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OCTOBER 2-8, 2020 Volume 13 - No. 48 • 16 Pages 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 • 2500 Plaza S. Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 • Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Duterte lashes out against Facebook by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, September 28, questioned the purpose of Facebook in the country after the social media

DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

US signs P10.5B PH aid to boost economic growth A NEW five-year bilateral assistance agreement amounting to P10.5 billion ($213 million) has been signed by the United States and the Philippines to boost the country’s economic development and growth. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Philippine Department of Finance (DOF) signed the agreement to deepen their commitment to accelerate inclusive, broad-based economic growth through policies that increase invest-

platform took down “fake” accounts and pages with ties to the police and military units in the country. “Facebook, listen to me. We allow you to operate here hoping that you could help us also. Now if government cannot espouse or

advocate something which is for the good of the people, then what is your purpose here in my country?” he said in his televised public address. On September 22, Facebook took down a total of 57 accounts, 31 pages, and 20 Ins-

tagram accounts engaged in “coordinated inauthentic behavior (CIB).” According to Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook’s cybersecurity policy chief, the accounts posted primarily in Filipino and Eng-

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1M coronavirus fatalities a ‘very sad milestone’ – WHO by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday, September 29, lamented the loss of over one million lives due to the novel coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the globe. “So many people have lost so many people and haven’t had the chance to say goodbye. Many people who died died alone... It’s a terribly difficult and lonely death,” WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said during a United Nations briefing in Geneva. “The one positive thing about this virus is it is suppressable, it is not the flu,” she added. Meanwhile, WHO top emergencies expert Mike Ryan noted that the current death toll is

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HEALTH MONITOR. Health worker Amelia dela Cruz Monsanto, 50, takes the blood pressure of a vendor at the Arayat Market, Quezon City on Wednesday, September 30. Monsanto says she does this to earn a little and also to help people who want to monitor their blood pressure. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Philippines wants Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra Fil-Am voters react to heated stronger US trade ties heads to NBA Finals for fifth time first presidential debate no matter who wins The half-Fil-Am coach is seeking his third NBA between Trump, Biden Championship, this time against the Los Angeles Lakers the White House C M. O by

by IAN

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

NICOLAS CIGARAL Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippines hopes for stronger trade ties between Manila and Washington no matter who wins in the upcoming US presidential race which started to reach homestretch with the presidential debate on Wednesday. “We don’t meddle in their internal affairs. We just wish that Philippine-US trade and investment ties can be further strengthened

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EIGHT years after making history as the first Asian American head coach to win an NBA Championship, celebrated Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is heading to his fifth NBA Final, putting himself in position to earn his third championship ring. On Sunday, Sept. 27, the Miami Heat defeated the Boston Celtics in the East-

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Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra Photo courtesy of NBA

HRISTINA AJPress

RIEL

AS President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden squared off in their first debate on Tuesday, Sept. 29, several Filipino American voters across the country reacted to what transpired and doubled down on support for their preferred candidate. The 90-minute debate — moderated by Chris Wal-

lace, anchor of “Fox News Sunday,” at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio — covered six topics, ranging from the Supreme Court vacancy to Trump’s tax returns to COVID-19 recovery, as the candidates attempted to make their case with a little over a month to go until Election Day. “For my side, the Republican side, the issues covered

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OCTOBER 2-8, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page Census Bureau announces ‘target date’ of Oct. 5 to finish counting efforts despite court order by Christina

M. Oriel

AJPress

THE new target date to conclude 2020 Census selfresponse and field data collection operations will be on Monday, October 5, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said on Monday, Sept. 28. “The Secretary of Commerce has announced a target date of October 5, 2020 to conclude 2020 Census selfresponse and field data collection operations,” an update on the U.S. Census Bureau’s website said. This comes despite U.S. District Judge Lucy H. Koh of the Northern District of California issuing a preliminary injunction on Thursday, Sept. 24 that said the Census Bureau must continue its outreach efforts through October 31 in order to have a more accurate count. The deadline was slated to be

Wednesday, Sept. 30. Koh — agreeing with civil rights organizations and local governments like Los Angeles that filed a lawsuit against the Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Commerce — said that the current schedule would leave out many minority and hard-to-count communities that have yet to respond. “An undercount in any locality matters greatly,” the judge wrote. “Even a small undercount of a subset of the hard to count population would result in the loss of federal funding.” The once-a-decade enumeration — which can be done by phone (844-330-2020 for English), returning the mailed form, or heading online (my2020census.gov) — measures where individuals live as of April 1, 2020. That includes young children and infants, roommates, and family mem-

bers or friends staying at the household, even if temporarily. In addition to English and Spanish, completing the census online or by phone can be done in 11 other languages, including Tagalog (844-4782020). The results guide how over $1.5 trillion in federal funding will be allocated to states annually for resources, such as schools, health programs, and infrastructure projects. The data also determines the number of seats each state gets in the House of Representatives and the redrawing of legislative districts. The national enumeration is at 97.9% of identified housing units, which includes 66.4% of self-responses and 31.5% responding after follow-up operations. Meanwhile, California’s self-response rate is 68.9% and 29.8% in nonresponse follow-up. n

President Rodrigo Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on Monday, September 28. Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal

Duterte lashes out against Facebook... PAGE 1 lish about local news and events, including domestic politics, the military’s activity against terrorism, the draft of the pending anti-terrorism bill, criticism of communism, youth activists and the opposition, criticism of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its military wing the New People’s Army, and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. Duterte accused Facebook of believing the leftists that are critical of his administration. “Tapos yung Left ini-encourage kayo (Then the Left are encouraging you), then you believe in the Left to the point of almost making a sweeping move,” he said. “If you cannot reconcile the idea of what your purpose is, or was, then we have to talk. I don’t know what I will do but we have to talk,” he added. The chief also stressed that Facebook cannot lay down a

policy for his government. “You cannot lay down a policy for my government. I allow you to operate here. You cannot bar or prevent me from espousing the objectives of government,” Duterte said. He added, “If you are promoting the cause of the rebellion, which is already, or which was already here before you came and so many thousands of my soldiers and civilians dying, then, if you cannot reconcile the idea of what your purpose is, or was, then we have to talk.” House to probe Facebook takedown of gov’t accounts The House of Representatives, for its part, is set to conduct an investigation over Facebook’s action to take down the accounts linked to Philippine military. “Upon the passage of the 2021 Budget in the House of Representatives, rest assured that we will initiate the appropriate proceedings in aid of legislation to truly deter-

mine if the reported actions of Facebook are detrimental to the Constitutional freedom of expression guaranteed to all Filipinos, regardless of political color, rich or poor, left or right,” Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Cayetano also urged Facebook to reflect on its actions, pointing out that taking down the accounts contradicted the social media giant’s purpose. “We call on Facebook Philippines to take this time to introspect and reflect on the soundness of its actions that tend to undermine the democratic principles upon which its phenomenal success is based,” he said. “Favoring one sector or ideology – especially one that has been tagged by the international community as a terrorist organization – directly contradicts Facebook’s core purpose of connecting all people globally in a free, open, and neutral marketplace of ideas,” he added. n

Fil-Am voters react to heated first... PAGE 1 will help galvanize voters, especially in regards to the Supreme Court,” said Ron Falconi, mayor of Brunswick, Ohio and a member of Asian Pacific Americans for Trump’s advisory council. “The president has made it no secret that he wants conservative judges to serve on the court who are going to interpret the Constitution and not legislate from the bench. That has been a rallying cry for us conservatives in the movement.” The debate soon turned

chaotic, marked by interruptions and in several instances, a shouting match between the two. Social media users picked up on certain zingers, including Biden calling Trump a “clown” and retorting, “Will you shut up, man?” after a string of interjections. As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, the president was asked to defend his response to the virus that has left over 200,000 killed, alleging that the death toll would reach 2 million if Biden were commander-in-chief.

“What [the debate] showed was a stark contrast between these two people and what kind of leadership they’re going to demonstrate,” said Brad Baldia, a Biden supporter from Philadelphia, following the debate. “The thing is, Donald Trump has never grown up, he’s never matured [and] blames everyone else for his faults…and his failed leadership for the deaths that have happened because of COVID19 and for all the things that have gone wrong with his

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OCTOBER 2-8, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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1M coronavirus fatalities a ‘very...

GARDEN SOIL. Two workers prepare the garden soil to be sold for P100 per sack at a nursery on Gov. D. Mangubat Avenue, Congressional Road, Barangay Burol in Dasmariñas City, Cavite on Tuesday, September 29. The government has allowed selected businesses to operate in a limited capacity as long as they follow health protocols amid the coronavirus disease pandemic. PNA photo by Gil Calinga

US signs P10.5B PH aid to boost... PAGE 1 ment and trade throughout the Philippines. “This new USAID and Department of Finance bilateral agreement will expand our support to help the Philippines achieve long-term, private sector-led economic growth and strengthen economic governance. These programs will create jobs and help ensure more inclusive, broad-based economic development,” said USAID Mission Director Lawrence Hardy II. New programs and activities will promote inclusive, market-driven growth; improve the business environment; expand economic opportunities through private-sector led innovation for medium and small businesses; and increase information and communications technology access for the digital economy that benefits both producers and consumers, according to the U.S. Embassy in Manila. “Activities also include strengthening local civil soci-

ety organizations to advance locally-led programming and policy-making in the Philippines and facilitating coalitions and partnerships between government and other stakeholders toward datadriven decision-making,” the embassy said. “Additionally, USAID will continue to support Philippine government objectives by improving public sector transparency and accountability; advancing the rule of law and the justice system; and boosting local governments’ responsiveness to Filipinos’ needs,” it added. This bilateral agreement with the DOF is one of the four new USAID programs with the Philippines launching in 2020, with an anticipated total value of P32.7 billion ($675 million) over five years. The other new agreements include: • Department of Health: To improve underserved Filipinos’ health by strengthening health systems while improv-

ing the quality of health services, especially in treating tuberculosis, providing access to those who seek family planning services, and community-based drug dependence treatment; • National Economic Development Authority: To protect ecosystems by promoting sustainable use of natural resources, enhance energy security, and build capacity to mitigate risks and respond to natural disasters; and • Department of Education: To improve early grade reading, expand science and mathematics curricula, and increase out-of-school youths’ access to education, professional, and technical skills development that will lead to new job opportunities, and strengthen education governance. The U.S. has provided the Philippines nearly P228.8 billion ($4.5 billion) in total assistance over the past 20 years to advance the country’s development goals. (AJPress) n

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra... PAGE 1 ern Conference Finals, securing a spot in the Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, whom they will square up against on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Spoelstra is only 49 years old, but his shrewd approach to coaching and ability to work well with players of all experience levels propel him to the league of fabled NBA coaches. Since 1970, only three head coaches have had more Finals appearances than Spoelstra: Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich

and Spoelstra’s predecessor Pat Riley. Sports writer for GQ Michael Pina wrote in a recent article that “Spoelstra embodies that selflessly competitive ethos better than any other coach, in a league brimming with extremely capable strategists. In Miami, his personality is a tone-setter. And with that comes respect at all levels in the organization and unilateral commitment by all to do their job, even as it evolves every day.” LeBron James, Lakers team

captain and former Heat player under Spoelstra, recently praised Spoelstra’s ability as a coach. “It’s unfortunate that he hasn’t gotten his respect. Every time we talked about Spo when I was there and we talked about how great he prepared us, and we talked about how great it was playing for Spo and things of that nature, you guys always said, well, you have LeBron, you have D-Wade, you have Bosh; any coach can do it. No, any

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PAGE 1 “likely an underestimate” of the actual fatalities caused by COVID-19. “If anything, the numbers currently reported probably represent an underestimate of those individuals who have either contracted COVID-19 or died as a cause of it,” he said. “When you count anything, you can’t count it perfectly but I can assure you that the current numbers are likely an underestimate of the true toll of COVID,” he added. COVID-19 has claimed 1,003,791 victims out of 33,454,037 recorded global infections, according to data from Johns Hopkins University’s Coronavirus Resource Center as of Tuesday. The United States recorded the highest number of fatalities at 205,547. This toll was followed by Brazil with 142,058; India with 96,318; Mexico with 76,603; and the United Kingdom with 42,161. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the number as “mind-numbing.” “Our world has reached an agonizing milestone. It’s a mind-numbing figure. Yet we must never lose sight of each and every individual life,” he said in a statement. “They were fathers and mothers, wives and husbands, brothers and sisters, friends, and colleagues. The pain has been multiplied by

the savageness of this disease,” he added. On Monday, September 28 U.S. President Donald Trump announced a plan to distribute 150 million rapid COVID19 tests. Of that number, 100 million tests will go to “states and territories to support efforts to reopen their economies and schools immediately and [as] fast as they can,” he said. Meanwhile, the remaining 50 million tests will be allocated to “protect the most vulnerable communities,” which include nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospice care agencies, historically black colleges and universities, and tribal nation colleges. The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, made its first known appearance in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, ground zero of the outbreak. Wuhan was shut down in January, but by March, the virus had emerged in over 100 countries, prompting the WHO to declare a pandemic. Ryan warned that COVID19 fatalities could double to two million without collective action against the virus. “One million is a terrible number and we need to reflect on that before we start considering a second million,” the WHO top emergencies expert told reporters on Friday, Sept. 25.

“Are we prepared collectively to do what it takes to avoid that number?” he added. “If we don’t take those actions… yes, we will be looking at that number and sadly much higher.” Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, in his speech before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), said that how the world will address COVID-19 will define our future. “I am honored to address you today on behalf of the Filipino people on the 75th anniversary of the United Nations. The invisible enemy that is COVID-19 has brought about an unfamiliar global landscape and unleashed a crisis without precedent. It is the biggest test the world and the United Nations faced since World War II,” he said on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Duterte encouraged each nation to put up a united front against the pandemic, saying that the world needs coordinated international plans and efforts to pursue a common purpose. “COVID-19 knows no border. It knows no nationality. It knows no race. It knows no gender. It knows no age. It knows no creed,” he stressed. The chief executive also said that when the world finds the vaccine, access to it must be available to all rich and poor nations alike. n

Philippines wants stronger US trade ties... PAGE 1 moving forward,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a text message when sought for comment. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua have not responded to request for comment. Democrat Joe Biden told a raging President Donald Trump to “shut up” in a chaotic opening debate on Wednesday in Manila that turned almost immediately into a shouting match 35 days ahead of the most tense US election in recent memory. For John Forbes, senior advisor at American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, whoever sits over the next 4 years in the White House would determine on a larger scale than usual the direction of US-Philippines bilateral relations given the pandemic. “Given the extensive bilateral ties between the US and the

Philippines, who is president of the US can make a difference to the economies of Asia and the Philippines,” Forbes said in a text message. “Current US policies for the pandemic, growth, trade, and digital, among other areas, may change. Let’s watch the debates to learn more,” he added. The US recently lent around P10 billion to the Philippines to support growth-boosting projects during the pandemic as well as increasing transparency in government dealings. In trade, US serves as one of the country’s major trading partners, cornering 8% of imports and 14.1% of exports as of June. But a large part of US support to the Philippines is funneled to the military shaped by a defense pact that President Rodrigo Duterte, amid his overarching nationalist policies, have initially threatened to rescind. When the pandemic struck, Duterte

withdrew Manila’s revocation of the Visiting Forces Agreement last June, at least for the time being. That said, Duterte has shown early fondness to Trump at the start of his term after repeatedly attacking his predecessor, Barack Obama. Markets mostly fell Wednesday following the chaotic US presidential debate in which Trump again suggested the election could be fraudulent, raising concerns among investors that the result could be drawn out and fuel uncertainty. But the local bourse bucked the downtrend, with the Philippine Stock Exchange index up 0.39% to 5,864.23 on Wednesday. “Philippine shares ended the quarter on a positive note on window dressing and after digesting the first US presidential debate,” Luis Limlingan, managing director at Regina Capital brokerage, said in a market commentary. n

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2-8, 2020

OPINION

FEATURES

Reviving tourism WORLD Tourism Day on Sept. 27 passed largely unnoticed this year, as the travel industry continued to reel from the impact of measures to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. COVID-19 restrictions have battered international tourism, which dropped 22 percent in the first quarter and is projected by the United Nations World Tourism Organization to plummet to 60 to 80 percent over the whole year. Among the hardest hit are the rural communities whose livelihoods are heavily dependent on tourism. The UNWTO has designated 2020 as the Year of Tourism and Rural Development, which is also the theme of this year’s 40th anniversary of World Tourism Day. The UN estimates that 80 percent of people living in extreme poverty worldwide are in rural communities. The rural areas are also home to most of the 1.8 billion young people worldwide, according to the UN. But the lack of opportunities in rural areas is fueling urban migration among the youth, which is aggravating rural underdevelopment. By 2050, the UN projects up to 68 percent of the world population to be living in urban areas.

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Tourism provides meaningful jobs and livelihoods even in remote areas, and promotes sustainable and inclusive economic growth. This gives urgency to the revival of the tourism and travel industry. Even with efforts limited to domestic tourism, however, the pandemic is posing challenges. Boracay offers a look into those challenges. The world-class destination beckons once again, as the government relaxes quarantine travel restrictions. But even with discounts of up to 70 percent in accommodations, the requirements of the pandemic normal can leave only the most diehard traveler from outside Western Visayas determined to visit Boracay. A negative result on a swab test is the first hurdle. At P4,000 to P12,000 – not covered by medical insurance for those who are not sick or showing any symptoms – that’s a hefty initial investment for a few days of vacation. Then there’s the pandemic-induced fear of flying that must be overcome – especially on the smaller planes that typically service the Manila-Caticlan route. Upon returning to Manila, there are offices that require employees

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

who travel by plane to go on home quarantine for 14 days. People who are straining to escape over six months of COVID confinement may consider such inconveniences a small price to pay to enjoy the pristine beach and waters of Bo-

racay. The tourism industry, devastated by the killer pandemic, is counting on such attitudes to revive the sector. With public health protocols in place and strictly observed, it is possible to speed up the revival of tourism. (Philstar.com)

This Census is different, but very important

Commentary DITAS KATAGUE Director, California Complete Count – Census 2020 Office

2020 has certainly been extraordinary, and what many are calling an unprecedented time. We’ve been hit with a worldwide pandemic, stopping the normal routine of our lives, in addition to facing social unrest due to racism and injustice. On top of that, our state has been hit with cata-

strophic wildfires right here in the west. Plus, there’s an upcoming election in November. This is my third decennial Census where I’ve led California’s Census efforts to reach the hardest-to-count communities, historically lower responding areas and vulnerable populations. All the challenges mentioned above have added to the difficulty of ensuring a complete and accurate count. The U.S. Census Bureau has had to operate different-

ly – they’ve changed their operations multiple times and are not working how they have done in the past. Federal workers are part of our community – they are being asked to do more with less resources and with a shorter timeframe. The Census Headquarters has been asked to compress their well-researched and tested work plan for completing and delivering an accurate count. And possibly cancelling or eliminating key quality assurance

operations. This is abnormal – it’s materially different than the previous two counts in 2010 and 2000. I wish I had more confidence in the Census Bureau’s field data collection operations and data processing that would ensure an accurate count. In California, we have invested $187.2 million toward a data-intensive, innovative outreach and communications campaign to motivate households to respond to the Census.

So far, we’ve accomplished a number of things – with the help of our stakeholders and partners. We amassed a coalition of over 150 local, regional and statewide partners that served as our trusted messengers and created a social movement infrastructure. They have done great work to ensure Californians self-respond to the Census and although likely exhausted by this extended Census journey, will continue to work with communities to ensure they are

civically engaged. By identifying what the Census is and explaining its tangible benefits, we’ve been able to motivate more than 2 million households in harder-to-count areas to respond, with a total of 10.4 million households self-responding statewide. This year has also been reflective for me personally, I think about the future that I want to leave behind. There are mixed emotions – thinking about my daughter’s fuPAGE 10

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

SC justice finally acts on Marcos protest Maria Ressa among critics set to launch new Facebook oversight board by Jomar

Canlas ManilaTimes.net

by ritChel

mendiola AJPress

A GROUP of Facebook critics announced that it is launching its very own oversight board to hold the social media giant accountable as well as appraise its moderation decisions and other policies. The Real Facebook Oversight Board — composed of 25 academics, journalists and activists including veteran journalist and Rappler executive editor Maria Ressa — will rival the social media platform’s own board, which is still currently being formed. “Facebook is a weapon. A private company, controlled by one man, being used to undermine democracy. We urgently need to hold it to account. Before it’s too late,” said journalist Carole Cadwalladr in a tweet on Friday,

Rappler CEO Maria Ressa

Inquirer.net photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta

September 25. “Today we launch the Real Facebook Oversight Board @ FBoversight to try & do just that. Join us,” she added. The announcement came after Facebook said its own,

quasi-independent oversight board, also composed of experts from civil rights and academia, will launch in October, right before the elections in the United States. PAGE 10

SUPREME Court Associate Justice Mario Victor Leonen has finally touched the sleeping election protest of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. against Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo. According to unimpeachable sources of The Manila Times in the high tribunal, Leonen, the ponente of the Marcos-Robredo poll protest, recommended a mere “comment” before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) after sitting on the case for 11 months. He became the ponente of the case, via en banc raffle, on Oct. 29, 2019 and the PET adopted his recommendation for a comment again via memoranda of both parties on Oct. 15, 2019, during the stint of then-Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin. With Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta now at the helm, Leonen took control of the

case and both the Marcos and Robredo camps lodged their respective memoranda in January this year. But, since January, Leonen sat on the case. The Times learned that Leonen had postponed the case with a series of resets and “call-agains.” On Monday, Leonen finally issued a draft ruling, which was circulated on the same day with a recommendation for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to issue their respective comments on the issues involved. The Leonen draft was adopted by the PET with the Comelec ordered to comment within a non-extendable period of 20 days, then the OSG shall comment next within 15 days. The issue is whether the PET shall proceed with the third cause of action — the annulment of votes in the Mindanao provinces — for

it to be able to prove that there was indeed cheating committed by the camp of Robredo. The case has been pending before the PET for four years and three months. Marcos filed the protest on June 29, 2016. Some court insiders told the Times that Leonen was obviously employing “dilatory tactics.” Some magistrates who talked to the Manila Times on condition of anonymity said that the case must be resolved because the people should know who is the real winner in the vice presidential race. “It should not be delayed anymore by Leonen because it is the duty of the court to serve justice whoever is the real victor. Justice delayed is justice denied,” one of the sources said. In his memorandum filed before the Supreme Court, sitting as PET, Marcos prayed PAGE 10

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Metro Manila to remain under GCQ through October by AJPress

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden during the first presidential debate on Tuesday, Sept. 29. C-SPAN screenshot

Fil-Am voters react to heated first... PAGE 2 presidency.” Irene Bueno, a volunteer senior advisor for Fil-Ams for Biden-Harris who has worked for previous Democratic candidates, praised the vice president’s attempts to share his plans on various topics, despite being interrupted. “Whenever [Biden] tried to talk about his plan, he was interrupted by a president who…clearly didn’t have a plan. All he did was say things that had no basis. He lied and he made up things that are not substantiated,” Bueno said, emphasizing that voters should look at the trump administration’s battle against the Affordable Care Act for the past three years. “[trump] had all this time to do something about health care and he hasn’t done anything.” Cristina osmeña, a former republican candidate for California’s 14th congressional district, said she was left feeling discouraged amid the chaotic exchanges. “I think trump came away worse for wear. I was trying to listen intently to hear if my questions about policy would be answered,” osmeña said. “His behavior of bullying and interrupting did not leave a good impression…It was difficult to tolerate.” Despite this, osmeña said she favors the president in terms of matters involving the economy and not reversing the tax Cuts and Jobs Act. the debate came days after the New York Times report about trump only paying $750 in income tax in 2016. “the tax code that put him in a position that he pays less tax than on the money a schoolteacher makes is because of him,” Biden said in reference to the law trump signed in 2017. Among the moments that stood out was trump’s refusal to condemn white supremacy, bringing attention to Proud Boys, a far-right group. “Proud Boys — stand back

and stand by. But I’ll tell you what. I’ll tell you what. Somebody’s got to do something about Antifa and the left because this is not a right-wing problem,” trump said. Bueno said the president’s statement “scared” her. “And I think all Americans should be scared. this president just continues to [sow] division,” she said. two more debates are scheduled for oct. 15 and oct. 22 as final chances for both trump and Biden to capture the votes of Americans, especially those still considered undecided. “I really am on the fence and after last night, I don’t want to vote for either candidate,” osmeña, who voted for a thirdparty candidate in the 2016 election, said. “Just because you might be indecisive at the very top of the ticket, there are a lot of local races that are decided by a few hundred people, so voting does matter.” Fil-Am voters interviewed called on formatting changes, which include the ability for future moderators to turn off a candidate’s mic if not talking, and to focus on issues, including foreign policy with countries like China and immigration. “these debates offer us a momentous opportunity because it allows us to compare one versus one, the two candidates for president,” said tristan Bato, a college student who is supporting Biden. “Honestly, I have faith in the American electorate, and especially the independents who are undecided right now to look to the truth.” the Commission on Presidential Debates announced on Wednesday, Sept. 30 said it would look at “additional structure” for the next two debates. “Last night’s debate made clear that additional structure should be added to the format of the remaining debates to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues,” the com-

mission said in a statement. It added that it would announce the measures soon, and also praised Wallace’s “professionalism and skill” as the debate moderator. Until then, Fil-Am supporters on both sides are continuing their efforts to rally registered and eligible voters. A group called “Filipinos for trump” is leading a nationwide caravan on Sunday, oct. 4 in 20 cities, such as Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., to raise support for the president’s re-election bid and to kick-off Filipino American History Month. “the Filipino Americans participating are not afraid to show the support and alignment with President trump, and for the republican Party principles, such as our strong faith,” said Noel omega, a business owner who is among the organizers for the Sunday caravan in Southern California. “But you know, we would welcome anyone who wants to learn about our side and have a dialogue with us.” Meanwhile, the volunteerrun “Fil-Ams for Biden-Harris” will continue their weekly programs, which include phone banks in key states and topicfocused Zoom panels. results from the 2020 Asian American Voter Survey released in September found that 52% of Fil-Am registered voters polled said they would be included to vote for Biden, while 34% favor trump — the second highest support among the groups after 48% of Vietnamese voters who said they would re-elect the current president. Despite the preferences for either candidate, 12% of FilAm voters reported that they “don’t know.” “this is the most important election in our lifetime and you can see the positions the president was taking in contrast to Joe Biden’s. I am surprised as to why there are so many undecided voters at this point,” said Falconi. n

Metro Manila will stay under general community quarantine (GCQ) for the entire month of october. this comes after President rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency task Force for the Management of emerging Infectious Diseases (IAtF-eID) on Monday, September 28. Aside from the capital region, the province of Batangas, and the cities of tacloban, Bacolod, Iligan, and Iloilo will also be placed under GCQ. Meanwhile, Lanao del Sur, including Marawi City, will remain under modified enhanced community quarantine (MeCQ). “the rest of the country will be under modified general community quarantine,” Duterte announced. According to the country’s Department of Health, two new indicators were considered in determining the next round of community quar-

MEGA QUARANTINE CENTER. (From left to right) Founding partner and principal architect Daniel Lichauco and Prime BMD CEO JV Emmanuel “Jocot” de Dios, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, National Defense Secretary and chairman of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 Delfin Lorenzana, and National Action Plan Against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon at the turnover of the Solaire Pagcor Mega Quarantine Center at the Entertainment City, New Seaside Road, Paranaque City on Tuesday, September 29. Also in the photo is (right) Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Emil Sadain. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

antine classifications: the “two-week growth rate” and the “daily attack rate.” the two-week growth rate refers to the growth in the number of cases for the past two weeks, while daily attack rate is the number of cases over a certain period of time over a certain number of population. Health Undersecretary.

Ma. rosario Vergeire pointed out that two new indicators are more sensitive because they show the true picture of the community and that the daily attack rate indicates the increase or decrease in cases in areas that are being monitored. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, chair of the PAGE 10

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Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra... PAGE 4 coach can’t do it. If any coach could do it, then there would be a lot more champions in this league. There would be a lot more successful coaches,” James said. From video room to arena Spoelstra’s quick ascent from Miami Heat video coordinator to multichampionship-winning head coach is a true “started from the bottom, now we’re here” story. He is the son of Elisa Celino — a Filipina immigrant originally from Laguna, Philippines — and former NBA executive Jon Spoelstra of the Portland Trailblazers, Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets and the defunct Buffalo Braves. After graduating in 1992 from the University of Portland where he was a starting point guard, Spoelstra enjoyed a short career as a player-assistant coach for a German basketball club called TuS Herten. It was in Germany with this basketball club that Spoelstra’s illustrious coaching career began, coaching the club’s local youth team. In 1995, Spoelstra accepted an offer from the Miami Heat for

which he would be the video coordinator. Eventually, Spoelstra was promoted to assistant coach, handling scouting. In 2006, he won his first NBA Championship as assistant coach when the Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the Finals that year. Then, finally, in 2008 — 13 years after he was first hired as a video coordinator — Spoelstra became the head coach for the Miami Heat at the behest of Riley, who stepped down. Not only was Spoelstra the first Asian American head coach of the NBA, he also became the first ever Asian American head coach for the four major sports leagues in North America. “This game is now about younger coaches who are technologically skilled, innovative and bring fresh new ideas. That’s what we feel we are getting with Erik Spoelstra. He’s a man that was born to coach,” Riley said in 2008. It was a decision that ushered in a new, prolific era for the organization. Under Spoelstra, the team became a regular fixture of the postseason, winning back-to-back

champion titles in 2012 and 2013 during the “Big Three” era when the team was carried by a powerhouse trio of Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James. In a 2011 ESPN interview, Spoelstra’s “work ethic, preparation and temperament” are cited as the core of his coaching acumen. Often labeled a “players’ coach” Spoelstra’s ability to cultivate trust and unity among his rosters is one of the key tenets to his finesse but tenacious approach to coaching. “There’s an integrity to my intentions,” Spoelstra said in 2011. “I probably look at this more simplistic than you want. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a former player or you come up through the video room, whether you come from college. You have to earn that trust from NBA players every day. It doesn’t stop unless, of course, you win 10 rings. But even at that point, you have to prove that there’s competency, there’s a work ethic, there’s a plan, there’s an organization to your thoughts. Then, at some point, they believe you can help them achieve what they want to achieve.”

OKRA FOR EXPORT. Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar (2nd from right), together with former Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo (2nd from left) and young farmers Rap Pelayo (center), Jeffrey Fernandez (right), and Jeffrey Pelayo (left), shows the okra wrapped in plastic during the ceremonial send-off of the first batch of okra export to Japan at Pairpags Center, NAIA Road, Pasay City on Tuesday, September 29. Jel Farms leads the 300 young farmers from 14 towns in Tarlac City. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Higher stakes The 2020 NBA Finals — which are usually held in June but have been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic — promise huge milestones no matter which team wins. For the Lakers, it is more than just winning its 17th NBA Championship for the historic team. The organization lost the beloved legend Kobe Bryant earlier this year, marking a painful benchmark to an already unusual season. Throughout the season, the team has made it clear that the Black Mamba is its spiri-

tual emblem, attempting to continue his legacy and rectify the tragic death that included Bryant’s prodigal daughter Gianna. James spoke about honoring Bryant at the post-game press conference after the Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals on Saturday, Sept. 26. “Every time you put on the purple and gold, you think about his legacy and what he meant to this franchise for 20plus years,” the Lakers captain remarked.

“That drive to always want to be victorious, it stops you from sleeping,” James said, referencing Bryant’s signature Mamba Mentality. “You sacrifice a lot of things, you sacrifice your family at times because you’re so driven to be so great that other things fall by the wayside at times. I understand that. I’m one of the few that can understand the mindset that he played.” Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat will air on ABC on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. PST. n

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OCTOBER 2-8, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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This Census is different...

PAGE 5 ture, while recognizing the struggles my family faced in the past. My daughter just moved abroad to finish her remaining two years in high school and my mom passed away in August. As I have gone through my mother’s things, I’ve realized that my current work on the Census is about honoring the past and shaping our future, bringing my daughter, and possibly her future children, closer to our roots. Completing the census, being counted is not just for us, but for future generations. It is a gift we give to them now. It’s invaluable. She can go back in time to see officially where her “Lola” settled in the United States when they came over from the Philippines. She can see how our family moved from Chicago to Kansas City, to Modesto,

Pinole, Washington, DC and now, finally settling in Sacramento. My family set roots in the United States – like so many others have – to provide for their future generations. And as families participate in the Census, we are all helping form the kind of community we deserve, with the local resources that are rightfully ours. The 2020 Census is our chance to deliver opportunity and justice to our communities – more streetlights, sidewalks, health services, nutritional programs, educational resources, affordable housing and reliable public transportation and so much more. By taking the 9-question survey, we can set forth a roadmap for the future of our families, communities and our state. There are three easy ways to fill out the form:

• Online at my2020census. gov • By phone at 844-3302020 (a list of in-language options is available here) • By mail if you received a paper form You may see a Census worker in your neighborhood since they are following up with households that have yet to respond. If you have any questions or would like some help, they are there for you. I recommend you answer the Census online or over the phone – this is the best way to ensure your answers are accurate. Plus, you can fill it out in the comfort of your own home. This year is different – it’s been a surprise to us all, but don’t forget to take your Census. It will make a difference in the long term for your family and community and in recognizing and celebrating your past. n

SC justice finally acts on Marcos... PAGE 6 that a technical examination be conducted on the voter’s signatures to show that the voting was tainted with fraud. Marcos, the son of former president Ferdinand Marcos, argued that it could be shown that in 2,756 protested clustered precincts in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Basilan, several violations eroded the integrity of the elections. It was pointed out that the PET has the sole authority to proceed with the third cause of action, which is independent of the other causes of action on the case. In her memorandum, the Vice President asked the PET to junk Marcos’ protest since there was no substantial recovery in his pilot provinces. Robredo was referring to

the second cause of action — the revision of ballots in the pilot provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Occidental. With a vote of 11 against 2, the PET ruled to reject the plea of Robredo and the recommendation of Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa to dismiss the protest outright based on the three pilot provinces. Caguioa and then-Justice Antonio Carpio lost in the voting since majority of the justices ruled to keep the case alive. But Marcos countered that there was fraud committed by Robredo and her camp in Mindanao, thus he wants to proceed with the third cause of action. Robredo asked the PET to order Marcos to present evidence to justify the plea for

technical examination of ballots. In his protest, Marcos assailed election results in 39,221 clustered precincts — 36,465 of which he paid for the conduct of manual count and judicial revision. He also sought the annulment of poll results in the remaining 2,756 precincts. Based on the Comelec data, the 39,221 clustered precincts are composed of 132,446 precincts. Marcos, who lost to Robredo by 263,473 votes, accused her of “massive electoral fraud, anomalies and irregularities” such as pre-shading of ballots, pre-loading of Secure Digital cards, misreading of ballots, malfunctioning vote counting machiness, and receiving “abnormally high” unaccounted votes/ undervotes for the position of vice president. n

Maria Ressa among critics set to PAGE 6 According to the Real Facebook Oversight Board, Facebook is taking too long to set up its panel and that its mandate is limited. It also pointed out that the 90 days potentially needed to reach decisions isn’t fast enough to address the “urgent risks” that Facebook may present to the upcoming election. “We’re not waiting for an-

other election to go wrong. We believe accountability in real time is vital,” the board said in its website. Aside from the Ressa, other experts included the board are: Shoshana Zuboff, author of “The Age of Surveillance Capitalism”; Rashad Robinson, president of the non-profit Color of Change; former Estonian president Toomas Hendrik Ilves; Roger

McNamee, former Facebook investor; and ex-CIA officer Yael Eisenstat, former head of election integrity operations for political ads at Facebook. The Real Facebook Oversight Board will conduct its sessions through Facebook Live on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. ET. Facebook, for its part, said the platform’s official panel took time to vet members,

HEALTH PROTOCOLS. Parents observe safe physical distancing, wear face masks, and face shields when lining up at the entrance of San Miguel Elementary School along Congressional Avenue, Barangay San Miguel II in the city of Dasmarinas, Cavite on Tuesday, September 29. They would pick up their children’s report cards, modules, and school activity sheets for the opening of classes on October 5. PNA photo by Gil Calinga

Locsin, Huang meet to talk about PH-China ‘strategic cooperation’ by Christia

Marie Inquirer.net

raMos

MANILA — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and China’s top diplomat in the Philippines met Tuesday, September 29 to discuss “strategic cooperation” between Manila and Beijing. Locsin met with Chinese

Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian in celebration of the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the Mid-Autumn Festival, which both fall on October 1. “The Secretary and Ambassador exchanged views on China-Philippines rela-

tions, strategic cooperation,” the Chinese Embassy in Manila said in a short statement. Issues of common concern were also discussed during their meeting, according to the embassy. The meeting was held in Huang’s official residence in Makati City. n

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. meets with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian to celebrate China’s National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival. Photo courtesy of the Chinese Embassy in Manila

Metro Manila to remain PAGE 7 country’s National Task Force Against COVID-19, projects that Metro Manila could be downgraded into the less stringent modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) within a month.

“Actually, many LGUs (local government units) in Metro Manila want to downgrade to MGCQ. However, there are still those, I think about half, who would like to continue with GCQ so they could arrange their coronavirus disease 2019 preven-

tion efforts so these could be sustained. I think one month more (won’t hurt us), it will help us a lot,” he said. To date, there are 309,303 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, with 5,448 fatalities and 252,930 recoveries. n

develop a process for submitting appeals, and create a secure technology for the members to use when discussing decisions. “We ran a year-long global consultation to set up the

Oversight Board as a longlasting institution that will provide binding, independent oversight over some of our hardest content decisions. The members were selected for their deep experience in

a diverse range of issues,” Facebook spokesperson Jeffrey Gelman said. “This new effort is mostly longtime critics creating a new channel for existing criticisms,” he added. n

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COMMUNITY Journal

K-1 petition denied; should we marry? Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ DEAR Attorney Gurfinkel: I am a U.S. citizen, and filed a K-1 (fiancé) petition for my girlfriend in the Philippines. Unfortunately, the case was denied. I was told by friends it would help if we get married, as that would demonstrate we are truly in love and committed to each other. Would you advise that we get married and I file a spousal petition, to increase our chances of success? Very truly yours, SL

Dear SL: Before you make a decision on what is the best course of action, it is critical to know WHY the case was denied. Depending on the reason for the denial, it could affect the approval of a petition even if you get married. The same problem or issue that existed in connection with a K-1 petition might still exist with a spousal petition. Getting married would not solve or cure that problem. For example: • Was your girlfriend previously married, and never terminated her first marriage? If that is the case, she is still married to her first husband and marrying her will not cure that issue, but would in fact result to a bigamous marriage. • Did your girlfriend comPAGE 12

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MORE ANSWERS TO YOUR IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS WHEN LEADING U.S. IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL (LEFT) CONTINUES TO PROVIDE RELEVANT IMMIGRATION INFORMATION TO KAPAMILYA, VIA ZOOM, THIS SUNDAY, ON CITIZEN PINOY. Connie of Rahway, NJ (top right) would like to know what “Refused” means on the Embassy website. The Consul kept her sister’s family’s passports during their interview before the Covid lock down. When her sister checked online, she saw their petition was “Refused.” What does that mean? From Angeles, Pampanga in the Philippines, Jet (bottom right) wants to know if she can become a U.S. citizen through her U.S. citizen father, even if his name was not on her birth certificate, but he acknowledged her recently when Jet found him on Facebook last year. Erick of Union City, CA (not in photo) would like to know if he can petition his children even if he did not declare them when he entered the U.S. Many other questions regarding family petitions will be discussed and answered by Atty. Gurfinkel. Be sure to watch a brand-new episode of “CITIZEN PINOY: Your Tanong, My Sagot” this Sunday, October 4 at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers). (Advertising Supplement)

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OCTOBER 2-8, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS ALL of us today are at risk, more than we realize, more than ever before. Criminals, as expected, are taking advantage of modern technology to perpetrate their illegal acts more efficiently and discreetly. High-tech electronic pickpocket data readers, much like the credit card readers at check-out counters, are used by thieves to steal identity, credit card/passport and other data. They simply carry the gadget in a case or in a paper bag, and come close to their victim, with no body contact in stores or even while walking on the street near the target, and, in seconds, voila!, the data are instantly copied on their reading device surreptitiously. A solution to combat this method is actually easy. Make a quadruple-folded aluminum foil from your kitchen the exact size of credit cards or passport, etc., and place all cards/ passports “sandwiched” between two folded aluminum foils. This will cover the microchip on the cards/ passports, etc. and prevent RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) reader from accessing the data at no extra cost. There are protective (blocker) RFID pockets and wallets for credit cards and passports at Walmart. Target, on amazon.com, etc. The use of cellular phone with Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, etc. also prevents the risk of electronic theft, not to mention the user gets credit rewards per transaction. Each payment is automatically assigned a distinct 4-digit code, per purchase, per store, unlike using the credit card directly inserted to the card reader at the checkout counter, which

‘High-tech’ crimes Answers to immigration questions regarding family-based petitions take the spotlight on ‘Citizen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My Sagot’ on Oct. 4

uses only one assigned 4digit code for each and all payments which cashiers or waiters could easily copy, together with the card number, name, etc. Car doors could also be opened by high-tech thieves. When you click your electronic car key to lock the car doors/trunk, a signal (sound) is emitted, which burglars nearby could copy with their special gadget. Once you go inside the building, they could press a button to emit the same signal and open your car door. For decades, my wife Farida and I have been consciously and religiously using the manual mode of locking and unlocking our car doors with a key (manually, not electronically), which has now been a habit since. The car handle “touch” mode to lock and unlock cars equipped with it is also safer. Burglars near your garage can open your garage doors using a Code Grabber, which grabs and records your code when you open your garage door. Once you are inside or after you leave home, they use the Grabber to open your garage. Newer garage doors use a variety of codes and changes codes every so often, making it harder to “grab.” The old-fashioned way to open your garage is to use a coat hanger, with a curb at the tip. This is inserted right in the middle (between top of the door and the door frame) where the garage door rail is. The emergency lever (release handle with a rope hanging) is hooked and pulled down. This unlocks the garage door, which could then be lifted up. Solution: Pass a plastic tie through the hole of the lever where the rope is, and through the hole in the metal moving case; lock the tie tight. This will

prevent the release handle (metal lever) from being pulled down. Make sure the tie does not impair the opening and closing of the door. At night, or when going on a vacation, the main switch to the garage door may be turned off, just like the water main. For overall protection, home security alarm with wireless cameras outside and inside the home, with monitoring service, is best. There are a few DIY systems in the market, one of which is SimpliSafe – inexpensive, state-of the-art, with motion sensors, glass sensors, smoke and fire detectors, which anyone can install within one hour. Google it. Of course, having a dog, and/or one or both of these two good friends, 357 magnum and AR-15, would greatly help. Cyberspace criminals, besides targeting institutions, are also victimizing vulnerable individuals, especially the elderly, to steal their identity, social security info, credit card data, bank account details, and other scams to rob people of their hard-earned money. It is best not to give out personal data by phone or by email, and not to respond to any email from strangers. These tech-savvy criminals have been using company logos to appear legitimate to lure unsuspecting, gullible individuals to fall prey to their cybercrimes. They may even pose as your old friend stranded in another country who lost their wallet and passports, asking you to transfer funds as an emergency aid. Being ultra-vigilant and a bit paranoid are beneficial these days. For online (internet) crimes, report it to www. iC3.gov. Toxic air in your car Entering your car, without first opening the windows for a few minutes to PAGE 13

K-1 petition denied; should...

PAGE 12 mit fraud/misrepresentation to the U.S. Embassy when previously applying for a tourist visa or some other immigration benefit? For example, some people might have applied for a tourist visa, but submitted fake documents or lied on the visa application and were charged with fraud. That same fraud is still

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on their record and will come up, whether in connection with a K-1 petition or spousal petition. In either case, a fraud waiver would be needed. •Did your girlfriend commit a felony or was arrested/ convicted of any crime, which would still be an issue in a spousal petition? • At her K-1 interview, did she confess she was marry-

ing you to get a green card, and does not truly love you? In that case, although the U.S. citizen petitioner may be madly in love, the U.S. government views this as a “fixed marriage,” as the beneficiary would be basically using the U.S. citizen for immigration benefit. These are just some of the considerations that you have

THIS Sunday, October 4 leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel continues to answer questions pertaining to the most important and basic unit of society – the family. Erick of Union City, California would like to know if he can petition his children even if he is only a green card holder and he did not declare them when he arrived in the U.S. Connie of Rahway, New Jersey asks about her sister’s situation. Their passports and medical records were taken at the embassy during their interview in February this year and have not been returned since. It has been

challenging to follow up due to the COVID-19 lockdown. When her sister checked online, their status read: “refused.” What does that mean for her sister and family? Will they still be able to get their passports and documents? Will they get their visas? Jet of Angeles City, Pampanga in the Philippines would like to know if she can acquire U.S. citizenship through her U.S. citizen father even if his name was not on her birth certificate (her father was recalled to the U.S. before Jet was born) and she carries her mother’s name. Is DNA testing required and will that be enough?

Other questions include: a boyfriend who proposed to his tourist girlfriend while she was visiting him. Can they get married in the U.S. even if she has a tourist visa? Can a mother petition her 49-year-old widower son as unmarried? I petitioned my brother and his priority date became current. Unfortunately, he died. Can his widow take over the petition? These questions will be answered on a brand-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY: Your Tanong, My Sagot – Social Distancing Style this Sunday, at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

Empress shocked by wedding proposal at daughter’s birthday party By Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

ACTRESS Empress Schuck got engaged during the celebration of her daughter’s fifth birthday. In her Instagram account, Empress posted photos of the birthday celebration including the proposal of her longtime partner Vino Guingona. “And so this day has become even more special.. Its not just Athalia’s birthday anymore but also a new celebration of God’s intention,” Empress wrote. PAGE 15 to take into account in terms of what is the best course of future action. As you can see, getting married does not necessarily cure the problem. That’s why it is important for people to consult with an attorney, who can properly evaluate their situation rather than relying on hearsay or advice of friends or relatives. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of

Empress Schuck with fiance Vino Guingona and daughter Athalia Photo from Instagram/@itsempressita

the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different, and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and reenactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome

of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw, Twitter @GurfinkelLaw and YouTube: US Immigration TV Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)

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Carmi recalls ‘honeymoon with Paulo, Zanjoe, Arci and Angelica God’ as COVID-19 survivor reveal true colors in new show

By Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

ACTRESS Carmi Martin revealed that she won her fight against the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In a lengthy Facebook post, Carmi said she was supposed to do a digital series under Star Cinema so she took a swab test, but it turned out that she was infected with COVID-19. “Last September13, I went to Philippine Red Cross for a swab test that was a requirement for a digital series under Starcinema, then the following day got the result that I was Positive of COVID 19,” Carmi narrated. “I really felt bad because I have no symptoms except for my BP shoot up, and also for not able to do the project since I was so prepared and really was so excited to do it.” Carmi said her two-week quarantine was a “honeymoon with God” as she spent it with prayers. “The 2 week quarantine became A HONEYMOON WITH GOD. I spent each day with prayers and praying for

Carmi Martin Photo from Instagram/@misscarmi_

others, singing beautiful songs for our Lord and listening to excellent preachings each day,” she said. “Having a Positive attitude, exercising and eating healthy food specially prepared by @gourmadebychefroblau made me recover well.” She thanked all the people who supported her during her fight against COVID-19. “I am also very thankful

for all the people who supported me during this hard times. Thanking my family for being there for me, Sister Coney Reyes, Pastor Paolo Punzalan and Victory church family, Tita Lourdes B. Ramos and my IDBS family, my friends like Gladys Reyes, Minnie Aguilar , Choly Cabanban, Cousin Cory, Mayan & Mark Santos, Sister Chona, Mama & Abebes... and ofcourse.... Makati LGU headed by Barangay Magallanes Chairman Jomar Alzona, CESU, Doctors and staff of Makati Frienship Suites Facility, headed by Dra. Happy Dra. Car, Nurse Summer, Nurse Zoren, Nurse Cha Cha,” she said. “And to ABSCBN Medical team who really took great care of me during this time. Panginoong Diyos Salamat sa pagkakataon na mas lalo akong manalig sa iyo at maging blessing sa ibang tao na may mga pinagdadaang sa panahon ng Covid. My 2 week quarantine was so precious because spending time with GOD will always be the BEST! PRAISE GOD for I am now Covid free!”

Rhian gives body shamers a dirty finger By Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

KAPUSO actress Rhian Ramos slammed her bashers calling her ugly and disgusting. In her September 24 video blog entry titled “Breakups, Decisions, and Your Assumptions” on her YouTube channel, Rhian raised her middle finger to her critics. “To those of you who left comments for me just to tell me how ugly and disgusting I am, shame on you guys,” Rhian said as reaction to rude comments such as “laspag,” “mukhang adik,” “skinny scary” and “anorexia.” In the same vlog, she opened up about her love problem that made her forget to take care of herself. “I went through a break up, and it was so hard. ... I had a really hard time guys,” Rhian said, talking about her Israeli ex-boyfriend Amit Borsok. “And not just ‘cause I’m

brokenhearted and like shattered but... other things in my life were giving me a lot of stress,” she added. Rhian admitted that she was so down, she wanted to have a social media break for a long time, bit she went online again because she had some commitments to fulfill. “Now looking back, I really could have taken better care of myself. I was in so much pain and under so much stress. And I wasn’t getting out of my bed,” she said. “I wasn’t sleeping right. I couldn’t eat. Nothing tasted like anything. I was under so much stress that my body just basically started eating itself.” But, thanks to a support group that included regular Bible studies, Rhian is now on her way to a better lifestyle and health. The actress has been posting more and more photos and videos of herself exercising and eating healthy.

Rhian Ramos Photo from Instagram/@whianwamos

A KIDNAPPING incident will test the characters of Paulo Avelino, Zanjoe Marudo, Arci Muñoz, and Angelica Panganiban and the values they hold dear in ABS-CBN’s new action-drama series “Walang Hanggang Paalam,” which made its global premiere on Monday, September 28. In the series, Pangilinan and Avelino play former lovers Celine and Emman, who go their separate ways after he ends up in jail due to a wrongful conviction. Believing he is guilty of the crime, Celine breaks up with him and raises their son Robbie as a single mom. After spending years in jail, Emman is finally released but his hopes of rebuilding his family are shattered when Celine falls in love with Anton (Marudo), a wealthy businessman. Looking to start anew himself, Emman tries to make up for lost time with his son. But before they can even reunite, Robbie gets kidnapped by a suspected syndicate. As they search for the kid, their efforts are muddled by bitterness and old issues, while Celine gets caught between Emman and Anton, who are both determined to look for Robbie and prove

Paulo Avelino, Zanjoe Marudo, Arci Muñoz, and Angelica Panganiban premiered their new show on Monday, September 28. ABS-CBN photo

their love to her. Emman, meanwhile, finds comfort in Sam (Muñoz), a former colleague who is secretly in love with him and helps him in his search. How far are they willing to go to find Robbie? Will they be able to set aside their personal issues? “Walang Hanggang Paalam” also stars Jake Cuenca, JC Santos, Tonton Gutierrez, Lotlot de Leon, Ronnie Lazaro, McCoy De Leon, Mary Joy Apostol, Sherry Lara, Victor Silayan, Javi Benitez, and Cherry Pie Picache. The show is directed by Emmanuel Palo and Darnel Villaflor and pro-

duced by Dreamscape Entertainment. “Walang Hanggang Paalam” airs and streams new episodes weeknights at 9:20 p.m. on cable and satellite TV via Kapamilya Channel (SKYchannel 8 on SD and channel 167 on HD, Cablelink channel 8, G Sat Direct TV channel 22, and most cable operator- members under Philippine Cable and Telecommunications Association); on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page; iWantTFC app and iwanttfc.com; and on The Filipino Channel. (ManilaTimes. net)

‘High-tech’ crimes... PAGE 12 allow air from the outside to circulate and aerate the inside, especially when parked under the sun, may be hazardous to your health. Indeed, your automobile could pose some risks to your life, even before it gets into motion. Like we exercise great caution when driving to prevent injuries to ourselves and to others leading to loss of limb or life, so should we protect ourselves and passengers in our car, even prior to boarding it. We are referring to the toxic air in the car from chemical vapors coming from the heated dashboard and other interior parts of the car made of plastic and synthetic sofa materials, and from air fresheners and aerosols. Turning the airconditioning on, without prior aeration (to replace stale and impure air with fresh one) through all four opened windows, will only

re-circulate the polluted air within the car. The toxin Benzene, a carcinogen (cancer-causing) is said to be emitted when plastic is subjected to a high temperature, like in a closed parked car under the sun. Besides being harmful to persons with asthma and allergies, air fresheners and aerosols used in cars and at home, are likewise suspects for toxicity, which could cause harm to bones, blood cells, liver, kidneys, etc. Experts believe that the acceptable indoor level of Benzene is 50mg per square foot. The level goes up to 400-800mg in a parked car with doors and windows shut. This toxic “vapor” goes up 40 times higher than the “acceptable” level, to 2000-4000mg, in cars parked with windows closed under the sun at an ambient temperature of 60 degrees F. During summer, the temperature could go up higher than a hundred. It is, therefore, important

to open the car windows to allow stale air to flow out as fresher air from the outside comes in for a couple of minutes before we enter the car, turn on the air conditioner, close the door and windows, and drive on. Common sense tells us that the cleaner the air we breathe in, the healthier it is for us. Any strategy to prevent or reduce air pollution around us is well worth all our efforts as earthlings. After all, the air we inhale provides us an essential and vital element we cannot live without, one that keeps us alive: oxygen. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888. com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail. com.

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2020 Asian American International Film Festival goes virtual for its 43rd edition

‘Death of Nintendo,’ ‘Aswang’ and ‘A Thousand Cuts’ among Filipino films included

A

by MoMar

Aswang and A Thousand Cuts are both being screened at this yearʼs AAIFF.

G. viSaYa / AJPress

FILIPINO Filmmaker Roundtable to kick-off Filipino American History Month, along with a few Filipino films led by Death of Nintendo, Aswang and A Thousand Cuts are among the special events to watch out for at this year’s 43rd Asian American International Film Festival. Organizers announced the full lineup last week which includes over 15 feature films, 14 short film blocks and over 16 workshops, masterclass-

es, livestreamed events, panels, and workshops including a conversational series on the issue of anti-racism in storytelling.

The festival, which will happen online from October 1 to 11, will feature over three hours of panels, Q&As, and performances, all acces-

NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY

EVERYDAY

9:00am - 11:00am

sible as pay-as-you-wish programs every day. The Filipino Filmmaker roundtable, which will gather Filipino filmmakers at different points in their careers to discuss their work, process, and what it’s like to create now, is scheduled to happen on October 1. The speakers are Isabel Sandoval, who is fresh from the success of Lingua Franca; Eileen Cabiling (her short Basurero is part of this year’s AAIFF slate); Andrea Walter (she wrote and directed her first feature film Empty By Design last year) and Dianne Paragas (her film Yellow Rose will be distributed by Sony Pictures theatrically on October 9, 2020). The forum will be moderated by Jeremiah Abraham, founder and CEO of Tremendous Communications. Two documentaries, A Thousand Cuts and Aswang, will both be screened. There will also be a Masterclass (October 10) with A Thousand Cuts director Ramona S. Diaz, an award-winning Filipino-American documentary filmmaker best known for creating character-driven documentaries that capture complex and human situations. Death of Nintendo, a coming of age film by director Raya Martin is making its East Coast premiere in the festival. Named one of the 50 PAGE 15

Rappler co-founder and veteran journalist is the center of the documentary “A Thousand Cuts” by Filipina American filmmaker Ramona Diaz. Photo courtesy of PBS/Frontline

Getting to know Eileen Cabiling ASIAN CineVision had a series of #AAIFF43spotlight features and one focused on Filipino-American filmmaker Eileen Cabiling, who made her directorial debut with her short film “Basurero”. She’s been described by mentor Anna Thomas as “an artist whose stories magically come to life like in a painting.” First in her immigrant family to be born in the United States, Eileen grew up as the only Asian in her class in Richmond, Virginia – the historical capital of the Confederacy. Her vision is to tell stories about the global Filipino diaspora and history, the

many layers of the Filipino face along with the deeply complex nuances of colonial psychology and Filipino identity. Now she’s in development with Jericho Rosales on a feature film titled: “Manhid” (which means numb in Tagalog). How has 2020 treated you? How has this pandemic affected your work as a filmmaker? It has been a tremendous pause for me and although challenging and scary, I feel it has given me the space to reset and to dig deeper into my visions for where I would PAGE 15

Eileen Cabiling is a graduate of the American Film Institute, a Women in Film Scholar, a recipient of the William J. Fadiman Award/Best AFI Screenplay in her graduating class and the ABC/WALT DISNEY Talent Grant. Photo courtesy of Asian CineVision

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Liza, Enrique fly to US to be with actress’s ailing grandmother

CELEBRITY couple Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil have jetted off to the United States to be with the actress’s grandmother and her family. Soberano’s manager Ogie Diaz revealed that they left for the U.S. on Friday, Sept. 25, as per Inquirer Bandera on Monday, September 28. Diaz said the actress was raised by her maternal grandmother and is close to her. She wanted to fly immediately when she learned her Grandma Wanda was sick. He said Soberano requested not to have shoots this year so that she can be with her family in the States. “Kung walang pagbabago alam ko until November sila roon, kaya si Liza sa 2021 na magsu-shoot ng movie nila ni Quen,” Diaz said. (If there are no changes, they will be there until November, which is why Liza will shoot her movie with Quen in

Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano

2021.) He assured that the “Alone/ Together” actress still has work to do, particularly for endorsements on her social media pages. Incidentally, Gil mourned the loss of one of his grandmothers on Saturday, Sept. 26 via Instagram. Soberano too

Photo from Instagram/@enriquegil17

paid tribute to her, stating on Instagram Stories, “I will always take care of Quen like I promised you.” Being in the U.S. also means Soberano gets a brief rest after filing a case against a social media user who made rape remarks against her. (Niña V. Guno/Inquirer.net)

Empress shocked by... PAGE 12 “Thank you @vinoguingona for doing it on her birthday and in this special home witnessed by my whole family. Wouldn’t have it any other way. Thank you to my siblings for helping vino arrange this, to my parents’ blessing, to @niceprintphoto kahit nasabihan lang few minutes before. Thank you for being there since my baby shower. You still captured this mo-

ment beautifully.” Empress also said that the new chapter of their lives is on the right path with God on their side. “A new chapter begins for me.. And I know by walking with God together, we are on the right path.. The goal of our relationship is to honor him and do things what’s right in his eyes and that’s what we’re going to do real soon…” she said.

Getting to know... PAGE 13 like my stories to go as a filmmaker. It has given me space to also understand what is important to me in life and to achieve some healthy balance after making my directorial debut which is Basurero. What does this film mean to you? “Basurero” is inspired by an actual Filipino fisherman, who in an Al Jazeera interview reveals that he has been dumping bodies of drug war victims for the police into Manila Bay. This infamous drug war was instigated under current President Rodrigo Duterte, when he took office in June 2016. With the official death count in 2020–now above 5,000. Whereas, human rights groups are quoting over 27,000. What attracts me to Bong’s

story is not only the inhumane killings and the vilification of drug-users, sellers and the poor in the Philippines, but how this character’s circumstance is a window into the complex Filipino psyche’s search for value. I have been exploring this within myself, as a Filipina, first born in the United States–growing up with parents who immigrated to the superpower that colonized them. My own cathartic trajectory has been deciphering this identity, finding meaning in self-value and owning a voice as a storyteller of color. In filming “Basurero,” we kept an observational stance, thus creating space for contemplation as we move with our main character through his day.

It was 2016 when she and Vino welcomed their daughter Athalia. “Happy Birthday my baby girl Athalia!!! I’m so happy that you appreciate this! I know I’ve been telling you no party, no decorations, no gifts. I’m sorry but I just really wanted to surprise you and your reaction is so priceless! It’s all worth it,” Empress greeted her daughter. I strongly feel that the wounded psyche of the colonized needs to be explored, the stigma broken and the pain healed. How can we be vulnerable, heal the past, feel deeply–own and fight for our self-worth? How do we claim and embrace this value and take up space in this world? Who is a totally underrated API person that we should all know about? Although he is well-known in the Philippines, I believe my lead actor, Jericho Rosales, is quite a talent and his excellent performances will be noticed more globally. Who would play you in a film or show about your life? Maggie Cheung or Anais Nin What is an API-specific story that you want to see on the big screen? About the thousands of Filipinos placed on display at the

2020 Asian American...

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PAGE 14 most important filmmakers under 50 by Cinema Scope, Martin’s films have screened in Cannes, Toronto, Locarno, and New York. A Q&A with the filmmakers is set for October 4. A number of Filipino and Filipino-directed short films have made it to the lineup. (For the full schedule, visit their website at www.aaiff. org) • Basurero (East Coast Premiere; Directed by Eileen Cabiling - Philippines, U.S. - Tagalog) - A Filipino fisherman, desperate for some quick cash, turns to dumping bodies into the sea for the current Philippine “Drug War”. • Bidyoke (World Premiere; Directed by Joseph Mangat - U.S., Philippines - Tagalog, English) - Portrait of a beloved Filipino karaokerestaurant in National City, California, that has since closed its doors. • Dancing on my own (Directed by Alexandra Cuerdo - U.S. - English) - A hybrid documentary/narrative love letter to the queer Asian experience, inspired by New York’s radical dance party Bubble_T. • Lutaw (International Premiere; Directed by Samantha Quick - U.S., Philippines English) - Step into Geramy’s world, a scrappy, budding inventor, who is trying to find a better way to commute to school. The film has no dialogue in order to maximize international accessibility and raise awareness of this important and far-reaching issue. • Sorejya Taka (Directed by Jason Guerrero - Japan / U.S. - English, Japanese) - After an unexpected crisis, a woman phones her friends for solace while wandering the streets of Tokyo, only to find that all the solace she needs is within herself. AAIFF, established in 1978 and presented by Asian CineVision, is the nation’s first and longest running festival of its kind and the premier showcase for the best Asian independent and Asian American cinema. The festival hopes to continue its tra-

dition to serve as a platform to honor and support the community of Asian American and Pacific Islander filmmakers and their stories. The nine jury prize award winners will be determined by a lineup of leading industry professionals, including actor/producer Sung Kang, actress Rosalind Chao, director/writer Jeff Chan, producer Karin Chien, filmmaker PJ Raval, producer Cecilia Mejia, director Marie Jamora, among others. There are a couple of special events celebrating the various forms of storytelling slated this year. Music Night Out interweaves musical performances and the festival’s official music video selection to highlight the collabora-

tion of API musicians and filmmakers, while Comedy Night offers performances by top API stand-up and sketch comedians. As this year’s festival takes place online for the first time, AAIFF has partnered with Elevent as the ticketing partner and Cinesend as the exhibition platform so that audiences in the US and Canada will be able to watch most of the titles on-demand with a 48-hour viewing window right from their own homes. Additionally, this year’s festival will present a virtual Pop-Up Market, featuring curated products from local and small businesses by Asian diaspora and BIPOC artisans impacted by COVID-19.

1904’s St. Louis World’s Fair. What is the most iconic film moment or scene that you can think of right now? The dance scene on “Lovers on the Bridge” directed by Leos Carax: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH80fIWmrc

What is one of your biggest pet peeves about a show or film? Asian stereotypes and melodramatic lines. What is a current issue you are passionate about? How to make human rights and value a virtue in the Phil-

ippines #AnAsianCasting… if you could pick any #API person for any role for any film/series, who would it be and for what? Jericho Rosales for a Marvel superhero film! Or a Star Wars Jedi.

Ressa and Diaz, known for her films “Motherland” and “Imelda,” in New York in 2019. Contributed photo

Aswang is directed by Alyx Ayn Arumpac, an independent documentary filmmaker from the Philippines. She is a 2015 Talents Tokyo fellow and holds degrees from the Docnomads European Master program (Belgium, Hungary, Portugal) and the University of the Philippines. She has made, screened, and worked on films across Europe and the Philippines. Aswang’s Q and A is scheduled for October 11.

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