MAY 29-JUNE 1, 2021 Volume 31 - No. 42 • 2 Sections – 18 Pages
Filipino father killed in San Jose mass shooting by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AND CAROLINE GIOVANIE AJPress
A FILIPINO father was among the nine employees killed at a San Jose rail yard on Wednesday, May 26, marking California’s deadliest mass shooting this year. Paul Delacruz Megia and eight other Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) workers were fatally shot by a disgruntled colleague on Wednesday. The 42-year-old was supposed to be working from home, but was called in to report to the light rail yard facility during the early morning shift, according to various sources. Megia, who immigrated from the Philippines as a toddler, joined the VTA in 2002 as a bus operator trainee and held vari-
ous positions, including light rail operator. He was most recently an assistant superintendent in service management at the time of his death. He is remembered by colleagues and family for always having a smile on his face and as someone who spent time with his children on days off. Megia leaves behind his parents Leonard and Edna Megia, his wife Nicole, their four children — two sons, a daughter and a stepson — and two sisters. Megia had reportedly planned a family vacation to Disneyland in the coming holiday weekend, according to the New York Times. u PAGE A2
Paul Delacruz Megia, 42, immigrated to the United States from the Philippines as a toddler and had been working for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority since 2002, most recently as an assistant superintendent in service management. Photo courtesy of Linkedin
2022 PREPARATIONS. The registration of voters at the Commission on Elections in Pasay City continues on Friday, May 28 with strict adherence to safety protocols. Registration will be accepted until September 30. PNA photo by Avito Dalan
Philippine Airlines’ transfer to California AG Rob Bonta sounds off on issues new LAX gate deferred to June 15 DATELINE USA Vaccinated Californians since taking office — from hate crimes to could win up to $1.5-M in int’l Ponzi scheme targeting elderly Filipinos ‘MY GOAL IS TO PROTECT CALIFORNIANS WHO ARE HURT’
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
new incentive program
CALIFORNIANS could win up to $1.5 million in a new effort to get more residents vaccinated leading up to the state’s reopening on June 15. Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday, May 27 launched the “Vax for the Win” incentive program with a $116.5 million price tag — which will include $100 million in $50 prepaid or grocery cards for the next 2 million newly vaccinated people and $16.5 million in cash prizes for all vaccinated Californians “Getting every eligible Californian vaccinated is how we bring our state roaring back from this pandemic,” said Newsom. “California has already made incredible progress in the fight against COVID-19, with the lowest case rates in the country, while administering millions more vaccines than any other state. But we aren’t stopping there, we’re doing everything it takes to get Californians vaccinated as we approach June 15 to help us fully reopen safely.” More than 62.8% of Californians aged 12+ u PAGE A3
Los Angeles launches ‘LA for All’ in Tagalog, other languages
by AJPRESS
by KLARIZE
MEDENILLA AJPress
AS Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) comes to a close, the vast Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community continues to reflect on its history and the current seismic cultural shift in the wake of countless attacks against the community. In California, home to nearly 6 million AAPIs, the conversation of AAPI safety continues as the state battles increased hate crimes against the community. And the state’s newly sworn-in Filipino American Attorney General Rob Bonta vows to make this fight in the
current chapter of AAPI history a top concern. “Being an AAPI and Filipino American has shaped everything that I do, and I will make California's fights my fight so I'll make the fights of the AAPI community my fights, especially in this moment of pain, fear and anger,” Bonta told reporters on Thursday, May 27. As previously reported in the Asian Journal, Bonta, 48, is the state’s first Filipino American attorney general and the second Asian American to occupy the post behind Vice President Kamala Harris, who served between 2011 to 2017. Chief among his early priorities as attorney general is fighting hate crimes, particularly u PAGE A4
PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) will transfer to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)’s newly built facility on June 15, two weeks after the previously announced date. In an advisory dated Friday, May 28, the flag carrier updated passengers that the transfer to the Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC), which is known as the West Gates at the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), will take place on June 15 instead of June 1. The newly built concourse is separate, but is connected to the main international terminal by an underground tunnel. PAL continued to remind passengers to allot an additional 20
minutes to walk to the new departure gates after checking in and clearing security, both areas which will remain the same at TBIT. There will be terminal transfer vehicles, similar to golf carts, available to those unable to walk the full distance, and passengers using wheelchairs will need to take the elevators, the airline said. “We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience that the Airport’s decision may cause you,” the updated advisory read. “PAL has appealed urgently to the airport authority to reconsider the decision to move PAL flights from the TBIT to the MSC; PAL also is seeking assistance from city officials. As previously reported by the u PAGE A3
Biden signs executive order to establish White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
tended to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for the AANHPI communities — will prioritize the response to the uptick in anti-Asian hate during the pandemic, according to a White House memo sent to the Asian Journal. “The COVID-19 pandemic, and the xenophobic rhetoric used by certain political leaders during this crisis, have led
to a tragic spike in acts of anti-Asian bias, violence, and xenophobia,” the White House said in a statement. It added, “At the same time, the pandemic has disproportionately burdened many AA and NHPI communities, and exposed the significant health inequities faced by many Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in particular.”
PRESIDENT Joe Biden signed an executive order establishing the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) on Friday, May 28 as AANHPI Heritage Month comes to a close. CITY leaders and local artists launched “LA The initiative — which is infor All,” a multilingual PSA campaign led by the Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department (LA Civil Rights) to share resources for reporting hate crimes and hate incidents, as well as celebrate diversity, belonging and inclusion in Los Angeles. The campaign was officially launched on Wednesday, May 26 outside of LA City Hall. "LA for All reaffirms what Los Angeles is and can be at our best: a place where everybody belongs and where no one should face discrimination, bigotry, or violence because of who they are, what they look like, who they love, or what they believe," said Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement. “Our campaign brings our city's creative spirit, our commitment to human and civil rights, and our rejection of intolerance together under a single banner — and makes sure Angelenos can find resources and support in the face of prejudice and hate." u PAGE A4 Rene Trinidad, Telesforo Trinidad’s grandson. His background photo shows him with his Lolo Porong.
The first White House Initiative on AAPIs was established through an executive order by former President Bill Clinton in 1999 and subsequently renewed by former Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. The Biden administration’s version will be expanded to include Native Hawaiians, and will be led by Krystal Ka’ai as
executive director. Ka’ai currently serves as the Executive Director of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), leading legislative, communications, and outreach strategy for a bicameral caucus composed of more than 70 members in both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. u PAGE A3
Movement to name a US Navy warship after Filipino American Telesforo Trinidad gains traction by MOMAR
G. VISAYA
AJPress
MORE than a century after Telesforo Trinidad heroically rescued a couple of his fellow crew members in a boiler room fire aboard USS San Diego and earned him a U.S. Navy medal of honor, advocates are urging the Navy secretary to name a Navy warship in his honor. Over the weekend, Filipino and Asian
Pacific Islander (API) community leaders in San Diego gathered to commemorate U.S. Navy Fireman Trinidad and highlight his bravery and heroism. “There are over 200,000 Filipinos that reside in San Diego County. Many arrived in San Diego by way of the U.S. Navy. We, in the Filipino, Asian Pacific Islander (API) community, are excited to be a part of an
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A2 MAY 29-JUNE 1, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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FROM THE FRONT PAGE
Movement to name a US Navy warship...
PAGE A1 effort that follows U.S. Navy tradition of naming a ship after a Medal of Honor recipient,” said JoAnn Fields, government and public relations director of Asian Pacific Islander Initiative. The initiative led by the USS Telesforo Trinidad Campaign (USTTC) hopes that the naming of a ship after Trinidad will memori-
alize his selfless dedication to the Navy and the country. The group is composed of serving and retired U.S. Armed Forces, community and civic leaders, academics, corporate executives, and veterans’ families. Trinidad remains to be the first and only American national of Filipino descent in the U.S. Navy awarded the Medal of Honor for
saving two of his crew members following a series of boiler room explosions onboard the USS San Diego while the ship was underway in the Gulf of California on January 21, 1915. A virtual Kapihan with the Filipino American Press Club of New York featured USTTC leaders, among them retired U.S. Air Force Col. Nonie Cabana and retired Captain Ronald L. Ravelo, the only Fil-Am who held command of a U.S. Navy nuclear aircraft carrier. Col. Cabana said that for the campaign to be successful, there should be a total grassroots effort from the Fil-Am community organizations and obtain support from veterans’ advocacy groups. He also advised community members to support the initiative and send letters to their respective elected officials and representatives. Capt. Ravelo cited Sen. Mazie Hirono for her letter to the Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Harker. In the said letter, Hirono requested the Navy to name a warship in honor of Trinidad’s contributions, saying it “would recognize not only his valor but the tens of thousands of Filipinos who have served our great nation for the past 120 years.” “Filipinos have a long history of service with the U.S. Navy, going back to 1901. Naming a U.S. Navy warship after Fireman Second Class Telesforo Trinidad would be a first for Filipino Americans and would join the only other vessel named after an Asian American Pacific Islander sailor, Rear Admiral Gordon Pai’ea Chung Hoon,” Hirono wrote. “It’s a long way to go. We have received support from some heavy hitters but we need more,” Ravelo said. “Trinidad’s legacy has waited over 105 years, this is a long time coming. It’s about time.” Cecilia Gaerlan shared a brief history of Filipinos in the U.S. Navy and cited that only three Filipinos have received the Medal of Honor: Jose Nisperos in 1905, Trinidad in 1915, and Jose Calugas in 1942. Citing information from the Naval History and Heritage Command, Gaerlan said that Trinidad was 24 years old when he displayed heroism by rescuing a couple of his fellow crew members in the boiler room explosions aboard
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Megia, a rail yard employee who was killed during a mass shooting in San Jose, California on Wednesday morning, May 26, leaves behind a daughter and two sons, and a stepson. Photo shows Megia with his daughter Avery and sons Gavin and Nate. Photo courtesy of GoFundMe
Filipino father killed in San Jose mass... PAGE A1 “He tried his best to make his family live the American dream. He’s a good son, you know. He does the right thing, you know? You can’t say anything bad about him. I’m gonna miss him,” Leonard Megia told CBS San Francisco. A GoFundMe page has been started for Megia’s children with a $25,000 goal, as of this writing. He was described as “a hardworking family man who was very caring and always saw the positive in life” in the description of the page. “He would greet you with his bright shining smile and warm wishes…He will be missed by so many. Especially his wonderfully close family. His wife Nicole, step-son Kyle, father Leonard, mother Edna, Sisters Julie and Luci and his three beautiful children Nate, Gavin and Avery,” it added. The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco confirmed Megia’s death with the Asian Journal and that he was of Filipino descent, saying they “stand ready to extend assistance.” “The Consulate General in San Francisco extends its condolences to the families of the victims of the mass shooting in San Jose on 26 May 2021,” the Consulate said in an email to the Asian Journal. “The Consulate shall coordinate with authorities in San Jose and monitor developments.” The gunman, identified as 57-year-old Samuel Cassidy, worked at the light rail facility and had reportedly written in
detail about how he hated his workplace. He began firing at colleagues during a shift change and killed himself as law enforcement came on the scene on Wednesday morning, according to Santa Clara County Sheriff Deputy Russell Davis. Cassidy had been detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers after returning from a trip to the Philippines on August 8, 2016, during which they found a black memo notebook describing his ill feelings toward the VTA as well as “books about terrorism and fear and manifestos,” according to the Wall Street Journal. “He...was targeting certain people. He walked by other people,” Kirk Bertolet, a worker at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), said in a CNN interview on Wednesday night. “He let other people live as he gunned other people down.” In addition to Megia, the other victims of the shooting have been named by the Santa Clara County medical examiner’s office: Abdolvahad Alaghmandan, 63; Adrian Balleza, 29; Jose Dejesus Hernandez III, 35; Lars Kepler Lane, 63; Timothy Michael Romo, 49; Michael Joseph Rudometkin, 40; and Taptejdeep Singh, 36. Alex Fritch, 49, the ninth victim of the shooting, died at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees (AFSCME) extended its condolences to the loved ones of Megia, who was the AFSCME assistant superintendent. “Sadly, our AFSCME family lost a member in the tragic shooting, Assistant Superintendent Paul DelaCruz Megia, a father of three (Nate, Gavin, and Avery) who risked his life while trying to keep his staff safe,” it said in a statement released May 27. AFSCME 1902 Executive [President Alan Shanahan, for his part, said the organization stands in solidarity with the VTA victims. “The members of AFSCME Local 1902 stand in solidarity with our fellow VTA members as they deal with this travesty in the workplace,” he said. “Each day, public servants such as those in VTA serve the public with pride, and it is deeply saddening that some of our brothers do not get to go home to their families,” he added. San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said those who knew the suspect for years “expressed generalized concerns about his mental health.” “This is a horrific day for our city,” Liccardo said. “And it’s a tragic day for the V.T.A family.” The Filipino Americans of Northern California Organization (FANCO) also shared their statement regarding the shooting, emphasizing the need for mental health resources for employees. “I think anybody that does
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MASKS KEEP OUR TRADITIONS STRONG
Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month May is a time to recognize the contributions and celebrate the diversity of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. To keep our traditions strong and protect each other against COVID-19, remember to get vaccinated. Please continue to wear a cloth mask in public indoor spaces and crowded outdoor areas, even if you are vaccinated. And make sure your mask covers your nose, mouth and chin completely without any gaps. Together, we can #EndThePandemic.
covid19.ca.gov
Your Actions Save Lives
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 29-JUNE 1, 2021
Movement to name a US Navy warship... Philippine Airlines’ transfer to new...
PAGE A2 the USS San Diego. Rene Trinidad, Telesforo’s grandson, joined the Kapihan from his home in Granada Hills, California. “We’re overwhelmed at the possibility of that happening,” he remarked. “It looks like it’s going to be a long process, but even just the possibility of being given that honor, it boggles my mind.” Rene said this meant so much to his father, who passed away in December 2020. His father was Telesforo’s fourth child, and out of 10, two joined the Navy. Because of this, he said that the U.S. Navy played a big role in their family’s lives.
PAGE A1 Asian Journal, the airline had been appealing the move, citing concern for its passengers who are predominantly older or have disabilities. The airline asserted its positioning as the biggest customer of wheelchairs at LAX, with 3,300 average per month in 2019. Per one-way flight, as many as 80 passengers could require wheelchair assistance, PAL added. “We will continue to pursue all available remedies in the hope that
“Lolo Porong really wanted to join the navy that he stowed on a passenger ship from Aklan to Luzon to get to Sangley Point. That’s how much he wanted to join. He had humble means and didn’t have the resources to pay for the passage,” Rene shared. Community members at the San Diego event were able to sign an enlarged letter to the Secretary of the Navy in support of the campaign. Congressional and local leaders in San Diego have sent letters of support to the Secretary of the Telesforo Trinidad Navy. Among those who sent their no descent. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenletters were San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and Councilmember berg, also of Filipino descent, has PAGE A1 Chris Cate, who are both of Filipi- also backed this project. n To confront the anti-Asian hate crimes in the country, the White House Initiative on AANHPIs will focus on helping to coordinate a comprehensive federal response days” cash prize drawings on receive a text message with an to the rise in acts of anti-Asian bias June 4 and June 11, totaling $1.5 electronic prepaid card redemp- and violence, as well as addressing million. tion code sent to their mobile the systemic lack of disaggregated On June 15, $1.5 million will be phone or email address 7-10 days data on AA and NHPI communiawarded to 10 lucky Californians after their two-dose series of Pfiz- ties in federal statistical systems. – for a grand total of $15 million er or Moderna, or single dose of It will also expand language acin cash prizes. Winners must Johnson and Johnson. An incen- cess and language assistance procomplete their vaccination in or- tive card will be held for those grams for AA and NHPI individuder to claim their prize. If some- who start their vaccination at the als across federal programs. one under 18 wins, the cash will launch of the program. Those Furthermore, the initiative aims be put in a savings account for who do not have a mobile phone to strengthen economic security them until they turn 18. or email address can receive a and opportunity for AA and NHPI Beginning on May 27, the physical card by calling 1-833- communities by empowering AA next two million people who be- 993-3873, 7-10 days after receiv- and NHPI entrepreneurs, building gin and complete their COVID-19 ing their final dose. Those without new workforce training opportuvaccination will automatically be a permanent address can also call nities, and promoting workplaceligible to receive a $50 prepaid to coordinate delivery. es that are free from harassment or grocery card, worth a total of For more information, visit against AA and NHPI workers. $100 million. It gives them the COVID19.ca.gov/vax-for-the-win. It will also address the concenoption to select from a $50 Vir- To schedule an appointment to be tration of poverty experienced in tual Prepaid Card (which can be vaccinated, visit MyTurn.ca.gov many AA and NHPI communities, spent online, in-store where ma- or call the CA COVID-19 Hotline as well as the disparities in educajor debit cards are accepted, or at 1-833-422-4255. (AJPress) tional outcomes for AA and NHPI added to a mobile wallet to be used to shop in stores that accept mobile wallets), or a $50 grocery gift card from Kroger (which includes Ralphs, Food 4 Less and Foods Co.) or Albertsons (which includes Safeway, Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions and Andronico's Community Markets), while supplies last. Californians will
Biden signs executive order to...
Vaccinated Californians could win up to $1.5-M in...
PAGE A1 are at least partially vaccinated, but an estimated 12 million people who are eligible still have not gotten a vaccine to protect their health and the well-being of their communities. “Some Californians weren’t ready to get their COVID-19 vaccine on day one, and that’s okay. This program is designed to encourage those who need extra support to get vaccinated and help keep California safe,” said Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, California Department of Public Health Director and State Public Health Officer. “The State will work closely with our partners at local health departments and community-based organizations to ensure the program reaches families living in communities with the lowest vaccination rates, who might face language barriers and other obstacles.” All Californians aged 12+ who are at least partially vaccinated are automatically eligible for the cash prize drawings taking place in June. Thirty winners in total will be selected for the “$50,000 Fri-
Filipino father killed in San Jose mass... PAGE A2
these mass killings have a lot of resentment and anger in their psyche,” FANCO President Maria Marsella said in an interview with Asian Journal. “It would be great if employers could make it part of their benefits to give employees a health account. We are imperfect people, so we need to seek help.” Immediate action California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned Wednesday’s incident, describing the “numbness” and “sameness” to yet another mass killing. "And that numbness I think is something we're all feeling. All of us gathered here today, looking at the scene, listening to governors, mayors, chiefs speaking in similar tone and terms, expression of condolences. All the right emotions and perhaps the right words, but it begs the damn question: What the hell is going on in the United States of America? What the hell is wrong with us?” the governor said. For his part, President Joe Biden issued a statement on the shooting, urging Congress “to take immediate action” to end gun violence in America. “Enough,” Biden said in a statement. “Once again, I urge Congress to take immediate action and heed the call of the American people, including the vast majority of gun owners, to help end this epidemic of gun violence in America. Every life that is taken by a bullet pierces the soul of our nation. We can, and we must, do more.” Biden said he “yet again” ordered the lowering of the flag at half staff; weeks after doing the same thing for previous shootings, namely in Atlanta, Georgia, Boulder, Colorado, Rock Hill, South Carolina, and Indianapolis, Indiana. The president issued a statement regarding gun violence in April, calling it an “epidemic” and “international embarrassment.” In the statement, Biden urged the Attorney General and his team to identify “immediate, concrete actions” he can take without having to go through Congress including the control the production of “ghost guns” — weapons with no serial numbers to trace and require no background checks for buyers — and treating them as firearms under the Gun Control Act, changing the treatment of modified pistols with stabilizing braces under the National Firearms Act, allowing states to adopt extreme risk protection order laws like red flag laws more easily. “This is an epidemic, for God’s sake,” Biden said. “And it has to stop.” n
our flights will be retained at the original gates of the main TBIT concourse for the well-being and convenience of our valued passengers,” the airline added. In response to concerns coming from PAL and the local Filipino American community, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), which oversees LAX, maintained that it values its relationship with both the airline and travelers. “Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) strongly values its longstanding relationship with Phil-
LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LACMTA) REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL LACMTA will receive proposals for PS76262 - Los Angeles Union Station Strategic Advisor at the 9th Floor Receptionist Desk, Vendor/Contract Management Department, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012. This project is a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) SetAside contract. To participate in this RFP, proposers must be SBE certified with LACMTA prior to proposal due date. For information on the Set-Aside Program, visit: https://business. metro.net/VendorPortal/faces/ home1/certifications. All proposals must be submitted to LACMTA in one of two ways, either (1) sealed envelopes by mail or hand delivered to the address below, or (2) electronically via email to bids@metro.net. All proposals must be received on or before 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday, June 30, 2021. Proposals received later than the above date and time will be rejected and returned to the proposer unopened. Additionally, it is recommended that proposer’s email(s) are sent with a Delivery and Read receipt for their records. Lastly, proposers should send a verification email to the named Contract Administrator of the RFP after the email submission(s) of proposal to bids@metro.net. The verification email should indicate that a proposal has been submitted by Vendor Name for RFP# on X number of emails. A Virtual Pre-Proposal conference will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. Refer to solicitation for details. For a copy of the Proposal/ Bid specification visit our Solicitation Page on our Vendor Portal at https://business.metro.net or for further information email Erica Rodriguez-Duvergel at rodriguezduvergele@metro. net. For a copy of the Proposal/ Bid specification visit our Solicitation Page on our Vendor Portal at https://business.metro.net or for further information email Erica Rodriguez-Duvergel at rodriguezduvergele@metro. net. 5/19, 5/22, 5/26, 5/29, 6/2, 6/5, 6/9, 6/12, 6/16, 6/19, 6/23, 6/26, 6/30/21 CNS-3469379# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)
students of all ages. To prevent further anti-Asian bias and promote inclusion, the initiative will strengthen public awareness and education about AA and NHPI communities, cultures, and traditions. Additionally, it will ensure that AA and NHPI communities are empowered and equitably served by federal funding, grants, and contracts. “To ensure that the Federal government is mitigating COVID-19 related anti-Asian bias, advancing health equity for all AA and NHPI communities, and ensuring AA and NHPI communities can equitably recover from these crises, the Initiative will be led out of the Department of Health and Human Services,” the White House said. The executive order establishes a renewed Presidential Advisory Commission on AANHPIs, which will advise the president on ways the public, private and non-profit sectors can work together to advance equity and opportunity for
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ippine Airlines and the Filipino residents of and visitors to Los Angeles, and we look forward to providing an outstanding guest experience for Philippine Airlines passengers at LAX for many years to come,” the airport authority previously told the Asian Journal in a statement. The West Gates, which were part of a $1.7 billion expansion project at LAX, were formally unveiled during a grand opening ceremony on Monday, May 24, boasting 15 gates, automated boarding gates and other new amenities. n the communities. The commission is also tasked to advise the President on federal grantmaking and policies to address anti-Asian xenophobia and violence, as well as the intersectional barriers that AA and NHPI women, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities face. “These announcements build on the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic actions to combat bias, violence, and xenophobia against AA and NHPI communities,” said the White House. Last week on Thursday, May 20, Biden signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act into law, which would create a position within the Department of Justice to expedite the review of hate crimes. During his first week in office, the president signed an executive order, which included directives to remove language in federal actions or documents that would contribute to xenophobia and racism against the AAPI population and for the DOJ to expand its collection of data and public reporting regarding hate incidents against community members. n
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Poll: More Americans find anti-Asian hate increasing by AJPress A MAJORITY of Americans across racial and ethnic groups believe that discrimination against Asian Americans has worsened over the past year, according to a new poll. A poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research released on Wednesday, May 26 highlights the increase in anti-Asian hate and violence as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The poll found that 60% of Americans think the discrimination against Asian Americans is higher now compared to a year
ago. Of the total percentage, 71% of the surveyed are Asian Americans, 66% are Black Americans, 59% are white Americans, and 55% are Hispanic Americans. The poll was conducted from April 29 to May 3, among 1,842 adults aged 18 and older nationwide. It used a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The AP-NORC also found that 45% of Americans are “extremely or very concerned”
about the increased violence against Asian Americans because of the pandemic, while 33% are “somewhat concerned.” Of the Asian American respondents, 67% are extremely or very concerned about the increased violence, and 17% are somewhat concerned. Meanwhile, 13% are “not very or not at all” concerned. As a result of the surge in anti-Asian hate and violence in the U.S., 57% of Asian Americans feel unsafe in public because of their race or ethnicity, following
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Los Angeles launches ‘LA for All’ in Tagalog, other... TEAM PH. A medical worker injects national triathlete Andy Avellana with the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at the Manila Prince Hotel in Malate, Manila on Friday, May 28. Avellana was one of 730 individuals inoculated in a special session for athletes to the Tokyo Olympics and Hanoi Southeast Asian Games. PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.
California AG Rob Bonta sounds off on issues since... PAGE A1 the rise in anti-Asian and antisemitic harassment and violence. Through the state’s newly established Racial Justice Bureau, Bonta told the Asian Journal that the state’s approach to preventing and solving hate crimes will be centered around addressing specific community needs and collaborative solutions. The bureau will take on a number of wide-ranging practices including: investigating hate-based organizations, working with school districts to create policies and practices that protect youth who are facing discrimination and partnerships with local law enforcement and various civil rights agencies across the state to more thoroughly investigate hate crime cases. “There's been so many who felt the sting of hate in California and in this country over many years, and there are many who are feeling it stronger now, and it's important that we take care of one another and it’s important that the California attorney general take care of those who are being targeted and attacked,” Bonta said. When it comes to policing, Bonta — a staunch supporter for police reform — said that law enforcement’s solution to handling hate incidents and hate crimes is not increasing the number of police patrols but rather utilizing and enforcing the resources it already has.
“I think that we have a lot of tools in the toolbox now that we're not using, and we should be using those,” Bonta told the Asian Journal. “We don't have existing law enforcement properly trained and resourced to investigate and identify hate crimes when they occur. We already have hate crime enhancements on our, in our penal code and on our law books. They're available as appropriate to be used when, when someone is attacked based on a protected class including their race, so I think we have sufficient tools, we just need to use them, and marshal them as appropriate. So let’s do that first.” Bonta also commented on the Wednesday, May 26 shooting in San Jose — which claimed the life of nine victims, including one Filipino American — arguing that California, one of the strictest states when it comes to firearms, “should do more” to address gun violence in the state. “I think any common-sense action that can save a life we should take,” Bonta said. “And I'd be proud to support policies that save lives and move the needle. California has done its part [and] has kind of lived up in many ways to its leadership role in this nation but clearly there's more to do here in California and clearly there's more to do at the federal level.” He continued, “We have our children screaming at us, you know, those who are saying, I just want to go to school without fear
of a mass shooting in our school or having to do a mass shooting drill. This is our bitter, tragic reminder that we have fallen behind here in the United States behind the rest of the world in keeping people safe from gun violence.” Bonta also commented on the recent international Ponzi scheme in which at least 30 people — mostly elderly Filipinos — in the Sacramento and Stockton areas were duped into investing in a yetto-be opened resort in the Philippines. According to Bonta’s office, 15 people were charged on Friday, May 22 with conspiring to defraud these victims of a combined $5 million. Bonta was unable to supply updates to the case, but he promised that elder financial abuse remains a top priority for his office. “My goal is to protect Californians who are hurt and harmed and abused and mistreated. I see my role as a people's attorney [is to] stand up for the little guy and protect them from the abuse overreach of authority of the big guy, and to make sure that communities that are vulnerable and disadvantaged and targeted are protected,” Bonta said. “And that's who we are supporting here, there are people who did nothing wrong but were made false promises and defrauded and mistreated and those who committed the crimes, whoever they are, will be brought to justice and be held accountable.” n
PAGE A1 Led by LA Civil Rights, as well as the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and Department of Public Works (DPW), “LA for All” includes artwork and designs from six local Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) artists, as well as resources for reporting hate crimes and incidents. One of the artists includes Filipino muralist Eliseo Art Silva whose portrait of “Nanay” Fedelina Luguasan — the late Filipina human trafficking survivor who spent 65 years enslaved as by a Filipino family — is featured on a digital card promoting the campaign and resources to call if one experiencing a hate crime or incident. The campaign comes after a continued rise in reported hate crimes in Los Angeles, including a 114% increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans reported to LAPD in 2020. Hate crimes are up 55% in Los Angeles since 2016 according to LAPD data, and have reached new highs against African Americans, Latinos, the Jewish community, and the LGBTQ community, among others. LA for All will be rolled out in 12 languages, including Tagalog, and will be featured on bus shelters, street light banners, DASH buses, libraries, sanitation trucks, social media and on digital billboards in every terminal of LAX. ”This campaign is about protecting and safeguarding the values Los Angeles holds most dear: belonging, inclusion, and community. Everyone has a role to play in ensuring our family, friends, and neighbors feel safe in our beautiful City,” said Pub-
Eliseo Art Silva’s portrait of “Nanay” Fedelina Lugusan, a Filipina human trafficking survivor, is used for an ‘LA for All’ graphic sharing resources to call in case you experience or witness hate.
lic Works Commissioner Jessica Caloza and Co-Chair of the APAHM Committee. “Given the diversity of L.A., this also means making sure our resources are available in multiple languages. As an immigrant whose first language is not English, I feel so proud knowing LA for All will be accessible in over 12 languages and will reach our most vulnerable communities." Councilmembers John Lee, Nithya Raman and Mark Ridley Thomas co-introduced a motion in March calling on the city to “initiate a public messaging campaign, in collaboration with artists from the AAPI communities, against anti-AAPI hate speech.” The motion was passed by the City Council on April 29. LA Civil Rights, which was established last year, is taking on hate crime and incident prevention as part of its work. The new department has reached thousands of viewers through its livestream and televised programming on reporting
and reducing hate, and has launched a Stop Hate Resource Hub at CivilAndHumanRights. LAcity.org/LAforAll, which includes both government and community resources for victims of hate. “LA for All is more than a campaign, it is a call to action,” said Capri Maddox, executive director of the Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department (LA Civil Rights). “Hate crimes in Los Angeles have risen 55% over the past five years, affecting the AAPI community and so many others. This is a crisis we cannot ignore. We must make it clear that Los Angeles will not stand for hate or discrimination, and that we celebrate the diverse mosaic that defines our city.” Anyone who has seen or experienced a hate crime or incident can report anonymously to the LAPD at 1-877-ASK-LAPD, or reach a crisis care coordinator by calling 2-1-1, 3-1-1 or visiting www.lavshate.org/report. (AJPress)
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Dateline PhiliPPines
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 29-JUNE 1, 2021
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Preparing for Medicare Ito ay serye ng Medicare Tips hatid ng Clever Care Health Plan, isang nangungunang tagapagbigay ng East meets West Medicare services na sensitibo sa kultura ng kanilang mga miyembro. Para sa malapit nang mag-65, maraming importanteng desisyon na kailangang gawin para sa inyong healthcare coverage. Narito ang ilang helpful tips para maintindihan ang Medicare, at kung paano mamili ng coverage para sa inyong pangangailangan.
COLLABORATION. Philippine Red Cross chair and CEO, Senator Richard Gordon (right), and Ambassador Steven Robinson pose inside the food truck donated by the Australian Embassy on Friday, May 28. The food truck can serve hot meals to about 800 persons affected by disasters within the first eight hours of operation. PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.
PH running out of nurses, says Labor chief by William
Depasupil ManilaTimes.net
THE Philippines is running out of nurses and other medical personnel to man hospitals and health facilities attending to COVID-19 patients, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd warned on Thursday, May 28. The shortage of nurses is the reason Bello will likely reject the request of Germany for 15,000 nurses. Germany had asked the government for exemption to the 5,000-per-year-deployment cap for Filipino nurses and other health care workers imposed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). The task force ordered the cap to ensure that there will be nurses left as the country continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic. Bello said a study conducted by a Technical Working Group
(TWG) composed of personnel from the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Health, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration revealed the shortage of medical personnel. "If you ask me, because there is a TWG study, I'm not inclined to recommend their exemption. Because the TWG's assessment is that we are already running out of nurses and health care workers," the Labor chief said in a virtual press briefing. Germany submitted an initial request for 15,000 nurses, which Bello found to be big. To boost the number of nurses, Bello urged the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to immediately conduct a licensure examination for nurses. "There's already a schedule for two examinations so that we will have more nurses," he said. The PRC deferred the holding of licensure examinations
for nurses and other professions because of the recent surge in Covid-19 cases. The IATF, through the recommendation of Bello, earlier approved the request for exemption of the United Kingdom from the 5,000-deployment limit. "The general policy is there is a cap of 5,000 per year, but the UK was exempted upon their request," he added. Last year, the recruitment industry reported that more than 500,000 health care workers were left jobless because of the government decision to temporarily ban the deployment of medical workers. It cited data from the Health department that of the 750,000 licensed health professionals, only 204,437 were active in the health sector. Bello explained that the ban was in compliance with the decision of the IATF to ensure that the country's health care requirements are fully met. n
Comelec: 59-M voters have registered for 2022 polls by Daphne
Galvez Inquirer.net
MANILA — The Commission on Elections said there are now 59 million voters who registered for the 2022 local and national elections, or at least one million voters short of its target. The poll body is hoping to reach more than 60 million registered voters for the 2022 polls. Comelec Commissioner Antonio Kho Jr. said prospective voters can still get registered until the end of September.
“We are inviting all our prospective voters to register and go to our offices para makapagrehistro sila,” he said. In the 2019 elections, there were about 61.8 million voters but Comelec had to deactivate seven million, mostly due to failure to vote twice. Kho said they have implemented several measures to make registration easier, including the “iRehistro” where applicants may accomplish their application forms online but they will still have to go to Comelec offices for
their biometrics. Comelec has also deployed satellite registration centers to reach out to communities to register. “Hopefully, with all these measures will increase our registration. We expect to reach around 60 million registered voters,” Kho said. The minority bloc in the House of Representatives urged the Comelec to establish more satellite registration centers in the country for people wishing to register for the 2022 national and local elections. n
Four parts oF Medicare – parts a, B, c &d Di tulad ng traditional health insurance plans, nahahati ang Medicare sa apat na bahagi na sakop ang iba’t-ibang serbisyo. part a: Ang Medicare Part A ay hospital insurance. Covered nito ang inpatient care at mga ospital, skilled nursing facilities, hospice, at certain home health services. Ang inpatient ay isang pasyente na na-admit ng pormal sa isang ospital ayon sa payo ng kanilang doktor. part B: Medicare Part B ay insurance para sa mga serbisyo tulad ng doctor visits, preventive screenings, lab tests at ambulance services. Ang outpatient services ay mga natanggap na serbisyo ng isang pasyente bago pa mag-issue ang kanilang doktor ng pormal na order for admission sa isang ospital o iba pang inpatient facility. Binubuo ng Parts A at B ang tinatawag na Original Medicare. part c: Ang Medicare Part C ay isang private insurance na tinatawag din na Medicare Advantage. Covered ng Part C ang mas maraming benefits kaysa sa Original Medicare, tulad ng vision, dental, hearing, at kasama sa ilan ang prescription drug coverage. Para sa mga tao na gusto ng predictable out of pocket costs at comprehensive coverage, madalas ay pinipili nilang bumili ng isang Medicare Advantage plan. part d: Ang Medicare Part D ay para sa prescription drug coverage, at ito ay optional. Kung kailangan ninyo ng drug coverage, puwede kayong sumali sa isang hiwalay na prescription drug plan mula sa isang private insurer, o sumali sa isang Medicare Advantage plan na may kasamang prescription coverage. Kapag pinili ninyong huwag kumuha ng prescription drug coverage sa panahong kayo’y unang naging eligible, puwede kayong magbayad ng late enrollment penalty kung ipagpaliban ninyo ang pagsali sa plano—maliban na lang kung mayroon kayong ibang creditable drug coverage, o mag-qualify kayo para sa Extra Help. Sa madaling salita, kapag inyong pinili ang Original Medicare, tatanggap kayo ng Part A at B benefits. Kapag nag-enroll sa isang Medicare Advantage plan na may Part D, tatanggap kayo ng Parts A, B, C, at D. cost involved: part a: Ang premium para sa Part A ay nakadepende sa bilang ng quarters kung saan ikaw o ang iyong asawa ay nag-trabaho. Kung ang enrollee o ang kanyang asawa ay nag-trabaho ng 40 calendar quarters (10 taon) sa anumang kompanya kung saan sila ay nagbayad ng Social Security taxes sa Amerika, ito ay premium-free. Kung kulang sa 40 quarters (10 taon), kailangan nilang magbayad ng premium. Nag-iiba ang premium, depende sa bilang ng taon kung saan
ang enrollee at ang kanyang asawa ay nagtrabaho. May deductible din para sa hospital services covered sa ilalim ng Part A. Sa taong 2021, ang Part A deductible ay $1,484 bawat benefit period. Pagkatapos ma-meet ang deductible na ito, $0 na ang iyong share of cost sa unang 60 days bilang inpatient bawat benefit period. Kapag ikaw ay na-confine ng higit pa sa 60 days, mayroon kang share of cost na $371 bawat araw for days 61 hanggang 90 bawat benefit period. Nagsisimula ang benefit period sa unang araw na ikaw ay maadmit bilang inpatient, at magtatapos sa araw na hindi ka na tinanggap bilang isang outpatient for 60 consecutive days. Ang inpatient stays na labas sa 91 days per benefit period ay may share of cost of $742 per day at bibilangin kasama sa iyong “lifetime reserve days”. Mayroon kang panghabang-buhay na 60 reserve days. Oras na magamit mo na ang lahat ng iyong lifetime reserve days, responsibilidad mo na ang lahat ng gastos. part B: Required sa Part B ang monthly premium mula sa lahat ng enrollees. Ang standard amount sa taong 2021 ay $148.50, at halos lahat ng tao ay binabayaran ito. Kung ang iyong kita ay above a certain amount, maaring kailangan mong magbayad ng additional amount na higit pa sa standard premium. Dagdag pa sa monthly premium, ang lahat ng enrollees ay required na mag-bayad ng deductibles at out-of-pocket share of cost para sa karamihan ng serbisyo. Sa taong 2022, ang annual deductible para sa Medicare Part B ay nakatakda sa $198. Ibig sabihin, ang bawat tao ay kailangang mag-bayad ng $198 in fees bago sagutin ng Medicare Part B ang outpatient services. Oras na maabot ninyo ang deductible na ito, tipikal na magbayad ng 20% coinsurance bilang inyong bahagi para sa gastos ng covered services. part c: Nabibili ang Part C coverage mula sa pribadong health insurance plans, at ang gastos at additional benefits sa kabila ng Original Medicare ay magkaiba bawat plano. part d: Tulad ng Part C, ang Part D ay hatid ng pribadong insurance companies. Magkaiba man ang premiums ng bawat plano ng Medicare Part D, mayroong standardization pag dating sa kung magkano ang puwedeng singilin ng insurers kung ang inyong annual income ay lagpas sa isang certain amount. Kailangan din magbayad ng deductibles. Sa taong 2022, ang set deductible para sa beneficiary ay $480. Bago pa mag-sign up para sa Medicare, magsaliksik muna base sa kung saan kayo nakatira, sa mga doktor na inyong gusto, sa inyong kinikita, kondisyon ng inyong kalusugan, at coverage na kakailanganin. Para sa mga tamang desisyon ukol sa inyong kalusugan, tumawag na sa Clever Care Health Plan helpline. Handang magbigay ng libreng konsulta ang aming Tagalog-speaking agents, at inyong maging gabay sa aming proseso. Tawag na: 833388-2461 (TTY: 711), 8am—8pm, Lunes-Biyernes.
Ang Clever Care of Golden State ay isang HMO plan na may Medicare contract. Ang enrollment ay naka-depende sa contract renewal. H7607_21_CM0453D_TAG_C Approved 05122021
A10099-D-TAG (0521)
A6 MAY 29-JUNE 1, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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OPINION
Dereliction of duty
FEATURES
WITH 6,483 new infections recorded on Thursday, May 27, the COVID surge continues in the Philippines. Yet in several recent incidents notably in Metro Manila, epicenter of the pandemic, it seems as if people are oblivious of the sickness and death that COVID-19 brings. Crowds are going swimming in private pools and public beaches, organizing food distribution stunts unmindful of the need to maintain physical distancing, staging a street boxing match with a large crowd of onlookers, and holding wakes with the crowd much larger than the 10-person limit. Teenagers even play volleyball in the street at 3 a.m., in open defiance of curfew hours and other health safety protocols. At least 20 guests who went swimming at the Gubat sa Ciudad pool resort in Caloocan have since tested positive for COVID. Results of tests on other guests are being awaited. Scores of participants in several of the other super spreader events have also tested positive. People have a right to catch COVID-19 if they want and head straight to the crematorium if the worst happens, but they have no right to endanger others who want to remain COVID-free and alive. With this in mind, President Duterte has ordered
the apprehension of organizers and participants in super spreader activities. But first to be arrested, the President said in his televised address to the nation the other night, will be the barangay captains with jurisdiction over the venue of the events, for dereliction of duty. The order makes sense, since officials of the barangay system, the smallest unit of government, should be aware of large gatherings within the community. The order makes sense especially because in some cases such as the street boxing, barangay personnel themselves have been found to be directly involved in the events. Such activities indicate impatience with the lockdowns and the slow rollout of COVID vacPhilstar.com photo cines. But Filipinos have waited for over a year and made enormous sacrifices in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Over a million A united effort works best in containing the panhave been sickened in this country and the number of people mourning the loss of loved ones demic. It is deeply disappointing to see the sacrifices of millions being wasted by irresponsible keeps increasing.
Editorial
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THE coronavirus pandemic has not only disrupted life as we knew it before March 2020, it has been a painful catalyst agent that has forced us to look deep inside our hearts and come to terms with who we really are, what we stand for, and what truly matters to us. With the realization of how fragile and fleeting life is and how we have no control over when it will be “time is up” for us, a sense of urgency rose within us to reassess and recalibrate our life journey and follow our true north, even if it could mean defying convention, pruning our life with those that get in the way of our path to our truth and our divine purpose in life. This epiphany makes us weigh in the value in our life not only of material things, our careers, our dreams, and yes, even the ties that bind. For this piece, I want to focus on the holy covenant of marriage, and any committed relationship, especially from the point of view of women. I want to share with you two pieces that I wrote about this top-
Rhizomes
PROSY ABARQUEZDELACRUZ, J.D. LAST summer around this time, America’s psyche was traumatized when Derek Chauvin, a white policeman in uniform, knelt on the neck of an African American man named George Floyd, for what we thought was 8 minutes and 46 seconds. It was not. Based on the testimony a year later of brave 17-year-old Darnella Frazier, it was 9 and ½ minutes on Floyd’s neck. The neck, by the way, houses two vascular components. A doctor later testified that the amount of force cut off oxygen to Floyd's brain, and ultimately, his death. His chief of police and training officer all testified that what Chauvin did, kneeling on Floyd’s neck, was not a standard police tactic and that they are taught actually to give relief and rescue tactics to save a life, before effectuating an arrest. We now know that the federal grand jury indicted all four police officers including Derek Chauvin, who knelt on Floyd’s neck. That incident sparked millions to go out in the streets, demonstrating not just in America’s 2,000 cities but also, 60 countries abroad.
people. And they can indulge their irresponsibility because they can – because those tasked to stop them have failed in their job. (Philstar.com)
Part I: To stay or say goodbye? Women facing a crossroads in the journey to forever love in marriage
ic, which I have been studying and reflecting on since the 1980s, especially among women born and raised in the Philippines, who may be your own mother or grandmother who have somehow been shaping your own values, expectations and dreams about love, marriage commitment, and forever. For this piece, let me share with you this essay I wrote in February 2010, which I think means so much more now during these challenges we now face, a collective history we now write together. Why women stand by their man despite… “For better, for worse…” a solemn vow of undying love and total commitment professed by a man and a woman in marriage. Pero uso pa ba ang martyr ngayon? [Are there martyrs still around?] What happens when it is only the woman who lives up to this vow — when the husband does not work to provide for the family, when he stops being caring and affectionate to his wife, when he lies to and cheats on her, and worst, when he becomes abusive physically, emotionally
and psychologically? Until when will and should a woman stand by her man? It seems that women are physiologically “wired” to protect their brood, their family — children and husbands included. A woman releases those hormones called “oxytocin” upon orgasm in her most intimate contact with her man (men do release oxytocin but not as much as women). This is also the same hormone she secretes when she gives birth to her baby. Oxytocin makes a woman bond and be attached to her mate...it is also responsible for a woman’s maternal instinct to take care of and protect her baby — it even triggers the production of milk to feed her offspring. This is why in most cases, it is the woman that is the caring and nurturing parent...and why, generally, it seems harder for a woman to break the marriage and tear the family apart. The woman is also “wired” by the expectations of society, especially in the Philippines, to be the beacon of light, “ilaw ng tahanan,” the paragon of the virtues of patience, of over-extending herself just to help family members,
of putting the needs and happiness of her family before hers, of forgiveness, of martyrdom even to a fault. She is raised in a culture that glorifies male machismo that expects the wife to turn to her faith to strengthen her when her husband goes astray. “Sa hinaba-haba man daw ng prosisyon, sa simbahan din ang tuloy” [No matter how long and winding the procession may be, it will eventually go back to the church where it started] — which can be interpreted as the woman just having to let her husband be just because he is a man. What is important is that she is the legal wife, he provides for the needs of the family, he comes home to her, and even if he doesn’t — yet, someday he will — when he is old and weak and sick, he will come back to die in her arms. Some women stand by their men because they are psychologically and emotionally afraid to be alone, while many depend on their husbands financially just to survive. Some have to stay to keep their medical insurance coverage, or to hold on to the chance of having a green card and legalize their status in the United
States. Most women stay for their children — thinking they will be better, more stable and decent people if they do not grow up in a broken home. Other women endure the pain and the hardship because they fear for their lives and for the safety of their children from the hands of their own husbands if they even try to leave. In desperation, they believe they are left with no other options but to stay. There are also women who keep their marriage for utilitarian reasons: “You use me, I use you, so let us play this charade.” They stay because they want to continue enjoying the convenience, luxury, and social stature they have gone accustomed to. Some go as far as having their own romantic or sexual affairs—but hey, they think—at least their marriage is intact! But then, there are women who stand by their men because they love their husband so much, sinner or saint, and believe in the miracle of redemption. Some can look at their husband and see him beyond his fault and imperfection, remembering and focusing on what is good about him, ratio-
nalizing he is but human and that someday he will find the light. Still, many women hold on to their marriage because they made a solemn vow to God to keep the marriage, for better for worse, in sickness and in health, ‘til death do them part. Many women, especially Filipina wives, consider their marriage as their vocation, and that no matter how difficult life with their husbands may be, they have made the commitment to stay, and this is a sacrifice they offer up to God. Other women have actually built a good friendship and partnership with their husbands through the years, and so even if their relationship has failed on the romantic man-woman level, they still have their friendship to keep them together. Remember the celebrated case here in America of the wife who in middle age, had her husband come out of the closet? She did not divorce him, still lives with him in the same house, raises their kids with him, and has fully accepted her husband for the person he has become even if he chose to have a sex change operation. She may have lost her
Humanity stood up to evil and we all got tattooed by what happened to Floyd’s heart, stopped by hatred prematurely by a man in blue uniform, who violated his public oath of office and breached the public's trust. Last year, our Asian American community witnessed the rise of hate incidents. This month, it has risen to over 6,000 incidents, according to Vice President Kamala Harris. Recall how a white man killed eight in an Atlanta spa, six of whom were Asian females? He has now been charged with eight counts of murder, and his Baptist church issued a lengthy statement condemning his actions as contrary to the Gospel, even as experts warned of more hate crimes from male supremacy, according to the New York Times. Thankfully, our government acted. In Congress, the House voted 364-62, votes and the Senate voted 94-1 in favor of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. To the credit of Congress' bipartisanship and Pres. Joe Biden who signed the hate crimes bill into law, our country experienced a united front at the federal level. “We need to unite as one people, one nation, one America… Hate can be given no safe harbor in America. [We must stand] to-
gether against hate, against racism — the ugly poison that has long haunted and plagued our nation,” he said. Though we must also remember, that 63 legislators, 1 senator and 62 representatives voted against this bill. Still, we can say that our federal government stood up to the evil of hatred and we now have a more precise definition, reporting mechanism, oversight, including education and training of law enforcement officials to prevent substandard and unprofessional policing with hate bias prevention training and education. Our police are now tattooed to consciously prevent hatred, and we hope, nationally, they all do to honor their uniforms and public oaths. Let me end with two short story vignettes. Hands up, see me! Racism has been this warped mental concept passed on from generation to generation in America. It has lived on since our economy was dependent on tobacco and cotton plantations several centuries ago. We are now mostly a gig and soon, an electric and solar-powered and wind sourced economy in the 21st century, six centuries later. Shouldn't our conscious hearts stop racism as a virus from spreading? Should we not
evolve into conscious Americans, deconstructing and dismantling our explicit and implicit biases? At the Beverly Hills Farmers Market, one morning, I saw a Latino American record producer shooed away and told not to sit next to a white elderly man. The white guy said, “This is my chair,” when he was sitting on one already. I saw the hurt in this Latino man’s eyes. I waved at him and loudly, “Here, please sit next to me.” I wanted to neutralize the bigotry and it resulted in me getting the most profound spiritual lesson of all times: “That when you are born and survived the first year even without your parents nurturing you, the Universe’s angels were taking care of you.” At the same market, I saw a white volunteer stop an African American man from gathering recyclables in a trash container. The white guy said, “This is my trash can. Stay away from here. Go back to your neighborhood.” I was sitting next to the trash can. I stood up and said, “Listen, this trash can belongs to the City of Beverly Hills. It is for all of us to use. You both can gather recyclables from this trash can. You do not have to dehumanize him." The man was perturbed with a red face, but the rest of the folks sitting at the tables clapped. They said, “Thank you for stand-
ing up for that poor fellow.” Just as all who are working through their pain, we too emerge into the light, as other folks do. At a Catholic elementary and middle school in East Hollywood, I taught writing for 8th graders. I had a handful of brave students. Every Friday, I picked fruits from our backyard tree or baked banana bread for them. We wrote for 45 minutes and read aloud to each other. I asked them to interview their father about their love story. Another week, it was to interview their mothers about her dreams. I reversed the stereotype that only fathers have dreams. I was struck by how this beautiful Latina girl named Cinnamon kept saying she hated her father. So when she came back to class, quite eager to read her story to us that she persisted to get her dad to share, over many nights. It turns out that her father escaped the war in El Salvador, where he grew up looking for food in the trash cans. He was not abandoned as his parents were killed by stray bullets. He grew up ready to run and hide. He got here by some miracle to America, got a job, but did not know how to love his wife and this precious 8th grader. When she got done reading, we all cried. I told her, "From now on, dai-
ly, call your dad to tell him you love him when you are at your mom's house." Why? I told her that he grew up with his heart emptied of love, "You must now fill it up." She nodded her head. She recently wrote a personal statement and got a scholarship at her dream Catholic high school. She said, "Ms. Delacruz, you know that cash gift you gave me for Christmas, I used it to apply at several high schools. I was accepted at the high school I dreamt of going to." Her heart's four chambers, once filled with hatred for her father, have now been filled up with understanding, love for her dad, and the realization that she is God's precious beloved. I saw her mom in church one time and together they had the broadest smiles, I suppose with peace in their hearts, secure now in knowing Cinnamon got admitted with her own personal skills in writing what she felt, her experience of feeling unloved by her dad and now, loving him, instead. She interrupted the chain of hatred. That experience got tattooed in my heart. Not all of us are racists, not all white men are racists, and people who identify as Black, Asian, Latino or Jewish are not are born racists, but we all can have conscious hearts so we would not spread hatred as a virus. “It is compassion that re-
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How many more words before we can all breathe?
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Dateline PhiliPPines
Panelo: Duterte may consider running for vice president in 2022 by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte may run for the second-highest post in the country in the 2022 elections if there is a public “clamor,” according to Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo. “Si presidente, tatakbo lang ‘yan pag nakita niya may clamor, ‘pag malakas ang clamor (The president will only run if he sees that there is clamor, if the clamor is strong),” Panelo said in an interview with One News’ “The Chiefs” on TV5 aired Tuesday, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo and President Rodrigo Duterte May 25. Malacañang photo When asked to clarify if Duterte “It takes only three minutes released on March 11. The members argued that the is open to running for vice presi- from the parking lot to the cinedent, Panelo answered that Duter- ma... But it took us one hour and a Duterte administration “has made te will leave it to God. half because he was swarmed by great strides in its battle against “Ito ang sagot niya (This was people and they did not want to let the scourge of drugs, terrorism, his answer): I’ll leave it to God. him go,” he told One News’ “The insurgency, corruption, and poverty.” (Those) were his exact words,” he Chiefs.” At least 20 members of the said. “He had a date with destiny. He “So in other words, naniniwala had an appointment with history. partylist signed the resolution, siya kung nakatadhana ka, ‘yan Whether he likes it or not, he has including Energy Secretary and ang mangyayari. Kung ang Diyos to run and he will win,” he added. PDP-Laban vice chairman Alfonso ang magtatadhana at itinalaga ka In March this year, several Cusi. For his part, Duterte’s spokesdyan wala kang magagawa kun- members of the Partido Demokradi susundin mo (he believes that tiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan man Harry Roque said he will if you’re destined for it, that is (PDP-Laban) signed a resolution consult the president about the what will happen. If it’s God who urging Duterte to seek the vice possibility. “I will consult the president decides our destiny and puts you presidency. there, then there’s nothing you “It is recognized by leaders about this possibility. Bagama’t can do about it but fulfill it),” he and members that with President I’ve heard the President say at added. Duterte’s steadfast leadership and one point na siyempre, naging Panelo noted that Duterte the strong public support for his presidente na siya, bakit siya joined the presidential race in agenda of change, the govern- magba-vice president (Although 2016 because of public clamor, ment will be able to expeditiously I’ve heard the president say at recalling an instance where Dute- and effectively deliver our people, one point that since he got elected rte’s supporters swarmed him our community, our economy, president, why would he dream while he was about to attend a back to good health,” the mem- to become vice president),” said premiere of a movie in a mall. bers said in a March 8 resolution Roque. n
How many more words before we can all...
PAGE A6 t
that comes from those whom we do not know, from those unknown to us, who are watching over our sleep and solitude, over our dangers and our weaknesses – that is something still greater and more beautiful because it widens out the boundaries of our being, and unites all living things.“ -Pablo Neruda In America and the rest of the world, live with the currency of love and God's boundless love as only love can bring us a full measure of peace. ***
moves the heavy bar, opens the door to freedom, makes the narrow heart as wide as the world. Compassion takes away from the heart the inert weight, the paralyzing heaviness; it gives wings to those who cling to the lowlands of the self." -Nyanaponika Thera. “Courage is the essence of faith. Only the brave can have faith. A wise person is willing to fight his battles within himself. He eventually becomes established in a higher state of mind.“ -Swami Ashokananda The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints “To feel the love of people expressed by the author do not necessarily whom we love is a fire that feeds reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of our life. But to feel the affection the Asian Journal, its management, editorial
board and staff.
*** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for AJ Press for 13 years. She also contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Costa Rica, Mexico and over 22 national parks in the US, in her pursuit of love for nature and the arts.
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 29-JUNE 1, 2021
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Filipinos repatriated amid pandemic now over 401,000 MANILA — More than 401,000 Filipinos abroad have been repatriated amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported Thursday, May 27. During the meeting of the House committee on overseas workers affairs, the DFA reported that 401,244 overseas Filipinos have been repatriated as of May 24. They came from more than 90 countries and 150 cruise ships and vessels. Of the repatriates, 105,488 are sea-based
overseas Filipinos while 295,756 are land-based. DFA said more than 2,147 commercial flights have been used to repatriate the Filipinos abroad. Of the more than 401,000 repatriated Filipinos, 327,511 were repatriated in 2020. Majority of them (69.89%) were from Middle East, followed by Asia and the Pacific (11.26%), Americas (9.45%), Europe (883%), and Africa (0.57%). (Neil Arwin Mercado/Inquirer.net)
US, SKorea to pursue PH dev’t projects by BeRnadette
e. tamayo
ManilaTimes.net
THE United States and South Korea will pursue joint development projects in the Philippines to boost the country’s climate resilience and address ocean plastic pollution. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAid) and BALIK PROBINSYA. A BP2 staff member pushes a cart with luggage to be loaded on a bus that would take families who availed of the Balik the Korean International CoopProbinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa Program to their respective provinces and start life anew at BP2 Depot, Quezon Avenue corner Agham Road, eration Agency (Koica) in April Quezon City on Friday, May 28. The beneficiaries took a COVID-19 swab test which turned out negative before their departure to their signed a memorandum of underprovinces. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler standing implementing the projects. The U.S. Embassy in Manila on Thursday, May 27 said the USAid
and Koica aim to explore collaboration in various sectors, including poverty reduction in rural areas, empowerment of Filipino women and girls, water resource management, community rehabilitation in Marawi, and climate resilience. The embassy said South Korea and the United States “are among the largest bilateral donors in the Philippines.” “Over the past 30 years, South Korea has expanded its development assistance in both grants and budgetary support and is the second-largest development
assistance country donor in the Philippines,” it said. “For the past 75 years, the United States has been a strong friend, partner and ally of the Philippine government in achieving its long-term vision of sustainable and inclusive growth for the Filipino people,” U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John Law said in a statement. Law added, “Our work with like-minded partners like Korea will further advance our shared development objectives as we support the Philippines in its journey to self-reliance.” n
Cayetano, left their husbands. All of them have their own reasons. Each of them has her own story. But that will be for my next piece. Abangan… (To be continued…) ***
board and staff.
Donaire promises a great fight in world title showdown in California Part I: To stay or say goodbye? Women facing... by Glendale
PAGE A6 t man but she still keeps her very best friend. Their kids may have lost their Dad but are now loved and cared for by “two Moms.” But not all women are like Hillary Clinton, Loi Ejercito or Lannie Mercado who stand by their man no matter what. Some, like Elizabeth Edwards, Jenny Sanford, Dina Bonnevie, and Senator Pia
G. Rosal
Inquirer.net
FOUR-division world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. promises “a great fight” in his upcoming world title showdown this Saturday, May 29 in Carson City, California. Thirty-eight-year-old Donaire will become the oldest world champion in the bantamweight division if he can defeat the current WBC world bantamweight champion, 34-year-old Nordine Oubaali of France. Aside from that, Donaire will also be fighting for the fourth time in Carson City. “It’s gonna be a great fight, Oubaali is a champion for a reason, he’s been through it in terms of the amateurs and being here. So there’s no reason underestimating him,” said Donaire Jr. Oubaali, for his part, said that he was fully aware of Donaire’s capability inside the ring, but he boldly told everyone that it was his time to reign in the bantamweight division. “He is a very good boxer. On Saturday night, I will show all the people who is going to win. I know I am the best. I respect him (Donaire), he has a good career, but it is my time now and I know
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
*** 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.
Poll: More Americans find anti-Asian hate... Nonito Donaire Jr.
I am the best in this weight category,” said Oubaali. Oubaali of France holds an unbeaten record of 17 wins with 12 knockouts. Donaire, on the other hand, has 40-6-0 (win-loss-draw) with 26 knockouts in his legendary resume. Both boxers were confident of their winning chances even as they showed mutual respect for each other during their final press conference for their world title showdown in Carson City, Nevada, which was streamed online by Premier Boxing Promotions. Meanwhile, when asked why he was still fighting even at his
Inquirer.net photo
age, Donaire said that he remained hungry to win a world title. “It’s the hunger, like him and myself, we have an objective, it’s going to be a great fight,” he said. “It means great to me,” Donaire said when asked what it feels like fighting at this age. Let’s keep it going, let’s make it 40, let’s make it 42, whatever it is. Ain’t no stopping me. Mentally I’m very grateful,” Donaire said. “I’m always healthy. The reason why I can always compete with anybody is because I keep myself healthy and I work hard. There’s no lesser than a hundred percent whenever I come inside the gym,” he said. n
PAGE A4 t close behind the 63% of Black Americans who feel the same. Stop AAPI Hate, a national coalition that tracks hate and discrimination, reported that from March 19, 2020 to March 31, 2021, it has received a total of 6,603 hate incidents against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). Of the 6,603 incidents reported, 4,193 hate incidents occurred in 2020 and 2,410 hate incidents occurred in 2021. Meanwhile, the Center for the Study of Hate in Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino reported a 164% overall increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans in 2021. In the first quarter of this
year, anti-Asian crimes reported to police increased to 95 from the 36 reported crimes in 16 of the largest and most-populated cities and counties in the country last year. To address the anti-Asian hate crimes that have risen since the start of the pandemic, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act introduced by Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii). Under the bill, issues such as the underreporting of incidents and crimes and the lack of language access and cross-cultural understanding in legal proceedings will be addressed. As previously reported in the Asian Journal, the bill passed
in the lower chamber on Tuesday, May 18 in a 364-62 vote, with the opposing votes coming from Republican lawmakers. The Senate passed the bill last month, with a 94-1 vote. The bill was signed by President Joe Biden on Thursday, May 20. “For centuries, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders — diverse and vibrant communities — have helped build this nation only to be often stepped over, forgotten, or ignored. You know, lived here for generations, but still considered, by some, the ‘other’...It’s wrong. It’s simply, to use the phrase, it’s simply un-American,” Biden said at the signing. n
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 29 - JUNE 1, 2021
Asian Journal
WKND
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Sat urday, MAY 2 9 , 2 0 2 1
LifestyLe Consumer Guide Community marketpLaCe
The June 2021 priority dates Immigration Corner
The priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: FAMILY CATEGORY: First Preference
Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ THE June 2021 priority dates, continue to provide great news for workers in the EB-3 (skilled/professional) and “other worker” (unskilled workers like caregivers). The priority dates for all countries (except India and China) are CURRENT! This includes the Philippines! This means visas are available, regardless of the person’s priority date. If a person is being petitioned by an employer, and their Form I-140 employment-based petition has been approved or is pending, they could possibly be eligible to file for adjustment of status and work authorization, assuming they are otherwise eligible for adjustment of status (i.e. no issues re maintaining status, no fraud/crimes, etc.) People with approved or pending I-140 petitions should see an attorney about their eligibility to file for adjustment, now that the priority dates for these employmentbased categories are current. Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment-based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off
Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens (21 years old or older)
(2A) Spouse and Second Preference minor children (below 21 years old) of green card holders
Application Filing Date
Visa Issuance Date
May 15, 2014
February 22, 2012
May 01, 2021
Current
(2B) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years old or older) of green card holders
August 01, 2013
October 15, 2011
Third Preference
Married sons and daughters of U.S. Citizens
August 08, 2003
June 08, 2002
Fourth Preference
Brothers and sisters of U.S. Citizens
August 08, 2003
June 08, 2002
LABOR CERTIFICATION:
Application Filing Date
Visa Issuance Date
Second Preference Advanced Degree (Masters)
Current
Current
Third Preference
Professional/ Skilled Workers
Current
Current
Other Workers
Non-Skilled Workers
Current
Current
date listed below. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 40 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York.
LEADING U.S. IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL (TOP LEFT) ANSWERS MORE QUESTIONS FROM KAPAMILYA ABOUT THEIR
All immigration services are provided IMMIGRATION CONCERNS ON A BRAND-NEW CITIZEN PINOY! Hazel from Virginia Beach, Virginia (bottom left) wants to know the best way to by, or under the supervision of, an bring her sister to the U.S., when she was initially petitioned by her mother in 2010 as single, but got married in 2011. Perly from Philadelphia, active member of the State Bar of Pennsylvania (bottom right) asks about her daughter who applied for a tourist visa and was denied twice. The reason for denial is because California. Each case is different and the daughter has an existing petition. However, that petition has already been revoked. What is the best way to get Perly’s daughter to the U.S. when she is now 35 years old and married? Mary Grace from Bocaue, Bulacan in the Philippines (top right) was petitioned by her parent results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and in 2009, and it will be current soon. The petition includes her daughters. The eldest now has a daughter of her own. Can Mary Grace bring opinions contained herein (including her granddaughter to the U.S. under the same petition? Get the answers to these questions on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” this Sunday, May 30 at 5:30 pm PT (8:30 pm ET thru select Cable/Satellite providers). (Advertising Supplement) testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) (866) – GURFINKEL are of a general nature, and are not your legal matter. No attorney-client GurfinkelLaw, YouTube: US Immigration Four offices to serve you: intended to apply to any particular relationship is, or shall be, established TV and Instagram.com/gurfinkellaw Call Toll free to schedule a LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ c a s e , a n d d o n o t c o n s t i t u t e a with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com consultation for anywhere in the US: NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES prediction, warranty, guarantee or Follow us on Facebook.com/ 1-866-487-3465 (Advertising Supplement) legal advice regarding the outcome of
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Fil-Am comedian Jo Koy to star in ABC sitcom ‘Josep’ By AJPress
FILIPINO American stand-up comedian Jo Koy is set to star in and executive produce an upcoming sitcom for U.S. media network ABC. “Josep” is described as a “single-camera sitcom based on the life of a hardworking Filipino American nurse” as he “navigates dating, fatherhood and his mother moving in with him.” Variety reported that the show will be written and executive produced by showrunner Singer Nicole Scherzinger, “The Good Place” star Manny Jacinto, and award-winning actor Darren Criss Photos from Instagram/@nicolescherzinger, @mannyjacinto, @darrencriss Steve Joe, as well as Michael Golamco, Randall Park, and Hieu Ho under Imminent Collision. Joe Meloche, Jake Kasdan, and Melvin Mar will also executive produce for The Detective Agency. In an Instagram post, Koy expressed his excitement about the project by uploading a By AJPress screenshot of an article by The Hollywood Reporter published on May 27. NETFLIX has announced the “Excited to show you all what we’re working complete English and Filipino on over at @abcnetwork,” he wrote Thursday, language voice cast for its highMay 27. ly-anticipated original anime seJo Koy, whose birth name is Joseph Glenn ries “Trese.” Hubert, first took the stage in Las Vegas in The streaming giant on Friday, 1989 and has been working as a stand-up coMay 21, revealed that Pussycat median ever since. Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, He has several Netflix comedy specials un“The Good Place” star Manny der his belt — “Comin’ in Hot,” “Live from SeJacinto, and award-winning acattle,” and “Jo Koy: In His Elements,” which tor Darren Criss are among the was shot in the Philippines. Hollywood celebrities with FiliHe will also executive produce family compino blood to join the series. edy “Easter Sunday,” which will be based on Along with them are Filhis stand-up comedy and life experiences and Am actors Jon Jon Briones is set around a family gathering to celebrate (“Ratched”), Dante Basco Easter Sunday, as previously reported by the Stand-up comedian Jo Koy has a slate of projects coming up, including (“Avatar: The Last Airbender”), ABC series “Josep” and comedy film “Easter Sunday.” Asian Journal. Fil-Am talent from Lou Diamond and Lou Diamond Phillips (“La Photo from Inatagram/@jokoy Phillips to Eva Noblezada have signed onto the Bamba”). media. project. In March, Netflix announced “I will rep my culture proud and let the world Earlier this week, he acknowledged his muthat actresses Liza Soberano Trese Photo courtesy of Netflix ral painted on the floor of a basketball court in know just how beautiful my country is. Mahal and Shay Mitchell will voice suko kayong lahat,” he added. • Christopher Carlo Caling as the Philippines. pernatural detective Alexandra Guerrero, Dominic Koy is repped by Arsonhouse Entertainment, “I teared up when I saw that they painted Trese in the Filipino and English • Jon Jon Briones as Hank, Hank • Eugene Adalia as Anton this mural of me in the Philippines. This is why CAA and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof + version of the series, respec- Xa-Mul I love my people so much,” he wrote on social Fishman. tively. • Steve Blum as Datu Talag- Trese • Cheska Aguiluz as Miranda “Trese” tells the story of Al- busao, Ibwa exandra Trese, who protects • Carlos Alazraqui as Anton Trese • Christian Velarde as Nuno Manila from threats of the su- Trese, Santelmo • Bryan Encarnacion as Datu pernatural kind such as tikbal• Manny Jacinto as Maliksi ang and kapre. It is executive • Eric Bauza as Nuno the Talagbusao • Nica Rojo as Ramona produced by Jay Oliva and pro- Snitch, Bagyon Lektro • Jo Anne Orobia-Chua as duced by Shanty Harmayn and • Darren Criss as Marco Tanya Yuson of BASE Entertain• Nicole Scherzinger as Mi- Emissary when career is prioritized by big pag nag acting ako, Mamsh!” • Jose Amado Santiago as ment, a Jakarta and Singapore- randa Trese By MJ MArfori stars such as Pia, who is an ever Pia and Jeremy were supbased studio. • Lou Diamond Phillips as Marco ManilaTimes.net beautiful example of this phe- posed to reunite over the sum• Steve dela Cruz as Maliksi The series is based on the Mayor Sancho Santamaria IF there is one thing that most nomenon. In the Know spoke mer but travel restrictions to • Rene Tandoc as Mayor SanPhilippine graphic novel cre• Dante Basco as Bagyon Kuof us learned during the pan- to the popular beauty queen the Philippines tightened again tamaria ated by Budjette Tan and KaJO limlim • Steffi Graf Bontogon-Mola demic, it is definitely putting during her launch as pilot en- because of ECQ Season 2. It’s Baldisimo. • Rodney To as Aswang marlife’s essentials on top of our dorser for breakthrough hand been months since they were as Young, Teen Alexandra Below is the full list of the ket guard, man in drag • RJ Celdran as Santelmo, Se- priority list. For Miss Universe soap brand Dr. Coco, where we last together for a good stretch voice cast for “Trese.” Filipino version: 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, that means asked if she had any showbiz in Morocco at the height of the English version: • Liza Soberano as Alexandra ñor Armanaz • Elyrey Martin as Ibwa, Dom- her relationship with internet projects coming up. We were pandemic. Pia had to come • Shay Mitchell as Alexandra Trese businessman Jeremy Jauncy is happily surprised when she re- home earlier this year to fulfill Trese • Simon dela Cruz as The inic high up somewhere in the Top plied, “When it comes to acting multiple endorsement duties • Steven Bontogon as Jobert • Griffin Puatu as The Kambal Kambal (Crispin and Basilio) wala muna, kasi din, hindi na and focus on her widely-fol“Trese” is set to premiere on 3. (Crispin and Basilio), Bantay • Apollo Abraham as Captain Gone are the days indeed kami makakapagkita ni Jeremy Netflix on June 11. • Matt Yang King as Captain Guerrero PAGE B6
Trese features all-star Filipino cast
TO MAKE MORE TIME FOR LOVE AND LIFE
Pia puts acting career on hold
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PWC’s Team and Changes program Barbie finds fulfillment in diverse and even supporting roles helps Filipinos pay for phone, internet and utility bills during pandemic By Jerry
Donato Philstar.com
THE Pilipino Workers Center, through its Team and Changes Program, is finding ways to provide resources and financial aid to Filipino individuals and families struggling to pay their bills during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many programs available that could help lower down phone, internet, and utility bills for those who qualify. One such program is the Emergency Broadband Benefit, a temporary program launched by the Federal Communications Commission (FTC), which provides a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. Pilipino Workers Center can also connect individuals and families to other programs that help provide discounts, payment plans and avoid disconnection for their utilities and phone services. Eligible households may inquire or apply for these services by calling the PWC office at (213)250-4353 during business hours.
Filipina drag queen Jiggly Caliente to compete in ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 6’ By Ian
BIong Inquirer.net
AFTER almost a decade, Filipina drag queen Jiggly Caliente is finally returning to “RuPaul’s Drag Race” to compete in its sixth “All Stars” edition. Caliente, whose real name is Bianca Castro, now has her second chance at the crown after placing eighth in “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 4 back in 2012. “[Jiggly Caliente] is ready to get this party all-started! [fire emoji],” the official Twitter account of the reality show announced on Thursday, May 27. Caliente likewise announced her return via Instagram yesterday, noting that “second chances are paramount, and I’m ready to RISE to the runway! Philippines!!!” Caliente will be competing against 12 other queens in “All Stars 6,” namely: A’Keria C. Davenport, Eureka, Ginger Minj, Jan, Kylie Sonique Love, Pandora Boxx, Ra’Jah O’Hara, Scarlet Envy, Serena ChaCha, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, Trinity K. Bonet and Yara Sofia. From her first appearance almost a decade ago to her return to “RuPaul’s Drag Race” now, Caliente “went from a little girl to a grown woman,” she
Jiggly Caliente
Photo from Twitter/@RuPailDragRace
said in an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly on May 26. “I’m 50 pounds lighter than I was on season 4, and I also have brand new teeth. I’m more aware of the woman that I am today than I was 10 years ago,” she was quoted as saying. “So, when I filmed, I was 30,
and I was going through a lot in my life at the time. I didn’t even realize there was so much going on until I saw myself on television and I was like, wow, you need help!” she added. “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 6” is set to premiere on June 24 via streaming service Paramount Plus.
Richard just gets better with age By angel JavIer Philstar.com
Cruz
THERE’S something about Richard Yap that makes him attractive to women of all ages. They often recognize him as the “chef” in the iconic fast-food commercials. He may have had no speaking lines in those 30-seconders but one’s eyes are immediately drawn to him in his immaculate kitchen whites and appealing face. At the last Bench show held at the Araneta Coliseum several years ago, women of a certain age asked to have their pictures taken with him. Take
Richard Yap
Photo from Instagram/@iamrichardyap
note: He wasn’t in the show, he was just there as a member of the audience. Nowadays, Richard is known for playing characters who are solidly-built, strong and dependable. He’s the mythical knight in shining armor, ready to make everything all right again. After acting in GMA’s I Can See You, Richard is once again ready to make his numerous fans swoon in I Left My Heart in Sorsogon with his costars Heart Evangelista and Paolo Contis. We recently asked Richard a few questions and found him to be down-to-earth and very relatable. Like most people, he depends on his phone for pretty much everything. “In this time of pandemic and work-from-home, I do everything on my phone. I take pictures, send messages, do Zoom meetings, check my sked, stay in touch and update my social media,” he said. The other item he can’t live without is his Apple Watch which he uses to monitor messages and keep track of his calorie intake, exercise and heart rate. In the mornings, he looks forward to having a cup of hot coffee, and the activities for the day “whether it’s lazing around at home with the family and our fur babies or if I need to go out and do something.” He is often cast in the role of the dependable guy; it’s not far from how he was as a child and as a young man. “I was a shy and quiet guy, never one to hog the limelight. Basically, I always did what I was supposed to do and never gave my parents a problem,” he said. “I had to be resourceful and strong in order to survive without any help from my family when I started out. I also had to double my efforts because my former employer was also discriminatory just because I married a non-Chinese,” he added. When it comes to preparing for a role, Richard takes everything to heart. “I try to live the life of the person in the role. I usually think about what that person would do in a certain situation so sometimes I ad-lib but as much as possible I try to PAGE B6
GIVEN her mainstream and independent acting forays, Barbie Forteza remains humble and kind. Her success and stature will never limit the GMA actress to portray new, uncharted and even supporting roles. Barbie’s character Cors in the GMA 7 primetime series Heartful Café is proof to her acting mindset. “As an actor, I find it fulfilling to explore my acting range by playing different characters,” said Barbie in a recent virtual media conference that also featured her boyfriend Jak Roberto. In the romantic drama series, Jak is Jasper, the childhood friend of Mars (played by Ayra Mariano), who fancies Heart (Julie Anne San Jose), while Cors is the girlfriend of Ace Nobleza (David Licauco). “For me, hindi nag-ma-matter kung bida pa siya or supporting ba siya (it doesn’t matter if my character is lead or supporting) for as long as she is interesting and very remarkable, (basta) mas may impact kumbaga.” What’s important is the character’s contribution to clarify the theme of the narrative plot, if one may add. Since her character ticks all the boxes, Barbie had fun becoming Cors even for a limited time and wouldn’t mind if showrunners decided to make her character a recurring one. Barbie’s Cors and Jak’s Jasper have joined the Heartful Café gang to offer a different flavor of kilig to the storyline. Catch the series every night after First Yaya. “It was my first time to have played a sophisticated role and kontrabida one in a way,” said Barbie, who has done a number of good girl roles and considers Cors a much-needed breather from them all. “(She was) mataray and Englisera. This time around, I was a very sophisticated girlfriend of Ace.” The actress added that she also had first-time jitters in taking on this new role, “which (I think) was good. I was challenged. I think malaking tulong yung pandemic kasi parang nagutom akong ulit umarte, na-miss ko talaga (the pandemic made me miss acting). When the taping for Anak Ni Waray, Anak Ni Biday resumed, I got really excited for
Barbie Forteza
I had a long break.” After it was interrupted by the pandemic last year, Barbie’s series went on a lock-in taping and aired its finale in March of this year. Her brief stint in Heartful Café allowed Barbie to be reunited with her Anak Ni Waray, Anak Ni Biday family (from director Mark Sicat dela Cruz to the assistant director and production designer), and friend Julie Anne. “We were like playing on the set,” recalled Barbie. “She (Julie Anne) is one of my closest friends in showbiz. We would exchange thoughts on Instagram and continue the conversations through texting. We are like high school best friends. Dapat laging may bagong tsika, di pwedeng wala.” As friends, Barbie and Julie Anne talk about the most random and personal things. Their friendship is “not an artista phase,” as Barbie described it. They figure out the joys and challenges of womanhood and deal with problems together, she added. That’s why Barbie never hesitated to accept the role of Cors when it was offered to her. Like a true thespian, Barbie doesn’t mind playing support to other stars. “Wala namang problema sa akin na kahit ano (I have no problem with playing any roles),” she said. “If I were given a chance to suggest a character (for my next assignment), since I really enjoyed my character Cors, I really wouldn’t mind playing her again for a longer period, yung
Photo from Instagram/@barbaraforteza
mas-sophisticated, mas dalaga, mas mataray. Of course, I want to do rom-com para fun lang.” Barbie would like to work with Jak in future TV projects. They guest starred in Heartful Café but their characters seem to never cross paths in person. Away from the klieg lights, the sweethearts always find time to see each other virtually. This is one way they nurture their fouryear relationship at this time when wearing face masks and face shields and practicing social distancing are the norms. “Siguro… hindi basehan kung magkasama kami physically (being physically present is not the only basis for a relationship to work),” shared Barbie of her learnings. “Hindi (ito) basehan ng pagkakaroon ng matatag na relationship (it’s not a basis for having a strong relationship). It’s all about having fun even if you’re not together, yung consistent na pag-uusap. (Bilang) pareho kaming madaldal, hindi kami nauubusan ng pag-uusapan (We never run out of things to talk about). We never had dull moments even if we would just communicate through video call.” The young couple recently celebrated their anniversary by sending each other seafood from their favorite food joint. Like the way they approach each role, Barbie and Jak just live in the moment and enjoy it. That’s perhaps their advice, too, for couples out there.
B4 MAy 29 - june 1, 2021 • LA WeeKenD ASIAn jOuRnAL
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 29 - JUNE 1, 2021
B5
How to reduce your Should you be paid for chances of IRS audit in 2021 work before you clock-in?
Tax Tips
viCtoR sy, MBa, CPa (RetiRed) THE IRS was underfunded under the Trump Administration. It didn’t have enough personnel to accomplish its goal. With skeleton force, audit rate declined to only 1/2 percent (less than half the returns they audited in 2010). Even with super low rates, you may still be a target if your tax return contains red flags. Let’s discuss how you can reduce your own red flags. Unreported income Your employer and financial institutions send you W2s and 1099s that have to be reported. If you don’t, you get a notice of unreported income simply because IRS received such forms from entities who paid you. Be organized and make sure that
you provide complete records to your tax professional. One innocently missed 1099 could lead to a ghastly audit. Excessive deductions The IRS maintains statistics on all taxpayers and compares your data to average deductions of taxpayers at your income level. If you claim disproportionately high deductions as compared to your peers, the IRS may want to verify the data on your return. Large donations or excessive home office deductions can lead to IRS scrutiny. Deducting personal expenses on your business return Many business owners have difficulty distinguishing between personal and business expenses. But other businesses also deliberately disguise personal as business expenses. IRS is always on the lookout for personal meals, entertainment and travel expenses posing as legitimate business expenses. Cash industries If you own a business that operates primarily with cash,
your return is more likely to be targeted for an audit. Cash is hard to trace and is a major cause of the tax gap (unpaid taxes). Think swap meets or the produce section in downtown Los Angeles. Tax return errors This is not as common as it used to be in the days of manually prepared tax returns; however, transposed figures of Social Security numbers or employer identification number can still get you into trouble. So, behave. *** Victor Santos Sy, MBA. CPA (Retired) Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV – Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation. *** He retired after 50 years of defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He published a book on “How to Avoid or Survive IRS Audits” that’s available at Amazon. Readers may email tax questions to vicsy@live.com.
Can I enforce a form I-864 Affidavit of Support in divorce proceedings? Barrister’s Corner atty. Kenneth URsUa Reyes THE Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 requires that U.S. Citizens sponsoring an alien for legal permanent residency execute an immigration form I-864 Affidavit of Support. This is an agreement between the U.S. Government and the Sponsor to promise to support the immigrant beneficiary seeking admission to the U.S. at a level not less than 125% of the national poverty level. The purpose of the I-864 Affidavit is to prevent the noncitizen from becoming a public charge. The sponsor’s obligation continues until either 1) the intended immigrant becomes 2) the intended immigrant is no longer permanent resident by departing the U.S. or relinquishing his or her residency 3) the immigrant is subject to removal or deportation but applies for and obtains anew adjustment of status based on a new affidavit of support 4) the intended immigrant or sponsor dies 5) the intended immigrant worked for 40 qualifying quarters under the Social Security Act. The I-864 affidavit is legally binding and enforceable contract between the Sponsor and the U.S. Government. The enforceability even goes beyond this. The sponsored immigrant spouse can
also enforce this contract against the sponsor and file an action to enforce the sponsor’s support obligation separately from any support rights the sponsored immigrant spouse may have under Family Code Section 4320. Erler v. Erler, 824 F.3d 1173 (9th Cir. 2016). This obligation becomes an important issue where the marriage between the Sponsor and the immigrant beneficiary breaks down and a Divorce Petition is filed. The I-864 obligation does not terminate with divorce or dissolution of marriage. Pursuant to Erler, neither a divorce judgment nor a premarital agreement may terminate an obliga-
tion. In addition, the Court in Kumar held that immigrant spouse has no duty to seek employment to mitigate his or her damages. The bottom line is that in any divorce proceeding, one has to consider whether one spouse has signed an I-864 affidavit in the past for purposes of conferring a green card to the other spouse and whether that obligation continues on. It may be a separate claim for support available to the immigrant spouse within the family law case. *** 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.
The I-864 affidavit is legally binding and enforceable contract between the Sponsor and the US Government. The enforceability even goes beyond this.
Pastor’s Notes
tion of support under the I-864 affidavit. The obligation is not dischargeable even if the immigrant spouse is later supported by a third party or attempts to be self-sufficient. Further if a Joint Sponsor also signed an I-864 affidavit, the Joint Sponsor is jointly and severally liable for the support of the immigrant spouse. The immigrant spouse has an independent standing to enforce the obligation under the I-864 affidavit against the sponsor either in state court or federal court. In re Marriage of Kumar, 13 Cal. App. 5th 1072 (2017). This means the sponsor’s support obligation under the I-864 affidavit may be enforced within the family law case/ divorce ac-
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How all will know that we are Jesus’ disciples
disturb our lives and destroy all our efforts. And so, we must be vigilant. Judas allowed Satan to use him to turn away from Jesus. “TogeTher in prayer for We cannot let ourselves be peace and unity.” It was the like him. We must be faithful theme of our prayer vigil and to Jesus and the mission that peace walk last weekend. We he entrusted to us. demonstrated through prayer Our weapon is prayer, and and action our ardent desire our fellow prayer warriors for peace and unity in our are Mary, Joseph, and all the country, world, and communiSaints. So I close ties. with the prayer It’s the earnest desire of Jesus that If anyone acknowledges that Jesus to St. Michael the Archangel: we become united in is the Son of God, God lives in them St. Michael, the mind and heart and Archangel, defend live in peace. It’s and they in God. And so we know us in battle. Be our because he knows our constant efforts and rely on the love God has for us. protection against the malice and to fight his enemy, God is love. Whoever lives in love snares of the devil. whose ultimate misMay God rebuke sion is to divide us, lives in God, and God in them. him, we humbly to break relation(1 John 4:15-16) pray. And do you, O ships in marriages, Prince of the heavfamilies, society, enly host, by the and governments. In the Gospel of John, Jesus love for one another and our divine power, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who prays to the Father, saying: life of unity and peace. “Holy Father, keep them in “This is how all will know prowl about the world, seekyour name that you have given that you are my disciples, if ing the ruin of souls. Amen. me so that they may be one as you have love for one anoth*** we are one.” er,” Jesus reminded his dis- The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints In our pluralistic society, ciples before being crucified. expressed by the author do not necthe words of Jesus are not just God calls each one of us— essarily reflect the opinions, beliefs about tolerance and peaceful young and old—to this min- and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, co-existence. They involve the istry of love, peace, and uni- its management, editorial board and challenging works of empa- ty. He is sending us into the staff. thy, mutual understanding, re- world to sow these seeds of *** spect, and willingness to enter the Gospel. Now, some people Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the into dialogue with others de- would come at midnight to pastor of Incarnation Church in spite our differences. sow “weeds among wheat” to Glendale, California.
ReveRend Rodel G. BalaGtas
Never before have we been most challenged as this past year’s election and pandemic, to work for peace and unity. It’s “how we know that we remain in him and he in us, that he has given us his Spirit,” this Sunday’s Second Reading (1 John 4:11-16) tells us. In other words, the way that we know that Holy Spirit is alive in us is through our
was “off-the-clock” and not recorded. They should also not simply accept that they’re not entitled to additional wages just because the work performed was “voluntary,” “unauthorized” or “unapproved.” atty. C. Joe sayas, JR. Work performed voluntarily, or without authorization or approval, may still be compenQ: I WorK as a “team memsable if the employer knows ber” in the service industry or should know work is being in Los Angeles. Before we done and permits the employclock-in for our shift, we are ee to do it. required to attend a “huddle,” In addition, all the time spent or a meeting where we discuss performing work-related activevents during prior shifts, our ities for the benefit of the emassignments, etc. These “hudployer, whether dles” last 15 to 20 minutes ev“required” by ery day. Should the employer Under California law, “off-the-clock” we be paid for or not, would hours are considered “hours worked.” these meetings still be hours even though we worked. These “Off-the-clock” hours are hours worked are not clocked would include in and the meetby employees before or after their regular work performed ings are not at the employscheduled hours, even if the employer has er’s premises or part of our main job? work performed not directly required or authorized that A: Your “hud“at home” or at the off-the-clock activities be performed. dle” sounds like another place “hours worked” that is not the and must be usual work site. paid. “Hours worked” is the before clocking in. All of these Employers who accept the time during which an employ- pre-shift activities fall within benefits of the work performed ee is subject to the control of hours worked and should be by its non-exempt employees an employer. This includes paid. must pay the wages due to all the time that you are reIf any of the activities above these employees. quired to be present at the caused the employees to work *** workplace. It also includes overtime hours, then Cali- The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, any “off-the-clock” time you fornia law requires that the Jr. welcomes inquiries about this spend performing job-related employees be paid at the pre- topic. All inquiries are confidential activities which benefit the mium rate of 1 ½ times the and at no-cost. You can contact employer. employee’s regular rate if the the office at (818) 291-0088 or Under California law, “off- employee worked more than visit www.joesayaslaw.com. [For the-clock” hours are con- 8 but less than 12 hours in more than 25 years, C. Joe Sayas, sidered “hours worked.” a work day. If the employee Jr., Esq. successfully recovered “Off-the-clock” hours are worked more than 12 hours wages and other monetary damages hours worked by employees in a work day or in excess of for thousands of employees and before or after their regular 8 hours on the seventh day in consumers. He was named Top Labor scheduled hours, even if the a work week, the employee is & Employment Attorney in California employer has not directly re- entitled to double the employ- by the Daily Journal, consistently quired or authorized that the ee’s regular rate. selected as Super Lawyer by the off-the-clock activities be perIn determining whether ad- Los Angeles Magazine, and is a past formed. Off-the-clock hours ditional wages are due, em- Presidential Awardee for Outstanding may include coming to work ployees should not be discour- Filipino Overseas.] early to work before the shift’s aged if the work performed (Advertising Supplement)
Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights
official starting time or continuing to work after one has clocked out for one’s official end time. Off-the-clock work may also include preliminary or preparatory activities that employees do before they do their main tasks. For example, employees may spend time putting on a special uniform or gear before they start work. Or employees may spend time gathering equipment, being briefed by supervisors about the day’s work, or getting updates from the outgoing shift
Couple wonders how to tackle debt relief for wife
LET me give you the background on this case. The husband is 81 but still looks active. He is slim and sprightly. The wife is 79 and looks nervous. Normally, spouses are on the same track and agree with what has to be done. But in this case, I’m not sure what is going on. The wife owes between $20,000 to $30,000 credit cards, which are all past due. One card has sued her and she has agreed to a stipulated judgment promising to pay $150 a month. Other cards are threatening to sue. They call her every hour to collect their pound of flesh. The wife looks really worried. She says she hides under the table when they call. I guess she can’t take the stress caused by these credit cards. She says that she was able to pay these cards until she stopped working for two years. She suffered some kind of trauma in her work and received disability payments for a while. She was a caregiver in a hospice and her patient had violently killed himself in front of her. This scene had caused her extreme mental anguish. She could no longer work as before. This work-related trauma qualified her to receive temporary disability, which recently expired. She did not feel like going back to work. She received social security of $700. Well, if she owed $20,000 credit cards, she would need at least $750 to keep $20,000 of credit cards current with minimum monthly payments. In other words, all of her social security would have to be used to pay credit cards and she would still be short $50. Where would she get $50? All eyes go to her husband. The husband has not given her the $50 so eventually, all her cards became past due. You know what happens when cards become past due, past due amount plus penalties make the bad situation even worse. As she said, they call her every hour to collect. One has sued her. They threaten to sue. They want all of her social security. What struck me the most was her statement that she had to hide under the table when they call. I believed her. She was clearly stressed out. I empathized with her. At her age, she should just be collecting social security and enjoying what’s left of her life, the golden years. She should not be living each day cowering in fear. Her life sucks. I’m wondering what’s going on with the husband. He says he also owed a bunch of cards. His social security is $2,000.
Debt Relief
atty. lawRenCe yanG He says in addition to social security, he still works full time. But the employer is not doing too well. Even though he owns 25% of the business, his paycheck of $2,000 does not come in consistently. There are times when the paycheck is delayed and he doesn’t get paid. It looks to me that there’s more stuff going on here, although it’s my policy not to get involved in matters that are between husband and wife. I think the wife doesn’t want to be harassed by her creditors anymore. She can’t take the stress of creditor collection calls every day and every hour. In California, we only use tables to hide under during an earthquake. We don’t use them to hide under when creditors call to collect. The wife cannot do Chapter 7 because they own their house, which supposedly has more than $175K of equity. Being seniors, their homestead exemption is $175K. In Chapter 7, there’s a big risk they might lose their house to the Chapter 7 trustee who will sell it and give them $175K in cash and use the rest to pay off her credit cards. It doesn’t make sense to lose your house because of credit cards. So, I will not file a Chapter 7 for them in this case. I will only file a Chapter 13 with the smallest possible plan payment so that there is no risk of losing the house. The wife obviously cannot pay her credit cards. She needs her $700 of social security to buy necessities. So why won’t her husband help her out in any way he can, like pay her credit cards? First, let me say that this is a matter between them as husband and wife. It looks at initially to me that all their expenses are separate. She pays her own expenses and he pays his own expenses. A de-facto pre-nuptial agreement when it comes to expenses. Second, there seems to be something that’s not being said. I can tell from the bodily movements. So, eventually what has not been said is now said. The husband is paying $1,000 a month for a $250,000 term life. He believes that when he dies, the $250,000 will help the surviving wife pay down their mortgage of $400,000.
The wife doesn’t know what to think. All she knows is that since she stopped working, she’s been and continues to be a nervous wreck because of credit card debt. Her entire social security benefits are not enough to cover minimum monthly payments on the cards. I can only say that Chapter 13 will give her peace of mind, immediately. And, only God knows when we die. “Death comes like a thief in the night.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2. The husband plans to die ahead of the wife so she can get her $250,000 from insurance. But who knows, because of all her stress, the husband might outlive her. If she dies ahead of him, who gets the $250,000, and what’s the use of paying down the mortgage? Many couples who have been together for a long time die within a week of each other because the surviving spouse is heartbroken and has no will to live on without the other spouse. This is certainly a question that none of us can answer so we rely on the Bible, the word of God for an answer. Even the Pope doesn’t have any idea when his time is up. Whatever the outcome and the future, it’s better all around for peace of mind, not to have these credit cards around to bother you when you get older, right? So get rid of them now if you can with Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. You don’t want them getting half or all of your social security or pension when you retire. Lastly, all of us will have to leave this world, sooner or later. We have frail and imperfect bodies because of sin. Without sin, we would have perfect bodies. We would never get sick and we would never die. True. Mortality is our human condition because Adam & Eve ate of the forbidden fruit. Fortunately, Jesus died for us so we can have eternal life in heaven with our God who loves us so. So it’s all good. Death for us is not the end. It’s the beginning. *** DISCLAIMER: NONE OF THE FOREGOING IS CONSIDERED LEGAL ADVICE. EACH CASE IS DIFFERENT. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in Bankruptcy, Business, Real Estate and Civil Litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789 or 1000 S. Fremont Ave., Mailstop 58, Building A-10 South, Suite 10042, Alhambra, CA 91803. (Advertising Supplement)
B6 MAy 29 - june 1, 2021 • LA WeeKenD ASIAn jOuRnAL
Pia puts acting career on... PAGE B2 lowed podcast “Between Us Queens” on Spotify. If you haven’t checked it out, you should really listen in because her discussions with beauty queen friends Bianca Guidotti and Carla Lizardo on everyday life and women’s issues are just so stimulating. The podcast, according to Queen P, is the kind of project that’s perfect for her lifestyle and set-up right now. Besides being fun, she also gets to talk about topics close to her heart without the need to exude that beauty queen aura. All the same, whenever she gives interviews, Pia can’t escape Miss Universe questions, especially with the pageant just concluded. Asked if she had spoken with this year’s Philippine bet Rabiya Mateo who finished in the Top 21, Pia shared with us she told her little sister
Besides endorsements and her popular podcast ‘Between Us Queens,’ Pia Wurtzbach is taking her sweet time in taking on offers for now. Photo from Instagram/@piawurtzbach
it’s normal to feel down when she missed the chance to bring home our fifth crown. She assured Rabiya, however, that her
future will be just as bright as the yellow gown she wore to the pageant. “Si Rabiya she’s very down to earth. She’s very relatable, funny and hindi ako nag-da-doubt that she’s already a big star, but I know na lalo pa siyang sisiskat.” Finally, Pia was also asked to share her message to the new Miss Universe Andrea Meza. Hoping to meet Mexico’s pride one day, Queen P said she simply told Queen Andrea, “Kasi maraming a-advice na ‘enjoy,’ ‘live in the moment,’ ganyan, but the real advice is back up your files. Because I actually lost a lot of my pictures halfway through my reign because I didn’t backup my files and I’ll never get those pictures and memories back! So real advice, ‘Girl, invest in a nice camera, back up your files and the memories will stay forever.”
Richard just gets better with...
PAGE B3 stick to the script if there’s nothing to change.” Some of the actors he looks up to are Bruce Lee, Tom Cruise, Al Pacino, Song Joong Ki, and the late Eddie Garcia. “What I liked about them was how they could do any role and convince the audience that they were that person.” For his role in I Left My Heart in Sorsogon, Richard said he spent a lot of time trying to get the look required for the role. “It’s mostly physical preparation to be able to look right for the role and watching other series so that I can learn from them,” he said. To ensure the safety of both cast and crew during the pandemic, shoots follow a protocol where
everyone works in a “bubble” to prevent infections. This basically means that cast and crew work and live together from the time the shooting starts until it ends, days or weeks later. Asked to describe the experience, Richard said the longest he’s been in a bubble was only a few days. “I’ve heard of other cast or crew during one of our tapings who couldn’t sleep because there were paranormal happenings in their rooms.” If he ever encounters a ghost, I think he will manage to win them over with his charisma. Richard recently celebrated his birthday and as the cliché goes, just like fine wine, Richard just gets better with age.
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Yassi ventures into game show hosting after teleserye acting By Jerry
Donato Philstar.com
ACTING is a familiar territory to Yassi Pressman, who can effortlessly visit and revisit it. She knows it like the back of her hand. Hosting a game show, however, is a totally new field for her, whose adaptability and flexibility skills as an actress come handy in navigating its entire creative terrain. Yassi will simply roll with the punches. “For me, the first challenge is (how) to become a game show host,” said the Fil-British model and actress on her being the face of Rolling In It Philippines, presented by TV5, Cignal TV and VIVA Entertainment, in a recent media call. “Second is to (carry out the task of hosting) the show alone. The pressure is all on me. But I feel very lucky that there will be celebrities who play as partners to the contestants.” The level of excitement and entertainment that Rolling In It Philippines will offer viewers allays her fears over embarking on something that she has never done before. “It’s exciting every time,” shared Yassi. “What makes the game more exciting is you don’t know where it is leading to, especially when a big amount of money is involved. Ang lahat ay nakasalalay sa pagbagsak lang nung coin (Everything relies on
Yassi Pressman
or changes at the drop of the coin). It’s gonna be different each time.” Premiering on June 5 at 7 p.m. on TV5, Rolling In It Philippines, a local adaptation of UK’s No. 1 game show in 2020, is a game of luck, mind and strategy, according to the information given to the media. Contestants roll in the coin and push their luck to become the next millionaires, it added. After Yassi gave everyone a virtual tour of the set, one can say that the show is arcade game-inspired. Although the then young Yassi was into street games like patintero (a traditional Filipino outdoor game), she remembered the claw and dance revolution as her arcade games of choice. The celebrity-contestant teams can win up to P2M. After playing Alyana to Coco Martin’s Cardo in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, Yassi is in the zone to be the host of Rolling In It Philippines. She got a call from the show’s producers, who explained their intention, and gave her nod of approval. Yassi is grateful for the trust the people behind Rolling In It Philippines have given her. “For me, it is such a big challenge but more than anything, I’m excited to make the contestants and viewers happy,” she said. Aside from the fun and thrill of watching contestants winning the game and scoring in every round, listening to their stories is what also makes Rolling In It Philippines more interesting. “With the contestants’ stories, I want all of them to win,” said Yassi. “(You know) kung paano sila lumaban sa buhay. Most of them have inspirational stories to tell. They have reasons why they join and (they know) where to use the prize money.” Seeing the look of victory on the contestants’ faces is a pure joy to Yassi, who feels great to become a part of their journey. The host also sympathizes
Photo from Instagram/@yassipressman
with the contestants when their coin goes to the bankrupt slot, their money value decreases, or their hard-earned money is stolen by another group. “It’s part of the game,” Yassi said. “They have to make a quick decision and stay focused on the questions. Hopefully, they correctly answer them.” As for her hosting preparations, Yassi said, “We didn’t have workshops, we came in (to the studio) to rehearse. I treated (my hosting work) like (I was reading) a script para hindi malayo sa pinanggalingan ko. I read and reread it. The one thing that my director told me is that I should know the mechanics well. (He said), ‘Kapag alam mo na yung mechanics, susundan mo na lang ‘yun. Kung anuman ang mangyari, kung ano mang kwento ang lumabas, OK lang basta di ka mawawala. You could bring (a piece of) yourself to their stories… pero ito yung susundan natin (but this is the sequence or the format) we need to follow whatever happens.’ I asked Robi (Domingo) for pieces of advice. He gave me pointers and told me to be myself and have fun.” Yassi considers Heidi Klum, Toni Gonzaga and Alex Gonzaga her hosting influences. Given the chance to choose her celebrity players in the show’s future episodes, Yassi would love her Ang Probinsyano family grace Rolling In It Philippines. “I know they have a long lock-in taping,” she said. “Maybe after they can join the show.” After hosting the game show, many think Yassi will also make a perfect talk show host. It’s nice to see her get up close and personal with fellow celebrities. Is she open to that possibility? “I haven’t tried but you just deal with everything that is given to you,” she concluded. “If there’s an opportunity (from) people who trust me, then I’ll just grab it and I will try my best.”
B7 MAy 29 - june 1, 2021 • LA WeeKenD ASIAn jOuRnAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
B8 MAy 29 - june 1, 2021 • LA WeeKenD ASIAn jOuRnAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
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