November 4-6, 2020 Volume 30 - No. 87 • 2 Sections - 14 Pages
DATELINE
USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
As election season comes to a close, LA community leaders stand against anti-AAPI hate AS the country tries to upend the divisiveness stemming from months of civil unrest and a global pandemic, local leaders in Los Angeles County are unpacking the increased hate against the local Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. The newly minted Civil Rights and Human Rights Department (CRHRD) was established in the City of Los Angeles in early 2020 before the pandemic even began. The phenomenon of hate crimes spans races, ethnicities, gender and sexual orientation. On Oct. 23, the county’s Commission on Human Relations released the annual Hate Crime Report for 2019, and although reported incidents only jumped by one (523 incidents in 2018 and 524 incidents in 2019), the report doesn’t factor in the incidents stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. “This is a city of belonging, a place where our strength is in our people and people who
Super Typhoon Goni slams PH, death toll climbs to 24 by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
vember 3. In its consolidated report, the PNP logged four THE number of deaths caused by Super Typhoon additional fatalities in Bicol region and Calabarzon Goni (local name: Rolly) has risen to 24, the Philip- (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon). Five pine National Police (PNP) reported Tuesday, No- more missing persons were also reported, of which
by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
FIFTY FOUR countries worldwide have lifted inbound border restrictions on travel for Filipino citizens, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday, November 2. In its latest bulletin, the agency said that the entry of Filipino citizens in the 54 countries is subject to medical protocols, such as testing and quarantine requirements upon arrival as well as flight availability. The United States is among the countries that lifted their restrictions on travelers from the Philippines. The remaining 53 countries are: Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guam, Hawaii, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Laos, Maldives, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Croatia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt,
Bay Area Fil-Am family in search of donor for baby with leukemia WASTELAND A resident on Monday, November 2 cooks a meal for her family amid the ruins of their home and those of their neighbors in Basud village, Tabaco City, Albay province, after the devastation caused by Typhoon “Rolly’’ on Sunday, November 1. Inquirer.net photo by Mark Alvic Esplana
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Comelec considers online LA County Public Health: Rise in voting for overseas Filipinos COVID-19 cases likely associated MENDIOLA AJPress
viders. I think the round of presentation will start sometime next week,” he said Thursday, October 29, on Cignal TV’s OneNews. Jimenez stressed that so far, the online voting is for overseas absentee voting (OAV) only. Low turnout among overseas Filipinos is in part due to the inability to get to an assigned polling place. There are currently two voting options for overseas Filipinos: postal voting, in which ballots are mailed to overseas voters who must return the ballot also by mail; or in-
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Virtual help desk delivers COVID-19 information to Fil-Am community by CHRISTINA
M. ORIEL
AJPress
GOING nine months into the pandemic, a virtual help desk is connecting the Filipino American community in Los Angeles County with culturally relevant and in-language information and services. The “Tayo” help desk — launched under the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO)’s Caretaker Project — seeks to address the gaps in how health departments and other institutions are reaching communities of color, like the Fil-Am population, which is among the groups disproportionately affected by COVID-19. It received a $25,000 Booz AlFilipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO)’s Caretaker Project launched the Tayo help desk, a website that features frequently asked questions
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with recent large gatherings by AJPRESS
PUBLIC gatherings are likely to blame for the recent uptick in coronavirus cases in Los Angeles County, the region’s health official said. The LA County Department of Public Health confirmed 23 new deaths and 1,224 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, November 3. “With our cases already increasing, we are concerned about the coming months – holiday gatherings and cooler weather where people are more likely to gather indoors are perfect conditions for spreading COVID-19. While it is easy to believe that the virus won’t spread among your friends and family, there are so many examples that prove otherwise. Unfortunately, with just one infected person at a well-intentioned gathering, dozens and dozens of people can become infected over weeks and weeks of virus transmission. Some people will become seriously ill, and some may even die,” said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer. The seven-day average number of cases by episode date continues to rise. Cases have increased from around 940 new cases per day in early October, to
more than 1,275 new cases per day last week. The episode date is either the date a person was tested for COVID-19 or first had symptoms. To date, Public Health identified 311,745 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County and a total of 7,097 deaths. The University of Southern California’s Center for Social and Economic Research conducts a weekly representative survey with LA County residents about their actions through the pandemic. As cases increase in the county, survey respondents have also indicated increases in close contact between residents from different households and gatherings. This includes going to a reunion, wedding, funeral, birthday party, concert, or religious service or going to a friend, neighbor, or relative’s house or having visitors at their house. Since April there has been a 57% increase in people reporting close contact with people they don’t live with. More than 10% of respondents reported they had been at a gathering of more than 10 people in the last seven days. For perspective, if 10% of L.A. County residents attend gatherings, this
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Fall Savings into
by RITCHEL
THE Philippines’ Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking at the possibility of online voting for overseas Filipinos during the country’s May 2022 presidential polls. The commission is planning to get potential information technology providers of online voting systems to showcase its technology, according to spokesman James Jimenez. “Over the next few weeks, we’ll be fielding u PAGE A3 demonstrations from various potential pro-
about navigating the pandemic.
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54 countries, including US, lift inbound border restrictions on Filipino citizens
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A BAY Area Filipino American family is in need of a bone marrow or stem cell donor for their 9-month-old infant. The baby, AJ, has been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of leukemia. Doctors say that for a full cure, he would need a donor. “AJ has finished his first round of chemotherapy,” said Eric, AJ’s father. “We are waiting for his body to recover from the treatment before the next round begins. We’ve been told that subsequent rounds of chemotherapy only get harder.” Siblings would be the best donor match, but AJ is an only child. Extended family members have offered to step up, but they are no more likely to match than a stranger, according to the Asian American Donor Program. Matching is based on one’s human leukocyte antigen (HLA) tissue type and matches are closely based on a patient’s ethnicity. Now, the family is taking their search
three are in Bicol region and one each in Calabarzon and MIMAROPA (Mindoro Oriental and Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan). Meanwhile, 26 people were reported injured.
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A November 4-6, 2020 • SoCal ASIAN JoUrNAL
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From the Front Page
LA County Public Health: Rise in COVID-19 cases...
PAGE A1 translates to 1 million people gathering with others not in their household. And if we assume that about 2% are infected, we could possibly have 20,000 people capable of infecting others at gatherings each week. When combining information from the USC survey with information about exposures that are gathered through contact tracing, it points to increased gatherings being one of the drivers of the recent surge in cases in L.A.
County. Of the two new deaths reported Monday, both people were between the ages of 65 and 79 years old and both people had underlying health conditions. Ninety-three percent of the people who died from COVID19 had underlying health conditions. Of those who died, information about race and ethnicity is available for 6,687 people (99 percent of the cases reported by Public Health); 52% of deaths occurred among Latino/Latinx
residents, 23% among White residents, 14% among Asian residents, 10% among African American/Black residents, less than 1% among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander residents and 1% among residents identifying with other races. There are 777 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 29% of these people are in the ICU. Testing results are available for nearly 3,160,000 individuals with 9% of all people testing positive. n
Comelec considers online voting for...
PAGE A1 person voting, in which voters go to a Philippine Consulate or Embassy to cast votes manually or through voting machines. Vote-counting machines (VCMs) will be used in the May 2022 national and local polls. “We’re gonna use the machines that we used in 2016 and re-used in 2019,” said Jimenez.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III pointed out that the Comelec has a P14.21-billion budget for 2021 based on the national expenditure programs (NEP). “It (budget) also includes the P14 billion for renting of votecounting machines, for printing, distribution, for supplies for the 2022 elections. We allotted bud-
get for that,” he said. “Right now, I think the Comelec is considering a longer period for voting, they see two Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo inspects houses along the coastline of Brgy. Sabang, Calabanga, Camarines Sur on Monday, November 2. Photo from OVP to three days so as not to have a problem with the pandemic if the pandemic is not contained at that time. And then probably they will require an additional P1 billion for salaries of teachers PAGE A1 tronomical Services AdministraWho: contact Sarah Velasco at on election duty,” he added. n 0923535419 for inquiries On Monday night, a report tion (PAGASA). In its 11 a.m. bulletin on TuesCaritas Manila Oplan Damafrom the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) recorded 20 deaths — 14 day, the state weather bureau yan What: cash donations for imof which were reported in Albay, said Goni was last tracked 540 while the remaining six were in km West of Subic, Zambales, mediate needs, including food moving west southwestward at bags, shelter materials, clean Catanduanes. The National Disaster Risk Re- 15 km/h. It bears maximum sus- water, blankets, mosquito nets, duction and Management Coun- tained winds of 75 km/h near the mats, and hygiene items Where: BDO (000-5600cil (NDRRMC), for its part, said a center and gustiness of up to 90 45905) BPI (3063-5357-01 / Doltotal of 1,612,893 individuals or km/h. Tropical storm ‘Siony,’ on lar Accounts 3064-0033-55) Me402,458 families have been afthe other hand, slightly intensi- trobank (175-3-17506954-3), or fected by the typhoon. Meanwhile, 106,642 families fies as it moves slowly over the RCBC (000-300-090-2216). National Union of Students or 408,473 persons are being Philippine Sea, east of extreme of the Philippines “served inside and outside evac- Northern Luzon. “‘Siony’ is forecast to intenWhat: cash donations uation centers.” Where: BPI Savings Account The estimated cost of damage sify into severe tropical storm in to public infrastructure has so far the next 24 to 36 hours. Inten- (Joshua Marcial / 3299-0460sification into Typhoon is likely 51) BDO Savings Account (Lilac amounted to P5.756 billion. “As expected, our assessment on Thursday prior to close ap- Fameronag / 011140018149) teams identified [the] majority proach or landfall over Extreme Metrobank (Jandeil Roperos / of the destruction in [the] Bicol Northern Luzon,” said PAGASA. 181318-1664828), or GCash To those interested to extend (Blaise Bellosillo / 0939-817Region amounting to P4.621 billion,” said Department of Public aid, below is a list of organiza- 5590). Lingap Gabriela Works and Highways (DPWH) tions and groups with donation drives and relief initiatives: What: donations in cash and Secretary Mark Villar. Bayan Muna Partylist Bayang kind The cost includes damage to Where: Gabriela Women’s roads (P1.515 billion), bridges Matulungin Relief Operations What: canned goods, bottled Party Office at #25 K-10 St., (P458.2 million), flood control structures (P2.036 billion), gov- water, clothes, hygiene kits, West Kamias, Quezon City; Lingap Gabriela Office at SATU ernment buildings (P367.25 mil- medicines, or cash donations Where: drop off station at Building, Block 73, Lot 11, Don lion), and other infrastructure Block 31 Lot 13 A. Bonifacio Mariano Marcos Avenue, North (P1.379 billion). Goni, now weakened into a St., New Capitol Estate 1, Brgy. Fairview, Quezon City; Gabriela tropical storm, is no longer di- Batasan Hills, District 2, Quezon National Office at #35 Scout Delrectly affecting the country, City. Cash donations through gado, Brgy. Laging Handa, Queaccording to the Philippine At- GCash (0917-168-6352), PayMa- zon City. mospheric, Geophysical and As- ya (0917-168-6352) or PayPal. u PAGE A3
Super Typhoon Goni slams PH...
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A
Super Typhoon Goni slams PH...
PAGE A2 Inquirer Foundation What: cash donations Where: Inquirer Foundation Corp. Banco De Oro current account no. 007960018860 JCI Philippines – Oplan Kaagapay Super Typhoon Rolly What: cash donations Where: BDO, Quezon Avenue – Heroes Hills Branch (Junior Chamber International Phils., Inc. / Smart Checking Account No. 002018025076 / Swift Code BNORPHMM) Who: contact NC John Joshua Cudia (0935-426-8718) to coordinate cash donations Kaya Natin! Movement What: cash donations A Bay Area family is in search of a bone marrow or stem cell donor donor for their 9-month-old who was recently diagnosed with an extremely Where: PayPal, JustPayTo, rare form of leukemia. Photos courtesy of the Asian American Donor Program or BPI Account: KN Move-
ment for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership, Inc. (3081-1173-72). Send deposit slips to kayanatinmovement@ gmail.com UP Catandungan Tabang Catanduanes What: donations in cash and kind Where: Metrobank (Romeo Russel Ham Somido / 1813 1813 62996), BDO (Shilley Babe P. Sta. Rosa / 0060 3023 3660). For in-kind donations, coordinate with Ma. Arlene S. Borja (0917 307 9148) or Meyrick U. Tablizo (0947 614 3724). Sining Banwa What: cash donations Where: BPI (Jobert Landeza / 0859-2548-45), or Chinabank (Sining Banwa Albay Per-
formance Collective, Inc. / 108002036024). Tulong Kabataan Network What: cash donations Where: BPI Savings Account (Thalia R Villela / 008339 4735 53), or BDO Savings Account (Thalia R Villela / 012220 0134 36). ABS-CBN Foundation What: cash donations Where: BDO Peso Account (0039301-14199 / Swift Code: BNORPHMM), BDO Dollar Account (1039300-81622 / Swift Code: BNORPHMM), BPI (3051-1155-88 / Swift Code: BOPIPHMM), Metrobank (6363-636-08808-1 / Swift Code: MBTCPHMM), or Security Bank (000003312430-0 / Swift Code: SETCPHMM) n
Bay Area Fil-Am family in search of donor for... Virtual help desk delivers COVID-19 information...
PAGE A1 nationwide, encouraging Filipino Americans or anyone with Filipino heritage to register as a potential stem cell donor. People of color are more likely to die of leukemia and other blood cancers because there is a shortage of ethnically diverse donors on the Be The Match national registry. Filipinos have a 46% chance of finding a donor, AADP said. “Filipinos are well known for supporting each other, and the more people who register, the more AJ’s odds of finding a
match increase,” Eric said. “It can take some time to find a match. So, the sooner you register, the better.” Despite the pandemic halting the organization’s in-person education and outreach, those in the Bay Area or around the country can sign up on its website to participate. For those interested in registering as a potential stem cell donor, they can visit the AADP website (aadp.org/homekit) to find out how to receive a home swab kit. Requirements include being
between 18-44 years old and meeting general health stan- PAGE A1 dards. Even if individuals may len Foundation Innovation grant not be a match for AJ, they may that allows for the pilot to start in be asked to donate if they are a LA County, where some 600,000 match with another patient. Fil-Ams call home, according to “For thousands of severe- the last U.S. Census. The plan is ly ill blood cancer patients, to scale the project for other citthere is a cure. You could be ies and share lessons with other the cure. Those whose mar- marginalized communities. row/stem cells are not a match “There are other help guides for a patient in need now may but they’re very general. There be a match for someone else isn’t anything there for us as down the road, anywhere in Filipino Americans. As the name the world,” said AADP Execu- says, tayo, because it’s powered tive Director Carol Gillespie. by us for us,” said Leezel Tan(AJPress) glao, the chairperson of the FYLPRO COVID-19 task force, which spearheaded the project. Tanglao and several program alumni came together in the for a solution, it’s much easier spring after noticing the misinto blame another community,” formation on social media shared Chow said. within the community, such as Chow noted that currently, myths and home remedies for the there are 14 anti-Asian hate coronavirus, that could potencrimes reported to the LAPD tially put certain groups at risk. “for the full quarter of 2020.” They also observed some culSo when compared to the num- tural barriers like hiya (shame), ber of incidents reported to the which may prevent individuals A3PCON tracker, the gap shows from seeking help. that these kinds of incidents — Months later, the new website whether they are violent, verbal (tayohelp.com) has curated aror from behind a screen — are ticles based on frequently asked severely underreported. questions with three vulnerMoreover, it’s important to able sectors of the community in note that these hate incidents mind: senior citizens, frontline/ are the ones that were reported essential workers, and unemto authorities or to community ployed members. organizations and don’t factor The entries, written and rein incidents that may have hap- viewed by an “expert panel” of pened but weren’t reported. Fil-Am professionals, cover ar“We have our work cut out for eas like navigating unemployus and we have to, as a group, ment claims, assistance for esPAGE A4 sential workers, seeking mental
As election season comes to a close, LA community... PAGE A1 come from all over the world who have brought their values and voices to this global city and we will always stand up for our people and stand strong against bigotry and discrimination,” LA Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a webinar hosted by KACIE Strategies on Thursday, Oct. 29. One hate crime tracker called Stop AAPI Hate from the nonpartisan group Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON) tracked more than 2,583 reported hate incidents against AAPIs from March to August; more than 800 of those attacks occurred in California. These attacks range from cyber bullying and harassment, verbal abuse in public (most of which were reported in grocery stores and restaurants) or, in few
but unfortunate cases, violent attacks. Roughly 1 out of 7 targets of these incidents were people under the age of 20, and the report also found that Asian American women were 2.4 times more likely to be discriminated against. Deputy Chief Blake Chow of the LA Police Department pondered on the reasons as to why AAPIs are receiving intense hostility and blame for the coronavirus as well as the overall cultural divisiveness percolating throughout the city, county, state and country. “I think, unfortunately, we as a society have a history of blaming other groups for problems, and that’s easy because that’s the easy way out. Instead of coming together and tackling a problem as a community and looking
A volunteer for the Caretaker Project delivers a care package to a senior citizen who cannot leave his home. Photo courtesy of FYLPRO
health treatment, and how to safely vote during the pandemic. They’re available in English, but translations in Tagalog are forthcoming, as are articles about debunking claims and scams. The resource, however, is not meant to replace more immediate attention, like calling 911 or 211 in LA County, the task force cautions. The third aspect of Tayo is to improve the collection of community data because Fil-Ams are still lumped in with other Asian American groups. With more accurate data, the findings can drive how services are allocated to the community. (As of Nov. 3, race and ethnicity data is available for 6,668 LA County’s deaths, showing 14% of them
were among Asian residents.) Individuals are highly connected online more than ever, but the task force is cognizant that not all community members may have steady access to the internet. That’s why partnering with trusted messengers and organizations in the community from hometown associations to church groups is another layer. The project has also directed in-person outreach, such as delivering care packages and meals to community members in need. “Tayo is under the bigger umbrella of the Caretaker Project. It goes back to the question: If we’re so busy taking care of everyone else, who’s taking care of us?” Tanglao said. n
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Sen. Mazie Hirono files resolution recognizing Filipino American History Month A resolution seeking to acknowledge october as Filipino American History Month in the united states has been introduced in the u.s. senate. on Friday, october 30, senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) introduced s. res. 761, which honors and celebrates the history and culture of Filipino Americans. it also honors Filipino American contributions to the united states, which includes the almost 500,000 health care workers on the frontlines against the CoViD19 pandemic. “this resolution acknowledges the immense contributions of Filipino Americans to our country over hundreds of years. this includes the Filipino World War ii veterans who served our country with courage and bravery — and sacrificed greatly for it. We must honor them by making sure that they can reunite with their children by passing the Filipino Veterans Family reunification Act,” Hirono said in a statement. the resolution also recog-
nizes around 500,000 Fil-Am health care professionals on the frontlines of the pandemic. on saturday, California senator Kamala Harris, who is the Democratic vice presidential nominee, wrote on twitter: “Yesterday, i joined @MazieHirono in a resolution recognizing the immense contributions Filipino-Americans have made to the fabric of our nation—including the nearly 500,000 frontline healthcare workers who are fighting this pandemic.” A similar resolution has been introduced in the House by representative t.J. Cox (D-Calif.) earlier in the month. under s. res. 761, the senate recognizes the celebration of Filipino American History Month in october 2020 as a testament to the advancement of Filipino Americans. it also recognizes the month as a time to reflect on and remember the many notable contributions that Filipino Americans have made to the u.s., as well as a time to renew efforts toward the research and exami-
nation of history and culture so as to provide an opportunity for all people of the u.s. to learn more about Filipino Americans and to appreciate the historic contributions of Filipino Americans to the u.s. the resolution was cosponsored by senators Cory Booker (D-n.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-nev.), tammy Duckworth (D-ill.), Dick Durbin (D-ill.), Dianne Feinstein (DCalif.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), tim Kaine (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), ed Markey (D-Mass.), Bob Menendez (D-n.J.), Jacky rosen (D-nev.), Bernie sanders (i-Vt.), Brian schatz (D-Hawaii), tina smith (D-Minn.), elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Patty Murray (D-Wash.). in 2009, u.s. Congress recognized october as Filipino American History Month. several states, counties and cities across the country have established proclamations and resolutions declaring observance of the month as well. (AJPress)
As election season comes to a close, LA community...
PAGE A3 need to take a stand, that this type of behavior is not tolerated, and we have to encourage people to report [these incidents] so that we can get a general picture as to what the problem is and how we can address the problem head on,” Chow said. lA City Councilmember David ryu of the 4th district spoke about the Asian American experience and the history of discrimination faced by AAPis throughout the decades. ryu, who is Korean American, condemned President Donald trump’s and his cohorts’ dangerous language regarding the CoViD-19 pandemic. As told by numerous leaders to the Asian Journal, trump has spent the better half of the year referring to CoViD-19 (which, by its nature, is not inherently associated with any one ethnicity or race) as the “Chinese virus” or the “kung-flu,” terms that put up a false association between the Chinese (and Asian) community and the virus. “these figures should be shocking to all of us, but it comes to no shock when the highest leader of our land is spewing
hateful rhetoric,” ryu said, adding that lA should “not be deterred by hurdles of hatred and ignorance.” “With a president who’s given a green light to race it to attack the AAPi communities with xenophobic terms, it’s no wonder there’s been an exponential rise in hate against the AAPi community locally and across the nation,” said Filipina American Abigail Zelenski, attorney and one of the commissioners from the CrHrD. “since the onset of this pandemic, there’s been a documented increase in the number of incidents against Asian American and Pacific islanders involving racist slurs spawning anti-immigrant nativist bullying and, unfortunately, even unprovoked violent attacks,” Zelenski added. though the 2020 election is on everybody’s minds (as of press time, the election results have yet to be counted), many voters are hinging the future of the AAPi community on whoever is elected (or, re-elected) President of the united states. But racism, whether it is tar-
geted at AAPis or any other minority, doesn’t start or stop at an election, as previously stressed by AAPi community leaders throughout the 2020 election cycle. But nevertheless, Manjusha Kulkarni, executive director of A3PCon and a formidable figure in the fight against AAPi hate, noted that voting in the election is something everybody can do in a year where it feels like life is out of control. “We have an opportunity in what is the most critical election of our lifetimes to address what’s happening and to prevent it from happening, and we know a lot of our APi community members have been sitting on the sidelines in past elections,” she said. Quoting the popular twitter user Angry Asian Man, Kulkarni added, “not voting is like essentially going to a restaurant and paying for the food and letting someone else pick for you. We wouldn’t let anyone do that for us as consumers. We shouldn’t let others choose our cultures as citizens of this great country.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)
Filipino World War II Veteran Venancio Espinosa received a Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony at the Bayanihan Equity Center in San Francisco. Contributed photo
Filipino World War II veteran receives Congressional Gold Medal at Bayanihan Equity Center in SF
FiliPino World War ii Veteran Venancio espinosa recently received a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor, during a private ceremony in san Francisco. the presentation ceremony for the 93-year-old veteran was organized by the Bayanihan equity Center (BeC), a non-profit organization originally founded in 1999 as the Veterans equity Center, and the Filipino Veterans recognition and education Project (FilVetreP). the Congressional Gold Medal is the highest award bestowed by the united states Congress to express national appreciation for distinguished achievements
and contributions. in 2016, President obama signed into law the Filipino Veterans of World War ii Congressional Gold Medal Act (Public law 114-265), and collectively awarded over 260,000 Filipino Veterans of World War ii with the Congressional Gold Medal on october 25, 2017. At 19 years old, espinosa responded to President roosevelt’s call-to-duty, and fought under the American flag against the imperial Forces of Japan during World War ii. Private First Class (PFC) espinosa valiantly served in the infantry regiment of the united states Army for three years as an infantryman and Administrative technician supervisor.
on the third anniversary of the first Congressional Gold Medal award ceremony held in Wash- ington, D.C., and on Filipino American History Month (FAHM), PFC espinosa was presented by Col (ret) Don Bautista with a bronze replica of the Congressional Gold Medal in a private award ceremony. “We are delighted to present the Congressional Gold Medal to Mr. espinosa to express our gratitude for his valor and the sacrifice he made in defense of the Philippines and the united states during the second World War,” said BeC executive Director luisa M. Antonio and California regional Director of the FilVetreP. (AJPress)
It’s open enrollment. Here’s what you need to know by Bernard
J. Wolfson California Healthline
CAliForniA’s annual health insurance enrollment season for individuals and families kicks off this week against a dramatic backdrop: the hotly contested presidential election; a pandemic raging out of control in much of the u.s.; and, on nov. 10, a supreme Court hearing of a case that could end the Affordable Care Act and strand millions without coverage. the massive unemployment caused by the pandemic has already stripped employer-based health insurance from millions nationwide and induced severe financial anxiety as families struggle to pay rent and buy food. one question hovering over enrollment for 2021 health plans is whether the large-scale loss of medical coverage will generate a surge of sign-ups, or if more pressing financial worries for many people will push insurance lower down their priority list. “People have so many things to deal with: they’ve lost jobs, they’ve lost a lot of income, and in California they’re also facing fires. i don’t think health insurance has been top of mind for people,” says Cheryl Fish-Parcham, director of access initiatives at Families usA, a consumer health care advocacy organization. But Peter lee, executive director of Covered California, the state’s ACA marketplace, is confident it will match the 40% increase in new sign-ups it had for 2020 coverage. “it is clear that CoViD is on Californians’ minds,” he says. “You cannot have CoViD on your mind without also having coverage on your mind.” A supreme Court decision on the future of the ACA probably won’t come until well into next year, and it is unlikely to affect your 2021 coverage. “so people should feel confident in looking for a health plan,” says sara Collins, vice president for health care coverage and access at the Commonwealth Fund. if you are 65 or older, you probably qualify for Medicare, the federal program for seniors, which is entirely separate from the ACA
exchanges and broader individual market. open enrollment for the private Medicare Advantage plans and Part D drug plans is also underway and ends Dec. 7. insurance agents can usually help you with Medicare, and you can get advice by calling 1-800434-0222. if you are under 65, live in the Golden state and want to buy insurance for you and your family, start with Covered California. You can get federal and state assistance to cover some or all of your premiums, if you meet certain income criteria. the enrollment period for Covered California, and for the individual market outside the exchange, started nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 31. in states whose exchanges are operated by the federal government, the enrollment window shuts Dec. 15. if you lost coverage and need it for the month of December this year, you can still get it through Covered California if you sign up by nov. 30. For regular annual coverage that starts Jan. 1, you must sign up by Dec. 15. if you miss that deadline, you can still get coverage starting Feb. 1 if you enroll by the final Jan. 31 deadline. Many people leave money on the table because they aren’t aware of the financial assistance or think they earn too much to qualify. But you don’t need to be poor to get aid. the federal subsidies, which are tax credits typically provided in the form of reduced monthly premiums, are available to individuals with annual income up to about $51,000 and a family of four with income up to nearly $105,000. California has supplemented the federal aid with state-funded assistance that extends further into the middle class: up to around $76,500 for an individual and $157,000 for a family of four. if you log on to Covered California’s website, www.coveredca.com, you can check how much financial help you qualify for and compare health plans. or, an insurance agent or certified enroller can do the legwork work for you — at no charge. You can find one on the website. You can also call Covered California
directly at 800-300-1506. if your income is below 138% of the federal poverty level, you will probably qualify for MediCal, the government insurance program for people of limited means. the Covered California website — or an enroller — will let you know if you do and walk you through signing up. You can also contact your county’s MediCal office. if you don’t qualify for Medi-Cal, your children might, because the income threshold is higher for them. if you are looking for exchange-sponsored coverage, click the “shop and compare” tab on the Covered California website, which takes you to a screen that asks your age, income, ZiP code and family size and shows the health plans available, their premiums and your aid amount. the website also provides quality ratings of the participating health plans. And you can check for plans that have your doctors in their networks — though, as the website warns, that information is not always up to date. Comparison shopping on the website is straightforward, because at each of the four levels of coverage — bronze, silver, gold and platinum — benefits are uniform from insurer to insurer. so once you’ve decided which metal tier is best for you, you only need to think about the price and whether your providers are in the network. if you have a Covered California health plan already, shop around rather than automatically renew the one you’re in. “the best deal last year is not necessarily the best deal this year,” says Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California. Covered California announced a 0.5% average statewide premium increase last month, but actual rate changes vary across the state and among carriers. Anthem Blue Cross, for example, will hike rates by a statewide average of 6%, and the oscar Health Plan of California by 7.6%, while Blue shield of California will cut rates by an average of 2.4% and the l.A. Care Health Plan by 4.6%. if you switch to the lowest-cost plan in your current metal tier, PAGE A7
54 countries, including US, lift inbound...
PAGE A1 eswatini, ethiopia, GuineaBissau, iran, Kenya, lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, niger, nigeria, rwanda, senegal, somalia, south Africa, sudan, tanzania, uganda, and united Arab emirates. Meanwhile, seven countries now allow entry without any inbound arrival protocols: Haiti, Mexico, Andorra, Montenegro, north Macedonia, serbia and Zambia. the DFA also said over 130 countries remain closed for tourism. Among these are: Canada, Hong Kong, indonesia, Japan, China, Malaysia, republic of Korea, singapore, italy, spain, sweden, switzerland, and saudi Arabia. “While travel for leisure is now an option amidst the pandemic,
the DFA advises Filipino travelers to refer to the requirements set by the iAtF and implemented by the Bureau of immigration (Bi),” the DFA said. these include confirmed roundtrip ticket; travel and health insurance to cover travel disruptions and hospitalization in case of CoViD-19 infections during their allowable period of stay abroad; and Bi declaration of acknowledging the risks involved in travelling, including risk of delay in their return trip. “Moreover, travelers should always check ahead of travel dates with their airlines before departure or before booking a ticket as the information in the infographics could change at any time,” the DFA added. Meanwhile, the Philippines remains closed off to foreign-
ers, excluding those with visas issued by the Bureau of immigration pursuant to executive order no. 226, or the omnibus investments Code, as amended, and republic Act. no. 8756; those with 47(a)(2) visas issued by the Department of Justice; and those visas issued by the Aurora Pacific economic Zone and Freeport Authority and the subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. Foreigners entering the country are required to have a prebooked accredited quarantine facility before entering the country. they must also be subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry, and must follow applicable immigration laws, rules and regulations. n
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PH investors brace for impact of US elections DFA reports an increase in COVID-19 cases among overseas Filipinos by Doris
Dumlao-abaDilla Inquirer.net
AS America votes on the presi dency this week—choosing be tween incumbent Donald Trump and challenger Joe Biden—inves tors are bracing for the spillover effect on local financial markets this week. Nicholas Mapa, economist at ING Philippines, said kneejerk reaction to a possible Biden presidency after the Nov. 3 elec tions would be negative for local markets, as U.S. equity markets would likely retreat in anticipa tion of a corporate tax hike. Apart from pledging an ag gressive fiscal response to the coronavirus pandemic through his own version of “BuildBack Better (BBB),” a possible rollback of corporate tax cuts and higher taxes for wealthy families are seen under a Biden presidency. “When the dust settles and Biden finally draws up plans for his own BBB, market sentiment should perk up with global trade expected to bounce on Biden era trade clarity. This may spark some life back into Philippine ex ports given its place in the global supply chain with equity markets also likely to track a recovery in global risk assets after the initial selloff,” Mapa said.
ING expects Biden’s foreign policy to focus on repairing strained alliances and a return to multilateral agreements like the Paris accord. While Biden may retain a tough stance on China and trade, ING expects him to be “more predictable” and uti lize benefits to U.S. companies to onshore, rather than tariffs wars. He is also expected to re tain U.S. Federal Reserve chair Powell or appoint a centrist Gov. Lael Brainard. The U.S. elections, concerns on global monetary stimulus and the rising COVID19 cases abroad will all be on the radar of stock market investors this week. Last week, the mainshare Philippine Stock Exchange in dex (PSEi) lost a total of 160.06 points or 2.5 percent to close on Friday at 6,324. “The PSEi recently broke up from a tight twoweek squeeze and has breached both the 50 and 200day period exponential moving averages. Despite the weak corporate earnings reports, the recent breakout shows the market’s bias to a short to medi um term uptrend. This happened despite companies operating be low prepandemic levels,” said Jose Vistan, head of research at AB Capital Securities.
The main catalyst for the recent runup has been the improving COVID19 picture locally, with new cases now under control and with the local economy opening up again, Vistan said. “Hopes of going back to the old normal locally and the cur rent low yield environment will provide a solid support for the PSEi. The Fibonacci support from the latest pivot point was around 6,200, which managed to hold for now. Beyond that, we also see an immediate support levels at a confluence point of around 6,130,” Vistan said. On the other hand, Union Bank economist Ruben Carlo Asun cion said last week’s global risk off sentiment may carry over to this week. “With generally soft third quar ter corporate earnings, sustained correction early in the week is likely,” Asuncion said, adding that third quarter earnings may still prove useful in guiding the market on the companies may lead or lag next year’s recovery. Union Bank sees the PSEi find ing support at 6,170. “Alongside U.S. election un certainty amid absence of a U.S. fiscal stimulus, there’s rising market perception of elevated downside risk on fourth quarter global output,” he said. n
‘Challenging times’ ahead for Duterte admin if Biden wins in US polls — analyst by Christian
Deiparine Philstar.com
MANILA — A political analyst on Tuesday, November 3, said a win for U.S. presidential candi date Joe Biden could spell “chal lenging times” for the Duterte government that had distanced itself from Washington in the last four years. Voting across states in Ameri ca are currently underway, with local media there reporting that over 100 million have turned out to polling centers amid the ongo ing coronavirus crisis. In a television interview, Prof. Dindo Manhit of think tank Strat base ADR Institute said part of Biden’s proposed foreign policy would be to “reinvigorate de mocracies” around the world
that could meet resistance in the Philippines. “If you would look at details of the core platform of Biden, there might be challenging times for the president,” he told the program “The Chiefs” on One News. “They’re proud of their belief that they need to go back to the core of the Democratic Party which is how they can lead in the world.” President Rodrigo Duterte has had a complicated relationship with America in his term, turning the country away from its long time ally to pivot to other nations such as China and Russia. His antiillegal drug campaign that has seen thousands killed has earned criticism from U.S. lawmakers, as well as the impris
onment of his staunch critic Sen. Leila De Lima. In January of this year, Wash ington cancelled the U.S. visa of Sen. Bato dela Rosa for his role as implementer of Duterte’s drug war as police chief. Duterte has since sought to retaliate by revoking of the decadeslong Visiting Forces Agreement between the two countries, only to be suspended in July. But Manhit said a Biden ad ministration, along with the Democratic Party retaining con trol in U.S. Congress, could be “more aggressive” in addressing the human rights situation in the Philippines. “That’s the challenge be u PAGE A7
by aJPress THE Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday, November 3, noted a spike in the number of Filipinos abroad who have contracted the coronavirus, recording an additional 119 infec tions. This brings the official case count to 11,364. It also logged 75 new recover ies, which raises the total tally to 7,354. “Today, the DFA reports an in crease both in the total number of confirmed cases and recoveries from COVID19 among Filipinos abroad, with 119 and 75 cases, respectively, from Europe, and the Middle East and Africa,” the DFA said. “The reported increases are due to belated reports and priva cy concerns in several countries in the Middle East and Africa,” it added. Meanwhile, 11 new fatalities
were recorded by the agency, raising the death toll to 828. Overall by region, Europe – which comprises 19 countries – has recorded 1,245 Filipino cases, including 183 undergoing treatment, 965 recoveries and 97 deaths. The Middle East and Africa, covering 32 countries, has re ported 7,492 cases; of which, 2,332 are undergoing treatment, 543 deaths and 4,617 recoveries. The Asia Pacific region, which spans across 20 countries, has 1,811 cases, with 511 undergo ing treatment, 1,291 recoveries, and nine deaths. The Americas – covering 10 countries like the United States – have 816 reported cases, with 156 undergoing treatment, 481 recoveries, and 179 deaths. “To date, the Middle East and Africa remains to be the region with the most number of con firmed COVID19 cases, recov eries, under treatment, and fa
talities among our nationals,” the DFA said. “The Americas has the least numbers in all categories com pared to other geographic re gions, except in the total number of deaths, wherein Asia and the Pacific ranks lowest with a total of only 9,” the agency added. The DFA also announced that it brought home 37,095 overseas Filipinos in October, bringing the total number of Filipinos it has repatriated to 237,363 since the outbreak of the COVID19 pan demic. Of the total figure, 77,326 Filipi nos are seabased, while 160,037 are landbased. “As we sustain our repatriation efforts in the last two months of the year, the DFA remains fully committed to bringing home our kababayan, whatever chal lenges we may face,” Foreign Af fairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Ar riola said. n
ABS-CBN News, ANC YouTube channels restored after hacking by Xave
GreGorio Philstar.com
MANILA — The YouTube channels of ABSCBN News and ANC were inaccessible for sev eral hours on Tuesday, Novem ber 3 after they were hacked a day before. YouTube confirmed that the ABSCBN channels were hacked on November 2. “We take account security very seriously and notify ac count owners when we detect suspicious activity. If an owner has reason to believe their ac count was compromised, they can notify our team to secure the account and regain control,” a YouTube spokesperson said. ABSCBN said earlier Tuesday that it was aware of the problem and was investigating it and working closely with YouTube to resolve it. The two YouTube channels were restored by Tuesday after noon. Users trying to access both channels on Tuesday morning were greeted with a “404 Not
A pedestrian walks pass the ABS CBN headquarters in Quezon City. Inquirer.net photo by Grig Montegrande
Found” error page. Other users got notices that the accounts have been “terminated for a violation of YouTube’s Terms of Service.” Prior to them being rendered inaccessible, both channels posted a livestream of crypto currency company Ripple host ing a giveaway. Ripple has previously sued YouTube over its “inexplicable
failure” at stopping scammers from impersonating it and its CEO, Brad Garlinghouse. Tech news site The Verge re ported in April that scammers have created officialsounding accounts for Ripple and Gar linghouse over the past several months, with some of these ac counts apparently stolen from successful YouTubers. u PAGE A7
A6 NOVEMBER 4-6, 2020 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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OPiniOn
Resettlement
FeatUres
FOUR years ago this month, the House committee on housing and urban development approved a bill providing for on-site, in-city or near-city housing for informal settlers. This year as October drew to a close, the same committee, with different members, approved a similar bill for a relocation program to be implemented by local government units. House Bill 4869 noted that the normal practice of off-site relocation for slum dwellers has failed to address the housing problem for the poor or reduce squatting and urban migration. The reasons are well known: the same factors that drive urban migration persist in the typical off-site relocation area. The biggest factors are the lack of jobs and livelihood opportunities, and the weakness of many basic services. In certain areas, armed conflict and other security problems, such as extortion by the communist New People’s Army and harassment by government forces drive people to look for a better life in the cities. If these same problems bedevil a relocation site, it won’t take long before the beneficiaries of the resettlement program leave the houses awarded to them and return to the urban slums. Some local governments in Metro Manila and other urban centers are in fact developing incity vertical housing for informal settlers. The
housing programs are complemented by livelihood projects not only to sustain the beneficiary families but also to allow them to pay the minimal amortizations. The subsidized payment is meant to give the beneficiaries a personal financial stake in the housing units. Given alternatives, no one wants to live off alms and sleep with their young children and even infants in shanties, under bridges or in city streets. Those who did not support the House bill in 2016, however, were worried that it could encourage more squatting and urban migration. While providing decent housing with livelihood opportunities to informal settlers is a good idea, the better answer to urban migration is to step up countryside development. Any in-city or near-city housing must be accompanied by job opportunities. Those who cannot be accommodated, however, must be presented with options outside the urban centers. Making agriculture an attractive livelihood option even for marginal players can reverse urban migration. Meaningful livelihood opportunities and jobs as well as the provision of
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
adequate basic services such as education and health care outside the cities can encourage the urban poor to leave the urban centers and accept resettlement. Tourism provides decent
jobs and livelihood sources even in rural communities. If the government wants to stop urban migration, it should present viable alternatives. (Philstar.com)
The urgency of the moment: Congratulations America for record-breaking early voting turnout in the 2020 presidential election The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS AMID the escalating threat of the coronavirus pandemic, joblessness, disrupted economic and social activities, a divided nation and toxic political climate in the country, a record number of Americans voted early — more than 100 million before the November 3 election. Perhaps the better way to put is this: Because of the crises of our times that have been causing a lot of uncertainties about the future, and because of the threat of their votes being thrown away because of dirty political tactics to disenfranchise voters, American voters have decided to mail in their votes early, or went to the polling stations to cast their sacred votes and make sure they exercise their power to decide what kind of life they and their families would be living in the next four years. According to the U.S. Elections Project, the to-
tal early votes amounted to 101,167,740. Nationally, voters have cast 73.4% of the total votes counted in the 2016 general election which recorded 139 million votes. Comparing early vote count: In 2016, only 47 million Americans cast ballots before Election Day vs 2020’s more than 101 million votes. The breakdown of the 2020 early votes: In-Person Votes: 35,923,053; Mail Ballots Returned: 65,244,687; and Mail Ballots Outstanding: 26,858,126 How are the early voting numbers divided according to party affiliation? We can have an idea based on the party registration statistics provided only for states that have party registration. Reporting states with party registration data: AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NV, OK, OR, PA, SD. The breakdown: Democrats: 22,174,934 votes (44.8%) Republicans: 15,119,146 (30.5%) Minor parties : 334,919 (0.7%) No Party Affiliation 11,871,101 (24%) TOTAL: 49,500,100
How did the states perform in early voting compared to 2016? As reported by Axios based on the data gathered by the U.S. Elections Project: Hawaii (110.6%), Texas (108.3%), Washington (105.4%), Oregon (104.8%), Montana (102.4%), and Colorado (101%) all surpassed 2016’s total turnout via early voting. Other states that amassed a huge portion of their 2016 totals include: New Mexico: 98% Utah: 97.6% Nevada: 96.7% North Carolina: 95.4% Florida: 94.7% Georgia: 93.9% Arizona: 92.9% Tennessee: 89.6% New jersey: 88.7% The other side: Some key battleground states are lagging behind the frontrunners. Pennsylvania, for example, only reached 40.7% of its 2016 total turnout — but this is the first general election for which the state has implemented no-excuse absentee balloting. Historically, only about 5% of Pennsylvanians have voted by mail. The other side: Some key battleground states are lagging behind the frontrunners.
Pennsylvania, for example, only reached 40.7% of its 2016 total turnout — but this is the first general election for which the state has implemented no-excuse absentee balloting. Historically, only about 5% of Pennsylvanians have voted by mail. Other key battlegrounds and their current early turnout against 2016 totals: Wisconsin: 64.7% Iowa: 60.5% Michigan 58.3% Ohio: 53.5% Worth noting: Mail-in ballots face deadlines. While some states only require that ballots be postmarked by or shortly before Election Day, others require ballots to be received by election officials on Tuesday. Swing states Florida and Wisconsin, for example, require mail-in ballots to be received by 7 and 8 p.m., respectively, on Election Day. But the Supreme Court recently shut down Republican attempts to trim mail-in deadlines in both North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Many states also can’t begin counting their mail-in ballots until Election Day, which is likely to cause a backlog in results — and could shift results in Biden’s favor as more get
counted in the following days. Voter motivation These early voting numbers are just part of the bigger turn out numbers we have yet to get after the polls close on November 3, and after all votes are counted. Trump used COVID-19 super spreader crowded public campaign rallies to display support and enthusiasm among voters while Biden held drive-in rallies in addition to virtual campaign rallies to follow social distancing and other public health safety measures. However, if we look at these numbers, it appears that more Democrats than Republicans were motivated to cast their votes early breaking all records. These numbers are also in congruence with polls conducted just before the November 3 elections which revealed Biden leads Trump by 10 percentage points nationally, 52 percent to 42 percent. This is according to an average of national polls since Oct. 26 reported by the Washington Post. Biden’s margin in the battleground states of Michigan and Wisconsin is nine points. It’s five points in Pennsylvania, five in North Carolina,
four in Arizona and three in Florida. Whatever the final result may be, America wins as this election’s voter turnout may very well speak volumes about how they have come out of their shells of apathy. We learn the hard way that our votes indeed matter and are motivated to change the course of our nation’s history after four years of the Trump presidency. We all look forward a better, brighter, and stronger America through the power of our sacred votes and our vigilance to make sure all votes are counted and reflect the will of the American people in this democracy. *** 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.
Staying housed and staying healthy: New support for California renters Commentary
GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM THIS November, millions of Americans prepared for the most consequential election of our lifetimes. So much is at stake, and I encouraged all Californians who can to cast a ballot to take this opportunity to shape the future of our country. But it’s also a time of dread for people who are having a hard time financially as the first of the month means rent is due. If you are struggling to make rent and worried about eviction, know that you are not alone. In the Capitol, we are working hard to help you keep a roof over your head, and there are new resources and protections available to you right now. Tackling the housing crisis in
California has been a priority for me since my first days in office. Access to safe and affordable housing is a cornerstone of the California Dream, one that must stay in reach of all Californians. For decades, the high cost of housing in California has been making it harder for families to get by, much less get ahead. Last year, we took action to help more Californians stay in their homes by enacting the strongest renter protections anywhere in the nation. But the COVID-19 pandemic presented us with even more challenges. Millions of Californians are potentially facing eviction this fall due to the impact of COVID-19—because they’ve lost jobs or hours, gotten sick or faced new costs like childcare. An eviction or foreclosure is always devastating, but it takes on a new danger amid a pandemic, when having a place to stay home and stay safe is so important. While the COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us, it has not
affected all of us equally. The impacts of COVID on lives and livelihoods have had disproportionate impacts on our diverse communities. Census data from July 2020 showed that, of all California renters who had fallen behind on rent, three-quarters were Latino or Black. In partnership with the Legislature, we passed a bill to help people who had fallen behind on rent if they were impacted economically by COVID. So if you owe rent from March 2020 through today because you were affected by COVID – if you lost your job, got sick or had your hours cut – you are protected from being evicted if you can take a few simple steps. Here’s how it works. If your landlord gives you a notice to “pay or quit” – saying you have a certain amount of time to pay the rent you owe, or you have to move out – but you can’t pay the full amount because you were affected by COVID, you can fill out a document and give it to your landlord.
It is called the Tenant Distress Form, and you can find it on our new HousingIsKey.ca.gov website. It is available in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese. Sign it and don’t delay. You must give your landlord this document within 15 days after you receive the “pay or quit” notice to be protected from eviction. You still owe the past rent, but if you cannot pay full rent because of COVID, you can’t get evicted for any rental debt that accrued between March and August of this year. And so long as you further pay at least 25 percent of the rent due between September of this year and January of next year, then you cannot be evicted for unpaid rent for that period, either. While this bill will give tenants some room to breathe, it is not permanent. As of now, the protection for evictions lasts only until February 1, 2021. That’s why we’ve been con-
tinuing to advocate for action from the federal government to help protect renters. We have made remarkable progress in helping more Californians keep a roof over their heads during this emergency, but even a state as large and influential as ours cannot tackle a national crisis on our own. We continue to ask the federal government to help us protect renters and homeowners, as well as other important steps like extending unemployment insurance and fully funding essential services like health, nutrition, education and childcare. We have also asked for support for state and local governments that are battling COVID-19 and facing difficult choices about their budgets. Without federal support for renters and homeowners, anyone out of a job, behind on their housing payments or struggling with medical bills will potentially face the prospect of losing their home. That’s not right, it’s not fair and it’s not good for our
economy or communities. Investing in our renters can make a big difference around the country. It would help stabilize the housing market, help America recover from the devastating economic impacts of the pandemic and keep people in their homes. No matter what happens in this election or in D.C., California will keep doing everything in our power to help everyone stay safe, healthy and housed during this crisis – because all Californians deserve a place to call home. You can find more information about your rights and get access to low- or no-cost legal help at https://lawhelpca.org/. *** 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. *** Gavin Newsom is the Governor of California, formerly Lieutenant Governor of California and Mayor of San Francisco.
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Dateline PhiliPPines
SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvembeR 4-6, 2020
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SolGen favors Marcos in election protest by Jomar
Canlas ManilaTimes.net
THE Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has told the Supreme Court that as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), it has the power to validate or annul the election returns from three Mindanao provinces which former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. claims were tainted with fraud. Marcos filed a protest before the tribunal after losing the 2016 vice presidential election to Maria Leonor Robredo. The PET solicited the opinion of the Solicitor General before deciding Marcos’ protest. In its 38-page comment, the OSG said that under Article VII, Section 4 of the Constitution the tribunal “shall be the sole judge of all contests relating to the election, returns, and qualifications of the President or VicePresident and may promulgate rules for the purpose.” “The Presidential Electoral Tribunal has the power to declare the Annulment of Elections or a Failure of Elections without infringing upon the authority of the Commission on Elections (Comelec),” the comment, signed by Solicitor Gen-
eral Jose Calida, stated. It said the PET was within its authority to declare an annulment of elections or a failure of elections. What it cannot do is conduct special elections, which infringes on the authority of Comelec, the OSG said. The PET’s “mandate under the Constitution is clear — to be the ‘sole judge of all contests relating to the election, returns, and qualifications of the president or vice president,’” it added. A failure of elections must be declared before any poll winner is proclaimed, an annulment of elections must be declared after an electoral contest and during election protests, it said. In Marcos’ case, “it is indubitable that even if the votes cast in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, and Basilan are declared null and void, there is no failure to elect to speak of. On the contrary the ultimate winner, or the one with the majority (or plurality) of the valid votes cast, is easily determinable,” the OSG said. The case has been pending before the PET for more than four years, having been filed by Marcos on June 29, 2016.
Supreme Court Justice Marvic Mario Victor Leonen, the ponente of the case, wanted a comment from OSG before the tribunal moved ahead. After Leonen took over the case on Oct. 29, 2019, he required Marcos and Robredo to submit separate memoranda last January to get the case going. Since then the case has barely moved forward. In his memorandum, Marcos , the son of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, argued he can prove that the voter’s signatures from 2,756 clustered precincts in the three Mindanao provinces were fraudulent. In her memorandum, Robredo asked the PET to dismiss the protest. Voting 11 to 2 on Oct. 15, 2019, the PET rejected Robredo’s and the recommendation of Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa to dismiss the Marcos protest outright. Leonen, however, held off the tribunal’s decision by getting the nod of 11 justices to first get the opinion of the OSG to make sure that the PET will not be stepping on Comelec’s toes. Marcos lost to Robredo by only 263,473 votes. n
‘Challenging times’ ahead for... PAGE A5 cause the Democratic Party and not only Biden are known for championing democratic values around the world. That would be a good thing to keep an eye on,” he said in mixed English and Filipino. As for the maritime territorial dispute between Beijing and Manila in the West Philippine Sea, Manhit said Biden, if elected, could bring more countries to ensure a “rule-based security environment not only in the Philippines but in the region as well.” “Biden, being a former vice president of Barack Obama, would have learned their lessons [on] trying to give some space to China to become good global
citizens,” he said. “But what we have seen especially after the 2016 arbitral award is they cannot be good citizens and they will use their aggressive stance.” The Democratic Party nominee is running up against President Donald Trump who is seeking another four-year term after a shocking win in 2016 as a political outsider. Results of America’s elections are usually known by the evening, or in the Philippines, by noon of November 4. The country’s election system is not by popular vote such as in many countries, but through the Electoral College, where candidates need to secure at least 270 electoral votes from states to clinch the presidency. n
ABS-CBN News, ANC YouTube...
PAGE A5
Ripple said it has submitted around 350 complaints over impersonation or scamming, but YouTube has only “ignored or otherwise failed to address” many of them. ABS-CBN’s franchise woes ABS-CBN has been largely livestreaming its news content on YouTube and Facebook after the House of Representatives’ legislative franchises committee denied its application for a fresh franchise. Prior to this, the National Telecommunications Commission ordered ABS-CBN’s TV and radio stations to go off air after the expiration of its 25year franchise, going against the practice of allowing broadcast networks to continue operation while a fresh franchise is being deliberated in Congress. The regulatory body sealed the deal for ABS-CBN in September, when it recalled the media giant’s frequencies. With ABS-CBN’s finances
It’s open enrollment. Here’s what you need...
PAGE A4 you could reduce your premium by as much as 7.4%, according to Covered California. Keep in mind that the lowest premium, a bronze plan, is not necessarily the wisest — or cheapest — choice. Tom Freker, a Huntington Beach insurance agent, counsels people not to buy bronze, because its higher deductibles and coinsurance rates could cost more than a higher-premium plan if you fall ill or have a serious accident. Freker recommends you enroll in Covered California rather than health and safety as the top pri- the Philippines, visit www.phil- the off-exchange market, even if ority. Among the opened des- ippines.travel. (Philstar.com) you don’t initially qualify for aid. tinations for local tourists are That’s because if your income Baguio, Boracay, El Nido, Ilocos Norte, and several diving sites in Batangas province wherein stringent safety protocols are in place. Dive tourism is identified by the DOT as one of the key areas in the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2016 - 2022 that can positively affect industry growth in terms of increased visitor count, extended length of stay, and higher tourism revenue, among others. Meanwhile, both the Philippines and the DOT have the following remaining nominations under the World category: • World’s Leading Beach Destination 2020: Philippines • World’s Leading Dive Destination 2020: Philippines • World’s Leading Island Destination 2020: Siargao • World’s Leading Tourist Board 2020: the Philippines, Department of Tourism • World’s Leading Tourist Attraction 2020: Intramuros Since 1993, the World Travel Awards has contributed to rising global tourism standards by recognizing brands and best practices from the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries in an annual series of gala ceremonies held per continent. Each year is capped off with a Grand Final Gala. For more information about
Philippines hailed as Asia’s leading beach, dive destination THE 27th World Travel Awards recognized the Philippines as Asia’s leading beach destination and Asia’s leading dive destination in 2020. The award-giving body also declared the Philippine Department of Tourism as this year’s leading tourist board in Asia, besting 11 nominated countries. “We are truly honored and thankful for the accolades given to the Philippines at the 2020 World Travel Awards Asia. These recognitions are certainly an inspiration to the industry as we safely and gradually reopen our destinations for tourism. These would not be possible without the combined efforts from our tourism stakeholders, local government units, partner agencies, and our fellow Filipinos who have tirelessly promoted our country’s attractions, products and culture,” remarked Tourism Secretary Bernadette RomuloPuyat. This is the Philippines’ fourth time to win Asia’s Leading Beach Destination and second time to win Asia’s Leading Dive Destination, following a number of nominations for categories since 2006. On the other hand, this is the second time for the Department of Tourism (DOT) to win Asia’s Leading Tourist Board. Recently, the DOT expressed its support for the gradual reopening of various tourism destinations in the country, putting
BACK TO WORK. Passengers wait for public utility vehicles to ride to work after a long weekend vacation on Tuesday, November 3 at the corner of Quirino Highway and Belfast Avenue in Fairview, Quezon City. Many decided to stay in their homes for the last few days due to Signal No. 4 Typhoon Rolly. PNA photo by Oliver Marquez
bleeding following the shutdown and the House’s refusal to grant it a new franchise, it was forced to close down several divisions of its news arm, including the Regional Network Group, which served communities through 21 regional stations. The void left by ABS-CBN, particularly its regional stations, was highlighted during the onslaught of Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni), which left at least 16 people dead and thousands more affected. Former Vice President Jejomar Binay, for one, noted how ABS-CBN’s closure “left a noticeable void that has yet to be filled by the other networks.” Still, Malacañang claimed there was no communication vacuum, citing the work of state and private media amid the onslaught of Rolly to provide public service information. ABS-CBN has since made a partial return to free TV through its blocktime arrangement with Zoe TV, but no news programs are being aired there yet. n
drops and you report it to the exchange, you might then qualify and get a break on premiums for the rest of the year or a tax credit the following April, he says. If your income rises during the year you also should report it, so your monthly premium subsidy is reduced, helping you avoid a potentially hefty tax bill come April. Your initial aid amount, if you qualify, will be based on your projected 2021 income. In this period of pandemic-driven furloughs, slashed hours and job loss, that might be difficult to predict. Maria Weston, a massage therapist in Long Beach, said her income has fluctuated week to
week since the pandemic started and is down about 50% overall. Her priority for 2021 was to find a less expensive option, so she switched to a cheaper silver plan last month (current enrollees were allowed to make their health plan choices starting Oct. 1). Weston’s new health plan will save her nearly $1,700 a year on premiums. “I could put that in my retirement account — or eat,” she says. “One of the two.” Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.
A November 4-6, 2020 • SoCal ASIAN JoUrNAL
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Comic-Con Museum celebrates Fil-Am creators in the arts
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by
Ritchel Mendiola / AJPress
efore films can be created, there is a key part of the preproduction process that requires planning out scenes: storyboarding.
Ian Abando
Jay Olivia
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Josie Trinidad, head of story for “Ralph Breaks the Internet.� Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Animation Studios
Think blueprints, except it’s a sequence of drawings that covers the major shots, angles, and actions of a film. A storyboard essentially conveys how the story will flow, what will happen in a particular scene, and acts as a guide in producing the final work. For the Filipino American History Month, the Comic-Con Museum in San Diego coordinated with Los Angeles-based non-profit Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) to invite an online panel of emerging and veteran Filipino American storyboard artists who were all excited to share their experiences with storyboarding: • Ian Abando, a storyboard artist who worked on popular animated films such as “Despicable Me 2,â€? and “Minionsâ€?; • Gabby Capili, who works at Walt Disney animation studios and has created a series of animated shorts called “All My Friendsâ€? as well as an interactive short called “Dennis the Dinosaurâ€?; • Jay Oliva, an executive producer, director, and showrunner for several animated series as well as the founder and CEO of Lex and Otis animation studio. He directed “BatBobby Rubio man: The Dark Knight Returnsâ€? 1 and 2, and
worked as a storyboard artist for live-action films such as “Man of Steelâ€?; • Bobby Rubio, a storyboard artist who made his directorial debut with the Pixar animated short “Floatâ€?, which features CGI Filipino characters; and • Josie Trinidad, who served as a storyboard artist on “Tangledâ€? and “The Princess and The Frog,â€? as well as head of story for “Wreck It Ralph 2.â€? “As a storyboard artist, usually we’re the first person to actually plan out the shots. The director will have ideas, but they bring in a storyboard artist and they basically plot out everything from the choreography, the camera move, the acting. We draw it all out and then we run it by the director,â€? said Oliva. “We’re kind of like the unsung heroes of the films because we’re pretty much the first directors to kind of give the story life after the writer has basically written the script,â€? he added. Origin story For the panelists, becoming a storyboard artist was never the dream. It was more of a slow burn love affair developed through their many experiences. “I wanted to be a comic book artist,â€? Rubio shared. “I went to Comic-Con every year in San Diego growing up.â€? In line with his dream, Rubio went to study at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and started an animation program. He got an internship at Disney as an animator and got to work in the show Treasure Planet. “After Treasure Planet, 2D (animation) kind of went away so I had to go another route,â€? he said. “Disney helped me out and I went to story internship. From there, I got a job at Avatar: The Last Airbender at Nickelodeon — that was amazing and then I started to love storyboarding and I wanted to pursue that even more. And then Pixar eventually Continued on Page 3
entertainment
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 4, 2020
Mark Ruffalo’s tweet about Duterte’s drug war gains traction after asking prayers for typhoon-hit Philippines By Jeline
MalaSig Philstar.com
Apl.de.ap and KC Concepcion
A 2017 tweet of “The Avengers” star Mark Ruffalo about President Rodrigo Duterte‘s “War on Drugs” campaign resurfaced after he prayed for the safety of the Filipinos amid Super Typhoon Rolly‘s onslaught. The Hollywood actor, known for portraying the character of “The Hulk” in the ABS-CBN photo Marvel Cinematic Universe, shared an article in June 2017 titled “Trump’s mass-murdering buddy Rodrigo Duterte is killing even more people than anyone knew.” The story featured a glimpse of Duterte’s bloody anti-narcotics campaign her jewelry line Avec Moi. launched when the former “And maybe one day, I can Davao City chief had taken check out your local garden,” office as the country’s highestKC told Apl, referring to his ranking official in 2016. plan of putting up a garden in Ruffalo shared the artiLA, where he is based. cle’s link three years ago but “I can’t wait,” Apl replied. it found itself on the social Prior to this, KC hinted in media feeds of Filipinos a press interview that she was once more when he urged at least entertaining a new his followers to pray for the romance. typhoon-battered nation and “Kung sa heart, okay nasend in donations. man ako. I mean, may mga Last weekend, the world’s kausap ako and, thank you, strongest tropical cyclone of Lord, ‘di ba, na kinikilig ako… Kasi siyempre, ang hanap natin 2020 slammed parts of Southern Luzon and displaced lots ngayon, ‘yung medyo mas deeper. Hindi na yung for play- of families in Catanduanes and Albay. It also affected people play,” she said. from Regions 2, 3, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Region V and the National Capital Region. Meanwhile, some Filipino social media users retweeted Ruffalo’s 2017 tweet following his recent concern for the Philippines. Another Twitter user quipped that Ruffalo’s tweet “is still up to date nowadays,” referencing recent reports of drug-related killings done by the police under the Duterte administration. Duterte last month claimed that he has not killed anyone despite personally admitting in past speeches and interviews of killing “bad guys.” ABS-CBN photo “I killed about three of
Apl.de.ap guests in KC’s cooking show, actress reveals ‘real score’ By Jan
Milo Severo Philstar.com
AMID romance rumors, host KC Concepcion and international hip hop star Apl.de.ap were seen together in an online cooking video. In KC’s Instagram account, the Black Eyed Peas member can be seen as the guest of Sharon Cuneta’s daughter in her online cooking show. “Today is the day I’ve been waiting for. Everybody who’s been asking for this, this is your treat. Because it is Halloween over here,” KC told her followers as she introduced Apl for
the Instagram live video. “He’s a great, great friend of mine, very sweet, and very, very thoughtful. He has supported a lot of artists from the Philippines and really introduced them outside. And I’m so, so grateful to know him and then all the boys from the group [Black Eyed Peas],” she added. The rumored couple talked for about an hour, including about the group’s upcoming album and their collaboration with Jennifer Hudson. KC also revealed her plans to return to Los Angeles to finish her gemology studies for
Boy Abunda continues to reap fruits of his labor By ronnie
CarraSCo ManilaTimes.net
NO, this Boy Abunda production has no tie-up with the Department of Agriculture but rather is a tour around his farm in Lipa, Batangas in five parts. With no less than his partner of many years Bong Quintana as the sole cameramancum-director, Asia’s King of Continued on Page 3 Boy Abunda
Mark Ruffalo
them… I don’t know how many bullets from my gun went inside their bodies. It happened and I cannot lie about it,” he said in an interview with BBC in December 2016. Duterte also recently denied being involved in the extrajudicial killings of suspected drug users and hardened criminals. Meanwhile, another online user commented that Ruffalo’s tweet indicates the latter “has been watching over the Philippines since 2017.” As of this writing, the Hollywood actor’s tweet has 1,900 likes, more than 200 quote tweets and more than 900 retweets. ince he rose to presidency, Duterte made it his goal to eliminate illegal drugs in the country, believing it to be the number one problem in society. He initially utilized the police force to lead the “Oplan Tokhang” operations which aims to crack down on narcot-
Photo from Instagram/@markruffalo
ics use and trade. The bloody campaign saw thousands of urban poor killed, including women and children. It also prompted the United Nations Human Rights Council to approve a resolution that launched an investigation about the human rights crisis in the country. BBC News in a June 2020 article quoted a 26-page report by Michelle Bachelet, the United Nation’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, which notes that the Philippine police’s key policy note contained “ominous” and “ill-defined language” such as “neutralising” suspects. Coupled with the “rhetoric at high levels calling for the killings of drug offenders”, the news outlet says that it was “taken as a permission by the police to kill.” “In the context of the campaign against illegal drugs, there has been near impunity for such violations,” BBC says, quoting Bachelet.
Liz says past relationship with John Lloyd was ‘true love’ By Ryan
aRcadio
Inquirer.net
AFTER more than a decade since Liz Uy and John Lloyd Cruz broke up, the stylist stated that their relationship was “true love.” Uy spoke about her and Cruz’s time as a couple during an interview with writer G3 San Diego, who posted it on her YouTube channel on Oct. 26. The writer mentioned Cruz while she noted how Uy managed to bring her work in fashion to the entertainment industry. San Diego also described Uy as one of the first people who earned respect in both industries. “Jinowa mo kasi si John Lloyd Cruz kaya nangyari iyon (You made John Lloyd Cruz your boyfriend, that is why it happened),” San Diego said in jest.
When San Diego asked how long Uy and Cruz were together, the stylist said that she did not remember since she and Cruz have different answers. Uy recalls that they were a couple for two years but Cruz says it was three. The writer then joked that the reason Cruz’s answer was longer is because he could not get over her for a whole year. Uy later explained that she and Cruz broke up due to their difLiz Uy Photo from Instagram/@lizzzuy ferences and their young age at the time. Years after they split, “Baka din naman nakatuIsabelle Daza introduced Uy to long din iyon,” Uy replied while laughing. “Pero true love naman her now-fiancé, businessman iyon. Hindi naman jinowa lang.” Raymond Racaza, in 2016. The next year, they welcomed their (Maybe it did help. But that first child together, whom they was true love. I did not just named Xavi. make him my boyfriend.) The stylist announced her Uy and Cruz began dating engagement to Racaza on Oct. back in 2006, as per the Philip27. pine Entertainment Portal.
Comic-Con Museum celebrates... From Page 1 called, so I went to Pixar,” he added. Abando, who wanted to be a comic book artist as well, admitted to hating storyboarding at first. “In my last year in (CalArts), I teamed up with some people and we worked on a short together and that’s when I fell backwards into storyboarding. I filled the role in the team because they needed an illustrator at the time and I hated it,” he said. But after getting a job offer on the first season of “Adventure Time” in Cartoon Network, Abando slowly realized that this is where he’s supposed to be. “I think the more that I got into it, I realized that, even when I go to museums and look at art, I feel like I’ve always been drawn to sequential art. I couldn’t explain why I liked movies, but I think I was more drawn to storytelling than I was (with) the brunt work of design, and I just followed that path and here I am,” he said. Trinidad, meanwhile, grew up wanting to become a Disney animator. However, getting a job was rough for her. “For a while, I thought I might become a lawyer and take the LSAT because I couldn’t find a job, but thankfully, (at) the last minute, I was able to get a job drawing the toy art on packaging so I did that for a few years,” she said. “And then (I got) an internship at Disney — a story internship, which is one of the best ways to get your foot in the door,” she added. Trinidad recounted how she felt intimidated at first, especially as the only other woman in a story department of about 40. She admitted feeling unsure, wondering to herself if she really belonged there, but learned to push through despite all doubts and worked hard. “I worked hard and I made sure that when I board sequences, I really connected with the material and put myself into them, and it worked! I ended up working on my first film at Disney with Ron and John, who did ‘The Little Mermaid.’ They were my heroes, and then they gave me my first film at Disney, ‘The Princess and The Frog,’ and I’ve been there ever since,” she said. Capili, after switching majors twice, discovered that she wanted to be in animation. “I ended up moving to France to learn to draw and then applying to CalArts,” she said. However, she still had a hard time deciding which path to take on while studying. “In my fourth year, I figured out that I like making comics. I like writing. Storyboard artists do both of those things, but just on a film essentially, so that’s how I settled into it,” said Capili. For Oliva, on the other hand, he never even wanted to become an animator. “I vaguely thought of the idea of going into animation when I first saw the making of Empire Strikes Back, like the stop motion, and I was like this is amazing. And then I realized how tedious it was, so I thought, no, I don’t want to do that,” he said. “So anyways, I was in college and I took all the communication arts classes because I loved film but I never wanted to be in film because I hated being in front of [the] camera. There was a class that was for animation and here’s the thing, I never wanted to be an animator. Never. Because making a duck walk or doing cloth animation was like the last thing I wanted to do. But I (still) took
the class,” he added. It was in his animation class that he was discovered — by the director of the Spiderman animated series, no less. He was offered a job after the director saw his storyboards and came in as a storyboard revisionist. “As a revisionist, you basically fix storyboards. The storyboard artist turns it in and you have to fix it before it ships overseas to be animated, so you’re the last line of defense,” Oliva explained. It took him a while, but with the help of his director, Oliva realized the mechanics of storyboarding. “What happened was, I was riding a bike. At some point, my brain clicked and I realized whenever Spiderman was in trouble: downshot. Whenever the hobgoblin is like, I have you now, Spiderman: upshot. I realized that there was a language to film, there’s a language to the shot that was kinda decoded. I never realized that, and so from that point on, I became a sponge,” he said. “I think in about six months since I became a storyboard artist, I did my first storyboard for the show. They liked it, and then the following year, I was hired as a board artist at Sony,” he added. A field of never-ending learning According to Trinidad, the best thing about storyboarding is that it’s a collaborative effort. “It’s way more satisfying to be able to work in a room of people and throw out ideas. I love that we laugh a lot in the story room. We get to know each other really well and these folks become your best friends. You work really closely with directors and writers and editors and you get to see the different parts of the filmmaking process,” she said. “At the end of the day, it’s very fun and very collaborative and you feel like there’s an immense amount of pride,” she added. Oliva echoed this sentiment, adding that with storyboarding, the experience was always different. “Animation is not a oneperson thing. You’re collaborating with so many talented people and everybody’s so generous and nice and very willing to share and help you out,” he said. “Storyboarding is hard and I hate it. I die a little with every storyboard that I do because I literally put so much into it that I think I lose a little bit of my life. But on the flipside, everyday is different. Even though I’m storyboarding a fight sequence, it’s always different,” Oliva added. He stressed that storyboarding is a constant learning experience. “The thing with storyboarding, it’s a learning process. You’re always learning. You’re always a student, and you never feel like you’ve mastered it. And the idea is that, for me, even though I’ve been doing this for about 25 years now, I still feel like I’m learning new stuff. There’s still stuff that I see from everybody that I’m like, that’s really cool. That, to me, is what makes storyboarding so gratifying,” Oliva said. Abando agreed, saying, “Storyboarding and filmmaking is very difficult. I like that it’s a never-ending challenge you’re never supposed to master.” Fil-Am representation Last year, Rubio made a splash after releasing “Float,” an animated short about a father who tries to keep his infant son’s special ability to float a secret. It was a monumental event in that it broke new ground as the first Pixar work
to feature Filipino American animated characters. “It’s great that ‘Float’ got out there, doing well and representing Filipino American community. I get so proud of it because I get messages from people who are finally seeing themselves up there. They send me pictures of their family members and themselves, and they see themselves up there represented on the screen, super excited and proud of that moment,” Rubio said. “I know all of us in this panel want to push forward with more Filipino American representation. I feel like we’re coming up and our stories are coming out there. ‘Float’ is the start of something great and that’s awesome. I’m super proud of that,” he added. In recent years, audiences saw great strides in Hollywood attempting to represent marginalized communities in both film and television, but there is always room for more improvement and inclusivity. Oliva, for one, shared he is currently working on “Trese,” an upcoming anime series on Netflix, based on the comic books by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo. It tells the story of Alexandra Trese, who protects Manila from threats of the supernatural kind such as tikbalang and kapre. “Doing this series, it was more like a love letter to the stories my parents told me. Because this was about Filipino mythology and folklore,” Oliva said. According to him, Rubio’s “Float” opened the doors for more opportunities to represent and celebrate Filipino stories on a global platform. “So we’ve got a Filipino story set in Manila. The characters all look Filipino, and Bobby (Rubio) paved the way with his short to kind of let Netflix see, hey you know what there’s a lot of interest in Filipino stories and I gotta say, this makes me the most proud,” Oliva said. The online panel was put together by Davey Patacsil, manager of membership programs at Comic-Con Museum, and Christine Pasalo Norland, member of the programming department at Comic-Con Museum. It was moderated by Erwin Magbanua, the principal librarian of Chula Vista Public Library. Further engagement Though the pandemic has altered live events — including the popular Comic-Con International which was held in a virtual version this year — it has also allowed for more engagement with viewers who are not physically present in San Diego and to get a jumpstart on its online programming. The upcoming Comic-Con Museum, which is slated to open next summer in Balboa Park’s South Palisades area, is a way to continue the connection to pop culture throughout the year and to highlight artists and contributors who “represent a wide range of cultural, racial and ethnic diversity,” Melissa Peterman, vice president of development at the Comic-Con Museum, told the Asian Journal. “That includes, of course, the nation’s Filipino American population, which has strong ties in the San Diego area and in many other communities across the nation,” she said, as reflected in the month’s programming and the release of “fun books” each week. One of the books with Fil-Am creators, included Ruth Ilano, Ramon Gil, Len Peralta, and Gabby Capilih, who exhibited their creative styles in drawing activity, a cut-out card game, puzzle, and Word Play.
entertainment For Jasmine, patience key to dealing with life’s challenges
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 4, 2020
By allan
PolicaRPio Inquirer.net
LIVING alone can get lonely at times, Jasmine CurtisSmith admitted—and more so now that there’s a pandemic, and her family is hundreds of miles away in Australia. So, if there was one thing she had to relearn in the past couple of months to somehow bridge that distance, it’s patience. “Instead of feeling bad about the separation, I looked at it as something that taught me to look at the positive side. I just think that I will have so many more years with my family,” she said in a video conference for the return of GMA 7’s adaptation of the popular Korean drama series “Descendants of the Sun” (DOTS).
Jasmine Curtis-Smith
“There’s the feeling of wanting and yearning to be with them. For people who live alone, it tends to be lonely. It’s hard. But it’s about learning to use that and turn
Inquirer.net photo
it into something to look forward to,” she added. But luckily, Jasmine was able to squeeze in a quick trip down under in March and met Continued on Page 5
Boy Abunda continues to...
From Page 2 Talk (via his talk channel) takes his audience to his sprawling, spruced-up property this side of the Southern Luzon province, which he hasn’t visited again for almost a year. Nestled at the back of his rest house is a vast (and I mean it) garden dotted with fruit-bearing trees. Name it: lanzones, rambotan, calamansi, jackfruit, mango, banana, cayenne, etc. The fresh produce are usually transported to him in Manila in crates. As if a grotto of the Virgin Mary on one side isn’t enough, Boy had a chapel built complete with pews and religious images which can house at least a dozen people. Boy’s dream farm wouldn’t be complete without a tree house, only that his usual fashionable get-ups (in boots, imagine?) make the ascent hard for him to even step on the rungs. Further exploring your way around is a seemingly sturdy hanging bridge which connects to the other side of lush
greenery. It’s not the typical bridge that sways and flounces like a flamboyant gay’s hips, “Kasi, ayaw ni Nanay, nalulula raw siya.” Under the bridge runs a stream, where Boy proudly sampled his expertise in washing clothes (not his but a lady neighbor’s). Turning to Bong, he said: “Laking seminaryo ako kung saan naglalaba ako. Magaling akong maglaba, pero don’t make me iron clothes.” He then shimmied away with the plastic basin of washed clothes on his head. The farm tour took all of four parts which we thought was already in its entirety. But wait, there was Part 5. Could it be the concluding part? I hoped so. Like some interview that needs to be wrapped up, or simply a sentence which has to end with a period, Boy’s fifth farm-serye episode proved just that. It gracefully culminated in that area Boy and Boy refer to us “kamalig.” Built by Bong, it actually resembles a guest
house where they entertain visiting friends over casual chitchats and fun karaoke sessions. A wall on which Boy’s and Bong’s framed photos compete for attention sits a dining table made of sturdy wood, one that belonged to the late film director and National Artist Lino Brocka which Boy had bought. Pointing to his pictures taken in different moods, Boy justified: “If you notice, I am never without my hands on my face. Why? Because first, even Bong tells me I’ve got beautiful hands; second, I’m well aware of the fact that I’m not beautiful or good-looking or I’m flawed. But let me say this, nobody has the right to define my beauty. I’m okay with how I look or how I dress up as I’m not defined by seasons.” It’s also in this area where Boy’s dear house help-friends rustled up a scrumptious lunch in celebration of his nth birthday last October 29. It was fine dining in the sense that he gamely ate with bare hands.
community How to obtain custody and visitation rights for unmarried dads
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 4, 2020
ESTABLISHING parentage rights for Moms is a lot easier than establishing one for unmarried Dads. Moms can establish this by simply showing proof of her having given birth to the child. Family Code §7610. Establishing parentage rights, including custody and visitation rights, becomes more problematic with unmarried Dads because proving yourself as the biological father does not automatically make you the natural father of the child. Under the family code, there are competing presumptions of paternity which allows the non biological father to be deemed the natural father of the child. A typical situation is when boyfriend gets girlfriend pregnant. Girlfriend for some reason decides to exclude boyfriend from baby’s life so she breaks up with boyfriend, does not give the boyfriend any information about her delivery, and
of the voluntary declaration Family.Code. § 7576; Kevin Q. v. Lauren W. (2009) 175 CA4th 1119, 1133, 95 CR3d 477, 485 If the voluntary declaration of paternity is executed after 1996, it is not characterized as a conAtty. Kenneth clusive presumption. Instead, it UrsUA reyes “shall establish the paternity of a child and shall have the same force and effect as a judgment does not state the boyfriend as the father in the birth certificate for paternity issued by a court of competent jurisdiction” and or decides to name someone trumps §7611 presumptions else as the father. Girlfriend discussed below. A post 1996 does this because her parents disapprove of the ex boyfriend. voluntary declaration of paternity “shall be recognized as a One way a presumption of Paternity is created is by execut- basis for the establishment of an order for child custody, visitaing a voluntary declaration of tion, or child support.” Family paternity. A Voluntary declarations executed before 1997 give .Code §§ 7573, 7644; Kevin Q. rise to a conclusive presumption v. Lauren W., supra, 175 CA4th at 1132, 95 CR3d at 485; In re of paternity and can be overJ.L. (2008) 159 CA4th 1010, come only by blood or genetic tests ordered on noticed motion 1019, 72 CR3d 27, 33. Another way of establishing by the mother or presumed father must be made within three presumed father status is if you years of the date of execution Continued on Page 5
Barrister’s Corner
Filing bankruptcy when faced with the unexpected payments provided by the government, a lot of people would Minding Your have found themselves unable Finances to pay their rent and provide for their families. The extra $600 in unemployment benefits have been a lifeline for many but Atty. rAyMond that ended last month. As our Congress continues to deliberBUlAon ate and finalize plans on how to continue this government MANY people find themassistance, a lot of families are selves in the position of facing worried how they are going to overwhelming debt, with constant calls from creditors and no survive these uncertain times. In situations like what we are obvious way out. For some, job loss sent them into a downward now facing, bankruptcy can be used as a tool to cut or minispiral, and they are now unable mize your losses while protectto pay their bills and meet their ing what you have worked so responsibilities. For others, a hard for. If you have a home, recent divorce or costly medisavings, retirement plans, a cal emergency drained their resources, leaving them in a very business, other assets, etc., how do you protect all of these difficult financial situation. if you’re struggling with debts Over the last few months, that you can no longer pay? millions of people have lost In good times, people their jobs due to the pandemic. sometimes get too complacent Unemployment is at an all-time with financial planning and high and without the stimulus
EMPLOYMENT
they fail to prepare for financial emergencies while continuing to accumulate unnecessary debt. When tough times come, only then do they realize that they could have done better. I realize we are facing unprecedented times and the financial problems caused by the virus could not have prepared a lot of people for what was to come so quickly. But a good financial plan definitely helps you withstand the unexpected; there is nothing worse than not having a contingency plan. Thank God we have bankruptcy laws that can help us for the worst of times when we can no longer help ourselves. Unfortunately, a lot of people are fed all kinds of misinformation about bankruptcy. So, what often happens is that people who need help so badly end up doing NOTHING for fear of making a mistake. Continued on Page 5
EMPLOYMENT
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA WITHOUT assimilation by every immigrant to its adoptive country through the generations, no nation can retain the structural integrity of the foundational values that created it in the first place. That nation’s collapse is not a matter of “if” but “when.” More simply put: Immigration without assimilation is nothing more than invasion. Two opposing forces on the issue of immigration have been aligning for decades now. There could only be one of two ways. You are either for or against it. It was too hot to handle for previous administrations. There has been conscious non-enforcement of the laws in the books. In retrospect, it appears to have been a long-term sinister agenda of seeding future electorate for one particular party. America has placed this divisive issue of immigration far too long in the back burner. Unchecked illegal immigration has reached critical mass and the time came in 2016 to confront this issue head on. It is true what they say. Stupid is as stupid does. Stupidity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different result. Donald J. Trump has yanked the issue of illegal immigration front and center. Anyone applying for the post of top dog must deal with the issue of immigration. It seems that President Trump has tapped into an angry pulsating nerve of a HUGE swath of the American population. To the absolute dismay of both the Republican and Democratic parties, Trump’s message sent shock waves and is still resonating. He has morphed as the microphone for many Americans who have no voice and who are plainly sick and tired of political correctness spewed and enforced by the liestream media in the last few decades. It can no longer be business as usual for globalists and the elite of the New World Order who care not a whit about the welfare of the middle class of any country. Who are these elites? These are the attendees of Davos and Bilderberg powwows: Rockefeller, Rothschild,
Melting pot or salad bowl? The case for assimilation
“Immigration without assimilation is nothing more than invasion.” Gates, Soros and every billionaire who claim to be world citizens and has the gall and the supreme hubris to play GOD and reshape the world. Since 2016, there is a growing pushback on this globalist movement that has been going on for the last 50 years. The ever-growing national popular movements in a number of countries go against the credo of the wealthy elites who are opposed to the idea of nation states and patriotism and therefore, the dissolution of borders and the manipulated influx of refugees under the guise of false charity. There are only 6 companies that control American media. Let us not kid ourselves. Media’s main purpose is no longer to just earn a profit. It has become a powerful propaganda tool for those who own it to protect their power over varied interests and maintain or enlarge their self interests on a global scale. It is the craving for power and influence that moves them. There seems to be seething cold anger among the greater bulk of the population. Something tectonic is afoot and is gaining intensity over the last four years. Love for country is welling up among those who are not part of the hypocritical elite who made their fortunes off the back of the unwashed. Major unpredictable shifts will take place. Professional life-long politicians who have made it their life’s work to keep running for office and serve the interests of those who bankroll their runs may be in for a rude awakening. Very few politicians retire middle class. Many have become millionaires peddling their office to the highest bidders. It seems that the massive rallies and the organically organized boat and vehicle parades in many states over the past few months seem to indicate that American society is beginning to morph from a disparate mosaic that is melding into a patriotic whole, a melting pot of steaming soup.
FOR RENT
SERVICES
OH LORD! FINALLY. We just needed a catalyst. There is a growing common purpose that unites America these days. There is something going on that is responding to the real threats to the unity and structural integrity of this great country. It tmay be a TRUE fear of creeping socialism or, horror of horrors, communism, that is moving people to become loud with their opposition. The silent majority has become unsilent. Big tech has become impotent. Above all, there is joy and optimism rooted in LOVE for GOD, family and THIS amazing country welling up and spreading among more than half of American society. Whatever is happening is super spreading better, deeper and faster than that infernal virus that affected more than 180 nations. Payback time has come. After streamlining the system and enforcing the laws already in the books, immigration should be based to a great degree, on MERITOCRACY. Come here to live and work and raise your family because you love the country and you have something positive, great or small, that you can put on the table. Immigration must continue as a tightly controlled, highly regulated way of attracting people, possibly the best, brightest and most loving people from around the world. More importantly, immigration must attract ONLY those whose hearts are right and with the ability and willingness to assimilate and become part of America. The founding fathers envisioned America in 1776 clearly. E pluribus Unum. Out of many, ONE. *** 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.
*** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com
How to obtain custody...
From Page 4 fall under any of the categories listed (a) to (f) under family code §7611: (a) He and the child’s natural mother are or have been married to each other and the child is born during the marriage, or within 300 days after the marriage is terminated by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce, or after a judgment of separation is entered by a court. (b) Before the child’s birth, he and the child’s natural mother have attempted to marry each other by a marriage solemnized in apparent compliance with law, although the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and either of the following is true: (1) If the attempted marriage could be declared invalid only by a court, the child is born during the attempted marriage, or within 300 days after its termination by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce. (2) If the attempted marriage is invalid without a court order, the child is born within 300 days after the termination of cohabitation. (c) After the child’s birth, he and the child’s natural mother have married, or attempted to marry, each other by a marriage solemnized in apparent compliance with law, although the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and either of the following is true: (1) With his consent, he is named as the child’s father on the child’s birth certificate. (2) He is obligated to support the child under a written voluntary promise or by court order. (d) He receives the child into his home and openly holds out the child as his natural child. (e) If the child was born and resides in a nation with which the United States engages in an Orderly Departure Program or successor program, he acknowledges that he is the child’s father in a declaration under penalty of perjury, as specified in Section 2015.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure. This subdivision shall remain in effect only until January 1, 1997, and on that date shall become inoperative. (f) The child is in utero after the death of the decedent and the conditions set forth in Section 249.5 of the Probate Code are satisfied. An alleged biological father who does not meet any of the § 7611 conditions for presumed father status has no constitutionally-protected “liberty interest” in establishing a parentage relationship with a child as against the rights of a presumptive father who has an extant parentage relationship with the child. Dawn D. v. Super. Ct. (Jerry K.) (1998) 17 C4th 932, 940–942, 72 CR2d 871, 876–877 The facts get even more complicated if the girlfriend, whom boyfriend gets pregnant is married to another
man because the law provides a conclusive presumption of paternity to the husband of the girlfriend. Under Family Code §7540, the child of a wife cohabiting at time of conception with her husband, who is not impotent or sterile, is “conclusively” presumed to be a child of the marriage. This conclusive presumption may be challenged by showing that the husband was sterile. It may also be challenged by filing a motion for blood or genetic testing under Family Code §7541 but this has to be done within 2 years of the childs birth. In addition, only persons with standing can bring this motion which is limited to the husband, child, mother and a presumed father as listed in Family Code §7611 and 7612. Even absent a recognized rebuttal, the court has discretion as a matter of due process not to apply § 7540 conclusive presumption of paternity when it would not further the statute’s underlying policies of preserving the integrity and stability of an extant marital family, protecting children from the stigma of “illegitimacy,” and promoting individual rather than State responsibility for child support ... as where the ostensible § 7540 presumptive father never developed a parental relationship with the child and the only established parent-child relationship is with a third person. Brian C. v. Ginger K. (2000) 77 CA4th 1198, 1200–1201, 92 CR2d 294, 296; In re Kiana A. (2001) 93 CA4th 1109, 1115, 113 CR2d 669, 675. Procedurally, the ex boyfriend should file a Petition for Parentage as soon as the child is born. While the case is pending, the ex boyfriend may seek temporary visitation order although this may be on a limited or even monitored basis. If successful in proving parentage, the ex boyfriend may be granted custody and visitation rights. However, the ex boyfriend would also have the obligation of paying child support based on California guidelines.
*** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com. Web: kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement)
entertainment
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 4, 2020
For Jasmine, patience key to...
From Page 3 her new niece, Dahlia, before lockdowns were put in place around the world. “I’m glad I really pushed the trip because I wanted to make sure I saw my niece as soon as I could … at her youngest,” she said of sister Anne Curtis’ firstborn child with Erwan Heussaff. Less than a week later, international flights were canceled. “I nearly got stranded in Sydney; not even in Melbourne, where my family is. Now I wonder, ‘What if I had gotten stuck there? Maybe I could have stayed in Melbourne and be with my family.’ But then again, it would have been hard for me to fly back
to the Philippines and resume shooting,” she pointed out. “Maybe everything happens for a reason,” surmised the 26-year-old Kapuso star, who plays Capt. Moira Defensor in DOTS. Patience was also key in dealing with the challenges her indie music label, Funky Records, is currently facing because of the pandemic. “I discovered how impatient and unforgiving I can be of myself especially with all the time we have. But now I understand that it’s important to give yourself a chance to breathe; to take in what’s in front of you day by day,” Jasmine said in an earlier video interview.
Funky Records is home to such up-and-coming artists and bands like Bea Lorenzo and Flu. “You have to accept the reality of where things are, and think of the best way to move forward. Do you invest more? Is it time to take a pause?” she asked herself. It’s important that Jasmine remains emotionally detached, because some of her business partners have also become her friends. “It’s about being logical with business matters. We don’t want our emotions to affect our decisions,” she said. “It’s hard. But it is what it is, so we just have to deal with it.” How does she deal with
Filing bankruptcy when...
From Page 4 The important thing to remember is that no one solution fits every situation. Your financial situation should be carefully evaluated by an experienced and knowledgeable attorney who can help you understand the options you may have available. By doing this, you can make an informed choice in taking the steps needed toward financial freedom. As a bankruptcy attorney, I always see people who have been stuck in
their financial suffering for years because of their inaction- when they could have acted much sooner before draining all their financial resources to keep their head above water. Debt problems can happen to anyone. I understand that they can be overwhelming and can cause a lot of sleepless nights and constant worrying about the future. But things don’t have to be that way and you may have options that you didn’t even know existed. There
is no shame in filing bankruptcy if that is what you need to do in order to start over and provide a better future not only for yourself and your family. If you have not read my book, “What You Need to Know Before Filing Bankruptcy”, you can download it free of charge at HYPERLINK “http://www. beforefilingbk.com” www. beforefilingbk.com. For a free evaluation of your case, please call our office at Toll-Free 1866-477-7772 to schedule a free
the stress? One of the things that has kept her sane amid the quarantine, she said, is taking breaks from social media. “One of the most effective ways is to stay offline because many of us work online, too. It’s important to give ourselves a break from all the things we’re trying to listen to and understand. Sometimes, when you take a break from it all, that’s when you find your real core, your center,” she said. It’s the quiet moments, she added, that can make one feel calmer, more appreciative of the things around us. “Give yourself a chance to breathe. We could always use a bit of patience and self-forgiveness, because tomorrow is another day,” Jasmine said. consultation.
*** NOTE: Due to the virus lockdown, I am currently offering consultations via phone or video. Please call the office to schedule your appointment with me. Questions? Email me at gethelp@rjb-lawoffices.com. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1866-477-7772. (Advertising Supplement)
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