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OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021 Volume 14 - No. 52 • 16 Pages
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Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Duterte thanks Biden for COVID-19 DATELINE USA vaccine donations during ASEAN meet Larry Itliong FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Resource Center opens in Central Valley
THE Larry Itliong Resource Center has finally made its grand opening in California’s Central Valley. “We Are A Living Legacy” was the theme for the event held Sunday, October 24, to celebrate the inauguration of the Larry Itliong Resource Center, in Poplar, California, as well as commemorate the birthday of recent California Hall of Fame inductee and Filipino American labor hero Larry Itliong Jr. The event was sponsored by the Filipino American National Historical Society
by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has personally thanked United States President Joe Biden for America’s COVID-19 vaccine donations. The chief executive was able to express his
gratitude during a high-level discussion at the virtual 9th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-U.S. Summit held Tuesday, October 26. “Your Majesty, Excellencies, the COVID19 pandemic has brought complicated challenges to all of us. We appreciate the United States’ generous offer of vaccines for the re-
gion, including the Philippines,” Duterte said in his intervention. This was Biden’s first attendance to the ASEAN Summit, with the 38th and 39th iterations being hosted simultaneously by Brunei. “President Duterte welcomed President Biden to his first ASEAN-U.S. Summit, noting
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Fil-Ams stage rally in NYC to support VP Robredo’s campaign by MOMAR
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Rolando Lavarro
AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya
G. VISAYA
AJPress
VIRTUAL SUMMIT. President Rodrigo Duterte stretches while the plenary proceeding of the virtual 38th and 39th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits and Related Summits hosted by Brunei Darussalam is temporarily suspended. The president joined other leaders from ASEAN member countries in the virtual conference at the Malacañang Palace on Tuesday, October 26. Malacañang photo by King Rodriguez
DOZENS of Filipino Americans gathered in Central Park on Saturday, Oct. 3 to express their support for the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo in the upcoming May 2022 elections. Most of the participants wore pink shirts, ribbons, and hats as they carried handwritten placards that read “Let Leni Lead,” “Laban Leni” and “No to Marcos/Duterte”. Jillian Robredo, the youngest daughter of VP Robredo attended the New York rally and delivered a short speech to thank the participants led by the broad coalition of 1Sambayan. Robredo is currently taking up Biomolec-
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Rolando Lavarro ramps No quarantine for North Bongbong Marcos camp up campaign for re-election in Jersey City America travelers sought eyeing Pacquiao, VisMin “THESE neighborhoods raised me, the Filipino community raised me. I’ve said it time and again, I’m not going to stand by and watch my family, my communities get pushed out of Jersey City. Not on my watch,” said Jersey City Council Member Rolando Lavarro. He made that statement to members of the Filipino American Press Club on Thursday, Oct. 21 as he talked about the continued gentrification in the city and its effects on immigrant communities.
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by LOUELLA
DESIDERIO Philstar.com
MANILA — Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion has expressed optimism that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) would approve a proposal to do away with quarantine for returning
Filipinos and visitors from North America to help the airline industry bounce back. “We hope that the IATF would agree to our suggestion to allow no quarantine for travelers from North America as this would encourage returning Filipinos and other visitors to travel to the Philippines and to be with their loved ones,” Concepcion said.
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bets as VP options — Imee by CHRISTIA
MARIE Inquirer.net
RAMOS
MANILA — The camp of presidential aspirant former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is eyeing bets with bailiwicks in Visayas and Mindanao as his vice presidential candidate, including fellow presidential bet Senator Manny Pacquiao.
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Sen. Imee Marcos in one of the Senate virtual hearings. Screen grab /Senate PRIB file photo
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Fil-Ams stage rally in NYC to support VP Robredo’s...
Famed boxers Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather crossed paths once again at an LA Clippers basketball game in Jan. 2019. AJPress file photo by Noel Ty
Pacquiao, Mayweather to play basketball for charity in Las Vegas by AJPress
BoxIng superstars Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather are planning to reignite their rivalry in a possible rematch, only this time it is going to be on the basketball court for a planned charity basketball event. organizers are planning to stage the event at the MgM grand in Las Vegas which was also the venue of Pacquiao and Mayweather’s 2015 multi-million dollar mega-fight that drew a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys. “We agree on the main concept of the event, which is to bring total entertainment to the fans of boxing, basketball and all sports in general and to create a project that will solidify our legacies to the fans,” read the letter of intent signed by both boxers and their teams, Mayweather’s TMT and Mayweather Promotions and Pacquiao’s MP Promotions. Under the unique concept created by promoter, UnIo Enterprise, a sports and entertainment collective, Pacquiao and Mayweather have agreed to participate in a charity event to benefit causes of their choice in time for Christmas. Each Player will assemble a 10-man team, including two ex-nBA players. “We also aim to generate funds for our chosen charities this Christmas,” added the letter. Pacquiao and Mayweather, aside from being world champions in the sport, both love to play basketball. Pacquiao is the founder and CEo of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) in the Philippines and joined the Philippine Basketball Association as the playing coach of Kia Motors Basketball team in 2014. n
Duterte thanks Biden for... PAGE 1 the longstanding relations between ASEAn and the U.S.,” a statement from the office of the President read. To succeed against the pandemic, Duterte stressed the need to “further strengthen bilateral, regional and international cooperation to ensure universal access to CoVID-19 vaccines and medicines.” He likewise underscored the need for sustained political dialogue, economic engagement and socio-cultural ties to further strengthen the ASEAn-U.S. Strategic Partnership. Last month, Duterte floated the idea of visiting the U.S. to thank its government
for donating vaccines against CoVID-19. He made the statement after vaccine czar Carlito galvez Jr and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III told him that the U.S. donated five million more vaccine doses. “Kasasabi lang ni Secretary galvez at Secretary Duque na ang America nagbigay ng bago, five million (Secretary Galvez and Secretary Duque just informed me that America gave five million more doses),” said Duterte in his public address. “Ang bait ng Amerika. Baka pupunta ako doon (America is kind. I might go there) just to thank the American government and the people,” he added. n
PAGE 1 ular Science and Economics at nYU. As she closed her short talk, she shared her favorite line of the Vice President’s announcement speech. “Sabi niya, ‘Ang minamahal, dapat ipinaglalaban’. Karamihan sa atin medyo na-di-disappoint kaap hindi pareho yung opinion ng iba sa atin or mas naniniwala sila sa fake news pero sana mag-try tayo na mas lumabas sa mga echo chambers natin at kausapin ang mga kapamilya, kapatıd o katrabaho na kayang bumoto. Hindi sila kalaban, alam ko naman na lahat tayo gusto lang ng mas mabuting Pilipinas.” Looking at all the handmade placards and signs, along with the lugaw on the table, Robredo thanked the event participants for their presence and support. “Alam naman natin that yung last five years talagang napakahirap kay Mama and initially ayaw talaga namin siyang tumakbo. Nakakagaan ng loob to see the support of the people here today, lalo na malayo ako sa kanila,” she said. While she and her sisters Aika and Tricia were initially hesitant about their mom running, Jillian said they realized that their mom offered something that they didn’t see in the other candidates who have expressed their intention to run as president. “Wala sa kanila yung nag-
Jillian Robredo spent time chatting with rally participants AJPress Photos by Momar G. Visaya
align sa mga paniniwala ko and alam ko naman, hindi lang dahil sa anak ako ng nanay ko, yung mga paniniwala niya, mas okay specially para sa mga kabataan tulad ko, yun ang gusto naming makita sa susunod na pangulo,” she explained. That hesitancy expressed earlier extends to the numerous misinformation and disinformation that is being spread across social media. The young Robredo believes that the last five years they have endured in facing trolls, bashers, and detractors have made them stronger. “Naging practice na yung last few years kaya medyo hindi na kami apektado ngayon,” she quipped.
A Robredo supporter serves bowls of lugaw to the rally participants.
“Yung naging makinarya talaga ng nanay ko ngayon ay yung mga taong sumusuporta sa kanya. Nakikita natin na yung mga trolls sinasagot ng totoong tao and nag-se-send sila ng links para ma-correct yung misinformation. Yun ang pangbattle sa fake news: truth.” Community support “It is very crucial for Filipinos of all sectors, both in the Philippines and abroad, to unite against the continuation of the Duterte regime, a regime that has abused its power for far too long,” 1Sambayan said in an earlier statement. As a broad coalition of organizations and individuals, the group hopes to usher in a competent, trustworthy
administration in the May 2022 national elections in the Philippines. At the event, one family from Jersey City brought a big kettle of porridge with the sign “Lugaw for Leni,” a pointed reference to what Robredo’s detractors used as a putdown when her supporters back in 2016 raised funds by selling porridge during the campaign. “Symbolic kasi ang lugaw at yan ang ambag namin kahit maliit lang,” said Edu dela Cruz, a nurse. As a Filipino in America, Dr. Mario Brizuela has been observing the political climate from a distance. He believes that VP Robredo “has been the most
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Bongbong Marcos camp eyeing Pacquiao... PAGE 1 This was according to the former senator’s sister, Senator Imee Marcos, who said that her brother is still looking for a running mate. “Very obvious naman yung preference namin, sinasabing may ‘Solid north,’ mas malakas kami sa norte. Si Bongbong may [national Capital Region] din, malakas din naman kahit paano. Tapos Region 8. Pero medyo takot sa Mindanao, medyo bulag kami doon,” Sen. Marcos said in Teleradyo interview Wednesday. (Our preference is very obvious, we have the so-called “Solid North.” We’re strong in the north. Bongbong is also strong in the National Capital Region in one way or another as well as Region 8. But we are a bit scared when it comes to Mindanao.) “So naturally we’re tending towards the Mindanao and VisMin candidates,” she added. (So naturally we’re tending towards the Mindanao and VisMin candidates.) Bongbong-Pacquiao? Sen. Marcos also said they are considering Pacquiao to be her brother’s running mate should the boxer-turned-politician is willing to slide down to a vice presidential bid. Pacquiao is running for president with House Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza as his running mate. “There’s also the option…we also like the idea, syempre taga-Mindanao din, kung magi-slide naman si Sen. Pacquiao.
Taga-Mindanao din ‘yan, super popular din at kaibigan naman natin yan kahit na may pitik pitik lately,” Sen. Marcos said. (There’s also the option…we also like the idea, of course he’s from Mindanao, if Sen. Pacquiao will slide down. He’s from Mindanao, he’s super popular and we are friends even though there’s been a slight attack lately.) “Di na kami balat sibuyas pag medyo may bumibira, alam mo naman sa kasagsagan sa init ng halalan, oK lang,” she added. (We are not thin-skinned, we know it’s because of the elections, it’s OK.) The senator did not elaborate on this but it can be recalled that Pacquiao earlier said the Marcos family should return their “ill-gotten wealth” and apologize for abuses during the Marcos regime. Aside from ensuring votes in the South, Sen. Marcos said her brother is looking for a running mate he can get along with well. “Si Bongbong, naghahanap ng ka-tandem na bagay sa kanya, yung kasundo niyang katrabaho kasi kahit papaano di ba dapat may tiwala ka, tapos bagay kayo at nagkakaintindihan kayo ng maigi,” she said. (Bongbong is looking for a running mate that goes well with him, who he can go along with and trust.) “Hindi lang naman boto boto yan e. Kailangan kaibigan mo rin to a certain degree,” she added. (It’s not all about the votes. He needs someone he also considers a friend to a certain degree.) n
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From the Front Page
No quarantine for North America... PAGE 1 As a big market for airlines, Concepcion said North America can help the local aviation industry recover from huge losses they suffered, as lockdowns prevented people from traveling to various parts of the country and the world. “If we can implement this regulation immediately, it would also be a happy Christmas for our airline industry as many Filipinos and other visitors would pack their bags and return to the Philippines and celebrate Christmas here with loved ones who they haven’t seen for a long time,” Concepcion stressed. During the arrival of the AstraZeneca vaccine purchase by Go Negosyo through its “A Dose of Hope” vaccination program for private sector workers, Concepcion said vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez are making sure that there would be enough vaccines arriving until the first quarter of 2022. “The available vaccines will ensure that family members our balikbayans will go home to are also protected from hospitalization. Let’s give them a chance to be reunited,” Concepcion added. The Go Negosyo founder
also emphasized that the increased inbound traffic and the influx of returning Filipinos from North America would greatly benefit the economy, particularly the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). In his last meeting with IATF adviser Dr. Edsel Salvana, Concepcion presented the proposals of the aviation industry, including the shelving of multiple requirements for traveling, such as RT-PCR test for most local destinations and long quarantine for passengers of international flights. Concepcion, OCTA Research experts Prof. Ranjit Rye and Fr. Nick Austriaco and representatives and officials from local airlines met with Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez to discuss the possibility of implementing a no-quarantine policy for North America. Go Negosyo and the country’s flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) recently presented their plan to pilot-test the no-quarantine policy on
travelers from North America. They also proposed the frontloading of the testing process before passengers arrive in the country and expanding international gateways to reduce the number of arrivals at the NAIA terminals. During their meeting with government officials, Concepcion said the country should reciprocate the United States’ policy to require travelers from the Philippines to present a negative RT-PCR test and proof of vaccination status as travel requirements by implementing a no-quarantine policy. Austriaco, for his part, stressed during his presentation that new infections in the Philippines cannot be attributed to international arrivals, claiming that arriving international passengers account for only 1.8 cases out of the 6,000 average new cases. Philippine Airlines echoed Austriaco’s pronouncement, saying that based on its monitoring of positivity rates among its inbound international passengers, positivity rates among inbound passengers from North America have been relatively low be-
cause 90 percent of passengers from that region are vaccinated. Romualdez said the Philippine embassy in the US is willing to support the documentation and authentication of vaccination records for arriving passengers to ensure that they are indeed vaccinated. Vaccination is also not an issue for US-based Filipinos as 90 percent of them are already inoculated against COVID-19, Romualdez added. The ambassador also said a Boston-based company has offered to pilot-test a PCR testing technology which can pool testing among passengers and have their results available upon their arrival in the Philippines. “This can greatly ease the waiting time of arriving passengers at the NAIA, many of whom have already spent hours on the plane and must contend with spending even more time lining up for testing at the airport,” he said. “Filipinos look forward to Christmas every year. It is best spent at home with family. We need to give our balikbayans the chance to be with their loved ones,” Concepcion stressed. n
Rolando Lavarro ramps up campaign for re-election... PAGE 1 Lavarro is one of seven candidates vying to fill the three, 4-year terms as Jersey City at-large city council members in the Nov. 2 election. All three incumbents are running for reelection. Council President Joyce Watterman and Councilmanat-large Daniel Rivera are running on Mayor Steve Fulop’s slate, along with Hudson County Democratic Organization Chairwoman Amy DeGise. A former city council president himself, Lavarro cited “policy differences” with his former allies in city hall including Mayor Fulop. Lavarro said that he has been the leading advocate for a more affordable and equitable Jersey City, fighting for affordable housing for all the people of Jersey City. He wants developers to provide at least 20% of affordable housing in each project and sponsored a resolution that would require this but it was voted down by his colleagues
Rolando Lavarro with his supporters at Fi’Co on Westside Ave in Jersey City.
in the city council. “We need to build more affordable housing throughout the city and that continues to be my priority moving forward should I have the privilege of being reelected,” he said. Lavarro said he plans to continue his idea and goal of ending “the tale of two cities in Jersey City,” the same goal he had when he ran and won in the special elections back in 2011.
At that time, he made history, broke the glass ceiling, and became the first Asian American and the first Filipino American elected to the city council. “We had a prospering growing downtown with all of the investments that were made there to the quality of life and all of the development and construction, and then the rest of the city, which had largely been abandoned and forgotten and neglected
AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya
for far too long here,” the lifelong resident of Jersey City said. After his first term in office, Navarro realized that “we had not done nearly enough to bridge the tale of two cities, that in fact, looking among kababayan and among immigrants and blacks and Hispanics and others, that too many people were still being left behind, in fact, the disparities had grown even wider and deeper among
Report: Apple threatened Facebook ban over abuse of Filipina domestic workers by AJPress A NEW report revealed that Apple once gave Facebook an ultimatum over the abuse of Filipina domestic workers in the Middle East. “Two years ago, Apple threatened to pull Facebook and Instagram from its app store over concerns about the platform being used as a tool to trade and sell maids in the Mideast,” the Associated Press said in an article published Tuesday, October 25. In response to the threat, Facebook admitted to being aware of both the exploitative conditions of foreign workers and the use of Instagram to buy and trade maids online. It also recognized the website’s problem with “domestic servitude,” which is a form of human trafficking “for the purpose of working inside private homes through the use of force, fraud, coercion or deception.” Facebook engineers reportedly found nearly three-fourths of posts that showed maids in photos/videos and their biographical details, with over 60% of the material coming from Saudi Arabia, and about a quarter from Egypt. And while Facebook disabled over 1,000 accounts on its websites, it acknowledged that it was “under-enforcing on confirmed abusive activity” that saw Filipina maids complaining on the social media site of being abused. The move convinced Apple to relent and allow Facebook and Instagram to remain in the app store. However, the AP noted that Facebook’s crackdown had a “limited effect.”
u PAGE 10 those who have and those who have not.” “The overall gentrification and the pushing out of longtime residents including so many kababayans who just can’t continue to afford to live here. That was what ultimately drove me to say, I need to stand up for the people in the city, and I need to stand up even if it meant my own political future is at stake as a result,” Lavarro said. “And so that’s why I’m running independently I’m proud to do that and I’m willing to put my political life, my political career at risk there to ensure that I protect the people and the communities.” Filipino American community leaders in Jersey City like Helen Castillo, Gani Morales, and Maricar Taino are helping Lavarro in the campaign as volunteers and supporters, recognizing the fact that it is going to be an uphill battle for the reelections councilman. “He is doing this as an independent, he is fighting for us in the city council so we should all support him, wala siyang machinery,”
Morales said. Taino agreed and added that Filipinos should unite behind Lavarro. “We have to show that we are united and we have a voice. We have to leave a mark, ang dami nating Pilipino dito,” she said. Organizations and unions such as NJ Working Families and 32BJ-SEIU have endorsed Lavarro’s candidacy. Last week, Lavarro earned the endorsement of Jersey Journal “in an effort to mix up the now full-time council jobs and break Fulop’s stranglehold, but also recognizing the best candidates for the job,” “After splitting with the mayor’s team, Lavarro has consistently stood up for what’s right for his constituents in the face of ugly bullying,” it added. Regular polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day itself, Tuesday, Nov. 2. For further information on when, where, and how to vote, go to hudsoncountyclerk.org/ elections or call 201-3693470. (By Momar G. Visaya/ AJPress) n
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021
OPINION
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FeATUres
Safe campaigning
Philstar.com photo
WITH certificates of candidacy filed, and with the Supreme Court ruling that there is no such thing as premature campaigning, candidates have started raising their profiles for the 2022 general elections. The campaigning will be conducted even as COVID-19 continues to rage, with the coronavirus continually mutating and posing risks of resurgence. Candidates and supporters must be mindful of those continuing risks, especially in areas with low vaccination rates. Even in Metro Manila, sufficient vaccination for herd protection has not yet been attained. The Delta variant is also infecting even children and accounting for breakthrough infections and deaths even among the fully vaccinated. While social media can be widely used for safe campaigning, most politicians still see the need for face-to-face pitching of their candidacies. Since the filing of candidacies, political gatherings have started, with meetings, marches and motorcades being staged. Candidates must take full responsibility for ensuring that such gatherings will not turn into COVID superspreader events. They will have to coordinate closely with authorities
for such activities, to ensure strict compliance with COVID safety protocols. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, for example, has advised politicians to get a permit for motorcades, if only for traffic management, since holiday traffic is building up in the capital region. While the country is now at low risk for COVID-19, as declared by the Department of Health, it is not yet time to let down one’s guard. A coronavirus sub-variant said to be about 10 times more contagious than Delta has started spreading in the United Kingdom and nearly 30 other countries including the United States. In the meantime, vaccine efficacies are waning for those who were first in line for the shots, raising their risk of breakthrough infections. Last year, COVID cases also dropped dramatically with the approach of the holidays. The country happily prepared for economic revival during summer, with travel restrictions eased and tourist destinations reopened.
Editorial
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS I AM BACK! Good to share with you what I have been up to in my month-long hiatus from writing articles for this column. I just arrived from Spain to go on the Camino de Santiago spiritual pilgrimage, after almost two years
And then the Alpha and Beta variants struck, beginning in late March and bringing sickness and death through the summer. After 19 months of restrictions, people have become used to COVID safety protocols. So it shouldn’t be such a challenge to maintain strict adherence to masking, physi-
cal distancing and other safety measures during campaign activities. Surely candidates themselves don’t want themselves and their supporters getting sick, or worse, from their gatherings for the 2022 race. They should all reach the finish line healthy and safe. (Philstar.com)
The US’ slow but steady safe pace in defeating COVID-19 opens the gateway to our freedom of navigation of delay because of the coronavirus pandemic. Last year, the European Union, and even countries like our Motherland the Philippines, closed its borders to us, the people of the United States, because we were classified as high risk in spreading COVID-19 and its variants to their people.
The richest, most powerful nation in the world that other nations looked up to in our leadership in combatting infectious diseases became a hotspot of the pandemic, thanks but no thanks to the former administration’s failure in leadership because of its aversion to science. The former president and his
minions thought the truth about the coronavirus pandemic was getting in the way of their political ambition to be re-elected and remain in power, and consequently, the United States failed to mitigate the spread of the virus early enough. Thankfully, under the Biden Administration, sav-
ing lives became top priority again and science became our basis and tool in formulating policies and implementing programs to defeat the invisible enemy and lead us toward the “normal” life we have been missing. Fast forward to the present, the Mayo Clinic reports that as of October 25, 66.7%
of Americans are now vaccinated with at least one dose, and 57.7% are now fully vaccinated, especially in light of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in August. CDC has also recommended everyone 12 years PAGE 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. ADVERTISING AND ADVERTORIAL POLICIES ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board
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Dateline PhiliPPines
Duterte calls for maritime peace, DOH: Plans underway for stability in South China Sea COVID-19 booster shots in PH by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has reiterated his calls for peace and stability in the South China Sea. In his remarks at the virtual 38th and 39th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits and Related Summits, the Chief Executive urged his fellow ASEAN leaders to stay united in pursuing prosperity in the contested waters, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award. “We have come a long way in keeping the peace and promoting prosperity in our region. We must not allow those with diverging interests to make our efforts fail,” Duterte said Tuesday, October 26. He also renewed calls for “holistic” efforts to protect and preserve the biodiversity and marine environment of the South China Sea, pointing out that 2017 to 2027 is the “Decade of Coastal and Marine Environmental Protection” in the maritime area. In addition, Duterte urged countries
to translate commitments into action as regards the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). The DOC “reflects the consensus reached by all Parties on seeking peaceful solutions to disputes and conducting maritime cooperation in order to maintain regional stability in the South China Sea,” according to the ASEAN website. “Talks should not remain empty rhetoric. They should be translated into action to fortify the trust and confidence we have cultivated through the years. Acta non verba. Deeds, not words,” said Duterte. Further, he lauded the Philippines’ contribution to the substantive progress in the second reading of the Single Draft Code of Conduct (COC) Negotiating Text. Duterte likewise reaffirmed the country’s commitment to help finalize an “effective and substantive” COC in the South China Sea. Hosted by Brunei, the virtual 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits will run from Oct. 26 to 28. During the first day of the Summits, PAGE 7
by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
THE Philippines is eyeing booster shots of the COVID19 vaccine for its priority groups such as healthcare workers and senior citizens. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Monday, October 25, said that the country’s Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has approved the recommendation of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) to offer booster shots and additional vaccines. She also said that the Philippine Department of Health is discussing the booster rollout during the last three months of 2021. “Lahat naman ng plano ay underway na tulad naman ng sabi namin sa inyo (All
plans are underway and like what we told you) we will have this third doses for the immunocompromised, senior citizens and our boosters for our healthcare workers,” she said. However, Vergeire noted that an emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is still required. “Pero kailangan po aantayin pa rin nating lahat ang emergency use authority na manggagaling sa (But we need to wait for the emergency use authority from the) Food and Drug Administration,” she said. “While waiting for the EUA we’re already planning and discussing how we can go about with the implementation,” she added. Under the HTAC’s recommendation, booster
shots will be given by the end of the year to healthcare workers and senior citizens, provided that they have completed the primary COVID-19 vaccine series at least six months before. The booster shots could also be expanded to other eligible priority groups including those from A3 (people with comorbidities), A4 (economic frontliners), and A5 (poor population) by 2022, but only if an acceptable vaccine vaccination coverage or 50% have completed the initial series. “The rationale for the set threshold prior to implementation of booster includes ensuring maximum coverage for the primary series as the premature rollout of booster vaccination without attaining acceptable coverPAGE 8
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Larry Itliong Resource Center opens... PAGE 1 (FANHS) Delano, the Bulosan Center of Filipino Studies, and the Central Valley Empowerment Alliance (CVEA). Attendees included family members of movement leaders Itliong, César Chávez and Al Rojas. Also present in the event was Dolores Huerta, who cofounded the National Farmworkers Association with Chávez, which later merged with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee to become the United Farm Workers. She was joined by state Attorney General Rob Bonta and State Treasurer Fiona Ma. “We remember the heroes who led especially our early farm workers who came here alone often and fought and toiled and fought for change,” said Bonta. “And also so we inspire our next generation to make sure they know people that look like them from their communities fought and made change to this great state and in this nation.” The event included a historical tour of the region and solidarity march and rally from Agbayani Village to Reuther Hall in 40 Acres. Itliong was one of the most important civil rights leaders of the 20th century and a father of the West Coast labor movement. He was born in the Philippines and migrated to the United States in 1929, working in the Alaskan fish canneries and along the West Coast as a farm laborer. Among Itliong’s achieve-
PH readies shift from pandemic to endemic by Red
Mendoza ManilaTimes.net
California Attorney General Rob Bonta (2nd row, center) was joined by Filipino American community members on Sunday, October 24 as the Larry Itliong Resource Center held its grand opening) Photo courtesy of Attorney General Rob Bonta/Facebook
ments include uniting with the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) and starting the Delano Grape Strike and Boycott, which is one of the most important social justice and labor movements in American history. He also formed the UFW with Chávez, with the latter as director and the former as assistant director. On Oct. 12, Itliong was among the six notable individuals posthumously inducted into the California Hall of Fame. In addition, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued
a proclamation declaring October 25, 2021, as “Larry Itliong Day” in the State. “During Filipino-American Heritage Month, we celebrate the birthday of trailblazing Filipino-American labor leader, organizer and California Hall of Fame Inductee Larry Itliong,” he said in his proclamation. “This month, I had the honor of inducting Mr. Itliong into the California Hall of Fame, recognizing his incredible impact on our state and unapologetic advocacy for those without a voice,” added Newsom. (Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress) n
FRUITS AND VEGGIES. A vendor waits for customers to buy fresh vegetables and fruits at her stall in Cavite on Tuesday, October 26. The government has allowed more businesses to operate under a more relaxed Alert Level 3. PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.
Duterte calls for maritime peace...
PAGE 6 Duterte was joined by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin, Jr., Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana, Secretary of Trade and Industry Ramon
Lopez, Secretary of Social Welfare and Development Rolando Joselito Bautista, and Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Carlito Galvez, Jr. n
PHILIPPINE Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the Philippines is now preparing a future where COVID-19 will shift from a global pandemic to endemic disease, while also preparing for possible emergence of new variants with increased severity. Speaking at the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Committee 72nd Session held in Himeji, Japan, Duque said that despite the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee never stopped serving the people of the region. “Even though the pandemic has taken a lot from us, it hasn’t taken away our drive to serve the people of this Region to the best of our abilities, and this meeting is a testament to that,” Duque said in his outgoing address to the Committee. During his time as Chairman, he reported on the three action plans made in the past session: a regional action plan for healthy aging in the Western Pacific, a regional strategic framework for vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization in the Western Pacific region, and an action framework for the safe and affordable surgery in the region. He said that in the action plan for the elderly, the WHO Western Pacific region
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is now implementing advocacy for healthy older adults which would contribute to the society, while in the framework of vaccinepreventable diseases and immunization, the Committee envisions that the whole region will be free of vaccine-preventable diseases by 2020. The third action framework creates an enabling structure to identify the gaps in surgical systems and address issues on pricing and quality of consumables as well as upgrading the surgical capacities in the region. WHO Western Pacific Regional Director Dr. Takeshi Kasai, in his keynote, highlighted the importance of a strong health system and good clinical capacity to minimize deaths from COVID-19 and limiting its impact, saying that this will be important lessons as the WHO aims to shift the Covid response towards making it an “endemic” disease. “This lesson will be important as we move towards the COVID -19 ‘endemic’ phase, but it applies equally beyond COVID -19. And the key to this is health care workers. Our societies have not valued health care workers enough in the past, and we must do so in the future,” Kasai said. He also urged health leaders from the Western Pacific region to advocate for continued investments in health care as PAGE 10
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Fil-Ams stage rally in NYC to support VP Robredo’s... PAGE 4 trolled and malignantly despised Vice President in history,” due to the tons of fake news that have been thrown at her. “Her kind of leadership is what people need, what the Philippines needs. It’s the kind that listens, that collectively gathers ideas from the people and come up with more concrete actions and she has done this,” said Dr. Brizuela. “Let’s fight with Leni, let’s fight as Filipinos, not as partisan politicians but let’s fight with the principle of fighting for the future of the Philippines,” he added. Hector Fonacier of Bolton, New York is also throwing his support to VP Robredo. “Ilocano ako, dapat nga Marcos ako. Pero naniniwala ako na kapag mali, mali. Kaliwa’t kanan na ang ginagawa nilang pagnanakaw kahit may pandemya pa,” he shared. He believes that some of the politicians who have filed their candidacies are Manchurian candidates and that they should be weeded out.
FOWL SHELTERS. Rogelio Calwit, 59, builds a condo-type, chicken cage made of light materials for a client on Capt. Samano Road in Barangay 175, Camarin, Caloocan City on Tuesday, October 26. He charges a customer PHP2,400 for a made-to-order chicken cage. PNA photo by Ben Briones
New York and New Jersey supporters of VP Leni Robredo gathered in NYC to show their support to the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem. AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya
“Kailangan mawala ang mga Manchurian candidates. Ayaw naming ituloy lang nila ang mga ginagawa ni Duterte. Ito yung mga kandidatong pakawala nila,” he said. “Kailangan nating piliin ang kandidato na walang bahid. Hindi mo siya maakusahan na nagnakaw. Siya lang ang lumabas at gumawa noong panahon ng pandemya at si Leni yun.” Bobby Young echoed
what Robredo said about her mom’s campaign and lack of political machinery. “Ang machinery ni VP Leni ay tayo, ang mga tao. Dahil ang laban na ito ay laban natin, this is the people’s campaign. Kaya tayo lahat nandito, iba-iba man ang pinanggalingan natin, ang political affiliation natin pero nagkakaisa tayo para sa labang ito,” he said. Shirley Atienza of Migrante New York said her organi-
zation strongly believes that Robredo is the best candidate for the job and not the lesser evil as some people have been saying. “Throwing our support for Leni is not a gamble but a step closer to a better Philippines,” she said. “Rooting for Leni is not a favor we afford to her, it is a favor we owe to ourselves, to the country, and to the generations of Filipinos to come.” n
DOH: Plans underway... PAGE 6 age would exacerbate existing inequities,” said the HTAC. Further, the council recommended an additional dose for immunocompromised individuals at least 28 days after completing their initial vaccine series. Among those are individuals receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood, those receiving an organ transplant, those with advanced or untreated human immunodeficiency virus or HIV infection, those with rare disease, and dialysis patients. According to the HTAC, getting the same brand of the initial COVID-19 shots for an individual’s third dose is recommended, but the vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech may be used for those who had been injected with AstraZeneca, CoronaVac, and Moderna jabs. n
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 29 - NOvEmbER 4, 2021
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SFIO’s The Global Academy in partnership with FPACC aims to guide businesses in their journey of digital transformation THE existence of the COVID-19 pandemic has lasted for almost two years, forcing the world to live in a “new normal.” Due to the constant lockdowns, businesses have been forced to close their doors under lockdown restrictions that have put most entrepreneurs in very difficult situations. To sustain the business, entrepreneurs have had to stay ahead of the curve, make necessary changes, and be creative during the pandemic – critical actions they have needed to do for their businesses to pull through. Undoubtedly, technology has been a great help for the business to stay afloat; some businesses have performed even better than before with the support of technology. Most of the businesses moved online to protect their cash flow, their businesses, their staff and themselves. SFIO’s “The Global Academy” (TGA) headed by its CEO, Jonathan Petalver, is proud to present a new partnership with the Federation of Philippine American Chamber of Commerce (FPACC) to build business leaders and digital entrepreneurs. The establishment of a new relationship with FPACC is to support its thrust to develop business owners’ mindset to stay ahead in this new digital economy. Transitioning into a new way of running a business has always been a challenge. The academy teaches business owners how to utilize their products with an improved process
and digitalize it through a suitable platform, shortening the time of trials and lessening the failures as theyt embark on their digital business. We know the pain of going through the transition period. Hence, we would like to enable our kababayans to have a solid foundation in operating a digital business in the long term. The course is sponsored by SFIO and
SAM. The strategic learning provider, The Global Academy New Zealand, will provide coaching and training about digitalizing the product, process and platform. The coaching session will equip business owners with ways to thrive and stay ahead by transforming their business organizations digitally in this new economy. The course of digital business will guide them from
product to process and eventually to operate their businesses on different digital platforms to stay competitive in this new business and economic environment. There are new strategies and practices required as most consumers move dramatically to online platforms nowadays. Digital transformation will be the core element to stabilize the business operation in the future. SFIO aims to create futurereadiness and resilience for entrepreneurs, while TGA sets out to reset, reboot and reprogram the mindsets of FPACC members to be well-prepared entrepreneurs and welcome the ultimate “new normal” of reopening for future business. SFIO has gone through the same process of digital transformation which enabled it to become a global leader. Throughout the program designed by TGA, we are confident that our business owners will be trained with strong foundations to be able to operate a steady digital version of sustainable business. TGA equips them through business coaching to stay ahead and thrive amidst this COVID19 pandemic. TGA is looking for Strategic Entrep Coaches to reach out to as many kababayans for 2022. This is to raise interest for those who already became successful in the U.S. and would like to be part of TGA globally.
(Advertising Supplement)
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The US’ slow but steady safe pace...
GLOSSY FINISH. A worker applies varnish on a wooden cheese plate at a stall in Dangwa, Manila on Tuesday, October 26. Several vendors are allowed to operate their business as long as they observe the health protocols such as wearing a face mask to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease. PNA photo by Rico H. Borja
Report: Apple threatened Facebook... PAGE 4 “Even today, a quick search for ‘khadima,’ or ‘maids’ in Arabic, will bring up accounts featuring posed photographs of Africans and South Asians with ages and prices listed next to their images,” it said. “That’s even as the Philippines government has a team of workers that do nothing but scour Facebook posts each day to try and protect desperate job seekers from criminal gangs and unscrupulous recruiters using the site,” it added. Despite the continued spread of ads exploiting foreign workers in the Mideast, Facebook maintained that it took the problem seriously. “We prohibit human exploitation in no uncertain terms,” it said in a statement to the AP. “We’ve been combating human trafficking on our platform for many years and our goal remains to prevent anyone who seeks to exploit others from having a home
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on our platform,” it added. Still, the AP pointed out that Facebook’s daunting size and user base around the world “proves to be its greatest weakness in trying to police illicit activity, such as the sale of drugs, and suspected human rights and labor abuses on its site.” Filipina Mary Ann Abunda of the Sandigan in Kuwait warned of the dangers that Facebook can pose. “Facebook really has two faces now,” she said as quoted by the AP. “Yes, as it advertises, it’s connecting people, but it has also become a haven of sinister people and syndicates who wait for your weak moment to pounce on you.” One Filipina housemaid in Kuwait told the AP of her experience in being “sold” to another family through an Instagram post in December 2012. “I was like an animal that was being traded by one owner to another,” she said.
“If Facebook and Instagram won’t take stronger steps against this anomaly, there will be more victims like me. I was lucky because I did not end up dead or a sexual slave,” she added. For its part, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) acknowledged that individuals who want to go abroad trust Facebook more than the private recruiting agencies monitored by the government. According to POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia, some job seekers mistakenly believe that the agency endorses some of the Facebook and Instagram accounts due to misuse of the office’s logo. He added that his office for the last two years had a direct line to Facebook to be able to flag suspicious accounts, but “even that isn’t enough.” “It will affect their income so they don’t want to address this,” Olalia added. n
PH readies shift from...
PAGE 7 it is an “engine for social and economic development,”as well as investing in partnerships that will move its vision towards the future. In his subsequent speech to the Committee as the representative of the Philippine Department of Health, Duque affirmed the position made by Kasai in his keynote address, saying that it has been “relevant” for member-states to improve health systems and public health system capacity. “We acknowledge the necessity of financing preparedness and response at the national, regional, and global levels. There should be optimal financing of the public common good, leveraging resources of the private sector, developing insurance solutions, and strengthening
the collaboration among sectors including ministries of health and finance in terms of universal health financing,” Duque said. Duque said that as part of global solidarity, the Philippines has been both a donor and recipient country to the global Covax facility, as well as the global contingent support fund for emergencies, as well as supporting resources at the regional level for adverse events following vaccination and vaccine procurement. He also pushed for the implementation of a universal health care system and expanded strategic engagement with the public sector. “We must work together to ensure that every nation’s health system has the capacity to cope with the sudden surges and increases in the demand for the care of individuals with severe and critical COVID-19 cases,” Duque said. n
PAGE 5 and older should get vaccinated to help protect against the virus. According to the agency, widespread vaccination is a critical tool to help stop the pandemic and help us go back to life as we knew it before 2020. While compared to adults, fewer children have been infected with COVID-19, the CDC explained that children can also be infected with the virus, get sick and spread COVID-19 to others. And because of the Delta variant and new scientific information about the diminishing antibody levels with time, the FDA on October 20 expands authorizations for COVID-19 vaccine booster doses for eligible populations who received Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID19 vaccine and for Janssen COVID-19 vaccine recipients 18 and older. As of press time today, October 26, the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee just announced an amendment to PfizerBioNTech’s Emergency Use Authorization of their COVID-19 mRNA vaccine to children 5 through 11 years of age. This decision comes after the agency reviewed data released by Pfizer on October 22 that showed a kid-sized, two-dose regimen of the Pfizer’s vaccine is safe and 90.7% effective against symptomatic illness from the virus in children ages 5 to 11 years old. These new developments, coupled with a more unified effort to practice safety measures like wearing masks, social distancing and avoiding crowds, especially in indoor settings, have taken us to a more optimistic place with a greater fighting chance toward victory. Hence, the EU has once again opened its borders to American tourists who are fully vaccinated with vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the EU that was why many of us in America have had the privilege of traveling again. We felt safe with strict implementation of other travel safety requirements like getting a negative COVID-19 test taken 72 hours for PCR and 48 hours for rapid test antigen, and wearing masks, observing social distancing. The United States has also announced it is opening its borders to vaccinated inter-
national tourists, and this is great news for us to see our family and friends again from the Philippines and elsewhere around the world! Travel.State.Gov announced: Starting on November 8, foreign national air travelers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to fly to the United States, with only limited exceptions. The CDC has determined that for the purposes of entry into the United States, vaccines accepted will include those FDA approved or authorized, as well as vaccines with an emergency use listing (EUL) from the World Health Organization (WHO). See the CDC’s website for more details. Fully vaccinated air travelers will continue to be required to show documentation of a pre-departure negative viral test from a sample taken within three days of travel to the United States before boarding. That includes all travelers – U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), and foreign nationals. To further strengthen protections, unvaccinated travelers – whether U.S. citizens, LPRs, or the small number of excepted unvaccinated foreign nationals – will now need to show documentation of a negative viral test from a sample taken within one day of travel to the United States. As the State Department stated, “As long as the virus is spreading anywhere, it is a threat to people everywhere, including Americans here at home. That’s why earlier this year, President Joe Biden announced that the United States will share over 580 million doses with countries around the world”. “America will be the arsenal of vaccines in our global fight against COVID-19, just as America was the arsenal of democracy in World War II,” President Biden said. Reclaiming our leadership in the international community that we lost during the Trump presidency, the Biden Administration recognizes the fact that “COVID19 is a global challenge that requires a global response. Together, we will lead the world out of this pandemic.” The State Department also stated: “The United Statuses exercising diplo-
matic leadership to mobilize an international response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its secondary impacts while strengthening global biosecurity infrastructure to address both the current crisis and future health-related threats.” WE, the PEOPLE, should also be part of the solution and not the problem, and always think in terms of what is for the greater good, not just in the present time but always until the future. This is what we need to learn more from Spain. During the time we were there, most of the people of Spain observed safety measures and would remind others, including tourists to follow the same, especially in enclosed places, for the safety of all people in their country. Spain has vaccinated 80.2% of its population with at least one dose, and 78.6% are fully vaccinated. Nearing 90% of its target population, Spain has really been successful in controlling the spread of the virus. From an all-time high of 35,475 in January 2021, Spain is now down to a 7-day average of 1863. Spain has a population of 47,431, 256. Can we do the same? Let us not go too far. Look at California — home to the most number of Filipinos in the U.S. and outside of the Philippines. Statewide, 72.6% of people in California are now fully vaccinated, with 7.8% partially vaccinated. Of course, we can do more. We can do better. If we start thinking more of the good of all, less than what is good for me. If we keep on reminding ourselves this is the only patriotic and Christian way to go to save lives and go back to normalcy. Remember: we are all in this together. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for the community. You may contact her through email at gelrelos@icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos.
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 29 - NOvEmbER 4, 2021
COMMUNITY Journal
Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ FOR anyone with a pending petition or application, the delays in processing their case at USCIS can be frustrating and can cause tremendous disruption, and unnecessary separation of family members. If this applies to you, you’re not alone. The USCIS has a process or procedure to request your case to be expedited. In this article, I will discuss what types of cases could be eligible for expedited treatment and how to make the request to expedite. First, the USCIS will consider expedite request only if it meets certain criteria or circumstances: • Severe financial loss to a company or person. However, the need for urgent action cannot be the result of the person failing to timely request the benefit or respond to requests for additional evidence. For example, did you wait until the last minute to file for an immigration benefit or extension? Also, you have to document to show what exactly is the loss and that the person requesting the expedite cannot “withstand the temporary financial loss that is the natural result of normal processing times.” In other words, everyone under petition is suffering in some manner, as well as the company waiting for them to be able to begin working. Maybe the person holds a key position in a company, and the company may go out of business unless the case is approved immediately. • Emergencies and urgent humanitarian reasons.
How to expedite your case at USCIS • U.S. government interests. This could include government agencies such as the Department of Defense, Department of Labor, Homeland Security, or other public safety or national security interests. • Clear USCIS error. However, the USCIS notes that even if your situation fits one of these categories, it may not warrant expedited processing. For example, if the person wants to expedite a work authorization or student status, that, standing alone, “without any evidence of other compelling factors, does not warrant expedited treatment.” This is likely because everyone wants a work authorization. Therefore, everyone would claim they’re entitled to expedited processing. Once an expedite request is submitted to USCIS, it may ask for additional evidence and documents to support expedited processing. If you’re lucky enough to get the expedite request approved, it does not mean your actual case is being approved. It simply means the USCIS will take your case out of order and put it to the front of the line and issue a decision faster than the posted processing times. But the USCIS is extremely reluctant to grant expedite requests because everyone has their own reason or justification for wanting their case approved faster. Usually, USCIS thinks it’s unfair to move anyone to the front of the line, just because they came up with a better excuse or reason. You need to demonstrate and document some
extremely critical, out of the ordinary emergency to even have a chance. And of course, I would never guarantee anyone that just because they submit an expedite request, USCIS will be granting it. But if you truly have a case or situation that meets one of these listed criteria or factors, you may want to consult with an attorney who can evaluate your situation and, if you do meet the requirements, help you package and document the expedite request, provided you meet all other eligibility requirements: there are no other issues or problems in your case, your priority date is current, and the like. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 40 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. 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 re-enactments) 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, YouTube: US Immigration TV and Instagram.com/gurfinkellaw 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)
Kris now engaged: ‘I’m looking forward to be a Sarmiento’
AFTER months of silence since first revealing their relationship, Kris Aquino announced on Instagram on Sunday, October 24 her engagement to former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
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secretary Mel Sarmiento. “We discussed this post and I thought about it carefully… marami kasi sa followers ko ang nagtatanong kung kamusta na ko because matagal na kong nawala (many of my followers have
been asking me how I’ve been since I’ve gone on an hiatus for so long),” she wrote on her post’s caption. Aamin ako (I’ll admit) I’m only 95 pounds now. This pandemic and many stressPAGE 12
JUMPSHIP SON HELPS LEGALIZE HIS MOTHER THIS SUNDAY ON CITIZEN PINOY. Did you know that family members can “spread the love” by helping each other legalize their status? Mommy Emi (left) came to the U.S. on a visitor’s visa and overstayed. Upon consulting leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right), she was advised to wait for her son to legalize his status in the U.S. first. But Emi’s son, Jerome, was a crewman who jumped ship and was not eligible to adjust status in the U.S. When the provisional regulations came out in 2013, Atty. Gurfinkel filed a provisional waiver so Jerome could get his green card in Manila, and eventually become a U.S. citizen, so he could petition his mother. Watch this success story on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” this Sunday, October 31 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)
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Your COVID-19 queries
Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS FOLLOWING our series of articles on COVID-19 the past few weeks, we have received more than two dozen questions from our readers. We have integrated them in this Q&A: Are the vaccines safe for those pregnant? Yes, the COVID-19 vaccines are safe for pregnant mothers, proven by the millions of shots administered to women in the various stages of pregnancy. The FDA strongly recommends the vaccines for those who are pregnant to prevent pre-term abortion/ miscarriages and death of fetus in the womb. Does the vaccine alter the DNA? This is a myth propagated in social media. The vaccine does not alter the DNA, does not have a virus in it, does not cause COVID-19 or Alzheimer’s, does not have a microchip in it, does not change a person’s blood type, and does not cause infertility or cancer or any other disease among healthy individuals. How effective are the vaccines for kids? Pfizer, for one, reported its new “lower-dose COVID19 vaccine showed 90.7% efficacy (95% CI 67.7-98.3) against symptomatic infection for kids ages 5 to 11. The FDA is releasing its final approval of this vaccine for this age group. Children eligible to get the vaccine should get it to be safe. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there were 130,000 new COVID-19 cases among kids for the week ending October 14, 2021 alone. The cases among children are on the rise and so with hospitalization. The stupid mandate against masking by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and the dangerous medically baseless ideas of other arrogant leaders like her have obviously contributed to the gravity of the pandemic across the nation. It is one thing to mandate in favor of a protective strategy; it is another to mandate against one and endanger people. Are they epidemiologists? These politicians could be challenged in court and held liable for their words and actions. Why don’t they follow
the federal guidelines? Any new ingredient in the booster? No, the ingredient in the booster shot is the same as the first two shots. So, individuals who had any brand of the two shots and did not develop any complications will also most likely not have any untoward reaction to the booster, which is not a new formulation. The booster is especially beneficial for those who are at high risk, those immunocompromised, and those who have co-morbidities (high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, COPD, asthma, etc.). What if I skip the booster? The immunity/protection (antibody titer) following the first two shots of any brand of COVID-19 vaccine wanes after 6 months (the titer goes down to around 60 percent or so from the 90-95 percent titer level conferred by the vaccines), so the immunity is reduced by about 40 percent. This figure represents the risk after 6 months. Getting the booster will raise the antibody titer (protective immunity) back up to 95.6 percent or higher. This is the right way to go, even for children. Discuss your concerns with your physician. What is mix-and-match? Clinical studies have shown the safety and efficacy of giving one brand of the COVID19 vaccines for the first shot (example: Pfizer’s) and a different brand (Moderna’s) for the second shot. The same thing with the booster: If one had Pfizer or Moderna for the first 2 shots, the booster shot could be either of the two. If equally available, take the same brand for the second shot or for booster. If not, mix and match is similarly safe and effective. How long do I stay testnegative? After testing negative for COVID-19, a person remains negative as long as he/she does not get exposed to, or actually gets the SARS-CoV2 virus from people who have the virus (even if they do not have symptoms). A negative test in the morning could turn positive when tested the same afternoon or the following day if the individual does not wear a facemask, and does not do social distancing and gets exposed to infected persons. The risk of negative turning into positive is at least ten times higher among the unvaccinated. Is natural immunity better?
No, natural immunity is not as protective, not as stable, and not as long-lasting as the immunity from the vaccines. Natural immunity will not be sufficient to protect people from getting COVID-19 (again). Many unvaccinated individuals who have died from COVID-19, did not survive to benefit from natural immunity. The best strategy is to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Did the court rule on a vaccine mandate? Yes, according to the Wall Street Journal, ”In nearly every instance, COVID vaccine mandates are holding up in court,” just like the federal mandate requiring all children to have the required vaccinations before enrollment which has held up for decades and protected billions of children around the world. Medically speaking, only a prompt federal vaccine mandate for all eligible persons will end this pandemic in the United States sooner than later. The body of the unvaccinated acts as a host and becomes a reservoirfactory of the virus, where it replicates and mutates to a deadlier strain, which will exponentially spread to millions more and prolong this pandemic. Without a host, the virus self-destruct. Is there a pill for COVID19? While hundreds of potential oral medications to prevent or treat COVID-19 are undergoing clinical trials, Merck’s COVID-19-antiviral pill is the only one so far scheduled to be reviewed and scrutinized by the U.S. FDA on November 30, 2021. Are you against the freedom of choice? No, I am not against civil rights or personal liberty to choose, as long as the choice does not cause harm or kill other people. Let me echo my rhetorical questions to clarify my sentiment about freedom of choice: Does a driver of a school bus full of children have the right to choose to drive the bus over a cliff because he does not want to live anymore? Would you allow people who have active tuberculosis or any deadly infectious disease who refuse treatment (as their constitutional right) to spread the disease and kill thousands of others? Would a federal mandate to compel these persons (like those who refuse the COVID-19 vaccines) to get the shots to protect them and the general public not be jus-
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How a son who jumped ship was able to petition his out-of-status mother this Sunday on Citizen Pinoy THIS Sunday’s episode features Nanay Emi who wanted to legalize her status after she arrived in the U.S. on a tourist visa and overstayed in 2010. After consulting with leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel, she was advised to wait for her son to first legalize his status and become a U.S. citizen. Only then could the son be able to petition his mother. They had to wait patiently though, since Nanay Emi’s son, Jerome, was a crewman who jumped ship in 2004. Even though he was married to a U.S. citizen, he was unable to file for adjustment of status in the U.S. It was Nanay Emi who saw the news of a
new regulation in 2013 that could benefit her son: provisional waiver. Jerome was able to safely return to the Philippines in 2015 to get his immigrant visa from the U.S. Embassy in Manila. After three years, Jerome became a U.S. citizen, and he was finally able to petition his mother. Watch this success story on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” this Sunday, October 31 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET thru select Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the app for free.
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Kris now engaged: ‘I’m looking... PAGE 11 ful events that happened since mid August really caused my weight to drop & my health to suffer,” she added. She added that it has also been exactly four months since the Aquino family lost former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. However, despite the unfortunate events, her late brother remains the “matchmaker in heaven.” “Somehow I believe there really was a matchmaker in heaven who must be smiling now- I can almost hear his voice telling me, ‘Kristina, tama na, respect the fact na gusto ni Mel ng tahimik na buhay’ And finally, ‘bunso’ has learned to obey,” she said. “To my best friend and the man I said yes to spending the rest of my life with, thank you for as bimb said, loving me for me, with no agenda, and for being just an overall good and patient man. It’s unreal how much more calm & peaceful I feel now that you’re here,” she tified? Sadly, the abuse of freedom, political correctness, and cancel culture today are standing in the way of safe public health. I strongly believe national societal interest and safety must always prevail over individual civil rights, especially in a pandemic which has so far killed more than three-fourths of a million around the world. King Solomon must be turning in his grave. * * *
Former DILG chief Mel Senen Sarmiento and Kris Aquino
Inquirer.net photos
added now talking about her beau. Aquino explained that she and Sarmiento would have never met if it was not for ex-president Noynoy. It was even only after her brother’s death last June when she “reconnected” with Sarmiento. “Thank you, you must have known how broken i’d be to lose you, so you made sure there was someone who not only helped wipe away my tears, he’s made it possible for me to smile and laugh again. Dumating nung hindi ko hinahanap o inaasahan – kaya nga tama silang lahat na nagsabi in God’s perfect time,” she said.
“We agreed, what’s personal shall remain private so hanggang dito lang ang pwede kong ma-share. Except I guess to say as much as I am proud to be an Aquino, looking forward to na kong maging Sarmiento,” she added. Sarmiento was DILG secretary from 2015 to 2016 under the administration of former president Noynoy Aquino. He also served as secretary-general of the Liberal Party. Sarmiento also served as Western Samar representative from 2010 to 2015. (By Zacarian Sarao/Inquirer.net)
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. * * * The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone.
This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health. * * * 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, Today. SPSAtoday.com, and FUN8888.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.
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Jennica on marital woes: Alwyn Marvin’s top investment and I are working on our marriage is employee health care By allan
poliCarpio Inquirer.net
WHILE she didn’t go into detail about her marriage woes, Jennica Garcia let on that she has been trying to work things out with her husband, Alwyn Uytingco. “Alwyn and I are working on our marriage. We’re looking onto the Lord for a breakthrough … That’s all I can say for now,” she. Last May, Jennica revealed that she had parted ways with Alwyn, saying that from a “family of four,” they were now down to “a family of three”—meaning her and the two children, Mori, 6, and Alessi, 3. Alwyn, on the other hand, had put out posts on social media, apologizing for his mistakes and shortcomings, and promising to fix his family and relationship with Jennica. His most recent open letter, however, did seem to hint at a reconciliation. A portion of Alwyn’s message said: “Thank you, mahal, for not quitting on
EMPLOYMENT
Jennica Garcia with husband Alwyn Uytingco and kids Mori and Alessi Photo from Instagram/@jennicagarciaph
me. Thank you for letting me continue this life we started together. Thank you for giving me a wonderful gift of ‘second chance,’ and one that I don’t deserve at all.” Anxious Jennica, however, didn’t want to talk too much too soon because it makes her anxious, she admitted, when people online make speculations about her private life. “As much as I want to say that I don’t really
care about what other people have to say about me, I’m at a point in my life where I’m not at my best mental state. So I try to keep my answers short,” she explained. In “Las Hermanas,” which stars Yasmien Kurdi, Thea Tolentino and Faith da Silva, Jennica plays Brenda, one of the program’s contravida. This project is a comeback of sorts for Jennica, who hasn’t done a full soap in seven years, after deciding to take
PERSONAL
a break from show biz to focus on her children. The fact that she plays an antagonist also makes it special. “It’s the first contravida role given to me … I had been hoping to land one before, when I worked full-time. But even if we tried to ask for it, I was still given other types of roles,” said the 31-year-old celebrity, whose mother is award-winning actress Jean Garcia. The role, she said, is exciting and challenging at the same time. “This is new for me. Now, I have realized that contravida roles are really difficult compared to roles where you’re the one being abused,” she related, adding that Brenda is the opposite of her real personality. “We want to always offer something new, but sometimes, you can’t help but let the real you slip through a little bit. Brenda is a very loud woman, so I just have to do my job well and convince the audience,” she said. n
By Christina
alpad ManilaTimes.net
MARVIN Agustin is one showbiz personality who can accurately be described as an actor-turned-successful entrepreneur. After making hearts aflutter from the ‘90s through the 2000s as a teen idol and sought-after leading man, Agustin bravely branched out into the food and beverage industry thrived even more. In 2005, he opened his first-ever restaurant, the modern Japanese bistro SumoSam, which was an instant hit. In no time, the newbie restaurateur was overseeing vast expansion in the metro, a stroke of luck and hard work that gave the down-to-earth actor the confidence to open more restaurants brands. Along with business partners who duly acknowledged his newfound expertise, his next venture is the day’s famed Wolfgang Steakhouse. Wholly immersed in F&B in the following years, Agustin’s flourishing restaurant chains suddenly took a hard blow along with the rest of the industry, country and the world in March 2020. “Ang laking changes, challenges and disruption na nangyari sa food scene because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We had to follow safety protocols because it was very clear to us that the threat of COVID is serious,” recalled the celebrity restaurateur in a virtual interview. Having learned the necessary skill of adaptability in business, Agustin was quick to pivot his businesses online and even branched out into creating ready-to-eat food items along the way. Infused across his various brands, cochinillo is now sold in Cochi; Mr.VinMunchies, a line of baked goods; and comfort food, under Tito Marvs. After that, he opened PAGE 15
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people events arts culture entertainment
How Rose Cuison-Villazor Blazed the Trail as First Filipina-American Dean of a U.S. Law School by MOMAR
G. VISAYA / AJPress
HEN Rose Cuison-Villazor was announced as the Co-Dean of Rutgers Law School in Newark early this summer, she became the first Asian-American W woman Dean at Rutgers Law School and the first Filipina-American Dean of a U.S. law school.
“I’m proud, and I’m grateful for this, for the chance to lead, and I would not be where I am today without the help of many other mentors and friends who supported me along the way,” Villazor told the Asian Journal. “I’m extremely grateful to be in this position and excited to continue leading despite the challenges of the pandemic. This is a position that I hold dear to my heart, and I look forward to continuing to do.” An expert in immigration and citizenship law, Villazor has served as the Vice Dean of Rutgers Law School in Newark since July 2019. She also is the founding Director of the Center for Immigration Law, Policy and Justice. Rutgers-Newark Chancellor Nancy Cantor said that as vice dean, Villazor “proved herself to be a remarkably quick study and exceptionally talented organizational leader, mastering the breadth and depth of administrative responsibilities while remaining an extraordinarily productive scholar, teacher, and mentor.” “She is perfectly positioned to carry forward the law school’s legacy of providing an excellent and inclusive academic environment that is rooted in social justice,” Cantor added. A nationally-regarded legal scholar with an active record in social justice issues and
Rose Cuison-Villazor broke the proverbial glass ceiling when she took her post as Co-Dean of Rutgers Law School.
the areas of immigration, citizenship, property law, and race and the law, Villazor has published in top legal journals including the California Law Review, Columbia Law Review, Michigan Law Review, and NYU Law Review, among others. She is the founder of the Rutgers Center for Immigration Law, Policy and Justice and a frequent public speaker who has appeared on CNN and has offered commentary for several news outlets, including the New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, LA Times, and The Atlantic. “It’s an opportunity to be
a leader. This time of major challenges also presents opportunities to shape the law school, towards a vision of inclusivity and being welcoming to many different groups of people who don’t have access to legal education,” she explained. She wants to leave with a vision of being inclusive and creating a pipeline to law school so that more people who didn’t have access to law school before could become lawyers and represent immigrants, marginalized individuals, or work in big law firms and become judges or politicians.
“So my role as a dean, for me personally is an opportunity to be visible and to show other people who look like me that they can also be in this position, and have a seat at the table to make some changes,” she added. Nurturing Her Dream “I must have been a senior in high school when there was a career day. And on this career day, there was a woman lawyer who came and I thought, ‘Oh, maybe I could be a lawyer’,” she recalled. “My parents are immigrants, and they had like many immigrants had experienced PAGE 15
Dean Rose Cuison-Villazor with a couple of her favorite books: Critical Race Theory and Little Manila is in the Heart by Dr. Dawn Mabalon. AJPress Photos by Momar G. Visaya
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How Rose Cuison-Villazor...
The boys of SB19 Sejun, Stell, Josh, Ken and Justin
Photo from Instagram/@officialsb19
SB19 nominated at MTV Europe Music Awards By Rossane
Ramos Philstar.com
PINOY pop boy band SB19 has been nominated for Best Southeast Asia Act at this year’s MTV Europe Music Awards. The boys of SB19 Sejun, Stell, Josh, Ken and Justin are nominated alongside Ink Waruntorn (Thailand), JJ Lin (Singapore), K-ICM (Vietnam), Lyodra (Indonesia) and Naim Daniel (Malaysia). This is not the first time for homegrown talent to represent the country at the awards show. Just last year folk-pop rock band Ben&Ben was nominated under the same category. The 2021 MTV EMAs will take place in Hungary and will broadcast live on MTV channels in 180 countries on Nov. 15.
Other nominees for the awards show include BTS, LISA, Monsta X, NCT 127, ROSÉ and TWICE for Best K-Pop. American singer-songwriter Justin Bieber leads the 2021 MTV EMAs with nominations for the categories Best Artist, Best Pop, Best Song, Best Video and Best Collaboration. Fans can now cast their votes for their idols at mtvema.com. The voting period will end on Nov. 10. MTV is also featuring P-pop groups BGYO and BINI for the MTV Asia Spotlight series for the months of October and November, where they will give exclusive performances and play variety show games. It will also be premiering an MTV Asks video (where fans submit questions for stars) with the EMA nominees SB19 soon on MTV Asia social media. n
Marvin’s top investment is employee... PAGE 13 Secret Kitchen — a cloud kitchen set up for deliveries from different restaurant menus — to reach an even broader market, which he knew craved for easier access to flavors they used to enjoy, even at home. When asked for his secret to success, Agustin was quick to reply that resilience and adaptability were not enough. His hard work on its own was neither enough. His key to success was his people. “Isa sa mga unang-unang dapat alagaan and pay attention to is the safety of everyone in our staff. We couldn’t have operated if our employees and staff got sick.” n
Celebrity restaurateur Marvin Agustin — whose chain of restaurants thrived and expanded despite the pandemic — realized that taking care of his most valuable asset, his employees, is critical in a business’ success. Photo from Instagram/@marvinagustin
PAGE 14 racism and exploitation in the workplace. So I knew that that was wrong, and I felt that maybe becoming a lawyer is the path I should take.” When she went to college, Villazor studied political science and from there, she began thinking that law could be a path for her. She ended up going to law school at American University in Washington, DC and eventually became the first lawyer on both sides of the family. She practiced law for four years in New York City, and as a civil rights lawyer, she represented immigrants who were experiencing discrimination in healthcare and access to hospitals to clinics because they didn’t speak English well, or because they’re undocumented. Villazor then got a fellowship to work at Columbia Law School and that is where she made the transition to academia, From 2004 to 2006, she was researched and wrote about immigration law and human rights. She became a law professor and her first teaching appointment was at Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas, Texas before moving to Hofstra Law School in Long Island. After three years, she moved to the University of California at Davis and stayed there for seven years. In 2018, she joined Rutgers Law School and was appointed the Vice Dean in 2019. Last July 1, she officially became Co-Dean. With her position as dean, Villazor hopes to be an inspiration to others. She also wants to encourage more Filipinos, more Filipino Americans to go to law school and consider becoming law professors and becoming law school deans, administrators after graduation. According to her, it is important to go to law school, even if you don’t want to become a lawyer because it’s a study that helps you to be a critical thinker. “It allows you the opportunity to eventually represent people who need your help with their liberty rights, with their houses, businesses and so it’s a great opportunity. It’s a great job and a career that that many Filipinos to this day are not really as invested in unlike, let’s say the medical fields,” she explained. Co-editor of two books, The 1965 Immigration Act: Legislating a New America (with Jack Chin) and Loving v.
Virginia in a “Post-Racial World”: Rethinking Race, Sex, and Marriage (with Kevin Maillard) published by Cambridge University Press, Villazor is also co-author of leading casebooks on immigration, race and property law. She has testified before Congress and the California and New Jersey state legislatures. In 2011, she received the Association of American Law School’s Derrick Bell Award. Critical Race Theory Professor Villazor teaches, researches, and writes in the areas of immigration and citizenship law, property law, Asian Americans and the law, equal protection law, Immigration Law, Estates in Land and Future Interests, and Critical Race Theory, Her research agenda explores legal structures and systems that determine membership and sense of belonging in the United States. She has taught critical race theory many times since she began teaching in 2006. “We know that there are racial inequities, what are we going to do about it. Critical Race Theory asks those questions. We’re critiquing the law by taking a step back and say ‘Well, who passed these laws? What were they thinking at the time? And then what impact did it have when they passed these laws,” she explained. “And we can see through CRT that the law has not been neutral, the law has led to the subordination of people of color, of women, of immigrants, and then the next question is what do we do about it?” However, due to misinformation, disinformation, and the proliferation of fake news, the concept of critical race theory became highly politicized. When she sees in the news these parents who are protesting outside of school boards saying ‘don’t teach CRT to my children,’ she is in disbelief. “First I was thinking, are they even teaching that, because that’s great if they are. And if they are teaching that, then that’s just wonderful because the history of the United States is not some glorious history as we know it,” she said. “The Philippines was colonized, Filipinos were denied citizenship, nobody knows it and critical race theory unearthed all that and says this is part of our history, and it’s important for our children to know
it, or that to be taught in college and law school.” Giving Back “I never thought I would become a dean, I just wanted to be a law professor. I also didn’t think I could become a law professor but I had mentors in law school,” she shared. “I’m an immigrant, and it’s not easy to be an immigrant, anywhere, particularly in the United States so in seeing from my own personal experience, my parents and other people around me, I’ve seen the role of law in shaping, all of those experiences.” She is thankful to everyone who gave her a chance and opened doors for her. Without the women law professors, she wouldn’t have thought about pursuing what would become her vocation, and they gave her that impetus, served as her references, and then helped her to get the Human Rights fellowship at Columbia. At Columbia, she had other mentors who then vouched for her and helped her to get her first teaching job. “And so I think my path shows that it really does take a village to believe in you to help you and to lead, to help get you someplace. My goal now, I’m committed to helping college and high school students who think about becoming a lawyer. It’s my way of giving back,” she said. “I would not be where I am today without my family. My husband is also a lawyer and so he and I have to make sure that we support each other’s careers,” she added. Aside from the deanship. Professor Villazor is also busy with her current research projects which examine the extent to which states, cities, churches, and non-state actors such as universities and churches provide “sanctuary” to undocumented immigrants and refugees. She is also working on two book projects: one on Asian Pacific Americans and the Law (forthcoming at NYU Press) and the other on Property Law and Race (forthcoming at Carolina Academic Press). To de-stress, she gets together with friends who are not lawyers, because “it’s just fun to be able to hang out with others and not talk about the law”. She sometimes plays the ukulele. And of course, the occasional karaoke. “I mean, you know, how could you not do karaoke?” she said. n
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