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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Volume 19 - No. 44 • 14 Pages
T H E F I L I P I N O A M E R I CA N C O M M U N I T Y N E WS PA P E R
Volume 18 - No. 17 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages
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USA
DATELINE Bay Area Fil-Am family in search of donor for baby with leukemia FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
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.
N O V E MBE R 6 - 1 2 , 2 0 2 0
Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, SAN DIEGO, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY
Several Fil-Am candidates triumph in local NorCal races Bonta, Manalo, Sylvester among winners
by JOSEPH
L. PERALTA
AJPress
INCUMBENTS Rob Bonta, Juslyn Manalo, Glenn Sylvester, Christopher Cabaldon, Rozzana VerderAliga and Malia Vella were among a number of Filipino American bets in Northern California who won their respective races in the November 3 general
election, according to initial results posted on different county websites. Bonta, state assemblymember for California’s Assembly District 18, handily won his race against Stephen Slauson, capturing 89,724 votes, or 88.07% of total votes cast. This is the fourth time that Bonta has been overwhelmingly re-elected to represent the
As precincts still report, Filipino American candidates battle in key local, state races
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2020 election results for California’s ballot measures IN additional to the top of the ticket presidential race and local offices, California voters cast their votes for a dozen propositions during the 2020 election. Here’s how the 12 measures faired on Election Day, November 3. Prop 14 — Stem Cell Research Institute Bond Initiative (YES) This ballot measure would send $5.5 billion in general obligation bonds for the state’s stem cell research institute, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). The increased funds to the CIRM — which would come from investors who would be reimbursed over the next 30 years through taxpayers — would expand research capacity and allocate $1.5 billion for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, epilepsy and other neurological and nervous system illnesses. The CIRM was established in 2004 as the first-of-its-kind state-sanctioned stem cell agency and was issued $3 billion in bonds. By October 2019, the CIRM had $132 million remaining and earlier in July 2019, the CIRM had seized applications for new projects because funds were drying up. Supporters — including the CIRM, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the University of California Board of Regents (UC labs and hospitals are a primary beneficiary of the CIRM) — maintain that stem cell research has led to increased understanding of diseases that affect millions of
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district, garnering more than 85% of the votes in each election cycle. “Deeply honored & thankful to be re-elected to the CA State Assembly & to have the opportunity to continue to serve the most woke, engaged, enlightened, & justice-oriented District in the State,” Bonta wrote u PAGE A2
Queer Fil-Ams make strides in electoral politics, reporting historic outcomes in era of diverse leadership by KLARIZE
MEDENILLA AJPress
SANTA CLAUS GALORE. Three Santa Clauses, the Nativity scene, and a couple of other Christmas characters welcome shoppers of a store selling Christmas decors on Lacson Avenue in Manila on Wednesday, November 4. Several businesses have been allowed to reopen to slowly recover from the adverse economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.
THOUGH all eyes are on the contentious presidential race that continues to be too close to call, several statewide and local races have already been officially counted, giving voters a clearer picture of how diverse candidates fared in one of the most crucial elections in American history. As of press time, results in many precincts across the country have not been called due to expected delays in counting ballots, but some races involving Filipino American candidates have been counted. As reported in the Asian Journal last week, a record number of Filipino American candidates ran for office
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PH among APAC countries flagged Palace: No major change in PHfor rising coronavirus outbreaks US ties regardless of poll results by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
THE Philippines is among the countries in the Asia-Pacific region where COVID-19 infections continued to grow throughout the pandemic, according to a recent report. This finding was part of an analysis of the COVID-19 trend in the APAC region by German market and consumer data company
Statista. “While Thailand and South Korea have been successful at flattening the curve of coronavirus infections, other countries in the APAC region are still battling growing or returning outbreaks,” Statista said Monday, November 2. It noted that Japan is currently battling growing infection numbers. “Japan was the country most affected by u PAGE A3
Typhoon Goni deaths climb to 25 by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
THE fatalities caused by Super Typhoon Goni (local name: Rolly) have risen to 25, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Wednesday, November 4. The breakdown of casualties were: 21 from Bicol, three from Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and one from Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan). PNP Chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan also said 43 persons sustained injuries, 39 of which were from Bicol, and four from Calabarzon. He added that two people are In the aftermath of Typhoon “Rolly” in Bacacay town, Albay province, electrical poles were missing in Calabarzon, one in Midestroyed which caused roads to close on Monday, November 2. Inquirer.net photo by Mark Arvic Esplana maropa, and three in Bicol.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that a total of 2,083,222 individuals or 532,794 families were devastated by Rolly in Regions II, III, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and the National Capital Region. Of the figure, 142,475 families or 517,172 people are being assisted in evacuation centers. Response Malacañang said it sees no problem in realigning a portion of the proposed budget for the anticommunist task force to aid areas battered by Rolly as it is “within mandate” of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict’s (NTF-ELCAC). “I think that’s the objective of
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by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
PHILIPPINE-U.S. bilateral relations will not see any major changes regardless of who wins the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Malacañang said on Wednesday, November 4. “You see the (U.S.) State Department ensures continuity as far as U.S. foreign policy is concerned. So we don’t expect any major changes in bilateral relations between the Philippines and the United States,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque told CNN Philippines’ The Source. He acknowledged the friendship between President Rodrigo Duterte and U.S. President Don-
ald Trump, but expressed confidence that Duterte can foster friendly relations with Democratic challenger Joe Biden. “Of course, there is an issue of personal relations but I think given time the President can establish equally warm personal relations with whoever wins this election even [if] it’s not President Trump,” Roque said. “And even if there is a new President, I am not saying that there will be, but in case there is a new President in the United States in the person of Senator Biden, I am confident that the President can also develop a close personal friendship with Mr. Biden. May the best man win u PAGE A4
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From the Front Page
Several Fil-Am candidates triumph... PAGE A1 t in a Twitter post on Wednesday, November 4. Cabaldon, the longest-serving mayor in the city of West Sacramento’s history, garnered 5,531 votes, or 52.49% of total votes cast to defeat his opponent, Martha Guerrero. Cabaldon was elected mayor of West Sacramento in 2004 in the city’s first direct mayoral election. Previously, he had been selected as mayor by the city council for several oneyear terms after getting elected to the city council in 1996. Manalo and Sylvester, who are among four Filipino Americans comprising the five-member city council in Daly City, were successful in their re-election bids. Manalo garnered 16,924 votes, while Sylvester secured 13,958 votes to easily fend off two other challengers for the two open seats in the city council. Both Manalo and Sylvester were first elected to the city council in 2016. Verder-Aliga, who first served as city councilmember for District 1 in Vallejo with a partial term in 2013, beat two other contenders for the post, garnering 3,365 mail-in and in-person votes, about 45.5% of the total votes cast. The senior mental health manager at Solano County Behavioral Health was the first Filipino American woman elected to public office in Vallejo (1993) and Solano County (2007). Vella, who was first elected to the Alameda city council in 2016, led vote-getters for the two open seats in the council, garnering 8,165 votes, or 22.96% of total votes cast. Vella has served as vice mayor for Alameda, and is the first Filipina to be elected to the city council. Alexander Walker-Griffin, who is African American and Filipino, was successful in his bid for the Hercules city council, garnering 3,907 total mail-in and in-person votes. As previously reported in the Asian Journal, Griffin’s background includes serving on the California Community College Board of Governors and being a founding member of Calbright College. He was the top votegetter among six hopefuls, who included Pinay Celsa Taraya, for the three open seats on the council.
CA Assemblymember Rob Bonta
West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon
Daly City Mayor Glenn Sylvester
Daly City Vice Mayor Juslyn Manalo
Rozzana Verder-Aliga, Vallejo councilmember
Malia Vella, Alameda councilmember
Evelyn Chua is likely to triumph in her bid this time for one of two available seats on the Milpitas City Council. Having lost by a few hundred votes in 2016, Chua has garnered 5,418 votes, or 18.8% of total votes cast to sit in second
place among eight contenders for two open seats in the Milpitas city council. Another Fil-Am, Julian Jose Nool Hilario, Jr., also ran in the crowded race but only captured 11% of the vote. PAGE A3
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Dateline USa
NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvembeR 6-12, 2020
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As precincts still report, Filipino American...
PAGE A1 t this election, signaling a push for diversity in American leadership across all offices. In San Diego, Filipino American mayoral candidate Todd Gloria — a current California state assemblymember — took an early lead in a race that, as of press time, is still close as the votes are still being tallied. As of early Wednesday morning, Gloria — who would be the first person of color and first openly gay mayor of San Diego (the second largest city in California) — holds a 56% lead over challenger Barbara Bry. “Tonight, San Diego, because of you, we are poised to make history,” Gloria, a Democrat, said hours after the polls closed on Tuesday night. “While there are still votes to be counted, I believe that tonight is a night to celebrate.” Elsewhere in California, firsttime candidate for the state assembly Godfrey Santos Plata narrowly lost his bid for District 53, garnering 43.4% (31,785 votes) of the vote to incumbent Miguel Santiago’s 56.5% (41,401). Both Plata and Santiago were running as Democrats. Plata, a progressive organizer and public education advocate, still hopes for a chance after the ballots have all been officially counted by the end of the month. “#LA is counting ballots until November 27th, but I am still [so] excited by these results, y’all. We are building so much power,” Plata tweeted on Tuesday night. Rep. Bobby Scott, the Democratic incumbent from Virginia’s 3rd congressional district, sailed to re-election with 67.6% of the votes against Republican challenger John Collick. “We have a lot of work to do in
the weeks and months ahead to heal our nation, defeat this pandemic, provide additional economic support to working families, small businesses and schools, and rebuild our economy so that everyone can succeed,” Scott, whose maternal grandfather was of Filipino ancestry, wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. In one of the most watched races in the United States House of Representatives, the Democratic candidate for Texas’ 23rd congressional district Gina Ortiz Jones once again narrowly lost to Republican incumbent Tony Gonzales. Jones, a U.S. Army veteran who would’ve made history as the first openly gay woman of color in Congress, garnered 47% of the vote to Gonzales’ 51% in a district that is heavily Latino-populated. “I want to thank each and every grassroots supporter, volunteer, and member of my staff who poured their heart into our campaign,” Jones wrote in a Twitter thread on Wednesday morning. “I am so proud of the race we ran, and it is our shared commitment to fighting for working families in South and West Texas that continues to give me hope.” Though she didn’t indicate whether or not she would run again, Jones (who is Filipina on her mother’s side) added that “I will always remain dedicated to serving our country and my community in any way I can. I hope TX-23 is represented with all of her constituents in mind, and in a way in which she deserves.” In another congressional race, Democratic incumbent Filipino American TJ Cox of California’s 21st District currently trails by three percentage points behind Republican challenger and former U.S. Rep. David Valadao.
Marvin Lim
Todd Gloria
Sean Reyes
Nikki Villavicencio
Typhoon Goni deaths climb... PAGE A1 t the ELCAC... to promote development in areas with ongoing insurgencies because we know that poverty is still the root cause of insurgency,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Wednesday. “So I don’t think there is any inconsistency with the proposal to actually spend funds in typhoon damaged areas because, I think, it is a fact that Bicol also is a hotbed for insurgency,” he added. The statement came after Senator Risa Hontiveros proposed to reallocate a portion of the NTFELCAC’s P19-billion budget for 2021 to aid victims of Rolly. The Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), for its part, said it is looking into providing emergency shelter assistance to affected families by the typhoon. “While the economy is disrupted in the (Bicol) region, we are looking at providing emergency shelter assistance to families whose homes were destroyed by the typhoon,” said Secretary Ro-
lando Bautista. The agency also said that over ₱8.3 million worth of aid has been given to people who were affected by Rolly. The Philippine Department of Health (DOH), meanwhile, granted P20 million worth of financial assistance to hospitals in areas battered by Rolly. According to Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire, the aid was distributed to three DOH hospitals and affected areas and cities in Bicol. P5 million went to Bicol Regional Training ang Teaching Hospital in Legazpi, Albay; another P5 million went to Bicol Medical Center in Naga City, Camarines Sir (P5 million); and P2 million went to Bicol Region General Hospital and Geriatric Medical Center in Cabusao, Camarines Sur. The province of Camarines Sur received P2 million, while Albay and Catanduanes received P1.5 million each. Naga City received P1.2 million, while Camarines Norte, Masbate, and Sorsogon received P600,000 each. n
PH among APAC countries flagged... PAGE A1 t COVID-19’s second wind in the region and is currently still battling growing infection numbers, while Singapore, which saw a major outbreak starting in April, seems to have the situation under control for now,” said Statista. “Infection counts in Indonesia and the Philippines, on the other hand, have continued to grow throughout the pandemic,” it added. However, Statista noted that the flattening of the curve in the Philippines is possible. “The Philippines could, however, recently flatten the curve somewhat and now exhibit a cumulative case count that is once again lower
than that of Indonesia,” it said. To date, the Philippines has a total of 388,137 confirmed COVID19 cases, with 7,367 fatalities and 349,091 recoveries. Of the total number of infections, 31,679 are active cases. The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) also noted that the country logged below 1,000 COVID-19 cases on Nov. 4 — the first time since July 14. Meanwhile, Indonesia has a total of 421, 731 confirmed COVID19 infections. Statista also pointed out that COVID-19 infection numbers are once again growing in Malaysia, surpassing the number of total cases recorded in South Korea. n
As of press time, only 71% of votes have been reported, according to the Associated Press. In Georgia, Filipino American civil rights attorney Marvin Lim, 35, made history by becoming the first Filipino American to win a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives in the state’s 99th District. Lim, who ran unopposed, becomes the sixth openly LGBTQ member of the state legislature. In Maplewood, Minnesota, a city outside of Saint Paul, Nikki Villavicencio is likely to garner a seat on the city council. Villavicencio — a disability rights advocate and community organizer who was born with a rare condition called arthrogryposis — has garnered 28.6% of the vote with all precincts reporting. In Utah, the incumbent GOP state Attorney General Sean Reyes won re-election in a narrow race against the Democratic challenger Greg Skordas. Reyes has held the post since 2013, and he focused on sex predators, street drugs, school violence and youth suicide and cybercrime in his re-election campaign. “Regardless of party or ideology, our state and nation are stronger when more of us educate ourselves on candidates and issues and participate in elections. It is exciting to see,” Reyes said in a statement released on Tuesday night. “No matter the outcome, hopefully we can remember those things that unite us as Utahns and Americans. And when all the ballots are counted, I look forward to serving four more years as attorney general, protecting Utah and all who live in this great state.” n
Gina Dawson
Alexander Walker-Griffin
Evelyn Chua
Several Fil-Am candidates triumph... PAGE A2 t In Lafayette, a city in Contra Costa County, Gina Dawson garnered a total of 6,370 votes, or 26.55% of total votes cast to win one of three open seats in the city council. Dawson is an active community participant in many organizations within the city, including being co-founder of Save Lafayette Trees and the Gas Safety Task Force, and forming the Lafayette Gas Safety Alliance with residents, Pacific Gas & Election, the California Public Utilities Commission and the city. In Davis, Vigdis Asmundson handily won the short term post as Governing Board Member for the Davis Joint Unified School District, garnering 14,811 votes, or 84.44% of total votes cast. Asmundson is the daughter of former Davis, CA mayors Vigfus
Vigdis Asmundson
and Ruth Asmundson, the latter of whom was the first Filipina American mayor in the city. In an interview with The Davis Vanguard, Vigdis said that her mother Ruth was proudly Filipino and raised her and her other siblings to be proudly Filipino.
Iranian-Filipina Marjan Philhour, formerly a senior advisor to San Francisco Mayor London Breed, attempted a run for San Francisco Supervisor (District 1), but came in second with 34% of the vote behind incumbent Connie Chan. n
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Palace: No major change in PH-US ties... PAGE A1 t as of now,” he added. The U.S. Embassy in Manila likewise maintained that the relationship between the Philippines and the U.S. will remain strong no matter the outcome of the election. “The U.S. relationship is very very old, it’s very very strong, there have been Republicans and Democratic presidents of the U.S. and different administrations of the Philippines — one constant has been the relationship between our peoples,” Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John Law said at the sidelines of the 2020 US Presidential Election Watch Party hosted by the embassy. “The relationship between our countries is always very strong and (I’m) certain it will contin-
ue,” he added. A political analyst, on the other hand, said Biden winning the U.S. election could prompt “challenging times” for the Duterte administration. “If you would look at details of the core platform of Biden, there might be challenging times for the president,” Prof. Dindo Manhit of think tank Stratbase ADR Institute told “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,” he added. According to Manhit, part of Biden’s proposed foreign policy would be the reinvigoration of democracy around the world, which could meet resistance in
Dateline USa
the Philippines. He added that a Biden administration could be “more aggressive” in addressing the Philippines’ human rights situation. Biden could also address the maritime territorial dispute between Beijing and Manila in the West Philippine Sea by bringing more countries to ensure a “rulebased 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. But what we have seen especially after the 2016 arbitral Filipino World War II Veteran Venancio Espinosa received a Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony at the Bayanihan Equity Center in award is they cannot be good cit- San Francisco. Contributed photo izens and they will use their aggressive stance,” Manhit said. n
2020 election results for California’s... PAGE A1 t families, biotech jobs and careers and clinical trials over the last 16 years. Prop 15 — Property Tax to Fund Schools, Government Services (NO) Voters rejected this measure to require commercial and industrial properties worth more than $3 million, except those zoned as commercial agriculture, to be taxed based on their market value. The state fiscal analyst estimated that, upon full implementation, the ballot initiative would have generated between $8 billion and $12.5 billion in revenue per year. A “no” vote means commercial properties would continue to be taxed based on their purchased price, with yearly increases for inflation or 2%, whichever is lower, as they have been since the 1970s. Prop 16 — Affirmative Action in Government Decisions (NO) The majority of California voters voted “no” on Prop 16, which would have allowed universities, government offices and other public sectors to factor in a prospect’s race, ethnicity or gender in admissions, spending and hiring. This proposition sought to overturn Prop 209, which was approved in 1996 to prohibit affirmative action and put in place “race-neutral” policies. Prop 17 — Restores Right to Vote After Prison Term (YES) A “yes” vote to the proposition supports the constitutional amendment to allow people on parole for felony convictions to vote. The fiscal impact of Prop 17 would be an increase in county costs — estimated in the hundreds of thousands of dollars across California — for voter registration and ballot materials. There would also likely be a one-time cost (similarly in the hundreds of thousands) to update voter registration cards and the electoral system. Prop 18 — 17-year-old Primary Voting Rights (NO) 17-year-olds, who will be 18 at the time of the next general election, will continue to be unable to vote in primaries and special elections. It would also allow 17year-olds who are eligible to vote to seek office as current law states that only registered voters are allowed to run for elected office. Opponents like the Election Integrity Project California, an academic non-profit group dedicated to “electoral integrity,” argued that 17-year-olds are still minors and are biologically not fully developed. They argue that 17-yearolds still need guardian approval for other legal contracts and certain activities and voting should be no different. Prop 19 — Changes certain property tax rules (YES) Under Prop 19, Californians aged 55 or older would be granted a property tax break when purchasing a new home. In California, the cost of living is astronomical for
new homeowners because property taxes are calculated based on the value of the home when it was bought, not on its current market value. So when Californians buy a new home, their property taxes skyrocket. Prop 19 would also do away with the inheritance tax break to allocate more funds to local and state fire departments and schools, the initiative says. According to the measure’s fiscal impact statement, local governments, schools and fire protection agencies could each gain tens of millions of dollars of property tax revenue each year. Prop 19 would allow the older homeowners to buy a new house and still pay relatively low property taxes. In addition to benefiting older homeowners, supporters say this actually benefits new homeowners because it provides an incentive for seniors to downsize, vacating an older home to younger owners. Prop 20 — Parole Restrictions for Certain Offenses (NO) For those who have committed certain property crimes and repeatedly violated parole, Prop 20 would have tightened the eligibility criteria for early parole and release from prison. Specifically, prosecutors would have been allowed to categorize property crimes of more than $250, crimes that would include “serial shoplifting” and car theft, as felonies rather than misdemeanors. It would have imposed increased penalties to former convicts who violate their terms of release three times, increasing the frequency of recidivism. Prop 21 — Expands Governments’ Authority to Rent Control (NO) Voters overwhelmingly rejected this measure that sought to address some renters’ woes in the Gold State. It would have allowed cities to pass rent control measures on nearly all rental units as long as the properties are more than 15 years old. Supporters of this measure included the California Democratic Party and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (who supports strict rent control laws) who say that cities should be able to enact their own limits to rent increases as a way to reduce homelessness and gentrification, particularly in California’s metro areas. But the opposition — including Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Apartment Association — argued that Prop 21 takes away an incentive for builders to construct more housing at a time when more housing is needed. Prop 22 — App-Based Drivers and Employee Benefits (YES) One of the most advertised and expensive propositions to appear on this year’s ballot, Prop 22 passed, which would exclude gig companies — particularly rideshare and delivery companies like Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and Instacart — from a new state law that
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requires these companies to treat their workers as employees. The massive advertising comes from the combined $185 million spent by these companies to support Prop 22. These San Francisco-based companies have been fighting to keep their drivers and couriers as independent contractors, arguing it provides workers with flexible schedules and customers rides at low prices. The fiscal impact of Prop 22 would be “minor increases in state income taxes paid by rideshare and delivery company drivers and investors.” Prop 23 — State Requirements for Kidney Dialysis Clinics (NO) Voters largely voted “no” on Prop 23, which would have required dialysis clinics to have “an on-site physician while patients are being treated; report data on dialysis-related infections; obtain consent from the state health department before closing a clinic and not discriminate against patients based on the source of payment.” Opposers of Prop 23 — which includes the California Medical Association, California Hospital Association and the Renal Physicians Association — argue that the ballot measure is a special interest plan that does not require the on-site physician administrator “to have specialty training in kidney care of dialysis,” the No on Prop 23 campaign said. Prop 24 — Amends Consumer Privacy Laws (YES) Prop 24 has passed, tightening privacy law in California. Specifically, the bill would create a new state agency that enforces privacy law, conducts investigations into potential privacy violators and oversees penalties to violators. This bill would also give consumers the right to tell businesses to limit their use of sensitive data in their systems (like geographic location, demographic identifiers, health, etc) and prohibit businesses from storing this data for long periods of time. Prop 25 — Eliminates Money Bail System (NO) Among the most talked-about issues during the primary election season, the cash bail system has been criticized for favoring criminal suspects who can afford to make bail and punishing those who cannot. Prop 25 would have upheld a 2018 law signed by thenGov. Jerry Brown that would have replaced cash bail with a “riskbased algorithm” — or, a method to gauge a person’s risk for not appearing at trial. The opposition argued that the proposed alternative to cash bail is more costly and no better than the current system, while civil rights organizations like the California State Conference of the NAACP and Human Rights Watch said that the risk-based algorithm is flawed and the factors associated with this method could still put people of color at a disadvantage. (AJPress)
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)
Comcast gives $350,000 donation to support Bay Area small businesses owned by people of color LIVERMORE – Comcast California is donating $350,000 in cash and in-kind support to Opportunity Fund to provide microloans and wraparound services such as marketing, branding and financial services for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People Of Color)-owned small businesses. In addition to providing financial support for BIPOC small businesses in the Bay Area, Comcast will produce PSAs (public service announcements) to promote the fund and feature microloan recipients. The PSAs will air on Comcast networks including Telemundo and NBC Bay Area. Small business owners will also receive help building and improving their online presence, via experts who can assist with digital infrastructure, ecommerce, social media and other strategies. The health crisis has disproportionately impacted people and communities of color and they are also suffering greater impacts from the social injustice in our country. These challenges have extended to BIPOC small business owners as well, in some cases threatening their very survival. This is disturbing because small businesses account for 44% of all U.S. economic activity, create twothirds of all net-new U.S. jobs and provide 49% of private sector employment. (Source: Small Business Administration). “Small businesses create jobs, drive innovation and fuel competition. They are the lifeblood of the U.S. economy. And while small business owners are among the most agile, tenacious and resilient individuals out there, their businesses – their livelihoods – have been challenged by the COVID19 pandemic in unprecedented, unimaginable ways,” said John Gauder, Senior Vice President, Comcast California. “We have come to rely on these small businesses for so much. Now, when times are tough, we want them to know they can rely on us to get through this crisis.” “Opportunity Fund has a proven track record of success, help-
ing small businesses by providing micro loans that generate macro impact for over 25 years,” said CEO Luz Urrutia. “Our mission— to drive economic mobility—is part of the fight against systemic inequities, including racism. We must do that work with greater speed, unyielding commitment, and increasing courage. And it will take building partnerships on a massive scale. 2.2 million - 15% - of the nation’s small businesses closed throughout the spring and summer due to COVID19. Minority-owned businesses bore the brunt of the pain, with more than 26% of Black, 19% of LatinX and 21% of Asian-American-owned businesses closing, a reflection of longstanding biases in our financial system leaving minorityowned businesses undercapitalized and with fewer resources. We are deeply grateful to Comcast for supporting our efforts in California.” BIPOC small businesses interested in learning more can visit https://www.opportunityfund.org/ get-a-loan/ or call 888-720-3215 (English) and 888-648-7859 (Español). For more information about Comcast in Northern California, visit http://california.comcast. com/. Opportunity Fund, the nation’s leading nonprofit small business lender, believes small dollar loans help hard-working entrepreneurs make lasting change in their own lives and build stronger communities by growing businesses and creating jobs. Opportunity Fund’s community of donors and investors is creating an inclusive financial system that empowers women, immigrant, and minority small business owners. Our strategy combines microloans for small business owners and New Markets Tax Credit investments in high-impact community infrastructure projects. Since 1994, Opportunity Fund has deployed more than $900 million and helped thousands of entrepreneurs invest in their families’ futures. The organization has committed to lending
an additional $1.2 billion to small business owners across the country and investing $174 million in community real estate projects by 2023. Opportunity Fund has earned the highest 4-star rating by Charity Navigator for trust and transparency. To learn more, visit www.opportunityfund.org In March, 2020, Opportunity Fund and Accion, The US Network, joined forces to establish Accion Opportunity Fund, the first organization focused on a national microlending strategy to meet the credit needs of small businesses – developing new products, establishing new partnerships, promoting research and financial education, and leveraging digital technologies to support missiondriven lending. www.us.accion. org/accion-opportunity-fund Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company with three primary businesses: Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, and Sky. Comcast Cable is one of the United States’ largest video, high-speed internet, and phone providers to residential customers under the Xfinity brand, and also provides these services to businesses. It also provides wireless and security and automation services to residential customers under the Xfinity brand. NBCUniversal is global and operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures, and Universal Parks and Resorts. Sky is one of Europe’s leading media and entertainment companies, connecting customers to a broad range of video content through its pay television services. It also provides communications services, including residential highspeed internet, phone, and wireless services. Sky operates the Sky News broadcast network and sports and entertainment networks, produces original content, and has exclusive content rights. Visit www.comcastcorporation. com for more information. n
Bay Area Fil-Am family in search of donor for...
PAGE A1 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 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
A Bay Area family is in search of a bone marrow or stem cell donor for their 9-month-old who was recently diagnosed with an extremely rare form of leukemia. Photos courtesy of the Asian American Donor Program
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 standards. Even if individuals may not be a match for AJ, they may
be asked to donate if they are a match with another patient. “For thousands of severely ill blood cancer patients, there is a cure. You could be the cure. Those whose marrow/stem cells are not a match for a patient in need now may be a match for someone else down the road, anywhere in the world,” said AADP Executive Director Carol Gillespie. (AJPress)
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BSP wants OFWs to invest more in retirement accounts MANILA – The central bank is urging the country’s large number of expatriate workers to invest a portion of their earnings in pension funds that will help them be better prepared financially for retirement, especially since these instruments are now available digitally. As part of this thrust, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center recently conducted a series of online briefings about the Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) scheme targeted at the large overseas Filipino communities in Hong Kong and Macau. In particular, BSP’s PERA technical working group head, Director Jose Recon Tano, explained how the newly implemented investment program could benefit overseas Filipinos and help them prepare for retirement through PTIC’s Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan program. He also tackled PERA’s digi-
talization which allows Filipinos to conveniently open investment accounts and fund them 24/7, from anywhere in the world, using mobile phones and other devices. Officers from the three BSPaccredited PERA administrators also briefed the webinar participants on investing in the retirement accounts in their platforms. They discussed investor education, client onboarding, settlement of transactions and monitoring of PERA investments. The conduct of the PERA webinar is in line with BSP’s advocacy to broaden financial literacy and help Filipinos achieve financial security. This initiative came just a few weeks after BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno lamented that the law has so far failed to build a critical mass of investors as envisioned by its authors. “Currently, Pera is underutilized,” he said in his speech, noting that only 1,586 Filipinos
have availed themselves of the scheme as of the end of July 2020, with total contributions of a mere P137 million. “Since its implementation in December 2016, the Pera industry has not gained significant momentum.” Of the total contributors, 1,099 or 69 percent are locally employed, 273 or 17 percent are overseas Filipino workers, and 214 or 14 percent are selfemployed. On average, OFWs have higher contributions at P110,000; local employed workers, P82,000 and the self- employed, P76,000. “These figures remain regrettably low,” Diokno said. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) latest report, the Philippines has around 7.6 million Filipinos aged 60 years old and above. Of this group, only 20 percent are covered by either SSS or GSIS, leaving 80 percent of senior citizens with no mandatory pension at all. (Inquirer.net)
CERAMIC WORKS. A woman sells different types of decorative ceramics for P350 to P500 each on Tuesday, November 3 at the Dapitan Arcade in Quezon, City. Many businesses have been allowed to open by the government to slowly revive the economy that has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. PNA photo by Rico H. Borja
PH police figures show grim number Duterte only respecting Ombudsman of drug war deaths nearing 8,000 guidelines on release of SALN - Palace by ChristiAn
DeipArine Philstar.com
by Krissy
AguilAr Inquirer.net
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte is only respecting the guidelines issued by the Office of the Ombudsman on the release of his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), Malacañang said on Wednesday, November 6. “I don’t think there is a conscious effort to conceal because he has complied with it. But he is just respecting the recent guidelines issued by the Ombudsman because after all the Ombudsman is a constitutional body tasked with promoting accountability amongst public officers,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview over CNN Philippines. “So, all he’s saying is let’s re- Ombudsman Samuel Martires spect the guidelines issued by Inquirer.net file photo the Ombudsman and comply with The Ombudsman recently isthose guidelines,” he added. sued new guidelines limiting
who can request copies of a government official’s SALN. Under the new guidelines, SALNs would only be released in three situations: • if the declarant, meaning the government official who filed it and his or her official representative made a request; • if it is legally ordered by the court in relation to a pending case • if the request is made through the Office of the Ombudsman’s field investigation office for the purpose of a fact-finding probe Roque said he will bring up the issue to Duterte in their meeting scheduled for Thursday. The President’s SALNs for 2018 and 2019 have yet to be made public. The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism said it is the first time in the last 30 years that a President has not released his or her SALN. n
MANILA — The death toll from anti-drug operations by the country’s police force has climbed to 7,987 by end-October with over a hundred killed in just two months, figures from its chief Police Gen. Camilo Cascolan showed on Wednesday, November 6. In his 60-day accomplishment report, Cascolan said a total of 234,036 operations were conducted by the police from July 2016 to October of this year that had resulted in the said number of fatalities. From September to October alone, police had run some 9,240 anti-drug ops, resulting in a number of 119 deaths. Human rights groups, however, have since disputed government figures and said the actual number may be closer to 30,000. Overall, 357,069 persons have been arrested four years since President Rodrigo Duterte waged his war on drugs, up by 12,439 in the last two months. Duterte’s promise of a drug-
free nation is central to his campaign platform when he ran for the country’s highest post from being then a mayor of Davao City. His solution to a supposedly medical issue of drug addiction has earned criticism from the international community, as well as charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court. Carlos Conde of the Human Rights Watch in a statement to Philstar.com condemned the latest statistics from PNP, hitting government for the continuing number of deaths. “Even with Duterte’s promise to the UN Human Rights Council last month to improve the human rights situation in the country, the situation on the ground remains as dire and as deadly as ever,” he said. “The 119 deaths in September and October [r]eported today means at least two Filipinos are killed every day by the police during drug war operations.” The international rights watchdog over the past months also
reported that drug killings in the Philippines have continued amid the lockdowns imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus. This was despite an earlier pronouncement by Police Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, Metro Manila’s police chief, that the controversial “Oplan Tokhang” would be suspended for authorities to focus more on implementing the COVID-19 quarantine. Difference in numbers PNP’s numbers are different from the government’s figures managed by the country’s drug enforcement agency. In September, the Real Numbers PH campaign showed 5,856 drug war deaths since the campaign began 2016. This leaves a 2,012-difference from the two organization’s data, with the PNP recording 7,868 deaths from the said period of time. Police operations from September to October have also yielded 217 surrenderees, with figures on individuals turning themselves in to authorities now at 1,290,768. u PAGE A7
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NOVEMBER 6-12, 2020 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
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FeatURes
OPiniOn
Resettlement
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)
Let every vote be counted: US democracy tested with Trump’s baseless claim of victory even as Biden leads in the polls The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS FOR the first time since after George W. Bush defeated Al Gore for President in 2000 through absentee ballots, the winner of the 2020 presidential election amid the pandemic is still too close to call on the night of the election, with so many early voting mailed in ballots still left to be counted. This is a result of different state rules on when early voting mailed-in ballots may be counted and reported, especially in some battleground states ruling to count mailed-in votes after November 3. Before midnight on election night, however, projection of winners in different states by various news media organizations, including Fox News, showed Joe Biden leading. By Fox News’ report, 238 for Biden and 213 for Trump in the road to the 270 minimum electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency. Already, Trump had been flooding social media with accusations that votes are being sto-
len from him without any basis in fact. In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, Trump declared that he’ll go to the Supreme Court to push for “all voting to stop,” baselessly calling the continued vote count a “fraud” as key states sort through a historically high volume of early and mail ballots driven by the coronavirus pandemic. Trump also wanted a recount of states where he lost to Biden, but would not want the states where he is leading recounted. Before this delusional proclamation of victory by himself, Biden himself gave a speech, declaring that “we believe we’re on track to win this election”, and not declaring that he already won. On the other hand, Trump did claim he won big. Biden said he’s “optimistic about this outcome,” but that “we’re going to have to be patient... It ain’t over until every vote is counted, every ballot is counted.” On social media, Biden posted, “Keep the faith, guys. We’re gonna win this. It’s not my place or Donald Trump’s place to declare the winner of this election. It’s the voters’ place.” The Biden campaign said they will fight with Trump in court should the President bring this battle up to the Supreme Court. Many Democrats are heart-
broken to see how Trump remains competitive in many Republican strongholds despite his failure to fulfill his solemn oath to defend and protect the Constitution and the American people, his abuse of power and threats against democratic institutions and processes because of his selfish personal and political interests, despite the death of more than 200,000 Americans in the pandemic because of Trump’s failure in leadership. Looking at the bright side: 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 fami-
lies would be living in the next four years. According to the U.S. Elections Project, the total 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 battleground states 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 as reported by Axios: 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
u PAGE A7
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 continuing 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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Comelec: PET can annul votes in Mindanao in Marcos case by Jomar
Canlas Manilatimes.net
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has informed the Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), that it has the power and jurisdiction for the Annulment of Elections in the Mindanao provinces in cases where there is massive fraud as in the protest filed by former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. against Vice President Leonor
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
ABS-CBN News, ANC YouTube channels restored after hacking by Xave
GreGorio Philstar.com
MANILA — The YouTube channels of ABS-CBN News and ANC were inaccessible for several hours on Tuesday, November 3 after they were hacked a day before. YouTube confirmed that the ABS-CBN channels were hacked on November 2. “We take account security very seriously and notify account owners when we detect suspicious activity. If an owner has reason to believe their account was compromised, they can notify our team to secure the account and regain control,” a YouTube spokesperson said. ABS-CBN 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 afternoon. Users trying to access both channels on Tuesday morning were greeted with a “404 Not 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 cryptocurrency company Ripple hosting 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 reported in April that scammers
have created official-sounding accounts for Ripple and Garlinghouse over the past several months, with some of these accounts apparently stolen from successful YouTubers. 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 25-year 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 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
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 Romulo-Puyat. 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 health and safety as the top priority. Among
the opened destinations for local tourists are 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 the Philippines, visit www.philippines. travel. (Philstar.com)
PH police figures show...
PAGE A5 t Duterte had since vowed to that his bloody drug war will remain relentless in his last two years in office. But he has also remarked recently that he could be held liable for deaths committed by state agents. “If there are deaths, I said... you can hold me responsible for anything, any death that has occurred in the execution of the drug war,” the president said in an October public address. He has, however, rejected taking the blame for deaths conducted by unidentified indi-
viduals such as vigilante groups, despite a report by Amnesty International in May detailing paid killers’ role in helping state forces carry out his drug war. Cleaning its own ranks Cascolan, who retires this November upon reaching the mandatory age retirement of 56, reported too that 4,681 of PNP personnel had been dismissed from service in a bid to “rid its ranks of scalawags.” Some 870 have since been demoted, 851 suspended, and 518 involved or tested positive for the use of illegal drugs.
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
“Leni” Robredo. In its Comment before the high tribunal, the poll body said that the PET can rule on the Annulment of Votes under the 1987 Constitution and the 2010 Rules of the PET. It cited Article 7, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution that the SC en banc “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.”
Vice President Leni Robredo ManilaTimes.net photo
Let every vote be counted: US democracy... PAGE A5 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 election results 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 conduct-
ed 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 to 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. 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.
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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvembeR 6-12, 2020
Friday, November 6, 2020
OMETHING
ILIPINO
LIfESTyLE • cONSUMER GUIdE • cOMMUNITy • MARkETPLAcE
Comic-Con Museum celebrates The November 2020 Priority Dates Fil-Am creators in the arts No ChaNge From oCtober 2020 Dates
workers like caregivers). The priority dates for all countries Immigration (except India and China) are CUrreNT! This includes the Corner Philippines! This means visas are available, regardless of the person’s priority date. If a person is being petitioned by an Atty. MichAel employer, and their form I-140 Gurfinkel, eSQ employment- based petition has THe November 2020 prior- been approved or is pending, ity dates, continue to provide they could possibly be eligible great news for workers in the to file for adjustment of status eB-3 (skilled/professional) and work authorization, assumand “other worker” (unskilled ing they are otherwise eligible
for adjustment of status (i.e. no issues re maintaining status, no fraud/crimes, etc.) People with approved or pending I-140 petitions should see an attorney about their eligibility to file for adjustment, now that the priority dates for these employmentbased categories are current. each month, the Visa office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various PAGE B3
by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
Before films can be created, there is a key part of the pre-production process that requires planning out scenes: storyboarding. 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,” and “Minions”; • Gabby Capili, who works at Walt Disney animation studios and has created a series of animated shorts called “All My friends” as well as an interactive short called “Dennis the Dinosaur”; • 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 diCITIZEN PINOY PROVIDES ANSWERS TO MORE OF YOUR IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS THIS SUNDAY WITH ‘YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT!’ Glecy from rected “Batman: The Dark Knight Albuquerque, NM (center) petitioned her parents. All they are missing is the embassy interview due to the pandemic. However, her aunt’s petition returns” 1 and 2, and worked as for her father also just became current. Glecy’s siblings are included in the aunt’s petition. Which petition should they go with? Meanwhile, a storyboard artist for live-action Almira of Riverside, CA (right) advises that her husband and their children arrived in the U.S. earlier in the year on an approved F4 petition by films such as “Man of Steel”; • Bobby rubio, a storyboard her husband’s sister. She remained in the Philippines to complete medical tests. As Almira could not bear being away from her children for a long time, she flew to the U.S. on a tourist visa. She would like to know if she can adjust status now that she is in the U.S.? These are just some artist who made his directorial deof the questions that leading U.S. Immigration Attorney MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL will answer on a brand-new episode of “CITIZEN PINOY: Your but with the Pixar animated short “float”, which features CGI filiTanong, My Sagot – Social Distancing Style” this Sunday, November 8 at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers). (Advertising Supplement) pino characters; and • Josie Trinidad, who served as
Jay Olivia
Bobby Rubio
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Josie Trinidad, head of story for “Ralph Breaks the Internet.” Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Animation Studios
Ian Abando
a storyboard artist on “Tangled” and “The Princess and The frog,” as well as head of story for “Wreck It ralph 2.” “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,” 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,” he added. Origin story for the panelists, becoming a storyboard artist was never the PAGE B4
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Pop princess Sarah Geronimo adjusts to married life, pandemic fears
By Ferdie Villar IT seems that married life is agreeing with Sarah Geronimo, who wed fellow actor Matteo Guidicelli early in 2020. In an article in Inquirer.net, the “Star for a Night” winner talked about skills that she has learned during the quarantine, her thoughts about raising children and how she has learned to conquer her fears as the COVID19 pandemic raged on. While there is no news yet of a bun in the oven, so to speak, Sarah was forthcoming when asked if she would allow their kids to join showbiz seeing as how she had begun to work at a very early age. “Iniisip ko po lahat ’yan… araw-araw (laughs),” she was quoted as saying in the article. “Paano kaya kung nagkaroon na ako ng mga anak? How do I raise them well? Because as a parent, you’re responsible for molding their beliefs and helping shape character. How do I balance giv-
ing in to what they want but, at the same time, making sure that it is what’s best for them?” “Showbiz may not be something I’d encourage them to pursue, but if ‘she’ decides what she wants to do and says to me, ‘Ma, gusto ko ring maging singer, dancer and actor,’ I will definitely support my kid,” she added. But Sarah, first and foremost, would like her children to finish their studies. “Gusto kong unahin n’ya muna ang pag-aaral. Nakikita ko kasi minsan ang mga pamangkin ko, and I go, ‘Ay, matatanda na pala sila—20-plus na. They’ve all grown up, ang bilis ng panahon,’” Sarah revealed. “Sandali lang ’yung time na mag-aaral ka. Then, after that, you can do whatever you want in life—magmotocross, play the piano, whatever—sige, gawin mo. But it’s important to get a degree first.” As for herself, the pop star has
learned many things during the lockdown… and that includes cooking/baking and taking care of her own finances. Saying that she thought she would never learn to cook her own food, Sarah has delved full steam into the kitchen, churning out Filipino fare like kare-kare and pinakbet as well as her own baked goodies. “As for baking, I started with bread,” she related. “Pero ‘yung isang bread na pinatikim ko kay Matt, naluwa pa n’ya sa tigas (laughs). So, inulit ko hanggang lasang tinapay na s’ya—from texture to taste. I also learned to make cakes and even Korean-style cream cheese in garlic bread—ang sarap! Never kong naisip na kakayanin kong magbake ng masarap na cake. At ako pa ang umuubos (laughs).” While husband Matteo has certainly benefited from Sarah’s new-found kitchen skills, he has also been key to her staying ac-
Pop star Sarah Geronimo is learning many things during the lockdown – from taking care of her own finances, to whipping up bread and cakes in the kitchen. Instagram photo (@justsarahgph)
tive and healthy during the lockdown. “I work from home most of the time these days, so na-enjoy ko ang pagkain lately. But I’m very lucky that my partner in life has a very active lifestyle, which helps keep my weight in check. Malaki ang influence n’ya sa akin to stay fit and eat healthy,” she revealed. Sarah continued: “Mas ginaganahan ako sa buhay, mas masarap bumangon sa umaga. Before all this, I used to get up at 11 a.m. Now, I wake up at 5:30 or 6 a.m. to bake. ’Pag sinipag ako, I run with my husband. O, ’di ba (laughs)?” With regard to taking care of her money and finances, Sarah had this to say: “Now that I’m married, unti-unti ko na kasing natututunan lahat—how to handle my finances, take care of my own money and invest it somewhere, with the help of my husband. We’re learning together and it’s a continuous learning process. Kasi, hindi dahil may edad ka na, alam mo na ang lahat. “Married life has expedited ‘adulting’ for me. I had to learn how to handle a budget and decide where to invest my savings. Kasi ang mama ko is the kind of mother who would do everything for her kids para hindi na sila maistorbo. Ganun s’ya kaloving sa mga anak nya.” Handsome-debonair Luis Manzano is the The shutdown of ABS-CBN host of the mystery music game show I Can and the pandemic which brought Iloilo City bet Rabiya Mateo was crowned Miss Philippines Universe 2020 last October 25 at See Your Voice which started airing new the Baguio Country Club. Rabiya bested 45 other candidates representing various cities and episodes at The Filipino Channel (TFC) in about lockdown in many parts of the world has brought a lot provinces in the Philippines. Facebook photo (@TheMissUniversePH) late October.
Matteo Guidicelli (left) has been key to wife Sarah Geronimo staying fit and eating healthy during the lockdown, according to the Pop Princess. File Photo from Inquirer.net
Newly-elected Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives Lord Allan Velasco celebrates his 43rd birthday on Monday, November 9.
Edsel Padilla, daughter of Daly City community leaders Edwin and Brenda Padilla, recently celebrated her 19th birthday.
of changes in her life. Although Sarah struggled initially, fearing about the lack of opportunities to earn a living and worrying about the virus, she eventually settled herself and found that her faith gave her strength. “Eto, buhay pa naman ako. I’m still sane (laughs),” she answered when asked about her adjustments to the lockdown. “Maraming struggles ang dinulot ng pandemic. To some, physically, but for many people, the difficulty was mental and emotional. That’s why I’m thankful that all my loved ones are OK. What we’re going through right now is a reminder that life is too short.” “I’ve also learned not to take things for granted. I’m thankful for the gift of life and the
opportunities that come my way, kasi we tend to think na, ‘OK lang, nandyan lang naman ’yang mga ’yan,’ she added. “But you look at things differently when you see people you know lose jobs at hirap na hirap sa buhay. You become even more grateful for what you have … more contented kung anong meron ka, regardless of the trials that come. The coronavirus has connected all of us in a lot of ways.” “Ang nakatulong lang talaga sa akin was my faith in God. Now more than ever, we realize na kailangan nating kumapit sa faith… lalo na ’pag naririnig mong palapit ng palapit na ang virus sa ‘yo at sa mga mahal mo sa buhay, or mas dumarami ang nai-infect,” she revealed.
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Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS Marketing claims are out there advertising drinking alkaline water made with a water ionizer device boosts the immune person and therefore useful for the prevention of COViD-19. this assertion is false, without any scientific basis, and a disservice to the people around the world, making them careless and reckless, and more susceptible to be victims for this pandemic. While wearing a good facemask properly (covering both nose and mouth, fitting snugly all around the facer, washing hands frequently, and social distancing does not guarantee us 100 percent protection against the SarS-CoV2 virus, those guidelines significantly help (more than 95 percent) in protecting the wearer and the public against this deadly pandemic. Drinking alkaline water does not! a 63-year-old acquaintance of mine, who had acquired a water ionizer and had been drinking alkaline water for more than 2 years, had developed mineral deficiencies, kidney failure, and died of COViD-19 infection a couple of months ago. and this is not an isolated case. there is no proof that drinking alkaline water makes us healthier. Financially poorer, maybe, and the scammers, for sure, financially wealthier. as far as health is concerned, majority, if not all of us, wants the best health minus the sacrifices needed to achieve it effectively and safely. We want to be healthy without exercising, dieting or abstaining from smoking and without disciplined alcohol intake. We want to have good blood pressure and good cholesterol level without skimping on our salt and fat intake and quitting cigarettes. We want to lose weight without cutting down on our calorie intake and exercising daily. For expediency, any pill or juice or gadget that comes along with the claim that it is good for our health becomes a “mustbuy” crutch, believing it will confer upon us good health and longevity, without lifting a finger, moving a muscle, or getting off the couch and putting down the remote control and the potato chips. Unfortunately, the manufacturers of these “health” lotions, potions, pills, juices and gadgets are mostly interested in making their bank accounts healthy, and
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COVID and water ionizer Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel answers least interested in the health of its consumer-victims. Otherwise, they won’t continue to prey on the unsuspecting public and sell their useless products, which may even have severe long term side-effects. and organ-failure and cancer are some of those possibilities! it is one thing to pay for very expensive pill or juice or machine and finding out years from now that it was not effective. it is another to discover years down the line that its use has caused a debilitating or deadly disease. there is no scientific data that show regular consumption of alkaline water is beneficial to the body and its immune system. Most info-mercials on this are baseless, deceptive, and a money-making scam. now comes the water ionizer, the “ionized” alkaline water it produces, the “special” drinking water. not only are these marketed water and the ionizing machines expensive, but they are, according to scientists, “medically baseless and worthless.” Most of the good effects these manufacturers claim for their products are available in healthy food items, like fish, fruits, bran, wheat, nuts, vegetables, and water purified by the most advanced multiple-stage reverse-osmosis filtration system. it might come as a surprised to many but boiled water, minus its sediments, is safer than some of this expensive drinking water. Using the commercially available home water filtration pitcher or the belowthe-sink filtration system, and then boiling the water will even double the protection. this will certainly not cost $1500-$2500 like the ionizers. When it comes to health, there is no better guide than our modern science, where extensive and rigidly-controlled laboratory testing, and double-blind, randomized, human clinical trials are the standard before any medication or device gets official approval and goes out to the market. anecdotal reports (usually solicited) or testimonials (usually from paid endorsers) are not scientific proofs. Candidly, these are nothing but lies. if not approved by the US-FDa, rP-BFaD or any other similar national health agencies, any product is suspect. So, public, beware! as far as the water ionizer is concerned, here is “the bottom line” as objectively explained in a detailed scientific paper, which aims to educate and protect the public: “Here, in a nutshell, are few basic facts that anyone with a solid background in chemistry or
physiology would concur with: (1) “ionized water” is nothing more than sales fiction; the term is meaningless to chemists; (2) Most water that is fit for drinking is too nonconductive to undergo significant electrolysis; (3) Pure water can never be alkaline or acidic, nor can it be made so by electrolysis; (4) ground waters containing metal ions such as calcium and magnesium can be rendered slightly alkaline by electrolysis, but after it hits the highly acidic gastric fluid in the stomach, its alkalinity is gone; (5) the idea that one must consume alkaline water to neutralize the effects of acidic foods is ridiculous; we get rid of excess acid by exhaling carbon dioxide; (6) the claims about health benefits of drinking alkaline water were not supported by credible scientific evidence; (7) there is nothing wrong with drinking slightly acidic waters such as rainwater. Body pH is a meaningless concept in this context because different parts of the body (and even individual cells) can have widely different pH value; (8) if you really want to de-acidify your stomach (at possible cost of interfering with protein digestion), why spend hundreds of dollars for an electrolysis device when you can take calcium-magnesium pills, alka-Seltzers or Milk of Magnesia?; (9) electrolysis devices or ionizers are generally worthless for treating water for health enhancement, removal of common impurities, disinfection and scale control.” to protect our health and our pocketbook, we must use our wisdom and do due diligence. Caveat emptor, indeed! *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Public Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian and antigraft foundation in the United States. Visit our websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
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 cameraman-cum-director, asia’s king of 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 seminary 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.
NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvembeR 6-12, 2020
Boy Abunda
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 with-
ABS-CBN photo
out 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.
more immigration questions on this Sunday’s new episode of Citizen Pinoy
CitiZen Pinoy continues to provide relevant information to individuals and families who have concerns about the latest immigration policies and how it affects them. this Sunday, leading U.S. immigration attorney, Michael J. gurfinkel, provides clear and relevant information to several questions from around the U.S. glecy from albuquerque, nM petitioned her parents and it was approved in 2019. all they are missing is the embassy interview since the embassy is closed due to the pandemic. Just recently, aunt’s petition
of her father just became current. glecy’s siblings are included in the aunt’s petition. Should they go with glecy’s petition or should they choose the sisterto-brother petition of her aunt so glecy’s sisters can also come to the U.S.? Meanwhile, almira of riverside, Ca asks about her situation. Her husband and their children arrived in the U.S. earlier in the year on an approved F4 petition by her husband’s sister. almira was left in the Philippines because her medical results were delayed, and her interview was cancelled until
after December 2020. However, almira could not bear being away from her children for a long time, so she flew to the U.S. on a tourist visa. is it possible for almira to adjust status now that she is already in the U.S.? Find out the answers to these questions and more on another informative and brand-new edition of “CitiZen PinOY: Your tanong, My Sagot – Social Distancing Style” this Sunday, november 8 at 6:15 pm PSt/eSt (9:15 pm eSt thru select Cable/ Satellite providers).
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The November 2020 Priority...
PAGE B1
The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: FAMILY CATEGORY:
Application Filing Date
Visa Issuance Date
First Preference
Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (over 21 years of age)
October 08, 2012
December 15, 2011
Second Preference
(2A) Spouse and minor children (below 21 years old) of green card holders
August 01, 2020
Current
April 01, 2012
August 01, 2011
(2b) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years old or older) of green card holders
Third Preference
married sons and daughters of US Citizens
December 22, 2002
February 15, 2002
Fourth Preference
brothers and sisters of US Citizens
September 01, 2002
January 01, 2002
Application Filing Date
Visa Issuance Date
Second Preference
Advanced Degree (masters)
Current
Current
Third Preference
Professional/ Skilled Workers
Current
Current
Other Workers
Non-Skilled Workers
Current
Current
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visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. if your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney
for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter.
No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw, Twitter @GurfinkelLaw and Youtube: US Immigration TV Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES
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November 6-12, 2020 • NorCAL ASIAN JoUrNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160
Comic-Con Museum celebrates Fil-Am... PAGE B1
Serramonte Ford to support Pistahan Parade and Festival via Ford Motor Company’s ‘Drive 4 UR Community’program For every test-drive of a Ford – in-dealership and virtually – on Saturday, Nov. 7 Ford to donate to FAAE’s Pistahan DALY CITY, CA – Serramonte Ford recently announced its support of the Filipino American Arts Exposition’s (FAAE) Pistahan Parade and Festival through the annual Drive 4 UR Community program. The fundraising event is sponsored by Ford Motor Company and will take place on Saturday, November 7 from 9:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Serramonte Ford, 999 Serramonte Boulevard in Colma. For every test-drive taken – both in-dealership and virtually – Serramonte Ford will make a donation to the Pistahan Parade and Festival, for a total up to $6,000. Participants who choose to take a virtual test-drive, will be able to do so on their computer, tablet, or smartphone. Both virtual and in-dealership test-drive participants are asked to pre-register at https://bit.ly/serramontetestdrive. The funds raised will support FAAE’s Pistahan Parade and Festival, a two-day event celebrating San Francisco’s rich diversity and the best of Filipino art, dance, music, and food. The 28th Pistahan Parade and Festival is scheduled to take place on August 14-15, 2021. For more information on the Drive 4 UR Community program, visit www.forddrive4ur.com. Serramonte Ford has been a valued partner of the Pistahan
Parade and Festival for the last six years, sponsoring several convertible cars for the Parade Grand Marshals, VIPs and dignitaries, and tow trucks for the parade floats. Earlier this year, Serramonte Ford provided their dealership as rehearsal space in preparation for the Pistahan livestream production last August 8th and 9th. “Serramonte Ford is honored to be a continued supporter of the Pistahan and our Filipino American community,” said Matt Shone, General Manager of Serramonte Ford. “Serramonte Ford has been a fixture in the San Francisco Bay Area community for almost fifty years, and we understand that this type of prolonged success only comes with the support of our community. It is our responsibility and privilege to be able to ‘give back’ so vital community programs like the Pistahan can continue, especially during these difficult times.” “We are very grateful to Serramonte Ford and their amazing management team and friendly staff for their continued support for the Pistahan and the Filipino community,” said FAAE President Al Perez. “This fundraising event will make a positive impact in our ability to sustain our projects that promote Filipino values
and preserve cultural traditions. In anticipation of very limited funding sources in the coming year, this initiative will support our mission to broaden awareness and deepen the understanding of Filipino heritage and traditions, and produce events that spark cultural pride and foster community empowerment. If you have enjoyed the programs that we have produced and believe in the positive impact that we are providing, then please support us at this fundraising drive.” The Filipino American Arts Exposition (FAAE) is a vital part of the rich tapestry of cultures and ethnic communities of the San Francisco Bay Area through its promotion of Filipino American art, music, film and dance. FAAE celebrates its ancestral heritage and contemporary traditions, broadening awareness and deepening the understanding of Filipino history, achievements, and culture. Founded in 1994, FAAE is a grassroots, nonprofit organization that contributes to the artistic and cultural pride of the Filipino American community and strives to be a meaningful community tradition among the many great ethnic institutions of San Francisco. Follow FAAE at www.pistahan. net and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Know your rights during Medicare open enrollment by Lois C. Greisman, EldEr JusticE coordinator, Ftc thE sEnior MEdicarE Patrol national rEsourcE cEntEr
DURING Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period (OEP), which ends December 7, Medicare beneficiaries can choose the plans that are best for them. You can get help comparing Medicare plans from the State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) that are in all U.S. states and territories. It’s also good to understand what sellers are — and aren’t — allowed to do, so you’ll be prepared if an insurance agent or representative tries to enroll you in a Medicare plan that isn’t right for you. There are limits on how Medicare plans can contact beneficiaries. Medicare plans: • Can’t call you if you don’t have a relationship with their company. • Can’t send you email if you haven’t agreed to this form of contact. • Can’t come to your home to sell Medicare products without an invitation. • Can’t leave flyers, door hangers, or leaflets on your car or at your home. However, agents and
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brokers who have a scheduled appointment with you may leave plan information at your residence if you don’t show up for the appointment. When you meet or talk with an agent, they: • Can’t start a discussion about other insurance products, like life insurance annuities, if your meeting is about Medicare Part C or Part D. • Can’t set their own time limits for you to sign up for a plan. You have until December 7 to enroll, and you can’t get any extra benefits for signing up early. • Can’t threaten to take away your benefits if you don’t sign up for a plan or offer gifts if you do. • Can’t suggest that Medicare endorses or prefers their plan. • Can’t discuss Medicare products you didn’t ask to talk about when you filled out a scope of appointment form. • Once you’ve picked the plan that’s right for you, be sure you get all the details in writing before signing up. Take your time to read all information and verify
details. For example, reach out to your doctors to ensure they are in that plan’s network. If a scammer calls Scammers might call and pretend to be Medicare representatives or agents in an attempt to steal your Medicare number. They can use fake caller identification to impersonate Medicare or another organization you know, so don’t trust the name displayed on your phone’s screen. If anyone calls and asks for your Medicare, Social Security, or bank or credit card information, hang up. A scammer can use your personal information to file false claims, sign you up for a plan to which you didn’t agree, or even steal your identity. A legitimate Medicare employee will always have your Medicare number on file. For more information about Medicare fraud, errors, or abuse, visit smpresource.org. To report someone pretending to be from Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE and visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov. (FTC Release)
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dream. It was more of a slow burn love affair developed through their many experiences. “I wanted to be a comic book artist,” Rubio shared. “I went to Comic-Con every year in San Diego growing up.” 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,” 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 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 one-person 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.”
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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.
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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvembeR 6-12, 2020
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November 6-12, 2020 • NorCAL ASIAN JoUrNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160
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