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AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 Volume 13 - No. 43 • 16 Pages 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 • 2500 Plaza S. Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 • Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858
DATELINE
USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Early poll: 54% of Asian American voters favor Biden, 29% Trump 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
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Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
RNC kicks off as Fil-Am Republicans support another four years of 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 them-
selves 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
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Nearing stage 1 cancer? Palace says doctor’s advice to Duterte given long ago by DARRYL JOHN
ESGUERRA
Inquirer.net
MANILA — Malacañang on Wednesday, August 26, allayed fears about President Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged deteriorating health, saying that the doctor’s advice to watch his diet due to his Barrett’s esophagus ailment “nearing stage one cancer” was given a “long time ago.” In an interview over CNN Philippines’ The Source, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said people are “putting too much meaning” on Duterte’s remarks about his
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STRICT CHECKPOINT. Members of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) check the documents presented by a motorcycle-riding couple along Quezon Avenue in Quezon City on Wednesday, August 26. Authorities would like to ensure that only those authorized persons outside residence (APOR) are allowed to move around amid the coronavirus pandemic. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
Last chance to PhilHealth CEO resigns after be counted in the 2020 Census! Duterte gives hint to quit by ALEXIS
ROMERO Philstar.com
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 dol-
MANILA — Embattled Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) president Ricardo Morales on Wednesday, August 26 resigned as legislators and government agencies probe alleged fraudulent schemes that reportedly cost the state-run insurer billions in funds. “This is to confirm that the Office of the President has received today, Aug. 26, the resignation letter of
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PH tourism stakeholders get a lifeline, look forward to recovery by MOMAR
G. VISAYA
AJPress
PhilHealth CEO Ricardo Morales
Philstar.com photo
TOURISM is one of the world’s largest industries most affected by the COVID19 pandemic and every other country has seen the varying degrees of decimation to its tourism sector. Whether it is Italy, where tourism accounts for 6% of the country’s GDP or Palau where it generates almost
90% of all exports, countries are struggling to rebuild their respective tourism industries. The ongoing global crisis has put 100 to 120 million jobs at risk and according to a United Nations policy brief, the tourism industry is facing a $1 trillion loss as international tourist numbers continue its sharp decline. The UN report also said that
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AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
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From the Front Page Top Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway leaves RNC kicks off as Fil-Am Republicans... WH post, Fil-Am daughter Claudia Conway announces ‘emancipation’ from parents by Klarize
Medenilla AJPress
AS the campaign season ramps up ahead of the November election, one of President Donald Trump’s most trusted and longestserving senior advisors Kellyanne Conway announced on Sunday, Aug. 23 that she is stepping down as White House counselor. Conway’s sudden announcement came minutes after her husband, the Filipino American attorney and vocal Trump opposer George Conway, said he was withdrawing from The Lincoln Project, a group of dissenting Republicans devoted to defeating Trump. The dual resignations signal a climax to a strenuous summer for the Conway family. As reported in the Asian Journal, the Conways made headlines in
July when their 15-year-old daughter Claudia came out as an anti-Trump leftist and her TikTok videos of her political views went viral. “We disagree about plenty but we are united on what matters most: the kids,” Kellyanne Conway said in a statement on Sunday, explaining that her departure is due to helping her kids through distance learning. She said, “Our four children are teens and ‘tweens starting a new academic year, in middle and high school, remotely from home for at least a few months. As millions of parents nationwide know, kids ‘doing school from home’ requires a level of attention and vigilance that is as unusual as these times.” George Conway (who is half-Filipino on his mother’s side) tweeted minutes
later: “So I’m withdrawing from [The] @LincolnProject to devote more time to family matters. And I’ll be taking a Twitter hiatus. Needless to say, I continue to support the Lincoln Project and its mission. Passionately.” The announcements come after Claudia took to Twitter to air out her grievances regarding her mother’s announced appearance at the Republican National Convention (RNC) this week, prompting questions about the politically split family’s home life. “i’m [sic] devastated that my mother is actually speaking at the RNC. like DEVASTATED beyond compare,” the teenager tweeted, adding in a subsequent tweet that she is “officially pushing for emancipation. buckle up because this is
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PAGE 1 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 under 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 Fil-Am voters: take a look at Trump’s record in the past three years compared to Joe Biden’s as senator and then vice president. “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, selfreliance, 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 to fix the economy, return the lowest jobless rate to its pre-pandemic level and boost America’s consumer confidence once COVID-19 is over.” Under the Trump administration, he added, Fil-Ams have been appointed to key roles.
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Nearing stage 1 cancer? Palace says doctor’s... PAGE 1 health, adding that the 75year-old president remains healthy. “I think that advice was given to him a long time ago when the President was still drinking. He has since stopped drinking and as far as I know since he became president he has not resumed drinking,” Roque said. “So you’re talking of a medical advice that happened many years ago, even prior to the presidency. And I think the reason why the President stopped drinking is to prevent it from developing into stage 1 cancer. That is the context of what the President said,” he added. In a pre-recorded address aired on Tuesday morning, Duterte assured the public that he and the people within the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) are not interested in pocketing government funds on COVID-19 response since they are already nearing retirement. “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,” Duterte said. He added: “May pera ka
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
naman, hindi ka na makakain kay 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. So hindi na rin. Si Bebot ‘yung paa ewan ko kung puputulin ‘yan o hindi. Puro na may sakit so what do we get if we…? T*** i***** ‘yan. Wala na.” Duterte’s state of health has been a recurring issue in his presidency given his advanced age. The President has admitted publicly that he has, among other things, Buerger’s disease and Barrett’s esophagus, and that had been experiencing occasional headaches
and has spinal issues which he attributes to a motorcycle accident when he was 68 years old. He has also revealed to taking sleeping pills and the highly addictive Fentanyl and to having myasthenia gravis– an autoimmune disease that destroys muscle receptors and can result in the drooping of eyelids, or overall weakness. Under Section 12, Article 7 of the 1987 Constitution, the President is mandated to inform the public of his health condition in the case of serious illnesses. But Roque said Duterte, being a lawyer, knows this and would inform the public if the need arises. n
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AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
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PhilHealth CEO resigns after... PAGE 1 Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) president and chief executive officer Ricardo C. Morales,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement. “We are still awaiting President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s further action [or] instruction on the matter,” he added. Morales’ resignation came two days after the president said it would be best for the PhilHealth chief to quit while
the health insurer is facing “critical times.” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, the head of the multi-agency task force probing the alleged corruption in PhilHealth, said Duterte also noted the “on-and-off health situation” of Morales, who is now on medical leave to undergo chemotherapy for lymphoma. Morales previously rejected calls for him to quit, saying he would act like a “good soldier” as long as he
Early poll: 54% of Asian... PAGE 1 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 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 Re-
publican 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
is needed in PhilHealth. Last Monday, Duterte promised to spend his remaining months in office building cases against people involved in the alleged fraudulent schemes in PhilHealth. “PhilHealth (issue) should be investigated and everyone (involved) should be prosecuted and jailed. If that’s the only work I can do in the remaining two years, I would do that,” the president said. n 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 dominant. 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 foreign-born. 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) n
Last chance to be counted in... PAGE 1 lars 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 Congressional 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
AID TO STUDENTS. One of the parents of a student (inset) who received the PHP3,000-cash financial assistance from the Pasay City government at the Marcela Marcelo Elementary School in Pasay on Wednesday, August 26. The amount represents the quarterly allowance of the students given by the city government. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
RNC kicks off as Fil-Am Republicans... PAGE 2 “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 previously 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 po-
litical 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
PH tourism stakeholders get a... PAGE 1 the tourism industry had grown faster than the world economy overall for 10 years straight, only to be stopped in its tracks by the coronavirus pandemic.
In the Philippines, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and various stakeholders in the country’s tourism industry are thankful that despite initial resistance from some congressmen, the Bicameral
Conference Committee approved the allocation of 10 billion pesos for the tourism industry under the Bayanihan To Recover As One or the Bayanihan 2 Bill.
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 hardestto-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 COVID19, 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
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020
OPINION
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 Man-
agement 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.
5
FEATURES
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
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)
The 2020 Republican National Convention reveals how the party of Abraham Lincoln and true conservative values have been hijacked by Donald Trump 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.” For-
mer 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.’” These people, once sounding like fierce hyenas, have morphed into meek lambs when Trump was elected pres-
ident. 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 PAGE 8
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 28 - SEpTEmbER 3, 2020
Dateline PhiliPPines
Top Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway...
PAGE 2 probably going to be public one way or another, unfortunately.” And in a concerning follow-up, Claudia added that she wasn’t “getting emancipated because of my mom’s job.. It is because of years of childhood trauma and abuse,” but she did not further elaborate on either the emancipation or NO MAGIC BULLET. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding 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 August 24, 2020. Duterte said there is no “magic bullet” to solve the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic as he sought for more patience until a vaccine is made available. PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.
Duterte: No ‘magic bullet’ to solve PH’s COVID-19 problems by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, August 25, said there is no “magic bullet” to solve the country’s problems related to the novel coronavirus pandemic. “This is an update again, a weekly (report on) what we are trying to do. We will also continue to respond to the rising challenges in our pandemic, recalibrating our strategies if we must based on science and data,” he said in a taped public address. “Ganito ‘yan mga kababayan ko (To my countrymen) there is no magic wand or if you want a stronger statement a — the magic bullet, a silver bullet, that will solve our problems,” he added. Duterte admitted that the government is “not perfect,” but assured that they are trying their best. “May sinubukan tayo (We tried something) since we are not perfect,” he said. “So nandito kami ngayon para mag-usap uli kung ano ang hindi maganda, ones that — the ones that we see fit to change and unahin kung sinong dapat iwan (We are here today to discuss what are not good, the ones that we see fit to change and prioritize whoever is left behind),” he added. COVID-19 vaccine Duterte reiterated that Russia and China said they will help the Philippines in addressing the pandemic through the vaccines they are separately developing. “Russia, China, I dunno if
anybody, alam ko lang yung dalawa, nag-announce na meron sila at (It’s nearly complete. Russia and China have both announced that they have it and they’re) ready and they’re willing to help. Both countries lumabas ng statement na tulungan nila ako (released a statement that they will help me),” he said. The president also assured that the first ones to receive a free COVID-19 vaccine in the country will be the poorest of the poor. “Ang mauna sa bakuna, ulitin ko, ay yung mga tao na nasa sa listahan ng gobyerno na tumatanggap ng Pantawid. Ito yung mga mahirap. Ang sunod yun, yung mga tao na hindi nakalista at mahirap (The first to receive vaccine will be those in the Pantawid list. Next will be those not in the list but are also poor),” he said. ‘Don’t add fuel to the fire’ Duterte told Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo to avoid adding fuel to the fire, following her public address where she took a swipe at the way the government is handling the pandemic. “Please do not add fuel to the fire. You will just destroy the government,” he said. “Wag ninyong sirain ang gobyerno kasi masisira ang tao. Pag nasisira ang gobyerno, lulutang tayong lahat. Maski na sabihin ninyo mamatay ako bukas, it cannot solve the problem of the country (Do not destroy the government because it will also destroy the people. If the government is destroyed, we will all float away. Even if you say that I will die tomorrow, it cannot solve
the problem of the country),” he added. In her address released Monday night, Robredo said in Filipino: “No one is at the helm, no direction, no clear horizon as to when and how this pandemic will be addressed.” She noted that Filipinos seemed to have been left by the government to fend for themselves. “As if we should shoulder the blame of infections and death, for being too undisciplined, as we have been called. As if we have nothing to expect from our leaders – or there are no leaders at all. As if we have been left to fend for ourselves,” she said. Robredo also urged everyone to help each other in the fight against the pandemic. “At kung walang mamumuno, tayo mismo ang hahakbang, tayo mismo ang magtutulungan, tayo mismo ang bibitbit sa isa’t isa (If there is no one leading, we ourselves will make a step, we will help each other, we will carry each other),” she said. “Tayo mismo ang tititig sa mukha ng krisis na ito at buong-tapang na ihahayag: Maaari mo kaming mapaluhod, pero hindi kailanman mapipigilan ang paulit-ulit at taas-noo naming pagtindig. Pilipino kami. Mas malakas kami sa anumang pagsubok (We ourselves will look into the face of the crisis and bravely say: You may bring us down to our knees but you will not stop us from proudly standing up. We are Filipinos. We are stronger in whatever problems we face),” she added. n
the “childhood trauma and abuse.” As previously reported in the Asian Journal, Claudia came into public awareness last month when her TikTok videos denouncing Trump and acknowledging the political divide in her family. The self-identified leftist uses her platform and name recognition to encourage young people
to educate themselves on American government. The teen’s vocal opposition to the Trump administration — and, by proxy, her mother’s role in aiding the administration — reportedly caused a riff in the Conway household when it was reported that the parents allegedly asked the teen to remove her videos on TikTok. n
PH tourism stakeholders get a... PAGE 4 “The recognition of the tourism sector by the Senate and House of Representatives, in the Bayanihan Act 2 measures, ensures the survival of our MSMEs since 99.9% of the 144,640 establishments in accommodation and food service activities are considered micro, small and medium, according to 2018 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA),” a DOT statement read. In terms of employment, 95.8% of the 921,292 workers in accommodation and food service activities, covered by the PSA data, are also MSMEs. According to 2019 data, tourism generated 7% of global trade and employed one in every ten people globally. The stimulus package will help ease the economic difficulties of the micro and small players of the industry and will help them “to get back on our feet soon,” according to Jojo Clemente III, president of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP). The funds for loans and credit facilities to tourism MSMEs from the Bayanihan Act 2 will be administered by Government Financial Institutions and independent government agencies such as the Small Business and Guaranty and Finance Corporation. The DOT will not be involved with the dispensation of the funds to either party. “The allocation will help the private sector rehabilitate their facilities and upgrade their businesses to conform with the current health and safety standards set by the authorities and more importantly, help their employees and the families that depend on them financially,” said Joebert Opulencia, owner of Orientours Co., Ltd, a tour
operator based in New York. Opulencia has been working with industry players in the Philippines since 1986 and he is hopeful that with this lifeline, they will be able to continue promoting the country and bring back the much-needed tourists. “Only few realize the hard work put in by the private sector in promoting the country. From the travelling to far away cities, working even during unholy hours, and the training they give to their staff just to prove to the world that indeed ‘it’s more fun in the Philippines,’” he said. DOT will continue to work with the private sector and various local government units (LGUs) in carving the path to revive tourism with proper health and safety protocols in place as they continue to be “optimistic that collectively the industry can weather this challenge, and come out stronger and better.” The DOT statement further said that they look forward as well to working with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for the program they will implement for the displaced and unemployed tourism workers. With the government’s support through the Bayanihan 2, DOT added that they will continue to handhold its stakeholders towards recovery, and carry out the plans and programs under the Tourism Response and Recovery Plan (TRRP) in its full capacity. TCP, along with over 50 national and regional associations representing various tourism sectors, called on the country’s lawmakers last week to approve the rescue package that the Senate version of the Bayanihan 2 bill
has provided. They are hoping that the P10 billion credit facility would allow them to quickly recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The House of Representatives version initially reallocated the amount to infrastructure projects under the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) to help the industry’s recovery. “The tourism industry is made up of 70% MSMEs and have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel restrictions for most of the first half of this year have pushed us to the brink of bankruptcy and will surely nudge us over the edge in the coming weeks with no intervention by the government,” an initial TCP statement said. TCP is composed of small tour operators, travel agencies, transport operators, resorts and hotels, restaurants, dive shops, suppliers and service providers employing the drivers, waiters, booking agents, tour guides, dive masters and other workers who turn the wheels of the entire industry. “We are the sector that gave employment to 5.7 million workers and contributed close to 13 percent of the country’s gross domestic product,” the statement further read. To date, an estimated 4.8 million formal and informal tourism industry workers have been affected by the various levels of community quarantines in the Philippines. Also according to PSA data, the tourism industry in the country benefitted some 5.7 million workers and contributed 12.7% of the country’s economic output, as expressed in the gross domestic product in 2019. n
AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
The 2020 Republican...
PAGE 5 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
http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426 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.
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AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
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BI 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 children 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 MactanCebu 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.
PH Army identifies 2 Abu Sayyaf members’ widows behind Jolo twin bombings 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 TawiTawi, 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 antidrug policemen. Aug. 24 bombings 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. Palace: Duterte to consider Sulu-wide martial law recommendation
BIKE ACCESSORIES. A bicycle rider attaches an accessory on his bike on Marilaque Highway near Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City on Wednesday, August 26. Several bike accessories vendors have mushroomed in various parts of Metro Manila during the coronavirus pandemic to cater to those biking to work. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
Survey: PH’s average salary among lowest in 110 countries THE Philippines ranks near the bottom of a recent global list of average wages conducted by an international e-commerce platform. In a survey by Picodi.com — entitled “Average wages: in which country people earn the most?” — the Philippines placed 95th out of 110 countries with its average salary of P15,200. It outranked other countries like Indonesia (P15,100), Cambodia (P10,500), and Nigeria (P9,100). Cuba ranked 110th with its average wage of P1,800. Switzerland, on the other hand, topped the ranking with its average wage of P296,200. It was followed
by Luxembourg (P198,500), United States (P174,800), Denmark (P173,900), and Singapore (P168,900) — making up the top five countries with the highest average salaries. The Philippines’ Southeast Asian neighbors like Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam also outranked the country, placing 49th with P41,300, 60th with P30,700, and 80th with P20,000 respectively. The survey, released on August 20, processed data from Numbeo, a website which surveys hundreds of thousands of citizens of various countries, asking them about the costs of living and actual earnings after taxes. “The average wages after taxes come from the website numbeo.com. Local
currencies were converted at the average Google Finance rate for August 2020,” Picodi.com said. The platform noted that the Philippines ranked 12th out of 16 Asian countries with its average wage. “When it comes to Asian countries, the Philippines ended up in the second part of the ranking (12th out of 16). It was outrun by countries such as Thailand (P30,600), India (P21,600), or Vietnam (P20,000),” it said. It added, “Following was Indonesia (P15,100), Sri Lanka (P12,800), Cambodia (P10,500), and Pakistan (P10,300). The ultimate leaders are Singapore, Australia, and Hong Kong — the only countries with average wages higher than P140,000.” n
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 ma-ideklara 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
by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 28 - SEpTEmbER 3, 2020
COMMUNITY Journal
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September 2020 priority dates Immigration Corner
The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: FAMILY CATEGORY: First Preference
Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ 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 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. Beginning in October 2015, the format of the Visa Bulletin changed, in that a new column was added, called the “Application Filing Date.” If a person’s priority date is earlier than the Application Filing Date, they can already file for adjustment of status and work authorization (provided they are otherwise eligible and USCIS indicates on its website it will use the Application Filing Date for
Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (over 21 years of age)
Application Filing Date
Visa Issuance Date
October 08, 2012
December 15, 2011
(2A) Spouse and Second Preference minor children (below August 01, 21 years old) of green 2020 card holders
Current
(2b) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 April 01, 2012 years old or older) of green card holders
August 01, 2011
Third Preference
married sons and daughters of US Citizens
December 22, 2002
February 15, 2002
Fourth Preference
brothers and sisters of US Citizens
September 01, January 01, 2002 2002
LABOR CERTIFICATION:
Application Filing Date
Visa Issuance Date
Second Preference
Advanced Degree (masters)
Current
Current
Third Preference
professional/ Skilled Workers
April 01, 2020
April 01, 2019
Other Workers
Non-Skilled Workers
April 01, 2020
April 01, 2019
that month). This could allow people to obtain work authorization much sooner than before, where they had to wait for the priority date to be current (in the Visa Issuance or Final Action Date column) in order to both file for adjustment and be eligible for a green card. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member
LEADING U.S. IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL (TOP AND LEFT) CONTINUES TO PROVIDE RELEVANT IMMIGRATION INFORMATION AND ANSWERS TO KAPAMILYA, VIA ZOOM, THIS SUNDAY (AUGUST 30). Liza of Concord, CA (center) asks if there is a faster way to expedite her son’s petition. It was filed in August 2018 and has been pending since then. From San Antonio, TX, Gio (right) would like to know if his nephew still qualifies for a visa under the CSPA because the nephew’s mother was petitioned when the boy was only two years old. The parents were approved and arrived in the U.S. when his nephew was already 26. Many other questions regarding family petitions will be discussed and answered by Atty. Gurfinkel. Be sure to watch a brand-new episode of “CITIZEN PINOY: Your Tanong, My Sagot – Social Distancing Style” this Sunday, August 30 at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers). (Advertising Supplement)
of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and reenactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and PAGE 12
Questions about family-based petitions take the spotlight on this Sunday’s ‘Citizen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My Sagot - Social Distancing Style’ THIS Sunday, August 30 the next episode of Citizen Pinoy’s “Your Tanong, My Sagot: Social Distancing Style” has leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel answering questions about family petitions. Gio of San Antonio, Texas, asks about his nephew whose mother was petitioned when the boy was only two years old. When the parents were approved and arrived in the U.S., Gio’s nephew was al-
ready 26 years old. Is he still covered by the CSPA? Liza of Concord, California would like to know if she can expedite her son’s petition. The petition was filed by her U.S. citizen husband with a notice date of August 2018. Even when their lawyer and her husband had been following up, even to the point of reaching out to Congress, the petition is still pending. Other questions include: can a person get an immi-
grant visa if the petitioner is now living in the Philippines; or if a green card holder can petition her boyfriend in the Philippines as her fiancé. These questions and more will be answered on a new episode of “CITIZEN PINOY: Your Tanong, My Sagot – Social Distancing Style” this Sunday, August 30, at 6:15 pm PST/ EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers). (Advertising Supplement)
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AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
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, including 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
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Prevent cancer 25 things you don’t (but want to) know about Raffy Tulfo
States. How about secondhand smoke? Secondhand cigarette (side-stream) 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 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
Ricky Lo Philstar.com
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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 crying 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
Raffy Tulfo on the set of his program “Idol In Action” with the ‘liga ng taga-serbisyo publiko’ (from left) Kapitana Carol, Marga Arenas-Vargas and MJ Marfori. TV5 photo
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.” PAGE 13
September 2020 priority dates... PAGE 12 do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.
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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? 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 Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com; Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.
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Liza on restarting after ABS-CBN shutdown
By deni Rose M. afinidad-BeRnaRdo Philstar.com
WHEN ABS-CBN was denied of its franchise renewal last month, among the thousands of employees who lost their jobs are the network’s superstars like Liza Soberano. “It’s so weird to be not doing anything when you’re so used to doing everything like I had the routine of waking up at five in the morning to go to a taping and then on weekends I would have commercial shoots. And when all of that goes away, it was like everything was deafening silence. I was like ‘Is it the end of the world, end of my life, now?’” Liza confessed on what her “new normal” felt like in a recent interview with Philstar. com. Apart from losing her highrating TV series “Make It With You” with boyfriend Enrique Gil, Liza was forced to close her spa since such businesses are still restricted under community quarantine. “Of course, I miss the relaxing feeling of the spa, but of course, our safety is what matters,” she said. Out of job and out of business, Liza thought of starting anew by venturing into what she previously had no time for: Vlogging. “It’s because Tito Ogie (Diaz, her manager) also told
Liza Soberano Photo from Instagram/@lizasoberano
me that since I will not be so visible on TV anymore, I have to be more visible elsewhere. Also, during the pandemic, I realized that I couldn’t connect to my supporters anymore because we aren’t seeing each other, I don’t have a project. I want to put an effort for them because they’ve put in so much effort for me. I want to put in more effort to make them more happy, for entertainment.” Besides as a platform to connect with her fans, she looks at her vlog as a digital channel for her advocacies. “At first, I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t know what to think of it, but as time went by during quarantine, I realized that there’s more to life. I realized that there are a lot of things I haven’t figured out about myself, of course, and about the things that I want to
25 things you don’t...
PAGE 12 7. Have you ever been heartbroken (by whom and when)? “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?
do in the future. And of course, I realized that it’s important to start brand new.” In terms of career, Liza is taking it day by day and is eager to accept projects that come her way. “The one plan that is concrete is I want to finish my studies. Hopefully, to become a counselor in the future,” shared the star, who also dreams of being a future humanitarian. To those who lost their jobs during the pandemic just like her, Liza said: “I just want to let them know that there’s something to be hopeful about… It doesn’t really matter what other people say. What matters is what is important for you.” Similarly, she asked people, especially on social media, to be more sensitive about others’ feelings especially since studies show anxiety is on the rise due to the pandemic. “The people around you should also be more sensitive of what to say. Be more or conscious of the words to say to other people. We should try to be nicer to everybody especially since we’re all going through the same thing,” the actress enthused. “It’s not good to pick up on other people’s flaws, making fun of people. It’s time for everyone to connect more together in battling the crisis.” “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.”
Erich, Enchong reveal new project together
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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 shared further details of the project, they revealed that they have already started shooting its pilot episode. The two posted a photo of a whiteboard which stated they
Erich Gonzales with Enchong Dee
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
Photo from Instagram/@eirchgg
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”.
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FROM EGG SANDWICHES TO BURGERS Chef Alvin Cailan returns to LA with new meat shop, releases first cookbook on upbringing as American-born Filipino
L
by CHRISTINA M. ORIEL
/ AJPress
AST December, Alvin Cailan put a down payment on the former Chego spot inside Far East Plaza in Los Angeles’ Chinatown without the immediacy, or a defined concept, to occupy it.
One possibility was a 12seat steakhouse offshoot of his “Amboy” project — based on his childhood nickname referring to an American-born Filipino — with select cuts of meat paired with Filipino-inspired side dishes. Cailan, the chef behind breakfast sandwich empire Eggslut, had been living in New York for nearly four years, running his first fullservice eatery called The Usual at the Nolitan Hotel, while traveling across the country in search of the perfect hamburger as documented in First We Feast’s “The Burger Show,” a digital series on YouTube and Hulu. “The plan was always to be bicoastal, having a presence in New York and LA,” Cailan told the Asian Journal in a recent interview. Then, the pandemic hit, prompting the closure of his 125-seat restaurant that was built on the premise of “American comfort food cooked by the children of immigrants” and that had garnered glowing reviews, especially for its fried chicken, in magazines like The New Yorker and Vogue. The move back to LA became a chance to test out another idea relating to the “Amboy” brand that would make sense under the safer at home order. What he brought home were lessons from New
“AMBOY: Recipes from the Filipino-American Dream,” Cailanʼs first cookbook is set to be released on August 25.
York on how to pare down operations, a stark contrast from his previous projects. “As a chef, I realized I am more of a small batch guy who likes to have control over every dish that comes out and the prep involved,” Cailan said.
His footing in Chinatown’s Far East Plaza spans back to 2015 when he juggled running Ramen Champ on the second floor as Eggslut continued to attract buzzing lines at Grand Central Market a mile away. A year later, he occupied a space on the ground floor for
Unit 120, an incubator that housed pop-ups for fellow Fil-Am chefs like Isa Fabro’s IsaMADE and the Valencia brothers’ LASA, while operating Amboy as a takeout window for Filipino dishes and barbecue. (LASA permanently took over the space in 2017 when Cailan moved east.) Despite LA’s closure of indoor dining and warnings of a looming meat shortage nationwide, Amboy Quality Meats and Delicious Burgers opened up in the plaza this past May as a “micro-steak boutique” reminiscent of the butchers and delis Cailan frequented in his adopted city. “It’s the way of life back east to talk to someone who is knowledgeable about fish, cheese, bread or meat,” Cailan said, noting that LA’s Chinatown has several poultry shops, but limited options for raw meat. The shop, operating from Wednesday to Sunday, features meat sourced from smaller producers Cailan has forged relationships with over the years. The options range from the signature Amboy filet cut from the short loin ($11 per person) to a Brazilianstyle picanha steak ($20/pp). There are also other items for purchase like a half dozen organic brown eggs or bottled dry rubs. PAGE 15
Cailan at Amboy Quality Meats & Delicious Burgers in Chinatown, Los Angeles
The elements of creating the perfect pan de sal sandwich. Excerpted from AMBOY: Recipes from the Filipino-American Dream © 2020 by Alvin Cailan. Photography © 2020 by Wyatt Conlon. Reproduced with permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
The butcher shop features 4 types of burgers Contributed photos
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Filipino celebs adjust to the new normal at home
Gabbi Garcia uses most of her time on her YouTube vlogs. Photo from Instagram/@gabbi
Sanya Lopez has been learning and cooking new dishes while brother Jak Roberto helps with out with other household chores. Photo from Instagram/@jakroberto
Kyline Alcatara unleashed her skills in baking. Photo from Instagram/@itskylinealcantara
said. In the meantime Garcia is focused on her YouTube vlogs. “Since lahat tayo work from home and everything’s on digital, I focus more on my YouTube, vlogs and other online content. Kyline Alcantara, on the
other hand, revealed she like many others learned how to bake over the quarantine. “Nag-iingat po kami ng pamilya ko. In our little way, tumutulong kami by staying at home, by raising funds sa aming benefit concerts and sa mga frontliners din,” she began.
Meanwhile, celebrity siblings Sanya Lopez and Jak Roberto have no choice but to spend more time together at home. Lopez is the one who usually cooks for the both of them, while Roberto is tasked to do the laundry. “Wala kaming choice sa isa’t-isa. Nakakasawa na
nga rin [makita siya]. Pero naging normal na namin kasi nakakasanayan na kasi lahat kami nandito na yung trabaho,” Lopez said. Roberto seconded, “Kailangan maingat kasi kahit hindi ka lumalabas, may virus pa rin. Hindi natin alam kasi hindi natin nakikita. So
sundin natin yung safety measures.” “That’s why I cope being home by trying something new as much as possible. Although alam naman ng mga nanonood na nagluluto kaming magkapatid pero ako, nanonood ako ng YouTube to find recipes to try,” Lopez shared. “Nakakaproud naman siya kasi bukod sa wala akong ginagawa, kakain na lang ako kasi siya ang taga luto,” laughed Roberto. Other home bodies who are grateful for the wonders of technology in common appliances are Bea Binene who is bingeing on Koreanovelas via online TV; and new parents Pancho Magno and Max Collins, who were able to devote their time as first-time parents to their newborn baby and are grateful to the brand’s air conditioner for keeping their little one, Anakin Skye, comfortable through the super hot months.
Instagram-worthy egg sandwiches will be “extremely disappointed.” “But this is not a story about a shiny, subway-tiled egg restaurant and its campaign to be America’s next major food chain,” Cailan writes. (Though he rarely speaks now about the expansion of Eggslut, it’s worth noting that the sandwich shop has four locations in the LA area and one in Las Vegas, and has expanded internationally to London, Seoul, Tokyo and Kuwait.) A later chapter covers the company’s origins and then the subsequent accolades and fame it summoned, such as Cailan being named LA’s Rising Star Concept Chef in 2014 and the celebrities who became frequent customers. One familiar recipe is for “The Slut” — a coddled egg on top of a smooth potato purée, poached in a glass jar and served with toasted bread — a dish that Calian said “changed [his] life” after food critic Ruth Reichl wrote that it was “the most decadent breakfast,” forever charting the course of his food truck and later the first brick-and-mortar location. The rawness unearths during the Q&As between Cailan and Cuerdo, based on a month of interviews that felt “like therapy,” they said. One particular angle never captured in the buzzy headlines or “best of” lists were the long hours put in and the relation-
ships fractured while building Eggslut. “We went deep. Old wounds, old fears, how to handle success, how to handle heartbreak. I asked about it all. Alvin was an open book. After that intense process, something clicked. The book wasn’t ‘The Eggslut Cookbook’ or even the Alvin Cailan story. It was something greater,” Cuerdo described, adding that she suggested the book’s final title to place the story into the context of “the eyes of a Filipino American intimate with sacrifice and struggle.” Despite Cailan’s training in fine dining, the cookbook promises to be accessible for any level of cook. “Anyone could cook through this book. You don’t have to be a chef. Nothing is too crazy,” he said. One caveat is that there are instructions on how to build a fire pit to roast a lechon for a backyard party. What will resonate with many Fil-Ams, or even children of other immigrant groups, is having to scrape together a meal based on available ingredients as their parents worked. The ingenuity of this Amboy left with pan de sal, canned meats, Costco-sized frozen dishes and American condiments comes out in the formula of building the “ultimate pan de sal sandwich; in the cheeseburger lumpia based on memories of sneaking Kraft Singles as lola rolled the
wrappers; or while watching his family caretaker “Auntie Cita” make bibingka (coconut rice cake) with Philadelphia Cream Cheese. “When I show other first generation Filipino Americans [these creations], they all relate to them. They have done some things similar and I think that this is a cool angle because you don’t read that in the Filipino books before me,” Cailan said. What Amboy will look like once indoor service and larger gatherings resume is something to anticipate. For now, it’s bringing the experience home to quarantine chefs, whether through the cookbook recipes or weekly meat supply, or amplifying fellow Fil-Am restaurants nearby. “There are plenty of options to support local restaurants, but there’s something different when you’re actually supporting your own kababayan, the Filipino Americans who own restaurants,” Cailan said. “If you make that your priority like you would ordering tacos, then I think we’ll be able to at least weather this storm. Just keep us a part of the conversation and don’t forget we exist.” Amboy Quality Meats & Delicious Burgers is located at 727 N. Broadway No. 117 in LA’s Chinatown. “Amboy: Recipes from the FilipinoAmerican Dream” (August 25) is available for pre-order at nowservingla.com.
By Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net
OVER the past five months, everyone has experienced an unprecedented shift in their way of life due to COVID-19. Many were suddenly forced to adjust to a “new normal” where working besides living at home is ideal. This in mind, it is clear that all are spending more time at home and are looking for ways to keep themselves occupied to manage anxiety and stress. In a Facebook live event, Kapuso stars were featured in their home lives and what has helped them to be productive, entertained and resourceful during quarantine. “It’s a bit of an adjustment of course not only for me, but for everybody. Nawalan ng taping, ang daming nagbago in showbiz. I’m just really trying to get by and hopefully, soon matapos na itong lahat,” Gabbi Garcia
Chef Alvin Cailan returns... PAGE 14 “We’re not like a full-scale whole animal butchery but we do carve out meat and we pull the best steaks that we can out of that…Being able to explain where the meat comes from and how to cook it is something you can’t get much of in Los Angeles,” Cailan said. With his digital show and past pop-ups devoted to burgers, it was a seamless play to have variations of a grilled patty, cheese and toasted bun on the menu. Bearing distinct “regional influences,” the four choices range from the no-frills Ordinaire ($8) to the DH Burger ($17) that packs a 10-ounce dry-aged beef blend, caramelized onions, provolone cheese, garlic confit mayo and burger pickles in between a toasted custom bun. Two types of bundles are available for those who want to cook and assemble burgers at home. “We have a great selection of burgers for really any type of mood. That, I learned by eating at some of the best and longest-running burger places across the country. You can’t really just survive off of one kind of burger. You have to be flexible and cater to everyone and not just a trend,” Cailan mused. On cultivating an Amboy In reaching his level of celebrity, a cookbook was bound
to be an imminent milestone in Cailan’s career. A deal was inked back in 2016 with the basis of “modern” Filipino recipes and his involvement in the national push for the cuisine’s visibility. However, leaving LA and starting to outline a structure led to a self-reflection on how he came to this point, as a child of immigrants from the Philippines, taking that leap to attend Oregon Culinary Institute and subsequently having to cut his teeth at various fine dining establishments. “I wanted to talk about what I wanted to talk about, which was being a brown kid from a neighborhood where no one really makes something of themselves because the education system wasn’t funded properly,” Cailan said of growing up in Pico Rivera. “There are struggles in creating your own path to success that’s not traditional and the flavors and recipes that got me through those times.” The final iteration is “AMBOY: Recipes from the Filipino-American Dream,” with co-author Alexandra Cuerdo, set to be released on August 25 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Cuerdo met Cailan at a 2015 NextDayBetter event themed around the burgeoning, nextgeneration Filipino food scene in LA. After the chef’s keynote
speech, she privately pitched him the idea of a Filipino food documentary, which would later become “ULAM: Main Dish,” released in 2018. “When Alvin came to me with the book, it was a slam dunk. After working with [him] on ULAM for five years, I have deep respect for him as a chef and creative. So I wanted to do it right,” Cuerdo told the Asian Journal. “Through the telling of Alvin’s unique story, I hope I can add another narrative to our history — a voice that is unapologetic and unafraid, that proudly celebrates our culture, and that paints a picture for the bright future of Filipino cooking around the world.” The 13 chapters tread between an autobiography and cookbook as anecdotes give a sense of how the recipes appeared in Cailan’s life, whether they were learned from his parents and lola to those creations served at his restaurants. “It’s a culmination of what it means to be an Amboy — being Filipino and cooking modern or new American cuisine and really making a career out of it but always having the Philippines in mind and heart,” he said. Early on in the preface, however, the authors caution that readers expecting the secret recipe behind the
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