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NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 3, 2020 Volume 14 - No. 4 • 16 Pages
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US renews support for PH in maritime row vs China by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
THE United States on Monday, November 23, reiterated that it will continue to support the Philippines’ claim on the West Philippine Sea. “Our message is we’re going to be here,
DATELINE
we’ve got your back, and we’re not leaving,” U.S. national security adviser Robert O’Brien said. He recently visited the Philippines to lead the ceremonial turnover of $18 million worth of precision guided munitions and other weapons system for use
by the military to counter terrorism. He was welcomed by Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. O’Brien maintained that the U.S.
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U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien with Philippines’ Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. DFA photo
Trump to nominate retired Fil-Am Army major general as US rep to ASEAN
USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Leaders, researchers discuss outreach, advocacy of AAPI electorate beyond 2020 IN a year marked by strife and struggle, the 2020 election stands out as a key learning experience in racially and ethnically inclusive outreach and visibility. Across all races, a politically diverse fellowship of Asian Americans and Pacific Is-
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by AJPRESS
RALLY VS. COMMUNIST GROUPS. Anti-communist groups and parents of students, who were reportedly recruited by various progressive organizations, rally outside the Senate premises in Pasay City on Tuesday, November 24. The groups are calling on the government to protect their children against the recruitment schemes of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF). PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
PRESIDENT Donald Trump intends to nominate a Filipino American retired Army major general to serve as the United States’ representative to the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the White House announced on Tuesday, November 24. Major General Eldon P. Regua, who is Filipino and Mexican American, will be nominated to represent the country to the ASEAN
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Fil-Ams mourn Filipino student takes home int’l PH sees P90-B economic death of former NYC award for sustainable invention loss from recent typhoons Mayor David Dinkins by RITCHEL
by MOMAR
MENDIOLA AJPress
G. VISAYA
David Dinkins, New York City’s first Black mayor, died in his Manhattan home on Monday, Nov. 23. He was 93. His death comes weeks after the death of his wife Joyce, who passed away on Oct. 11 at the age of 89. Dinkins won the mayoral race in 1989, beat-
FILIPINO student Carvey Ehren Maigue on Thursday, November 19, bagged the first-ever sustainability prize at the James Dyson Award for his invention. The 27-year-old electrical engineering student from Mapua University in Manila triumphed from more than 1,800 entries worldwide with the Au-
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AJPress
AuREUS uses waste crops Photo courtesy of James Dyson Foundation
THE damage caused by the recent typhoons in the Philippines could result in an estimated loss of P90 billion in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said on Wednesday, November 18. “I think our initial estimate is that it will shed off something like a 0.15 percentage point to the full year. But
again, like I said, it is a very initial estimate. It will have to be updated once we get updates from the ground,” NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said in a virtual presser. “In peso terms... I don’t have the exact amount but it will be something like P90 billion,” she added. Edillon noted that the
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NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 3, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
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From the Front Page
US donates $18M worth of weapons US tops 12 million virus system to PH to fight terrorism cases ahead of holiday MANILA — The United States on Monday, November 23 gave the Philippines $18 million worth of weapon systems, which Manila’s top diplomat said would be used against Islamist militants in Mindanao. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. received the precision guided munitions or smart bombs from U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien at a ceremonial turnover at the Department of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Manila. “I am pleased to receive, on behalf of the Philippine government, the donation by the U.S. government of precision guided munitions or PGMs, valued at approximately $18 million (USD),” Locsin said in his remarks. “We look forward to training for the use of these weapons with the best and undisputed military power in the world,” he added.
Locsin said the donation was a “fulfillment of a promise” made by U.S. President Donald Trump to President Rodrigo Duterte during a phone call in April. The donation package included: 24 MK-82 bombs; 1 MK-82 crate/ packaging; 100 tube launched optically guided wireless tow missiles 2A Bunker Busters; 12 Improved target acquisition system and support equipment. A separate U.S. military plane delivered the weapons, said O’Brien. “This transfer underscores our strong and enduring commitment to a critical alliance. We hope our precision guided missiles and munitions will help the AFP protect Philippine lives in Mindanao and in the needless suffering imposed by ISIS-East Asia,” he said. O’Brien is in Manila as part of a Southeast Asia
tour that also included Vietnam. He is expected to discuss issues that concern both the Philippines and the U.S., including the South China Sea. “Our nations share a deep interest in upholding the rule of law and the rulesbased international order,” he said. “We welcome the recent statements by President Duterte and the Secretary (Locsin) at the ASEAN Summit and East Asia Summit to which I participated, calling for all nations, including a certain large nation in the neighborhood to respect international law in the South China Sea,” the U.S. official said. O’Brien, echoing U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s earlier statements, reaffirmed that the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty applies to any armed attack on Philippine forces,
THE United States over the weekend surpassed 12 million cases of COVID-19, as public health experts urged Americans not to travel for Thanksgiving. By Monday, November 23, the country hit 12.5 million infections and 256,830 deaths. This comes after the U.S. logged more than 195,500 new infections on Friday, November 20, bringing the official tally to 12,085,389, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Meanwhile, the death toll has risen to 255,823. The number of hospitalizations saw an increase, as well — on Friday, the U.S. recorded over 82,100 COVID-19 patients under treatment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) asked Americans to stay at home for Thanksgiving on
Nov. 26. “This holiday season, consider how your holiday plans can be modified to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to keep your friends, families, and communities healthy and safe,” it said. “Celebrating virtually or with members of your own household (who are consistently taking measures to reduce the spread of COVID19) poses the lowest risk for spread,” it added. Meanwhile, several U.S. governors wrote an opinion piece for the Washington Post, saying Americans need to work together to fight COVID19. “Right now, cases and hospitalisations are skyrocketing in the Midwest and across the country. As the weather gets colder and more people head
inside, it will get worse,” they wrote. “It is more important than ever that we double down on mask-wearing and physical distancing to help more people get through the winter and protect those on the front lines of this crisis,” they added. The governors of Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky likewise urged Americans to stay at home for Thanksgiving. “If you are planning to spend Thanksgiving with people outside your household, we urge you to reconsider,” they said. New COVID-19 measures have been put in place to combat the surging infections. These include home quarantine, wearing of face masks, and statewide curfews. (Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress) n
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Carvey Ehren Maigue
Photo courtesy of James Dyson Foundation
Filipino student takes home int’l... PAGE 1 REUS System Technology — a new material, made from rotting fruits and vegetables, which converts UV light into renewable energy. AuREUS can be attached to a pre-existing structure or surface to harvest UV light and convert it into visible light to generate electricity in a way that traditional solar panels can’t. It can also function fully even when not in direct sunlight. According to Maigue, his invention was inspired by the science behind the northern lights He first submitted his idea to the James Dyson Award in 2018, but did not progress to the Awarding stages of the competition. The loss didn’t deter him from improving his idea until renowned inventor James Dyson handpicked
him to be the first ever global Sustainability winner at this year’s James Dyson Award. “AuREUS is impressive in the way it makes sustainable use of waste crops, but I’m particularly impressed by Carvey’s resolve and determination. Having failed to make the national stage of the Award in 2018, he stuck at it and further developed his idea — this will be a very important character trait as he embarks on the long road to commercialisation,” said Dyson in an interview on its site. “I wish him every success because, as a farmer, I have always been concerned about covering fertile, foodproducing, agricultural land in photovoltaic cells. Carvey’s invention demonstrates a convincing way to create clean energy on existing structures, like windows, within cities,”
he added. Maigue received £30,000 (around 1.9 million) as part of his prize. “Winning the James Dyson Award is both a beginning and an end. It marked the end of years of doubting whether my idea would find global relevance. It marks the beginning of the journey of finally bringing AuREUS to the world,” said Maigue. “I want to create a better form of renewable energy that uses the world’s natural resources, is close to people’s lives, forging achievable paths and rallying towards a sustainable and regenerative future,” he added. The James Dyson Award (JDA) is an annual international design award that celebrates, encourages and inspires the next generation of design engineers. n
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NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 3, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
Trump to nominate retired Fil-Am... PAGE 1 with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. The U.S. Mission to ASEAN, based in Jakarta, Indonesia, works with ASEANmember countries like the Philippines to advance “U.S. interests in a peaceful, prosperous, and integrated Southeast Asia that respects the rule of law, upholds the dignity of its people and actively addresses regional and global concerns.” Issues covered include the South China Sea, peace and stability in the region, and trade facilitation. Regua’s father Philip immigrated to the United States from the Philippines in 1929 and became an agricultural laborer. Regua, a San Jose native, served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve for 36 years before his retirement in 2013. He last served as Deputy Commanding General/Chief of Staff (Wartime) for the United States Eighth Army headquartered in Seoul, Korea. Prior to that he was the Commanding General of the 75th Training Division of the United States Army Reserve in Houston, Texas. He also served as the Chief of Staff, Assistant Division Commander and then Commanding General of the 104th Training Division in Vancouver, Washington, according to his biography sent by the White House.
Major General Eldon P. Regua of the U.S. Army (retired)
As of 2010, Regua was the senior most active, or reserve, non-retired flag or general officer of Filipino American ethnicity, as previously reported by the Asian Journal. He is the recipient of numerous awards for his military service, including the Army Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster. Currently, the retired Army
general is the vice president of NextStep Technology, Inc. in Springfield, Virginia. “Train your soldiers and love your families,” Regua said during his retirement ceremony in March 2013, as reported by the Eighth Army Public Affairs. “Take your job seriously but don’t take yourself seriously. Training is everything, and everything is training — continue to train hard, Eighth Army, and I know you will.” (AJPress) n
PH sees P90-B economic loss from... PAGE 1 damage caused by Typhoon Ulysses, which caused Metro Manila’s worst flooding in recent years, was still lower compared to the damage caused by Typhoon Ondoy in 2009. “Right now we are seeing that the impact is actually a bit less than the impact of (Typhoon) Ondoy and we think it’s really because in areas like Marikina, we see that the flood actually subsided more quickly than during Ondoy,” she said. The NEDA official also said that some recovery in spending could happen in the last quarter of the year due to the gradual re-opening of the economy as well as loosening of the restrictions enforced by the government to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. “It will still be challenging because we still want people to practice social distancing,”
she said. “If you are talking about a year-on-year growth, then it would still be much lower than what we had last year because last year we didn’t have the COVID-19. But I suppose with respect to a quarter-on-quarter, then hopefully it will be an improvement and that’s also what we hope to see,” she added. During the third quarter of the year, the Philippines’ GDP contracted by 11.5 percent as the country continued to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This resulted in a year-todate economic growth that averaged at -10 percent. Edillon assured that the government will remain fiscally prudent in its crisis response while reviving the economy. “We still want to maintain fiscal prudence because as you know, if you stock up on borrowing, then it will be the
next generation who will be paying for it, so we are being very prudent and very strategic about all this,” she said. “It’s really about making sure that we may use up all the tools that are available there so it doesn’t have to be all the fiscal measures,” she added. Meanwhile, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said the government’s fiscal response remains on track. In a separate statement, he said: “What we are really facing is a problem of people’s confidence in the system. No matter what fiscal response you have, if you don’t have confidence, no one is going to spend. So essentially, we are looking at increasing people’s confidence in not getting sick and making sure that they understand that the health infrastructure of the government can support whoever gets sick.” (Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress) n
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US renews support for PH in maritime... PAGE 1 stands with the Philippines in rejecting China’s maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea. “We stand with the Philippines in protecting your sovereign rights, your offshore resources and all those rights [that] are consistent with international law,” he said. “Those resources belong to the children and grandchildren of the people here. They belong to the Philippine people,” he added. “They don’t belong to some other country that just because – they may be big and they may be bigger than the Philippines – they can come take away and convert the resources of the Philippine people. That’s just wrong.” Suspension of VFA abrogation O’Brien also welcomed the Philippines’ decision to suspend anew the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between Manila and Washington. “We’re grateful for the initial 6 months. We think it would be better if it was a year a longer but we’ll have to wait and see. That’s ultimately a decision for the government of the Philippines,” he said. He also said that he is batting for a longer suspension of the VFA abrogation in order for the U.S. and the Philippines to discuss the treaty more. “We’d obviously like to see that longer and that’s something I spoke with Secretary
Locsin about is if we extend it a further period of time so we can have some negotiations to address the important concerns on both sides of that treaty and that agreement and not be up against an artificial deadline,” O’Brien said. Locsin on Nov. 11 announced that President Rodrigo Duterte has extended the suspension of the VFA to “to enable us to find a more enhanced, mutually beneficial, mutually agreeable, and more effective and lasting arrangement on how to move forward in our mutual defense.” China hits back China, for its part, slammed O’Brien for his remarks, accusing the U.S. top security adviser of “sowing discord” between China and the Philippines. “He blatantly accused China on no ground, grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs, deliberately exaggerated regional tensions and attempted to sow discord between China and the Philippines,” the Chinese Embassy in Manila said Monday. “We firmly oppose these remarks which are full of Cold War mentality and wantonly incite confrontation. It shows that his visit to this region is not to promote regional peace and stability, but to create chaos in the region in order to seek selfish interests of the U.S.,” it added. The consulate also claimed that the U.S. is “the biggest driver of the militarization of the South China Sea” as
well as “the most dangerous external factor endangering the peace and stability” in the contested waters. “With the concerted efforts of China and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, the situation in the SCS remains stable and is improving. We, the regional countries, have the will, wisdom and capability to properly handle the SCS issue and achieve long-term stability, development and prosperity in this region,” it added. The embassy asked the U.S. to “respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the SCS.” “[R]espect the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries for maintaining a peaceful and stable South China Sea and stop interfering and inciting confrontation in the SCS,” it stressed. Malacañang, on the other hand, refused to comment on the accusations made by O’Brien and China. “I cannot speak either for the national security adviser of the U.S. or the spokesperson of China. I can only speak for the president. And the president has said that there will be increased tensions among superpowers in the region. We do not want to take part in that drive for hegemony,” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. “We will assert our national interest and we would want a peaceful resolution to the West Philippine Sea dispute,” he added. n
Leaders, researchers discuss outreach... PAGE 1 lander (AAPI) candidates, operatives and community advocates came to the fore demanding a political and legislative landscape that better represents the growing AAPI community. A product of one of the most devastating modern health crises, the 2020 election was simultaneously unusual and pivotal. In a webinar hosted by the Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) on Thursday, Nov. 19, AAPI community leaders came together to unpack the preliminary polling that measured the behaviors and attitudes of the AAPI electorate. “We experienced record turnout across the country and we, of course, had to vote under COVID-19 so we also had to shift gears, moving in large part to mail-in ballots
across the country,” said Manju Kulkarni, executive director of Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON), a leading advocate organization that has tracked the antiAsian sentiments (and politicians’ attitudes thereof) amid COVID-19. “We understand that like their fellow citizens, [Asian and Pacific Islanders] cast votes in record numbers exceeding the number of votes in 2016 and 2018,” Kulkarni added. In the research area of ethnic voting blocs in the United States, AAPI visibility is scant. Mainstream media regularly disaggregates voter groups by race, but too often the AAPI community is either unrecognized — often labeled as “other races” — or ignored entirely. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (not counting the
latest census count), the AAPI community represents 6% of the overall U.S. population, and according to longstanding projections, that will double by the year 2040. When it comes to the attitudes of AAPI voters this past election cycle, President Donald Trump played a huge role in the increased turnout, according to exit polls. In addition to the vocal minority of Trump-supporting AAPI voters, on the Democratic side, voters led with anti-Trump motivations. In other words, a majority of people were motivated to vote for Democratic candidate Joe Biden, not because they support his specific promises and policies, but because they were more inclined to get Trump out of office, according to Karthick Ramakrishnan, public policy and political sci-
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 3, 2020
OPINION
5
FEATURES
Vaccine for all
FROM m the start of this pandemic, the global call has been to heal as one. The virulence shown by COVID-19 has meant that as long as there is one hotspot left on the planet, there is the risk that the coronavirus can spread again, bringing death and debilitation and wrecking livelihoods. Healing as one is being emphasized as top pharmaceutical and bioresearch companies begin rolling out COVID vaccines that are touted to be up to 95 percent effective. Pharmaceutical manufacturing is a business; developing a single drug could cost up to $1 billion, from inception to clinical trials to the securing of regulatory approval and international patents. Pharmaceutical firms need a healthy return on investment to keep churning out their products. So it’s understandable that the companies now preparing to release their vaccines for mass application under emergency authorization would accept advance orders for their products. And it makes good business sense to give priority to those who have made advance payments. But the pharmaceutical industry is also infused with public interest, and it can be more
than a business. This is true especially when there is a global public health emergency. And this is true particularly in an emergency that happens only once in a century. Thanks to rapid advances in science and technology, several pharmaceutical and research companies appear to have succeeded in producing vaccines for coronavirus disease 2019 in record time. Some viral diseases have defied science; there are still no vaccines for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Now the world is anticipating the mass rollout of COVID vaccines within months. COVID vaccination, however, will have the best impact only if there is equitable global access, with priority given not based on country but based on the level of vulnerability to infection. Obviously, frontliners will get priority. The
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
hierarchy of priorities in vaccination may have to be standardized worldwide. Last week President Duterte urged the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation forum to ensure equitable access to COVID vaccines. A similar
call was made by the Group of 20 – composed of governments and central bank governors of 19 countries and the European Union. As COVID vaccines begin to be administered, the calls deserve to be heeded. (Philstar.com)
May Thanksgiving Day give us the light and the courage to fight for those we are grateful for: Our lives, faith, democracy and unity The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THANKSGIVING Day is a very important day for us Americans as we come together with our families by
sharing a special meal, and offering our prayers and gratitude for all the blessings bestowed upon us and our beloved nation. This national holiday dates back to 1621, the year after the Pilgrims from England arrived in Massachusetts, in search of freedom, safety from persecution and the dream to give their family a better life in this newfound
land of promise and opportunities that was to become the United States of America. They had a rough and bitter first winter, and the History Channel reported that most of the colonists remained on board the ship, where they suffered from exposure, scurvy and outbreaks of contagious disease, which killed about half of them. These colonists (pilgrims)
were saved by the goodness of the hearts of the Native Americans who welcomed them, fed them, taught them how to plant crops. The next autumn’s bountiful harvest inspired the Pilgrims to give thanks by holding a feast with the Native Americans. This tradition has been passed from generation to generation as the Pilgrims got settled and started their
new life in America. The History Channel wrote that during the American Revolution, the Continental Congress designated one or more days of thanksgiving a year, and in 1789 George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation by the national government of the United States; in it, he called upon Americans to express their gratitude
for the happy conclusion to the country’s war of independence and the successful ratification of the U.S. Constitution. His successors John Adams and James Madison also designated days of thanks during their presidencies. But how did it become a national holiday of celebration? According to the PAGE 10
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Dateline PhiliPPines
PH lifts overseas travel ban on health workers by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has ended the deployment ban on the country’s health care workers. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Saturday, November 21, said Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases to lift the ban amid the coronavirus pandemic. “The president already approved the lifting of the temporary suspension of deployment of nurses and other medical workers,” he told Reuters. However, only 5,000 health care workers will be allowed to leave every year to ensure that the Philippines will have enough medical professionals left fighting against COVID-19.
President Rodrigo Duterte
“We are starting only with a cap of 5,000 so we will not run out (of medical workers), but this may increase eventually,” Bello said.
Malacañang photo by Toto Lozano
In April, the Philippines temporarily suspended the deployment of health care professionals abroad to PAGE 10
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 3, 2020
House approves bill against women discrimination by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
THE Philippines’ House of Representatives on Monday, November 23, approved on third and final reading a bill that expands the prohibited acts of discrimination against women in the workplace. With a unanimous 226 affirmative votes, the lower chamber passed House Bill 7722, which amends Presidential Decree No. 442 or the Labor Code of the Philippines. HB 7722, authored by Reps. Eric Go-Yap, Rowena Nina Taduran, and Jocelyn Tulfo of ACT CIS Partylist, and Edgar Aglipay of DIWA Partylist, seeks to strengthen safeguards against discrimination of women in the workplace on account of their sex and characteristics
of their sex. The bill classifies as discriminatory the acts of: • Favoring a male employee over a female employee with respect to assignment, promotion, training opportunities, study, and scholarship grants, solely on account of their sex or characteristics, whether actual or presumed; • Favoring a male employee over a female employee with respect to the dismissal of personnel or the application of any retrenchment policy of the employer solely on account of their sex or characteristics, whether actual or presumed; and • Denying any woman the benefits of employment or other statutory benefits under our laws by reason of sex It also prohibits the dis-
charge of a woman on account of her pregnancy, or while on leave, or while in confinement due to pregnancy. A fine of not less than P50,000 but not more than P200,000 and/or imprisonment between one to two years will be meted to any employer proven to commit or attempt in any manner to commit the prohibited acts. The measure likewise notes that the conviction or acquittal obtained by the employer shall not prevent a female employee from filing a civil suit for the payment of salaries or benefits due to her. Any employee who willfully aids or abets in the commission of the prohibited acts will also be punished in the same way as the employer. n
Fil-Ams mourn death of former NYC Mayor... PAGE 1 ing Rudy Giuliani by 47,000 votes and served for one term. He would lose a rematch by almost the same margin in 1993. Community leaders in the city marked his passing and expressed their condolences to the family. “In this age of Trumpism where boorish behavior and shameless lies seem to be acceptable, Mayor David Dinkins exemplified the decency, courtesy and elegance of a gentleman,” community leader Loida Nicolas Lewis told the Asian Journal. “Most of all, he was always available to anyone who seeks his counsel, advise and mentorship,” added Lewis, who is also the spokesperson of Filipino Americans for Biden. “May his comportment be a model to the young people of New York and the rest of the world.” Lolita Valderrama Savage remembered her art exhibit at the Philippine Center in 1993 and 2008, both of which Mr. Dinkins attended. “Thank you for bringing respect and love to our Filipino people and friends at the opening of my art exhibitions. Rest in peace, dearest friend,” she said on her Facebook post. Valderrama Savage said that Dinkins was among the first friends she met when she can to America. “He was humble and a true gentleman. He will hear your
Aries dela Cruz (left) in a 1992 photo with then Mayor Dinkins and his mother, Tess in their Queens apartment.
Loida Nicolas Lewis with Mayor David Dinkins
Lolita Valderrama Savage (right) seen here with her husband Frank (left), then Consul General Cecile Rebong and Mayor Dinkins during the opening of her art exhibit at the Philippine Center in New York. Contributed photos
prayers,” she added. Community members also posted their photos with Dinkins, who attended a number of events, including a concert of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra at Carnegie Hall in 2016, and some events held at the Philippine Consulate General in New York. Dinkins was a former Manhattan Borough President before becoming the first and to date, only Black mayor of New York. He began his political career at the New York State
Assembly in 1966. Tess dela Cruz is thankful to Dinkins because “he left many traces on the city,” including the US Open, Restaurant Week and Broadway on Broadway, among many of the projects he spearheaded. Aries dela Cruz posted a photo taken in 1992 taken with his mother Tess and then Mayor Dinkins. “Blizzard of 92 in Queens as he visited immigrant communities to make sure we were doing okay,” he said. n
FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING. Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, D.D (above the float) hands over the Blessed Sacrament to Rev. Fr. Dennis Soriano (below) as these are brought back to their church after the procession during the commemoration of the Feast of Christ the King at The Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Cubao in Quezon City on Sunday, November 22. The annual procession celebrates the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler
US donates $18M worth of weapons PAGE 2 aircraft or public vessels in the South China Sea. He also conveyed the message that the U.S. welcomed Duterte’s decision to extend the Visiting Forces Agreement. “We look forward to the VFA continuing to facilitate
closer cooperation in combating terrorism,” O’Brien said, thanking Locsin for his “strong involvement” in the process. Duterte scrapped the VFA in early 2020 after the U.S. canceled the visa of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, his former police chief. The VFA
would have ended last August following Duterte’s decision but the President last June decided to suspend enforcement of his decision until end of 2020. This meant the VFA would remain in effect until early 2021. (Frances Mangosing/Inquirer.net) n
NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 3, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426
Leaders, researchers... PAGE 4 ence professor at UC Riverside and founder of the research organization AAPI Data. “I think it will be interesting to see what kind of governance implications that will [bring] because there’s a lot of diversity in terms of what the kinds of agendas and what should be the priority in the first hundred days [of Biden’s presidency],” Ramakrishnan said, emphasizing that the current data does not present the clearest picture, but more survey results should be available in early 2021. The presidential race was only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the overall ballot, especially in California where several contentious races and ballot measures were decided upon by voters. The highly contentious Prop 16, which would have overturned a 1996 ban on affirmative action, did not pass, and people like Ramakrishnan attributed that to confusing language on the ballot itself and the fact that the legislature submitted the proposal later than usual. AAPI leaders in California, by and large, asserted that Prop 16 would benefit the community in terms of hiring, college admissions and the
granting of government contracts to small business owners, but the overall messaging of the ballot measure — as well as the contrast between both the Yes on 16 and the No on 16 campaigns — led to its defeat. “We don’t have exit data on Prop 16, but my guess is it probably would not pass in the Asian American community, given the high level of uncertainty,” Ramakrishnan added. “Voters, when they don’t fully understand propositions are more likely to vote no than yes.” When it comes to gathering data that could help explain why AAPIs vote the way they do, the execution of the many surveys and polls often leaves out the nuances of this community that comprises hundreds of different cultures within each community. This blind spot among many national pollsters and organizations that conduct voter surveys (like the Associated Press and NPR ones, for example) highlights the importance of disaggregated data. But AAPI community organizations over the last several years have been working to fill that void by intensively getting to know the ins and outs of every community. Lian
Cheun, executive director of Khmer Girls in Action, noted that within the Cambodian American community, civic engagement is often hindered by trauma. It’s an uphill trek to civically engage the larger AAPI community, but as Cheun notes, the solutions lie in mobilizing younger voters to hopefully bridge the generational gap and educate older, immigrant community members. But incremental change, as Cheun stresses, should begin at the neighborhood level where solutions could involve interactive cultural events (like a Halloween “scare-fest” that the KGA hosted in October that showed “what would happen if you don’t turn out to vote”) that can energize members of the fastest-growing voting bloc in the country. “We need to be able to show up and say that our story matters and the solutions that we propose matter, and all that effort is really important, and I think we’re beginning to see some of that shift,” Cheun said. “The election [helped] us shift the terrain in how we organize and advocate. It’s important because it means that we have an opportunity to deepen what democracy can be and we could build power in a different landscape.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress) n
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 3, 2020
Palace: Cap on deployment of health workers may be lifted by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
MALACAÑANG on Tuesday, November 24, said that the cap on health care workers allowed to leave the country may be lifted once a vaccine against the novel coronavirus becomes available. “The 5,000 (cap) is just an initial (figure). If that is completed in the second quarter and if there is a vaccine, it may be scrapped altogether,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said. “We are just making sure that we won’t run out of nurses, nursing assistants, and nursing aides with clinical experience. If we run out of people with clinical experience, who would take care of us if we get sick?” he added. President Rodrigo Duterte recently ended the deployment ban on the country’s health care workers, following the rec-
ommendation of the InterAgency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Disease. According to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, only 5,000 health care workers will be allowed to leave every year to ensure that the Philippines will have enough medical professionals left fighting against COVID-19. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), for its part, noted that several countries are ready to accept Filipino healthcare workers after the lifting of the travel ban. “The top destinations for our health care workers especially nurses, number one is the Middle East, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), followed by Qatar, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates (UAE),” POEA chief Bernard Olalia said. He also said that Europe and North America are ready to provide job opportunities for Filipino nurses.
“In many nations around the world, our nurses are number one, preferred choice,” said Olalia. In April, the Philippines temporarily suspended the deployment of health care professionals abroad to guarantee that the country itself has a sufficient number of medical front-liners. The deployment ban was later revised to cover only the health care workers with new contracts, allowing nurses and other health care workers with existing contracts to return to their jobs abroad. In October, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) announced newly-hired Filipino health care workers with signed contracts as of August 31, 2020 can leave the country to work overseas. According to the agency, the cut-off date was extended from March 8 to August 31 upon the recommendation of the IATF. n
BELEN-MAKING CONTEST. Board of judges led by Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista (left) pose in front of a rainbow-themed Belen (nativity scene) of the Philippine Army at Camp Servillano Aquino in Barangay San Miguel, Tarlac City on Saturday, November 21. The Navy won this year’s 13th Belenismo that showcased 41 nativity scenes, including two inset photos. Bautista was joined by Dr. Isa Suntay (3rd from left) and Isabel Sunday (2nd from left, 1st row) of the Tarlac Heritage Foundation during one of the most anticipated events in Tarlac every Christmas season. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
PH House okays ‘Eddie Garcia Act’ by Reina
c. tolentino ManilaTimes.net
THE House of Representatives on Tuesday, November 24, approved the proposed “Eddie Garcia Act” on third and final reading. The proposed measure,
House Bill 7762, applies to “all workers or independent contractors engaged in the film, television, and radio entertainment industry.” Section 5 of the bill states, “The worker or independent contractor and the employer or principal shall execute an
agreement or an employment contract in a language or dialect understood by both parties before the commencement of service.” It also states that the duly signed contract, a copy of which “[t]he employer PAGE 10
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NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 3, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426
May Thanksgiving Day give us...
PAGE 5 History Channel, a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale — the noted magazine editor, prolific writer and author, among countless other things, of the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb” — launched a campaign in 1827 to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday. For 36 years, she published numerous editorials and sent scores of letters to governors, senators, presidents and other politicians, earning her the nickname the “Mother of Thanksgiving.” “Abraham Lincoln finally heeded her request in 1863, at the height of the Civil War, in a proclamation entreating all Americans to ask God to “commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife” and to “heal the wounds of the nation.” He scheduled Thanksgiving for the final Thursday in November, and it was celebrated on that day every year until 1939, when Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday up a week in an attempt to spur retail sales during the Great Depression. Roosevelt’s plan, known derisively as Franksgiving, was met with passionate opposition, and in 1941 the president reluctantly signed a bill making Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday in November.” The significance of this day and the reason why this has been celebrated since the time of the Pilgrims/ colonists from Europe is something we, Filipinos in America, can identify with. In fact, this is a shared sentiment of all of us American citizens because we have all been pilgrims from our own respective countries who up-
rooted ourselves from our own Motherland to give our family a better life. We are all immigrants who took the leap of faith in the promise of America. While the continued threat of the coronavirus may change the way we celebrate this day, the somber feel of this year’s holiday season invites us to be introspective about those values that matter most in our — our health and safety, our family, our peace and unity, our democracy, and the promise of America helping us realize our American dream. We have had it easier compared to the Pilgrims and those in many generations after who fought in wars and paid the ultimate sacrifice just to defend us, protect our lives, our democracy, the light of the promise of America so each of us may fulfill our American dream. But it is important for us to realize that each generation of Americans has its own challenges, and therefore, its own unique opportunity to fulfill our responsibility to help keep the promise of America and make it a more perfect Union. Our generation is now being called to rise up to the challenges of our time and do everything we can within our power to soldier on in our war against the coronavirus: wear a mask, practice social distancing, avoid crowds, and abide by all public safety measures to protect our people and save our lives. Our generation is now being called to rise up and soldier on and fight for our democracy, our democratic institutions and processes, armed with our faith in God and in each other’s good-
ness, with our commitment to the truth and our solemn creed to abide by the Constitution. We are in a defining moment of our lives as Americans. We have all been blessed in our adoptive country that is the United States of America. To whom much is given, much is required. In gratitude, let us strive to go far and beyond the tradition of giving thanks and feasting with our family. Let us heed the call for our generation to save our lives in the war against COVID-19, and to call out and have the enemies from without and within be made accountable to protect and save our cherished democracy. This is our way to help make the United States of America a more perfect Union that we can proudly and faithfully pass on to the next generations. Together, we pray like Lincoln and ask God to “commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife” and to “heal the wounds of the nation.” Have a happy and purposeful Thanksgiving Day! *** 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.
PH lifts overseas travel... PAGE 7 guarantee that the country itself has a sufficient number of medical front-liners. The deployment ban was later revised to cover only the health care workers with new contracts, allowing nurses and other health care workers with existing contracts to return to their jobs abroad. In October, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) announced newly-hired Filipino health care workers with signed contracts as of August 31, 2020 can leave the
country to work overseas. According to the agency, the cut-off date was extended from March 8 to August 31 upon the recommendation of the IATF. Senator Joel Villanueva, who chairs the Senate labor committee, welcomed the lifting of the deployment ban, but stressed that the government needs to raise the standards of compensation to healthcare workers. “As we have said before when we called for the lifting of the ban early on, the most effective way to make our healthcare workers stay
and work in our country is to offer better employment terms, including competitive salary and benefits, and its timely payout,” he said. “We’re certain that our healthcare workers would not think twice about leaving their families behind and place themselves overseas where the risk of getting infected is similar here in the country,” he added. As of this writing, there are a total of 420,614 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, with 8,173 fatalities and 386,604 recoveries. n
IMPROVISED TROLLEY. A man repairs his wooden trolley in Barangay 630, Zone 63 in Manila City on Tuesday, November 24. Wooden trolleys are used by some enterprising Filipinos to ferry passengers on short distances along the railway tracks of the Philippine National Railways. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
PH House okays ‘Eddie Garcia Act’... PAGE 7 or principal shall provide the worker or independent contractor”, shall include these: job position and status; job description; period of employment; “Details of compensation and other workers’ or independent contractors’ benefits including rate, method and schedule of payment;” authorized deductions, if any; “Hours of work and proportionate additional payment or overtime pay;” board, lodging, and medical attention; code of conduct; “Worker’s or independent contractor’s grievance mechanism;” employer’s or principal’s policies; and “Any other lawful condition agreed upon by both parties.” The bill bars agreements or employment contracts from discriminating against workers or independent contractors who have contracts or projects with other outfits, “unless exclusivity is specified in the contract.” The normal work hours, Section 6 of the bill states, shall be eight hours a day. This can be extended to a maximum of 12 hours, “served intermittently or continuously, exclusive of meal periods”. House Bill 7762 also states that “permissible working hours in excess of the normal work hours shall be determined by the Tripartite Council, except for” these: workers or independent contractors aged 60 and above “who shall be allowed, under exceptional circumstances as defined by the Tripartite Council, to work beyond” 12 hours in any 24-hour period (provided, that these workers or independent contractors “voluntarily execute a waiver in the proper form prescribed by the Depart-
ment of Labor and Employment” or DoLE); and minors whose working hours shall be in line with the pertinent provisions of the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. The bill states that in no case shall the total work hours exceed 60 hours in week, with exceptions to be determined by the Tripartite Council. It also states that work hours “include ‘waiting time’ where the worker or independent contractor is required to stay within the premises of the workplace and shall be duly compensated.” The bill states in part that work rendered beyond eight hours “shall be compensable with overtime pay and other benefits provided under existing laws, unless a more favorable rate or fee is stipulated in the contract.” It also states in part, “Travel time to and from out-of-town projects shall be compensable.” As to wages, the bill states that the worker’s or independent contractor’s minimum wage “shall not be less than the applicable minimum wage in the region.” Wages, it states, “shall be paid on time, as agreed upon in the contract, directly to the worker or independent contractor.” It also states that the employee shall be covered by the Social Security System, the Pag-IBIG Fund, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation upon employment. “The employer or principal shall strictly comply with the occupational safety and health standards provided in” Republic Act (R.A.) 11058 (An Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational
Safety and Health Standards and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof), and Section 25 of R.A. 11036 (An Act Establishing a National Mental Health Policy for the Purpose of Enhancing the Delivery of Integrated Mental Health Services, Promoting and Protecting the Rights of Persons Utilizing Psychiatric, Neurologic and Psychosocial Health Services, Appropriating Funds Therefor, and for Other Purposes), the bill states. “In addition, the occupational safety and health (OSH) officer of the employer or principal shall conduct a risk assessment of the workplace or location of production to identify and eliminate or control any potential hazard to the film, television, and radio entertainment workers or independent contractors and shall use the appropriate safety manual for the industry”, the bill states. The DoLE “shall initiate and oversee, in coordination with film, television, and radio entertainment workers’ or independent contractors’ organizations and groups, employers or principals, agencies, and field experts, the formulation, production, and distribution of the” manual, the bill states. “The employer or principal shall regularly submit the required occupational safety and health reports, including timely notification of production location and schedule to the DOLE regional office with jurisdiction over the area where the workplace is located”, the bill states. Under Section 17 of the bill, the DoLE “shall initiate the creation of the Film, Television, and Radio Entertainment Industry Tripartite Council” n
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 3, 2020
COMMUNITY Journal
Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ Thanksgiving is being celebrated differently this year. Because we are in the midst of a pandemic, the usual gathering of loved ones is close to impossible. some may have lost a loved one or have a family member who is seriously ill. To those who experienced loss, i convey my deepest sympathy. To those who have a family member suffering from this disease, i pray that they recover. This pandemic has shown to all of us what my clients experience - being away from family and unable to be with them because of their immigration status and sometimes, not being given the chance to say goodbye. it is a humbling period for
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Thanksgiving message
all of us, but amidst it all, together, there’s still hope and so much to be thankful for. Thank you to all the frontline workers - the medical professionals, couriers, and service-oriented workers, including nurses and caregivers - most of whom are from immigrant households, for helping the rest of the community be safe and meet their essential needs. in this coming year, with Joe Biden being declared the winner of the 2020 presidential race, and his promise of a radical departure from Trump’s strict enforcement policies, to a policy focusing on compassion, leniency, and possible amnesty for the approximate 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.s., i look forward to assisting eligible applicants
in achieving legalization and their american dream, enabling them to be reunited to celebrate with their families in america. happy Thanksgiving to all! *** michael J. gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of california and new york. all immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of california. each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. no attorney-
Special ThankSgiving epiSode of ciTizen pinoy ThiS Sunday provideS anSwerS To your immigraTion QueSTionS! in the Thanksgiving episode of citizen pinoy, atty. gurfinkel answers questions from kapamilya in hawaii and in Texas. mercy (center) has a childcare business in honolulu, hi and would like to know if she can petition her niece, who is a psychology graduate and who passed the board exam, to work in her facility. She asks why her mother was subjected to the 10-year ban after her mother went home to the philippines to get her visa. Teemmie from houston, TX (right) would like to petition her husband, but is currently receiving SSa and Snap from the government. can her sister-inlaw provide the affidavit of support as a co-sponsor? atty. gurfinkel offers answers as well as thoughts on gratitude on a special Thanksgiving episode of --- ciTizen pinoy: your Tanong, my Sagot – Social distancing Style this Sunday at 6:15 pm pST/eST (9:15 pm eST thru select cable/Satellite providers). (advertising Supplement)
client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. weBSiTe: www.gurfinkel.com follow us on facebook.com/ gurfinkellaw, Twitter @gurfinkel-
law and youTube: uS immigration Tv call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the uS: 1-866-487-3465
(866) – gurfinkel four offices to serve you: loS angeleS ∙ San franciSco ∙ new york ∙ philippineS (advertising Supplement)
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NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 3, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
Nicole Scherzinger joins Fil-Am musical director Troy Laureta in cover of ‘Pangako’
By RItchel
MendIola
AJPress
FOR the first time in her musical career, singer Nicole Scherzinger, who is of Filipina, Hawaiian and Ukrainian ancestry, sang and recorded a Tagalog song. The former Pussycat Dolls lead singer sang the cover of Filipino ballad “Pangako” for Fil-Am musical director Troy Laureta’s new album. The album, entitled “KAIBIGAN: A Troy Laureta OPM Collective,” is a realization of Laureta’s dream to produce an EP with friends he met in his musical journey, featuring Filipino songs that have made an impact in his life. “I called on some of my favorite singers from international artists to YouTube stars to homegrown talents and musicians from around the world to come and play Filipino music together — no English translation — using our musical senses and experiences to interpret these songs in its native form,” he said. “Pangako,” was popularized by Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid. Scherzinger took to Instagram to express her excitement over her song collaboration. “I really hope that this collaboration makes my Filipino
Nicole Scherzinger Photo from Instagram/@nicolescherzinger
Tory Laureta Photo from Instagram/@troylaureta
fans proud!” she wrote. “I’ve always wanted to honor my heritage and when my music director and dear friend @troylaureta came to me with this project it felt like the perfect opportunity!” she added. Scherzinger also admitted it was her first time singing in Tagalog. “This was my first time singing in Tagalog...and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I loved singing it from all my heart to yours,” the singer said. “Pangako means promise
and it’s available now on all streaming platforms,” she added. Other international talents who participated in the OPM album are American singers Matt Bloyd, Pia Toscano, and Shela; South Korean artist Ailee; Filipino-American talent Cheesa; and Filipino singers Jake Zyrus and Regine Velasquez. Laureta dedicated his album to his parents. “November 22 is my mom and dad’s wedding anniversary. I wanted this to be a gift for them,” shared said.
Heart named one of Forbes France’s Top 10 Luxury Influencers By Ian
BIong Inquirer.net
ACTRESS and fashion icon Heart Evangelista has been hailed as one of the world’s Top 10 Luxury Influencers by Forbes France. Evangelista shared the good news via Twitter last Saturday, Nov. 21., as she expressed her gratitude to Forbes France for the recognition. “Thank you @Forbes France,” she said. The actress’s tweet came with a screenshot of the Forbes France list that includes a link to her Instagram page (@iamhearte), PAGE 13
Heart Evangelista
Photo from Instagram_@iamhearte
http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426
A special Thanksgiving episode offers solutions and gratitude on Citizen Pinoy this Sunday
THIS week’s episode of Citizen Pinoy celebrates Thanksgiving and all that we can still be grateful for, despite the many challenges that 2020 has brought upon us. In this episode, Atty. Gurfinkel provides relevant answers to the immigration concerns raised by Kapamilya from the U.S. Mercy from Honolulu, HI is a licensed childcare provider, and has her own childcare business. Mercy would like to know if she can peti-
tion her niece, who is a Psychology graduate and who passed the board exam, to work in her childcare business dealing with children with ADD. Mercy is also asking why her mother has been subjected to the 10-year ban after her mother went home to the Philippines to get her visa. Teemmie, a U.S. citizen from Houston, TX would like to petition her husband, but she is receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Supplemental Nutrition As-
sistance Program (SNAP). Teemmie wants to know if her husband’s sister can provide the affidavit of support for her husband. Atty. Gurfinkel provides answers to these questions and reflects on all the things he is grateful for on this Thanksgiving special episode of CITIZEN PINOY: Your Tanong, My Sagot – Social Distancing Style this Sunday, at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).
(Advertising Supplement)
Antoinette Jadaone sorts out the love triangle By KaRen
KunawIcz ManilaTimes.net
DID you know that on Netflix you can run a search for “Filipino Love Triangle Movies?” I realized how the genre has become quite popular in the last five years. There are give-away titles on the menu like: “The Unmarried Wife,” “No Other Woman,” “The Mistress,” “The Love Affair” and “The Third Party.” I remember “Etiquette for Mistresses” too but that’s not on the menu. What is it with our obsession for this genre? Is it because we’re the only country in the world (with the exception of The Vatican) to not allow divorce? The discussion on the topic will definitely open several cans of worms. Neil Reyes, who works as director and video editor of the paper’s Lifestyle and Entertainment online program, “The Manila Times CSI,” pitched Antoinette Jadaone’s “Alone / Together” for this week’s “CSI Watchlist,” which Fan Girl hosts, and yep — I found it classified under the “love triangle” category. However, it’s probably the least tawdry, complicated and melodramatic of the bunch (it might be the least tawdry compared with real-life stories too). Writer-director Jadaone’s main inspiration for this movie is the Russian proverb that goes, “We love just once in our lifetime and spend the rest of our lives looking for something similar.” Raf (Enrique Gil) and Chris-
Film director Antoinette Jadaone
tine (Liza Soberano) fall in love as students in UP — with all their idealism and dreams of what to do after they graduate. The real world catches up though and the two go on their separate ways, with separate partners. But fate has them meeting again. Both characters act with more maturity than many people 10 or 20 years older at this crossroads. Spoiler alert for those who haven’t seen it: They formally and properly call it off with their respective partners, even before considering the possibility of dating again. Though the triangles are not at all the main focus of the film. What this film has done is make me more curious about director Jadaone’s work, which I should be more familiar with. She landed on the map in 2011 with her film, “The Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay” (the late actress who always plays the old lady in horror films). Her 2014 film, “That Thing Called Tadhana” with
ABS-CBN photo
Angelica Panganiban (also on Netflix) practically made her a brand in the romance / romcom genre. Her latest film, “Fan Girl,” was screened at the Tokyo International Film Festival and is already being discussed by the Hollywood Reporter. Jadoane now writes the script for TV5 and Brightlight Productions’ rom-com series “I Got You” (with boyfriend Dan Villegas as director), which, albeit presenting a love story is essentially focused on women empowerment. Beauty Gonzales is her heroine here — a single mother who tries her hardest not to rekindle love with an old flame who is now with someone else, for her daughter’s sake. So indeed, given Jadoane’s filmography, one element stands out in the love triangle. It will only work today if there is something more compelling in its telling — the respective realities of the individuals in play, which goes beyond the one’s mere attraction for two.
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 3, 2020
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ABS-CBN fuses iWANT and TFC.tv, launches new streaming service ‘iWantTFC’ for Filipinos worldwide
Upgrade virtual game nights at home with $0 delivery fee from McDelivery with DoorDash
Fans can watch and ‘share a meal’ with popular gamers Becca and Marlin Ramsey Chan during livestreams CHICAGO – McDelivery is here to help elevate your athome gaming experience. For the next two weekends* in November, McDelivery with DoorDash is offering $0 Delivery Fee on orders of $20 or more. Make sure to use the DoorDash app, enter code NIGHTIN and order all your must-haves for game nights. Joining in on the fun are gamers Becca and Marlin Ramsey Chan, who will each be hosting their own McDelivery livestreams. Tune in on November 14 or November 21 to watch them flex their gaming skills. While watch-
ing, order McDelivery with DoorDash to connect with Becca or Marlin over your favorite games and favorite McDonald’s menu items. Upcoming livestream details: • McDelivery stream with Becca Tilts on November 14, 2020 at 2pm ET • McDelivery stream with Marlin Ramsey Chan on November 21, 2020 at 2pm ET. McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to nearly 25 million customers every day. Ninetyfive percent of McDonald’s
14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds. com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook. www.facebook.com/mcdonalds. *$0 Delivery Fee promotion is live on the DoorDash app from 13 – 15 and 20 – 22. Prices may be higher than at restaurants. Restrictions and service fees apply. Use code NIGHTIN. Valid in US on weekends through 11/22/20. Terms: drd.sh/qnAXuU (Advertising Supplement)
DALY CITY – ABS-CBN has merged its two streaming platforms to provide entertainment, news, and information to Filipinos wherever they are in the world as it launches the bigger and better iWantTFC, the first Filipino subscription-based streaming service available globally. iWantTFC, which is available through the web on iwanttfc.com and on iOS and Android apps, allows users to choose from different subscription options with different levels of access to content and new platform features to suit their needs. Aside from offering ad-free access to the biggest library of Filipino video content, the new iWantTFC provides first window streaming of fresh teleserye episodes, 48 hours before their premiere on any ABS-CBN platform or channel. iWantTFC users are also able to enjoy new features such as offline viewing of select movies and series and an enhanced viewing experience on bigger screens through select TV brands, as well as Roku and Telstra TV. Registered iWantTFC users can choose from three subscription plans – free, standard, and premium. Premium subscribers can access to its entire catalogue and all platform features ad-
free, while Standard subscribers can watch ad-supported content. For more information about the subscriptions, you may visit iwanttfc.com. Both premium and standard subscribers get full access to iWantTFC’s full library of over 1,000 movies, live channels namely Kapamilya Channel, TeleRadyo, ANC, CineMo, and Knowledge Channel, ABS-CBN’s full inventory of shows, all acquired content, all episodes of 86 iWantTFC originals, and other digital content. Users can also opt for the free plan, which will grant limited access to an ad-supported catalog of movies, live channels, select episodes of shows, and teleseryes. iWantTFC’s extensive library of regularly updated content contains currently airing ABS-CBN shows, Kapamilya classics, movies, newscasts, lifestyle programs, award-winning documentaries, originals, and religious programs. Users also get to enjoy watching “La Vida Lena,” ABS-CBN’s newest teleserye starring Erich Gonzales that premiered its first episode on iWantTFC last Saturday (November 14). Adding to iWantTFC’s catalog are new and upcoming originals “Bawal Lumabas” with Kim Chiu, Kyle Echarri, and Franchine Diaz, “Hoy Love You” featur-
Iza gets dream role in ‘Loving Emily’ By Christina
alpad ManilaTimes.net
AWARD-winning actress Iza Calzado has proven her acting mettle in various roles since debuting onscreen in 2001. This year, however, Calzado is doing one of her dream roles — a woman involved in a May-December love affair. The vehicle for this dream come true is iWantTFC’s newest original series “Loving Emily.” “When it was offered to me, I got excited. I’ve always wanted to do a May-December love affair, bata pa lang ako because I love notes on a scandal,” the actress said on a virtual media conference. Streaming now on iWant TFC app (iOs and Android) and iwanttfc.com, “Loving Emily” sees Calzado as Em-
ily, a woman in her 40s who seems to have a perfect life on social media, but feels invisible at home. She plunges deeper into her misery when she learns that her husband (Epy Quizon) has been having an affair but is unable to confront him about it. After Emily’s father dies, she takes a long and lonely drive to her hometown and finally faces an ugly truth: Not only is her father gone, but the life she dreamed for herself, her family, and her lie of a life are all dead as well. It is in this vulnerable moment that she meets Vince (Jameson Blake), a young man in his 20s. The next thing she knows, she is in a hotel room with him having a one-night stand. Her tryst with Vince shakes up her world and gives
her hope about the possibilities in life and love. But then Emily must decide: will she continue to be miserable by staying with her family or will she be brave enough to start over with someone new? How far can Emily go to find the love that will complete her? As much as she wanted to do the role, Calzado said she didn’t imagine it would come sooner. “I was thinking I would do it in my forties!” the 38-year-old actress laughingly said. Nevertheless, Calzado shared there is something about a confident woman like her character Emily that made her say yes to the project. “There is something about a woman who is just so sure of herself. I wanted to do this kind of role not because I wanna
Calzado from a scene in ‘Loving Emily’ with 23-year-old actor Jameson Blake. ABS-CBN photo
corrupt a younger boy. There is that certain confidence in older women that only time and years of experience can give them. And I think men in real life find this very attractive,” she elaborated. Still, the very honest Calzado admitted she had a difficult time in the beginning to see her onscreen partner, 23-year-old Blake as a lover in the show. For one, they have worked together only twice before, in TV shows “A
Love to Last” and “Ngayon at Kailanman.” In the latter, she even portrayed a maternal role for Blake. “So it’s kind of hard see Jameson as a lover. I see him as this boy, like my baby boy,” the actress confessed. Blake seconded, “Yeah, at first I wasn’t used to see Iza as partner. Before kasi, it’s like she’s a mother figure.” The two had to get more comfortable with their new roles and even had to under-
ing the love team reunion of Roxanne Guinoo and Joross Gamboa, “I Can Wait Forever” with Loisa Andalio and Ronnie Alonte, “He’s Into Her” with Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano, and “Ampalaya Chronicles: Me & Mrs. Cruz,” the latest episode in the heartbreak-themed anthology series starring Beauty Gonzalez and Kiko Estrada. Users will also be able to watch new movies released by CineXpress straight on the platform such as the Star Cinema movies “My Lockdown Romance,” “Boyette,” and “Four Sisters Before the Wedding.” Fans can also continue to follow the ongoing season of “The House Arrest of Us” on iWantTFC. To experience the latest version of the new iWantTFC, users need to download the app from Google Play and Apple App Store or visit iwanttfc.com and register for an account. First-time users can also avail of a 30-day free trial. Download the new iWantTFC app now from Google Play or App Store or log in to iwanttfc.com. For updates, like http://www.facebook. com/iWantTFC, and follow @iwanttfc on Twitter and @ iwanttfc on Instagram and subscribe to www.youtube. com/iWantTFC. (ABS-CBN Release) (Advertising Supplement) go a sensuality workshop for the sensitive scenes they had to take. But what made it finally comfortable for Calzado to work with Blake was when they saw together the 2017 coming-of-age film “Call Me By Your Name.” Starring Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer, the film also features a couple in a MayDecember affair. “When I saw Timothée Chalamet as this boyish character but managed to pull off the love story, sabi ko, ‘Ay okay, I think pwedeng mag work [with us].’ So doon na medyo mas alleviate yung kaba ko. It took some time pero sana maganda yung kinalabasan,” Calzado detailed. The seven-episode digital series is directed by Gerardo Calagui and also stars Christian Vasquez, Ruby Ruiz, Anne Feo, JJ Quilantang, Claire Ruiz and Heaven Peralejo.
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NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 3, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
• (212) N E W http://www.asianjournal.com YO R K / N E W J E R S EY 655-5426 N OV E M B E R 27, 2 0 2 0
people events arts culture entertainment
BILAO, TRADISYON AND JAYHAN’S GRILL
How Three Filipino Restaurants Defied the Odds and Opened in the Midst of a Pandemic
O
by MOMAR
G. VISAYA / AJPress
PENING a restaurant is tough. Opening one in the middle of a global pandemic makes it tons harder, yet three Filipino restaurants in New York and New Jersey defied the odds, rolled the dice and made it happen.
The restaurants and food business are among the industries hit hard by the pandemic with numerous closures left and right, whether they’re a part of a chain or a
small mom and pop. some are still open, precariously hanging by a thread and grappling with dining restrictions. On the other end of the
spectrum, a rising number of Filipino entrepreneurs opened up restaurants despite the grim prognosis and continued economic uncertainty. That they opened
in cities which were once among the world’s top spots for the pandemic took a lot of bold audacity. We found out that there are a few things in common among these brave entrepreneurs: adaptability to new conditions, the resiliency of their entrepreneurial spirit and faith, not just in god, but in their friends, family and community. and yes, all of them took a chance. What did it take for them? Let’s get to know this new breed of restaurateurs. Bilao and Tradisyon are both in Manhattan while Jayhan’s grill is in Jersey City. (another Filipino restaurant in Manhattan, a vegan spot named saramsam, also opened during the pandemic.) Rediscovering His Roots “Crazily enough, we opened the week everything started to shut down in new York. We were unsure of how serious everything was as i’m sure many business were, but we were also hopeful it would all work out in the PAGE 15
Marie Dinopol, one of the owners of Bilao, ia a restaurateur by day and a nurse by night like her co owners Jude Canela and Joan Calanog. They wanted to have a place that serves classic Filipino breakfast like the silogs here.
Tradisyon’s chef owner Anton Dayrit (right) with co-owner Joey Chanco and head chef Bianca Vicente. Photo courtesy of Tradisyon
Tradisyon is in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood and offers quick and filling Filipino dishes.
NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY
EVERYDAY
9:00am - 11:00am Owners Akie Flores and Tesa Abaya Austria take pride in Jayhan’s Grill’s specialties, including chicken inasal and various Ilonggo dishes like cansi and batchoy. AJPress Photos by Momar G. Visaya
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 3, 2020
How Three Filipino Restaurants... PAGE 14 end,” Anton Dayrit shared. Tradisyon’s story began in August last year when, Bianca Vicente, now their head chef, and Anton were in search one night of Filipino food delivery in Manhattan. “We realized there were not a lot of options that could satisfy our cravings. Together with Joey Chanco, co-owner, who has experience in the hospitality industry, we knew we could fill in that void,” he added. While he did not grow up eating Filipino food at home, even while living in the Philippines, Anton said he loved the Sisig from Trellis, Sizzling Bulalo Steak from Abuhan in Cebu, the Bibingka and Palabok from Via Mare and Halo-Halo from Razon. “Tradisyon is my journey in re-discovering my roots and the flavors I loved — rich, bold and unapologetic,” he said. As chef owner, Anton is responsible for creating the menu and leading the kitchen team, while Joey as co-owner manages the business side of the restaurant, which is located in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood in Manhattan. Tradisyon’s business model revolved around takeout and deliveries and this definitely worked to their advantage during the lockdown. “The hardest part was the lack of foot traffic, residents in the area and neighboring business to rely on as potential customers. But through word of mouth, delivery apps that allowed discoverability, the start of outdoor dining and getting noticed by Eater, ABC7, food influencers and US-Filipino media, our business started to pick up,” he shared. When they were building the menu, Anton started off with the most popular and loved Filipino dishes that are known to both Filipinos and non-Filipinos. These include the classics: Pork Adobo, Sisig and Kare Kare. The rest of the offerings were his personal favorites that offered a balance to the richness of the other dishes and could cater to different customers’ taste who both know and are just discovering Filipino food. They have also started to introduce more dishes like the jackfruit salad, Vigan longganisa and Anton’s current favorite, the Inihaw na Sugpo Ensalada (spicy grilled tiger prawns salad with bagoong vinaigrette). “I think it’s a well-balanced dish. Plus
The interior of Tradisyon
AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya
When they were building the menu, Anton started off with the most popular and loved Filipino dishes that are known to both Filipinos and non-Filipinos. These include the classics: Pork Adobo, Sisig and Kare Kare.
the prawns we use from Butuan, Philippines are sweet and delicious,” he quipped. With the changing seasons, they also plan to introduce more dishes that are more appropriate for the colder months. “This journey started with my rediscovery of Filipino food,” Anton revealed. “This combined with the amazing feedback of our customers, patrons coming from all over New York, and customers who are trying Filipino food for the first time — these fuel my team. We want to continue serving them the best our birth country has to offer.” Ultimately, the team hopes that Tradisyon is a means for Filipino food to become as in demand as Chinese and Thai food is now. There has been a surge of Filipino restaurants in New York as well as across the country that have been getting noticed and many are calling it the Filipino Food Wave, a phrase used by National Geographic in its feature about the cuisine. “We hope Tradisyon is one of those restaurants that can continue to keep that momentum going,” he said. “On the business side, our ultimate dream is to grow Tradisyon to become a multi-location fast casual restaurant across the US.” Nurses turned entrepre-
neurs We went to Bilao the first weekend that they opened and it felt like they were overwhelmed. Since the opening was Friday, they ran out of most of the dishes when they opened the following morning. Located in the tony Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan (First Avenue and 75th Street), Bilao is near a few hospitals in the neighborhood. The owners are actually nurses who work the night shift and proceed to the restaurant once their shifts are over. Marie Dinopol, Jude Canela and Joan Calanog are nurses at Mount Sinai Hospital and their story, similar to Tradisyon’s, began last year when they had a particular craving for Filipino food one evening but there were no Filipino restaurants in the vicinity. They had to go all the way downtown, or maybe Queens, to satiate such craving. The pandemic happened, which somehow fast tracked their project. Last June, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that restaurants could reopen for outdoor dining and it was around this time that they saw what would become the location of their restaurant. By the middle of August,
Heart named one of Forbes...
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PAGE 12 where she has over 7.1 million followers. Evangelista, the only Filipina on the list, came in at number 10. The list was topped by Italian entrepreneur, fashion blogger, designer and influencer Chiara Ferragni. From joining Paris Fashion Week to making fashionable face masks, Evan-
gelista has been known for her style and fashion taste for the longest time. Even before the Forbes France recognition, Evangelista has gained renown internationally in the fashion industry. In October 2019, she was hailed as one of the Top 10 Influencers by Fashion Week alongside the likes of Cardi B, Christina Aguilera, Anna Kendrick,
Sandara Park and others. Evangelista was also included in the Vogue 100 list in November last year. With the ongoing global pandemic, however, Evangelista decided to cancel her plans to attend fashion week events for now. The actress instead has been helping out fellow Filipinos by donating to and supporting fundraisers.
they were ready to open. Bilao has a thick menu which includes the classic breakfast combo silogs which they offer all day, along with about 50 other dishes.This means a wide variety of options for first time diners and for those who will opt to come back and try the other dishes. The first-time restaurant owners are happy despite the roller coaster ride they have been experiencing since they opened because they have developed a steady clientele: the locals who live in the neighborhood and coworkers from Mount Sinai and fellow nurses from Lenox Hill, Weill Cornell and other medical centers on the Upper East Side’s hospital corridor. “It was overwhelming. What we worried about (that there will be no customers because of the situation) was the total opposite. It was packed since Day 1,” Dinopol told the Asian Journal. It turns out that their worries were unfounded. Some customers from Day 1 have been eating there every day until now. “It feels really great especially the support of Filipinos in the neighborhood, but at the same time very, very pressured,” she added. For now, it is the trio’s dream for Bilao to continue serving Filipino cuisine to the UES residents. “And God willing, to expand in other boroughs. We would like to proudly advertise and share the delicious food our country has to other races, and of course, to serve our kababayans here in New York the food we used to have back home,” Dinopol said. One of the reasons they opened the restaurant is because of the frontliners like them who work around the area. “Theres’ a lot of hospitals around, and every hospital has a lot of frontliners, specifically Filipino nurses who work nights and days. Since most of the restaurants open at 11am, we decided to open
8:00 am to serve all the frontliners breakfast after their tiring and exhausting shift,” Dinopol remarked. Dinopol is not a stranger when it comes to opening a business. The nurse from General Santos City also owns a dry cleaners which she has been operating on the same block for six years now. “My experience on how to “open” a business helped me open my second. Running a business, whether a cleaners or restaurant, takes a lot of determination, strong will, unlimited patience and hard work to survive, most especially in this very expensive and competitive city,” Dinopol said. Going regional Like its neighbors along Westside, Jayhan’s Grill serves the classics but they also have hard to find dishes on the menu, courtesy of their Ilonggo chef. The partners opened the restaurant in Jersey City on April 16, a month after the lockdown was announced. They focused on pick up and delivery and for five months, they did not have indoor dining. Aki Flores vividly remembers one meal with the group at a restaurant with a great location but it wasn’t doing well. They felt bad for the owners and in a spirited discussion, each one shared what they believed would grow the business and the idea of them opening up their own began right there. “Mahilig lang talaga kami kumain and naisip namin, what if mag open tayo ng restaurant na may street food, nami-miss yan lalo na yung mag lumaki sa Pilipinas na kumakain ng street food,” Flores, one of the owners told the Asian Journal. They are also roommates, which for them, made the decision easier since everyone is already practically family for them. It just took a lot of courage on confidence on their part to jumpstart the dream.
“Pilipino tayo eh, malakas ang loob natin. During the pandemic pa, alam natin na nakakatakot pero kailangan lang na magtiwala sa sarili at sa mga kasama mo, and siyempre kay God,” Flores, a former health care worker said. One of them, Jay Sia, took on the role of head chef. A native of Cadiz City, he has been working as a cook for 15 years and he is responsible for the Ilonggo flavor of some of their specialties. The restaurant is named after Jay and Hannah’s son Jayhan. The restaurant is proud of their Ilonggo specialties: Bacolod style chicken inasal, pancit molo, kansi, KBL, and batchoy. The last three dishes are among the hardest to find since very few restaurants offer these regional delicacies. “We’re a straight up traditional Filipino restaurant and we offer specialties like cansi, which is like beef sinigang with bone marrow. Para din siyang bulalo na ginawang sinigang,” Flores quipped. They have also introduced their binalot line, a full meal consisting of rice and a choice of viand. This is to cater to their clients who prefer quick and easy transactions since there is no wait time and the food is ready anytime. Tesa Abaya Austria, an accountant by profession acts as the group’s adviser and handles the administrative side of the business. “It was a leap of faith. Hindi tayo puwedeng magpatalo sa pandemic, para na rin ito sa kanila, para makaungos na,” she said, explaining the decision to open in April. “And more importantly, trust and confidence in each other. Tiwala na kakayanin namin ito.” These business owners all opened their restaurants in an unstable economy and under the crushing challenges of this global pandemic, armed with positive Filipino spirit and strong work ethic. They remain optimistic that things are eventually going to get fine.
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NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 3, 2020 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426