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AUGUST 27-SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 Volume 31 - No. 34 • 12 Pages

T H E F I L I P I N O –A M E R I C A N C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R

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USA

DATELINE Early poll: 54% of Asian American voters favor Biden, 29% Trump FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

LEADING up to the conventions for both the Democratic and Republican parties, early data found that Asian Americans are leaning left with 54% saying they are inclined to vote for former Vice President Joe Biden. In preliminary data from the 2020 Asian American Voter survey — conducted by APIAVote, AAPIData, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC — about half of registered voters surveyed from July 4 to August 16 threw their support for the Democratic nominee, while 29% of respondents said they favor another four years under President Donald Trump. (The results come from about 850 respondents from the top six Asian American groups, including Filipino American.) Meanwhile, 16% are still undecided, which may present an opportunity for both parties to court these voters. Going into this election cycle, Asian Americans are the fastest-growing segment

Following RNC week, Fil-Am Republicans support another 4 years under Trump by AJPRESS DESPITE the trend of Filipino Americans largely voting Democratic in recent decades, President Donald Trump continues to have a band of supporters among the segment in the community who identify as conservatives. Heading into November 3, Fil-Am Republicans across the country, who brand themselves

as among the “silent majority,” are continuing to ride the red wave in support of another four years under a Trump administration and are defying the common notion that the community leans left. “There’s great enthusiasm for the re-election of President Donald Trump – much has to do with his clear record and contrast against Joe Biden,” Rudy Pamintuan, a Las Vegas resident who was part of the Trump transition team and served un-

FILIPINO American actor Darren Criss is the latest celebrity to rally behind Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris. Criss, along with Rep. Judy Chu, actor Daniel Dae Kim and DJ and producer Steve Aoki, headlined the campaign’s national Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) assemble program launch on Tuesday, August 25. The event comes during the Republican National Convention week and as both parties continue to appeal to the AAPI electorate, the fastest-growing segment of eligible voters considered to be the “margin of victory” come November. “One of the most exciting things about adulthood is feeling for the first time this sense of agency over your destiny,” Criss said, speaking directly to young voters. Though the pandemic has hampered a lot of plans, the award-winning actor — known

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Philippines to continue patrolling Spratlys - DFA by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

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Darren Criss headlines launch of national AAPIs for Biden-Harris, appeals to young voters

der George W. Bush’s advisory commission on AAPIs, told the Asian Journal. For Pamintuan, the economy, school choice and law and order are among the issues he’s particularly concerned about. His message to fellow FilAm voters: take a look at Trump’s record in the past three years compared to Joe Biden’s as senator and then vice president.

CLEANING NECESSITY. Four vendors, who donned face masks and face shields, brave the heat of the sun as they walk and sell brooms along Edsa in Quezon City on Thursday, August 27. Apart from the brooms, some vendors sell other merchandise along Edsa such as hardware tools, pants, riders accessories, among others, to earn a living amid the coronavirus pandemic. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

PHILIPPINE Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Wednesday, August 26, maintained that the Philippines will continue patrolling the Spratly Islands despite China’s call to stop ”illegal provocations” in the contested waters. “We’re gonna continue our patrol because it’s ours. That’s all there is to it,” Locsin said in an interview on ANC. “They (China) will continue to call it an illegal provocation including my protest about their illegal incursions but that’s their right. It’s a free world. We can’t stop another country from talking,” he added. Last week, Manila lodged a diplomatic protest over the Chinese Coast Guard’s illegal confiscation of Filipino fishermen’s fish aggregating devices in Scarborough Shoal as well as China’s continuing illicit issuances of radio challenges against Philippine aircraft conducting regular maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian,

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PH immigration orders tighter screening of foreigners claiming marriage to Filipinos by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

IMMIGRATION officers at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and other entry ports have been advised to tighten the screening of foreigners who claim they are married to Filipinos before allowing them to enter the country. The Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) order was issued following reports that some foreign nationals managed to enter the country using fake marriage certificates, according to Immigration Commissioner

Jaime Morente. “I have ordered frontliners at the ports to be doubly strict in screening foreigners alleging that they are married to Filipinos or have Filipino children. It is not enough that they have entry visas, marriage and birth certificates in their possession,” Morente said. The government recently revised its restrictions on the entry of foreign nationals, exempting those who are spouses of Filipinos or have minor Filipino children or chil-

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Last chance to be counted in the 2020 Census! by AJPRESS THE census deadline is looming, and the Filipino community is in danger of not getting their fair share of resources over the next decade. There is only one month left to make an impact. Nationally, four out of 10 U.S. households have not filled out the census. In other words, the response rate is less than 65%. Everyone in the community needs to be counted by Sept. 30. If people are undercounted, states could lose thousands of dollars in public funding per person every year for emergency services, education, health facilities, road improvements, and other benefits. The community is also at risk of losing political representation, including Congres-

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President Rodrigo Roa Duterte holds a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Matina Enclaves in Davao City on Monday, August 24. Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal

‘Duterte has no cancer’ Palace considering live press briefing to dispel health rumors by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

Malacañang on Thursday, August 27, said it is considering the possibility of holding a live press briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte to dismiss speculations over his health. “We’re talking about it,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said when asked if the president was willing to hold a live press briefing. “Again, he (Duterte) is a lawyer, he knows his obligation, he took an oath as a lawyer and as president to uphold the laws of the land and the Constitution. And the Constitution only says, if there is

a serious illness is there an obligation to reveal to the public the details of his health condition,” he added. In a taped address aired on Tuesday, August 25, Duterte said that his doctor advised him to quit drinking alcohol because his Barrettâ’s esophagus was “nearing stage ‘one cancer.” “Matagal na kami sa gobyerno, magpa-retire na lang, bakit pa namin pagsayangan? Kakaunting panahon na lang ang naiwan so walang-wala nang ganang kumain (We have been in government for long. We are nearing retirement. Why would we waste

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From The FronT Page

Following RNC week, Fil-Am... PAGE A1 “At a time of crisis, two different visions of America are evident. President Trump offers a vision of American strength, the American Dream and American exceptionalism. Joe Biden offers an apologetic America – putting American families last in favor of socialist policies… America needs four more years of President Donald Trump and the silent majority will enthusiastically re-elect him,” he added. The scaled-down Republican National Convention, which was supposed to be a large spectacle in Charlotte, North Carolina, is underway this week as President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were formally renominated by the party on Monday, August 24. The event comes during another recession and as over 178,000 Americans have been killed by the COVID-19 pandemic and 5.7 million more have been infected. A step further for the Asian Americans and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, COVID-19 has revealed another pandemic of racism with the reports of anti-Asian hate crimes nationwide. As a Pinay millennial in Las Vegas, many would assume that Lisa Noeth would lean Democratic. However, growing up as a second-generation Filipino American, the Republican Party’s platform and values have attracted her. “The Republican Party’s values of faith, family, self-reli-

ance, and economic opportunities for all Americans resonate within me as these values are also core values of the Filipino community,” Noeth, a small business owner, told the Asian Journal. Rudy Asercion, a local community leader in the Bay Area and an elected member of the San Francisco Republican Central Committee, argued that Trump “can be best fix [to] the economy, return the lowest jobless rate to its pre-pandemic level and boost America’s consumer confidence once COVID19 is over.” Under the Trump administration, he added, Fil-Ams have been appointed to key roles. “Although President Trump has only been in office for 3 ½ years, he has already made three major appointments of Filipino Americans. Most notable of which are Noel Francisco’s appointment as Solicitor General of the United States, Brian Bulatao as the Undersecretary of State for Management and Patrick Bumatay as a federal appellate judge on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals,” Asercion told the Asian Journal. On the ground efforts The Trump campaign earlier this summer announced “Asian Pacific Americans for Trump,” which includes a 26-member advisory board of AAPI elected officials, grassroots leaders and business owners. Among them are six individuals of Filipino descent who are tasked with helping get out the vote within the AAPI electorate, as previ-

ously reported by the Asian Journal. Pinoy advisory members include Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, who is one of the co-chairs; former Guam Governor Eddie Baza Calvo; Vellie Dietrich-Hall, an entrepreneur from Virginia; Brunswick, Ohio Mayor and attorney Ron Falconi; Herman Martir, a pastor from Fort Worth, Texas; and Shirlene Ostrov, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and chair of the Hawaii Republican Party. “We need to fight back against the mainstream media/Democrat message that all APAs are liberals and vote to the left. Our community is not monolithic, we have a wide variety of views and political opinions. Not everyone votes Democrat. Highlighting conservative Asian Pacific American leaders across the country who support Donald Trump will help to go against this stereotype,” Falconi previously told the Asian Journal. With less than 70 days to go until Election Day, Fil-Am Republicans said they are hosting virtual discussions, especially to highlight those in key battleground states. In a 2018 Asian American Voter Survey released by APIAVote and AAPI Data, 48% of Filipinos surveyed said they had a “favorable” view of the Republican Party, while 50% said they had a “favorable” view of Democratic Party. A similar survey for voters in 2020 is set to be released in the coming month. n

‘Duterte has no cancer’

PAGE A1 it? We have a short time left, so we no longer have the appetite to eat),” he said. “May pera ka naman, hindi ka na makakain kaya sabi ng doktor huwag kang kumain ng taba kasi mamatay ka. Ikaw Duterte, huwag ka nang uminom kasi ‘yang Barrett mo nearing stage one ka sa cancer (You have money, but you cannot eat because the doctor said stop eating fatty food because you will die. You, Duterte, refrain from drinking alcohol because your Barrett’s is nearing stage one

cancer),” he added. However, Roque stressed that the advice was given to the president a “long time ago.” The spokesperson also maintained that Duterte is “fit and healthy” for his age. “So far, he is okay. As far as I know, there is no cancer,” Roque told CNN Philippines. “And, as I have said, if there is cancer and if it is a serious illness, he will be reporting it to the people,” the spokesperson added. “He is fit and healthy for a person his age.”

Roque also assured that Duterte will be transparent if his condition was serious. “I don’t think the people should worry about lack of transparency, because the President himself will say what his condition is. But as of now, there’s really no serious condition,” he said. “The Constitution only says, if there is a serious illness, there is an obligation to reveal to the public the details of his health condition. So susundin po iyan ng Presidente (the President will follow that),” he added. n

Darren Criss headlines launch of national AAPIs... PAGE A1 for his roles on “Glee” and “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” — told the audience that they can still vote and help others register. “Guess what you can still do? You can vote,” he said. “If you can figure out how to use TikTok, the latest dance…you can definitely figure how to get your friends, who aren’t registered to vote, to vote.” Criss, who is also a musician, pulled out his guitar and did an acoustic version of his song “Not Alone.” “We’re going to come out on the right side of history in this coming election,” he added. The event featured special remarks from Harris, who spoke about her mother’s immigration story. “When my mother arrived in the United States from India, she understood that the core of her new home in America was that we not only strive for success but to leave our country better than we found it,” the vice presidential nominee said. “That’s the approach she instilled in me and I know many of you are working toward that same end.” Harris promised that under a

Fil-Am actor Darren Criss (“Glee,” “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”) was among the high-profile names who led the launch of the Biden-Harris national AAPI program on Tuesday, August 25.

Biden administration, they will work to “restore honest leadership and implement a plan to get this pandemic under control.” Over 11 million AAPIs will be eligible to vote in this cycle, comprising 5% of the country’s eligible voters. “If you want a president and vice president who will look out for the interests of the AAPI community, leaders who encompass family values, care for the working class and the immigrant community, who will help small businesses build back better, restore the soul of not only our country,

but our health care system…then you need not only vote for the Biden-Harris ticket But you need to get involved by calling your family and friends,” said Amit Jani, national AAPI director for the Biden campaign. Preliminary polling from the 2020 Asian American Voter Survey by APIA Vote, AAPI Data and Advancing Justice | AAJC showed that 54% of AAPIs were leaning toward Biden, while 29% support President Donald Trump. Of the polled voters, 16% of voters remain undecided. (Christina M. Oriel/AJPress)

Early poll: 54% of Asian American voters... PAGE A1 of eligible voters out of the major racial and ethnic groups in the United States with 11.1 million, or 5% of the nation’s eligible voters, able to vote, according to a Pew Research Center analysis released in May. Early data from the voter survey, however, found that a majority of Asian Americans have not had contact from either major party — 56% reported “not at all” in terms of being contacted by the Democratic Party, while 59% said none from the Republican side. “One of the reasons why Asian Americans are less likely to get contacted during the presidential election years is that they’re less likely to live in battleground states,” Karthick Ramakrishnan, UC Riverside professor and founder of AAPI Data, said in a virtual non-partisan event on mobilizing AAPI voters ahead of the Republican National Convention on Monday, August 24. During the 2016 presidential election cycle, results from the group’s survey found that 70%

of respondents said they were not contacted by either party. “Even though there has been progress, even in those battleground states — either because of a perceived difficulty or actual lack of staffing in these campaigns —they’re less likely to reach out to the Asian American population,” Ramakrishnan added. AAPI political agenda Despite the Asian American and Pacific Islander population not being a monolith, the issue around inclusion seemingly has consensus among the various groups. One of the ways the community has been civically engaged is through debates about affirmative action, for example. “As we see in these kind of broad topics, we can start to identify an Asian American agenda. A majority support fairly robust immigrant rights for both a U.S.-born population and an undocumented population. There’s also a consensus around the need for access to in-language materials for those who are not in-English domi-

nant. And then of course, we’ve seen a fair amount of support for increased representation in entertainment and in corporate leadership where there has been a ceiling on Asian American promotion,” Janelle Wong, a professor at the University of Maryland, said on Monday. Wong added that it’s been a “stereotype” that the issues that Asian Americans are largely about are confined to education or immigration because of the majority still being foreignborn. However, the polling group said that the community has shown large support for gun control, environmental protection, universal health care and Black Lives Matter. Anecdotally, speakers at Monday’s event believe that the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes in light of the COVID-19 pandemic may be an impetus for increased political engagement this time around. The full results of the 2020 Asian American Voter survey are slated to be released in September. (AJPress)

FRIENDLY REMINDER. A police officer displays a “Stay Safe Always” placard as motorcycle riders line up at a quarantine checkpoint at the Marikina-Antipolo border along Marikina-Infanta Highway on Thursday, August 27. Authorities set up the checkpoint to ensure that only authorized persons outside their residence are allowed to travel. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Philippines to continue patrolling Spratlys... PAGE A1

in response, said that the Philippines is infringing on its security and sovereignty by sending military aircraft over the islands. It also branded Manila’s maritime patrols in the Kalayaan Island Group as “illegal provocations.” “Our statement itself was a reaction to what China was doing. That was our reaction and that is their reaction. Let me please

emphasize this, it’s a free world. Everyone is free to say what they want,” Locsin said. “I have formally protested certain actions from China in what is indisputably our territorial waters. So fine, let them say that. They can call it illegal provocations, you can’t change their mind. They already lost the arbitral award, they wouldn’t accept it,” he added. Locsin also said he has to take

into consideration the facts before filing another protest for China’s latest remarks. “That is a very fine line that I’m going to have to consider because as I’ve said to all of my people, when you lack the military power to do something about incursions to your territory, all you have is precision in the law, precision about the facts. Let’s get it always correct then file our protest,”he said. n

PH immigration orders tighter screening of...

PAGE A1 dren with special needs, regardless of age, in the Philippines. Morente said the BI will run after foreign nationals who managed to enter the Philippines through false documents. He also called for the public’s cooperation in reporting any foreigner suspected of involvement in sham marriages to the bureau so they could be arrested and deported. On August 17, two South Korean nationals were denied entry

into Mactan-Cebu International Airport after presenting scanned copies of their marriage certificates that turned out to be fraudulent. BI port operations chief Grifton Medina noted that of the two foreigners, one had not been to the Philippines while the other one was out of the country on the date of his supposed marriage to a Filipina. He also said that all immigration officers manning the ports have been instructed to exercise

extra vigilance in screening the foreign spouses and parents of Filipinos. “It is not enough that these passengers have [an] entry visa, marriage, and birth certificates in their possession. If they notice inconsistencies in a passenger’s answer to their questions, the latter should be referred for secondary inspection, either to the immigration supervisor or personnel from our Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU),” Medina said. n

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Mental health in a pandemic

EVEN before COVID-19 killed nearly 3,000 Filipinos, destroyed livelihoods and sent the economy into recession, mental health experts had already sounded the alarm about rising cases of depression and calls registered in suicide hotlines. After five months of quarantine, it’s not surprising that calls for help have increased from those who are suffering from severe stress. Mobility restrictions and involuntary confinement in one’s home are aggravated by the loss of income and the inability to provide for one’s family. Roland Cortez, director of the National Center for Mental Health, had said before he and his driver were murdered in July that calls on the NCMH suicide prevention hotline had jumped amid the lockdown. The Catholic Church has also reported receiving more cases of people needing mental, emotional and spiritual help in this unprecedented public health crisis. The problem has drawn the attention even of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. Having recognized the problem, the IATF can mobilize government resources to give more attention to this aspect of public health. Republic Act 11036, passed in 2018, aims to boost the delivery of “integrated” psychiatric,

neurologic and psychosocial health services. As part of national policy, every Filipino has a right to mental health. A major problem in achieving the objectives of the law is the lack of qualified personnel to deal with mental health problems. The country lacks psychiatrists, psychologists and even trained personnel who can man suicide prevention hotlines. The effort is augmented by volunteers in non-government organizations, which have their own hotlines, but the services are still not enough. The Catholic Church and other religious groups also provide spiritual counseling for troubled individuals. As the COVID crisis drags on and the health and financial problems of people deepen, the need for mental health services will grow. The national and local governments can work with the private sector, NGOs and religious groups to enhance responses to mental health issues. In this pandemic, depression and other mental health problems also threaten lives and cannot be ignored. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective Gel SantoS-ReloS THE Republican Party was once known as the party of Abraham Lincoln; the party of true statesmen fighting for true conservative values and in the service of the American people; the Grand Old Party. But it has been hijacked by this reality star named Donald Trump. He has taken over the party, while its members have been complicit in abandoning the very principles the GOP had been fighting for centuries just to ride in the fanaticism. The members of the GOP warned the American people about the danger of electing Donald Trump to be the nominee of the Republican Party. In 2016, Sen. Ted Cruz said, “he lies all the time.” Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley pointed out that “Donald Trump is everything I taught my children not to do in kindergarten.” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that Donald Trump needs to carefully select a running mate to bolster his inexperience, adding that Trump doesn’t know much about “the issues.” Florida Senator Marco Rubio warned, “Guys, we have a con artist as the front-runner of the Republican Party.” Sen. Rand Paul asked about Trump: “Aren’t people eventually going to say, ‘Does the emperor have any clothes? Or does the emperor have a brain, frankly?’ We have seen them say these then, immortalized in videos we can watch now on social media. Lindsey Graham declared, ‘I think he’s a kook. I think he is lazy. I think he is unfit for office.’”

Babe’s Eye View BaBe Romualdez THEPhilippinerumor mill went on overdrive last week when stories started circulating in private chat groups and social media that President Duterte was flown to Singapore in a medical aircraft, with a screenshot showing a flight tracker complete with the serial number and call sign of the aircraft. The rumor was so widespread that even international media picked up the fake news. Some foreign tabloids went so far as to claim an “exclusive” story with embellishments that include the President getting infected with COVID-19 or being admitted to the ICU of an unnamed hospital in Singapore. Even when Senator Bong Go released a photo of the president and his family having dinner in Davao – with a newspaper headline shown to prove the date – to dispel the fake news, rumormon-

Philstar.com photo

The 2020 Republican National Convention reveals how the party of Abraham Lincoln and true conservative values have been hijacked by Donald Trump These people, once sounding like fierce hyenas, have morphed into meek lambs when Trump was elected president. Riding on the popularity of the reality star among the base, these members of the Republican Party, in cahoots with Fox News, have been singing praises in support of Trump’s rhetoric and actions they were criticizing before. They have been justifying and even glorifying Trump’s moral corruption. For fear of falling out of Trump’s grace, and thereby putting their own political interests at risk, these Republicans have failed to do their Constitutional duty to provide checks and balances and hold the president accountable. They have become complicit in Trump’s failure to live up to the oath he took as president “to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States of America.” The Republican leadership has, without shame, condoned and normalized Trump’s behavior, rhetoric, and policies that: sowed division among the American people; enflamed a culture of hate - “them” versus “us’; discriminated against people of color; bent the truth that did not fit his narrative in his alternate universe; spread lies, falsehoods, misinformation, and conspiracy theories that have compromised the safety, well-being, decency, dignity and unity of the American people and the nation. The 2020 Republican National Convention showcases this failure and betrayal of the GOP to put the interests of the American people above the Republican Party’s political expediency. This year, the Republican Party

decided not to write its convention platform that would have informed the American people the direction to which Trump, the nominee seeking re-election, and the party propose to steer the country to, and the policies and programs to help us get there given the enormity and gravity of the challenges we now face as a nation. The GOP is reusing its platform from 2016, which was written by the party even before Donald Trump was sworn into office. What has Trump and the GOP accomplished in the last four years? Killed many regulations put forth by the Obama Administration to protect the environment, and those that protect the ordinary hardworking Americans from abusive business practices. Tried to kill Obamacare (Affordable Care Act) even during the pandemic without any viable alternative. Threatened the Social Security, Medicare and other safety nets that ordinary Americans have paid for from their paychecks. Trump and his cohorts in the Republican Party gave huge tax breaks to billionaires and millionaires and just scraps to the middle class, causing even a greater disparity in income inequality and caused our national debt and deficit to balloon instead of being wiped out as promised by the demagogue Trump. They provided more money to the military while sacrificing the basic services like health, education meant to invest in our human resources. They Killed the Dream Act, separated families, demonized persons of color, empowered the racists.

Trump antagonized our allies while cozying up and singing praises to dictators while coordinating with our geopolitical adversaries like Russia to interfere in our democratic process, undermined the free press, the judiciary, and the U.S. intelligence agencies, local government officials, scientists and health officials, the Democratic Party who dared to call him out for his lies and transgressions against the rule of law. The delegates of the Republican Party would therefore not go through the usual thoughtful and intentional process of deliberating over policies and principles to determine what the party stands for in 2020, as Democrats recently did, so the American people can make an informed decision on election day. Instead, the RNC has become a showcase of the party’s undying love, reverence and allegiance, not to America and the Constitution, but for and to Trump — venerating, adoring, hailing Trump and echoing all the politically motivated falsehoods and conspiracy theories he has been peddling without bases in fact. Nevermind the continued threat of the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 177,000 Americans under Trump’s watch; the economic hardship the American people and nation now face; the ballooning of our national debt from $19.57 trillion when Obama left office in 2017 to $24.95 trillion as of May 1, 2020; the threats to the sovereignty and democracy of the nation by foreign and hostile powers like Russia and China.

Nevermind the rise in the division and hate crime in the past four years; the need for a health care system that truly covers all Americans; the broken immigration system; gun violence; economic inequality; race and ethnic inequality; climate change and energy issues. Instead, the party of Trump wrote this resolution on the Republican Party platform for 2020: RESOLUTION REGARDING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM WHEREAS, The Republican National Committee (RNC) has significantly scaled back the size and scope of the 2020 Republican National Convention in Charlotte due to strict restrictions on gatherings and meetings, and out of concern for the safety of convention attendees and our hosts; WHEREAS, The RNC has unanimously voted to forego the Convention Committee on Platform, in appreciation of the fact that it did not want a small contingent of delegates formulating a new platform without the breadth of perspectives within the ever-growing Republican movement; WHEREAS, All platforms are snapshots of the historical contexts in which they are born, and parties abide by their policy priorities, rather than their political rhetoric; WHEREAS, The RNC, had the Platform Committee been able to convene in 2020, would have undoubtedly unanimously agreed to reassert the Party’s strong support for President Donald Trump and his Administration; WHEREAS, The media has outrageously misrepresented

the implications of the RNC not adopting a new platform in 2020 and continues to engage in misleading advocacy for the failed policies of the Obama-Biden Administration, rather than providing the public with unbiased reporting of facts; and WHEREAS, The RNC enthusiastically supports President Trump and continues to reject the policy positions of the Obama-Biden Administration, as well as those espoused by the Democratic National Committee today; therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Republican Party has and will continue to enthusiastically support the President’s America-first agenda; RESOLVED, That the 2020 Republican National Convention will adjourn without adopting a new platform until the 2024 Republican National Convention; RESOLVED, That the 2020 Republican National Convention calls on the media to engage in accurate and unbiased reporting, especially as it relates to the strong support of the RNC for President Trump and his Administration; and RESOLVED, That any motion to amend the 2016 Platform or to adopt a new platform, including any motion to suspend the procedures that will allow doing so, will be ruled out of order. *** 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.

Rumor-mongering will only worsen our situation gers persisted in making preposterous claims that the photo was manipulated. There is no doubt that the individuals who were propagating these rumors are people who have an axe to grind against the President or, based on unconfirmed intelligence reports, from people salivating to take power – either from the extreme right or far left. The usual suspects have been desperately wishing for regime change to happen, and thus see the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to push for another EDSA people power type of situation. President Duterte has been very clear from the start that he will not lie about his health condition and in fairness, he did that at the very beginning of his term. He had repeatedly admitted that he was old and tired. Clearly, the Constitution assures us the continuity of leadership following the presidential line of succession – which is why deliberately spreading rumors that aim to undermine the country’s stability is totally irresponsible.

Our current situation is already volatile as it is with this pandemic, and surely, having a strong stable government is what we need today more than ever. Let’s not add misery to those who are already suffering with jobs losses, hunger and poverty. We all know the economy is at its worst ever, with unemployment surging to a record high of 45 percent in July according to a recent Social Weather Stations survey. The unemployment numbers raise a red flag teetering on danger as it could build up the frustration among people due to increasing hunger and poverty – a combustible formula for social unrest. Those who have a lot to lose should worry about this, instead of engaging in spreading rumors. Remember the old saying, “desperation knows no boundaries.” Many people who have nothing to lose can potentially turn to criminality to survive. That is why instead of indulging in useless rumormongering, we should seriously look into finding ways to help those

who are suffering. The fact is, governments worldwide are all finding it difficult to contain and control this pandemic as wave after wave of infections continue to hit them. Not even wealthy and powerful countries have been spared from the virulence of COVID-19. What’s happening is even worse in countries that are now going through political unrest and violence such as Mali where a military mutiny has turned into a coup, exacerbating the impact of the pandemic as destruction, displacement and death continue to escalate. The situation is also serious in war-torn Yemen where acute food insecurity is on the rise. Haiti, meanwhile, is also facing a “perfect storm” due to political instability and a fragile economy that is compounded by a limited health infrastructure. Even here in the United States, the surge of infections has been so high because of insensitive and irresponsible people who continue to flout safety protocols like mask wearing and social distancing. Schools are having

difficulty in deciding whether to open or not due to the many students diagnosed positive with the coronavirus. Thirty million Americans have already lost their jobs. But because the US is a wealthy country, the government can still afford to provide funding relief to the people through measures such as enhanced unemployment benefits. There are also many civic groups that are helping others by buying food from struggling restaurants and donating food items and groceries, while wealthy companies and individuals have donated millions in aid to the unemployed and for pandemic response initiatives including COVID-19 research. All Filipinos must pull together because this pandemic is far more damaging than many realize. Our very survival as a nation depends on us. It will take time to rebuild the economy and get back to “normal,” and so we must accept the fact that this deadly virus will be around for some time. Meanwhile, we continue to do

our job here in the United States – being in constant communication with pharmaceutical companies developing the vaccine. I know our government is also working tirelessly with other countries to make sure we will have enough vaccine supply for at least 60 percent of our people to achieve herd immunity. We are grateful knowing there are businessmen like Manny Pangilinan, Ramon Ang, Ricky Razon and many others who are doing their part in helping. Certainly, we can use a lot more people like them who choose to use their resources for the greater good and for the greater number of Filipinos. There is no place in this world for selfish people taking advantage of the situation. At no other time in our history has it ever been more critical and expedient for everyone to work together and help our one and only country survive this pandemic. More than ever, we should practice our Christian faith and help those who are in need. (Philstar.com)

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

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PH Army identifies 2 Abu Sayyaf members’ No new COVID-19 fatalities for three widows behind Jolo twin bombings consecutive days among overseas Filipinos by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

TWO female suicide bombers are behind the twin bombings in Jolo, Sulu that killed 15 and wounded 77 on Monday, August 24, the Philippine Army said. According to Army chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, the suicide bombers were “alias Nanah” and “alias Inda Nay.” Alias Nanah, a resident of Basilan, was the wife of the late Normal Lasuca, the first identified Filipino suicide bomber. Meanwhile, “alias Inda Nay,” a Sulu resident who later relocated to Tawi-Tawi, was the wife of late Abu Talha, the Abu Sayyaf’s liaison to the Islamic State (ISIS). “The two were the wives of the first Filipino suicide bomber and that of the slain ASG-ISIS conduit. The information [was] based on the initial findings of our ground forces,” Sobejana said. “The two female suicide bombers are the same targets being tracked by the group of Maj. Indammog before they were killed by policemen on 29 June 2020,” he added. Sobejana was referring to Army intelligence officer Major Marvin Indammog, who led four military intel officers in intelligence and monitoring operations until they were gunned down by local Jolo and Sulu anti-drug policemen. The first female suicide bomber detonated herself with the IED strapped in her body near a parked

motorcycle. The second suicide bomber blew herself up after Pvt. John Agustin prevented her from breaching a cordon around the blast site of the first explosion. Eight soldiers were killed in the blasts — Staff Sergeants Louie Cuarteros, Manuelito Oria and Privates Omair Muksan, Juvienjay Emlani, John Ray Paler, Aiub Sahid from the 21st Infantry Battalion and Private John Agustin from the 35th Infantry Battalion. Sobejana, for his part, paid tribute to the fallen men. “The Philippine Army grieves over the death of these men. We honor their sacrifice in serving our country and protecting the people of Jolo, Sulu. To the bereaved families of our troops, we extend our deepest condolences. Rest assured that the Army is here to help you and is ready to extend the necessary assistance,” he said in a separate statement. Gen. Gilbert Gabay, Armed Forces chief of staff, likewise extended his condolences for the bereaved families of the soldiers. “No sensible religion or ideology would ever endorse these hapless attacks. We extend our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims. Rest assured that their sacrifices will not be in vain,” he said. Malacañang on Wednesday, August 26, said President Rodrigo Duterte is considering the state forces’ recommendation to declare martial law in Sulu following

the Jolo twin bombing. “The president will of course consider this recommendation,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in an interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source. “The recommendations have been made and the President listens to those on the ground,” he added. Sobejana and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Gen. Archie Gamboa recommended the implementation of a Sulu-wide martial law. “Siguro it’s high time na ibalik po natin, if I may respectfully recommend to the president through our Chief of Staff and Secretary of National Defense, na pwede maideklara muli ang martial law sa probinsya ng Sulu dahil sa recent bombing incident na nangyari (Perhaps it’s high time to bring back martial law in Sulu, if I may respectfully recommend to the President through our Chief of Staff and Secretary of National Defense, because of the recent bombing incident),” Sobejana said. “We want to bring back normalcy in Sulu as soon as possible,” he added. Roque, for his part, stressed that Duterte needs to be “very careful” in examining the recommendation. “Although the recommendation has been made, the President has to be very careful that it will pass the scrutiny of the legislative and the judicial branches of government,” the spokesman said. n

Last chance to be counted in the 2020 Census!

PAGE A1 sional seats. The Census Bureau is making a final push this week to close the remaining gap on census response rates of Asian Americans, including the Filipino community. Joining this effort, over 30 organizations and 20 influencers are committed to mobilizing their communities during the 2020 Census Asian Week of Action, which is taking place this week, Aug. 24 to 30. These organizations, including civic engagement groups, social service providers, and e-commerce brands, are urging people to respond to the census because so much is at stake for our communities. Due to COVID-19, it has become more challenging to conduct local outreach, but these 2020 Census

partner organizations and influencers are helping to fill the gap. They are using their circles of influence to get a more complete count. It’s a key reason why the U.S. Census Bureau has decided to call upon them for the 2020 Census Asian Week of Action. These organizations and influencers specialize in working with the hardest-to-count populations, such as people with Tagalog language needs, young people who move often, babies and young children, and the 50+ population. With the impact of COVID-19, Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham said in an Aug. 14 statement: “We are taking steps and adapting our operations to make sure everyone is counted, while keeping everyone safe.”

As part of their operational adjustments, the Census Bureau is sending out census takers to help households complete their questionnaires. Census takers have been trained to follow public health guidelines and wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while making these in-person visits. Dillingham stressed the urgency: “If you haven’t responded, the time to respond is now! Responding to the 2020 Census online, on paper, by phone, or in person with a census taker, helps secure vital resources for your community.” The future of the Asian American community starts right now. Don’t wait any longer. To respond online, visit 2020census.gov. To respond in Tagalog by phone, call 844-478-2020. n

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

THE Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday, August 27, recorded no new fatalities due to COVID-19 among Filipinos abroad. As it stands, the death toll remained at 742 since Monday, August 24. Six new cases of COVID-19, on the other hand, were confirmed by the DFA, bringing the total number of infected overseas Filipinos to 10,041. Meanwhile, the total tally of recovered patients has reached 6,080 as four new recoveries were logged by the agency. “Today is the third consecutive day with no new recorded COVID-19 fatalities among our

nationals abroad,” the DFA reported. “Meanwhile, the DFA reports 4 new recoveries and 6 new confirmed cases in Asia and the Pacific and Europe,” it added. “No new updates from the Americas and the Middle East were received today.” Overall by region, Europe — which comprises 18 countries — has recorded 1,164 Filipino cases, including 364 undergoing treatment, 705 recoveries and 95 deaths. The Middle East and Africa, covering 27 countries, has reported 6,949 cases; of which, 2,332 are undergoing treatment, 461 deaths and 4,156 recoveries. The Asia Pacific region, which spans across 20 countries, has

1,133 cases, with 360 undergoing treatment, 765 recoveries, and eight deaths. The Americas — covering eight countries like the United States — have 795 reported cases, with 163 undergoing treatment, 454 recoveries, and 178 deaths. “As DFA personnel in our Foreign Service Posts continue to report on the status of our nationals abroad, the DFA assures the public of its efforts in attending to the needs of our people and facilitating requests for repatriation, whenever possible,” the agency added. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has reached 205,581. The death toll stands at 3,234 while the tally of recoveries has been pushed to 133,990. n

Morales’ move to quit won’t absolve him, Palace says as Duterte accepts resignation by alexis

RoMeRo Philstar.com

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has accepted the resignation of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) president Ricardo Morales but his decision to quit won’t absolve him of possible criminal and administrative liabilities, Malacañang said on Thursday, August 27. Morales, who has been in hot water over the alleged fraudulent schemes in PhilHealth, resigned from his post last Wednesday after Duterte advised him to do so supposedly to allow him to attend to his health issues. His resignation came as a multiagency task force is looking into allegations that a “mafia” in the state-run insurer has pocketed billions in funds through anomalous transactions. “The resignation of general Morales has been accepted. There is no replacement yet,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said at a press briefing. “The president has always been of the opinion that health should come first. He is hoping that the resignation of Gen. Morales will lead to the recovery of general Morales from his current ailment,” he added. Morales, a retired Army gen-

eral, is suffering from lymphoma and has been advised by his doctor to go on leave to undergo chemotherapy. Roque previously said Duterte won’t pressure Morales to resign while authorities are investigating the alleged massive corruption in PhilHealth. Among the irregularities tied to PhilHealth are the padding of hospital claims to the health insurer, the procurement of allegedly overpriced coronavirus test kits and information technology equipment, and the unauthorized release of funds to hospitals that have not yet logged coronavirus cases. PhilHealth officials have denied the allegations and have promised to cooperate with investigators. Roque said PhilHealth officials may still face charges even if they quit their posts. “The law is very clear: If there is a criminal liability incurred when you are in office, it subsists; and public officers can be held liable for them whether or not they continue to be in office,” the Palace spokesman said. Roque said there is no timeline for the naming of Morales’ successor but expressed hope that the next PhilHealth chief would help the state-run insurer regain the public’s trust. “The replacement should

have no record of corruption, should have managerial skills, should have skills in the field of insurance and health service. Since PhilHealth is not just an insurance company but also the implementer of universal healthcare, the successor should have a background in community health and public health,” he said. “We do not lack people who are capable of providing service but the president will choose the one who has the qualifications that will allow PhilHealth to recover. The president admits that PhilHealth requires his personal attention... He needs someone who can help him restore the public’s trust in PhilHealth.” Roque said the president is already considering some names for the post but is very careful in making his choice. The Palace spokesman also shrugged off Morales’ comment that he can now take over PhilHealth. “I’m praying for your good health. May you recover and may you live long,” said Roque, who previously criticized Morales for supposedly failing to cleanse PhilHealth of corruption. Pressed if he is willing to take over PhilHealth, Roque replied: “I’m presidential spokesperson. I’m busy with my job right now.” n

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Fil-Am filmmaker Isabel Sandoval on ‘Lingua Franca,’ The Pinoy in Kyd the Band cinematic authenticity and the art of subtlety by MarK

bonifacio ManilaTimes.net

IT turns out that critically acclaimed artist Kyd the Band (aka Devin Guisande) has Filipino blood. “It’s from my dad’s side. My great grandparents were from Manila. My great grandfather is Santiago. He was Spanish and Filipino and he was born in Manila. He ended up joining the US military at Clark Air Base which is not there anymore. “My great grandma, she moved here and helped raised me. She was actually a kindergarten teacher. I was at her house every day. I just used to eat a lot of lumpia and green bean chopsuey. I’ve never tried balut because I wasn’t brave enough to try it. Maybe one day,” Guisande said in a Zoom interview with Music Geek. He just released his new EP entitled “Season 2: Character Development” on May 29 and teams up with gnash on new single Sandoval stars as Olivia, a Filipina trans woman, in “Lingua Franca,” which premiered on “Heartbreak Anthem.” Netflix on August 26. “Over the couple of years, I’ve remittance and expresses wor- to make enough money to send been touring more. Some of the ry over the vaguely referenced back to her mother as well as to tours I was on, I saw the music “dread” happening in the United pay for an American man to mar- was very heavy, very deep and very sad at times. A lot of my States. The daughter brushes the ry her for a green card. In the middle of this quandary, music is that way too. As I begin comment off and tells her mother she will send the money soon and we get a voyeuristic view into the to tour more, I saw how that kind whirling sensuality of a private promises to call her later. “Lingua Franca,” the third film woman who eventually allows from Filipina American filmmak- Alex (Eamon Farren), the secer Isabel Sandoval, is an austere ond-generation Russian Ameriportrait of the kinds of love sto- can delinquent grandson of Olga ries that are so authentic and spe- (Lynn Cohen, who passed away cific that couldn’t have come from earlier this year) into her world. any other filmmaker. Sandoval’s Alex becomes a potential link to first two films, “Apparition” and a green card, and what unfurls “Senorita” (in which Sandoval is in this connection is a subtle but credited as Vincent Sandoval), passionate romance. In a cinematic landscape where were lauded by the prestigious Filipino cinema world. But her films regularly force-feed viewers latest release is her entrance into with contextual and expository the class of international auteurs information, films like “Lingua — filmmakers who’ve estab- Franca” are refreshingly subdued lished their personal brands of and exude a quiet confidence. Sandoval is secure enough with cinematic artistry. Sandoval paints with a careful herself as a filmmaker to allow hand a subtle narrative about an things to go unsaid because, at undocumented trans Filipina, Ol- the end of the day, humans are ivia (played by Sandoval), living emotional beings that can under- American singer Kyd the Band is Devin Guisande, whose father is Filipino. in New York City who struggles PAGE B5 Photo from Instagram_@kydtheband

Sandoval’s award-winning film Lingua Franca arrives on Netflix, signaling the permanence of diverse storytelling

by

Klarize Medenilla / AJPress

AS is the experience of so many Filipinos living in the United States, a woman named Olivia living in Brooklyn makes a call to her mother back in the Philippines to discuss money. It’s a relationship separated by time zones as well as atmosphere:

the mother is at a party celebrating a family friend’s birthday while the daughter is just waking up in a quiet cloudy New York morning. In Tagalog, the mother asks when Olivia — who works as an in-home caregiver for an elderly Russian woman named Olga — will be sending her monthly

Movie poster for “Lingua Franca,” the third film from Filipina American trans filmmaker Isabel Sandoval.

of music impacted people. It was crazy because it felt like you’re in a room with all these people you don’t know and you’re singing this song, it’s about heartbreak, pain and going through something or dealing with something. It’s uniting and it feels cathartic. It just brings people together in just a really strange way. I thought it was really fascinating. I had the concept to write that kind of song. I’ve been looking for something to bring my friend gnash in on. I had a song on his album called ‘Pajamas’ that I’ve written for him. “Ever since that we’ve kind of connected, wrote more and became friends. I wanted to find something that we could collaborate on and something that felt like authentic to him and his message. And authentic to me and where we’ll both been musically. ‘Heartbreak Anthem’ just felt like a perfect song to do with him. I showed him the idea and he really liked it. He took it to another level and made it what it is,” he said of his single. Previous releases in “Season 2” include: “Dark Thoughts,” “This Time Last Year,” “Easy (feat. Elley Duhé)” and “Human.” Born into a family closely involved with the Pentecostal Church, Guisande got his start playing PAGE B5

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Bernadette Sembrano reflects on being retrenched as field reporter by Niña

GuNo Inquirer.net

Nadine Lustre, Kathryn Bernardo and Janine Gutierrez

AFTER getting a call that she was retrenched, Bernadette Sembrano reflected on her situation and how she is remaining optimistic. The newscaster shared her sentiments on Facebook yesterday, Aug. 25, after getting a call from a superior from her public service program “Lingkod Kapamilya.” “I was told I was retrenched. Masakit din (It hurts too),” she said. Photos from Instagram/@nadine, @bernardokath, @janinegutierrez It was a bittersweet day for Sembrano, who was just celebrating the fact that she had co-written a song titled “Ang sa

‘yo ay Akin.” She shared advice from a friend who told her, “Every day good things and bad things happen and it’s up to us what we want to hold on to and what we want to stay with us.” Sembrano said she was grateful for her years as a field reporter, stressing that she was a “changed person.” “Every moment I had as a field reporter, wala akong inaksayang panahon (I did not waste any time),” she said. She also noted in her Facebook post that she will still be an anchor on “TV Patrol.” Sembrano’s layoff comes after ABS-CBN was denied a franchise renewal by Congress in July. This

Bernadette Sembrano

ABS-CBN photo

has led to the media giant focusing on its digital arm. “TV Patrol” continues to stream on its own Facebook page.

Kathryn, Nadine, Janine vie for Best Actress in Gawad Urian 2020 25 things you don’t (but want to) know about Raffy Tulfo by Cha LiNo Inquirer.net

KATHRYN Bernardo, Nadine Lustre, Janine Gutierrez and Alden Richards are just some of the brightest stars nominated in several categories in the 43rd Gawad Urian this year. Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino released the full list of nominees for the sought-after Gawad Urian Awards via Facebook on Thursday, August 27. The awards event is scheduled this October. The list includes the nominees for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress,

Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Music and Best Sound. The action film “Babae at Baril”, starring Gutierrez and JC Santos, is considered to be one of the top contenders with nine nominations across the 12 categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Screenplay, Best Actor and Actress, and more. Both Bernardo and her “Hello, Love, Goodbye” co-star Richards are nominated for the Best Actress and Best Actor category, while Maricel Laxa was nominated for

Best Supporting Actress. Lustre’s nomination for “Ulan” this year marks her second time on the Best Actress nominees list. She won the award in 2019 for her performance in “Never Not Love You”. The Best Supporting Actress category is also filled with veteran stars including Cherie Gil for “Kaputol”, Yayo Aguila for “Metamorphosis” and Meryll Soriano for “John Denver Trending”. After “Babae at Baril”, the films “Cleaners”, “Edward” and “Kalel, 15” have eight nominations each — all of them are likewise listed on the Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Picture categories.

by RiCky Lo Philstar.com

SPOILER alert: This story is not about the usual issues that Raffy Tulfo tackles day in and day out, fair weather or foul, on his TV5 show Idol in Action and his Radyo5 program Wanted sa Radyo. Raffy’s millions of followers/believers know what those issues are. But I have to mention a segment of Idol in Action where Raffy resolves the problems of people (a recent caller was a cry-

Raffy Tulfo

ing mom devastated by her discovery that her son and daughter were into incest). Raffy’s good friend lawyer Freddie Villamor (owner of Promag300 which Raffy is endorsing) is looking for a producer who will dramatize on film or in a TV series those heart-breaking stories. “People can learn a lot from them,” assured Freddie, adding how he admires Raffy for being compassionate. According to a report, when Raffy learned from DSWD (Department of Social Work and Development) social marketing service officer-in-charge Irene Dumlao that her office might have overlooked the names of jeepney drivers who still need to get benefits from the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP), Raffy acted fast. Upon Dumlao’s request, he asked the staff of RaffyTulfo In Action (RTIA) to send the drivers’ names to DSWD as soon as possible. Raffy promised to give the drivers sacks of rice, vegetables and grocery bags. He also granted the request of Eastern Samar Rep. Maria Fe Abunda (Boy’s sister), to help victims of Typhoon Ambo and donated P1M from his own pocket. (Jeepney drivers who want to contact Raffy may message him through the Official Facebook Group of Raffy Tulfo In Action, or e-mail info@raffytulfoinaction.com.) Okay, here are the 25 things you don’t (but want to) know about Raffy. 1. How can you tell if you wake up from the wrong side of the bed? “This is the time when you don’t mess around with me.” 2. What’s one thing you can’t do without? “Cellphone.” 3. Items inside your bag that you carry every day? “Wallet, cellphone, extra facemask, hand sanitizer, mouthwash, eye drop and eyeglasses.” 4. Are you a worrier? If so, usually what about? “Sometimes and it’s mostly about the dozens and dozens of cases we are trying to accomplish at work.” 5. Are you hypochondriac? “I was at one time and I thought I had a very serious illness and my time was up. I had different kinds of alarming symptoms then that bothered me a lot and didn’t go away. I went to consult a cardiologist, neurologist, pulmonologist, gastroenterologist, immunologist, dermatologist and endocrinologist. And it turned out later that it was just a case of stress and withdrawal syndrome from a long period of excessive smoking.” 6. Your biggest fear? “Losing a loved one.” 7. Have you ever been heartbroken (by whom and when)?

Photo from Instagram/@raffytulfoinaction

“Not to my recollection.” 8. Favorite comfort food? “Ginataang bilo-bilo and banana cue.” 9. Heard that you love shoes and you buy several pairs when you are abroad. How many pairs do you have so far and what pair is your favorite? “I have 200 more or less. My favorite pair is a Jimmy Choo layered with Swarovski crystals. That was given to me by my wife as a birthday gift.” 10. Most precious possession? “My family and my RTIA team.” 11. What thought comes to your mind when you look at the mirror in the morning? “It’s time to kick ass again!” 12. Best lesson you got from your parents. “Stop complaining and learn how to count your blessings.” 13. Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 as a husband, as a father and as a boss. “I would say 9 on all of them. Because I’m not perfect.” 14. Biggest mistake that you have committed and how you corrected it. “When I was a teenager, I ran away from home. A couple of months later, I came back and begged for forgiveness from my parents. And they gave me a second chance and a fresh start.” 15. What song makes you cry? “Amazing Grace.” 16. What song lifts your spirit? “Born To Be Alive.” 17. What’s your all-time favorite movie? “The Godfather.” 18. Do you believe in the afterlife (heaven and hell)? “Yes.” 19. What do you usually pray for? “Good health.” 20. Are you superstitious? “Not really.” 21. What is success to you? “When you are being recognized by many for the good things that you’ve done.” 22. When are you happiest? “When I see smiles on people’s faces after coming to see me for help.” 23. What would you tell your 15-year-old self? “Hey moron, listen to Mom and Dad.” 24. What’s the best/worst thing about Raffy Tulfo? “The best thing about me, perhaps, is I don’t say no to people who are really in need of help. And the worst thing about me, maybe, is I’m a perfectionist and I expect the highest quality of work from my people, and if things are not done the way I wanted it, I get furious.” 25. Raffy Tulfo in three words. “Listener, Troubleshooter, Peacemaker.”

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Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS WHAT is cancer? Cancer or a malignant tumor is a disease entity where the cells in the tissues of an organ (like the breast, lung, prostate, liver, brain, etc.) change into a new morphology with bizarre and aggressive invasive behavior. These malignant cells grow rapidly and replicate beyond control, transforming the normal anatomy of an organ to a giant unrecognizable, useless part of the body. An example of this is neglected cancer of the thyroid where the tumor becomes larger than the patient’s head. Cancer spreads to other organs adjacent to them (local metastasis) or travel by blood or lymph circulation to invade other organs in other regions of the body (distant metastasis), like lung cancer spreading to the brain or breast cancer metastasizing to the bones. The normal biological “growth control or timing” is lost and the tumor mass keeps on growing until it is removed, or keeps on spreading till the patient expires. Why do cancers develop? Cancers develop among those individuals with genetic predisposition to them following exposure to physical or chemical irritants, which are called carcinogens. Some examples of these are chronic exposure to radiation, cigarettes, alcohol, etc. The resistance or immunity to cancer in some people (in spite of similar exposures to cancer-causing agents) is conferred on them by their genetic integrity. Someday, medical science may be able to prevent cancers through “gene therapy” by removing the specific gene(s) or portion of the gene that is defective. Are cigarettes really carcinogenic? There is no doubt anymore that smoking cigarettes causes cancer, not only of the lungs but the throat, breasts, prostate, cervix, and other organs. The tobacco industry has finally “confessed” their prior knowledge (which they subdued for decades) that cigarettes can indeed cause cancers and a host of cardiovascular illnesses, in-

Prevent cancer cluding heart attacks. Individual cancer victims of cigarette smoking have successfully sued and have been awarded hundreds of millions of dollars by the courts in the United States. How about secondhand smoke? Secondhand cigarette (sidestream) smoke is even worse as a carcinogen than firsthand (mainstream) smoke because there are about 4,000 chemical agents in side-stream smoke; 200 of them are known poisons. A significant number of cancers among non-smokers have been caused by secondhand smoke. Are skin moles potential cancer growths? Depending on the appearance, pigmentation, location, size or speed of growth, “normal moles” can be pre-malignant, one that could transform into cancer. However, majority of moles that people have are benign (non-cancerous). If there is anything that is unusual about the “behavior” of a mole, it should be examined by a dermatologist without delay. One particular mole, malignant melanoma, is savagely cancerous and rapidly spreads to kill the patient if not discovered and treated early enough. While Asian women on the beach with umbrellas look funny/weird, avoiding excessive sun exposure is smart – a behavior that results in a more youthful complexion and lower risk for skin cancer. Is excessive exposure to sunlight carcinogenic? Yes, prolonged and repeated exposure to bright sunlight (ultraviolet rays) can cause cancer of the skin. Asian women are less prone to skin cancer formation (and have better complexion than their American and European counterparts) because by nature they shun sunlight and use umbrellas even on the beach! Skin sunblock lotions or creams (at least UV 15 to 40) are recommended two to 3 times a day. But most importantly, minimizing exposure to sunlight (even indirectly) to less than 30 minutes twice a day, or an hour a day, is a prudent preventive measure. Does frequent sex cause cancer? Sex per se does not directly cause any form of cancer, no matter how frequent. However, having multiple sex partners

increases a woman’s chance of developing cervical cancer, besides hepatitis. The reverse does not seem to raise a man’s chance of having prostate cancer. Lymphogranuloma Venereum is a venereal condition that is sexually transmitted, where the lymph glands in the groins turn into huge tumor masses. AIDS, while deadly, is not considered a form of cancer in the usual medical sense. It is more of “depletion and paralysis” of the immune system to the point that the body’s natural defenses against various common diseases are weakened or even lost, rendering the body helpless and vulnerable to all illnesses. Do spicy foods cause gastric cancer? There is no scientific evidence to prove that regular ingestion of spicy foods (like in Thailand, India, Mexico, etc.) causes cancer of the stomach. Neither is there any medical proof that eating temperature-hot foods (like in China) increases the incidence of cancer of the esophagus or stomach. While cancer of the stomach is quite common in Japan, the causal relationship between this malignancy and eating raw food (like sushi) or eating hot foods has not been established. If properly secured, prepared and free of infestation, sushi is one of the healthiest foods there is. Chronic alcohol intake, on the other hand, has been found to be associated with cancer of the esophagus (food pipe), stomach, etc. Does hepatitis lead to cancer? Yes, a significant number of patients with Hepatitis B or C develop Hepatoma (cancer of the liver), which is very common in the Philippines and other parts of Asia. And hepatitis could be so subtle that anyone can have it without knowing he/ she has it. Food handlers with hepatitis and infected sex partners (kissing, using the same toothbrush, drinking contaminated water, eating contaminated food, participating in oral or anal sex) can transmit the hepatitis to others. How does one reduce the risk for cancer? Living a healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent or reduce the risk for cancer. A diet of fish, a lot of vegetables, nuts, some fruits, and minimal or no red PAGE B4

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The Pinoy in Kyd...

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. Mrs.Lettie Alcantara celebrated her special birthday at St. Peter’s church in Boulder Highway last August 25. Fr. Tom Gross performed the morning mass. Her close friends, Dr. Connie Singson, Marina Katigbak, Oggie Aguilar, Norma Tinio, Malou Gump, Josie Esguerra and Donnie Manago attended the mass and the breakfast gathering at Sunset Casino coordinated by Mrs. Hedy Gonzalez. Photos by Raoul Gatchalian

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Prevent cancer

meat, daily exercise, no smoking, minimal or no exposure to chemicals and fumes, one drink in the evening with meals or no alcohol at all, having positive frame of mind and attitude, behavioral modification – all these (combined) reduce the risk for major illnesses, including cancer. To a major extent, whether we realize it or not, cancer risk and risk for most other illnesses is within our control. It takes a lot of sacrifices to prevent cancer, but a thousand-fold more pain and suffering to fight it when one gets it. Has cancer therapy improved over the years?

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Yes, most definitely. While many forms of cancers are still a major killer in the world today, there have been significant strides and advances made in the diagnosis and management of some of them. Oncology (medical specialty in cancer therapy) has come of age and sophistication. Technological breakthroughs in various fields, including in computer technology and biotechnology, have likewise propelled the discovery of new and more effective modes of prevention, diagnosis and therapy for many diseases, including cancers. Someday, hopefully, cancer will be a disease of the past, like the deadly

smallpox, which the Philippines had totally eradicated decades ago. In this respect, the Philippines appears to be ahead of other countries, including the United States. But until science has conquered all forms of cancers, we still have a long way to go. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United NetworkUSA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

PAGE B1 drums at the age of 10 and later took up piano and guitar. At age 16 he co-founded a band with his guitar-playing brother Kyle and began writing songs of his own, relying almost entirely on instinct rather than mining influence from other artists. Growing up, he was forbidden to watch movies or listen to secular music. Over the next few years, Guisande experienced a lifechanging transformation as he left the church he was raised in and moved away from home. With a batch of self-recorded songs under his belt, Guisande went to Los Angeles at age 19 and fully devoted himself to pushing forward with his music career. But while his non-stop hustle scored him meetings with a number of industry heavyweights, he felt increasingly disillusioned by the L.A. scene and decamped to Nashville in 2013. When his brother followed him to Tennessee a year later, the two resumed the musical partnership they’d formed as teenagers. Too broke to afford beds, the siblings shared an apartment and slept on the floor, working full-time jobs all day and spending every night writing songs. After suffering a series of false starts, the brothers linked up with DJ/producer and frequent Scott Storch collaborator Avedon, who enlisted their songwriting talents for the 2017 comeback album from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. He has penned tracks for artists as eclectic as hip-hop legends Bone Thugs-NHarmony and German DJ Robin Schulz as well as gnash, NF and ROZES. Devin and Kyle were eventually signed and called themselves Kyd The Band. Fast forward two years, Kyd the Band’s debut single “American Dreamer” amassed over 3 million streams independently while his slew of major label releases (sans Kyle who left the band amicably in 2017) landed him on playlists like Apple Music’s “Best of the Week” and “The A-List: Pop” numerous times. Read the rest of Music Geek’s Q&A with the American artist of Filipino descent on www.manilatimes.net. Special thanks to Chen Aurelio-Cornelio and Denise Sia of Sony Music Philippines. Can you tell us about your creative and songwriting process? For me, I have a long list of things that I write down that are concepts or experiences of my life and in different things I wanna say. Going through a session normally, it’s just the producer and me or me and another writer and say to

them “guys, I really want to say this today” or “I feel I really need to get this out.” So then we start trying to come up with another music idea. Then if the music idea feels right with the concept, we’ll go after it. It usually starts with music though. The music then trying to find the melody and sometimes we’ll start with some music and if I haven’t found the right concept for it, we’ll just keep working until we find it. It starts with the melodies and I usually start with the chorus. The chorus I think is the most important part for me because I try to make it the most memorable part of the song. Then start writing then I track my own vocals. I co-produce sometimes and the long process of getting the song right and shaping it to what it needs to be starts. Sometimes that takes week or months. What inspires you to write lyrics that fans can learn from or relate to? I would say for me like I have to think of how I listen to the song first. I decided early on that I wanted to be an artist who writes music that is honest and that makes you feel something. In order to do that I think it first starts with me. It has to make me feel something that has to be honest and authentic for me. If it doesn’t, I don’t think anybody else is gonna believe it. That’s the first goal and if I check that box then I feel confident that somebody else is gonna relate to it. At the end of the day, I’m a human being and the things that I’m experiencing, chances are there’s a few people out there who felt the same. Even if they haven’t had the same exact experience or way of feeling that feeling, there’s only certain amount of feelings and I think we all feel them. What is the difference between your EPs “Season 1: The Intro” which is composed of your old songs and “Season 2: Character Development” in terms of music and the recording process? Season 1, sonically, feels a little more alternative. It feels a little more like band-ish. And in Season 1 of the biggest difference is my brother was a part of making those songs. So then Season 2 was like the first thing that Kyd The Band as me released. Sonically, it’s more pop-ish in a way. It is more rhythmic. In terms of what the song is about like Season 1 is like the beginning of my life. It’s like childhood. It’s my upbringing. It is how I was raised. It’s all those things that formed me early on. And then Season 2 is all about character develop-

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ment. It’s about me taking that kid in that environment he was raised in and everything and all the factors and him going out to the zone and trying to figure out who I was, my purpose and just everything. It is a reaction of the story. Speaking of your brother, how did you adjust not having him with you anymore? It was very hard at first. Just because my brother and I had always done music. I never envisioned myself doing music without him. Music is an interesting business. You meet just a lot of people. You don’t know who to trust sometimes. So, having my brother who like at the end of the day, we’re blood. Nothing’s gonna change that. It was just nice to have that trust factor. Also just touring. Being able to go different places and have your family with you was just really cool. Not having that, it’s a little bittersweet. The positive is now all the creative direction and control like that falls solely on me. I’m realizing that I’m actually really like that. Just because at the end of the day I got to be alone and make the decisions on where my music could go and where I want my career to go. It’s nice to have that responsibility. What is music to you? That’s a big question! To put it simply, music is everything to me. It is the way that I deal with things in my life that I experienced. If I didn’t have that, I’d be in a tough spot. What gives you more fulfillment, writing and recording songs or performing in front of a live audience? I would probably say the live performing for people just because after touring, I’ve realized that you can see the impact that your music has on people. After shows, when I’m able to meet people, I learn so much about how my music has been a part of people’s lives. That’s the most impactful to me because music is about the music but also connecting with people. Hopefully, there is good that can be taken away from my music. That is always what I hope for so when people let me know that I think that’s the most humbling and crazy thing to me. What is your message to your fans? First of all, thank you for listening to my music, it means a lot. I hope to come there soon when it’s okay to. If you are trying to find yourself and if you’re trying to find where you belong, keep going. Don’t give up. It could take some time. There’s a place and you are very important.

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Erich, Enchong reveal new project together Boy Abunda takes on unfamiliar digital territory by Ryan

aRCadio Inquirer.net

ERICH Gonzales and Enchong Dee announced that they are working together on a new production, which will be shown through the platform “Enrich Originals”. “Can’t wait to share this with all of you [heart emoji],” Gonzales said on her Instagram page last Friday, Aug. 21, alongside a photo of them. “Soon on ENRICH ORIGINALS,” she added while tagging an Instagram account dedicated to their upcoming project. They later showed stills of them playing new roles, as seen on the Enrich Originals account. Dee will be portraying a character named Gian Carlo Santilla while Gonzales is set to play Gianna Reyes. While neither of them has Erich Gonzales with Enchong Dee Photo from Instagram/@mr_enchongdee shared further details of the proj-

ect, they revealed that they have already started shooting its pilot episode. The two posted a photo of a whiteboard which stated they were working on the eighth sequence of the first episode. They also tagged various people in the said post on their project’s page, possibly hinting at their involvement. Fellow actors Janella Salvador and Arjo Atayde, along with screenwriter Noreen Capili, were among the individuals included in the post. Aside from the Instagram page, the two actors have also launched a YouTube channel with the same name. Gonzales and Dee first starred together in the 2009 TV drama series “Katorse” alongside Xian Lim and Ejay Falcon. The pair then went on to costar in other TV series such as “Tanging Yaman”, “The Blood Sisters” and “Magkaribal”.

Fil-Am filmmaker Isabel Sandoval on ‘Lingua...

capable of telling.” Sandoval also shared that the next project she’s working on has nothing to do with being trans at all but it’s a feature film set in the 16th century during colonialism. “I’m now at a point where I’m putting my auteur pants on and seeing what diverse array of projects I can come up with and hopefully I can really expand my voice to surprising places, both creatively and emotionally, and I think that’s how you can have a sustainable and fulfilling career in the industry,” she remarked.

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stand strife without needing to be told. “This is not filmmaking with a megaphone,” Sandoval told the Asian Journal in a recent phone interview. The subtlety and the intimacy of the film’s tone and atmosphere are a part of what makes Sandoval stand apart from other emerging filmmakers who rely on pomp and flash to hold audiences’ attention. But the beauty of “Lingua Franca” is that it’s quiet without being boring and paces itself leisurely without feeling unnecessarily drawn out. “There’s almost a kind of aversion to complexity and in a way, it seems unfashionable and anticlimactic, but that’s my choice as a director. I make quiet, patient, subtle movies that invite people to think,” Sandoval said. “Lingua Franca” is more than just about a trans Filipina woman’s viscerally contemporary struggle in the United States. It’s the film that signals the emergence of trans and Filipina auteur filmmaking and evolves the conversation of inclusivity in entertainment to go beyond superficial diversity. The film originally premiered at the 2019 Venice International Film Festival Venice Days program where it made history as the first film directed by and starring an openly trans woman of color to be screened at the competition. It then made its way among the independent film festival circuit, but on July 9 of this year, the film was acquired by ARRAY, which released “Lingua Franca” on Wednesday, Aug. 26 on Netflix and in select theaters. ARRAY is a media company that was founded in 2012 by renowned filmmaker Ava DuVernay who had the vision of establishing a production and distribution space for filmmakers of color, LGBT+ filmmakers and women in film. And, earlier this month, Sandoval took home the jury award for Best Narrative Feature at Geena Davis’ Bentonville Film Festival, becoming the second Filipina American filmmaker in a row to win the festival’s top trophy after Diane Paragas won for “Yellow Rose” the previous year. “The release of Isabel Sandoval’s third film is beautifully timed to enter the national conversation at an unprecedented moment of cultural reckoning for many, especially as it relates to the rights and dignity of trans people,” ARRAY President Tilane Jones said in a statement. “Ms. Sandoval’s introspective lens provides a depth and intimacy to her storytelling that is rarely embraced on screen.” “Lingua Franca” does indeed tell a beautifully woven story about a trans woman of color caught in the middle of a very contemporary crisis. Sandoval speaks proudly about her identity as a trans woman, as an immigrant and as a Filipina, but now is the time for her to home in on her identity as an auteur filmmaker. “Ava has really encouraged me to really think about, ostensibly, my being an auteur and my own authorial voice and to assert my own identity as an artist,” Sandoval explained. The term lingua franca that originated from Mediterranean languages to describe a language or dialect between two people who don’t share a native tongue. Between the characters of “Lingua Franca,” communication and the mounting drama isn’t relegated to an interchange of words, but a deepening understanding that largely takes place in the spaces between words. Tonally, the film is reminiscent of independent filmmakers such as Taiwanese master of cinema Wong Kar-Wai, whose romantic masterpiece “In the Mood For Love” played a key role in the overall tone of “Lingua Franca,” Sandoval said. Though the latter lacks the swirling warmth and en-

Isabel Sandoval

during tenderness of the former, the strength of Sandoval’s film lies in cold uncertainty and Olivia’s private moments of eroticism. The pitfalls of steamrolling diversity As a trans Filipina American filmmaker, Sandoval is acutely aware of the historic moment that is her rising cinematic influence. More than ever, audiences are not only welcoming of inclusivity in entertainment but are actively pushing for it. But many creators of color like Sandoval, this intense demand for diversity is a Catch-22. The industry is allowing for more filmmakers from all walks of life to create and achieve great things, but the incessant calls for diverse representation that often muffles technical appraisal of films may be doing these filmmakers a disservice. Earlier this year, the excellent South Korean black comedy “Parasite” took home four Academy Awards and broke several records. It was the first non-English language film to win Best Picture and the first South Korean film to receive massive attention at the Oscars. Aside from the historic value of Parasite’s success, it is a technically excellent piece of cinema, much like Jordan Peele’s “Get Out,” that points the light at contemporary issues of classism and discrimination. But with attention so acutely focused on the fact that these are stories of color made by people of color and their identities, what becomes secondary is a meaningful observation, critique celebration of the craft. Examination and appreciation of a film’s technical and narrative strengths are drowned by press, film writers and social media influencers pontificating about the importance of seeing diverse faces on screen. Diversity and cinematic excellence are not mutually exclusive ideas but they are often treated as such, by people who advocate for further representation of minorities and people who think it’s folly. “Lingua Franca” is a film that centers a trans Filipina in a green card crisis, but it’s not a “trans issue film” nor is it a “Filipino film” or even a film that overlays the overall current immigration crisis into its thesis. These are important elements to the story but you can’t drive an auteur film on topical social issues alone. And just like her films, Sandoval hopes that “Lingua Franca” could propel her to a position in the industry where she’s not just a Filipina trans woman who makes films, but as a filmmaker who also happens to be Filipina and trans. “We have to establish what is distinct and unique about our voice and our worth because it’s so easy to get pigeonholed or to be put in a box especially for someone like me,” she explained. “There will always be several expectations about you and the community you belong to and it’s easy for Hollywood to just be like, ‘You’re an immigrant so you should be telling immigrant stories or you’re trans so you should be making films about the trans experience,’ and kind of impose on me the kinds of stories that I should be telling and [am[ only

by Ronnie

CaRRasCo ManilaTimes.net

iii

THANKS to his domestic partner of over three decades Bong Quintana, Asia’s King of Talk Boy Abunda has been ably feeling his way around the digital world, a territory most unfamiliar to him. Bong — who continues to work as Pagcor Vice President for Entertainment — serves as the over-all guy who does meticulous test-runs first before Boy goes on air in every episode of his “The Boy Abunda Talk Channel” (or simply called BATalk), including the latter’s best angles. If I’m right with timelines, one of its many segments called “Spoken Mula sa Puso” took off on July 15, a few days after his home network ABS-CBN was ordered shut down. This also came after Boy posted on Facebook a quotation card along with his photo that read: “Again, I’m an orphan.” The sad reality, however, hardly unruffled Boy who — in the earliest episode of SMSP — comfortably talked about pain which should be felt by the person who goes through it “until it loses its power.” Similarly in its succeeding editions, Boy has since delved into many other life’s facets that when seen from a positive viewpoint can incredibly change one’s dreary life for the better. Yes, his real-life experiences had a lot to do with such rhetorics. But wait — as they say — there’s more. The redundantsounding “Talk About Talk” (TAT)

Boy Abunda is moving on with his own digital channel.

takes on a new dimension as Boy gathers young, impressionable millennials who blabber about just anything relevant and timely. Also to arouse audience curiosity are segments “One and The Blackout Interview,” whose separate contents he deliberately won’t divulge (in the teaser). In “BATalk,” Boy resurrects his “Fast Talk,” the widely followed last segment in his now-defunct late night program “Tonight With Boy Abunda” on ABS-CBN albeit adding “Ng Bayan” in the title and a flavorful twist.

ABS-CBN photo

If these were all side dishes, the one which proves to be the digital show’s scrumptious main course is called The Interviewer. However, his viewers might end up disappointed as this is no regular treat to look forward to. As a whole, it’s still all talk — make it no-nonsense — that Boy guarantees. As he puts it, “Talk is my life, my story, my strength and my weakness, my business.” Remember, only he can deliver it with savvy, spunk and swagger (his scene-stealing getup notwithstanding).

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