MAY 25-27, 2022 Volume 32 - No. 41 • 14 Pages
DATELINE USA FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
New report: Elderly Asian Americans experience fear of physical assault A NEW report shines a light on how the past two years exacerbated threats to the safety and wellbeing for Asian American elders ages 60 and up. The report takes a close look at data released by Stop AAPI Hate and AARP on the 10,905 reports it received of hate incidents against AAPIs from March 2020 to December 2021. Of these 10,905 hate incidents, 824 were reports of hate incidents against Asian American elders aged 60 and up. The new report shows that Asian American elders were most likely to face discrimination on public streets (36.7% of all reported incidents) and at businesses (26.7% of reported incidents). It further indicates that 26.2% of the reported incidents against Asian American elders involved physical assault. The report, also released during Older Americans Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, demonstrates how these incidents have resulted in Asian American
Kids ages 5-11 can now receive COVID boosters in LA County by AJPRESS
This move comes after federal health officials on May 20 approved the additional dose for the young IN another step to promote protection against the age group who have received the first two doses of coronavirus ahead of summer, Los Angeles County has the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Currently, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine begun administering booster shots to children ages 5 is the only vaccine authorized or approved for to 11.
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Bass, Caruso lead LA mayor race as candidates make last-minute appeals to AAPI community by KLARIZE
MEDENILLA AJPress
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Examining the youth mental health crisis in Asian America: ‘Child psychology almost always Congress begins marathon starts with the parents’ canvassing for president, VP
CANVASSING OF VOTES. Members of the Senate and House of Representatives face the media at the start of the canvassing of votes for president and vice president at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Tuesday, May 24. Senate President Vicente Sotto III (10th from left) and House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco (11th from left) presided over the joint session of the Congress. PNA Photo by Avito Dalan
AMONG other things, the month of May is an important month for two observances: celebrating Asian American heritage and spreading mental health awareness. In the United States, Asian Pacific American History Month (APAHM) and Mental Health Awareness Month is celebrated in May to continue the difficult, but necessary conversations on both of these urgent subjects. As anybody who is lucky alive today understands, the last two years have given the world enough grief, tragedy, loss, and frustration to last a lifetime. A recent CDC report on a survey of high school students revealed that 55.1% describe suffering emotional abuse, 44.2% reported persistent feelings
children ages 5 through 17 years. Children and teens need two doses of a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Everyone ages 12 years and older should also get a booster shot, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
by XAVE
GREGORIO Philstar.com
MANILA — The Senate and the House of Representatives convened Tuesday, May 24 in a joint session as the National Board of Canvassers to officially count the votes for president and vice president and eventually proclaim the winners for these polls. For the first time in the history of the country’s automated elections, Congress will be working round-the-clock to canvass the votes for president and vice president in the hopes of proclaiming winners in these races by Wednesday, May 25. “We are looking at two days,” Senate
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Majority Leader Migz Zubiri told reporters in a press conference on Monday, may 23. “With this kind of outcome where the difference [of votes between candidates] is huge and convincing … we don’t really see too many problems that may arise.” Presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate, presumptive vice president Sara Duterte-Carpio have secured convincing leads in their respective races, garnering over 31 million votes respectively, according to partial and unofficial results. To make the outcome of the elections final, President Rodrigo Duterte Article VII, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution tasks Congress to canvass votes for president
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US, Asian diplomats pay courtesy call on Bongbong Marcos by NEIL
ON June 7, voters for the City of Los Angeles will have the chance to elect a new mayor in the primary election, and as of press time, at least nine candidates are still in the running. This month, during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), candidates have been making lastditch efforts to appeal to the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, who make up 1 in 10 voters in LA. Per election rules, if no single candidate receives more than half the vote to secure an outright win in the June 7 primary, the two candidates with the most votes will compete in the run-off election in November. In terms of media coverage, fundraising, and longevity in legislation, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Los
ARWIN MERCADO
Inquirer.net
MANILA — Four diplomats paid a courtesy call Monday on presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ahead of his proclamation as the next chief executive of the country. Japanese Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko, South Korea Ambassador Kim Inchul, India Ambassador Shambhu S. Kumaran, and United States Chargé d’Affaires Heather Variava separately visited Japanese Ambassador to PH Koshikawa Kazuhiko pays a courtesy call on presumptive president Marcos Jr. in his headquarters in Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Mandaluyong City. During the visit, Marcos says he intends to further Mandaluyong City. strengthen ties and expand areas of cooperation between the two countries. In an interview with the media, Photo from the Office of Bongbong Marcos
Ambassador Kumaran said among those tackled during his visit was the commitment to continue the “excellent bilateral relations” between India and the Philippines. “We requested his continued support for the development of excellent bilateral relations between India and the Philippines,” Kumaran said. “We’ve been having excellent progress over the past few years and we look forward to continuing the progress and dynamism under the new administration,” he added. Kumaran likewise said
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PNA photo
Duterte thanks Filipinos after term by HELEN
FLORES Philstar.com
MANILA — President Duterte again expressed his gratitude to the Filipino people for electing him president, even as he apologized for his “shortcomings.” “In a few days I’ll be out. All that I did, for me, that’s it. The best that my efforts can really achieve. If that is still not enough, I’m sorry I can’t do anything more,” the President said in Filipino and English during the inauguration of the new building of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in Pasig City on Monday, May 23. “The things that I failed to do, mostly not because of negligence or I have shortcomings but the time really – six years – would
not be enough to finish all the projects,” he added. Duterte also took the opportunity to thank the media, particularly television networks, for their coverage of his presidency. “To all of you, including TV networks, I would not mention, thank you. And your help in my journey in the six years, you gave me the honor to be the president of the Philippines. Thank you very much,” he said. In a speech during the launching of the digital innovation efforts of the Philippine Postal Corp. last Thursday, Duterte said he has served the entire nation “irrespective of each tribal division.” “I know that the Filipinos voted for me. Let’s not talk about those
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2 MAY 25-27, 2022 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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From the Front Page
Kids ages 5-11 can now... PAGE 1 The approval also comes as children head into summer vacation. “While vaccines offer significant protection from severe illness, we also know that like with other vaccines and medications over time, our bodies need a boost to remain highly protected,” said LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer at a press conference. She added, “We also know that in L.A. County over the past month, cases among children 5 to 11 increased 264%. This is a faster rate of increase than what we saw in young adults ages 18 to 49, where the increase was 116%.” In additional vaccine booster news, the CDC strengthened its recommendation that those 12 and older who are immunocompromised and those 50 and older should receive a
second booster dose at least four months after their first booster dose. “COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to prevent hospitalization and serious illness, and data has shown that California’s vaccination efforts have saved tens of thousands of lives. The Omicron surge and its infectious subvariants have shown that children are also vulnerable, with their case rates and hospitalizations increasing across California – we support the recommendations of our federal and state partners to authorize and recommend the use of a booster dose for children ages 5 and up. It’s important to get kids vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible,” said state Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly and Director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and State Public Health
Officer Dr. Tomás J. Aragón in a joint statement. “Additionally, over the past two months we have seen steady increases in cases, and more recently an increase in hospitalizations in California. While older Americans have the highest coverage of any age group of first booster doses, most older Americans received their last dose (either their primary series or their first booster dose) many months ago, leaving many who are vulnerable without the protection they may need to prevent severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Whether it is your first booster, or your second, if you haven’t had a vaccine dose since the beginning of December 2021 and you are eligible, now is the FLAG CAPITAL. Philippine flags line Aguinaldo Highway in Imus, Cavite in this photo taken on Tuesday, May 24 ahead of the May 28 National time to get one.” Flag Day. The first Philippine flag was flown after the Battle of Alapan on May 28, 1898, making Imus town the flag capital of the Philippines. Parents can find a vaccine for PNA photo by Gil Calinga their child in California at myturn. ca.gov or by calling 1-833-4224255.
US, Asian diplomats pay courtesy call on... PAGE 1
Meanwhile, Ambassadors strengthening the military Kazuhiko and Kim and Chargé and the health sector in the d’Affaires Variava did not grant Philippines was also discussed an interview with the media due to prior commitments. during the visit.
U.S. President Joe Biden earlier expressed his intentions to continue strengthening the alliance between the US and the Philippines.
New report: Elderly Asian Americans... PAGE 1 elders experiencing increased fear, stress, and anxiety since the pandemic, with nearly all of them who reported (98.2%) indicating that they believe the United States has become more physically dangerous for Asian Americans, according to the Stop AAPI Hate Follow-Up Survey. The elders who experienced hate incidents also stated they experienced higher levels of stress and anxiety. Among of the finding of the report: • Six out of 10 (57.6%) incidents reported by adults aged 60 and up involved verbal harassment or shunning, the deliberate avoidance; • One out of four (26.2%) cases against adults 60 and up were physical assault • In one in 11 incidents, elders were coughed and spat upon (7.8%); and • Elders reported being barred
from establishments in 5.7% of incidents and having their property vandalized in 7.2% of incidents. “Elder Asian Americans deserve to feel safe – but for the past two years have been struggling with hate, fear and isolation,” said Russell Jeung, Ph.D., co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate and professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University. “This AAPI Heritage Month we need to recommit to their safety and support.” “I am submitting this on behalf of my parents, who are 70 and 65 years old. My parents were pumping their gas at a gas station when a group of men started yelling at them. They couldn’t understand them completely but heard them say, ‘China virus’ and ‘Chinese.’ They were scared and got in the car and drove away.” The number of incidents against older Asian Americans
that have been reported to the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center is just the tip of the iceberg. Stop AAPI Hate is asking members of the Asian American community to support elder Asian Americans by reporting incidents on their behalf. “We are recognizing AAPI Heritage Month this year by honoring the members of our community who have fought against racism and discrimination of all kinds,” said Manjusha Kulkarni, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate and executive director of AAPI Equity Alliance. “That includes those who report their experiences with hate to our website, enabling us to advocate for real solutions.” Real solutions include supporting community based organizations that provide services for elder Asian Americans around the country. The report spotlights PAGE 7
A champion for public safety, District Attorney Spitzer is recognized as an expert on security issues, whose reputation as an advocate for victims’ rights is respected nationally. Spitzer chaired the ground-breaking campaign for Proposition 9, Marsy’s Law, the nation’s most comprehensive Victim’s Bill of Rights, and served as State Co-Chair for Proposition 83, the nation’s toughest sex offender punishment and control law as well as Proposition 69, which requires the collection of DNA samples from all felons.
Todd Spitzer has dedicated his life to keeping families safe and was inspired to dedicate his career to public service as an Orange County Supervisor, former California State Assembly Member, and now as the Orange County District Attorney.
Fighting to protect our community, he jointauthored Megan’s Law on the Internet, the landmark legislation requiring the release of public information related to sex offenders and as a former deputy and assistant district attorney he handled complex criminal matters while managing line prosecutors. As Third District Supervisor, he secured Orange County’s first year-round, supportive housing shelter for the homeless, established an Ethics Commission, gained passage of pension reform measures, and strengthened public safety oversight by expanding the Office of Independent Review. Spitzer earned his Bachelor’s degree from UCLA (1982), a Master’s degree in Public Policy from UC Berkeley (1989), and a Law Degree from UC Hastings School of Law (1989). While at Hastings, Spitzer was awarded the George Moscone Fellowship, for the law student dedicating his career to public service. Spitzer is a former high school teacher and reserve police officer assigned to DUI enforcement and patrol duties. He is a doting father of a son and daughter and a dedicated husband to Judge Jamie Spitzer, Associate Chief Judge for the South, Division of Workers’ Compensation.
Paid for by Todd Spitzer for District Attorney 2022. ID# 1397615
Congress begins marathon canvassing... PAGE 1 and vice president. Canvassing process Congress has created a canvassing committee composed of members of the Senate and the House to compare the physical certificates of canvass with digital COCs to see if they match in figures and signatures. “We do not expect any serious objections unless the COC will have incomplete records orv does not match what was electronically transmitted,” Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III told reporters at a press conference at the sidelines of the joint session. Should there be any discrepancies, the NBOC will defer the canvass of the COC and require the concerned board of canvassers to appear before it to explain the difference. If personal appearance is not possible, the concerned board of canvassers to appear through any form of communication deemed
safe and reliable by the joint panel. The panel, with seven members each from the Senate and the House, is jointly chaired by Zubiri and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez. Aside from Zubiri, the upper chamber’s representatives are Sens. Nancy Binay, Imee Marcos, Grace Poe and Pia Cayetano. Serving as alternates in the panel are Sens. Lito Lapid, Risa Hontiveros, Koko Pimentel and Bato dela Rosa. Meanwhile, the House contingent includes Romualdez, Reps. Crispin Remulla (Cavite), Abraham Tolentino (Cavite), Kristine Singson-Meehan (Ilocos Sur), Sharon Garin (AAMBISOWA party-list), Manuel Dalipe (Zamboanga City) and Juliet Ferrer (Negros Occidental). Alternates in the House panel are Reps. Juan Pablo Bondoc (Pampanga), Johnny Pimentel (Surigao del Sur), Alfredo Garbin
(Ako Bicol party-list) and Stella Quimbo (Marikina). Proclamation Sotto projects that the earliest possible time for Congress to proclaim in the presidential and vice presidential races is on Wednesday afternoon, provided that there are no hitches. But on Tuesday, canvassing encountered a minor hiccup as the delivery from the Senate to the House of eight COCs from Chile, South Africa, Timor Leste, Kenya, Mexico, Pakistan, Czech Republic and Nigeria was delayed due to traffic. This does not include eight more COCs, including the one from Lanao del Sur where a failure of elections was declared, which has not yet been received by the Senate. Despite this, Sotto said he is confident that Congress will be able to canvass the votes speedily and proclaim a winner within the week.
Duterte thanks Filipinos after... PAGE 1
who did not vote for me. I served the country irrespective of each tribal division,” the President said. Duterte will step down from office on June 30. We still work President Duterte continues
to oversee the completion of his administration’s programs with little over a month left in office, an official of Malacañang has said. “We still work. All programs are continuing,” Presidential Communications Operations
Office Undersecretary Kris Ablan said over radio dzBB on Sunday. Duterte was expected to hold his regular Talk to the People last night. The President did not deliver a public address last week.
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OC judge hopeful Israel Claustro hopes to foster trust in the American justice system by AJPress
A SEASONED trial lawyer born to immigrant parents is aiming to be a judge in Orange County. Israel “Izzy” Claustro has leveraged his unique background, experience, and skills to rise to a leadership position within the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. After serving the Orange County community for over two decades as a Deputy District Attorney, he believes that he will bring unique life experiences to the Orange County Superior Court. “It is incredibly challenging today for an Orange County Prosecutor to receive an appointment for the office of Superior Court Judge. An opportunity arose for me to run for Superior Court Judge instead of asking for an appointment, after a large number of judges retired in 2022,” Claustro told the Asian Journal. “Thus, I am humbly asking the people of Orange County to elect me into office as Superior Court Judge on June 7, 2022, because I believe that I am experienced, possess the characteristics, and qualities that would serve our Orange County Community well.” As the eldest of 7 siblings, Claustro grew up poor in Pomona, California. Experiencing poverty first-hand did not deter him from pursuing his dreams. He saw how his parents, who immigrated from a small Mexican farming town armed only with a thirdgrade education, brought him up and taught him a powerful and valuable work ethic that has been his guide since his formative years. Because of the challenges he faced growing up, he came up with a resolution to succeed and give back to the community. With the help of many scholarships, work-study, and part-time jobs, Israel attended and graduated with honors from the University of Redlands with a B.S. in Chemistry and Western State University College of Law, magna cum laude. Rising from the ranks, Claustro has built a reputation for being trustworthy and hardworking. In every case he handles, he shows respect and the utmost courtesy to all involved – from the junior prosecutors he leads to the judges, defense counsel, witnesses, victims, law enforcement, and
defendants he encounters in and out of the courtroom. He gave four reasons why voters should choose him: “I possess the experience, community support, demeanor, and endorsements.” As a way of giving back to the community that has nurtured him, he is committed to helping everyone around him improve and thrive. As a mentor volunteering throughout the Orange County community, he trains mock trial students in the Legal Studies Academy at Santa Ana High School (and serves on its advisory board) and is active with Santa Ana Unified School District’s Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership. In his mentorship talks, Claustro talks fondly about how his parents’ values of hard work, sacrifice, and service passed on to him and helped him earn his way to law school and graduate with honors. He witnessed how his parents worked long hours at laborious jobs to make ends meet as they lived frugally and with extended family. After spending nearly 20 years as a prosecutor and now as a current Senior Deputy District Attorney/Assistant Head of Court, Claustro has taken over 60 jury trials and 25 court trials to verdict. He has also prosecuted and supervised serious, high-profile cases involving murder, sexual battery, child abuse, carjacking, gangs, police officers, hate crimes, arson, and political corruption. Israel is also responsible for conducting police officer misconduct reviews, acting as a Grand Jury liaison, and participating in the hiring process for junior attorneys. “For more than two decades, I have protected the people and neighborhoods of Orange County by prosecuting violent criminals and getting justice for victims of gang violence, murder, hate crimes, carjacking, and drug trafficking. I approached each case with honesty, ethics, and fairness,” he said. Claustro is running for O.C. Superior Court Judge Office No. 45 and he is hoping that his story resonates not just with the immigrant community but the entire electorate as well. After all, his story is about hard work, integrity, and respect. “I believe that serving as a judge requires humility, an open mind,
Israel Claustro
independence, and commitment to the highest ethical standards of the law,” he shared. “Every person who walks into a courtroom deserves to be heard and treated with respect.” Claustro has built a diverse coalition of community leaders, judges, law enforcement, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and residents to ensure fairness, access to justice, and independence in the courtrooms. Seeking the new challenge of a judgeship, he believes his deep experience will enable him to adjust to the role quickly. In addition to his trial expertise, which will help with the nuts & bolts of managing a courtroom, the relationships and reputation for integrity he has built across the legal community – from the prosecutor’s office to the defense bar – will reassure all parties of fairness and independence in the courtroom. If elected, Claustro promises that he will “follow the law and apply it fairly, equitably, and justly, irrespective of the litigants that would appear before me.” “I assure every person appearing before me that I will remain a humble servant, without ego, to ensure that every person receives a fair and just hearing each time they appear before me,” he said. Aside from that, he would also like to lessen the delay of justice and trials specially since crime victims and civil litigants frequently complain of lengthy delays in the adjudicatory process. He also plans to continue to be involved in the community to continue to help foster trust in our criminal justice system.
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Bass, Caruso lead LA mayor race as candidates...
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer
Todd Spitzer, OC’s top prosecutor seeks reelection by AJPress
“ORANGE County is the safest major county in California for a reason – I prosecute the bad guys, enforce the law, and hold violent criminals accountable. I am running to ensure it stays that way, and to protect and preserve the wonderful quality of life we all enjoy,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer told the Asian Journal. Spitzer has dedicated his life to keeping families safe and public service, whether it has been as an Orange County Supervisor, former California State Assembly Member, or now, as the Orange County DA seeking reelection. The DA’s office regularly goes after hard-core gangs, sex offenders, human traffickers, drunk drivers, skinheads, animal abusers, smash and grab crews, and other violent offenders with the full force of the law. “I have created one of the most aggressive hate crimes units in the country and has prosecuted more hate crimes in the first two years of my administration than were prosecuted in the past 25 years by previous administrations. I am running to keep Orange County safe,” he explained further. A champion for public safety, DA Spitzer is recognized as an expert on security issues, whose reputation as an advocate for victims’ rights is respected nationally. Spitzer chaired the ground-breaking campaign for Proposition 9, Marsy’s Law, the nation’s most comprehensive Victim’s Bill of
Rights, and served as State CoChair for Proposition 83, the nation’s toughest sex offender punishment and control law as well as Proposition 69, which requires the collection of DNA samples from all felons. Fighting to protect the community, he joint-authored Megan’s Law on the Internet, the landmark legislation requiring the release of public information related to sex offenders, and as a former deputy and assistant district attorney, he handled complex criminal matters while managing line prosecutors. "My top priority is, and always will be public safety. As District Attorney, it is imperative that I do everything within my power to create a safe environment for Orange County residents to live, work, and raise a family,” Spitzer said. “To that end, I will continue to prioritize victims’ rights, combatting hate crimes, addressing homelessness, mental health, and addiction, the opioid crisis and fentanyl deaths, and accountability and reform within the criminal justice system.” As Third District Supervisor, he secured Orange County’s first year-round, supportive housing shelter for the homeless, established an Ethics Commission, gained passage of pension reform measures, and strengthened public safety oversight by expanding the Office of Independent Review. Five of California’s top ten safest cities are in Orange County – one of the safest major counties in America. Whether that continues to be
true will be entirely dependent on the outcome of the most important District Attorney’s race in Orange County’s history, according to Spitzer. “The safety we enjoy is not an accident and should not be taken for granted. A clone of Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon named Pete Hardin is running to be Orange County’s next District Attorney, and unless voters are paying close attention, our public safety will be destroyed by the same reckless policies that turned Los Angeles and San Francisco into warzones. Hardin supports the Gascon agenda, including no cash bail, no sentence enhancements, a blanket policy to never charge juveniles as adults (even in the case of rape and murder), and a promise to ignore thefts and other crimes that affect the quality of life,” Spitzer said. Spitzer earned his bachelor’s degree from UCLA (1982), a master’s degree in Public Policy from UC Berkeley (1989), and a Law Degree from UC Hastings School of Law (1989). While at Hastings, Spitzer was awarded the George Moscone Fellowship, for the law student dedicating his career to public service. Spitzer is a former high school teacher and reserve police officer assigned to DUI enforcement and patrol duties. He is a doting father of a son and daughter and a dedicated husband to Judge Jamie Spitzer, Associate Chief Judge for the South, Division of Workers' Compensation.
PAGE 1 Angeles) leads the field. Still, real-estate billionaire Rick Caruso continues to surge in the polls after an unprecedented campaign spending bout. In addition to Bass and Caruso, other candidates for mayor include LA City Councilmember Kevin de Leon, progressive community activist Gina Viola and campaign strategist Alex Gruenenfelder. Despite not attending many of the mayoral forums, panels and debates — including a raucous mayoral forum hosted by LA’s AAPI community on April 29 — Caruso continues to rise in local polls. A poll from UC Berkeley released on Monday, May 23 found that Caruso and Bass are tied for first with de Leon at a distant third at 6% and all other candidates at 2% or less. A survey commissioned by a group supporting Bass was released on Friday, May 20, which showed that 37% of likely voters support Caruso while 35% favored Bass among the entire field of candidates. However, between just Bass and Caruso, 48% of voters preferred the congresswoman over the business mogul (39%). (Bass has been a staunch Democrat her entire career while Caruso, previously a registered Republican, recently changed his affiliation to the Democratic Party in January.) Bass, who was first elected to public office in 2004, said that as a life-long Angeleno, she recalls working with Asian American communities in her social justice work, notably getting “very involved in the solidarity movement against the Marcos regime” as a college student, she noted at the April 29 forum. She also spoke of her work in addressing and co-signing more funding toward protecting the Asian American community, including pushing for wage equity and Asian-language outreach in the Covid-19 relief fund. “Congresswoman Bass is the one for us because she always goes the extra mile to make sure that we are included,” Marilou Bonifacio, a Filipina American caregiver and member of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), told the Asian Journal. “Lots of candidates will do the bare minimum when they meet with Asian American [voters] but
Rep. Karen Bass
Rick Caruso
congresswoman Bass actually does the work: she listens to our communities and fights for us in Washington, and she does it for other communities, too,” Bonifacio said. Caruso — who recently funneled $10 million of his own fortune into his campaign — spoke with Korean American community members last week when he promised to increase support from the city to small business leaders. “People are working hard every day to pay their rent, put food on the table,” Caruso said, as quoted by the Los Angeles Times. “When there’s a smashand-grab [robbery], for small businesses, who do they turn to for help?” Although she’s toward the back of the pack, according to polls, Viola — a first-time candidate — has been rallying younger Asian American voters who want to see more progressive values represented in local government. The keystone to Viola’s campaign includes implementing the People’s Budget of LA, which seeks to divert city funds from
law enforcement to community programs and education as a way to better protect vulnerable communities, including Asian elders, she said. “Our campaign was to kick off a renaissance in Los Angeles, breaking life back into a city that has defined what progressive and artistic culture likes like for the rest of the world,” Viola said. “I’m running to be mayor because in the end, I had no one to vote for who represented the ideals that our community that values investment in systems of care over the carceral state.” Most recently, businessman Ramit Varma unofficially withdrew from the race on Monday, May 23 and endorsed Caruso. Previously, LA City Councilmember Joe Busaino unofficially withdrew and endorsed Caruso while LA City Attorney Mike Feuer dropped out and endorsed Bass. The primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 7, which is also the deadline for mail-in registration and inperson registration. Early voting ends June 6, and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
6 MAY 25-27, 2022 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
Bracing for monkeypox
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Here’s another reason to continue observing COVID safety protocols: health experts say the same measures are the best defenses against monkeypox, the latest viral disease now spreading in countries where it is not endemic. First identified in monkeys in a Danish laboratory in 1958, monkeypox is less contagious than COVID-19. Transmission requires close and prolonged physical and sexual contact especially through lesions, the transfer of body fluids, contact with infected respiratory droplets as well as with contaminated materials such as bedding. The World Health Organization prescribes preventive measures that are the same as those for COVID: masking, handwashing, disinfection of surfaces that are frequently touched, respiratory etiquette, distancing and avoidance of large gatherings. No deaths have been reported yet in the monkeypox outbreak, but the disease can be serious for children, pregnant women and the immunecompromised. No monkeypox case has been reported in the Philippines so far. Considering the country’s open borders, however, it could be just a matter of time before monkeypox is detected here. A monkeypox vaccine and one specific treatment were approved
in 2019 and this year, respectively, but these are not yet widely available. In the meantime, the WHO has advised governments and the public to be on alert for symptoms of monkeypox. These include an atypical rash that progresses into pustules similar to smallpox and then to scabs, with possible fever, back pain, muscle ache and enlarged lymph nodes. Until the scabs have fallen off and a fresh skin layer has formed, physical contact and sexual acts with the patient are discouraged. The Bureau of Quarantine has announced that it would begin symptoms screening for travelers from countries where monkeypox has been reported. Travelers with symptoms must undergo quarantine for one or two weeks. As of May 21, there were 92 laboratoryconfirmed cases and 28 suspected in 12 countries where the virus is not endemic, with the highest numbers reported in Portugal, Spain and the cases are Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, United Kingdom, and Canada reporting a high Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United number of suspected cases. Also with confirmed States. As the WHO has again warned, the COVID
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pandemic is “most certainly not over.” Filipinos are familiar with the COVID safety protocols, and should continue strictly observing these to prevent the spread of yet another potentially deadly viral
Vox Populi, Vox Dei: A case for the Supreme Court’s voiding of Marcos’ candidacy that may lead to Leni Robredo’s win as president
The Fil-Am Perspective gel SantoS-ReloS “VOX POPULI, VOX DEI.” The voice of the people is the voice of God. This is what supporters of Bongbong Marcos would argue in light of street protests, questions and challenges to Bongbong Marcos’ supposed 31.1 million votes vs VP Leni Robredo’s 14.8 million in the May 9 election, with 98.35% votes transmitted. And now, two petitions have been elevated to the Supreme Court to disqualify the son of the dictator and have his candidacy ruled to be void from the very beginning. Both petitions were trashed by the Comelec, whose leadership is full of Duterte appointees. The first petition was filed on May 16 by the group of former SC spokesperson Ted Te, with Fr. Christian B. Buenafe et al as petitioners vs Comelec, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Senate of the Philippines, the House of Representatives as respondents, backed by human rights leaders and organizations. The petition said: “A candidate’s putative election victory cannot subsequently cure his ineligibility. Elections are more than just a numbers game such that an election victory cannot bypass election eligibility requirements.” The other petition was filed on May 18 by Martial Law survivors, contending the same points raised by the first petition, and as Rappler reported, they argued that second-placer Vice President Leni Robredo should
Commentary
RigobeRto tiglao THE fanatics among their ranks — cultists would be a more accurate term — will of course never get out of their delusion that Leni Robredo has started a "Pink movement," or as the craziest among them has claimed, a "New Pink Army," a play on the oncedreaded communist-led New People's Army. But Robredo is history. She'll vanish in a few months, just as a more formidable but losing candidate, Mar Roxas, did. The only "tsunami" of volunteers was in Facebook posts claiming there was. Former superyellow senator Sergio Osmeña 3rd revealed what most people suspected as he couldn't help boasting, and told the New York Times that he "paid for 10,000 volunteers." Osmeña and the likes of him certainly wouldn't pay for "volunteers" for the vaguest of objectives as Robredo's "Angat Buhay" NGO, unless she packages
be president if they win the case. This judicial appeal is supported by former elections commissioner Luie Guia, who said in an interview with Rappler: “My take is that if the ground for disqualification existed at the time of the filing of the COC [Certificate of Candidacy], then the COC may also be canceled or nullified, which means that the votes of disqualified candidate will likewise be declared stray, thus, the one with the highest number of vote (stray votes not counted) is to be considered elected.” That candidate is VP Leni Robredo and not Sara Duterte, based on the 2013 decision Maquiling vs Comelec where the Supreme Court said that the disqualification of the candidate “reaches back to the filing of the certificate of candidacy” and that the disqualified candidate is “declared to be not a candidate at all.” “Being a non-candidate, the votes cast in his favor should not have been counted. This leaves [Maquiling] as the qualified candidate who obtained the highest number of votes. Therefore, the rule on succession under the Local Government Code will not apply,” said the 2013 decision, as reported by Rappler. Marcos loyalists contend that the “people” have spoken, and that these protests and challenges to Marcos’ “victory” is in violation of the Constitution and the very essence of democracy. I respectfully disagree. The voice of the people as expressed
through their votes in the election is anchored on the premise that they cast their sacred votes based on the factual information and disclosures presented to them. If there were deliberate misrepresentations or concealment of any material information about the candidate running from office, then the candidacy has been anchored on lies and deception. These would also include false information peddled through troll farms, fake news, videos, “influencers”, memes, etc. to boost Marcos’ popularity and to destroy his political opponent Leni Robredo. These lies and deception could have swayed voters’ decision in favor of Marcos. This case against Marcos’ “win’ is highlighted by questions on the integrity of the electoral process, with the alleged vote buying, “hakot”, and computer programming “hocus pocus”, allegedly in connivance with Comelec, local government units and other election machineries to make Marcos win. The votes garnered through lies, misrepresentation, deception, and allegedly, cheating, therefore, may be deemed invalid as they do not truly represent the will of the people. The group of Ted Te’s petition stated as reported by Philippine Star: “The petitioners ask the SC to annul and set aside the May 10 Resolution of the Comelec en Banc that junked their appeal to cancel Marcos’ COC, and the Jan. 17, 2022 resolution of the Second
Division that dismissed their plea.” “This Petition prays for the invalidation and reversal of the Questioned Comelec Resolutions for having been rendered in grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction,” the report stated, quoting their Petition for Certiorari. “Respondent Comelec, by refusing to Cancel or Deny Due Course the [COC] of respondent Marcos, Jr. despite his having deliberately made false material representations on two material items, acted with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction,” they added. Like other legal challenges filed against Marcos’ candidacy, the Buenafe petition is also anchored on the presumptive presidentelect’s conviction for non-failure of Income Tax Return for four years. For their case, the petitioners accused Marcos of “misrepresentations pertaining to his eligibility due to his prior convictions under the 1977 [National Internal Revenue Code.” But the petitioners also brought to SC the Marcoses’ family estate tax liability, estimated to have reached P203 billion due to surcharges and interest, as testament to Marcos Jr.’s “propensity to flour Philippine laws.” They noted that there is no showing that the Marcos heirs paid the tax due, and their team has also evaded questions by the media on the issue.” The second petition filed by Martial Law survivors
also presented the essence arguments of the first petition, but highlighted a new perspective. Let me quote the report by Rappler: “One of the new arguments of the recent petition is framing failure to file income tax returns as a continuing crime. This is relevant because the Comelec said that the 1977 tax code, which covered Marcos’ nonfiling of returns from 1982 to 1984, did not impose mandatory prison time nor automatic perpetual disqualification as penalty. Those were included in the amended tax code that became effective only in 1986. The catch is, Marcos’ conviction also covered his tax return for 1985, which was filed only in March 1986. Which tax code applies – 1977 or the 1986 version? The petitioners said the 1986 version, trying to convince justices that Marcos was already perpetually disqualified from holding public office. “Marcos Jr. continued to violate Sec. 45 of the 1977 [tax code]; he did not even try to belatedly file his income tax return. He just did not. Therefore, when the amendments introduced by [1986 tax code] took effect, Respondent convicted candidate Marcos Jr. remained to be committing an offense in continued violation of the law, and such continued commission of an offense thus subjected him to the additional accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification,” said the petition. “To clarify, this is not a case of making a penal law retroactive in application. Merely applying the law in effect in 1986, for violations
he was continually committing in 1986, therefore does not fall within the ambit of an ex post facto law,” the petition justified.” Arguing against the Comelec’s decision that failing to file income tax returns is not a crime of moral turpitude, the Martial Law victims and survivors stated in their petition: “Marcos Jr. failed to file his ITRs on four (4) consecutive years that he was Vice Governor and Governor of Ilocos Norte from 1982 to 1985. Four (4) consecutive years cannot be regarded as a simple omission. It shows an utter disregard of the laws which, as chief executive of the province of Ilocos Norte, Respondent convicted candidate Marcos Jr. took an oath to uphold.” VOX POPULI, VOX DEI. The voice of the people is the voice of God. And it can only be so if it reflects what is true and what is just. This is the fight we all should be fighting for, regardless of our political color. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989. She was a news anchor, TV host and radio commentator and public service host for ABS- CBN and DZMM. She is now working on her advocacies independently, serving the Filipino audience using different media platforms. You may contact her through email at gelrelos@icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos. Also on Twitter, Instagram: Gel Santos Relos
The end of the Yellows and Pinks, and what it means it in a way that would interest the CIA-linked National Endowment for Democracy (Rappler and VERA Files funders) enough to fund it. In the first place, Robredo, with her Alfred Neuman smile (of Mad magazine fame) was completely out of her league. She never had the qualifications — both the intellectual qualities and political savvy — to be president, as her stint as House representative and vice president obviously had shown. The Yellows though could not get anybody else to be their presidential candidate. The Pinks remind me of the Progressive Party of the Philippines, led by Raul Manglapus, which, as in the case of Robredo, the Jesuits especially and the Catholic Church pushed for, and the "disente" elites, which I rooted for when I was in high school. I bet you haven't heard of it. The presidential bid in 1965 of Manglapus — who was a hundred times more eloquent and intelligent than Robredo — failed miserably. It got only 5 percent of the vote, with Ferdinand Marcos getting 52 percent and Gerardo
Roxas getting 43 percent. It disappeared just a few months after, as the Pinks will. 31 million Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (BBM) got 31 million, or 59 percent of the votes, certainly a landslide victory. Data in a survey undertaken by Laylo Research show that 55 percent of BBM voters are "hard voters," i.e., those who would not change their minds in choosing him — i.e., his hardcore followers. This means a solid base of 17 million potential cadres. By comparison and using the same methodology, Robredo would have only 2 million — but who I think at most are the types whose political participation does not go beyond electoral episodes. Most Filipinos aren't really partisans, in contrast to Americans who would identify themselves as members either of the Democratic Party or Republican Party. Most of those who voted for Leni will be patriots, who would now be hoping that the BBM presidency succeeds which success after all means the upliftment of Filipinos' well-being. This doesn't
of course include the Reds, who have since the 1960s opposed all administrations, and tried to bring them down, in the hope that they could grab power. But after all, the number of people who voted for the Reds' candidate Leody de Guzman is just 94,000 — which I think is a liberal estimation of the Communist Party's active members and activists. The Reds fared very poorly in the party-list elections. Only Gabriela — which is known more as a women's movement rather than a "national-democratic" (i.e., Red) organization — will be winning a seat. The people have rejected its once mighty Bayan Muna and Anakpawis. Senate Now look at the Senate. All except Risa Hontiveros were either endorsed by BBM, President Duterte or both. Hontiveros has become a political orphan, as her party Akbayan couldn't even run as a party-list. Including Hontiveros, there are now only four among the 24 senators who are not under the Marcos-Duterte wing: Koko Pimentel, Grace Poe and Nancy
Binay, the latter two not even known to be anti-Marcos persons. While I am unable still to make a count, I was told that only a tenth — at most — of the winning Congress representatives are from the opposition — and the lower House of course is populated mostly by politicians who would kowtow immediately to the incumbent president. With his appointment to the Supreme Court of Court of Appeals judge Maria Filomena Singh, Duterte has appointed 13 of the 15 high tribunal justices, the biggest number of sitting justices ever appointed by a single president. While they of course are not beholden to BBM, their political beliefs are certainly not that of the Yellows or the Pinks, or else the politically astute Duterte would not have appointed them. Hegemon In short, with a feeble an outfit as the really ephemeral "Pinks" and the tiny CPP, the BBMSara Duterte tandem is the most powerful political hegemon in this country now. With its formidable power, I would think its main, immediate
task — to strike while the iron is still hot, as the cliché goes — should be the total destruction of the Reds, a task BBM's father set out to do, but failed, ironically because he wasn't as ruthless as other heads of countries were. However, while reduced to a tiny group now, the Communist Party controls key institutions positioned to broadcast its views way beyond its actual strength, such as media, a major faction of the Catholic Church and the universities, especially UP, the Ateneo and La Salle. Other countries — Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Indonesia — decades ago wiped out their communist scourges. What his father failed to do, BBM must accomplish: to destroy the CPP completely and grind it to fine dust. If he accomplishes only that, he will be viewed as one of our best presidents ever. (ManilaTimes. net) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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Examining the youth mental health crisis in... PAGE 1
of sadness or hopelessness and 9% attempted suicide. Moreover, young women and girls as well as LGBTQ+ youth — across all racial backgrounds — are more likely to attempt suicide. According to Angela Vasquez, a policy director for mental health at The Children’s Partnership, about half of all children “who are severely impaired with a major depressive episode did not receive” any form of mental health treatment. Depression, as most mood disorders, thrives on stealth and concealment; the more you hide and avoid the problem, the bigger it becomes. Even though the coronavirus pandemic seemed to escalate things like depression, anxiety, and general mood disorders, these issues — along with an unwillingness to confront them — have always been pressing, albeit not-often-addressed problems within the community “It’s kind of funny that it’s a month for both Asian Americans and normalizing mental health because both those ideas together are like oil and water — they don’t necessarily mix,” Ravi Villeno, a Filipino American who lives in San Diego, California, told the Asian Journal in a phone interview. Villeno — who is also Sri Lankan — shared that within his family unit, communicating emotions never felt very safe because of rather hostile way his parents responded. He said that his parents explained his falling grades and overall unproductivity as mere laziness rather than taking the gentle approach of talking it out calmly and seeking professional help. But Villeno noted that the community, the affluent coastal town of Del Mar in which he grew up in, didn’t make it very conducive to healthy conversations about self-care, toxic communication patterns, boundaries, and therapy. And Villeno is far from the only Filipino American who felt suffocated by a community that made it difficult to sort out mental health problems. “Growing up in a pretty wealthy area — which had many Asian families deadset on LAAsianJournal-5.69x10.56-2022.pdf upholding the model minority myth, including mine which
was obsessed with displaying a picture-perfect image — didn’t make for the right environment to express myself,” said Jerianne Morales, a Filipina American. Morales, 24, was born and raised in Tustin, California, and she knew from an early age that her parents worked tirelessly to present the image of a stable family with children who did exceptionally well in school — a desire not uncommon among Asian families in the U.S. “Even though there were a lot of Asians, and Filipinos, around me, and even though there’s a sense of community in that, it never really felt like a space where I could be vulnerable and real,” said Morales, who earned a Master in Social Work and is working toward being a licensed clinical social worker. She acknowledged that her parents, and many firstand second-generation immigrants, simply don’t have the vocabulary and the tools to handle conflict and difficult situations. Rather than having genial and productive conversations to hash problems out, they turned to accusational language and tone which most likely will make children feel alienated. “Instead of punitively yelling at your child, ‘why did you get a D on this assignment? You failed this assignment! I told you to study more!’ you can opt for a more measured, solutions-based approach, like, ‘Oh, I see you got a D on this assignment. What are you having trouble with, and what do you think we can do to make sure you understand your class assignments?’” Morales offered. She added, “If your child isn’t doing well in school, it’s likely due to some mental blocks, which, of course, doesn’t mean there’s anything inherently wrong with them. It’s completely normal.” As previously mentioned in the Asian Journal, the Asian community is vast, a populace and diaspora that encompasses nearly half the planet. It’s a Herculean task to try to aggregate information, trends, and philosophies for a community that encompasses hundreds of unique cultures, languages, religions and 2 4/20/2022 4:08:34 PM traditions. But in the U.S., experts
posit that families within the Asian American diaspora share similar sensibilities when it comes to parenting. The classic conflict between traditionally Asian principles of collectivism versus the American ideal of individualism remains present in Asian American parenting styles: immaculate grades in school mean entrance into a prestige college, which leads to a successful career in, typically, medicine, law, or other fields that promise, not just financial security, but wealth. But what happens when a child doesn’t share those same values? The conflict that arise from these differences can be severe, but listening and treating these problem-solving methods as a collaboration may help. “I think that the more that parents hide and demonize emotions and neglect to actually listen to their kids, the more damage they’re actually doing,” Phillip Solomon, a Filipino American social worker based in the Bay Area, told the Asian Journal. He said, “Child psychology almost always starts with the parents.” The way that parents communicate to their children and the nuances of the language they use is far more impactful than parents may think, Solomon said. He added that punitive measures to ensure that a teenager doesn’t get into any perceived “bad” hindrances like, say, dating or partying only do more to encourage rebellious behavior. Opting for more actionable approaches and solutionsbased language can be the first step in improving relationships between parents and children, which, of course, is essential keeping a child mentally and emotionally stable. “As a parent, patience can tend to run thin pretty quickly, which can lead to some unhelpful communication patterns” Solomon said. “But at the end of the day, our children are No. 1 in our lives as parents, and when we say that we would do anything for our kids, that includes appropriately and gently leading productive conversations where we treat our children, not as kids, but as the adults that they are going to become.” (Klarize Medenilla/ AJPress)
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LAST FRONTIER. Bataraza town officials in the southern part of Palawan need to strictly implement anti-littering and environmental protection laws after a photo shows trash items such as plastic bottles, aluminum cans, food wrappers, shopping bags and cigarette butts abound near the Buliluyan Tourism Station at the Buliluyan port. The port is the jump off point going to Balabac Island located in the southernmost part of the country’s last frontier Palawan. PNA photo
New report: Elderly Asian... PAGE 2
the work of San Francisco‘s Self Help for the Elderly, the Center for Pan Asian Community Services (CPACS) in the greater Atlanta area, the Chinese Information and Service Center (CISC) in Seattle, and the Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York. “We’re asking that elected officials honor this month with action by creating safer public spaces for AAPI communities and all communities of color,” said Cynthia Choi, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate and co-executive director of Chinese for Affirmative Action. “Funding and supporting community-based organizations across the country is key to building safe places for elder Asian Americans.” Stop AAPI Hate issued the following recommendations in order to address the ongoing crisis: •Community-based organizations: To address fear, isolation, and mental health challenges among Asian American elders, organizations should provide resilience programs that foster a sense of safety and community, offer mentally stimulating social activities, and leverage culturally and linguistically responsive frameworks in services and offerings. • Local, state, and federal government: To address fear, isolation, and mental health challenges among Asian American
elders, governments should increase support to communitybased organizations within a culturally and linguistically responsive framework to serve Asian American elders. • Local, state, and federal government: To best target resources, governments can improve data collection by tracking hate incidents across the Asian American elderly community, and disaggregating data to identify how racial subgroups across the umbrella Asian American elder community experience and address fear, isolation, and mental health differently. • Local transit agencies: To reduce fear and anxiety among Asian American elders using public transit, transit agencies should collect data and engage with community groups on culturally relevant approaches to reducing harassment on transit systems. • Federal government: To better support the 60% of Asian American elders with limited English proficiency, the federal government should pass the “Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act of 2021 (HR 5937), a pilot program to increase language access at federally qualified health centers. The Stop AAPI Hate coalition encourages any member of the AAPI community who has experienced hate during the pandemic to report the incident at: https://stopaapihate.org/ reportincident/. (AJPress)
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Dateline PhiliPPines Marcos mulls extending VFA
by Catherine
S. Valente ManilaTimes.net
PRESIDENT-ELECT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is considering "extending" and "redefining" the country's Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, citing the "changing environment" in the region. Marcos raised this possibility following his meeting with United States Chargé d' Affaires Heather Variava, where they discussed security issues between the Philippines and the United States. "Siyempre security concerns pinag-usapan namin (Of course we discussed security concerns), the return or the re-signing or the extension of the VFA agreement and how it has to be redefined for the near future with the changing situation around the world, especially in our region," Marcos told reporters in a press briefing on Monday, May 23. Marcos admitted that security concerns "have always been a big part of our relations with the United States." He said that any assistance from the United States to help the Philippine economy is always
PRESIDENT-ELECT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Marcos raised this possibility following his meeting with United States Chargé d’ Affaires Heather Variava, where they discussed security issues between the Philippines and the United States. Photo from the Office of Bongbonng Marcos
welcome. In June last year, President Rodrigo Duterte extended for another six months the suspension of the abrogation of the VFA. He terminated the agreement in February 2020. The termination process, however, was suspended in June last year because of the pandemic and emerging threats in the disputed South China Sea. The Philippine government
again held off the suspension in November 2020. The VFA, which took effect in 1999, provides the legal framework for the presence of American troops in the Philippines as they conduct joint military exercises. Marcos also met with Japan Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko, South Korea Ambassador Kim Inchul and India Ambassador Shambhu Kumaran.
Robredo camp waves white flag at congressional canvass by Xave
GreGorio Philstar.com
MANILA — The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo will not be putting up a fight at Congress’ canvassing of votes for president where her archrival, former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., is projected to be proclaimed president. Romulo Macalintal, one of Robredo’s lawyers, manifested on behalf of her that they will not object to the inclusion of all certificates of canvass validated by Congress sitting as the National Board of Canvassers. Macalintal also said they will be waiving their appearance before the joint session of Congress where they are canvassing votes for president and vice president. In making this manifestation, Macalintal referenced speeches made by Robredo past midnight after election day and during her thanksgiving rally where she called on supporters to listen to the voice of the majority. “Habang lumilinaw na ang litrato, kailangan nating simulang tanggapin na hindi ayon sa mga pangarap natin ang resulta ng eleksyon,” Robredo then said. (While the picture is getting clearer, we need to start accepting that the results of the election is not in accordance with our dreams.) In response, Marcos’ lawyer Vic Rodriguez thanked the Robredo camp. "We would like to recognize and thank the
EMPLOYMENT
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Vice President Leni Robredo
Philstar.com file photo
patriotism exhibited by Vice President Leni Robredo for expressly recognizing the integrity and the result of the recently-concluded general elections," he said. Rodriguez told reporters in a press conference at the sidelines of the canvassing that they were pleasantly surprised at the Robredo camp's move. Marcos and his running mate, presumptive vice president Sara Duterte-Carpio have secured convincing leads in their respective races, garnering over 31 million votes respectively, according to partial and unofficial results.
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The Power of Strings: A night of music and fashion LOS ANGELES — InterEdx and Marte Productions Inc present the Power of Strings, A Night of Music and Fashion on June 4, 2022, Saturday at the Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, 8555 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048. Doors open with cocktail reception at 4:00PM. For more information, visit www.powerofstrings.info Contact (626)484-0807. To get a discounted rate, use coupon code: aj2022 John Ablaza Hudgens in the 2020 film ‘Bad Boys for Life’ Columbia Pictures / Released John Ablaza is finally back in the fashion scene after almost 2 years of hiatus due to the COVID pandemic that puts so many in a setback. He is very happy that Marte Productions Inc and InterEdx tie up for a special collaboration called “Power of Strings” which is a fitting occassion as he is celebrating his 35 years in the fashion industry. By Kristofer Purnell John has done countless of Philstar.com shows all over the world in his FILIPINO-AMERICAN actress Vanessa Hudgens, famous for her over 3 decades in the industry, movie breakout role in “High School Musical,” has been tapped to including important shows in Taipei, China, Los Angeles, San host the 2022 edition of the MTV Movie & TV Awards. “I’m back!” Hudgens said in a tweet announcing the news. “It’s Francisco, Arizona, New York, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, your girl... trust me, you don’t want to miss this.” This year’s ceremony — the fifth to jointly honor film and television and 30th overall — will take place at The Barker Hangar in California on Sunday, June 5 (Monday, June 6 in the Philippines). This won’t be Hudgens’ first rodeo for MTV, having hosted the MTV Movie & TV Awards: Greatest of All Time special in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Leading the nominations in the film categories is the Marvel blockbuster “Spider-Man: No Way Home” with seven nods, while the nearest competitor is from rivals DC “The Batman” with four. On the television side, HBO’s hit series “Euphoria” raked the most nominations with six, while “Loki,” “Selling Sunset,” and “Summer House” follow with three nods apiece. Hudgens most recently appeared in the Oscar-nominated film “Tick, Tick... Boom!” with Andrew Garfield and the third “Princess Switch” movie for Netflix. She also appeared as a guest judge for “The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula.”
Fil-Am Vanessa Hudgens to host 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards
John Ablaza
Bahrain and Zimbabwe. His creations have been featured in print such as MOD Magazine, Women’s, Woman’s Home Journal, Women Today, Miscellaneous Magazine and other countless glossy magazines. To his credit John was commissioned by the National
Centennial Commission of the Philippines in 1998 to replicate personal belongings of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal that became a project called Jose Rizal traveling museum and was exhibited all over the Philippines and several cities in the United States and Europe including Paris, Belgium and Madrid. The said project is his patriotic contribution for the celebration of 100 years of Philippine Independence. Deeply inspired by models who made an indelible mark in Philippine fashion, John also authored Ramp Diva: Filipina. The 300-page coffee table book chronicled the lives of top 64 Filipina models that made an indelible mark in the history of Philippine fashion over a period of five decades. Close to his heart is the mentorship program he
initiated for the tribal women of the Mangyan tribe in Mindoro Philippines in 2013 where he shared his talent and Continued on Page 12
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THE LA ART BOX PRESENTS Belonging: A Filipino American arts and culture experience Exhibition runs until June 26, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CA – Cultural art gallery, The LA Art Box (The LAAB), in partnership with Parangal Dance Company, is pleased to announce Belonging, a collaborative showcase of Filipino American creatives through their own visual narratives. The exhibition explores cultural identities both past and present from contemporary Filipino American artists working to belong and enrich the current AAPI creative landscape, to the traditional rituals and ceremonies of the six Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines. Belonging opens May 20, 2022 and will remain on view through June 26, 2022. “We’re thrilled to present an exhibition which showcases the work of contemporary Filipino American creatives while also celebrating the powerful cultural legacy of the Philippines,” said The LAAB CoFounder Bernadette Bernardo. “Belonging is an exhibition that perfectly embodies the mission of The LAAB which is to provide a creative space for artists to explore cultural identity and share their personal narratives and experiences.” Belonging is presented in partnership with Parangal Dance Company, one of the foremost performance groups in the United States committed to traditional Filipino folk dance, attire and music. Through their work to preserve Philippine culture and heritage, the dance company participates in cultural immersion and field research to learn more about the six Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines: T’boli, Kalinga, Yakan, Subanen, Maguindanaon, Bagobo. Belonging features a photography series by Francis Gum which captures Parangal Dance Company’s depiction of the rituals and ceremonies of these six Indiginous Peoples. In addition, Belonging features eight contemporary Filipino American creatives whose work spans a diverse array of mediums, including sound and film production, fashion design and culinary arts, to create a multisensory experience. Contributing artists include: • Adrien Per A music director, producer, DJ and the owner of the production company Lumpia Watermelon which has worked with mainstream artists such as Lil Nas X, The Kid Laroi, Polo G, Tyga, 24kGoldn, Megan Thee Stallion, O.T Genasis, Kehlani, G-Eazy and more. Per will debut his first solo art exhibit and photo publication at The LAAB titled We Are Golden on May 14. • Kristian Kabuay An artist, entrepreneur and futurist
Photo of Parangal Dance Company by Francis Gum
specializing in endangered writing systems from the Philippines. As a leading authority for the propagation and instructor of the pre-Philippine scripts, he launched his own edutainment business specializing in custom art, books, events, technology and apparel. • Alexandra Cuerdo An award-winning director and writer, recently named one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World by the Filipina Women’s Network. Alexandra’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Buzzfeed, Vogue, New York Magazine, Variety and more. Her recent documentary Ulam (meaning “dish” in Tagalog) is available on Amazon Prime and Hulu. • Francis Gum A multidisciplinary artist whose work has appeared internationally in a variety of media ranging from magazines and publications, artist covers, designer campaigns and galleries. • Raymond Pereira Chef Raymond trained in Spain with master Spanish chefs and holds the title of Maestro Cortador (Master Carver). He has carved prestigious jamon along with a variety of dishes for Dr. Dre, Jeanie Buss, Jose Andres and Wolfgang Puck. • Ryan Jordan A FilipinX, Queer Artist and Creative Director of Omaj X, Ryan will be debuting Continued on Page 12
Myriam unveils exciting creative collaboration with French designer Gilles David LOS ANGELES – Xandra Myriam – the Los Angelesbased German fashion designe – best known for her sophisticated, colorful dress designs and exotic leather silhouettes, joins hands with French designer Gilles David, who has built an impressive reputation for having garnered successful brand partnerships with the NBA, NFL, MLB, NCAA and names like Jeff Hamilton, Starter & Russell Athletic, SPARCO Italy and many others, on an exclusive capsule collection of ready-to-wear pieces, statement handbags and accessories, set to drop summer 2022. Gilles David shares his thoughts on the collaboration, “when I first met with Myriam, we immediately connected, I felt great about our mutual synergies. I was already looking for a visionary with an actual brand, high-end quality new ideas, and focused mainly on women’s clothing with new concepts.” Melding together their creative visions, the design duo will showcase a limited-edition summer assemblage that reimagines Xandra Myriam’s signature high-design couture pieces with subtle punctuations of Gilles David’s distinctive style and artful eye. The exclusive collection will make use of silk fabrics and exotic skin textures and aims to celebrate and adorn the female form. “My collection has always been inspired by the energy of color and the elegance of movement.” Xandra Myriam expresses about the inspiration behind the designs, “our collaboration allowed me to
branch out into a new field by creating [something entirely different] and yet stay in an elegant vein.” More details about the exclusive partnership and designs to be revealed soon. Born in Germany, Xandra Myriam is an inherent creative genius—she is not only a talented fashion designer, but a singer, songwriter, and dancer, too. At 12 years old, Xandra Myriam nearly lost her eyesight which was the catalyst that ignited her creative journey.
Inspired by the -high-energy of color, Xandra creates designs that tell a story of her past, present and future. As an entrepreneur, designer, art director, TV host and innovator, Gilles David has decades of experience in the fashion, film, food, cosmetics and fragrance and branding industries and has developed a network of extraordinary relationships around the world. During his multi-faceted career, he generated millions of dollars in retail sales for his employers and clients and is a seasoned socialite in Hollywood. Stay up-to-date with the latest news about the collaboration here: Website: http:// xandramyriam.com Social media: https://www. instagram.com/Xandramyriam, https://www.instagram.com/ fastlanegilles/ For press inquiries, please contact Karina Sotelo atks@ wearethroneinc.comor 917.853.7559.
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community The Power of Strings: A night of...
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 25, 2022
From Page 9 expertise in design and crafts thus providing them knowledge to enhance their artistry and eventually provided them a sustainable livelihood. Designers from Zimbabwe In 2016, the United States Embassy of Zimbabwe brought him to Africa for a mentorship program for aspiring designers and artisans of 3 majors cities in Zimbabwe: Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. The program was a big success. John & his team organized Project Africa 102 in 2019 and went back to Zimbabwe for another successful seminar workshop on their own initiative. He is set to go back to Africa in July/August 2022 for Project Africa 103 to cover Zimbabwe and Botswana for another mentorship program. He believes the project will help lift up the morale of the people and inspire them to move on and make use of their creativity that will lead them to recover from the pandemic. In 2017, at his 30 years anniversary celebration, John launch his curated exhibition of his miniature gowns (mounted in a 20 inch mannequin) at a very exclusive fashion gala held at the Amar Estate in New York. The exhibit which he called “Le Petite
Replica of Dr. Jose Rizal’s personal belongings done by John Ablaza
Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes
With Don Jaime and Dona Bea Zobel de Ayala. The project was in collaboration with the grand matriarch of the prominent Ayala clan of the Philippines Dona Bea Zobel de Ayala.
Couture “ was then exhibited at the Maharlika and Kalayaan hall of the Philippine Consulate General of New York. In line with the celebration of Philippine Independence Day which was attended by Foreign diplomats from different countries. It was then exhibited in his shows in Toronto, Winnipeg and Calgary Canada in different occasions. He is scheduled to fly to Italy and close the show at Milan City Fashion Week in September 2022. John’s favored charity is St. Martin de Porres in Cebu City Philippines, an institution that takes care of children with autism and down syndrome. In June 4 show in Los Angeles he is going to showcase his re-purposed designs which are basic , simpler and wearable but his collections will be highlighted by the product of his collaboration with African artisans It’s his goal to do fashion show not just for the glamour and glitter of the industry but always for a good cause. He always do it with a mission that benefits charities or give opportunities to people involved in the industry to showcase their talents.
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Belonging: A Filipino American arts... From Page 10 his multi-media work inspired by his personal journey through trauma to spiritual healing. Ryan’s fashion design work has been featured in American Vogue, Interview magazine, and has worked with superstar clients like Lady Gaga and Beyoncé. • Alex Ritchie A Los Angeles-based music artist, songwriter, and producer, Alex is also a proud GrammyNEXT alumni as well as a film and television music consultant. • Robin Nievera A Filipino singer-songwriter and producer, Robin’s music contains elements of rock, indie rock, blues and alternative pop.
Five benefits of establishing a revocable living trust
Alex Ritchie and Robin Nivera will provide original soundscape compositions for the exhibit. For more information about Belonging visit TheLAArtBox.com. Admission is $10; advance tickets are required. A limited number of trade crafts created by Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines will be available for purchase. A portion of the proceeds will go directly back to the Indigenous Peoples groups. The LAAB is located at 8020 Melrose Ave in Los Angeles and is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, 12 – 6 p.m. To stay connected and learn about upcoming events follow @LAArtBox on Instagram and Facebook.
THERE is never the perfect time to think about who you would like to inherit from your estate in case you pass away or at least who among your closest friends (BFFs) and family members are even deserving of inheriting from your estate. In doing so, you should also think about which vehicle you plan to use in implementing your estate plan. One of the best vehicle in implementing your estate plan is a revocable living trust. Five major benefits of establishing a revocable living trust are: 1. Your estate can avoid the time, cost, and hassle of going through the probate court process. If you pass away without a will (intestate) in California, one of your close family would have to file a petition in probate court to probate your estate. Your estate will be divided and distributed according to the California probate code rules of intestate succession. Even if you have a will when you pass away, your family would still need to file a petition in probate court if your estate is worth over $166,250 and go through the probate process. This can become a circus if certain beneficiaries contest the validity of the Will or the distribution of the estate. Your estate will pay for attorney’s fees, probate referee fees, appraisers and other experts, CPA fees, etc. If people contest the case, your estate would end up paying legal fees to defend the estate in litigation. The entire process can take anywhere from 9 months to years depending on the contentiousness of the probate case. With a revocable living trust, your trustee or successor trustee if you were the initial trustee, would administer the trust and distribute the estate according to the trust document without having to open a probate court case.
If the trust is funded with all your assets, it is possible to administer and distribute the trust assets without any Court involvement at all. This process is a lot faster than going through probate. 2. Your estate is not public record When you file a probate case, the public has access to your probate case file. The public will know the assets of the estate including the values of those assets. If the Will is admitted into probate, the terms of the Will is open to public scrutiny. Establishing a revocable living trust makes your estate affairs private. Strangers do not have access to the terms of your living trust. Only certain beneficiaries and possible heirs can request a copy of the revocable living trust after you pass away. 3. You can dictate who will inherit from your estate. If you pass away without a Will, your estate will be divided and distributed in Probate Court following the rules of intestate succession in the California probate code. Certain relatives will be entitled to a share of your estate even if you feel they are not deserving. By establishing a revocable living trust, you can designate who you want to inherit from your estate. You can designate what and how much each one will received from your estate after you pass away. The assets distributed to each beneficiaries does not have to be equal. The people you designate as beneficiaries of your living trust does not even have to be close family members. You can designate anyone as a beneficiary, with certain exceptions, of your estate. 4. You can structure your estate to minimize estate taxes If your estate is valued above the estate tax exemption, establishing a trust can allow you to divide up your estate into smaller sub trusts to minimize the overall estate tax effect on your estate. It allows you to set up a vehicle for certain charitable giving which carries tax advantage and asset protection.
5. You can choose who will administer your estate after your death When you establish a revocable trust, you can appoint someone else as trustee or you can appoint a successor trustee if you are the initial trustee. The trustee will be administering (managing) the trust after you pass away without a need to open a probate court case. This allows for continuity in operating the trust and the efficient and cost effective distribution of estate assets. If you are concerned about whether you can trust any family members as your trustee, you can appoint an institution as a professional trustee to carry out the terms of the declaration of trust. These type of trustee services are often offered by banks, financial institutions, wealth management firms, and business management firms for a reasonable fee. This minimizes conflicts within the family and prevents negligence and wrong doing by inexperienced family members. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)
Formula One racing to come to Las Vegas in 2023 By RealtoR Fely Quitevis-Bateman MANY Americans and people around the world love car racing. Whether it’s in a racetrack or out in the elements, the thrill of cars and their drivers jockeying for position to outsmart each other and win the race is an attraction that many find enjoyable. Las Vegas even has its own event in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), the South Point 400, which takes place at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in October (a new weekend for this race) in 2022.
Now comes news that another type of race will come to Sin City. An announcement recently covered by major news outlets revealed that Formula One, or F1, is coming back to Las Vegas in 2023. The Las Vegas Grand Prix will be one of three F1 events hosted in the United States, the other two being in the cities of Miami (Florida) and Austin (Texas). There has not been an F1 race in the gambling and entertainment capital of the world since the days of the Caesars Palace Grand Prix in the early 1980s.
Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman helps those who need business financing, including loans for small businesses. For more information, call (702) 538-4948 or send email to fely@precious-properties.
According to the F1 site, the race will take place at night on a Saturday sometime in November 2023, and “for the first time F1 cars will race on the iconic Las Vegas Strip, with the circuit sweeping past famous hotels and casinos.” It also said that “the 14-turn track will run for 3.8 miles with top speeds expected to hit around 212mph” (miles per hour). Of course, this is a perfect marriage – F1 and Las Vegas. To have worldclass drivers race at night on what is expected to become an iconic racetrack in Formula One racing is a vision that many racing spectators would like to see. With the neon lights and landmarks provided by the major hotel-casinos as backdrop, the designed racetrack features “three straights, a high-speed cornering sequence and a single chicane section, with the Grand Prix to be run over 50 laps.” Already, many F1 drivers are excited at the prospect of racing in the Las Vegas Grand Prix, calling the event amazing, unbelievable, exciting and lots of fun. In a video at the F1 site, even-time champion Lewis Hamilton said, “That’s going to be a pretty hardcore event,” while AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly remarked, “That’s going to be insane.” Many of the drivers said that they probably will see each other inside the casinos as well. F1 coming back to Las Vegas is certainly another feather in the cap of Las Vegas. The hard work of organizers, officials and organizations connected to the event means that this event will be done correctly, both for drivers and their teams, and the fans. It will certainly attract racing fans from all over the world to Sin City, and bolster its reputation as an entertainment mecca. With countless shows, excellent dining, and, of course, a myriad of gambling choices, many
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Attending meetings at the Las Vegas Realtors Board has enabled Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman to be well-informed about real estate trends in Clark County and in the State of Nevada.
of those who are coming to witness F1 racing at its best will not be wanting for activities. As Las Vegas begins to attract many more events and opportunities to its fold, this bodes well for the city as it will raise employment and economic opportunities in the area. Las Vegas already is one of the largest cities in the west, even in the U.S., in terms of population, and the need for housing has seen real estate developers look to areas outside of Las Vegas to build master-planned communities that will address the expected need for housing. With Clark County expected to add about 1 million people by 2060, companies are looking at ways to add to the current crop of housing opportunities for current residents and for those looking to make their start in the area. It won’t be long before other established entities make their way to Las Vegas, like the National Basketball Association (NBA), which reports and podcasts have alluded to in the past. A group recently announced that they secured 25 acres of land near the Strip to build what they see as a new sports and entertainment district that will feature an NBA-ready 20,000-seat
Photo above shows the projected race route for the Las Vegas Grand Prix that is scheduled to take place on a Saturday in November 2023, which sweeps past famous hotels and casinos in the area. Internet photo/www.formula1.com
Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (left) gets market updates from Phil Klevorick (right), Economic Development Liaison of Clark County.
arena. And with activity in Las Vegas, comes many opportunities for neighboring areas. The potential added development in areas like Pahrump, Mesquite, Henderson, Indian Springs and North Las Vegas that will come as an offshoot of rapid development in Sin City is one good fortune that should not be overlooked. This is a great time to look for real estate opportunities in Las Vegas and neighboring communities, while the prices are affordable and the market is rife with choices. My decades of experience living and working in these communities – and selling real estate – can help you, my kababayans, secure the right type of land/property investment, whether it’s as a new home, a rental (maybe for Airbnb), a second home, or purely an investment opportunity. My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company that has been serving its clientele since 1992. You can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805559-2476 and 702-538-4948 for more information. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as short as 7 days. (AdvertisinSupplement)
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