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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Volume 20 - No. 46 • 14 Pages
T H E F I L I P I N O A M E R I CA N C O M MU N I T Y N E WS PA P E R
Volume 18 - No. 17 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages
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DATELINE Elderly Filipino man speaks out after knife attack in San Diego FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
AN elderly Filipino victim has spoken out after being brutally attacked outside a trolley station in El Cajon, California earlier this month. “It...feels good to be alive,” Jose Serra told ABC 10 San Diego on Friday, November 12. Serra, 71, was walking to a nearby manufacturing facility at the Arnele Avenue trolley stop around 5 a.m. on Nov. 3 when he was attacked by a man with a 12” knife, as previously reported by the Asian Journal. He recounted what happened before the incident, saying a man got on the trolley and sat a few seats behind him. “When he got on the trolley, all he did was ask me how to get to Spring Valley,” said Serra. Later, he and the man both got off at the Arnele Avenue stop. According to Serra, the attack came as a surprise because there were no interactions between them while they were walking. “There was no change in his expression. Nothing. He just pulled out the knife and started slashing. It was a complete surprise,”
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Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, SAN DIEGO, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY
Marcos, Duterte-Carpio confirm tandem for 2022 national polls by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
IT’S official: Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will run as a tandem in the upcoming 2022 national elections. Marcos made the announcement Tuesday,
November 16, saying that he and Duterte-Carpio have completed the process for their partnership. “Naitawid na namin ni Mayor Inday Sara Duterte ang proseso para sa tambalang inaasamasam ng aming mga taga-suporta – ang BBMSARA sa 2022 (Sara and I have completed the process for a tandem that our supporters have long wanted to see – BBM-Sara for 2022),” he
by AJPRESS
California extends COVID state of emergency
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HEALTH WORKERS BOOSTERS. Health worker Daisy Marie S. Galdo, along with her co-employees, displays her vaccination card after she got a Pfizer booster shot at SM Aura Vaccination Hub, Samsung Hall in Taguig City on Wednesday, November 17. The Department of Health has approved the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine for fully-vaccinated healthcare workers. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to run for senator is not related to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into the killings linked to his anti-narcotics crackdown, according to Malacañang. “Wala namang kinalaman sa ICC case ‘yung decision ni Pangulong Duterte na tumakbo bilang senador (The ICC case has nothing to do with President Duterte’s senatorial run),”
by FRANCO LUNA Philstar.com
Philstar.com file photo
THE California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is encouraging entire families – from young kids to grandparents – to get vaccinated, complete their vaccination series, and get a booster as part of its November week of action. With the state’s simplified booster recommendations, all Californians are encouraged to get their booster, as long as they are 18 or older and got fully vaccinated at least six months ago. Last year’s winter surge was devastating for California, and it is critically important that all eligible Californians protect themselves against COVID-19 and the flu ahead of the winter months. “The FDA’s recent authorizations of the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5-11 and boosters for all U.S. vaccine manufacturers are game changers,” said Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer. “By fully vaccinating every eligible Californian and providing boosters to those who are eligible, we can protect ourselves and our friends and family by keeping our immunity against COVID-19 strong heading into the winter months and holidays.” u PAGE 2
Palace: Duterte’s senatorial bid PH remains closed to has ‘nothing to do’ with ICC probe foreign tourists, says BI Acting spokesman and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Tuesday, November 16, during an online press briefing. Nograles stressed that Duterte just wants to continue serving the Filipino people long after his term as President is over. “Ang pagtakbo ni Pangulong Duterte as senator ay dahil gusto niyang magpatuloy ng kanyang serbisyo sa taong bayan (Duterte wanted to run for senator because he wants to continue serving the people),” he said. “He believes in his heart that he still can
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Fact check: No, Pacquiao did not withdraw candidacy after meeting with Pres. Duterte
Sen. Manny Pacquiao
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California encourages full family vaccinations
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GOVERNOR Gavin Newsom has extended the state of emergency in California for the third time as a result of the threat COVID-19 poses. The executive order issued on Thursday, November 11, is set to run until the end of March 2022, at which time the emergency will have been in effect for more than two years. Earlier, Newsom warned the public about the increasing COVID-19 infection rates during winter season. “Winter is coming. Winter is here,” he said Wednesday, Nov. 10. “Last year, we had a challenging winter, particularly down here in Southern California. We started to see around this time last year case rates, positivity rates, hospitalization rates, ICU numbers start to increase. We’re starting to see that now all across the globe. We’ve seen those trends, not dissimilar to last year,” he added. According to Newsom, they are doing everything to prepare California for the incom-
said in a statement. “Napagkasunduan namin at ng aming mga partido ang pagsusulong ng mapagkaisang liderato sakaling kami ay palarin sa darating na halalan sa Mayo 9, 2022 (We agreed together with our parties to push for a unified leadership in case luck is on our side in the upcoming elections on
MANILA — Following a meeting between Sen. Manny Pacquiao and President Rodrigo Duterte, “bloggers” and other accounts claiming to report news in the Philippines are claiming that Pacquiao has dropped out of the presidential race to give way to presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. CLAIM: On November 9, posts started coming out claiming that Pacquiao has backed out of his candidacy for president in the 2022 elections. One video posted on YouTube channel “BANAT NEWS TV” presents the claim as a “latest update” from the Commission on
Elections. The video’s unidentified narrator “confirmed” that Pacquiao “allegedly changed his mind” after the meeting with President Duterte. RATING: This is misleading. What did the posts say? The same video also spoke of “news reports” claiming that Pacquiao may be “waking up to the reality that he should not continue his run for president because there are more deserving candidates.” “Those are allegedly former Sen. Bongbong Marcos and presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio,” the video claimed as he reminded users to hit “Subscribe.” u PAGE 3
by ZACARIAN
SARAO
of foreign tourists until the government decides to open the country’s borders. “The country remains closed MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) clarified on to foreign tourists. Only those Tuesday, November 16 that under the allowed categories as the Philippines is still closed to set by the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management foreign tourists. According to BI Commissioner of Emerging Infectious Diseases), Jaime Morente, the bureau if coming from green or yellow will continue to limit the entry u PAGE 2 Inquirer.net
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November 19-25, 2021 • NorCAL ASIAN JoUrNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160
From the Front Page
Marcos, Duterte-Carpio confirm...
PAGE 1 May 9, 2022),” he added. Over the weekend, Marcos’ party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), had adopted Duterte-Carpio, who is running under Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), as its vice presidential candidate after she formalized her candidacy. Meanwhile, Duterte-Carpio revealed that the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino– Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) rejected her when she sought support for her tandem with Marcos. “Ang aking partido ay nakipagalyansa at humingi ng suporta para kay Bongbong Marcos at para sa akin matapos kong tanggapin ang inyong hamon at panawagan. Tinanggihan ito ng PDP at naiintindihan natin ito (My party forged an
alliance and sought support for Bongbong Marcos and myself after I accepted the challenge to run. PDP rejected this and we understand it),” she said in a video message. PDP-Laban, the party her father Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte chairs, is supporting the presidential bid of Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go. Go withdrew his candidacy for vice president and filed one for president under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) after Duterte-Carpio announced her decision to run for the secondhighest post in the country. Duterte-Carpio, for her part, maintained that no one was put at a disadvantage over the new developments. “Pero gusto ko lamang na linawin — walang pangalan
Former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte were wedding sponsors at the recent wedding of Gianna Revilla, daughter of Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and her longtime boyfriend Jed Patricio. Marcos and Duterte-Carpio announced on Tuesday, Nov. 16, their official alliance as aspirants for president and vice president, respectively. Photo from the Facebook page of Mayor Inday Sarah Duterte
na sinisira o dinudungisan, walang sinasagasaan, walang inaagrabyado, inaaway, pinapaiyak o inaapi (But I just want to make it clear — no name is being slandered or defiled, no one is being abused, aggrieved, fought, made to cry, or oppressed),” she stressed. She also assured that building on her father’s legacy is the reason why she decided to run for vice president. “Sa muli, nananawagan ako ng pagkakaisa. Ang layunin natin ay hindi lamang ituloy ang mga magagandang nasimulan ni Pangulong Duterte kundi ang mas pagbutihin at mas palawigin pa ang mga ito (Once again, I’m calling for unity. Our goal is not only to continue what President Duterte has started but also to improve and expand them),” said DuterteCarpio. “The people will make me strong. And it is through our solidarity and unity that we will be able to build a stronger nation,” she added. Further, Duterte-Carpio noted that the electoral battle is just starting. “Nagsisimula pa lang ang ating laban. Alam ko na mahaba at mahirap ito (The fight is just starting. I know it will be long and difficult),” she said. “Pero kampante ako na sasamahan at tutulungan nyo ako hanggang sa dulo, hanggang maipanalo natin ito para sa ating mahal na bayan at kapwa Pilipino (But I am certain that you will be with me and help me until the end, until we emerge victorious for country and people),” she added. n
PH remains closed to foreign tourists... PAGE 1 countries may be admitted to enter,” he said in a statement. Morente said his clarification was prompted by reports that BI offices were being swamped with queries from persons who assumed that foreign tourists can now enter the country after Metro Manila was placed under the less restrictive COVID-19 Alert Level 2. However, Morente reiterated that presently, only Filipinos,
balikbayans, and foreigners with valid and existing visas issued by the BI and other specialized Philippine government agencies are being allowed to enter the country. Meanwhile, those who wish to travel to the Philippines under a tourist visa may only do so if they apply for temporary visitors’ visas and secure an entry exemption document (EED) from Philippine posts abroad.
“We advise the public to refer to our website and social media pages to keep themselves updated on our latest advisories on guidelines and requirements for international travelers,” he said. Morente previously announced that the BI is ready for foreign tourists after presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that the country will accept international tourists “in due time.” n
PARADE OF GIANTS. Giant figures made of papier-mâché parade along Quezon Avenue in Angono, Rizal for the Higantes Festival on Sunday, November 14 – the highlight of which are giant puppets with hands on their waists and usually with stern looks. The annual feast is in honor of St. Clement, the patron saint of fishermen. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
Palace: Duterte’s senatorial bid... PAGE 1 contribute to public service, no longer as President but now as senator if he wins in the national elections of 2022,” he added. Nograles further reiterated that Duterte is not running for senator to evade the ICC’s probe. “Wala pong pag-e-evade ng prosecution ito at lahat ng mga batikos na narinig po natin ay wala pong katotohanan ang lahat ng akusasyon na ‘yan (There is no need to evade prosecution
because all of the accusations are not true),” he stressed. According to Nograles, Duterte can contribute a lot in the Senate. “Ako po’y naniniwala na magigingmalakiangkontribusyon ni Pangulong Duterte sa Senado (I believe that President Duterte will have a huge contribution in the Senate),” he said. On Monday, Nov. 15, Duterte filed his candidacy for senator via a representative.
The decision came after his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio announced that she was running for vice president in the 2022 national elections under Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (LakasCMD). Meanwhile, Duterte will run under Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS), replacing Mona Liza Visorde, who withdrew her COC for senator. n
California extends COVID state of... PAGE 1 ing winter. “While we were spared the worst in this summer, the prospects of a challenging winter are upon us,” he said. “And that’s why we’re doing everything in our power to prepare and to protect ourselves.” Newsom noted that places like Riverside and San Bernardino are beginning to see a rise in hospitalization rates. Further, he pointed out that California had the nation’s lowest case rate in the fall but is now 16th. “Just yesterday, we went up to about 16th lowest,” he said.
The key to breaking the “familiar pattern” of COVID-19, Newsom stressed, was increasing immunity through vaccines and booster doses. So far, California has distributed more than 54.7 million vaccine doses, with 73.7% of its entire population being fullyvaccinated. The state’s vaccination campaign has also expanded to include children ages 5-11. More than 110,000 doses have been administered as of Wednesday. “That is just the beginning with more than 1.6 million of them available to young people,”
Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said. He added, “We’re starting to see this pick up, and I’m really excited what this means for our state.” In March 2020, Newsom declared a state of emergency, as the state confirmed its first coronavirus-related death. The state of emergency was declared “to make additional resources available, formalize emergency actions already underway across multiple state agencies and departments, and help the state prepare for broader spread of COVID-19,” according to the governor’s office. n
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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvembeR 19-25, 2021
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Fact check: No, Pacquiao did not withdraw... PAGE 1
That Pacquiao “might be waking up” runs counter to the original claim of the title that he had already withdrawn. It is also unclear which reports the page was pointing to that made those “allegations.” Another page, “B0ngb0ng Marc0s Supp0rters Info” on Facebook, posted the same video with the caption: “MATAPOS ang PAG-UUSAP sa MALACANANG ni PDUTERTE PACQUIAO nagWITHDRAW BBM-SARA TANDEM2022.” Graft convict and former Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada, a social media personality who refers to himself as an “investigative journalist” despite regularly peddling fake news, also claimed in a post that his “informants” said even Pacquiao “wants to withdraw.” “Withdrawing his candidacy is the best thing that Senator Manny Pacquiao can do right now... Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Frank Ferrer (third from right) joins one of the surviving kin of a Filipino World War II veteran But his advisers are insisting that during the United States Congressional Gold Medal awarding ceremony in Colma, California on November 8, 2021. Also in the photo are he stay in the race,” Mejorada Bayanihan Equity Center Executive Director Luisa Antonio (left), Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the U.S. Army Mark Benton (third from left), claimed in a Facebook post that and Filipino-American Colma Councilmember Joanne Del Rosario (second from right). Photos courtesy of PCGSF received 7,700 interactions. What they left out The boxer-turned-senator indeed visited the president at the Palace on the night of Tuesday, November 9. “It is a meeting between national leaders who discussed COLMA – Families of 24 Fili- diplomatic ties this year, Consul the medal in 2017, bronze rep- certain matters related to peopino World War II veterans re- General Ferrer also recalled the licas of the original medal have ple’s interest and Mindanao ceived bronze replicas of the contributions of Filipino veterans been received by mostly descen- development,” Pacquiao’s camp United States Congressional during the Second World War in dants of the Filipino veterans. To said in a statement, adding that Gold Medal Award, the highest the “strong Philippines-U.S. al- date, 541 Filipino veterans have the meeting centered on the “inaward the U.S. government con- liance that we continue to enjoy been honored with the award in frastructure and power industry.” fers on civilians, in a solemn and today.” the State of California. Pacquiao himself has said that During the ceremony, Colma moving ceremony at the Colma (PCGSF Release) the latest developments in the Community Center on Monday, Mayor Dianne Colvin paid homage to the Filipino World War II November 8, 2021. Philippine Consul General in veterans by issuing a proclamaSan Francisco Neil Frank R. Fer- tion, enjoining the citizens of rer joined the ceremony orga- Colma “to recognize the valor nized by the Bayanihan Equity and devotion of the brave veterCenter (BEC) and the Filipino ans.” The 24 honorees of the U.S. Veterans Recognition and Education Program (FilVetREP) — in Congressional Gold Medal were: commemoration of U.S. Veter- Marcelo Acosta; Marciano Agans Day, and the 4thanniversary bunag Sr.; Balbino Anzano; Jose of the awarding of the U.S. Con- Aragon; Henry Arenas; Eugenio gressional Gold Medal at the U.S. Baloca; John Bamont; Atanacio Bayan; Dick Bilyeu; Louis GadCongress in Washington, D.C. In his remarks, Consul Gen- duang Sr.; Pablo Gonzales; Aneral Ferrer said that the award drew Huliganga; Cesar Lucero; received by the Filipino World Casiano Magdaluyo; Ramon War II veterans from the U.S. Melgarejo; Silveno Mina; Felix Congress “was a watershed mo- Pabros Sr.; John Padua; Juanito ment almost eight decades in Patalinghug Sr.; Marcial Peteros; the making, when the heroism Lucio Ragucos Rabe; Celestino of more than 260,000 Filipino Sabado; Pantaleon Sagun; and veterans was finally recognized Gorgonio Salvador. Consul General Ferrer echoed with the highest civilian award the U.S. government can be- the call of BEC executive director Luisa Antonio for living Filipino stow.” Consul General Ferrer told War War II veterans, as well as the the surviving kin in attendance: surviving kin of those who have “They may be your fathers, already passed on, to receive the grandfathers, great grandfathers, bronze replicas of the medal. Public Law No. 114-265, brothers or uncles, but for the rest of us, they are our heroes. signed by U.S. President Barack Their hardships and sacrifices Obama on 16 December 2016, paved the way for the peace and legislated the conferment of the liberties that all of us enjoy to- U.S. Congressional Gold Medal day. Rest assured that the legacy to Filipino World War II veterans. of your forebears will never be The original medal, made of pure diminished nor forgotten by fu- gold by the U.S. Mint, is currentture generations of Filipinos and ly housed at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American Filipino Americans.” As the Philippines and the History in Washington, D.C. Since the first presentation of United States mark 75 years of
US Congressional gold medals given to surviving kin of 24 Filipino WWII veterans
Bronze replicas of the United States Congressional Gold Medals were given to surviving kin of 24 Filipino World War II veterans during a ceremony in Colma, California on November 8, 2021. Photo courtesy of Bayanihan Equity Center
Elderly Filipino man speaks out... PAGE 1 t he said. “As soon as the knife started coming, I fell to the sidewalk, because I was bleeding like crazy,” he added. In a news release, the El Cajon Police Department noted Serra “had numerous life-threatening stab wounds and had been severely slashed across his face.” “The victim’s ear was nearly severed off and he had lost a significant amount of blood,” it said Thursday, Nov. 11. Additionally, the ECPD released a photo of the suspect: 24-year-old Ezekiel Valdivia, a convicted felon who is out on early release. Valdivia is described as a Hispanic man, 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighing around 180 pounds. He has black hair, brown eyes, and numerous tattoos on his body, including a large “V” tattoo on his face. Valdivia also has a history of as-
sault, elderly abuse, and weapons charges. While police have not yet ruled if the attack on Serra was racially motivated, the Filipino American community is urging officials to get involved. “Why did it take almost a week to get the word out that there is a dangerous man on the loose that had done this heinous crime,” said JoAnn Fields of the Filipino Resource Center. She added, “We have to hold people accountable. If we are going to stop the cycle of violence then we need not just see something but to say something.” Anyone with information on Valdivia’s whereabouts is urged to come forward and call El Cajon Police at 619-579-3311 or Crimestoppers at 888-580-8477. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Serra with the medical expenses as he recovers from his injuries. (Ritchel Mendiola/ AJPress)
election landscape do nothing to change his plans. “It wasn’t a political meeting but provided us an opportunity to talk about our shared vision... my decision to run for president hasn’t changed,” he said in a statement two days later. Essential context Pacquiao and Duterte belong to the ruling PDP-Laban party. But infighting in past months within resulted in the administration party splitting into two: one led by Pacquiao and the other by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi. The Cusi-led wing fielded Sen. Ronald dela Rosa as its standardbearer and Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go for vice president, both of whom have since withdrawn their candidacies with the party. Pacquiao, meanwhile, is running with Rep. Lito Atienza (Buhay Party-list) as his vice-presidential candidate. Their meeting in Malacañang was their first recorded encounter since the rift began. Pacquiao earlier accused Duterte of defending his allies under investigation by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee for alleged irregularities in pandemic spending. Why does this matter? Even after Pacquiao’s camp issued their statement belying the claims in the wake of the meeting, similar posts to circulate on social media as of this writing. Since it was posted on November 11, the video by Banat News TV has amassed 640,447 views and over 6,300 likes on YouTube.
CrowdTangle, a social media monitoring tool, counts 768 Facebook posts mentioning Pacquiao’s withdrawal in the past 7 days, which have garnered 170,960 interactions. The posts came to a peak on the same day the meeting took place on November 9, where they garnered some 50,900 interactions. But according to CrowdTangle, similar posts still received some 7,500 interactions as of Monday, November 15. What type of misinformation is this? The statements in the flagged videos and posts are examples of false claims. This classification of misinformation includes posts that can make use of genuine statements and media, such as the meeting that indeed took place in the Palace, but are used to push a false narrative. Claims that presidential candidates have backed out of the race to the Palace have been rampant on social media, particularly from troll accounts supporting the tandem of Marcos and Duterte. The practice is not unique to the coming 2022 elections, though, as rumors and claims that a bed has withdrawn from the race or have died have been a form of disinformation since before the internet. In October, at least three videos were posted and later went viral claiming that the Comelec has ruled to disqualify Robredo from the 2022 polls, supposedly due to crowdfunding efforts that foreigners may have donated to. n
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November 19-25, 2021 • NorCAL ASIAN JoUrNAL
California encourages full family... PAGE 1
To promote full family protection, CDPH and local partners are leading a week of action from November 15 to November 21 against the pandemic, which includes mobile vaccination clinics around the state and other outreach efforts to motivate all eligible family members to get vaccinated. Prominent California public health officials and leading medical experts are also discussing the importance of full family vaccination in appearances with media outlets and on social media events. The week of action is one part of California’s ongoing commitment to fighting this deadly virus. The state’s Vaccinate ALL 58 campaign recently launched a new media campaign to promote vaccinations for children ages 5-11 and will launch public service announcements featuring California Surgeon General Dr. Burke Harris and Dr. Ilan Shapiro this week. These videos are part of a multi-pronged media campaign that includes digital, social, radio, TV, print and out-of-home advertising, all aimed at reaching
the state’s most vulnerable communities to encourage vaccination and boosters. The state is also continuing its partnership with ethnic media, working with more than 200 nonEnglish media outlets throughout the state to reach California’s diverse communities. This includes the release of Dr. Burke Harris’ “On the Record” ethnic media column urging parents and guardians to vaccinate their children ages 5-11 against COVID-19 ahead of holidays. Altogether, the partnership will result in tens of millions of opportunities for non-English speaking Californians to learn more about the importance of vaccines in November alone. Vaccinate ALL 58 is also continuing its robust partnerships with community-based organizations, working closely with them to address vaccine hesitancy through door knocking and outreach, scheduling vaccine appointments, and providing transportation options. To date, the state’s community-based network has connected with more than three million Californians through phone banking,
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has canvased over 700,000 households, and facilitated or referred over one million appointments in vulnerable communities throughout the state. As the state heads into cooler months with more gatherings moving indoors, CDPH is strongly urging unvaccinated Californians to get vaccinated and those who are partially vaccinated to complete their vaccination series. Booster doses are also available to help Californians keep their immunity strong. All eligible individuals are encouraged to get a booster to protect themselves, their family and to celebrate the holidays together safely. CDPH also recommends Californians receive a flu vaccine, which can be administered on the same day as a COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine is free for all Californians regardless of insurance and immigration status. Californians can visit MyTurn. ca.gov or call 1-833-422-4255 to make an appointment, find a walkin clinic and learn more about eligibility. (Ritchel Mendiola/ AJPress)
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ConGen Neil Frank Ferrer delivers his remarks during the 20th anniversary celebration of the FEC Galing Bata Bilingual Program at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, California on November 12. Photos courtesy of PCGSF
ConGen Ferrer fetes FEC Galing Bata Bilingual Program on its 20th year SAN FRANCISCO – Philippine Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer and Mrs. Miriam Ferrer joined the milestone 20th anniversary celebration of the Filipino Education Center (FEC) Galing Bata Bilingual Program, an after-school education program for Filipino and Filipino-American youth, at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco on Friday, November 12. ConGen Ferrer was keynote speaker at the event, where he touted the program’s efforts “to foster love for the Philippines among the Filipino youth in San Francisco, many of whom only know about Philippines from the stories and memories of their tatay and nanay, or their lolo and lola.” “Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, FEC Galing Bata continues to serve the community… through various activities that cater to the needs of the community, especially in teaching the Filipino language, and Philippine history, culture and values to the Filipino youth,” ConGen Ferrer said. “We very much appreciate your continued support for the community and your participation in various Consulate and community events such as the Filipino American History Month, Paskuhan, the e-Pilipino Natin Virtual Learning Camp, the summer camp with the University of the Philippines Alumni Association, and the most recent ‘Move With Malong’ cultural workshop of the
Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Frank Ferrer (2nd from right) is joined by Mrs. Miriam M. Ferrer (2nd from left), Vice Consul Adrian Audrey L. Baccay (extreme left), and Filipino Education Center Galing Bata Bilingual Program Director Charm Consolacion (extreme right) during the program’s 20th anniversary at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.
Department of Foreign Affairs,” ConGen Ferrer added. Ferrer also noted that the FEC Galing Bata’s 20th year coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and the United States. “The friendship between our two countries is further strengthened by people-to-people relations made more robust and resilient by organizations such as FEC Galing Bata, by fostering understanding and harmony within the larger American society regardless of race, color or creed,” he said. Since 2001, FEC Galing Bata has been promoting bilingual and multicultural education to Filipino and Filipino American K-
8 students at Bessie Carmichael Elementary and Middle Schools in San Francisco’s South of Market Area (SOMA). Supported by a dedicated team of volunteer teachers, the program follows a pedagogic thrust of quality guidance, care, and protection (gabay, lingap, and bantay). For one night, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts resembled a school fairground featuring student art displays, interactive exhibits, children’s games, and Filipino food. The celebration also reunited past and present volunteer educators, or ates and kuyas, who have turned FEC Galing Bata into one of the institutions of the Filipino community in San Francisco. (PCGSF Release)
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Dateline PhiliPPines
NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvembeR 19-25, 2021
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PH lifts face shield mandate in areas under Alert Level 1-3 by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
THE Philippines has lifted its mandatory use of face shields in areas under Alert Level 1 to 3. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, November 15, approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to drop the face shield requirement in certain areas. “Ang decision ko is okay, tanggalin nyo na yung shields. Pwede na ninyong (My decision is okay, you can remove LIVING LEGEND. Six-time bowling World Cup champion Rafael “Paeng” Nepomuceno (left) receives framed commemorative stamps from the shields. You can), you disPostmaster General Norman Fulgencio at the Manila Central Post Office in Liwasang Bonifacio on Saturday, November 13. Nepomuceno is pense with the shields but not one of the featured Filipino greats in the Philippine Postal Corporation’s Living Legends: World-Renowned Filipinos stamps series. the mask),” he said in his prePNA photo by Rico H. Borja taped public address. However, the Chief Executive stressed that face masks will remain mandatory amid the pandemic, saying that COVID-19 “will be here for a long time.” “You have to obey what the government will tell you to do interviews of 300 respondents was a tie for former Vice President by ZacaRian SaRao Jejomar Binay and Public Works each in Metro Manila, Balance because it’s for the good of the Inquirer.net the Visayas, and country and for you. Sumunod and Highways chief Mark Villar as Luzon, lang kayo (Just obey),” added MANILA — Television per- both garnered 40 percent at 6th Mindanao. sonality Raffy Tulfo remains the place. SWS said the survey had Duterte. Earlier that day, Executive top preferred senatorial aspirant Legarda, Villar, and Escudero sampling error margins of ±3% in the 2022 national elections as were all ranked 2nd for having for national percentages and ±6% Secretary Salvador Medialdea Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero the same percentage points, in for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, issued a memorandum saying face shields will be worn “on a and Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan the SWS poll made public in the Visayas, and Mindanao. n Peter Cayetano trailed close by October, which was conducted in the latest Social Weather Sta- from September 12-16. tions (SWS) survey made public Completing the so-called Tuesday, November16. “Magic 12” in the recent SWS According to the new survey survey were reelectionist Senator commissioned by Stratbase ADR Risa Hontiveros at 8tht place (36 Institute, Inc., 60 percent of 1,200 percent), former senator Jinggoy adult Filipino respondents picked Estrada at 9th (33 percent), Tulfo as their choice for senator, actor Robin Padilla at 10th (29 followed by Escudero with 51 percent), veteran journalist Noli percent and Cayetano – who de Castro at 11th (28 percent), jumped two spots from 5th place and reelectionist Senator Joel in the SWS survey released in Villanueva at 12th (27 percent). October – with 50 percent. However, de Castro has already Coming in at the 4th spot was dropped out of the May 2022 House Deputy Speaker Loren senatorial race. Legarda with 45 percent and The SWS survey released Senate Majority Leader Miguel Tuesday was conducted on Zubiri at 5th with 44 percent. It October 20-23, involving the
Tulfo, Escudero, Cayetano top picks for Senate in new SWS poll
Raffy Tulfo and Chiz Escudero
Inquirer.net photos
Sotto optimistic on next Senate by Paolo
RoMeRo Philstar.com
MANILA — Senate President Vicente Sotto III remains optimistic that the chamber would be able to perform its mandate with independence despite the possible entry of President Duterte, who filed his certificate of candidacy for senator. Sotto, who is graduating as senator and running for vice president, issued the statement when asked about the prospect of Duterte in the Senate along with his close allies. “I’m optimistic that the Senate’s independence will be preserved gauging on the possible Duterte has anywhere between four to six on his side in the current Senate, including Sen. Bong Go, his former aide who is now seeking the presidency. Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, a close
Senate President Vicente Sotto III
ally, earlier raised the prospect of Duterte becoming the Senate president. Duterte has been attacking the Senate over its investigation into the P42-billion corruption scandal under his administration involving the procurement of COVID-19 supplies. He has ordered his Cabinet to not attend the hearings. The Senate is set to question the President’s directive before the Supreme Court. Sen. Risa Hontiveros warned Duterte, if he wins a seat in the Senate, not to “dare stifle the potential of the Senate to fiscalize” and should not use the post to evade possible prosecution for alleged misdeeds. “The President’s brand of authoritarianism will never be the new normal and will not infect the Senate as an institution,” Hontiveros said. n
Inquirer.net file photo
Cebu residents wearing mask and face shields in public.
voluntary basis for areas under Alert Levels 3, 2, and 1.” On the other hand, face shields will remain mandatory for areas under Alert Level 5 and granular lockdowns. For areas under Alert Level 4, local government units and private establishments are given discretion to mandate use of face shields. “The above protocols are without prejudice to the continuing mandatory use of face shields in medical and quarantine facilities, and the required use thereof by healthcare work-
Philstar.com file photo
ers in healthcare settings,” the memo read. Currently, Metro Manila is under Alert Level 2 until Nov. 21. The IATF first issued the use of face shields outdoors in December last year. In September this year, Duterte limited the use of face shields in places that fall under the “3Cs” category: crowded, closed, and close contact. The Philippines is the only country in the world that requires using face shields in addition to masks. n
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OPiniOn
FeatURes
Goodbye, face shield
ON top of the face mask, the face shield aggravates difficulty in breathing and can be exceptionally uncomfortable in a poorly ventilated area on a hot day. Accusations of overpricing and sweetheart deals brokered by administration cronies intensified public distaste for the face shield. Last Monday, November 15, amid falling COVID-19 cases, President Duterte announced his approval of a recommendation to make the use of face shields voluntary in areas under Alert Levels 1 to 3 including Metro Manila, except in places such as hospitals. On Tuesday, November 16, transport officials also lifted the face shield requirement in public utility vehicles. Health experts went along with the recommendation, but continued to encourage the voluntary use of face shields as added protection against COVID-19, especially in the so-called three Cs: closed spaces with poor ventilation, crowded places, and close-contact settings. While acknowledging the discomfort in wearing face shields, the health experts maintain that they provide a measure of protection for the eyes, which are entry points for viruses and other pathogens. The experts say the added protection is important especially as complacency spreads and people
stop using even masks in public places such as open markets. The shields can stop biological droplets such as those expelled in a sneeze from hitting the eyes, according to health experts, who point out that healthcare workers in COVID wards use medical goggles to protect their eyes. President Duterte himself is warning the public against complacency, amid reports of a new wave of COVID infections particularly in western Europe that is forcing a return to lockdowns. Scenes in Metro Manila since the region was eased to Alert Level 2 have shown people ignoring physical distancing, with many no longer wearing masks. In such environments, health experts say a face shield on top of a mask can reduce the risk of catching COVID. Even with the lifting of the face shield requirement, experts warn that under certain settings, you discard it at your own risk. (Philstar.com)
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
May 9, 2022 is Election Day in the Philippines: How does the electoral process compare to the US?
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS MARK your calendar. Next year Monday, May 9, 2022, eligible citizens of the Philippines will be heading to the polls to vote for their new President, Vice President, Senators, Representatives, as well as their local government public officials headed by the Governor, Vice Governor, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Councilmen/Councilwomen. This should be a very important milestone in our Motherland’s history for dual citizens like me who can now have our voices heard and help steer the nation to the right direction moving forward. Even if you are not a dual citizen, and you still have your family permanently living in the Motherland, you know that the election results will be consequential to their lives and livelihood in the Philippines. Or perhaps like me, you are also sending money every month to the Philippines to help your
Commentary DR. NADINE BURKE HARRIS,
SURGEON GENERAL OF CALIFORNIA OUR state experienced the most devastating point of the pandemic last winter. More than 21,000 Californians were hospitalized with COVID-19 in the last week of December, and we lost 18,518 mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers to this deadly virus in January. The light at the end of the tunnel felt out of reach. Today, we have the tools to help protect against another winter surge and avoid preventable hospitalizations and deaths: vaccines. More than 87 percent of eligible Californians have received at least one dose, and the FDA’s recent authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5-11 is a game changer. For the first time, whole families, from our young kids to our grandparents, can have protection against COVID-19. As California’s first Surgeon General, I am committed to making vaccination available to every eligible Californian. And as a mom of four boys, I am reassured that by having my children vaccinated, I am doing everything I can to keep them, our family and our community safe. The number of infections is increasing,largelyinunvaccinated people, who are 9.5 times more likely to be hospitalized and 18.2 times more likely to die from
family back home. Our sense of history is another important reason why whatever happens to our Motherland is something we want to know more about because our life in the Philippines — good or bad — will always be part of who we are. So let us compare and contrast the Presidential Election in the Philippines and in the United States — our adoptive country. The Philippine Presidential Elections happen every six years. Here in the United States, we head to the polls to exercise our right and duty to vote every four years. There are pros and cons for both. If you are fortunate to have elected a good, honest, hardworking, effective, leader with integrity and brilliant vision, then six years in the Philippines seem too short and Philippine laws allow only one term for President. However, if the people elected an abusive, lawbreaker and divisive president, then six
years feels like eternity. Here in the U.S., the President can have a maximum of two consecutive terms. Those who did not live up to the expectations of the electorate, have not delivered on their campaign promises, did not protect the people and the Constitution and abused the power and public trust accorded to the Presidency become one term president. Here in the United States, there is a short list of former presidents who ran for office as president again after leaving office as president, and this does not include presidents who sought reelection to a consecutive term while still in office. Just like in the Philippines, there there have been a few US presidents who ran for a seat in Congress, or governor. Most of them, however, retire from public office and just do charitable works through their own foundation, write books, and if the Constitution and
democracy is threatened, some call out the sitting president. Here in the United States, the candidates for president and vice president are a TEAM belonging to the same party. They share the same ideology, policies, platform and visions for the country. The voters elect the President and along with this vote is the vote for the presidential candidate’s running mate. In contrast, the candidates for President and Vice President in the Philippines are elected separately in the ballot. I prefer our system here in the United States. The President and Vice President should be elected and sworn into office as a TEAM so they can work together toward fulfilling their campaign promises to the people. And if something happens to the President that will prevent him/her from fulfilling his/her duties and responsibilities like death or chronic serious illness (including mental incapacity), or be deposed from office through
impeachment, then the Vice President will carry out the programs and initiatives they were elected to fulfill for the people. This does not happen in the Philippines where the President and Vice President(VP) come from two different parties. Oftentimes, the VP is marginalized by the president for fear of being more popular than him/her and therefore, will diminish the chances of his/her party to hold on to power in the next election cycle. Differences and even animosity are also inevitable when the President and VP come from different parties because they have opposing views, visions, policies and programs to begin with. And if the VP exercises his/her Constitutional duty to call out the President for any violations of the law or of public morals and ethics, then this will not be taken well by the President and his/her party and will do everything to silence and
marginalize the VP. These are some major differences between the U.S. and Philippine President Elections. However, since both countries are democratic forms of government, then both should adhere to the principles of democracy enshrined in their respective Constitutions. But I will discuss more of that topic in future editions of this column. Abangan! *** 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.
Vaccination protects children from the dangers of COVID-19 COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people. People of color are being hardest hit. We need all eligible Californians to get vaccinated or complete their vaccination series and get a booster as soon as they are eligible to help bring this pandemic to an end. As a pediatrician, I know how crucial vaccination is in protecting children against other preventable diseases like measles, mumps, and chicken pox. The COVID-19 vaccine, which is specially dosed for children ages 5-11, offers an essential layer of protection against this deadly virus. More than 700,000 children and adolescents in California have been infected with COVID19. There have been more than 6,500 pediatric hospitalizations in our state since July of last year, and we have lost 37 young lives since the start of the pandemic. Children can experience “long COVID” and the virus can also cause Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), in which a hyperactive immune system attacks the child’s body. Our state alone has seen 660 of these cases, half of whom had to be hospitalized in intensive care units. Vaccination not only helps prevent these troubling outcomes, but also reduces spread of the virus to our loved ones, such as grandparents and others with more vulnerable immune systems.
And as the state’s leader in efforts to train providers to identify and mitigate Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and childhood trauma, I know that the pandemic has taken a tremendous toll on our young people. They’ve struggled with social isolation, attending school virtually, as well as family stressors like job loss, food or housing insecurity, COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and even the death of people they hold dear. Getting vaccinated provides kids a sense of security knowing they’re better protected and that they are protecting others from becoming infected, as well. It’s understandable that some parents still have concerns. I can assure them that the COVID-19 vaccine was demonstrated to be safe and highly effective in comprehensive clinical trials with more than 4,500 children ages 5-11, and is held to the same rigorous safety and effectiveness standard as all other vaccines in the U.S. In fact, the COVID-19 vaccines have gone through the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. vaccine history. Millions of youth ages 12-18 have already received the vaccine with only mild side effects. Serious side effects are rare, and the benefits of vaccination are shown to far outweigh the risks. There is no evidence, either in clinical trial data or among the millions
Unsplash photo by Kelly Sikkema
of women who have already received the vaccine, that it causes any fertility loss. In contrast, vaccination is allowing more of our state’s population to safely get back to the activities they love. Thanks to the safety measures in place, combined with high vaccination rates, our schools are safer than ever. Vaccinations have allowed kids 12-17 to rejoin sports teams, drama clubs and other activities – programs that provide
enrichment and help them grow into healthy adults. Our younger children deserve the same opportunities. These valiant little ones want to fully participate in life again. With the holiday gatherings and festivities approaching, this vaccine could not come at a better time. Protect your family. Call your pediatrician or a local health clinic to schedule your child’s vaccination appointment. You can also visit MyTurn.ca.gov
or call 833-422-4255 to find a vaccination site near you. *** 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.
*** Dr. Nadine Burke Harris is the Surgeon General of California. A pediatrician, she is at the forefront of the statewide campaign to reduce Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress by half in one generation.
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Philippines wins global science competition by Pia lee-BRaGo Philstar.com
MANILA — The Philippines won the first-ever Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) Catalyst Pitch competition given by the U.S. Department of State with its Philippine-based startup Galansiyang, placing first in two categories. The GIST Catalyst Pitch is a global competition launched in 2017 that gives science and technology entrepreneurs a platform to develop innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing issues. The U.S. embassy on Tuesday, November 16, said Galansiyang was declared winner on Nov. 9. Galansiyang is a forestry services startup that helps mining industry speed up environmen-
tal rehabilitation with automation technology including aerial seeding for reforestation and forest monitoring. Galansiyang, one of the pioneering startups formed in Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, placed first in both the “Spirit of GIST” and “People’s Choice” categories. The team includes Jay Arneil Gajudo, Joshua Fernandez, Maynard Costanilla, Jiko Colita, Dreamer Lamberte and Harold Cuerbo. Globally, 25 teams went to the semifinal round of GIST in October. In November, five innovators were chosen to advance to the finals of the competition, with Galansiyang representing the Asia-Pacific region. “This challenge became an opportunity for us to showcase
the grit and the hustle toward our love for innovation. Now, we are recognized as a promising startup committed to fighting deforestation,” Gajudo said. Galansiyang is also one of the Philippines’ global nominees for the 2021 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Space Apps Challenge, the world’s largest international hackathon addressing global problems using NASA’s opensource data. Global winners will be announced early next year. “This is a great achievement for the Philippine startup community. As the US and the Philippines celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations, we are committed to supporting the next generation of changemakers,” said US embassy assistant cultural affairs officer Pauline Anderson.■
Marcos assures supporters he won’t be disqualified from presidential race by BeRnadette
e. taMaYo
ManilaTimes.net
FORMER senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. assured his supporters that he is eligible to run for president in the 2022 national elections as he dispelled speculations that he will be disqualified. “All pieces of evidence and legal arguments in our hands clearly show that the petition against my candidacy is nothing but trash,” Marcos stressed. He issued the statement on Tuesday, November 16 to assure his supporters that his “fight to serve the Filipino people under a unifying leadership is impeccable and will get through misleading propaganda.” Marcos said that although he believes that the petition before the Commission on Elections to cancel his certificate of candidacy (CoC) for president was “walang kuwenta” (worthless) his lawyers were still preparing to oppose it. The presidential aspirant continued, “I’ve personally seen the documents for our defense.” “And I’ve personally discussed them with our legal team who, along with some reputable and respectable legal experts, concluded without doubt that the petition to delist my name from
Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
the roster of applicants for the presidency is without merit and has no legal basis,” he said. Marcos was referring to views by former Justice secretary Alberto Agra and University of Sto Tomas faculty of law dean Nilo Divina who both said that the petition “has no basis in fact and in law.” “Kaya nananawagan ako sa aking supporters at sa buong sambayanan na panatilihin natin ang pananalig na hindi magtatagumpay ang baluktot na han-
ManilaTimes.net file photo
garin laban sa aking pagtakbo (That’s why I call on my supporters and to the entire nation to remain hopeful that the evil intention against my candidacy will not succeed),” he said. Marcos added, “At patuloy nating ipaglaban ang karapatan ng mamamayan para sa malayang pagpili ng mga napupusuang nilang kandidato sa darating na halalan (And we continue to fight for the right of the citizenry to freely choose their candidates in the coming elections).”■
Vice President Leni Robredo
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Photo coutesy of the OVP
Robredo urges forgiveness, promotes unity among people split by politics by GaBRiel
PaBico Inquirer.net
lalU
MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo has urged Filipinos, who may have been in conflict or disagreement with their friends and relatives due to their political stand, to start making amends, as people are hurt regardless of their beliefs. Robredo said this this on Tuesday, November 16 as she noted the views of experts that there are hidden forces trying to make Filipinos fight each other, including in social media, as it would be easier to advance personal interest when people are divided. “Alam niyo, nitong mga nakaraang taon, nakita natin kung paano naghati-hati ang ating mga hanay. Lalo na sa social media, maraming masasakit na salitang binitawan. May mga magkakaibigan, pati na magakamamag-anak, na nag-away dahil sa posisyon sa pulitika,” she said in a video statement posted on her official Facebook page.
(We have witnessed the past few years that people became divided, especially on social media, a lot of hurtful words were delivered. Friends and relatives became enemies because of political stance.) “Ang analysis ng mga eksperto, may mga puwersa na sadya tayong pinag-aaway. Dahil kapag watak-watak ang mga Pilipino, mas madaling maisusulong ang personal na agenda ng mga puwersang ito. Anuman ang dahilan, hindi maikakaila: nagkasakitan tayo,” she added. (Experts say there are people who really want people to be divided. Because when we are divided, they can easily advance their political agenda.) Robredo then reminded her supporters to engage other people of different political beliefs calmly and with respect, ahead of their Wednesday (November 17) movements. “Nasaang panig ka man, gaano man kasigurado sa paninindigan mo, may nakasakit ng
kapwa. Panahon na, tayo na ang magsimula, lumapit sa mga naka-alitan, kung may nakita sa social media na hindi naaayon sa mga pinaniniwalaan natin, magpaliwanag nang mahinahon at may respeto,” Robredo said. (Whatever side you are in, even if you are really sure of your political convictions, you have hurt someone. It is time for us to initiate reconciliation, approach other people, and when you see something untrue or something that does not coincide with our beliefs, explain in a calm and respectful manner.) “Magpakumbaba. Mangumusta, makipag-usap, hilumin ang mga sugat, buksan muli ang landas ng pagmamahal, ipaalala ang katotohanan, hindi natin kalaban ang ating kapwa,” she added. (Be humble. Ask them how they are doing, talk, heal all wounds, open the path for love, remind people of the truth, and remember that fellow Filipinos are not our enemy.) ■
MANILA — Some 31.82 million Filipinos have been fully inoculated against COVID-19 since the government launched its vaccination campaign in March. This is equivalent to 29.18% of the population, a long way from the 90% health authorities say is needed to attain herd immunity. Department of Health figures
as of November 15 also show that 38.47 million or 35.28% of Filipinos have received the first shot of a two-dose vaccine regimen. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, who is acting presidential spokesperson, during a media briefing on Tuesday said the government administered 963,777 shots the day prior,
inching closer to its goal of 1.5 million doses a day. An average of 763,881 vaccines daily was administered in the last seven days. DOH on Monday, November 15, announced that health workers fully vaccinated for COVID-19 can begin getting booster shots starting November 17. (Christian Deiparine /Philsrar.com)
29% of Philippines population fully vaccinated against COVID-19
When you GET VACCINATED you have greater protection against hospitalization and death.
WEAR A MASK when it can protect you & others.
GET TESTED & STAY HOME when you feel sick.
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Health @Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS WHY the COVID-19 pandemic will most likely be with us for years is vividly demonstrated by the following well-publicized news: “A federal appeals court has called President Joe Biden’s vaccine and testing requirements for private businesses ‘fatally flawed’ and ‘staggeringly overbroad,’ arguing that the requirements likely exceed the authority of the federal government and raise ‘serious constitutional concerns’…the requirements criticized as a onesize-fits-all sledgehammers.” If the courts succeed in derailing the president’s plan, there will be more infections and more deaths in those sectors as a result of wanting to be fully “constitutional.” That’s only one instance. There are governors/legislators/protestors against masking/social distancing early on and now against vaccine mandates because they are ignorant, spineless, and want to be politically correct in order not to lose votes. Their inaction, baseless statements, and the chaos that followed have resulted in the massive loss of precious human lives, the total death count as of last Tuesday morning, November 16 is at almost 5.12 million worldwide, with nearly 784,000 in the U.S., and about 45,800 in the Philippines. This is gross negligence and dereliction of duties on the part of the Biden administration, Congress, and the governors and other leaders against federal mandates. They looked the other way as people, children included, languished and died…and the toll from COVID-19 is still rising. I am no lawyer, much less a constitutional expert, but to me, as a person and as a cardiac surgeon, it is most evident that the federal judge in this case was more concerned (and only considered) the constitutional technicality of the issues, rather than discern if President Biden’s “mandate” would save lives or kill more people. No discussion about the effects of the ultimate verdict on human lives, just “constitutional concerns” and correctness. To me, saving lives, preventing deaths, or reducing loss of lives to the minimum should
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Politics deadlier than COVID Canepa: Choose Local San Mateo County app launched across San Mateo County be the primary objective of any action, constitutional or not. We must uphold and protect our Constitution, yes, but when technicalities would cause misery and death of people, who the Constitution and our courts and government leaders are supposed to protect, the obvious just choice is to save people’s lives as primary, and the constitution’s propriety, secondary. The Founding Fathers brilliantly crafted the masterpiece called the Constitution of the United States in 1787 with the main objective of protecting and safeguarding this great nation and its people, especially the marginalized, the weak, the infirm and the helpless from foreign and domestic threats, and even from their own selves. And here we are today, 234 years later, using constitutional (wording) technicalities to justify going against the proper scientific protocol to end this deadly pandemic and allowing thousands more Americans to die…all in the name (an excuse) for exercising equality, civil liberties, individual rights, and the freedom to refuse. The right thing Scientifically, the proper and most effective way to manage a pandemic, which is much like a world war, is a universal, unified, federal strategy mandating quarantine, isolation, masking, social distancing on the first day the pandemic is declared, and a national mandate for vaccination for everyone, the very day the vaccine is available. This is the epidemiologic and evidencebased protocol to follow strictly, one that is medically accepted worldwide. All science, no politics. This is the right thing to do. If this strict medical protocol had been mandated, we could have prevented hundreds of thousands of deaths and we would be having a normal Christmas this year. The way our government leaders have mishandled the pandemic and the abuse of the constitutional freedom to choose by more than 50 million people who refuse the vaccines, we should brace ourselves for an extended misery and greater loss of human lives for a few more years before we see the end of COVID-19, if at all. It is unrealistic for people to expect a perfect 100 percent protection from masking, social distancing, and now the vaccines for COVID-19 that are 100 percent safe. There is no such
thing. Even aspirin, introduced to us in 1899, though used since antiquity, is not 100 percent safe or effective. The bulletproof vests used by SWAT teams and other law enforcement agents are not 100 percent safe, but they have saved countless of lives. While the vaccines for COVID-19 are not 100 percent risk-free, the risk of an adverse side-effect is a tiny fraction of 1 percent, while the risk of dying from COVID is one hundred to a thousand times greater. It is a no-brainer that getting the vaccine is wiser, more prudent, and a lot safer because COVID-19 is a serious killer. So far, there have been almost 7.5 billion vaccines administered around the world. The vaccines have long been proven safe and effective even before its first millionth mark. COVID-19 is a world war Medically speaking, President Biden’s requirement and mandates, if not thwarted by the courts, could save lives among the people in those businesses involved. The only question is why the president is limiting it only to that small segment of society in as pandemic that is akin to a world war? He should have declared federal mandates on all matters related to our global fight against the COVID19 pandemic to protect the entire nation and all 332.9 million Americans. Anything short will allow the virus to live on, replicate, and mutate to deadlier strains and continue to kill more people. Of course, people have the right to choose not to get the vaccine. They even have the right to hurt or kill themselves, but they do not have the right to infect and take with them and kill other Americans who also have their rights – the right to be careful and get the vaccines, the right to remain healthy and live. Any choice we make that hurts other people is unjust and criminal, certainly not the kind of freedom of choice the framers of the Constitution had in mind when they ensured those civil liberties for us. All our personal rights come with grave responsibilities and obligations to society and to our fellowmen. The 50 million who refuse the vaccine on constitutional grounds should seriously reconsider in order to keep our nation as one people united in our war against COVID-19. Divided, we cannot win. And justice, to be true, PAGE 9
HOUSING
Points-based program rewards shoppers for supporting local small businesses REDWOOD CITY – In advance of the holiday season, the County of San Mateo and seven cities are asking shoppers to support local small business and rewarding those that do through a new points-based mobile app that lets them earn cash discounts at participating locations. The Choose Local San Mateo County program is a way for both shoppers and businesses to benefit while helping the post-pandemic recovery. “COVID-19 has decimated too many small businesses across San Mateo County,” said Board President David J. Canepa. “Supporting small businesses is supporting our economic recovery. As residents plan for their holiday shopping, or return to activities, we invite them to visit local businesses — many of which are minority- and women-owned — and participate in our collective economic recovery ahead.” The easy-to-use Choose Local San Mateo County mobile app enables shoppers to earn rewards automatically at hundreds of participating local businesses, which include restaurants, cafes, spas, boutiques, yoga studios, and more. This initial launch includes participating businesses from seven pilot areas: Daly City, Half Moon Bay/Coastside, Millbrae, Redwood City and North Fair Oaks, San Carlos, San Mateo, and South San Francisco, with plans to expand to additional cities soon. To date, over 290 businesses are participating in the Choose Local San Mateo County program, with new businesses joining daily. One point equates to one dollar, which can then be redeemed as cash discounts at select businesses. All rewards are reimbursed by the County of San Mateo through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding at no cost to the small businesses or consumers. “Local businesses are the foundation of a thriving community,” said County Manager Mike Callagy. “As the epicenter of innovation, the County of San Mateo and our city partners are bringing the latest technologies to the hardest-hit sector of our economy: small businesses. Simply put, we will not have an equitable recovery without an emphasis on
small business recovery.” In ongoing efforts to support local businesses, the County of San Mateo partnered with Colu Technologies to develop the Choose Local San Mateo County app. The County joins a growing list of local municipalities to launch similar initiatives that provide critical boosts for business districts and celebrates the diversity of small business owners and operators. While many cities have launched similar initiatives, the County of San Mateo is the first jurisdiction to take a countywide, regional approach to economic recovery and leverage mobile app technology. “Money that is spent locally will stay local and support a business that has survived the pandemic,” said Rosanne Foust, president & CEO of the San Mateo County Economic Development Association (SAMCEDA). “When consumers opt for local retailers, studios or restaurants, they are also supporting the employees, the suppliers, the landlords, delivery drivers, and many others that rely on that business to succeed in San Mateo County. Choosing local businesses is choosing to participate in our county’s economic recovery.” Choose Local San Mateo County is the latest initiative spearheaded by the County of San Mateo to boost economic recovery in response to COVID-19. This work builds upon previous initiatives to distribute over $217,700,000 in COVID-19 relief funds to provide emergency support for small businesses, rental assistance, food support, childcare and nonprofits, access to technology, and immigrant assistance; along with ongoing workforce development efforts to train and place workers in available jobs. How Choose Local San Mateo County works: • Download the free Choose Local San Mateo County app from Google Play or the Apple Store and securely link your credit cards, debit cards, or prepaid debit cards to your account. The first 700 users to download and link a card will receive 10 SMC Points! • Join reward offers and start shopping and dining locally, earning SMC Points automatically
SERVICES
through qualifying purchases made with your linked cards at local businesses. • Redeem SMC Points for cash discounts at redeeming local businesses. Each SMC Point is worth one dollar. • Encourage your favorite businesses to join Choose Local San Mateo County by signing up at https://www.smcgov.org/chooselocal-san-mateo-county. How local businesses benefit and can participate: • Choose Local is designed to empower community members to shop local and support hard-working small business owners and employees in their neighborhood and surrounding communities. • Through profiles and stories within the app, Choose Local San Mateo County shines a spotlight on local businesses and gives you a way to attract more customers. • App users can discover the diversity of local businesses, get to know the stories about owners, employees and services, and earn SMC Points, which can be redeemed later at select businesses around town. • As a business owner, you can choose to accept SMC Points as payment at no cost to you. These “redeeming businesses’’ will be featured in the app and enjoy greater interest and foot traffic as a destination where locals can redeem their SMC Points. • After app users redeem Points at your business, the County transfers payment to you for their monetary value. One SMC Point equals $1. • Participation will cost your business ZERO dollars – the County funds the Points program. • Apply to join the program by filling out an application at https:// www.smcgov.org/choose-localsan-mateo-county. Overview of Choose Local San Mateo County at launch: • 7 participating cities, including the county unincorporated area of North Fair Oaks • 290 local businesses participating • 186 user downloads To learn more about Choose Local San Mateo County, visit www.chooselocalsmc.com. (SMC Supervisor David Canepa’s Office Release)
Co m m u n ity Jo u rn al
FILIPINO
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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 19-25, 2021
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THE ASIAN JOURNAL
MAGAZINE
I N
N O R T H E R N
C A L I F O R N I A
Friday, November 19, 2021
INSIDE >>> L I F E S T Y L E • C O N S U M E R G U I D E • C O M M U N I T Y • M A R K E T P L A C E
The December 2021 Priority Dates: No change from September
Immigration Corner aTTY. MiChaEl GuRFiNKEl, ESQ THE November priority dates are typically the start of the new “fiscal year” for visas, where a new annual supply of visas is made available. Usually, with a new supply of visas, the priority dates move forward in the various family categories. However, for November 2021, the priority
dates did not move at all. They are the same as September 2021. Fortunately, employment-based visas remain “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 family and employment-based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning im-
migrant 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.
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)
April 22, 2015
March 01, 2012
Second Preference
(2A) Spouse and minor children (below 21 years old) of green card holders
September 01, 2021
Current
(2B) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years old or older) of green card holders
October 01, 2013
October 22, 2011
Third Preference
Married sons and daughters of US Citizens
October 01, 2003
June 08, 2002
Fourth Preference
Brothers and sisters of US Citizens
February 01, 2004
August 22, 2002
Application Filing Date
Visa Issuance Date
LABOR CERTIFICATION:
Second Preference
Advanced Degree (Masters)
Current
Current
Third Preference
Professional/ Skilled Workers
Current
Current
Other Workers
Non-Skilled Workers
Current
Current
*** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 40 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein
(including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE:www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw,
YouTube: US Immigration TV and Instagram. com/gurfinkellaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)
A FATHER’S DYING WISH IS FULFILLED THIS SUNDAY ON CITIZEN PINOY. Mother Cece (center) petitioned her son Vince in 2001. Because he was out-of-status, and had no section 245(i), he was not eligible to adjust status (apply for his green card) in the U.S. The family went through several attorneys who applied for political asylum, and later obtained an approved provisional waiver, after the regulations came out in 2016. Vince returned to the Philippines for his interview, but the family was devastated when the Embassy charged Vince with fraud, for having overstayed in the U.S. – the very reason a person pursues a provisional waiver! Desperate to get Vince back to the U.S. to fulfill his father’s dying wish, the family retained Atty. Gurfinkel, who was able to get a fraud waiver approved, enabling Vince to return to the U.S. as a green card holder. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” this Sunday, November 21 on its new time slot at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)
Politics deadlier than COVID PAGE 8 t
must be served with Solomonic wisdom and compassion. Politics, as shown by the way this pandemic has been managed, is indeed a deadlier killer than COVID-19. *** 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 anti-graft foundation in the United States. Visit our websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail. com
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November 19-25, 2021 • NorCAL ASIAN JoUrNAL
EntE rtain m E nt
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Heart not leaving acting, just exploring creativity Angel says entering politics not an option By Jerry
Donato Philstar.com
HEART Evangelista remains connected with acting as her work in I Left My Heart in Sorsogon will show. Fans definitely miss her effortless beauty and amiable personality on the small screen. Heart fits any romance-comedy project, even with a dash of drama. It’s a sight to behold that Heart is again a part of a director’s “moving canvas.” Her character Celeste, described as a fashion designer and socialite, is somehow close to her creative pursuits. Heart is known as a fashion icon that wears designer and luxury brands and a painter that captures images of women. At the core of it all, Heart is first and foremost an actress. “I feel like it’s time din with my life,” said Heart of giving her nod of approval to the GMA romance-drama series in a recent virtual media call, “and there (are) things that I will be doing. I’ll be leaving also for a while, so parang I felt that now is the time. I just really wanted to do something for Sorsogon for GMA na ang tagal ko na ring di nagawa.” Similar to how she approaches her every piece of art that could see her work on it for months and take a year to finish, Heart put her stamp of dedication to her comeback show. “You know, to come up with a project that I will really make sure I will give my 101 percent,” said she. “I don’t know if this might be my last, you’ll never know. I felt it was time for me to do one and to make it really, really good. I just thought it was just the perfect time.” Heart, who is into creative collaborations, clarified that “(I’m) not naman taking a break (from showbiz), (but) just prioritizing a different angle in my career, I guess, in a way. And also personally, I’ve also been really working a lot and I feel that I just want to take a breather, a little bit lang, but I’m not gonna go anywhere. I’m still very, very out there. It’s just that I just want to concentrate on something.” Soon, that artistic endeavor will be generously revealed by Heart, who is happy with how I Left My Heart in Sorsogon came to be. “I was touched,” explained Heart why she got teary-eyed while watching the I Left My Heart in Sorsogon music video. “With the lock-in taping, you would see how the dynamics in taping (had been) changed by the pandemic and how hard
Heart Evangelista on starring in the Kapuso latest primetime series, I Left My Heart in Sorsogon. Photo from Instagram/@iamhearte
everybody worked, we were all away from our loved ones. Talagang makikita mo yung pag-miss namin sa pamilya namin and how we’re all getting over that and how we’re all just working hard in this whole bubble. Ma-e-emotional ka talaga kapag nakita mo na maganda yung kinalabasan nang ginawa niyo. Nakakatuwa lang na iba talaga yung nagagawa ng group effort.” Director Mark Sicat dela Cruz could attest to it and the collaboration that actors like Heart showed in the entire new-normal taping of I Left My Heart in Sorsogon. “We were very collaborative,” said he. “I would ask (Heart), ‘How’s this?’ and if this is OK with her and she would also do the same. Yun yung ginawa namin para mas maganda yung portrayal niya as Celeste.” Aside from the romance that involves Celeste, and the men in her life, Mikoy and Tonito, played by Paolo Contis and Richard Yap, respectively, the series will give viewers a visual tour of Sorsogon. “Pinakita ko yung mga magagandang places, not only the places but also kung paano magsalita yung mga Bikolano and also the food,” added the director. So, viewers are in for some “eat and love” kind of entertainment. “I’ve worked with her many times,” said Paolo of his team-up with Heart. “Kuya nga niya ako sa pelikulang Trip. You really appreciate her professionalism, ang laki ng mina-ture niya as an actress and as a person. I didn’t expect her to be the leader that
celebrityworld
she (was) on set. She did little things for us that we all (appreciated).” For Richard, who worked with the actress for the first time, had this to say: “As you know, when I first came to GMA, I always said I wanted to work with Heart. This is a dream come true to me… ang sarap ka-trabaho si Heart and of course, the rest of the cast. Ang galing niya.” This speaks of the rapport among stars and the working team and the friendly environment they all created for themselves. “Wala kaming stage na nangapa para sa akin,” said Paolo. “We had to thank Heart for that kasi siya yung nag-bi-bind to us. She (made) sure na OK kaming lahat, she (made) sure na nakakapagusap ang lahat. Sobrang naging (ma)dali. She (was) the earliest (to arrive on set), she (was) always ready. Siguro malaking bagay na ang unang lock-in taping namin ay sa Sorsogon, talagang malayo kami sa lahat at naka pag-bond kami ng maayos.” Richard also agreed with Paolo, saying: “Masaya kaming lahat on the set. I would like to thank Heart also. Since from the start, kahit hindi kami magkakilala, first scene namin, she made sure na hindi ako naiilang. She was very accepting, open and welcoming. So parang nawala na kaagad yung parang tension na hindi kayo magkakilala and first time kayong magkaka-trabaho. Dun pa lang nakita ko na how good an actress and how good of a person Heart is. It was so easy right after that.” Like everybody in the team, Heart is excited to share the fruits of their labor, yes, with all her heart. “With what I’ve been through in life, parang ngayon lang talaga nagamit ang lahat ng aspect nang pinagdaanan ko sa buhay ko and how parang meticulously all are (in place) when it comes to each scene, each character and every accessory, every continuity of the accessory,” said she, “everything, we’re all so in the zone. I’m nervous in a good way because I’m excited na makita nila how we’ve all leveled up our game in terms of our craft and in terms like of the details… Naexcite ako para sa kanila (I’m excited for the viewers to see) how beautiful this project is. I really must say that with all my heart, I feel like this is the best thing I’ve ever been part of.” Heart indeed has never left acting. She just keeps on expanding her artistic horizons.
by Marinel
Cruz
Inquirer.net
ACTRESS and philanthropist Angel Locsin reacts to netizens’ observation that there are more show biz celebrities running for public office this coming elections compared to the previous years. “I am not here to judge them because these people really do have the capabilities to help the Filipino people. We should not pull each other down because we are from the same industry,” she begins. “As it is, people think so little of us because we are actors.” ‘Different kind’ “If these people believe that they can truly help other Filipinos, then go ahead. If I would personally vote for them, I don’t know yet,” the actress says. “Maybe they agreed to run because they received offers. It’s also a possibility that people approached
Angel Locsin Inquirer.net photo
Photo from Instagram/@therealangellocsin
them with a promise not to worry about campaign expenses, that this will be taken care of. I also think other politicians invited show biz celebs to run because they need known personalities in their political parties.”
Angel further adds: “I personally don’t see myself being a politician. We all have strengths, and this isn’t one of mine. I don’t know how to create laws and policies. I’m used to taking action, but of a different kind.”
Blind items don’t bother Joshua, and here’s why by alex
Brosas Inquirer.net
Joshua Garcia Photo from Instagram/@garciajoshuae
BEFORE rumors about celebrities go viral, these start out as blind items. Actor Joshua Garcia knows how to handle such blind items — he says he ignores them. “Kasama iyon sa trabaho namin. Hindi ko masisisi kung bakit ginawan ako ng blind item. Kasi ‘yung reaction ko before noong ginawan ako ng blind item, kasi ikinuwento lang sa akin, sabi ko, ‘Hayaan mo na.’ Parang ganoon lang ang sinabi ko,” Garcia said, recalling how he handled a blind item about him, during the online press conference for “Viral Scandal” last week. (That’s part of our job. I can’t lay blame on why a blind item was made about me. My reaction at that time was just to tell the person who told me about it, “Just let it go.” I think that was all I said.) Social media is right at the core of “Viral Scandal” as it tells the story of Rica (Charlie Dizon) who got embroiled in a scandal which went viral. Meanwhile, Garcia believes that dignifying a rumor about him does not improve the situation, so he deems it wise to just ignore rumors. “Kasi the more na mag-focus ka, the more na pagtuunan mo siya ng pansin, the more na mapapansin din siya ng mga tao. Kung nabasa mo ‘yung blind item at hindi ka sang-ayon, ‘di ba, parang ‘wag mo na lang pagtuunan ng pansin. Baka mamaya mali naman ang sinabi nila,” he explained. (The more you focus on it, the more you give it attention, all the more will people notice it. If you read the blind item and you don’t agree, just ignore it. Maybe what it says isn’t even true.) Good thing that Garcia is also not so much into social media, it keeps him protected to a degree. “Hindi ako mahilig mag-social media. Iyon ‘yung maganda rin sa akin. Medyo aware din ako, alam ko na medyo wild ang social media, medyo wild ang mga tao doon,” he said. (I an not into social media. That’s what’s good in my case. I am also sort of aware, I know that social media can be wild, people can be wild there.) Garcia plays architect Kyle Constantino in the series, which started airing Nov. 15, on the Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, iWant TFC, and A2Z Channel 11 and TV5. The series also features Maxene Magalona, Jameson Blake, Markus Paterson, Gian Magdangal, Louise Abuel and Dimples Romana, among others.
Rayver-Janine, Alodia-Wil breakups surprise showbiz watchers
By Ferdie Villar IT seems like the holiday season this year is becoming breakup season when it comes to showbiz couples. First, Rayver Cruz and Janine Gutierrez, whose relationship became public in 2017, have decided to go their separate ways. According to news reports, there is no third party involved in the split. What is rumored is that Janine was the one who broached the idea of breaking up, claiming that she wants [the opportunity] to grow. A report from PEP.ph says that it was Janine who requested Rayver to take down her photos from his Instagram account. She did the same after her former boyfriend did as she requested. Insiders say that there were no major problems between the two. It’s even rumored that Rayver was on the cusp of proposing to Janine. Some people think that Rayver and Janine’s busy schedules (incuding lock-in tapings), along with their intense concentration on their respective projects, might be the reason why the couple drifted apart. Janine is currently involved in the ABS-CBN rom-com series, “Marry Me, Marry You,” alongside Paulo Avelino (who revealed in another news report that he and Janine had gone out before), while Rayver has a few shows with GMA Network, namely “The Clash,” “All-Out Sundays” and “Limitless: Heal.” Initially, showbiz watchers thought that the breakup could be a gimmick to give way to the tandems being formed by their respective networks, but, alas, it’s true that the couple have indeed gone their separate ways. Fans and friends of the couple are hoping that the two may eventually wind up together again after this, although nothing is sure in tinseltown. Both Rayver and Janine come from showbiz clans. Rayver is a member of the famous Cruz family and he is cousins with Sheryl Cruz, Sunshine Cruz,
Geneva Cruz and Donna Cruz. Janine is the daughter of Ramon Christopher and Lotlot de Leon; she also counts Superstar Nora Aunor and Asia’s Queen of Song Pilita Corrales as her grandmothers. Meanwhile, cosplayer and gamer Alodia Gosiengfiao and her boyfriend of four years YouTuber Wil Dasovich have called it quits. She has stopped following her ex-boyfriend on Instagram, per media reports. According to a PEP.ph article, Gosiengfiao related in a Facebook post that she is no longer with Wil. Part of the post read, “To those asking, wala na kame. It’s been a while. We tried to work things out many times but some things are not meant to be. I hope you respect our privacy during this time in our lives. [pray emoji]” The gamer also belied reports that the breakup is a prank. “Sa mga nagtatanong pala, kasi may mga nagsasabi, ‘Is it a prank?’ To be honest, I don’t normally do pranks and wala pa akong time to make, like, yung mga ganung types of videos kasi po very busy yung day ko. I, like, have meetings kasi and I also manage Tier One behind the scenes, so may mga business meetings. I manage gaming streams, the company, and branded contents, so yung mga ano…,” she was quoted as saying. “No, hindi po ito prank. I wish it were, but it’s not.” Gosiengfiao seems to be in a good place, despite the revelation of their breakup. “Me? I’m not sad. I’m just tired,” she said. “I’m not sad, I’m okay, to honest, like, yung buong situation. I know it’s kind of sad, pero I’m over that ano na, parang natanggap ko na siya. And I’m okay.” *** Aside from Saviour and Tanya Ramos (children of actor Wendell Ramos), there are other showbiz scions who will be vying for their place at GMA Artist Center, having been signed up
Actress Janine Gutierrez reportedly was the one initiated Kapuso actor Rayver Cruz, who is busy with several TV shows in GMA Alodia Gosiengfiao seems to be doing okay after revealing the breakup with erstwhile boyfriend Rayver Cruz. network, reportedly deleted Janine’s photos on his Instagram account, her breakup with boyfriend Wil Dasovich via a social media Photo from instagram/@janinegutierrez per the latter’s request. Photo from instagram/@rayvercruz post. Photo from instagram/@alodia
Lala Vinzon, actor Roi Vinzon’s daughter, says she wants to apply to herself the values and discipline that her dad Niño Muhlach’s son Sandro was one of the young actors signed up by the GMA Artist Center in their recent auditions. practiced during his showbiz career. Photo from instagram/@sandromuhlach Photo from instagram/@lalavinzon
during the recent auditions. Among them are Lala Vinzon, Sandro Muhlach and Brianna. According to The Manila Times, Lala is the daughter of actor Roi Vinzon and is a product of the Voice Teens in 2017. “Acting is really close to my heart because of my dad — I witnessed the values and discipline of my dad as an actor and I want to apply it to myself,” Lala was quoted as saying. “Growing up, my dad being an actor was not a big deal because sinanay niya kami na
maging simpleng tao. He did not want us to feel that we are important. That’s one thing that I thank my dad for because pinalaki niya kaming simple,” she stated. Sandro, meanwhile, is the son of former child actor and wonder Niño Muhlach. “For me the biggest dream is to be a successful actor. I actually started in theater, so acting is a big part of my life. Of course, my dad is also an inspiration for me in acting,” Sandro said. On the pressures of being the
Brianna Bunagan, daughter of comedian Michael V, hopes to make her singing career flourish as she gets signed up by GMA Artist Center. Photo from instagram/@briannabunagan
son of the most successful child actor of his generation, Sandro keeps the focus on the things that he can offer. “I don’t need to go beyond what he has done because he is the child actort-wonder boy of the Philippines. I differentiate myself from him. That’s how I take the pressure off myself – the differences between me and my dad. What I can offer on the table is my passion for acting. In every project that I become involved with, I always strive to do my best,” he stated.
As for Brianna, who is the daughter of veteran comedian Michael V, her singing career is the most important thing for her. “Dad, being in the industry before me, it has opened the door for me and I’m very thankful for that. But for me, first love ko ang singing so I am really looking forward to pursue my singing career,” she said. Hopefully, these scions of showbiz personalities will prove their mettle in whatever projects come their way.
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Fe atu re s
NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvembeR 19-25, 2021
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Jane finally starts taping for new Darna TV series by Dana
Cruz Inquirer.net
McDonald’s USA addresses financial hurdles facing underserved Asian Pacific Islander American Students with APIA Scholarship
CHICAGO – A student inventor, a formerly homeless nursing major, and an aspiring teacher, can put more focus on their dreams and less on how to pay tuition this school year. On Monday, November 8, McDonald’s USA in partnership with APIA Scholars – one of the nation’s leading non-profit organizations for Asian Pacific Islander American college scholarships – announced its 2021 McDonald’s/ APIA Scholarship recipients. Furthering its longtime commitment to providing resources to students, the scholarship program, established in 2019, is dedicated to addressing the financial barriers that prevent students from pursuing higher education. According to Pew Research, Asian Pacific Islander Americans are the most economically divided ethnic group in the U.S., with the top 10% earning nearly 11 times more than those in the bottom 10%. Pew Research also found that income inequality is rising most rapidly within the APIA community. “There are tremendous socio-economic hurdles within the Asian Pacific Islander American community, which are often overlooked because of the model minority myth. APIAs are not a monolith and income disparities in our community are very real,” said Noël Harmon, President and Executive Director of APIA Scholars. “We’re proud to work with McDonald’s to ad-
dress these issues and help underserved students reach their full potential.” Aligning with the program’s mission to aid students who face challenges paying for college, 67% of this year’s scholarship recipients are from families in significant financial need. Half a million dollars in scholarships will be awarded to 55 APIA students, which includes 15 fouryear scholarships for $20,000 each and 40 one-year scholarships for $5,000 each. The scholarship recipients were selected based on their academic achievement, leadership ability, and community involvement. Many of this year’s McDonald’s/APIA Scholars have overcome personal hardships that have inspired them to uplift their communities through education. Some of their stories include: • Daisy, 19, is a FilipinoAmerican student from Las Vegas, who is formerly homeless and a survivor of domestic violence. Inspired by the help she received during her time of need, she is pursuing a career in nursing to take care of others. • Shanay, 18, is an IndianAmerican student inventor from Madison, Mississippi who created an affordable 3D-printed prosthetic after witnessing the daily struggles of his double amputee aunt. He plans to develop a prototype for global production. • Harjot, 18, is an IndianAmerican aspiring teacher from
Kent, Washington on a mission to diversify U.S. history curriculum. In addition to ensuring inclusion of different voices and perspectives, he hopes to increase minority representation among educators. “These are tough times, but we remain committed to helping students reach their dreams regardless of their financial limitations,” said Elizabeth Campbell, Senior Director of Cultural Engagement, McDonald’s USA. “Maintaining our partnership with APIA Scholars enables us to identify those in need and make a difference in their lives.” Representing 17 Asian Pacific Islander American subgroups across 28 states, this year’s class of McDonald’s/APIA Scholars are both ethnically and geographically diverse. Additionally, 94% of the recipients are first generation immigrants and 56% will be the first in their family to attend college. The ethnic breakdown of the recipients is as follows: 38% are Southeast Asian (Vietnamese, Hmong, Cambodian, Filipino, Karen, Burmese, Chamorro/Guamanian, Fijian, Tahitian, and Tongan) 29% are East Asian (Chinese, Japanese, and Korean) 20% are South Asian (Bangladeshi, Indian, and Pakistani) 9% are Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 4% are West Asian (Afghan). “As small business owners, PAGE 12
JANE de Leon has finally started taping for “Mars Ravelo’s Darna: The TV Series” after numerous delays in the show’s production. Moments from the first taping day for the upcoming series were shown by JRB Creative Production on its Twitter and Instagram pages on Monday, Nov. 15. De Leon can be seen talking to the show’s staff and co-director Avel Sunpongco in what appears to be a sound stage for ABS-CBN. Meanwhile, director Chito Roño was shown looking at previews while filming. De Leon is set to star in the ABS-CBN series adaptation of “Darna” alongside Joshua Garcia, Zaijian Jaranilla and Iza Calzado, among others. Garcia will play the love interest to de Leon’s character Narda while Jaranilla was cast to play her sidekick and younger brother Ding. Calzado will portray Narda’s mother, the “first Darna.” The actress who will play Valentina, Darna’s nemesis in the original comic book series, is yet to be named. De Leon was the third actress tapped to play the Filipino superhero for this version of Darna. Angel Locsin, who played Darna in the GMA series back in 2005, was supposed to reprise the role in 2014 for a film. She exited in 2015 due to health reasons. Locsin was then replaced by Liza Soberano who later backed out due to a finger injury. Erik Matti was also supposed to direct the Darna film, but he exited the project due to “creative differences.” He was replaced by Jerrold Tarog, who later left because of scheduling conflicts. Jane De Leon
Photo from Instagram/@imjanedeleon
SFIO to invest US$100M to develop land into a resort-like condotel property in Batangas City, Philippines SFIO has recently been named one of the “20 Promising Companies Everyone Should Know in 2021” by Global Business Leader Magazine. The joint venture project with Omnicor Industrial Estate & Realty Center Inc. has proven that it is worthy to be listed in one of the 20 promising companies. Omnicor Industrial Estate & Realty is a subsidiary of AbaCore Capital Holdings, a public listed company in the Philippines, plans to contribute land by the bay of Batangas where SFIO will develop the land into a resort with 500 units condotel owned by AbaCore Capital and PRIDE in Batangas City’s Montemaria. Omnicor Industrial Estate & Realty Center Inc. is a corporation 100% owned Philippines Regional Investment Development Corporation (PRIDE). Meanwhile, PRIDE is 100% owned by
AbaCore Capital holdings, Inc. This Joint venture project has given an aim to SFIO to establish a US$100M project and it is established in a strategic tourist spot in Montermaria, Batangas City, Philippines. The property is aimed to be structured as a resort condotel concept which predominantly targets tourists, pilgrims, expats, and the returnees of Filipino descent who want a short holiday or for permanent stay for retirement. The purpose of the development is to position the two companies in the new tourism industry and prepare for postpandemic restrictions. Also, the project provides domestic visitors with a utility in the uncertainty of travel rules and regulations in the future. Also, a key highlight of the property is it being equipped of state-of-the-art smart building technology. This technology
will be built by the Technology and Software development team of SFIO. The technology is beneficial to its users by enhancing the health, wellness, safety, and security of the guests. The duration of the project is aimed to be accomplished in the next three years. According to Aba Core Capital, “the preselling of the units will commence once the permit is approved by the concerned government agencies.” SFIO and AbaCore agreed to be the preferred developer of the future project – the joint venture between SFIO and ABA will be the a first-ever experience. The companies are confident that the project will be a great success. This will enable them to grow and come together to build the greatest business relationship to support each party by efficiently achieving their goals. (Advertising Supplement)
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November 19-25, 2021 • NorCAL ASIAN JoUrNAL
Fe atu re s
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Mayor Breed, City Attorney Chiu announce McDonald’s USA addresses financial hurdles... $2.5M to support entertainment venues, launch new outdoor live performance series SF Live Initiative will fund the production of a series of outdoor events in partnership with San Francisco’s local venues SAN FRANCISCO — Mayor London N. Breed and City Attorney David Chiu on Monday, November 15 announced a $2.5 million investment to promote and support the live music and entertainment sector in San Francisco. The funding will support the SF Live Initiative, which will produce a new series of live performances presented by local entertainment venues at outdoor parks and plazas in 2022. The goals of the initiative are to showcase and support the San Francisco music and entertainment sector, boost neighborhood vitality and enhance the city’s economic recovery through arts and culture. Funding through SF Live will cover the costs of producing this outdoor event series as well as stipends to participating entertainment venues, who will curate talent lineups and market the performances. The $2.5 million investment is funded through an allocation from the California State Legislature led by City Attorney David Chiu, when he was an Assemblymember. “Our local venues are an indispensable part of San Francisco’s culture and economy. They’re places where longtime residents have been seeing shows for years and where visitors can catch their favorite band when they’re in town. They’re where people get to know their neighbors, start relationships, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Our local venues were the first to shut down and the last to reopen due to COVID-19. We want to ensure that we’re doing everything we can to not only recover from the pandemic, but help lead our economic and nightlife recovery,” said Mayor Breed. “San Francisco is famous for our live performances that bring our communities together and make our neighborhoods vibrant,” said City Attorney David Chiu. “I was more than happy to secure state funding as an Assemblymember to start this initiative and support our live performance venues. The SF Live Initiative should serve as a model for ongoing investment in outdoor live performances.” To complement the outdoor performance series, SF Live will also fund the development of coordinated marketing and brand-
ing for San Francisco’s music and entertainment industry as well as a promotional campaign to encourage residents and visitors to attend local live entertainment venues. SF Live will be developed and refined in partnership with venues and stakeholders. The initiative aims to launch next year in 2022. “Live performances are a critical economic driver in San Francisco. We know that our entertainment venues faced significant pre-pandemic challenges. As the city emerges out of the pandemic, live entertainment will play a major role in our economic recovery,” Kate Sofis, executive director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. “This initiative will showcase our many amazing music venues, offer new performance opportunities for local musicians, and emphasize San Francisco’s role as a vibrant place to live, work, and visit.” The pandemic forced live entertainment venues to temporarily stop hosting in-person performances. While these restrictions were an important element of the City’s comprehensive public health and safety strategy to slow the spread of COVID-19, this shutdown had a significant financial impact on performing artists and the venues that host them. Many local venues have begun hosting performances again, bringing long-missed energy back to neighborhoods across San Francisco. “I want to commend Mayor Breed and City Attorney Chiu for this incredible innovation, and associated funding, to help reinvigorate the music world of San Francisco,” said Lynn Schwarz, co-owner of Bottom of the Hill and spokesperson for the Independent Venue Alliance. “We venues have been through so many difficult times, most recently due to the long closure at the hands of COVID, and having an easy pathway to produce outdoor events is a really exciting development. We need San Francisco to once again be known for its music, so that we can attract tourists, musicians, and venues back to this city and commit to making music a part of our identity. Everyone wins when a city invests in building up music.” SF Live is closely aligned with
other successful pandemic-response efforts to facilitate outdoor activity and support the local music and entertainment sector. Over the pandemic, Mayor Breed led several important programs to increase access to outdoor commercial and cultural activities, including the Shared Spaces program and the Just Add Music outdoor entertainment permit. Both of these programs are now permanent – adding to the city’s economic recovery tools. “Live music and San Francisco are synonymous as our city is the birthplace of the modern concert business,” said Casey Lowdermilk, co-founder of the San Francisco Venue Coalition. “Venues and events are essential to our economic recovery and contribute to the strength of our neighborhoods and small businesses. They act as cultural beacons not only for those visiting but also for our fellow San Franciscans. The San Francisco Venue Coalition is grateful to City Attorney Chiu and Mayor Breed for this effort as it will reinforce these values and jumpstart the city’s recovery.” San Francisco previously allocated $3 million to the San Francisco Music and Entertainment Venue Recovery Fund, which provided financial support to 70 San Francisco venues before those businesses could access federal Shuttered Venue Operators Grant relief. City staff is also encouraging local entertainment venues to apply for the new $150 million statewide California Venues Grant Program, which is currently open through the California Office of the Small Business Advocate. Since the beginning of the pandemic, San Francisco has provided immediate and ongoing support for small businesses, including making available more than $63 million in grants and loans to support more than 3,000 small businesses, in addition to tens of millions of dollars in fee and tax deferrals, and assistance applying for state and federal funding. This includes legislation introduced and signed by Mayor Breed to waive $5 million in fees and taxes for entertainment and nightlife venues and small restaurants. (SF Mayor’s Office Release)
PAGE 11 we are committed to serving our local communities and know the importance of investing in communities of color,” said Willie Cho, a Seattle-based McDonald’s Owner/Operator and National Diversity Marketing Committee Lead. “Through initiatives like the McDonald’s/APIA Scholarship and APA Next, we are feeding and fostering communities, and remain inspired to make a difference.” The scholarship is a signature program of APA Next, a recently launched education platform by McDonald’s, created to empower and uplift Asian Pacific Islander American students through their education journey– both in and out of the classroom and beyond. Some of APA Next’s other initiatives include: • A partnership with the Shine wellness app to provide mental health resources for students • The APA Next content series featuring Asian Pacific Islander American thought leaders • Virtual education workshops led by academic professionals. Learn more about the upcoming 2022-2023 APIA Scholarship application and APA Next by visiting APANext.com. Below are the 2021 McDonald’s/APIA Scholarship recipients: Addison Zou from Collierville, TN attending Williams College; Ahmad Zaki Amin from Des Moines, WA attending Highline Community College; Akiko Jindo from Bronx, NY attending Williams College; Alexandria Shavers from Oakland, CA attending University of California-Berkeley; Alicia L. Kanapilly from Tinley Park, IL attending University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Annie Xiong from Sacramento, CA attending California State University-Sacramento; Arrianna Anastasia Ebert from Carrboro, NC attending Johnson & Wales UniversityCharlotte; Brandon Kaniala William Kohatsu-Robeson from Waimnalo, HI attending Creighton University; Christina Pham from San Jose, CA attending DeAnza College; Daisy P. from Las Vegas, NV attending University of Nevada-Las Vegas; December Paw from Des Moines, IA attending Drake University; Delia Zhou from Oakland, CA attending University of California-Berkeley; Diamond Thlang from Saint Paul, MN attending Stanford University; Eric Wang from Saint Paul, MN attending Yale University; Ester Paw from Hartford, CT attending College of the Holy Cross; Hanako Rose Lynn Gurley from Anderson, IN attending Indiana University-Bloomington; Harjot Singh from Kent, WA attending University of Washington-Seattle; Jason Lin from Brooklyn, NY attending Stony Brook University; Jayson Lin from Montezuma, GA attending Harvard University; Jennifer Le from Washington, D.C. attend-
ing Yale University; Jessica Le Ta from Buckeye, AZ attending Arizona State University; Jian Ming Chen from Oakland, CA attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology; John Gabriel Espinas Flora from Las Vegas, NV attending University of Nevada-Las Vegas; Joymin Sarker from Corona, NY attending CUNY Queens College; Kazi Maisha Begum from Danbury, CT attending University of Connecticut; Keryn Ear from College Park, GA attending Kennesaw State University; Kevin Lin from Milford, DE attending University of Delaware; Khandaker Aqib from Buford, GA attending Stanford University; Krystal Nguyen from New Port Richey, FL attending St. Petersburg College; Kushal Kevin Prasad from Elk Grove, CA attending University of California-Santa Cruz; Lexis Sablan from Barrigada, GU attending Columbia University in the City of New York; Lisa T. Thai from Fort Smith, AR attending University of Arkansas-Fort Smith; Maheono Teinaohiva Guilloux-Chevalier from Las Vegas, NV attending University of Nevada-Reno; Meng Moua from Milwaukee, WI attending University of Wisconsin-Madison; Mohammad Muntakim from Detroit, MI attending Wayne State University; Muhammad Ali Raja from Las Vegas, NV attending College of Southern Nevada; Nazmin Begum from Dorchester, MA attending University of Massachusetts-Boston; Nina Gao from Philadelphia, PA attending University of Pennsylvania; Nuo Xu from East Longmeadow, MA attending University of Massachusetts Amherst; Pa Houa Xiong from Saint Paul, MN attending Metropolitan State University; Pravdeep Banwait from Houston, TX attending The University of Texas at Austin; Quy Nguyen from Miami, FL attending Florida State University; Raqeebullah Hasan from Edison, NJ attending Stevens Institute of Technology; Rayyan Siddique from Ozone Park, NY attending New York Institute of Technology; Sarah Hwang from Los Angeles, CA attending University of Southern California; Selena Nguyen from Burien, WA attending University of Washington-Seattle; Shanay Desai from Madison, MS attending Vanderbilt University; Thuy Kien from Des Moines, IA attending University of Iowa; Thuy An Hoang from Blaine, MN attending Century College; Tien Dang Le from Lawrenceville, GA attending Middlebury College; Tiffany Zhang from Wamego, KS attending Rutgers University-New Brunswick; Tou Lao Moua from Saint Paul, MN attending Minneapolis College of Art and Design; Yati Phuepwint from Austin, TX attending Colorado State University-Fort Collins; Yebin Lee from Auburn, AL attending Auburn University; Yuan Yang Liu from Philadelphia, PA attending Temple University.
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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvembeR 19-25, 2021
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November 19-25, 2021 • NorCAL ASIAN JoUrNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160