A September 16-18, 2020 • SoCal ASIAN JOUrNAL
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From the Front Page Palace: Duterte likely to extend national state of...
PAGE A1 which has infected over 29 million people all over the world. “Most likely po [it will be extended], dahil habang wala pang bakuna, habang walang gamot sa COVID, patuloy po ang epekto ng pandemya (Most likely it will be extended because while there is still no vaccine, while there is still no cure for Covid, the effects of the pandemic will linger),” he said in a press briefing. Duterte on March 16 issued Proclamation 929 which declares a state of calamity for a period of six months unless lifted earlier extended “as circumstances may warrant.” It is set to expire on Sept. 16. The declaration enjoins all government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to render full assistance in combating the spread of the disease. “All government agencies and LGUs are enjoined to render full assistance to and cooperation with each other and mobilize the
necessary resources to undertake critical, urgent, and appropriate disaster response aid and measures in a timely manner to curtail and eliminate the threat of COVID-19,” stated Duterte’s proclamation. His declaration also directs law enforcement agencies, with the support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, “to undertake all necessary measures to ensure peace and order.” As of this writing, there are a total of 269,407 COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, with 4,663 fatalities and 207,352 recoveries. ‘Best testing policy in Asia’ Roque lauded the country’s COVID-19 testing capacity, claiming that the Philippines has the “best testing policy in the whole of Asia and probably in the whole world.” “We clearly have the best testing policy in the whole of Asia and probably in the whole world because we have exceeded three million [tests] and as a
percentage of total population, lubos-lubusan na ‘yan sa sinasabi nilang 3 percent na dapat ma-test na population (that exceeds what they said about testing 3 percent of the total population),” he said Tuesday, Sept. 15. “At patuloy pa po tayo, dadami pa po tayo (We will continue to increase our testing) and I think we will have the highest number of testing, one of the highest in the whole world. That’s clearly our biggest strength,” the spokesman added. Roque also gave the country’s COVID-19 response a rating of 85% because it prevented the dire predictions of COVID-19 infections from coming true. It also managed to keep the Philippines’ COVID-19 case fatality rate at 1.7%, as well as prevent the health system from getting “overwhelmed” with 50% available ICU bed capacity. “All in all, I think we deserve a very good grade. I would give it a grade of 85%,” he said. n
LONG QUEUE. Commuters waiting for the next bus reach the stairs of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 North Avenue station in Quezon City on Monday, September 14. Though more buses were allowed to resume operation under less strict general community quarantine in Metro Manila, daily commuters still have to endure long queues due to limitation of passengers in public utility vehicles. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler
Pemberton deported from PH...
PAGE A1 she confirmed in a message to reporters on Sunday. With his deportation, Pemberton was also banned from reentering the Philippines in the future. “As a consequence of the deportation order against him, Pemberton has been placed in the Bureau’s blacklist, perpetually banning him from coming back,” BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said. Morente also revealed that Pemberton had been on the BI’s blacklist since Sept. 16, 2015, when he was ordered deported by the bureau’s Board of Commissioners after being charged for murder, and later being convicted of homicide. Pemberton, in response, filed for a motion for reconsideration in November 2015. However, it was denied as his continued presence in the Philippines is not conducive “for the safety, welfare, happiness, or good order of Philippine society.” Morente stressed that Pemberton’s criminal case is separate from his immigration case. “The Bureau saw that he is a risk to public safety, having been found guilty of the crime. Hence he was tagged as an undesirable alien, and will be expelled from the Philippines,” he said.
Before being deported, Pemberton underwent regular processing and booking procedures. He was also required to secure clearances from the appropriate offices, as well as to present a travel document, and outbound travel arrangements. “Upon completion of the required documents, we immediately implemented the deportation,” Morente said. “He was escorted by BI agents to ensure that he has boarded his aircraft. Should he attempt to reenter the country after being deported, he will be denied entry and will be excluded,” he added. Pmberton was convicted of homicide on December 1, 2015 for Laude in 2014. He was sentenced to six to 10 years imprisonment. He was granted absolute pardon by Duterte on Sept. 7, voiding the issue of whether or not he is entitled to good conduct time allowance (GCTA). The United States Embassy in the Philippines, for its part, said Pemberton has fulfilled his jail sentence. “All legal proceedings in the case took place under Philippine jurisdiction and law. Lance Cpl. Pemberton fulfilled his sentence as ordered by Philippine courts and he departed the Philippines
on September 13,” it said in a statement. Pemberton to face U.S. court martial proceedings Malacañang revealed that Pemberton will continue to face court martial proceedings in the U.S. as promised by U.S. authorities. “Meron pong pinangako ang mga authorities ng Amerika kasama po yung representante ng marine corps (There was a promise made by American authorities along with a representative from the Marine corps),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Monday, Sept. 14. “Ang pangako po nila, kung makakalabas si Pemberton, ibig sabihin matatapos na ang proseso sa Pilipinas, pero pag-uwi daw po ni Pemberton, tuloy pa din ang kanyang court martial proceedings at doon po malalaman kung meron pang additional na parusang ipapataw sa kanila at yung kanyang qualification to remain in service (They promised that even if Pemberton is released and the process in the Philippines ended, he will still face court martial proceedings where it will be determined if additional punishment will be imposed and if he is still qualified to remain in service),” he added. n
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Dateline USa
SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • SeptembeR 16-18, 2020
A
AAPI business leaders, elected officials show support...
California’s Secretary of State is rolling out a new tracking tool that lets voters check on the status of their vote-by-mail ballot. Photo courtesy of California Secretary of State
California secretary of state launches tool to track ballots... PAGE A1
tember 9. Though vote by mail is not a new concept in California, the state will be mailing out a ballot to every active registered voter by October as a way to make the election more accessible and to slow the spread of COVID-19. “We’re going to be encouraging [that] vote by mail is the first and safest choice for people to vote,” Padilla said. During the primary election in March, over 72% of voters opted for the vote-by-mail option, the highest it’s been in the state’s history, according to data from the California Secretary of State. The state allows for ballots to be postmarked on or before November 3 and can arrive up to three days after that date in order to be counted. However, this year, that deadline will be extended up to 17 days. Each ballot certified by the state has specific watermarks and “other distinguishing features” to prevent fraud and double voting, Padilla said, alluding to the national debate about whether voting by mail is the safest option during this election cycle. “When voters return their ballot, they have to use the official envelope that came with their vote-by-mail package and they all have unique barcodes, which enable both our ballot tracking, but also allow us to make sure that each voter can only vote once,” Padilla said. He added that voters have to
sign their ballot envelope and county election officials will compare that with the one on file in their voter registration record. Mail-in ballots can be sent through the U.S. Postal Service or placed in any of the designated county drop off boxes. The Secretary of State is also introducing “Where’s My Ballot” so voters can track the status of their ballots — by email, text message, or voice call — at every step of the process from the time it is mailed out to them until it is received and counted by the county registrar. “It’s great for transparency, great for accountability and we hope great for confidence in vote by mail because that too has come under attack in recent weeks,” Padilla said, mentioning that over 900,000 California voters have signed up for the tracking service at WheresMyBallot. sos.ca.gov. Voters can still cast their ballots during the early voting period or by physically going in person, but they can expect the same measures as in the past few months, such as physical distancing, wearing masks and the availability of hand sanitizer at polling locations. On November 3, sports arenas will be turned into voting locations, such as Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Chase Center in San Francisco, the Oakland Coliseum and Dodger Stadium and Staples Center in Los Angeles. Some counties may offer certain accommodations like voting while
in your car. In addition to actual voting procedures, the state is also seeking how to get more eligible voters registered before the October 19 deadline; identifying more polling sites statewide convenient for communities; and encouraging individuals to become poll workers on Election Day, as many previous volunteers tend to be older and part of groups vulnerable to COVID-19. As more state voters are anticipated to favor voting by mail, Padilla recommends returning the ballots ahead of time so they can be counted as part of the election night tallies. But as in previous cycles, it may take weeks for California to finish processing ballots and certifying results, especially in close races and submitting final numbers. However, since other states are expanding the mail-in option, the results for the presidential race may not be called on election night, Padilla suggested. “Maybe even for a few days after the election, we won’t know the outcome of the presidential contest in a lot of battleground states. But I think there’s a strong likelihood if there’s a close race, that will take a few days to know the final results. That’s not an attempt to panic,” Padilla said. “That’s a time to be patient and have confidence that it’s the process at work verifying that legitimate ballots are being counted… We’d rather get the results right than get them fast.” n
PAGE A1 related to the fallacious COVID19 conspiracy theories, health and economic disparities that disproportionately harm Black and brown communities and the conversation on systemic anti-Blackness stemmed from recent killings of unarmed Black individuals. By sheer coincidence, California voters will be voting on a ballot measure in November that seeks to reduce racial discrimination on an institutional level. Proposition 16 is a ballot measure that seeks to reverse a 1996 bill that banned affirmative action, a practice of favoring people who belong to historically disenfranchised groups, as the Asian Journal previously reported. Affirmative action is most commonly referred to in the contexts of hiring personnel and college admissions, but it also factors in how government contracts are allocated to businesses across the state. Many disagree over whether Prop 16 actually helps to alleviate or propagate racial and gender discrimination, but what both sides can agree on is that discrimination against minority groups that stifles their opportunity for success is wrong. In a virtual panel on Thursday, Sept. 10, community leaders, business owners and elected officials who support Prop 16 gathered to talk about the ways in which the ballot measure can help minorityowned small businesses. “I really do think that it puts and creates equal opportunity for businesses and provides an opportunity for businesses that have been at it for a long time but can’t seem to get the opportunity to win contracts that allow them to do government projects,” said California Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-District 27).
Kalra served for eight years on the San Jose City Council and was also on the Caltrain Board of Directors where he gave out hundreds of millions of dollars worth of contracts. He saw, firsthand, how easily big name “legacy” companies would win government contracts while minority and women-led businesses “would be locked out.” “With these contracts I think you will see that we’ll have the opportunity to truly build an economy that works for everyone as well,” Kalra said. According to Pat Fong Kushida, president and CEO of CalAsian Chamber, in the San Francisco metropolitan area, Asian American-owned businesses were given only 6% of public contracts and 7% of total contracting dollars. For perspective, Asian Americans represent 33% of San Francisco’s population, according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau. (Numbers for the recent census survey have not been counted and finalized.) “It’s been very, very difficult still to get contracts into the hands of minority-owned businesses and a lot of it has to do with not only historical bias in this area, but also, frankly, the ability to scale, the ability to attract the type of investment and the type of capital needed to grow your business in order to be able to compete effectively and the ability to break up contracts in such a way that folks can effectively compete,” Fong Kushida said. Prop 16 has become one of the most divisive ballot measures on the upcoming California ballot, and a common critique among supporters and critics is the bill’s vague, nebulous language that provides very little detail about how the measure would be utilized in the private sector for small minority-owned businesses.
But supporters like Kalra and Fong Kushida believe that it’s a start in the right direction. Fong Kushida pointed out that compliance and accountability are also key and if Prop 16 is to be passed, saying data about the businesses that are actually given contracts should be disseminated. When government agencies, like the Public Utility Commission for example, say that they’ve met the goals stipulated by Prop 16, they need to provide receipts, Fong Kushida said. “If Prop 16 passes, I think, to the nearest point, that aggregation of data needs to be disseminated,” she said. “If you really start to take a look at that data and dig deep, how many businesses at a certain level did they actually contract? What are the strategies that we are going to hold policymakers accountable to, to ensure that Prop 16 isn’t just an exercise in data?” The ways in which Prop 16 works could be discretionary to each industry, Virginia Gomez, president and CEO of Southern California Minority Supplier Development Council said. The nitty gritty of each business and each sector of an industry like construction and tech operate differently, and Prop 16 — while it isn’t the definitive solution — is a start to ensuring business owners of all backgrounds are given equal access to contracts, Gomez said. “Prop 16 is just the beginning point and unless it’s going to have more teeth than just a reporting climate [in which policymakers that make out these contracts only report percentages], I want to see where the compliance piece comes in, and I really want to have a discussion about what industries we’re going to focus in on,” Gomez said. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)
UN rights chief: Revoke policies, rhetoric that lead... PAGE A1 to August 31, 2020. However, human rights groups estimated that the total number of drug war fatalities has exceeded 27,000. Bachelet noted that the Philippine Department of Justice in June committed to reinvestigate the deaths in police operations, but said her office is still seeking details. “We are seeking details from the government so we can advise and assess the review panel’s scope, process and efficacy,” she
said. Aside from the drug-related deaths in the Philippines, Bachelet also expressed concern for the journalists, activists and critics who are reportedly experiencing harassment and violence in the country. “I am also concerned by harassment, threats and violence against journalists, activists and critics; the passage of anti-terrorism legislation with many problematic provisions; and the president’s announced intention
to reinstate the death penalty,” she said. She then called for the UNHRC to continue monitoring the country’s situation. “I encourage the council to remain active on this situation and to support my office’s continued monitoring and reporting — including to this council — as well as our technical cooperation to implement the report’s recommendations, and to continue to pursue accountability,” Bachelet said. n
A September 16-18, 2020 • SoCal ASIAN JOUrNAL
Dateline PhiliPPines
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NIH ‘very concerned’ about serious side effect in coronavirus vaccine trial by Arthur
Allen And liz Kaiser Health News
NEW ATTRACTION. A couple joins local tourists taking souvenir photo with crushed dolomite being used for “beach nourishment” of the Manila Bay shoreline as backdrop on Sunday, September 13. The ongoing beach nourishment is part of the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program being implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
Officials warn the public to remain cautious as...
PAGE A1 But public health officials attribute the dip in the positivity rate to the recent heatwaves and fires currently plaguing the state. Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of Los Angeles County Public Health, said in a news briefing that the combination of the heatwave and the smoke left from the fires worsened the air quality, meaning that fewer people are leaving their homes. “We are, in fact, somewhat challenged about getting good data because we’ve had both extreme heat and we’ve had the fires that have created unhealthy air conditions. What that’s led to, unfortunately, is a lot less testing,” Ferrer said The inopportune arrival of California’s yearly fire season comes at a time when the state is at odds with the prospect of reopening more of the economy and relaxing some of its safer-at-home mandates. School districts across the state remain closed, but businesses like restaurants, grooming services and other public spaces are slowly reopening. But according to California’s color-coded tiered re-opening system, 30 counties remain in the purple category (including LA, San Bernardino and Ventura counties), which is the most restrictive tier (i.e. the counties that are still high-risk of mass viral transmission). Ascending in rigidity, 17 counties are now in the red category (including Orange, San Francisco and San Diego Counties), nine are in orange and two are in yellow. LA County’s positivity rate is at 8%, more than double the state’s
overall positivity rate. As of Tuesday, LA County has reported 255,049 total positive cases and 6,273 deaths related to the COVID-19 (excluding Pasadena and Long Beach). According to LA County Public Health, 70% of all cases concern people under the age of 50, putting into focus the virus’s impact on all age groups. “Tragically, we are reporting another death in person who was under 29 years old,” Ferrer said on Tuesday. “Younger people not only are the majority of individuals infected and infecting others, but also can experience devastating consequences themselves. Nearly 450 COVID-19 deaths have occurred among individuals under the age of 50 years old. This is why it is important for everyone, including younger residents to take precautions every time they leave their homes and to get tested if they have been exposed to the virus.” The pervasive fires occurring across the state have complicated the already daunting task of mitigating viral transmission. The worsening air quality brought on by the fires adds more urgency for not just protecting the general public from the virus, but protecting those who are vulnerable to respiratory ailments. As previously reported in the Asian Journal, the COVID-19 virus attacks the respiratory system and those who experience maladies related to breathing are particularly vulnerable to the virus’s severe effects. Dr. Vin Gupta, a pulmonologist and assistant professor in Health Metrics Sciences at the University
of Washington, and Mary Creasman, CEO of the California League of Conservation Voters wrote in an NBC News OP-ED that COVID19 and the California wildfires are a joint crisis that threatens public health. “The state is now experiencing some of the worst air quality in the world as a result of the fires, and that is particularly worsen given emerging evidence that exposure to air pollution may increase the likelihood of both being infected with and dying from COVID-19,” Gupta and Creasman wrote. “We need to be taking urgent action to improve air quality and address the climate crisis along with our other efforts to contain and treat the coronavirus.” They added that the coronavirus pandemic should serve as a wake-up call for legislators to move forward with environmental solutions. But Gupta and Creasman lamented the lack of action being done at the federal, state and local levels to combat the growing threat of climate change, which scientists the world over agree is a manmade disaster. Of its 100 proposed rollbacks of federal environmental protection mandates, the Trump administration has completed 68, including Obama-era emissions rules for power plants, a major contributor to air pollution. “We deserve leaders who listen to scientists and understand the clear connection between public health and the environment,” they wrote. “We need to fight for a better climate, not despite the current global crisis, but because of it.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)
SzAbo
The Food and Drug Administration is weighing whether to follow British regulators in resuming a coronavirus vaccine trial that was halted when a participant suffered spinal cord damage, even as the National Institutes of Health has launched an investigation of the case. “The highest levels of NIH are very concerned,” said Dr. Avindra Nath, intramural clinical director and a leader of viral research at the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, an NIH division. “Everyone’s hopes are on a vaccine, and if you have a major complication the whole thing could get derailed.” A great deal of uncertainty remains about what happened to the unnamed patient, to the frustration of those avidly following the progress of vaccine testing. AstraZeneca, which is running the global trial of the vaccine it produced with Oxford University, said the trial volunteer recovered from a severe inflammation of the spinal cord and is no longer hospitalized. AstraZeneca has not confirmed that the patient was afflicted with transverse myelitis, but Nath and another neurologist said they understood this to be the case. Transverse myelitis produces a set of symptoms involving inflammation along the spinal cord that can cause pain, muscle weakness and paralysis. Britain’s regulatory body, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, reviewed the case and has allowed the trial to resume in the United Kingdom. AstraZeneca “need[s] to be more forthcoming with a potential complication of a vaccine which will eventually be given to millions of people,” said Nath. “We would like to see how we can help, but the lack of information makes it difficult to do so.” Any decision about whether to continue the trial is complex because it’s difficult to assess the cause of a rare injury that occurs during a vaccine trial — and because scientists and authorities have to weigh the risk of uncommon side effects against a vaccine that might curb the pandemic. “So many factors go into these decisions,” Nath said. “I’m sure everything is on the table. The last thing you want to do is hurt healthy people.” The NIH has yet to get tissue or blood samples from the British patient, and its investigation is “in the planning stages,” Nath said. U.S. scientists could look at samples from other vaccinated patients to see whether any of the antibodies they generated in response to the coronavirus also attack brain or spinal cord tissue. Such studies might take a month or two, he said. The FDA declined to comment on how long it would take before it decides whether to
move forward. Dr. Jesse Goodman, a Georgetown University professor and physician who was chief scientist and lead vaccine regulator at the FDA during the Obama administration, said the agency will review the data and possibly consult with British regulators before allowing resumption of the U.S. study, which had just begun when the injury was reported. Two other coronavirus vaccines are also in late-stage trials in the U.S. If it determines the injury in the British trial was caused by the vaccine, the FDA could pause the trial. If it allows it to resume, regulators and scientists surely will be on the watch for similar symptoms in other trial participants. A volunteer in an earlier phase of the AstraZeneca trial experienced a similar side effect, but investigators discovered she had multiple sclerosis that was unrelated to the vaccination, according to Dr. Elliot Frohman, director of the Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunology Center at the University of Texas. Neurologists who study illnesses like transverse myelitis say they are rare — occurring at a rate of perhaps 1 in 250,000 people — and strike most often as a result of the body’s immune response to a virus. Less frequently, such episodes have also been linked to vaccines. The precise cause of the disease is key to the decision by authorities whether to resume the trial. Sometimes an underlying medical condition is “unmasked” by a person’s immune response to the vaccine, leading to illness, as happened with the MS patient. In that case, the trial might be continued without fear, because the illness was not specific to the vaccine. More worrisome is a phenomenon called “molecular mimicry.” In such cases, some small piece of the vaccine may be similar to tissue in the brain or spinal cord, resulting in an immune attack on that tissue in response to a vaccine component. Should that be the case, another occurrence of transverse myelitis would be likely if the trial resumed, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. A second case would shut down the trial, he said. In 1976, a massive swine flu vaccination program was halted when doctors began diagnosing a similar disorder, Guillain-Barré syndrome, in people who received the vaccine. At the time no one knew how common GBS was, so it was difficult to tell whether the episodes were related to the vaccine. Eventually, scientists found that the vaccine increased the risk of the disorderby an additional one case among every 100,000 vaccinated patients. Typical seasonal flu vaccination raises the risk of
GBS in about one additional case in every 1 million people. “It’s very, very hard” to determine if one rare event was caused by a vaccine, Schaffner said. “How do you attribute an increased risk for something that occurs in one in a million people?” Before allowing U.S. trials to restart, the FDA will want to see why the company and an independent data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) in the U.K. felt it was safe to continue, Goodman said. The AstraZeneca trial in the United States has a separate safety board. FDA officials will need to review full details of the case and may request more information about the affected study volunteer before deciding whether to allow the U.S. trial to continue, Goodman said. They may also require AstraZeneca to update the safety information it provides to study participants. It’s possible that the volunteer’s health problem was a coincidence unrelated to the vaccine, said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Studies aren’t usually stopped over a single health problem, even if it’s serious. Yet many health leaders have expressed frustration that AstraZeneca hasn’t released more information about the health problem that led it to halt its U.K. trial. “There is just so little information about this that it’s impossible to understand what the diagnosis was or why the DSMB and sponsor were reassured” that it was safe to continue, Goodman said. AstraZeneca has said it’s unable to provide more information about the health problem, saying this would violate patient privacy, although it didn’t say how. But there’s an exceptional need for transparency in a political climate rife with vaccine hesitancy and mistrust of the Trump administration’s handling of the COVID-19 response, leading scientists say. “While I respect the critical need for patient confidentiality, I think it would be really helpful to know what their assessment of these issues was,” Goodman said. “What was the diagnosis? If there wasn’t a clear diagnosis, what is it that led them to feel the trial could be restarted? There is so much interest and potential concern about a COVID-19 vaccine that the more information that can be provided, the more reassuring that would be.” The FDA will need to balance any possible risks from an experimental vaccine with the danger posed by COVID-19, which has killed nearly 200,000 Americans. “There are also potential consequences if you stop a study,” Goodman said. If the AstraZeneca vaccine fails, the U.S. government is supporting six other COVID vaccines in the hope at least one will succeed. The potential problems with the AstraZeneca vaccine show this to be a wise investment, Adalja said. “This is part of the idea of not having just one vaccine candidate going forward,” he said. “It gives you a little more insurance.” Schaffner said researchers need to remember that vaccine research is unpredictable. “The investigators have inadvisedly been hyping their own vaccine,” Schaffner said. “The Oxford investigators were out there this summer saying, ‘We’re going to get there first.’ But this is exactly the sort of reason … Dr. [Anthony] Fauci and the rest of us have been saying, ‘You never know what will happen once you get into large-scale human trials.’” This KHN story first published on California Healthline, a service of the California Health Care Foundation. n
DFA reports spike in COVID-19 cases among... PAGE A1 VID-19 fatality among Filipinos abroad. Meanwhile, there are 15 new confirmed cases and 17 new recoveries recorded in Asia and the Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa,” the DFA said. “Furthermore, DOH-verified cases are now at 2,062,” it added. Overall by region, Europe – which comprises 19 countries – has recorded 1,172 Filipino cases, including 197 undergoing treatment, 880 recoveries and 95 deaths. The Middle East and Africa, covering 27 countries, has reported 7,025 cases; of which, 2,294 are undergoing treatment, 492 deaths and 4,239 recoveries. The Asia Pacific region, which spans across 20 countries, has 1,327 cases, with 328 undergoing treatment, 991 recoveries, and eight deaths. The Americas – covering 10
countries like the United States – have 805 reported cases, with 166 undergoing treatment, 461 recoveries, and 178 deaths. “To date, the Middle East remains to be the region with the most number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, recoveries, under treatment, and fatalities among our nationals,” the DFA noted. “The Americas now has the least numbers in all categories compared to other geographic regions, except in the total number of deaths, wherein Asia and the Pacific ranks lowest with only 8 fatalities,” it added. Over 170,000 Filipinos repatriated On Sunday, the DFA announced that it has repatriated a total of 174,039 Filipinos since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in February. Of the figure, 61,716 OFs (35.46%) are sea-based while 112,323 (64.54%) are land-
based. “The DFA remains relentless in facilitating more flights, particularly from the Middle East. This week, the DFA brought home more than 7,500 of our nationals from the said region via 27 special commercial repatriation flights,” the agency said in a statement. “The return of Filipino seafarers also continues as the DFA facilitated the repatriation of more than 2,800 sea-based workers, including a Filipino fisherman who drifted to the waters of Central Sulawesi in April 2020,” it added. The DFA also promised to continue bringing home Filipinos amid the pandemic. “The DFA, together with its Philippine embassies, consulates and attached agencies around the world, remains fully committed to bringing home our nationals abroad amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” it said. n
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SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • SeptembeR 16-18, 2020
Dateline PhiliPPines
A
OVP gets smallest share of 2021 budget by DJ Yap Krixia SubingSubing Inquirer.net
MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo’s office is getting the smallest slice of the budget pie in the bureaucracy despite receiving the highest audit rating from the Commission on Audit. Robredo on Monday presented the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) proposed P679-million budget for next year, lower than its current P708-million appropriation after it was slashed by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). “We will make do with what is given to us,� Robredo told the House appropriations committee. Her office originally sought P724 million in funding, including for the purchase of six new vehicles, which was rejected by the DBM. But Robredo’s supporters in the chamber called for an increase in her budget from 10 percent to as much as double or triple the OVP’s allocation. Camarines Sur Rep. Gabriel
Bordado Jr. said it was a shame that the OVP was given the “lowest budget allocation in the entire Philippine bureaucracy.� “It has been engaging in front-line activities and people empowerment, but still, its budget is the smallest in the entire bureaucracy,� he said. During Monday’s budget hearing, Robredo, a former Camarines Sur congresswoman, personally appealed to lawmakers to at least meet their proposed budget of P724 million —a slight increase from its P708-million budget in 2020 — after the DBM recommended only P679 million for the next fiscal year. The OVP’s proposed budget is expected to go to pandemic relief and response efforts, as well as livelihood and education programs for marginalized communities. “Basically, your honors, from our shuttle services, our dormitories, our assistance to communities, all the other things that we have been doing, that is made possible because of collaboration with mostly private
partners. So we are confident, your honors, that with our proposed budget next year, we can further expand the work with our partners to contribute to our shared goal of defeating the virus and improving the lives of our people,� she said. House lawmakers, meanwhile, noted the OVP’s efforts through its Angat Buhay program, as well as its comprehensive response to the pandemic, and sought to negotiate a higher budget for her office to sustain these projects. Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez urged his colleagues to increase the OVP budget by P113 million. “Giving this P113 million will go a long way in providing funds to OVP to implement its regular programs and its response to COVID-19 pandemic,� he said. But Baguio City Rep. Mark Go went a step further, saying the budget should be doubled, or at least raised to P1 billion. ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro said she would support moves to “double or triple� the OVP budget. n
Amal Clooney: Don’t imprison journalists by MaYvelin
u. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net
INTERNATIONAL human rights lawyer Amal Clooney called on Filipino business leaders to “protect the press if you want to have a functioning democracy�. Clooney, who is also a British Foreign and Commonwealth Office special envoy for global media freedom, said that to protect the press, “�don’t imprison journalists�. Speaking at the 18th MAP International CEO Web Confer- Maria Ressa with Amal Clooney and her husband George Photo from Twitter/@mariaressa ence 2020 on Tuesday, Clooney ing in an article posted on her and a term of imprisonment,� she said. emphasized that democracy news website in 2012. Clooney said this sends a clear The lawyer criticized Ressa’s was under threat in any country where the judiciary was not inde- conviction and blamed the gov- message to other journalists: “Be quiet, or you will be next.� pendent, or where freedom of the ernment. Quoting a professor of journal“Defenders of the judgment press was not cherished and prohave claimed ‘this is just a pri- ism at Columbia University, Clootected as an utmost priority. She cited the case of Rappler vate dispute between a journalist ney said this is how democracy Chief Executive Officer and Ex- and the person whose reputa- dies in the 21st century, adding ecutive Editor Maria Ressa, who tion was harmed by the story.’ that “Maria’s struggle is one that was convicted of cyber libel for But this is not correct. It was a defines our times.� Amal Clooney is the wife of imputing that Wilfredo Keng criminal prosecution brought by committed a series of crimes, in- the Department of Justice. The Hollywood A-lister George Cloocluding human and drug traffick- state advocated for a conviction ney. n
MAKING A LIVING. Two women selling snacks and rags to motorists rest for a while at a sidewalk along Belfast Road corner Mindanao Avenue in Fairview, Quezon City on Tuesday, September 15. The government will provide additional emergency subsidies to various sectors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2) signed by President Rodrigo Duterte. PNA photos by Oliver Marquez
More than half of Filipinos believe worst of COVID-19 pandemic has yet to come — SWS MANILA — Over half of Filipinos believe that the worst of the COVID-19 crisis has yet to come, a national poll released Tuesday, September 15 found. The survey, conducted by the Social Weather Stations from July 3 to July 6, found that 57% of respondents are still bracing themselves for the worst of the pandemic, marking a 10% increase from the 47% who said the same last May. “On the other hand, those saying ‘the worst is behind us’ fell from 44% in May 2020 to 35% in July 2020, while those who did not give an answer stayed at 8%,� SWS said. According to the national poll, the proportion of those who fear that the worst is yet to come is highest in Metro Manila at 70%, marking a sharp rise of 20 points from the previous 50% recorded in May. In the Visayas, 61% believe the same, marking a seven-point increase from the 54% recorded two months previously. This sentiment also grew in Balance Luzon, which saw a proportion of 43% in May grow to 56% in July, but relatively unchanged
at Mindanao at 49%. “On the other hand, those who say ‘the worst is behind us’ are highest in Mindanao (41%), followed by Balance Luzon (35%), the Visayas (33%), and Metro Manila (26%).� “Compared to May 2020, those who say ‘the worst is behind us’ fell from 49% in Balance Luzon, from 43% in Metro Manila, and from 38% in the Visayas. It hardly moved from 42% Mindanao,� the survey added. Fear highest among those whose quality of life worsened Adults whose quality of life were found to be worse in July compared to the year before also made up the highest proportion of those who feared that the worst from the pandemic is still coming. A separate survey published in August found that 79% of adults say their quality of life worsened compared to last year. Of these, 60% fear that the worst of the pandemic is yet to come, SWS said. The same fear holds true at 48% even for those whose said their quality of life improved since last year and 45% for those
whose quality of life remained unchanged. Across all respondents whose quality of life worsened, improved, and remained unchanged since last year, there was an increase in proportion of those who believed that the worst of the pandemic still awaits. The latest SWS poll was probability-based survey conducted using mobile phone and computerassisted telephone interviewing among 1,555 working-age Filipinos nationwide. Sampling error margins are at Âą2% for national percentages, Âą6% for Metro Manila, Âą5 for Balance Luzon, Âą5% for the Visayas and Âą5% for Mindanao. The Department of Health on Monday reported 4,699 new COVID-19 cases along with a recordhigh of 259 new deaths. This brought the national caseload to 265,888, still the highest in Southeast Asia, and the total number of deaths to 4,630. It has been 182 days since the Philippines was first put under lockdown, marking the highest community quarantine period in the world. (Bella Perez-Rubio/ Philstar.com)
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A6 SEPTEMBER 16-18, 2020 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
OPINION
Safety during Undas
FEATURES
THE coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has upended traditional celebrations and rituals in the country, among them the Lenten observances and the Flores de Mayo processions. The latest to be affected by the COVID-19 health crisis is this year’s holiday for commemorating the dearly departed. Following the lead of the city government of Manila, which hosts some of the most crowded cemeteries in the country, the rest of Metro Manila will also shut down cemeteries not only during the holidays for All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days or Undas, but from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4. The announcement of the shutdown was made to allow people to visit the dead much earlier or after the special days. For many, this is an annual ritual of cleaning tombs, checking for damage, repainting and refurbishing. And for many, this is an occasion for family gatherings. With COVID quarantine measures gradually easing, it’s likely that people will still plan for such gatherings this year – not during Undas itself, but in the weeks leading up to the holiday. This early, authorities should draw up public health safety protocols for those who will visit cemeteries. Local government units may also devise their
own systems for crowd control inside cemeteries. Marshals can be fielded to ensure compliance with COVID health regulations particularly wearing of face masks and shields as well as physical distancing. Health protocols must be strictly enforced among vendors of flowers, candles and other items. This year’s Holy Week traditions were not observed as Metro Manila and many other parts of the country were under the strictest enhanced community quarantine at the time. Undas will be the first major public holiday following the easing of COVID quarantine restrictions. It will be a test of crowd control and compliance with health protocols in the weeks leading up to the biggest holiday period of the year, Christmas. Undas safety protocols must be put in place as early as possible. The days of the dead must not lead to the spread of the coronavirus and more deaths. (Philstar.com)
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
As gatekeepers of news, let us be conscientious about this role in sharing information in the age of social media
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS VIRAL. Breaking News. Facebook Live. Before the advent of social media, we received our news and information from newspapers, radio and television news programs — each with editorial boards that meet every day to discuss the news events of the day, confirm the veracity of the news, and answer the what, who, where, when, why and how questions. The editorial board of each news organization fulfills its role as the gatekeeper of news and information, honoring the sacred obligation of delivering only the truth to the people, cognizant of how consequential the delivery of information is to the public. These news organizations had the time to fulfill this requirement of due diligence to report the news accurately and precisely. The newspapers would be printed past midnight and were delivered to homes in the early morning. Sometimes, when breaking news came out, they would release a midday edition. The same was true for radio and television. Families would gather in front of their radio or television receivers to hear and watch the evening news. News breaks would be aired within the day for urgent information that would have to be delivered to the public im-
mediately. Then, the big picture would be presented and the complete story told on the evening news. Such commitment to the obligation of being truthtellers was taken seriously. The rationale of each news organization to exist relies on its credibility earned from the public it served. What we know and do not know affects our attitude on the current events and the people running our government and institutions, which in turn, determines how we respond to and act on our obligation as citizens of this country. That was then. Now, in the age of 24/7 cable news cycle, each news organization competes to deliver the news first. There are “BREAKING NEWS!” alerts left and right. Each news organization also competes to deliver an exclusive report to get the biggest share of the pie in the ratings game, which matters most to advertising — the source of income of news organizations. As a consequence, news is delivered fast and urgently but with a caveat that such news has not been independently confirmed. Tidbits of information — verified or not — get into the awareness of the public. As the competition among them escalates, the desire to stand out from the rest compels some news media organization
to sensationalize the news, to show images and emotionally charged words and delivery of newsmakers that could rival reality shows just to grab the audiences’ attention, the span of which has become shorter than ever. News, as we knew it, has been compromised. But now in the age of social media, and with almost every person having a camera through their mobile devices and a connection to internet to broadcast news via platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube, among others, the delivery of news and information has become even more complicated and a double-edged sword. On one side, this new reality has empowered every individual to be a “citizen journalist.” We are all given the opportunity and the platform to report the “news” and our personal experiences and perspective to the world-wide-web. And with the sharing capability offered by these social media platforms, we can share our “news,” and share other “news” we find on social media. The other side of the sword is the content we may share, especially during these times of deep partisanship. Such division has been fueled by the intrusion of fabricated news from foreign actors like Russia, infiltrating our discourse with fake news to sow discord, divide us and weaken our
democracy. Sometimes, the newsmakers themselves and people in government fabricate and peddle/share news, twist the facts, support unfounded conspiracy theories which is even more dangerous because this is an abuse of public trust accorded to the public office they hold. Even the creative and politically savvy among us Americans try to beat the already crowded internet by coming up with memes and shareable one-frame photo posts that incite anger and disgust more than provide factual information to enlighten the public about the issues. Sadly, many of us as consumers and subscribers of content are but too lazy and uninterested to be informed about details, sharing unverified sensational headlines and memes without fact-checking, so long as they support what we think is the truth based on our ideology or fanaticism to support a candidate. I know we all mean well and only want to do our share for the greater good, and so I urge all of us to be responsible gatekeepers of news and information. Before we share something, let us all do our due diligence in verifying the truth and the credibility of our sources by checking other sources of information and determine if the content we are about to share has been corroborated
by other credible news media with firsthand sources. Check on the “About” section of the website to know who are the people and corporations behind it. This verification of facts is very important when we share memes because there is no context, source, or big picture given. Google the veracity of the information the memes we are about to spread around before clicking the SHARE button. Remember that we are responsible for everything we share on social media. When we spread misinformation, hate, and lies, we all betray our duty to be part of the solution to help create a better world. We all can do better than this. Finally, let us re-evaluate what we know about journalism as we all have become, not only the consumer of news, but gatekeepers ourselves. This is from a discussion on Poynter Institute, the world’s leading instructor, innovator, convener and resource for anyone who aspires to engage and inform citizens. “Journalism is not stenography. We don’t simply say, ‘Donald Trump said this. Nancy Pelosi said this.’ That should not be our role. Our role should actually be at getting at the truth and providing context and analysis so people understand what this means.” “All journalists bring their own biases to the table — no
matter their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, ability or other factor. We must teach our students that this can be an advantage and not a hindrance, that our identities and experiences can inform the journalism we do, the interviews we get, the access we have to communities and the stories we tell.” Thus, the discussion in the article suggests that instead of objectivity, let us all be advocates for accuracy and transparency. “You can take a position, but you need to be right,” PBS public editor Ricardo Sandoval-Palos said. “This shows your audience that “you took the time to be introspective about your own work and presented it in the fairest possible fashion.” Read more at: https:// www.poynter.org/educators-students/2020/ its-time-for-journalismeducators-to-rethink-objectivity-and-teach-more-aboutcontext *** 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.
Remembering Marichu Vera-Perez Maceda PeaceMaker FORMER SPEAKER JOSE C. DE VENECIA, JR. Nine days ago, our beloved 77-year-old sister-in-law Ma. Azucena Vera-Perez Maceda, wife of the late Senate President Ernesto Maceda and eldest sister of our wife former Congresswoman Gina de Venecia, succumbed after battling heart and kidney ailments for several months. She was the eldest among seven Vera-Perez siblings, whose family owned the famed Sampaguita Pictures, a pioneer in the Philippine movie industry. Their grandfather was the renowned Senator Jose O. Vera,
who also served as governor of Albay, which then included the now Catanduanes province. Marichu or “Manay Ichu,” as she was affectionately called by family and friends, was until her final days an untiring advocate of the advancement of the film industry. She helped establish the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund), Experimental Cinema of the Philippines (ECP), and Philippine Motion Pictures Producers Association (PMPPA), which are now the backbones of the country’s movie industry. Marichu was intelligent, articulate, lovely, nurturing, and kindhearted. She spent her personal money, and encouraged her children, according to
Manila Congressman Edward Maceda and her four other distinguished sons, to help people in need especially those from the movie industry. She was generous too with her time, expertise and wisdom. When we ran for president in 1998 against then Vice President Joseph Estrada and eight capable and distinguished others, Marichu was one of our indefatigable campaigners. We knew how emotionally difficult it was for her then as she and Erap both belong to the film industry and have been very good friends long before this columnist even met and married her younger sister Gina. President Estrada and we have remained friends up to this day. In December last year, she came to our home to personally bring her Christmas and our birthday presents, a collection
of some 1,000 movies, which includes our all-time favorites, particularly the classics and biographical films. We were later told by our assistant that although Marichu was already sickly then, she meticulously chose the movies to be included in the collection and made sure that it was done thoroughly. The movie collection she so thoughtfully gifted us with has been a treasure, delight and respite for us who have been stuck at home since the onslaught of the Coronavirus in our country, considering that we are now almost 84. We, together with our wife Gina and son Pangasinan Congressman Christopher de Venecia, will miss you, dear Marichu, mother to her accomplished sons and mover of many successful Filipino movies in our country.
Matriarch of Philippine Cinema Maria Azucena “Marichu” Vera-Perez Maceda (December 23, 1942 – September 7, 2020)
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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Dateline PhiliPPines
Locsin decries ‘plot’ to sell PH properties in Japan by Pia
Lee-Brago Philstar.com
MANILA — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. revealed on Monday, September 14 a “plot” to sell four Philippine properties in Japan. “There is another plot to dispose of four of our Japan properties. This is a second Pearl Harbor perpetrated by Filipinos on our own patrimony,” Locsin tweeted. He did not identify who is behind the plot. According to a Supreme Court decision, the four are “properties and the capital goods and services procured from the Japanese government for national development projects are part of the indemnification to the Filipino people for their losses in life and property and their suffering during World War II.” These are the 3,179-square meter Philippine property on 306 Roppongi St. 5-Chome Minatoku in Tokyo; the 2,489.96-sq.m. Nampeidai property at 11-24 Nampeidai-machi, Shibuya-ku also in Tokyo; the 764.72 sq.m. commercial property at 63 Naniwa-cho in Kobe; and the residential property at 1-980-2 Obanoyama-cho, Shinohara, Nada-ku, Kobe. Locsin rejected using the plight of veterans by those pushing the sale of Philippine properties and raise funds for them. The Department of Foreign Affairs, according to Locsin, already sent to Congress its opposition to the sale. “There are other ways to help veterans – BCDA was sold for them but proceeds were stolen. We already sent our position to Congress opposing it,” Locsin said.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Philstar.com photo
“The plight of our poor veterans, so few of them left, have been invoked by every gang of officials who’ve run through the budgets of their own agencies. Usually happens toward the end of a term. Retirement fund of last resort,” he added. He vowed to fight the sale of the properties in Japan. “I will fight this to their end. Shet before I go down in ignominy as the guy who sold our Japan properties,” he added. According to the Philippine embassy in Tokyo, the 3,190.21 sq.m. Roppongi property was acquired by the Philippine government on June 27, 1958 through the 1956 Reparations Agreement between the Philippines and Japan. It was the site of the chancery of the Philippine embassy until 1976 when the chancery was transferred to the vacated Philippine Reparations building in Nanpeidai, Shibuya-ku. The property was totally abandoned in 1997 for difficulty in maintenance and
the building grounds were left to the elements leading to its condemnation by the government as uninhabitable and unsafe. The original structure built during the Taisho period (1923) was a highly acclaimed architectural piece in the genre of the renaissance. It was a three-story villa with an astronomical observatory tower and surrounded by a Japanese garden of tall trees laced with imported boulders or stones. The owners, Ryoji Oda and his wife Ineko, lived in the property for 33 years until it was sold to the Japanese government in payment of tax arrears. Ownership was transferred to the Philippine government. The sale of the Roppongi property was vehemently opposed by the late vice president Salvador Laurel. In his petition, Laurel argued that “The Roppongi property is not just like any piece of property. It was given to the Filipino people in reparation for the lives and blood of Filipinos who died and suffered during the Japanese military occupation, for the suffering of widows and orphans who lost their loved ones and kindred, for the homes and other properties lost by countless Filipinos during the war.” Former Supreme Court associate justice Hugo Gutierrez Jr. upheld the Laurel petition to stop the sale of the 3,197-square meter Roppongi property of the Philippines, making the Feb. 20, 1990 TRO permanent. Last month, Locsin said the DFA opposed the sale of its properties abroad, especially in key capitals. He tweeted, “We have meanwhile turned down all proposals of acquisition of properties abroad in this pandemic.” n
‘Duterte to respect result of PhilHealth probe’ by reina
C. ToLenTino ManilaTimes.net
MALACAñANG on Monday, September 14 said President Rodrigo Duterte would most likely respect the findings of a Department of Justice (DoJ) task force looking into allegations of widespread anomalies at the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth). Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said in a virtual press briefing on Monday that he believes the President will accept
any evidence turned up by the task force, “regardless of who is involved.” The President gave DoJ probers a wide latitude in investigating executives of PhilHealth, including Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd, who is exofficio chairman of the health insurer. The President said in a public address last week he had “full trust” in Duque and even told him he should not resign. The Senate, which conducted its own investigation, recom-
mended the filing of charges against Duque and other PhilHealth officials implicated in the alleged anomalies. Duque, however, said the Senate Committee of the Whole “made baseless findings.” “I was impleaded on the IRM when I was not even part of the deliberation and did not sign the resolution,” he said, referring to the interim reimbursement mechanism, which was suspended to give way for its review. n
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How entrepreneur Vanessa Lee brings her Filipina heritage, nursing background to the beauty business
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Christina M. Oriel / AJPress
rowinG up, Vanessa Lee would sneak off with her mother’s copies of Glamour and Cosmopolitan to read about the latest beauty trends and do-ityourself tutorials.
Channeling her lola’s background as a beautician back in Abulug, Philippines, Lee would then take what she learned — from applying cut crease eyeliner to using available ingredients in her kitchen to concoct face masks — and experiment on friends and family. She eventually became their go-to for help in getting ready for dances and special events, and through that, she noticed how others would get a confidence boost. “I love beauty and cosmetics, but my passion is really helping others feel good,� the Southern California native told the Asian Journal in a recent interview. Today, Lee is a sought-after medical aesthetic provider, and the founder and CEO of The Things We Do, a Los Angeles-based beauty concept bar beloved by the local skincare community and trusted by celebrity clients like Jessica Alba. Like many younger Filipino Americans, Lee was pushed toward a career in nursing, forgoing a short-lived dream of becoming a travel writer or doing something beauty-related, or so she thought. It wasn’t until a cousin told her that she could still incorporate that passion by providing aesthetic and cosmetic services.
Filipina American Vanessa Lee, a medical aesthetic provider and the founder and CEO of The Things We Do, a Los Angeles-based beauty concept bar. Photo by Jessie Casprowitz
“During nursing school, people would be asked about their specialty and would say labor and delivery or ICU, but I said I wanted to work in beauty,� she said. “All my classmates and teachers were concerned for me because they said it wasn’t very stable. Like, ‘Don’t you want to be a real nurse?’� After graduating from Mount Saint Mary’s University, Lee went on Craigslist for job opportunities as a cosmetic nurse, though the pay was minimal compared to working in another specialty at a hospital. Still, wanting to break into
the field, she found a part-time gig on the weekends, while working during the week in the emergency room at UCLA Medical Center and then as a travel nurse in neurosurgery. She made her rounds in plastic surgery and dermatology offices and “loved every part of this type of business� when working directly with patients. However, the downside was being pressured to fill quotas every day and to convince patients to get injections like Botox even if they technically didn’t need them. “There was a lot of harp-
ing on people’s insecurities. At a certain point, I didn’t think this field was for me because I felt like I wasn’t helping people feel better. I was making them feel worse about themselves by pointing things out and that’s exactly the opposite of why I got into this field,� Lee said. In the name of beauty Despite the doubts, Lee doubled down on practicing injectable techniques and realized that if she was helping other providers build their businesses, why couldn’t she work for herself and follow her own mission and ethics?
Before treating patients, Lee asks, “What do you love most about your face?� Photo by Jessie Casprowitz
“That way, I could say ‘no’ to patients who really didn’t need certain injectables and instead might need emotional health, like a licensed therapist, who could work with them if we think they might have body dysmorphic disorder,� she said. “I could do this — where we marry the world of what’s good
for you on the inside and what’s right for your soul and your mental well-being.� Lee opened the first location of The Things We Do — referring to the things women do for beauty — at the ROW DTLA in December 2018. When coming in for a treatContinued on Page 2
entertainment Kapamilya stars dominate TV5’s new entertainment lineup T h e A s ian Jour nal MDW K M A G A Z I NE - Sept ember 1 6 , 2 0 2 0
By Jan
Milo Severo Philstar.com
KAPAMILYA actor Piolo Pascual and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray will be hosting the “Sunday Noontime Variety Show” on TV5. Directed by Johnny Manahan, the show is one of the new shows from Brightlight Productions after it secured blocktime slots with the Manny V. Pangilinan-led network. With the new shows, TV5 aims of “(reawakening) the Filipino TV viewing habits that may have waned in the past few months of crisis.” Apart from Piolo and Catriona’s tandem, Brightlight Productions president and Chief Executive Officer Albee Benitez recently announced to advertisers the roster of programs that will air on TV5, as well as the Kapamilya stars who will be part of the shows. Noontime show “Laugh Out Loud” produced by Star Magic’s Johnny Manahan features Billy Crawford, Alex Gonzaga, K Brosas and Wacky Kiray. “Rated K” will be back on free TV as “Rated Korina” hosted by Korina Sanchez. Ian Veneracion, Dimples Romana, Sue Ramirez, Ariel
The Things We Do’s location at the ROW DTLA in Downtown Los Angeles infuses a lot of influences from Lee’s Filipino background, from wave-like mirrors to wallpaper textured like batik. Photos by Annie Meisel
How entrepreneur Vanessa Lee...
Catriona Gray
Urieta and Gloria Diaz will have a new sitcom, “Oh My Dad,” to be directed by Jeffrey Jeturian. Lastly, romantic drama series “I Got You” will star Beau-
From Page 1 ment, clients will be asked by Lee or other providers: “What do you love most about your face?” “What we say ‘yes’ to is mental health, inclusivity and doing the right thing for patients naturally. How can we balance your natural features and how can we preserve how you look at your youngest, happiest self with what you’re comfortable with instead of just giving someone huge lips? We really work on facial balancing and profile harmony,” Lee said. Piolo Pascual ABS-CBN photos It’s what she calls the ty Gonzales, RK Bagatsing and “natural intention beauty guidance,” a philosophy and Yen Santos to be directed by conscious artistry of injectable Dan Villegas. services, from Botox to Kybella Completing the roster is (a fat dissolving treatment for “Sunday Kada Kada Sunday” under the chin), and facial and directed by Edgar Mortiz.
holistic health treatments that are rooted in Filipino and other traditional practices. Malunggay (moringa), used as a vegetable ingredient in a lot of Filipino dishes, also has beauty benefits like skin brightening and anti-aging, according to Lee. “My lolo used to cook with malunggay and tell me it was way stronger than spinach. It was like a miracle tree in the Philippines and that always stuck with me. It’s having its moment and it’s only getting bigger,” she said. The plant is used in the beauty bar’s Healing Facial treatment and is an active ingredient in her skincare line’s Dew & Go™ Microneedling Infusion Stamp, a gentler form of microneedling, that also contains snail mucin, an antimicrobial and hydrating substance popularized by Korean beauty. Stepping inside The Things We Do immediately breaks down the notions of a medical spa and its architecture has made it a destination in itself. Every corner is photogenic, dynamic, and plays with shapes and edges. The walls are not white and sterile, but rather are painted and adorned in light pink, peach and warm orange tones. Drawing on the hospitality Filipinos are known for, Lee was intentional about having aspects of her culture referenced in the space and worked with interior decor team Wall for Apricots to build out this vision. The wallpaper inside the treatment rooms are textured like batik; mirrors have wave-like curves alluding to the thousands of Philippine islands; tiles are reminiscent of capiz shells; and treatment rooms are named about women in her family. “When people start asking about our design, I get to tell the story of my women who came before me, like my grandmother who was a beautician,” Lee said. She went into this entrepreneurial venture knowing it was an investment and braced for not turning a profit until the second or third year of operation. However, the business exceeded expectations and raked in $3.2 million in sales in that first year. Even then, her mother relayed concerns about her financial stability. To prove that she was doing just fine, Lee had a paycheck “accidentally” sent to her mother’s address, knowing she would open it. “She called me and was like, ‘Anak, this is good money.’ I told her she didn’t have to worry and we made it,” Lee said. “Now, she finally understands it’s a healthy business and we’re doing great even during this craziness of 2020.” Operating under the new normal Despite the coronavirus pandemic and safety measures that forced personal care service businesses to temporarily close, Lee said The Things We Do has been able to weather the challenges and was not forced to lay off any staff members. “Our month to month from July and August were higher numbers than what we had last year when we had more people working with us and fully open with no restrictions. This was also while having to close three times,” she said. Early on in the business plan, she was intentional in building a social media presence where followers could turn to for skincare recommendations and free virtual consultations, and an e-commerce component where individuals — who can’t physically come to the location — could shop The Things We Do’s beauty line as well as other curated products from other brands. “This was our biggest savior during COVID. I knew how important that was before but I had no idea the magnitude of how important it really would become during quarantine and when everyone was at home for three months,” Lee said, adding that the site experienced an uptick in gift card purchases and performed well during its
Mother’s Day sale. Though spending on skincare as part of one’s self-care seems to be the trend at the moment versus makeup and other beauty products, Lee suggested that consumers should be mindful about purchasing products, especially if they can’t test them beforehand. “Get to know your skin and how it behaves instead of letting something else lead you,” she said. “Right now, there are all these different influencers and on TikTok, every other person is an expert on skin. It’s really important to understand that these people are talking about their own specific skin journey and that might not be for you.” Earlier this year, The Things We Do opened its second location in Lee’s suburban hometown of Chino Hills in a complex along Grand Avenue. “The attention and list of A-list celebrity patients are all fun, but I felt that I wanted to give back to my community and the place where I grew up and pay attention to the patients who started that all for me,” Lee said. “It’s really interesting because the juxtaposition of the location in Downtown is like our glamorous, very cool, very Los Angeles setup and in Chino Hills, we can bring a piece of that, but it’s something fun for the community and for me too.” The Things We Do has reopened both locations for the injectable services by appointment, but is still pausing its facial treatments, which can be done outdoors, because of the poor air quality and high temperatures. Defying beauty standards, business norms Amid the protests and calls for racial and social justice, many Fil-Ams opened up about experiences with skin whitening and found themselves having deeper conversations about colorism. As a Filipina with darker skin, Lee recalled growing up and hearing comments from relatives about her skin tone, but has been thankful that her mother empowered her to have that self-love. Instead of “skin whitening” and the dangerous effects certain products can have, she is mindful of her words and uses skin health and brightening in her tutorials. “It’s good for your skin to look plump, even toned, [and] your sunspots are taken care of because you’re doing the work preventatively and are using the right amount of sunscreen,” Lee said. “But I’m not going to whiten your skin. I’m very clear about that.” Lee is on the diversity council for Allergan, which manufactures Botox and Juvéderm, to ensure there’s a space for Black and brown women. In addition to the medical side, as an entrepreneur of color in this space, Lee recognizes her responsibility in mentorship and advocating for other women to get financial resources to start their own businesses. “It’s very important for me to bring up that I did not come from money nor did I have money to start with and I have two young children. So if you have an idea…but feel like funding is holding you back, don’t look at other people and wish for resources at your disposal to live out this dream. The best people in business and most successful people I feel like are scrappy and resourceful and have true grit,” she said. As for Lee’s future plans: develop a skincare line for a younger demographic and explore expansion. New York and Hawaii are high on the list, but down the line is to have a location in the Philippines as a full-circle moment. “There’s an excitement and support for Filipino Americans entrepreneurs in the U.S. But when I talk to my cousins in the Philippines, they’re like ‘Why are you so obsessed with Filipino stuff?’” Lee said. “My ancestors paved the way so that we can do this and bring it back for our people.”
How to naturalize as a US citizen Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth uRsuA Reyes To most immigrants, obtaining their greencard has been a long and challenging journey. However, it should not be regarded as the final destination. The real American dream is to become a United States Citizen. After obtaining permanent residence status, many green card holders desire to take that next step—becoming a United States Citizen. As a United States Citizen, one is afforded many privileges that are not conferred on persons who only have permanent residence status. A United States Citizen is able to petition for the green cards of close
relatives, pass on citizenship to existing children and children yet to be born, and vote in elections. Needless to say, naturalization is a very important step that requires familiarity of the requirements and procedures involved. The following is a brief overview of naturalization. You need to determine whether you qualify to seek United States citizenship. To qualify, one must have held his/her green card and have been physically present in the United States for a sufficient amount of time. Generally speaking, one is required to have held his/her green card for a minimum of five (5) years. In addition, one must resided or even better be physically present in the United States for at least half of those five years. exceptions to the general rule having to do with, among other things, minor children and marriage do exist that cannot be fully explored
in this article because of space limitations. In addition, local residency requirements mandate that the person seeking citizenship reside within the state or district in which the application is filed for at least three (3) months. In addition to determining eligibility to apply for naturalization, one should also consider the practical issues. To become naturalized, a determination is made as to whether the applicant is of good moral character. Generally, one is deemed to be of good moral character when it can be shown that one has not committed a crime of moral turpitude or has engaged in so-called “vice” crimes such as prostitution and illegal gambling. Other considerations, too many to go into detail here, exist in making the moral character determination. If one has done something that may adversely affect Continued on Page 5
community T h e As ian Jou r n al MDWK MAGAZ IN E - S e pte mbe r 1 6 , 2 0 2 0
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond
How to build a house of bricks in any season (Part 1 of 3)
Monette AdevA MAglAyA
“I build my house of straw. I build my house of hay. I toot my flute. I don’t give a hoot. And play around all day.” —Fifer Pig
month. by now, her debts have skyrocketed to more than $60,000. She told me that at mOST people don’t talk first, she was able to at least about their credit card debt make minimum payments because they find it embaron her credit cards by taking rassing. They can talk to their money from other credit cards. friends and family about eveSo, for a short while, she was in rything else but when it comes denial that her debt problem to the subject of how much was getting worse although debt they are carrying, most she could see her credit card people would not divulge any balances going up every time information. It makes them very she received her credit card uncomfortable. statements. So, what happens is that Of course, it didn’t take most people struggle silently very long before her credit on their own, sometimes for cards were maxed out and she years, until one day their situacouldn’t take any more money tion becomes a financial emerout of them to pay her other gency. And even then, a lot of credit cards. So, from there she these people continue to live started falling behind on some in denial as they pretend that of her debt payments. Her their debt problems don’t exist. breaking point came recently They hesitate to even see an when she got served a lawsuit attorney to get help. Don’t let by one of her creditors. So, she this happen to you or someone panicked and called our office you love. to get help. The other day, a lady came If you are reading this to my office crying about her article and you can relate to situation. For the last 5 years, the story I shared above, let me her debts have spiraled out ask you these questions: What of control as she continued about you? Are you in denial to charge more on her credit or in control of your credit card cards than she paid off every spending? Sometimes when
RemembeR the story of the three little pigs? everyone does. but we relegate the story to children’s lit and condescendingly forget that these cute little porkers bring home an important point about the choices we make when we embark on building something worthwhile — like choosing the foundation on which we live our lives. The first pig built his house of straw and the second one built his house of sticks and went partying till the cows came home. enter the big bad wolf. Hankering for crispy chicharrones, he came down huffing and puffing and blowing both houses down in a snap, much to the utter dismay of the two hapless, lazy porkers. Running for their lives with their curled, tiny tails and the hair on their chinny, chin chin a-quivering, I ask people how much they they dashed over to safety, owe, they can’t even tell me straight to the house of their because they say that they have other stolid, somewhat stodgy lost track of the amounts. If this brother pig who had built his is you, this may be a danger house methodically, meticuloussign of debt trouble. ly, slowly, brick by solid brick. A lot of people wonder enter the big bad wolf why no matter how hard they again, now crazed with the work, they are always broke thought of wolfing down not every payday. The reason is one but three pigs. He does his that they don’t even know or blustery huffing and puffing… realize how much of their paywell… you know how the story check goes to just paying debts ended (that is, unless Disney every month. They have “black produces a blockbuster sequel holes” in their monthly budget with their spin on the ending.) that they can’t explain because Any structural engineer will they just can’t see where their agree with the third porker and money is being wasted. allude to the biblical reference *** about a house built on a rock NOTe: Due to COVID-19 and the wind and rain could concerns, I am offering free not prevail upon it. He will tell consultations bY PHONe OR you that solid foundation work VIDeO to anyone who needs taking stress points into account help in dealing with their debt is basic in building anything of problems. value that’s meant to last. The *** same is true in living one’s life. None of the information herein is intended I am certain there are countto give legal advice for any specific situ- less other pointers hundreds ation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully of thousands can add to the helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of growing pool of knowledge that debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your hopefully, translates to wisdom situation, please call RJB Law Offices at in this continuing saga of human TOLL FREE 1-866-477-777. life. In the interest of brevity I’ll (Advertising Supplement) cull out only 15 bite-size point-
ers, released in 3 bursts of 5 pointers each. 1. Get your ducks in a row. Set your priorities. Align your time, decisions, actions and resource allocation according to your set of personal priorities: health, happiness, family, peace, wellbeing, wealth, time, fame, recognition, and applause. There’s a whole menu to choose from. You choose what’s important and what’s not. Without an internal value system and a firm sense of direction, you’re more than likely to be distracted by the many pitfalls along the way. Consider technology and its spawn, social media, as a double-edged sword. It can either help or hinder, depending on how you use it. As a tool, it is awesome but become obsessed with it and you’re a goner. FOCUSeD mINDFULNeSS is the antidote to all distractions. 2. Ask for HELP. Fold that ego to the size of a postage stamp. There is help out there. Use it. We need others to help us on the first get-go during the first years of scrambling, scraping and just getting our bearings straight. Don’t be too proud to ask and seek out only those who mean well. Don’t forget to say thanks and show appreciation to those who have helped you every step of the way. There is a place in Hades for the grossly ungrateful. 3. Open your mind. Be informed. Observe the patterns of human behavior and the seasonal patterns of life. We are living in the throes of the Age of TmI (Too much Information). The challenge is in sorting out the essentials from the ton
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT
FOR SALE
FOR RENT
SERVICES
Minding Your Finances Atty. RAyMond BulAon
Filing bankruptcy due to credit card debt
of crud out there particularly on the internet. but above all, fear not the predictions of doom and gloom. If TV or social media are your constant companions, you will become a fearful, paranoid nutcase. The cycles of boom and bust, recession and bumper crop years happen over and over again with the regularity of night and day. more often than not, life is a roller coaster ride, with its thrills and spills. enjoy it. Learn to live and move with the seasons. As ecclesiastes reminds us, “There is a season for every purpose under heaven.” 4. Slow down. Pace yourself. There is a learning curve that most of us will have to go through. There are a select few who can hit the ground running but for mere mortals, like you and me, we have to take a step at a time, at least in the beginning stages. Small mistakes and errors in decision-making are rectifiable; the big ones on the things that truly matter, will set us back years. 5. In going for the brass ring, know the price you have to pay to get it. America’s middle class is growing once again after a decades long lull. The economy is on an upswing after being in the doldrums. In hindsight, globalism which began Post-Reagan under 4 presidents had put in place policies which severely crippled the American middle class as they shifted jobs and industries outside of the country. This is a season of optimism so take the opportunities presented in realizing your dreams, whatever you conceive them to Continued on Page 5
T h e A s ian Jour nal M D W K M A G A Z I NE - Septembe r 1 6 , 2 0 2 0
A TRIBUTE TO OUR DEAR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, DR. NOLI ZOSA
We are gathered today to honor a very dear friend, a child of God, Dr. Zosa, born in Cebu Province and raised in the Philippine heartland. He persevered, knowing fully well he would not receive all the beautiful things he was promised, because he firmly believed his efforts would deliver a better life for those who followed. He belonged to a generation of dignity, integrity, honesty and courage with strong convictions. He had the vision that one day his life would be devoted to upholding and sharing the vicissitudes of life and uplifting his countrymen. He encouraged progress not by pushing his ideas alone but by seeking your ideas partnering with you to make things happen. Dr. Zosa showed his character in his devotion to his family. He was a proud husband to his loving wife Ate Nena, a proud brother, a gifted father and a concerned individual as well, here in United States of America and half the globe, the Philippines, the country he loved best. He prided himself as a very caring man, as a human being and as a friend. He always possessed that burning desire to extend a helping hand when necessity dictates. He was endowed with a sense of community, a life of worship, a reception of the Lord’s word and indeterminate challenges. His vision was beyond imagination. The best thing that we could remember Dr. Zosa is that he brought so much life, love and joy to those who knew him and a bigger pride to his family. He offered and sacrificed his body and soul for the ultimate realization and success of the PMASC. Perhaps he truly wanted that the missions and goals of our organization be fulfilled with utmost honor and dignity. Arguments, discussions and solutions were choices in a varied cuisine during our meetings and at the end of the day, all were good, complete agreement with joyful results. With Dr. Zosa’s perseverance, great understanding and total commitment, everything was attainable. He exhibited his profound conviction and determination to overcome hardships and sufferings by his extreme desire to bring forth solace and comfort upon all his patients and friends alike. During a break in one of our medical missions, he sat beside me, placed his arm on my shoulder and said, “Jun I am very, very happy, I never felt so invigorated, I feel young again”. Well I paused for a moment and tried to decipher what he meant, young again. But I totally understood him and I replied, ”Dr. Zosa, your passion for helping people, your strong desire to make them well and with your ardent groovy communication skills had already rendered a 90% cure and the medications you have given would handle the rest of the 10% in the healing process”. He was overjoyed that he vowed to join more medical missions. That moment showed the sparkle in his eyes and radiance from his face fully signified the beauty of his soul. He ranked with the elite for he adored the truth in his words, his deeds and his visions. His noble intentions served as a great inspiration as he paved the way for others to work for positive changes and also for others to emulate. As we have ventured on our mission as healers, like Mother Teresa, we need to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. What better way to do that, than to use the hands of oblation to become the caring hands to cure and comfort. With insur- mountable courage and integrity, with unwavering faith in values nothing is left to be doubted. What really amazed us was that while he was on a pedestal so to speak, he definitely displayed his heavenly characters by adhering to Honesty; Integrity; Humility; Respect; Dedication. These were his valued divine traits. Changes and challenges come and go but one thing inherent in our inner sanctum is our gracious motive of sharing, not only to our loved ones, our friends, our relatives but even to someone un- known to us. It matters not if we do not have much for it is in the spirit of giving that counts. And this is the portrayal
of Dr. Zosa’s kindness. Dr. Zosa, we are so thankful and so blessed for the times we all have spent together; the pleasant memories we all have savored together; the patients we have assisted together; the guiding mis- sions we have fulfilled together; but most of all the laughter and tears we have shared together. Goodbye our friend, you may be gone but never be forgotten. We always love you and you will be in our hearts forever. To Ate Nena and family, you will never be alone, the entire PMASC and Auxiliary will be with you always. Till’ we meet again, our dearest friend, our brother. In observance to the current situation, let us abide with all safety measures and be well. Licerio Castro, MD PMASC President 2020-2021 My heartfelt condolences to Nena and family. I do have good memories of my interactions with Noli in the early years of the APPA. I think he was the president of the PMSSC and the APPA Convention Chair in 1981 when I was inducted the 8th president of the APPA at the Disneyland Hotel. Needless to say, we had a near Hollywood-quality Convention and Grand Ball. He was rewarded when was voted President-Elect. I returned the favor the next year when we held the 1982 Annual APPA convention in Boston. The local Philippine Medical Association, more than halfway thru the year, backed out of hosting our Convention for fear of local prejudice i.e. racism. As President, I became the de facto Convention Chair and put together the affair with the help of our Executive Secretary. In Boston, Noli was inducted 9th president of the APPA. Membership and attendance was skyrocketing, in the preceding and succeeding years and he continued to serve the APPA for a much longer time. All the events at the Boston convention went very well and were thoroughly enjoyed by all. Even some of the locals had the nerve to attend. But great because we proved that Filipino doctors are good and respectable enough to go anywhere in the USA. We also had the first major raffle of a national Filipino organization with a Mercedes car as first price. Dr. Francisco Rabadam remembers that with regret because he sold the winning ticket instead of keeping it!!! As is common among Filipinos, and now Americans, things happen: views differ, relationships get frayed and connections get broken. I (we) eventually became inactive in the APPA and lost contact. But when somebody, with whom you have had some memorable events in your Life with passes on, those memories come back wonderfully and effortlessly. And so I remember the good things and the good times of many years ago as Noli passes on. Dr. Renato Ramos My dearest Auntie and Gigi, Please accept my deepest condolences for your (our) loss. I’ve spent the last 24 hours reflecting and thinking about Uncle Noli and you, and even woke up a couple of times overnight. So many emotions and memories of a couple I intensely admire and respect. You were a Power Coupleleading and supporting your community to improve the lives of others. Your devotion to each other and to your family brought us so much to emulate. I will miss sitting beside Uncle Noli and asking him the many questions I had for him. His benevolence and insight, his love of the finer things in life, his candid and unflinching opinions of those he viewed as destructive, his brilliant wit, his generosity and kindness, all made him such
a source of wisdom and delight. He was always who I chose to converse with- not out of obligation but because he made my heart happy. You have both been through so much in the last months caring for him. Auntie, you are our role model! I have no doubt he fought the good fight not only because he wanted to live longer but because he didn’t want to leave his family behind. I hope the memories and love he shared with all of us will carry you through the painful stretch ahead. Knowing you would be deluged with calls from wellmeaning people who care and love you deeply, I’m reaching out so you can read this when you have the time and energy to digest what I wanted to express. With our families in so many time zones, it’s hard to know when the best times are to call so I hope you’ve been able to rest between conversations! Please know that I want to talk and share my love whenever it is convenient for you. You have a lot on your plate and MUST prioritize your own well-being. Take care of you, now! Please call upon me and our family to help or support you in any way that is useful. I love you both dearly. Also please extend my love and condolences to all your kids, and Tim, as well. Big Hugs, Merce Willard Dearest Nena, Our hearts are saddened by your loss and our thoughts and prayers are with you. May the memories of Noli and the love of family and friends give you strength and comfort in the days ahead. Nothing prepares you for saying good-bye to someone who’s always been such a big part of your life. But I hope it comforts you to know that Noli will always be remembered and loved for all the things that he has done for the community, for APPA, PMSSC, for his Alma Mater and for his family and friends. We all have memories of Noli that we will always carry with us, memories that we will always hold dear. He was remarkable in so many ways. He lived his life to the fullest and touched so many people during his time. He was a good, honest and humble man, a devoted husband and father, a caring physician, a great leader, and a loyal friend. We will never forget that in the history of APPA, the best and the most well-attended among all the APPA conventions, was the one in Long Beach, California, held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in July 1988. The success of that convention was attributed to none other than the dynamic duo, Dr. Noli Zosa, then Executive Director of APPA and Nena Zosa, Program Chair. It was the most well attended convention, with overflow crowds at the functions, the best program and fabulous entertainment ever! We also had the highest membership in the history of APPA and hence the most number of delegates represented, coming from the different parts of the United States. We also had the highest amount of money in the coffers of APPA. Joe Evangelista was the APPA President, and Celia Candari was APPA Auxiliary President; Lani Quevedo was the Overall Chair of the Convention as President of the PMSSC, and Fred Quevedo was elected APPA President-Elect. God took Noli back in His loving arms for his muchneeded rest and may he enjoy eternal peace in heaven. Sincerely, Jose Evangelista M.D., FACC Past president APPA Honorary Philippine Consul General, Detroit, Michigan A Tribute to a Close Friend and Medical Colleague, Dr. Noli Zosa Dr. Noli Zosa, usually known plainly as NOLI to his friends and colleagues had a very colorful and enviable professional and leadership qualities with his busy and demanding involvement IN his very successful Pediatric practice and in various FilipinoAmerican socio-political
Associations. I had the rare opportunity to be associated with him initially in the late seventies when we both served in the Governing Board of the APPPA, the premier Organization of Filipino Physicians in America. Our friendly relationship has blossomed and crystallized to a very meaningful closeness with mutual respect for each other. He was one of my ardent supporter when I ran for APPPA Vice President and during my candidacy for President — Elect in 1979 at the Dearborn, Michigan APPPA Convention. During my tenure as the 7th APPPA President in 1980-81, I have appointed Noli to be the Convention Chairman of the 10th APPPA Convention at Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, August 12-15, 1981, in partnership with his charming and indefatigable wife, Nena Zosa. The Anaheim Convention was one of the best if not the best convention APPPA had because of Noli and Nena.. It was also during this convention that Noli was elected APPPA President-Elect and Nena Zosa elected APPPA Auxiliary President-Elect. A UST Medical Class ’64, Noli’s professional career started with his Internship at Grace General Hospital in Winnepeg, Manitoba followed by his Pediatric training at White Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles, California. He
practiced at the Rio Hondo area, serving as Chairman of the Pediatrics Department, Rio Hondo Memorial Hospital in Downey, California. He also served as Consultant at White Memorial Hospital and Beverly Hills Hospital. He was President of the Philippine Medical Society of Southern California when he established a very successful review course for Board examinations, later co-sponsored by the Southern California School of Medicine. He held academic appointments at Loma Linda University and the College of Medicine of the Pacific. He received multiple Awards and Recognition. He went on to serve as APPPA President in 1982-83 followed by his appointment as Executive Director for several years. Our friendship continued through all these years, mutually supporting each other our endeavors related to projects beneficial to the Filipino Physicians here and in the Philippines in terms of Education, Scholarships, Continuing Medical Education and Community development as well as the Health care for our needy, marginalized, and Indigent kababayans through Medical-Surgical Humanitarian Missions. Noli was not only sincere but loyal to his friends. He was a man of uncommon courage, endowed with an irrepressible drive to do things that mattered. He pursued with vigor and
resolve what he believed was right and he stood up for that belief. He has a distinct warmth and was straight to the point without pretensions. He was a devoted husband, responsible father and grandfather to his family. He continued to uphold and inspire family values, love and respect up to the last minute of his life. His fruitful and good life will continue to live on, in the lives of his dearest wife, family, friends and colleagues. Let me OFFER this prayer for you: “Lord, a great friend and beloved colleague has passed away, Our faith tells us, that this is not the end. The death and glorious Resurrection of your only begotten Son, have bridged the gap between this valley of tears and the eterneal bliss beyond. We are confident, that you will bring our departed brother, to that happy dwelling place which you have prepared for all of us in Heaven. Bless those who mourn for their beloved, dry their tears, soothe their fears and lift their thoughts and feelings. Life is but the threshold of eternity. We die so that we will die no more, for thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory forever and ever. AMEN” My FRIEND, Farewell to you, till we meet again! Danny Fabito M.D. FACS, FPCS #6781 Ivory Sage St. Las Vegas, Nevada 89148
Carlo introduces baby girl Milo Severo Philstar.com
entertainment
By JAn
KAPAMILYA actor Carlo Aquino revealed that he is now a father to his firstborn with girlfriend Trina Candaza. In his Instagram account, Carlo proudly shared a photo of his firstborn named Enola Mithi Aquino. “You can thank your stars all you want but Ill always be the lucky one,” Carlo captioned the post quoting the song “Your Universe” by Rico Blanco. He also tagged his girlfriend Trina to the post. Celebrities such as Sylvia Sanchez, Ria Atayde, Sue Ramirez, Zanjoe Marudo, Dionne Monsanto, Ejay Falcon, Rocco Nacino, Rodjun Cruz, Chie Filomeno, Jason Abalos and Mika dela Cruz congratulated Carlo on his new milestone. It was July 2019 when Carlo confirmed that he is happy with Trina when he posted a photo
T h e As ian Jou r n al MDWK MAGAZ IN E - S e pte mbe r 1 6 , 2 0 2 0
Past struggles with depression and anxiety make Heart stronger amid COVID-19 By AllAn
PolicArPio Inquirer.net
Carlo Aquino
with her on Instagram. Last February, Aquino said in an interview that he already seemed to have found “the one.” “Siyempre, nasa tamang edad na rin ako. 34 na ako. Titingnan natin sa mga susunod na buwan, taon,” he said. “Nag-iba ‘yung outlook sa buhay. Mas magaan, mas
Photo from Instagram/@jose_liwanag
happy. Wala naman siguro sa tagal ‘yun.” In another post, Carlo posted a scene from his first movie with Maine Mendoza, “Isa Pa With Feelings.” “A year ago.. Sa ilalim ng puting ilaw, sinubukan natin,” Carlo said, tagging Maine. “At nakaya mo akong kargahin. ????,” Maine replied.
How to build a house of bricks...
From Page 3 be. But you have to be willing to pay the price. And no, you can’t cheat. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. There is no free lunch. You may be achieving your goal of a whopping six figure income that allows you the material status you seek, but see and understand what
the price of putting in 16 hour shifts or taking on double or triple jobs is doing to your own health, your family, your marriage and your sanity. Yes, only God knows how long seasons last. Man proposes. God disposes. But in any season of darkness or light, that delicate balance achieved by a
steady, prayerful family life laserfocused on God as the center of it ALL, is still the key. (Next week: The second of 3 parts) ***
Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com
How to naturalize as a US citizen...
From Page 3 the determination of moral character, one must seriously consider whether to proceed with the application for naturalization. The application may bring such actions to the attention of the USCIS, which could result in possible denial of the application and deportation. Once one has hurdled over the residency requirements and considered the practical issues, the next issue to consider is the appropriate time to file the application. One can apply for naturalization in the three (3) months before the aforementioned required period of residency has been completed. The application is a multi-step process.
First, necessary paperwork is required to be filed with appropriate fees. Thereafter, an interview is scheduled where further inquiry is made upon the applicant. Usually, inquiry is made into the applicant’s eligibility and knowledge of U.S. government and history. Finally, if the application is approved, the applicant must take the oath of allegiance to the United States.
*** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This
article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@kenreyeslaw. com. Visit our website at Kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)
REFLECTING on her struggles with depression and anxiety, Heart Evangelista surmised that what she had gone through may have, in a way, helped her become better equipped to keep her mental health in check—especially with COVID19’s shadow still looming large. “Mas matatag ako, mas matibay ako. But of course, there are moments when I can’t help but feel scared or worried. My God, there have been lots of instances like that,” she said in an email interview for the feminine hygiene product brand Kotex Luxe, which she endorses. “But I feel that, mentally, I can handle them, because of what I have experienced in the past,” the GMA 7 star added. Heart dealt with depression after miscarrying her twins with husband, Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero, in 2018. Last November, she had a major bout of anxiety that lasted until February this year. And it ended up having physical manifestations: Her hands and feet would go numb; she also developed what is called Burning Mouth Syndrome, a condition that produces scalding or tingling sensations in the mouth and other areas around it. “Prior to the pandemic, I went through anxiety—a very, very bad episode. And at the time, I didn’t understand how it started, where it came from, how it happened, why it was happening to me,” she recalled. But as they always say, “this, too, shall pass.” “We have to hold on to hope that we will be OK eventually. We have to pray, and, as hard as it is, we have to have a little bit more hope,” related Heart, who’s also known for philanthropy and work in fashion and visuals arts. As Kotex ambassador, Heart will participate in an empowerment campaign called “Love Yourself a Little More,” which aims to encourage Filipino
Heart Evangelista
women to rethink their selfworth, and promote self-love— something the 35-year-old actress has had to learn through the years. It was a process, she said. While she was already considered one of showbiz’s “it” girls in her teenage years, Heart still harbored insecurities about her looks and her capabilities as an actress. “I’m only 5’2”. And when I’m surrounded by all these perfect-looking, beautiful women, you feel a bit insecure—especially in our industry where looks matter. And then as I got older, I went through a phase where I felt like, ‘I have nothing more to give. I had doubts,’” she related. Looking back, Heart feels that she may had been a little too hard on herself when she was younger. But in the end, it was her perceived flaws that shaped her into becoming the woman she is now. “When I started to discover myself more, let go and understand my insecurities and fears, I started to build my characters as a person. I started giving myself a pat on the back and that really made me feel good. It all starts by loving oneself and being able to share that love to the people around you.” said Heart, who’s also set to appear on “Love Yourself Live: How Self-Love Can Save You”—a Fa-
Photo from Instagram/@iamhearte
cebook Live event on Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.Heart has been shuttling between Manila and Sorsogon as of late, juggling charity work to help people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and initiating projects to support Sorsoganon artists who have been reeling from canceled orders and trade fairs. Last month, Heart launched Maison Love Marie, an online store that puts the spotlight on locally made clothes, arts and crafts culled from all over the province. “A big percentage goes back to the artisans, to help them build businesses. And I hope more people order, so I can give them more, so they can have a fresh start,” she said. What’s left of the sales she uses to buy necessities for children in local orphanages. “I shop for them, especially now that no one travels and visits them,” related Heart, who stressed the importance of paying it forward. “I feel that there’s so much love being given to me that I should give more love. So that’s what I have been doing,” she said. “In this time when everyone’s going through the pandemic, I think it’s important that we give as much love as we can. No amount is too small; it all makes a difference in everyone’s life.”