly a secret. The animated short is based on Rubio’s relationship with his son Alex, who is on the autism spectrum. He submitted it to Pixar’s SparkShorts, an immersive storytelling program that gives studio employees six months and a budget to develop animated short films. “I’m a storyteller at heart. I was thinking of doing this story about my son and me…I’ve been holding onto this story for eight years and I finally felt like it was time to tell it,” he told the Asian Journal in an interview last year. The short was screened at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood last October before it made its Disney+ debut a month later when the streaming platform was unveiled. Rubio has worked as a tra-
EMPLOYMENT
“Float” tells the story of a Filipino father who discovers his infant son has the ability to float.
Bobby Rubio photographed on August 20, 2018 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar
“Float” made history as the first Pixar animation featuring Filipino characters. Photos courtesy of Pixar
ditional artist and storyboard artist on films like “Pocahontas,” “Tarzan,” and “Treasure Planet.” He was also an assistant director and storyboard artist for “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” before moving to Pixar, where he has worked on “Up” and has since included “Brave,” “Monsters University,” “Inside Out” and most recently, “Incredibles 2” and “Toy Story 4.” “At the end of the day, [‘Float’] is about the bond between father and son. It’s about unconditional love, especially amongst family members and amongst everybody. I want that to be the end thing that people get. It’s about love and acceptance and hopefully, that will resonate,” Rubio said in his Asian Journal interview. “Float” is up against shows, such as “Chernobyl,” “Stranger Things,” “Succession,” “Fleabag,” and “Watchmen.” Apple TV+’s original comedy series starring ac-
tress Hailee Steinfeld — who is of Filipina descent — also garnered a nomination in the category. “Float” and “Dickinson” mark the first Peabody Awards nominations for Disney+ and Apple TV+, respectively, since the two streaming platforms debuted last year. “Peabody is proud to champion this year’s nominees who inspire our connection, provoke our thinking and delight our senses. From the communal strength of black women to the eminence of science to the conviction of those who speak up, these stories and their creators celebrate the diversity of human experience and of our democracy,” Peabody Executive Director Jeffrey P. Jones said in a statement. “Amidst the challenges of our present moment, we can find empathy, entertainment and truth in these nominees,” he added.
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PAGE 8 and then I’ll type it out. Then I print the whole thing out and go by hand and that’s when I use a lot of sticky notes for revisions I need to make. AJ: It’s interesting to ask that question to writers and authors because everyone handles it differently. You seem so organized. EEK: I am completely disorganized and a mess in every other aspect. I never know where anything is and I lose things. But when it comes to writing, I am pretty organized. AJ: Going back to your first novel “Blackbird Fly,” what was the process of pitching that to a publisher and finding an editor? EEK: After I published a series of short stories and decided to focus on middle grade and wrote my first middle-grade novel, I had a pretty conventional journey. I queried agents and found my first agent — she’s no longer my agent — and she brought it to editors. It probably took almost a year or two for an editor because I had to do more revisions and such. Then about after a year, I got the offer from HarperCollins, who I’ve been with ever since. AJ: It’s been two years since “Hello Universe” received the Newbery Medal. How has this award helped your work and how has it been to be among this roster of authors we grew up reading and learning in school? EEK: It’s surreal every single day. Even two years later, it’s very, very strange, but in a great way, of course. It’s very surreal because you never think that’s going to ever happen. I think the greatest benefit has been a larger platform. The book has been translated into many different languages, which is cool. But honestly the greatest benefit has been the wider readership — and I don’t mean that from a business royalties standpoint — and being able to connect with even more readers, librarians and teachers. I was working full-time when “Hello Universe” first came out and not long after it won, I was able to leave my job. Now I write full-time and do some teaching. AJ: Also to mention what the book has done for Filipino American representation in literature. You have a Fil-Am central character, Virgil. The book illustrations were done by a Filipina artist [Isabel Roxas]. EEK: Definitely, thank you, yes. That was absolutely a benefit
because when I was growing up, I didn’t really have access to any books that had Filipino characters, and even Asian characters or minority cultures of any kind were not really depicted. Next year, actually, I’m working on a chapter book series now that will have a mestiza — half Filipina, half white girl — as the main character so I’m really excited about that too. I’m doing the illustrations as well. AJ: “Hello Universe” has also been picked up by Netflix to develop it into a movie with Fil-Am screenwriter Michael [Golamco]. Did you ever imagine any of your work would be translated to the big screen? EEK: No, never! Again, it’s been really surreal. I think right now, they’re still in the script development stage so the production hasn’t gotten started yet. But when that all starts up, I’m really looking forward to it. One of the things they asked me at the beginning was, “What is most important to you about this story?” I said, “The representation!” Virgil’s Filipino American and then Ori is Japanese American. I didn’t want any of that to change. I didn’t anticipate that they were going to but I wanted to make sure it was important that the representation stayed the same. For Virgil, it’s a very important part of the whole narrative because he has his lola and Filipino folk tales woven in there. They said that was one of the things they loved about the book and it wasn’t even in their mind to cast it any differently. AJ: How involved are you going to be during the production? EEK: I will probably not be very involved. I know different writers are involved in different ways but I prefer to not be that involved only because I don’t know anything about making movies and I trust them. I trust Michael [Golamco] — he’s great and very talented. He gets it. I trust that they’re going to do well by the material so I don’t necessarily need to be involved. As long as I know what’s going on and when things are happening, that’s all I really need to know. AJ: Are there any screen adaptations you’ve particularly loved that did justice to the stories? EEK: I have to say I did enjoy “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.” I’m not huge on book to movie adaptations because I always, of course, prefer the book. But that’s the first recent one that
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comes to mind. AJ: Shifting to your latest novel, “We Dream of Space.” It takes place in Delaware, where you currently live, and goes back to the 80s when you were growing up. What led to the development of this story and creating this family? EEK: The Challenger disaster, I think for a lot of people of my generation and my age group, was one of the biggest events of adolescence. It really stayed with me as it did with other people as well so I knew I wanted to write about it at some point. Also, partly because I feel like it’s been forgotten in a general sense. For example, when I go to schools, I ask students if they’ve heard of the Challenger disaster and almost none of them have. It was a huge news event that has kind of been lost. I knew I wanted to revisit it and have a book set in the 80s because I was a child of that era. AJ: The central characters are the three Nelson-Thomas children. Though they’re not of Filipino descent, our community can likely relate as they’re from a big family too and we see similar dynamics play out among the siblings and even in their relationships with their parents. For example, we read about the only daughter Bird receiving passive aggressive comments from her mother about her appearance and role as a girl. How did this family come about? EEK: The idea started with Bird and I thought it would be interesting to have siblings who are all in the same grade. When I was thinking about Bird and her story and I thought, “Okay, she has these siblings.” Then I thought, “Well, how are they all going to be in the same grade?” So then she became a twin to Fitch and has an older brother, Cash. It’s really underrepresented in literature to see children that fail grades so I thought it was important to have Cash in there. I’m really glad you mentioned that with Bird because you never quite know what’s getting across or if your intentions are coming through. But my intention with Bird is that she’s the glue of the whole story. Number one, she feels responsible for whatever reason for the tenor of the house so she tries to interject when she can and to manage the mood of the home, which is an unfair and PAGE 10
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May 15-21, 2020 • NORCaL aSIaN JOURNaL
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Asian Americans #MakeNoiseToday PH Consulate in SF holds flag raising with the Consul General via FB live through social movement New thought leader-driven social media campaign changes the narrative around Asian Americans
LONG BEACH – #MakeNoiseToday launches a social movement encouraging Asians to stand up, stand out, and speak up. The COVID-19 crisis has propagated a surge in racism and attacks toward Asian Americans and now is the time to organize and stand together. This May, multicultural communications agency Intertrend is tapping its in-house nonprofit Creative Class Collective to honor Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by kicking off #MakeNoiseToday to combat racism and hate through the power of authentic storytelling and social good. With a partnership with Good Morning of Portland, the organizations have collaborated on this historic social media campaign to elevate the celebration of Asian stories and accomplishments meant to create empathy, educate, and unify. The stories shared by Asian Americans from all walks of life through #MakeNoiseToday are anything but one dimensional. Each story builds an economy of narrative plenitude and informs the public at large on the rich texture of Asian American history, culture and identity. ”When Asian Americans take our individual or collective stories out of the silo, we strengthen the discourse that is so needed at this
moment to fight back against the rise of xenophobia and racial attacks against Asians,” said Julia Huang, president of Creative Class Collective and Intertrend Communications. “Making Noise Today is just one way of encouraging Asians to speak up and be heard.” #MakeNoiseToday kicks off with the ‘Recipe for Change’ social media campaign, including videos, posts, and live sessions with familiar faces such as jeffstaple, Aerica Shimizu Banks, Hudson Yang, AJ Rafael, and dozens more. This campaign aims to defy typical stereotypes while highlighting the impact Asian Americans have made today and throughout history. Creative Class Collective, Good Morning and Intertrend are encouraging anyone who would like to show support for #MakeNoiseToday to join the movement by creating a post and tagging it with the #MakeNoiseToday hashtag and or follow along on Instagram. To learn more visit #MakeNoiseToday on Instagram: @ makenoisetoday Or visit makenoisetoday.org for more information. Creative Class Collective is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) that facilitates, supports and encourages
new and innovative ideas in the realm of arts, music, education, and other creative outlets with the goal to aid in elevating community planning and economic viability. Their goal is to establish a creative movement with a positive civic impact and strengthen cultural equity by focusing on communities in need. Good Morning is a minorityowned communications strategy consultancy. We focus on taking creativity into culture with precision by studying how people behave and reflecting that into how brands should behave. We strive to launch and sustain world-class brands by cutting through today’s complex media and cultural landscape. Intertrend is a multicultural agency that understands the intersection of cultures, emerging trends, and the interaction between brands and consumers. Based in both Long Beach, CA and Plano, TX, the agency has worked with leading brands and also houses a family of entrepreneurial brand units that build to its core expertise across digital, content and experiential. Interpreters and interrupters, interdisciplinary and international, Intertrend is where culture and content meet. (Advertising Supplement)
SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippine Consulate General held a Flag Raising ceremony via Facebook Live last April 27, with the aim of honoring the Flag and reaching out to the Filipino American community in the Bay Area during the Shelter-in-Place Order currently implemented in San Francisco and California and to kababayans around the world at this time of the Covid19 pandemic. Consul General Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. led the Consulate General in paying homage to the Flag and helping boost morale among Filipinos around the world amid the pandemic, especially the front-liners. The live streaming of the Flag ceremony was attended by a handful of the Consulate General’s personnel at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in San Francisco, who practiced social distancing, and the rest who continue to work from their homes in the Bay Area. The Flag Ceremony ended with a prayer for all COVID-19 front-liners and the resolution of the pandemic. More than 500 Facebook users were able to view and participate in the online Flag Raising Ceremony. According to Consul General Bensurto, the Flag Raising Ceremony is one of the ways to show the Consulate’s support for COVID-19 front-liners all over the world, especially Fili-
The Consulate General pays homage to the Flag and helping boost morale among Filipinos around the world amid the pandemic, especially the front-liners. Photo courtesy of PCGSF
pinos, and for the Philippines’ fight against the pandemic. The Consulate General has continued the Flag Raising Ceremony since its first online Flag Ceremony in March and its April 9 Tribute for Covid-19 Front-liners and Philippine heroes on the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor), as the Stay-atHome directive had been implemented in California starting March 19. The Monday Flag Raising Ceremony coincided with the reckoning date, April 27, of the one-year countdown to the Philippines’ quincentennial cel-
ebration. The Philippines is celebrating in April 2021 the 500th anniversary of Lapu-Lapu’s victorious battle in Mactan against Spanish colonial forces led by Ferdinand Magellan. It marks the quincentennial of the first circumnavigation of the world and the Filipinos’ victory in Mactan. Lapu-Lapu is considered the Philippines’ first Filipino hero. The National Quincentennial Committee and the Office of the President of the Philippines are spearheading the ‘Countdown to 500 Special’ commemorating the aforementioned events.
Fil-Am Francisco Martin makes PG&E hosting series of webinars to keep customers, communities informed it to ‘American Idol’ Top 7 By
Ritchel Mendiola AJPress
FILIPINO American singer Francisco Martin advanced to the next round of ‘American Idol’ Season 18 as he secured a spot in the top 7. For the penultimate episode of the season, the contestants had to perform twice, with the first performance being centered around Disney songs. Martin, a 19-year-old student from Daly City, California, performed his own version of “You’ll Be in My Heart” from the movie “Tarzan,” impressing judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan. “We’re witnessing here a transformation of Francisco,” Richie said. He added, “I saw several times of that performance. You’re smiling at yourself when you perform. In other words, what you’re doing now is just giving us confidence and enjoyment. And by the way, we as an audience, we’d love to see that kind of emotion. Francisco, congratulations on being on the Top 7, man. I’m really, really proud of you.” Perry, meanwhile, said: “Francisco, I thought that performance was amazing. I agree with Lionel, you looked relaxed. All that selfdoubt has been really stripped
Francisco Martin of Daly City, California continues to impress judges on Season 18 of “American Idol.” Photo courtesy of ABC
away.” “What you gave us at the end is kind of what I wanted from Louis Knight. This is a competition. Let’s get real. There’s only one Idol and you were spot-on with your performance and then at the end, you let us have it with the talent of your voice. Good for you. You are a good bet,” she added. Bryan, for his part, dubbed him as the “King of American Idol.” “My man! Great job. Just in that performance, you were like
the King of the jungle and you felt like the King of American Idol in my opinion,” he said. For Martin’s second performance, he dedicated a heartfelt performance of Leon Bridges’ “River” to his mom. “From Tarzan to singing ‘River,’ I don’t know what happened but you have grown even more,” Perry noted. “This set of Mother’s Day songs is really separating the pack. It’s showing who deserves that top position and you are making it difficult for all these other contestants because that performance was so soulful and beautiful and real… it was so heartfelt, what you just did,” she added. Bryan went as far as to say that Martin “beat the original record.” Meanwhile, Richie praised the singer’s confidence. “The thing I love the most is your confidence is front and center. You’re no longer in your head. Congratulations because you have a career and that is what’s important,” he said. The season finale will be held next Sunday, May 17, starting with two contestants being eliminated based on audience votes. The five remaining hopefuls will perform two songs each as real-time voting will help determine who gets the “American Idol” title.
Award-winning Fil-Am author...
PAGE 9 large responsibility for a 12-yearold girl. She also gets conflicting information from her mother because her mother tells her that looks aren’t important but she also harps on her about gaining weight and not eating that kind of cereal. The three siblings together get conflicting information as well because their parents correct them and tell them to be kind but they’re not kind to each other as they argue all the time and use certain language. That was something I wanted to explore too because adults are very often critical and they operate under this view of “do as I say, not as I do.” It’s a very dangerous way to bring up young people because they can see those contradictions. Bird, Fitch and Cash are getting different information but they’re also not getting the emotional support that each of them needs. AJ: Through this book, what did you learn about yourself as a writer and what aspects of your childhood and upbringing did you revisit and tap into? EEK: Of course, on the fun side, I got to explore things like the arcade, a phonebook and cassette tapes — all these things I have nostalgia for. One of the things all my books have in common is that they explore loneliness on some level. In this book, I thought it would be interesting to explore that there are these three siblings and there’s five of them in this fairly modest home. Even though they’re surrounded by family, they’re still very lonely. This concept of loneliness, being within and not without, is something that I wanted to explore because I often felt like that when I
was young. Also this feeling of family floating in its own orbits was something important to me. When I was growing up in south Louisiana, my father was white and his family all lived in the Midwest. My mom’s entire family was in the Philippines so I had so many relatives that I didn’t know or would never meet. They’re all far away so it was a strange, insular experience when you’re connected to your family, but not really connected to them. AJ: Since you mentioned your two family backgrounds, how did your mom end up in Louisiana? EEK: They met in the Philippines because my dad was stationed there. He ultimately had a job transfer. He’s originally from Kansas so she moved there from the Philippines in the middle of a blizzard and obviously she had never been around snow before. Then he got transferred to Louisiana. AJ: And how did you find your way to Delaware? EEK: I moved to Pennsylvania like eight years and my partner now is in Delaware so we bought a house here together. AJ: Since the book takes place there, what do you want people to take away from the small state? EEK: What’s fun about living in Delaware is that when I travel and people ask where I live, I tell them Delaware and they always look at me as if I said I lived on Mars. But the point I wanted to explore as well is that there’s a line where Bird’s brother tells her, “You’re just a girl from Delaware.” Delaware is this underdog state that people seem to forget about. I wanted to show that it doesn’t
necessarily matter where you’re from and you don’t have to be from some big exciting place to do amazing, incredible things. When you grow up as I did in Louisiana, there were very few immigrant families or any firstgeneration parents and you’re kind of going up against being an “other,” whether you’re an other ethnically, culturally or religiously. Whereas in Bird’s case, she feels like an other because she’s interested in all these things other people don’t seem to be interested in. It really shapes who you are. So the fact that she’s from Delaware, it doesn’t matter. You can be from anywhere. AJ: This book comes out as students and families are learning from and staying at home. How is the story fitting for this time to get lost in this universe you created? EEK: I’ve met at this point thousands of young people from traveling and they tell me about their own life in some situations. This book explores a non-ideal family situation — it’s not that the parents don’t love their children, but they’re caught up in their own toxic dynamic that’s permeating the rest of the family. It was important so that young people who are in that kind of family can see their dynamic on the page. My hope is that families can use it as a jumping off point to talk about family dynamics and other things mentioned. AJ: What’s something surprising readers may find in the book? EEK: The teacher, Ms. Salonga, in “We Dream of Space” is never explicitly mentioned to be Filipina American but a lot of Filipinos have written to me to ask
Weekly events lasting through the summer will give customers an opportunity to get local information on wildfire prevention efforts and ask questions
SAN FRANCISCO – Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) on April 29 shared that as its crews and contractors remain in the field performing essential work to maintain gas and electric service, improve the safety of the system, further mitigate wildfire risks, and reduce Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) impacts, the company also is taking the steps necessary to keep communities informed about this vital wildfire prevention and safety work. PG&E started hosting a series of county webinars in late April to detail the progress of its numerous actions being executed as part of the Community Wildfire Safety Program and share how any needed PSPS events in 2020 are expected to be smaller in scope, shorter in duration and smarter for customers. With these webinars, even amid the ongoing COVID19 health impacts, PG&E will keep customers and communities informed about its continuing important safety work to prevent and mitigate the serious risk of catastrophic wildfires while keeping customers and communities healthy and safe. The schedule has been set up so that customers in adjoining counties can participate and hear details specific to their county. The webinars will feature a brief presentation and provide ample opportunity for participants to ask questions and provide feedback. “As we all work to meet the challenge of COVID-19, we also know wildfire season is around the corner,” said Laurie Giammona,
Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer for PG&E. “We want to ensure our customers understand the steps that we are taking in their community to prepare and improve for this year.” PG&E has sought feedback and is listening to customers and communities about how it can do better, make improvements and take action. Since last year’s wildfire season, PG&E has participated in nearly 200 meetings with state and federal agencies, local emergency managers, local elected leaders, customers and community groups to listen, partner and improve. PG&E is continuing to conduct outreach to counties and tribes for coordination meetings, in addition to weekly webinars. Given COVID-19 guidelines, these meetings have transitioned from in-person to web-based gatherings and the company continues to share its plans, seek feedback and make additional improvements. This year, PG&E is enhancing and expanding its efforts to reduce wildfire risks and keep customers and communities safe. Changes reflect feedback from customers, elected leaders and other stakeholders. This includes: • Making Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events smaller in size, shorter in length and smarter for customers • Installing new grid technology • Hardening the electric system • Performing enhanced vegetation management.
The webinars will take place on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and continuing through the summer. The following are the webinars planned through May: • May 6: For customers in Sonoma and Napa counties • May 13: For customers in Placer, Nevada, Sierra and Yuba counties • May 20: For customers in Solano, Yolo and Colusa counties • May 27: For customers in El Dorado, Amador and Calaveras counties. Although the webinar events will highlight work in the listed counties, they will be open to all PG&E’s customers throughout the service area. Closed captioning will be available in English, Spanish and Chinese, and there will dial-in numbers for those who aren’t able to join online. PG&E will share the web address and phone number closer to each event. The full webinar schedule, along with more information about PG&E’s Community Wildfire Safety Program, can be found at www.pge.com/wildfiresafety. Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 23,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge. com and pge.com/news.
Showbiz circles mourn...
PAGE 9 musicians who was able to translate his talents to the fields of acting and politics. Starting with the 1981 film “Legs Katawan Babae” which featured the Hagibis members, Sonny made appearances on films and television series, most of which were in the action genre. Among the films he appeared in were “Condemned,” “Sparrow Unit,” “Salisi Gang,” “Uzi Brothers 9mm,” “Walang Sinasanto Ang Bala Ko,” “Itumba si Angel Delgado” and “Paracale Gang.” His most recent acting appearance on TV was in the ABS-CBN series “FPJ’s Ang Probinsiyano” in 2017. “Agila,” “Coney Reyes on Camera,” “Magpakailanman: Hinagpis ng Kamatayan (The Sonny
Parsons Story,” “Ysabella” and “Pepito Manaloto” were some of the soaps and shows he appeared in. Condolences to the families of Peque Gallaga and Sonny Parsons! *** Many fans were heartbroken when James Reid and Nadine Lustre (known as JaDine to their fans and showbiz watchers) called it quits early this year. But it seems that the split is really amicable between the two stars. In an article in The Philippine Star, Nadine posted a recent birthday greeting to her erstwhile screen and real-life partner on her Instagram account. She posted a photo of them together on top of a
hill, with only a seedling emoji as caption while also tagging James. Reid turned 27 on May 11. That has seemed to spur hope among their fans that not all is lost between the two stars getting back together again. The post garnered likes and heart emojis. The same photo from a different angle of the two stars in Mt. Ulap in Benguet from a January 2020 trip can also still be seen on Reid’s Instagram account. When James and Nadine broke up early this year, they released a statement saying, “After quiet and mature conversations, we decided to focus on ourselves not only for our careers but more for our personal growth as we are still young and we want to achieve as much as we can.”
because she has a Filipina name. For the audio book, which is read by Ramon de Ocampo who also narrated “Hello Universe,” I didn’t speak to him before he read it. But when I listened to the audio book, he speaks in a Filipino accent doing her sections, which I love! AJ: Advice for aspiring writers and storytellers? EEK: My advice is definitely to read — a good writer is a good reader. It sounds kind of cliché but just keep writing because like
with anything, it’s practice. That’s how you perfect your craft. AJ: What are you reading right now? EEK: I am in between books. I just finished a book called “The Blackbird Girls” [by Anne Blankman], which is very good. Now I’m trying to figure out what to read next. I read about two to three books a week. AJ: There are so many options out there, especially in Filipino American literature alone coming out from major publish-
ing houses. EEK: Oh yes. Most notably, Randy Ribay’s book “Patron Saints of Nothing” was a National Book Award finalist and was on all these lists. I know the landscape for not just Filipino authors, but people from all kinds of marginalized groups, has opened up and will continue to do so because literature needs to reflect our entire society. That’s what our world and bookshelves should look like. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
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May 15-21, 2020 • NORCaL aSIaN JOURNaL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160