December 2-4, 2020 Volume 30 - No. 95 • 2 Sections - 14 Pages
Fil-Ams react to new safer-at-home order as DATELINE USA Los Angeles County LA County beats single-day COVID-19 record launches ‘United FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Against Hate Week’
AMID rising hate crimes and other forms of discrimination experienced by communities like Asian American and Pacific Islanders, Los Angeles County has marked this week as the inaugural ‘United Against Hate Week.’ From November 30 to December 6, the LA vs Hate initiative is encouraging and supporting county residents to unite against, report and resist hate in all forms. United Against Hate Week was born in 2017 as a poster project in response to white supremacist groups who were planning rallies in Berkeley. Since then, the week-long initiative has grown beyond posters and has spread to more than 60 communities across California. By going to the county’s website (LAvshate. org) or by calling the 24-hour 211 line, LA County residents can report a hate incident, “which includes any act of verbal or physical aggression, refusal of service, bullying, or in-
December begins with 7K new cases, officials prepare for a forthcoming surge from Thanksgiving travel, large gatherings
by KLARIZE
MEDENILLA AJPress
IN an effort to curb the spike in coronavirus cases and deaths, Los Angeles County issued a strict stayat-home order that took effect on Monday, Nov. 30.
COVID-19 outbreaks have affected restaurants throughout Los Angeles County, from a Panda Express in Sun Valley to the University of California’s Bruin Cafe. If you live in Los Angeles, you can access health department reports about these outbreaks online. But in most of the country, diners are left in the dark about which restaurants have been linked to outbreaks of the virus. Restaurants appear to be among the most common places to get infected with the COVID-19 virus, but contact tracing in most areas has been so lackluster that few health departments have been able to link disease clusters to in-person dining. When KHN contacted the health departments serving the 25 most populous counties in the U.S., only nine could confirm they were collecting and reporting data on potential links between restaurants and COVID cases. As of Monday, 13 of the 25 counties hadn’t
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PH immigration clarifies travel restrictions for balikbayans, foreign spouses, children by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
FOREIGN spouses and children of Filipino citizens are only allowed to enter the Philippines if the Filipino citizen or balikbayan is traveling with them, the Philippine Bureau of Immigration clarified on Tuesday, December 1. “The intent of the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) resolution was to enable foreigners to reunite with their families in the Philippines,” Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said. He added, “Thus, such intention is not served if the alien comes here when his wife or children are not in the country.” The BI commissioner issued the statement after the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) sent the bureau a clarification explaining the rationale behind the IATF’s newest resolution that lifts restrictions on traveling foreigners who are immediate family members of Filipinos. Morente warned that arriving dependents may be de-
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Where COVID-19 is on the menu: Failed contact tracing leaves diners in the dark
LA County Public Health issued the order as a response to the dramatic uptick in cases that immediately followed the week of Thanksgiving, which saw a disturbing increase of travel despite orders from
The order, which was announced on Friday, will remain in effect until at least Dec. 20 and urges people to stay home for the next three weeks. The order places new limits on out-of-home gatherings, activities and business patronage.
‘LIKE’ BONIFACIO. A teenager with a wooden jungle bolo and clad in Katipunero attire poses like Andres Bonifacio at the Bonifacio monument near the Manila City Hall. The country on Monday, November 30 commemorated the 157th birth anniversary of Bonifacio, one of the greatest heroes of the Philippine revolution with the theme, “Bonifacio 2020: Tapang at Kaligtasan Tungo sa Malayang Lipunan”. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
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16 more Filipinos abroad contract COVID-19 Over 11,700 infections
by AJPRESS SIXTEEN more Filipinos around the world have contracted the coronavirus, bringing the official tally to 11,708 individuals, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported on Tuesday, December 1. The department also recorded 42 new recoveries, pushing the total number of recovered and discharged patients to 7,539. The death toll remained at 847 as no new fatalities were reported by the agency. Among the infections, 3,332 Filipinos abroad are currently undergoing treatment.
“On this first day of December, the DFA reports 16 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 42 new recoveries in Asia and the Pacific and Europe. Meanwhile, no new COVID19 fatality was reported,” said the DFA. Overall by region, Europe – which comprises 19 countries – has recorded 1,399 Filipino cases, including 297 undergoing treatment, 1,005 recoveries and 97 deaths. The Middle East and Africa, covering 32 countries, has reported 7,544 cases; of which, 2,334 are undergoing treatment, 553 deaths and 4,657 recoveries. The Asia Pacific region, which spans across 21 countries, has 1,926 cases, with Philippine Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo Puyat
Inquirer.net photo
DOT eyes subsidizing half Metro Manila remains under GCQ until year-end of testing costs for tourists u PAGE A4
by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
METRO Manila will remain under general community quarantine (GCQ) for the entire month of December. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, November 30 approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to extend the capital region’s GCQ status. Aside from Metro Manila, seven other areas will be under GCQ until December 31, namely: Batangas, Iloilo City, Tacloban CHRISTMAS TIANGGE. Christmas decors for sale are on display in a tiangge at the Cogeo Market, Antipolo City on Tuesday, December 1. Among the Christmas decorations for sale City, Lanao del Sur, Iligan, Davao include Santa Claus, snowmen, and Christmas tree figurines. PNA photo by Rico H. Borja City, and Davao del Norte.
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Meanwhile, the rest of the Philippines will be under modified GCQ, the least stringent quarantine classification in the country. Duterte urged the public to continue observing health measures such as wearing masks, frequent handwashing, and social distancing to avoid contracting COVID-19. “Let me remind you that Europe and America are experiencing what they would call, some say a third wave na pagbalik. Mas maraming magkasakit ngayon at mamatay. This is a country that is rich na dapat may bakuna na can afford it and yet maraming
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by CHRISTIA
MARIE Inquirer.net
RAMOS
MANILA — The Department of Tourism (DOT) is eyeing to subsidize half of the cost of travelers’ COVID-19 tests, which are mandated before entry to a local tourist destination. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat on Tuesday, December 1 said the DOT will be tying up with the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), which she noted offers reverse transmission – polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) COVID-19 testing at only P1,900. “The President already in-
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structed the DOH (Department of Health) and the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) to put a price cap but having said that we also have, we are going to have a tie up with the UP-PGH. They are only charging 1,900 for the RT PCR and the results come out in 24 hours,” Puyat said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel. “Then we are looking at how to probably make travel vouchers. Because mura na nga yung P1,900 but then gusto pa namin mas affordable so we’re looking at making it parang subsidizing 50 percent of the RT PCR in UP-
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From the Front Page
CALL TO RESIGN. Members of the groups League of Parents of the Philippines, Liga Independencia Pilipinas, and Hands Off Our Children hold tarpaulins calling for the resignation of solons belonging to the Makabayan bloc, during a rally at the Senate grounds in Pasay City on Tuesday, December 1. The groups also lambasted the so-called progressive organizations linked to the communist movement for the recruitment and exploitation of the youth. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
Fil-Ams react to new safer...
PAGE A1 the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) to avoid holiday travel. On Tuesday, Dec. 1, LA County reported 7,593 new cases, the highest single-day report which doesn’t include cases reported by Long Beach and Pasadena. At least 46 new coronavirus-related deaths in the county (excluding Long Beach and Pasadena) were also reported on Tuesday. (It’s unclear whether or not the increase is due to more people testing or a backlog in test results.) The previous single-day record was Nov. 23, which tallied 6,186 positive countywide cases. “The most important action we can all take to stop the surge is to stay home as much as possible,” Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of LA County Public Health, said at a briefing on Monday. Ferrer led the new rollout of the new stay-at-home order that closes public playgrounds and places capacity limits on businesses, outdoor museums and galleries, zoos and aquariums and strongly prohibits gatherings with people from different households, excluding worship services and political demonstrations. “Yes, we’re asking a lot. Yes, people are going to make more
sacrifices, but if we don’t get this virus under control it will cost all of us dearly,” Ferrer added. As it had been throughout the pandemic, LA County Public Health reminded the public once again to avoid non-essential travel and gatherings outside the home. “Even if you don’t feel sick, the simple act of gathering with people outside your household is extremely risky right now. For the next 3 weeks, avoid doing activities that are not essential. People’s lives depend on it,” LA County Public Health tweeted on Tuesday. Franco Dilig, a retired Navy veteran from Reseda, told the Asian Journal that he supports the general effort to lower coronavirus numbers in LA County, but he doesn’t believe that the current stay-at-home order will be effective. “This isn’t the way to control behavior: people are going to do whatever they want and they’ll find ways to meet with others and congregate,” Dilig told the Asian Journal in a phone interview on Tuesday. Dilig also mentioned that the order is “too restrictive” and especially lamented the closure of playgrounds and recreational facilities, which could prevent
young children, like his 5-yearold granddaughter, from physical exercise. (Outdoor operations of fitness facilities, mini-golf, batting cages and go-kart racing remain open with 50% occupancy and public parks, beaches and hiking trails remain open.) “We always wear masks when we go out and do all that we can to keep sanitized and all that, so it doesn’t make sense to restrict open areas just because there [are] other people — who are likely also wearing masks — there, too,” Dilig said, adding that although he and his family are capable of doing these things at home, “getting outside of the house was and is necessary [to] our mental well-being, too.” “People think that these orders are controlling our lives, but it’s controlling the virus and the spread,” Danica Valenzuela, a communication student at Cal State Northridge, told the Asian Journal. Valenzuela, 21, said that her family (whom she doesn’t live with) were among the thousands of families that traveled to other families’ homes for Thanksgiving, a decision she thought was “stupid and irresponsible.” She doesn’t know the results of their COVID-19 tests, but she contin-
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Los Angeles County launches ‘United...
Dateline USa
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16 more Filipinos abroad contract...
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timidation of any kind that is motivated by hostile prejudice.” They can also find a network of agencies to assist victims and develop prevention strategies, and get access to materials to promote the week of awareness and a lineup of special virtual events happening. “We have a place now for anyone to report by calling 211 or by going to the website. We need to hear from people because unless we know about it, we can’t bring our resources to do something about it — to support you and to offer help to those who are experiencing hate,” Robin Toma, executive director of the LA County Commission on Human Relations (LACCHR), said during a press conference on Monday, Nov. 30. The LA vs Hate coalition was launched over the summer by the LACCHR at the request of the Board of Supervisors, led by Supervisor Hilda Solis, to counter the troubling trend of increases in hate crimes and acts in the county. Over 700 reports of hate have come through the county’s hotline since then, Toma said. This initiative also comes at a time when the AAPI community, among other marginalized communities, have experienced an increased trend of discrimination, xenophobia and racism since the spread of the coronavirus and in light of social justice protests. “This is something we’re all dealing with, particularly the AAPI community, as it relates to the uptick in crime incidents that happened after the start of the coronavirus,” said Capri Maddox, executive director of the City of LA’s Department of Civil and Human Rights. “It’s important to
560 undergoing treatment, 1,357 recoveries, and nine deaths. The Americas – covering 10 countries like the United States – have 839 reported cases, with 131 undergoing treatment, 520 recoveries, and 188 deaths. “To date, the Middle East and
Africa remains to be the region with the most number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, recoveries, under treatment, and fatalities among our nationals,” the DFA noted. “The Americas has the least numbers in all categories compared to other geographic re-
gions, except in the total number of deaths, wherein Asia and the Pacific ranks lowest with a total of only 9,” the agency added. Meanwhile in the Philippines, the total number of infections has reached 432,925, with 8,418 fatalities and 398,782 recoveries. n
PH immigration travel restrictions for...
The United Against Hate Week from Nov. 30 to Dec. 6 amplifies the LA vs Hate initiative, which encourages Los Angeles County residents to be vigilant and report acts of hate through its website or by calling the 211 hotline. Graphics courtesy of LA vs Hate
know that all communities have been hit.” The STOP AAPI Hate tracker — created by Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON), Chinese for Affirmative Action and San Francisco State University’s Asian American Studies — found that 832 incidents of COVID-19 related discrimination and harassment occurred in California alone during a threemonth period.
“Regardless of which group they’re coming against…we all need to stand up against hate because hate anywhere is hate everywhere,” Maddox said. “And we are not going to tolerate hate in Los Angeles, and therefore I’m pleased to stand against hate. With this united partnership, and I really look forward to the work that we’re going to do this week.” (Christina M. Oriel / AJPress)
PAGE A1 nied entry in the Philippines if they are not travelling with the Filipino citizen or former Filipino citizen, or if their Filipino family is not in the country. “The intent of the relaxed restriction for balikbayans is to allow families to reunite this holiday season. Apart from those exempted by the IATF, others who will be entering under a tourist status will still not be allowed,” he said. On November 27, the BI announced tourists under the Balikbayan Program will be allowed to enter the Philippines visa-free starting December 7. Their spouses and children, regardless of age, traveling with
them are permitted entry into the country without a visa requirement as well under Executive Order No. 408. The policy requires inbound balikbayan tourists to come from visa-free countries. They must also have a pre-booked quarantine facility, as well as a pre-booked COVID-19 testing at a laboratory operating at the airport. According to Morente, dependents, including minors, of Filipino citizens who are not traveling with the principal may still enter the Philippines if they are joining the Filipino citizen in the country. “The Balikbayan privilege is specifically for spouses and children of a Filipino or a Former Fil-
ipino only, who is traveling with him,” said Morente. However, they must secure an entry visa from a Philippine Embassy or Consulate abroad. “If they are not traveling with the Filipino or former Filipino spouse, and are just joining him in the Philippines, then they may be allowed to enter if they secure an entry visa, but with a limited stay in the country,” Morente added. The country’s Balikbayan Program was launched by the national government in 1989 under Republic Act 6768, amended by Republic Act 9174. The program aims to attract and encourage overseas Filipinos to come and visit the Philippines. n
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Wesley So spoils Magnus Carlsen’s birthday with Skilling Open title by Mark
GionGco Inquirer.net
Wesley So
WESLEY So played the spoiler’s role on his way to claiming the Skilling Open title in thrilling fashion on Tuesday, December 1. The Filipino-born So, who began representing the United States in 2014, toppled reigning World chess champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway to bag the $30,000 (P1.5 million) prize. “I have to apologize to Magnus for semi-ruining his birthday,” said So. “I’m very shocked, of course, to beat Magnus. He’s the best player Photo from Chess.com in the world,” he added. “Coming
to the match, all I wanted to do is to put up a good fight and make the games interesting.” Carlsen, the world classical, rapid and blitz chess champion, couldn’t make it a double celebration on his birthday following his loss to the underdog So, but still took the defeat graciously. “First of all, huge congratulations to Wesley on a deserved win,” Carlsen, who also rued making crucial blunders in the match, said. “It was a very exciting match. Frankly, to lose to him is not a shame, it’s not a disaster.” The win also put So on top of HOLIDAY WORKOUT. A group of young people takes a rest after jogging in front of the Pinaglabanan Shrine in San Juan City on Monday, November 30. The government has allowed young people aged 15 and above and senior citizens up to 65 years old to leave their homes as the rankings with 46 points. n
Fil-Ams react to new safer...
PAGE A2 ues to be worried as more families plan to travel for the Christmas and New Year holidays. “I stayed home and didn’t attend even though I was pressured and almost guilted into spending time with my family,” said Valenzuela, who is studying biology with the hopes of working in the public health sector. “My family thought I was being too paranoid, but there’s a reason why [the CDC and other public health officials] urged us not to travel. We don’t want to risk spreading the disease because you could be asymptomatic but make someone else sick, someone who might be more at-risk.” Filipinos, by nature, are extremely family oriented and the Christmas holiday is an extremely important holiday in the community, which Valenzuela said “definitely complicates” things. “There’s almost a resistance to following the rules [among Filipinos] because we don’t think that it’ll happen to us because we’re strong, but then when it does happen, it’s too late,” Valenzuela said, acknowledging that although the Los Angeles Times article published in July about the COVID-19 mortality rate among Filipino Americans was “flawed” it “should be a warning to [the Filipino community].” That piece posited that the mortality rate among Filipinos is a whopping 40%, but the only
data used in that story came in the form of an unofficial list from the Philippine Consulate of Los Angeles that only comprised 48 COVID-19 patients, of which 19 had died of the virus. Forty-eight is too small a sample size to really capture the virus’ effect on the largest Asian American community in California, but it doesn’t negate the fact that the virus is dangerous and has taken the lives of thousands of Filipinos, Valenzuela acknowledged. “It’s true that the virus has had a really disturbing effect on our community, but we need to be realistic, too. But that doesn’t mean we’re immune to the possibility that we could reach a high mortality rate or a high case rate. It’s so much better to be safe and try to stay as stationery as we can than risk [worsening] the state of things just because you wanted to see your cousins,” she said. The startling situation in LA County acts as a microcosm to the overall predicament happening at the state level. California surpassed its previous daily high of 20,654 positive coronavirus cases recorded last week to 21,848 on Monday. The state acknowledged that the inflated numbers are due to delays in reporting tests following the Thanksgiving holiday, but as of press time, California is averaging 14,000 daily coronavirus cases over a seven-day
period. Pushing ICU capacity In a press briefing on Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said that Southern California, specifically, is expected to run out of ICU capacity by mid- to late December if the uptick continues. Currently, 75% of the state’s 7,733 ICU beds are occupied with nearly 2,000 of them filled by COVID19 patients. Newsom hinted at possible additional shutdowns, which may increase Californians’ frustrations over the restrictive measures, but he and other state officials emphasized that solutions may be on the horizon in the form of the much anticipated vaccine rollouts. At Monday’s briefing, officials announced that the state expects to receive roughly 327,000 doses of the new COVID-19 vaccine by Pfizer in the next few weeks but noted that the most vulnerable communities will be prioritized. Widespread rollout of the vaccine to the general public will likely happen well into 2021, but Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state’s health and human services secretary, stressed the importance of the vaccine’s arrival. “Our most vulnerable could be getting vaccinated, our frontline workers could be getting vaccinated in just a matter of weeks, opening the gateway to so many more receiving this important tool to protect us,” Ghaly said. n
quarantine restrictions due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) were eased.
PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
DOT eyes subsidizing half of testing costs... PAGE A1 PGH,” she added. With the easing of restrictions, some tourist destinations in the country have opened to domestic travelers.
“Today Coron, Palawan is opening and Siargao. Finally. They’ve already been under modified GCQ (general community quarantine) for quite some time. The LGUs were hesitant to
open,” the DOT chief said. “So, it’s really up to the LGU if they’re going to open or not. So we’re quite happy that they finally decided [to open],” she added. n
Metro Manila remains under GCQ...
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nagkakasakit, namatay (Let me remind you that Europe and America are experiencing what they would call, some say a third wave. More people will get sick and die. This is a rich country that can afford vaccines and yet many people still get sick and die),” he said.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, for his part, assured that the government has been preparing the country’s health facilities in case of a post-holiday surge. However, he reminded the public not to be complacent, advising people to stay away from large crowds and gatherings to
avoid contracting the virus. Duque also suggested everyone to celebrate Christmas only with their immediate family members. As of this writing, there are a total of 432,925 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, with 8,418 fatalities and 398,782 recoveries. n
Where COVID-19 is on the menu: Failed contact...
PAGE A1 announced changes to their indoor restaurant dining policies, despite record-setting numbers of new COVID infections in the U.S. While public health researchers are convinced indoor dining is a risky activity in areas where COVID-19 is spreading, getting solid data to justify restaurant restrictions has been difficult. It takes in-depth, resource-heavy disease investigations to determine where people were exposed to the coronavirus, and those contact-tracing efforts have never gotten off the ground in most of the country. This has made it hard to develop more specific information about risky restaurants and bars, and may have contributed to an overall feeling of powerlessness in the face of the pandemic among people and officials. It didn’t have to be this way, said Dr. Bill Miller, a senior associate dean of research at the Ohio State University College of Public Health. “We’ve really missed an opportunity” to use contact tracing systematically to provide “useful information to give us ideas of where we might need to be intervening,” he said. For contact tracing of other infectious diseases, such as HIV/ AIDS, investigators usually ask patients to think through all the contacts with whom they might have shared a virus. They also dive further into the past to try to determine who might have infected the person in the first place. But U.S. contact tracing for COVID-19 hasn’t taken this approach, in part because of a lack of resources and public trust. Contact-tracing departments are stretched thin, gathering minimum data and facing a suspicious and often uncooperative population. Contact tracers in Maricopa County, Arizona, prioritize learning the names of individuals over the locations where the coronavirus may be spreading. With the exception of long-term care facilities and a few other locations, investigators don’t consider something an outbreak until they can trace 10 potential cases to a location, said Ron Coleman, a county spokesperson. As winter looms and people increasingly gather indoors, many local governments are flying blind, lacking the data to create and adjust COVID restriction policies that could make a meaningful dent in rising case rates. “Imagine there’s some major sporting event,” Miller said. “You might miss an entire cluster that came out of a social situation” if you didn’t check whether, for example, a COVID-positive person had gone to a crowded bar to watch it. The COVID virus spreads mainly through respiratory droplets that an infected person can release by sneezing, coughing or talking, and a restaurant meal combines several high-risk activities in a single setting: going maskless to eat and drink, meeting up with people outside your household “bubble,” and chatting over a leisurely meal. If the meal takes place indoors, poor
ventilation aggravates these risks because of the virus’s potential to linger in still air. Published research on the role restaurants play in the pandemic is highly suggestive. Taken altogether, the studies paint a scary picture of how potent restaurants can be in spreading COVID-19. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study across 10 states found that those who had tested positive for COVID-19 were more than twice as likely to say they had dined at a restaurant in the two weeks before their illness began, compared with those who tested negative. Dining at a restaurant was the only activity that differed significantly between those who tested positive and those who tested negative for the coronavirus. For example, that study seemed to show no increased risk of infection linked to shopping, gathering with 10 or fewer people or spending time in an office, said Kiva Fisher, a CDC epidemiologist and lead author of the study. Not surprisingly, restaurant restrictions appear effective at slowing viral spread in a community. Out of the many social distancing restrictions states chose to implement at the beginning of the pandemic, shutting down restaurants had the strongest correlation to reducing the spread of the disease, according to researchers at the University of Vermont. A recent Stanford University-led study that used mobile phone data from different cities to create a simulation of viral spread suggests that restaurants operating at full capacity spread four times as many additional COVID-19 infections as the nextworst location, indoor gyms. The model predicts that only about 10% of “points of interest” — public places where people gather — account for over 80% of infections that occurred in public places, said Jure Leskovec of Stanford University, lead author of the mobile phone data study. “There are a small number of these superspreader sites that account for a large majority of infections,” he said. One characteristic of superspreader sites is that “people are packed and stay there a long time.” Still, none of these studies can definitively prove that restaurant dining causes infections, the researchers said. Identifying any individual restaurant case or cluster requires the kind of shoeleather investigation that few communities in the U.S. have been able to conduct. “You’d have to follow the person and have a lot more detail and information to be able to make that claim,” said CDC epidemiologist Fisher. Many countries have succeeded in following individual trails of virus. In China, for instance, contact tracing revealed how a restaurant’s air conditioning unit may have carried a positive patient’s viral droplets from one table to two others, infecting nine other people. In Japan, investigators use contact tracing to identify clusters of disease where people live or congregate. Out of about
3,000 cases confirmed from January to April in that country, investigators could identify 61 clusters, 16% of which were in restaurants or bars. The failure to achieve comprehensive contact tracing means that decisions about whether to close restaurants, or how many customers to allow at a time, have relied heavily on the local political climate. Because the data from contact tracing is sketchy, it’s not always easy to correlate a community’s restaurant restrictions with case rates. In San Diego, where indoor dining had been permitted with restrictions since the debut of the state’s tiered reopening system in August, 9.2% of COVIDinfected residents reported visiting a bar or restaurant up to two weeks before their symptoms appeared. All indoor dining ended in the county Nov. 14 because the county reached a threshold of case reports that led to staterequired closings. In Houston, meanwhile, 8.7% of COVID-positive people interviewed for contact tracing listed a restaurant, cafe or diner as a potential source of exposure since June 1. Restaurants there have been allowed to operate at 75% of indoor capacity since mid-September. Other local governments have contact tracing completion rates so low that the data gleaned may not be meaningful. For example, in Philadelphia, only about 2% of the COVID patients interviewed by contact tracers reported going to a restaurant, and the city allowed restaurants to reopen for indoor dining on Sept. 8. But it’s not clear how representative the city’s figures are. In one recent week, Philadelphia investigators were able to reach only 29% of the 2,110 positive cases they sought to contact. Despite this, indoor dining was stopped on Nov. 20 to combat a surge of cases. In California, the state restricts the operation of establishments based on overall case and positivity rates in each county. But counties with more robust contact-tracing programs, like Los Angeles, have been able to glean striking insights from interviewing positive patients. In Los Angeles, about 6% of COVID infections have occurred among restaurant customers, according to the public health department, though only outdoor dining has been allowed there since the state debuted its current tiered system in August. That data suggests that even outdoor dining may spread the virus, said Shira Shafir, an associate professor of community health sciences and epidemiology at UCLA. She gets takeout regularly to support the restaurants in her neighborhood but hasn’t eaten out since February, having concluded it isn’t worth the risk to herself and other patrons, or to the restaurant workers. “I don’t want to ask someone else to take a risk that I’m unwilling to take,” she said. (Anna Almendrala/Kaiser Health News) This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. n
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Dateline PhiliPPines
‘Makabayan, Gabriela, Bayan part of conspiracy to overthrow govt’ by Catherine
S. Valente ManilaTimes.net
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte branded the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives, and the groups Bayan and Gabriela as “legal fronts” of the communist party, claiming that they are part of a “grand conspiracy” to overthrow the government. In a taped public address aired over state-run PTV-4 on Monday, November 30, Duterte said the government was “not red-tag-
ging” these groups but merely identifying them as front organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA). “Makabayan, Bayan, they are all legal fronts, Gabriela. We are not red-tagging you. We are identifying you as members in a grand conspiracy comprising all the legal fronts that you have organized headed by NDF (National Democratic Front),” the President said. “The Armed Forces of the Philippines is very correct. You are be-
ing identified as members of the communist,” he added. Duterte said the communists engaged in “sheer brutality,” insisting that they were no longer fighting for an ideology. He said the communists simply wanted to overthrow the government so that they could take over. “Gusto lang nila umagaw ng gobyerno. Mga bobo naman ang p***** i** (All they want is to overthrow the government. But they are stupid sons of a b****),” he added. n
Gov’t steps up drive against women abuse by Jomar
CanlaS ManilaTimes.net
THE government will step up its campaign to end violence against women (VAW) and urge victims to report the abusers to the authorities. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd said he had called on the heads of the Labor department’s attached agencies, bureaus, regional offices and services to gather public support for the campaign. “It is everyone’s commitment and contribution to end violence against women,” he added. He also pushed for the promotion of VAW-related services that
people could access and strengthening the prevention and response system on VAW. Proclamation 1172, series of 2006 and Republic Act 10398, series of 2013, declared November 25 to December 12 of every year as the National Consciousness weeks for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children The Labor department urged the public to visit its campaign page at Philippine Commission on Women’s (PCW) official website (pcw.gov.ph); contact PCW’s telephone numbers: (02) 8735-1654 local 131 or (02) 8735-8509; or email events.pcw@gmail.com.
Through its Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns, the Department of Labor and Employment takes charge in advancing the welfare and interests of workers in the informal sector, women, young workers and persons with disabilities. Bello pointed out that because of quarantine measures imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, women were more susceptible to different forms of violence and harassment. “The implementation of the quarantine may have hindered victims as well to seek help, report the abuse, or escape their perpetrators,” he said. n
PH to remain China’s partner – Duterte PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to remain a strong partner of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), saying multilateral ties are necessary amid the prevailing COVID-19 health crisis. Duterte made the commitment in a taped message during the 17th China-Asean Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit opening on November 27. “This important annual economic event is vital in strengthening multilateral ties between China and ASEAN memberstates, especially now as we collectively face the challenges of economic recession and uncertainties due to the COVID-19
pandemic,” he said. He also expressed gratitude to China for its investments that helped boost global economic recovery hit by recession. “We thank China for its substantial investments in trade, infrastructure, telecommunication and transportation that strengthened economic integration, productivity and financial stability in the region,” the President said. He pledged to continue joining efforts in promoting the mutual prosperity of the ChinaAsean economic community for the years ahead. “Let us ensure a harmonious collaboration among our countries and achieve the goal of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) under
the blueprint of the China-Asean Strategic Partnership Vision 2030,” Duterte said. The RCEP is a comprehensive trade and investment agreement of the Asean and its five free trade agreement partners — Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan and South Korea concluded last November 15 after eight years of negotiations. China is one of the Philippines’ largest trading partners, largest export markets and largest sources of imports. The East Asian country also plays a crucial role in the Duterte administration’s Build, Build, Build infrastructure program by providing financing to a number of major infrastructure projects like bridges and railways. (PNA)
Philippine Chief Justice Diosdao Peralta
Philstar.com photo
Chief Justice opts for early retirement PHILIPPINE Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta has decided to step down in March next year when he reaches the age of 69. Sources of The Manila Times
said that Peralta sent a letter to the court en banc informing his colleagues that he will retire on March 27, 2021, a year before reaching his mandatory retirement.
Peralta was appointed in October 2019. He succeeded Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin. He gave no reason for his decision to retire early. (Jomar Canlas/ManilaTimes.net)
ASEAN biodiversity body seeks more protection for wildlife areas MANILA — An ASEAN body called for better safeguards to critical habitats and other protected areas, highlighting its role in preventing diseases and mitigating the impact of disasters. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic and recent typhoons should push countries to think of how its actions toward nature are connected to its people’s health and wellbeing, according to the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity. “These made our task of conserving the remaining intact ecosystems and biodiversity in the Region even more urgent and crucial,” said Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim, executive director of the intergovernmental group based in Laguna. The remarks come on the 36th anniversary of the ASEAN Heritage Parks, which had expanded to nearly 50 sites in the last three decades. Lim said keeping natural habitats intact could prevent the
spillover of diseases acquired from animals and passed on to humans. World Health Organization officials in March had said that all available evidence at that time points to the SARS-CoV2 which causes COVID-19 as having a “natural animal origin” and “most probably has its ecological reservoir in bats.” The deadly virus that has infected over 60 million and killed more than 1.4 million was first detected in Wuhan City in China late 2019. Lim added that maintaining ecosystems also helps reduce the risk of flooding and other hazards to communities. “Maintaining healthy and well-managed protected areas is our cost-effective defense against diseases and the impacts of climate change,” she said. The Philippines is home to nine ASEAN heritage parks, all of which are found in moun-
tains with the exception of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park and the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary. Some 20 typhoons pass by the country on average per year, but the recent string of disasters to hit the country — Super Typhoon “Rolly” and Typhoons “Quinta” and ‘Ulysses,” had groups calling on the government for concrete actions and declare a climate emergency. Cost of damage from the typhoons had reached billions, with scores dead, injured and missing. The entire island of Luzon, for one, was put under a state of calamity with millions affected and provinces submerged. The biodiversity center also reported that measures are being planned to ensure that conversation projects will continue amid the pandemic, led by civil society groups in countries in the region. (Christian Deiparine/Philstar.com)
A6 DECEMBER 2-4, 2020 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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OPiniOn
Asia’s leading destination
FeatURes
THE Philippines has always taken pride in its world-class beaches and diving sites. Now another destination is increasingly gaining recognition among international travelers: Intramuros, Manila’s walled city. Manila has long been associated with urban blight, but Intramuros has always had the potential to be turned into what in other countries are the historic Old Towns. Such preserved enclaves are typically major tourism draws. In recent years, efforts have been made to restore Intramuros to its historical splendor. Museums have been opened, vehicle movement regulated and, in the past months, more streetlights and artistic building illumination installed. Fort Santiago has been rehabilitated. The efforts have started paying off. In 2016, the walled city was chosen for the first time as Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction, at the World Travel Awards Asia. This year, at the 27th edition of the awards, Intramuros has repeated its feat. The Philippines also bagged its fourth award as Asia’s Leading Beach Destination and its second as Asia’s Leading Dive Destination. The awards in the World category are still being awaited, but the regional recognitions are welcome news even as the coronavirus pandemic
continues to wreak havoc on the global travel and tourism industry. With COVID vaccines now being prepared for mass application, it’s only a matter of time before people will start traveling again. There will be stiff competition for visitors especially among countries whose economies are heavily dependent on tourism. The World Travel Awards make it easier to market the Philippines as a priority destination for people who are raring to end the COVID mobility restrictions. The pandemic has shown the economic importance of tourism and its downstream industries. With the latest official accolades, the challenge is to maintain the environment that won the recognition. Travel destinations must not only feature unique attractions but must also be clean, safe, and supported by the necessary services and infrastructure. Winning awards this year is not enough; the country must sustain the momentum and develop a solid reputation as a top travel destination. (Philstar. com)
Editorial
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS ADVENT is very special to me because year after year, my birthday (December 1) is within the Advent season. This year, Advent lasts for four Sundays leading up to Christmas — from November 29 to December 24. The reflection of this year’s advent season has an even deeper meaning and significance to us as we are all going through the worst health crisis around the world, which has greatly exacerbated the hardships we are now facing politically, economically, and socially and therefore, in our personal lives. The sermon of the Archbishop of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan during the mass at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral has such a profound message to us Christians last Sunday, November 29, during the trials and tribulations we are now facing. But before that, let me share with you some interesting things I read about Advent. According to christianity.com, “the word “Advent” is derived
God’s advent message for us amid the challenging 2020: Wait!
from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming,” which is a translation of the Greek word parousia. Scholars believe that during the 4th and 5th centuries in Spain and Gaul, Advent was a season of preparation for the baptism of new Christians at the January feast of Epiphany, the celebration of God’s incarnation represented by the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1), his baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist (John 1:29), and his first miracle at Cana (John 2:1).” “During this season of preparation, Christians would spend 40 days in penance, prayer, and fasting to prepare for this celebration; originally, there was little connection between Advent and Christmas.” However, beginning the 6th century, “Roman Christians had tied Advent to the coming of Christ. But the ‘coming’ they had in mind was not Christ’s first coming in the manger in Bethlehem, but his second coming in the clouds as the judge of the world. It was not until the Middle Ages that the Advent season was explicitly linked to Christ’s first coming at Christmas.” Going back to the sermon of
DE LA CRUZ
“My generation in Germany were always asking our parents and grandparents how Adolf Hitler could have happened in a democratic state—I think, now we all know it from firsthand [watching the United States]” Hartmut Mueller, Germany SHORTLY after major media organizations called the elections for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris folks came out in jubilation, complete with someone spraying the crowd with champagne. I have witnessed celebrations like this before, only when a city’s sports team wins a major championship. Never for election results. It reminded me of the celebrations and tears of joy Filipinos shed after they deposed Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. The 2020 presidential election broke voter turnout records. Joe Biden amassed more than 80 million votes, the highest in history, with Donald Trump garnering 74 million, the second-most in history. While voter turnout is a huge positive, the votes themselves reveal a deeply divided country: 51% Biden, 48% Trump. I personally find Donald Trump’s incompetence and divisiveness, deeply disturbing. The COVID-19 pandemic requires that we come together as a community to fight the community spread of the virus. Instead, he
Cardinal Dolan that my family got to hear during the televised Sunday mass during this time of the pandemic. Cardinal Dolan said the message for us Christians during Advent is to WAIT. And he confessed how human as he is, he hates waiting. And we all do, especially during this time of a fast-paced life and the sense of entitlement to fast results and instant gratification. But Cardinal Dolan said life, in reality, is all about waiting. We experience this in our everyday life. We want for the mass to end, for the food to be cooked, for our train or bus ride, for our paychecks to be released or deposited to our accounts, for the results of an exam to come out, or for the results of a COVID test to come out. Mothers need to wait for nine months and endure the hardship and suffering of pregnancy and childbirth but when the baby comes out, the joy of motherhood makes us forget the hardship we endured as we were waiting. The Archbishop of New York said that God’s message for us especially during Advent is to
WAIT. And he explained why. Dolan said waiting during advent helps us to: 1. Flex our emotional and spiritual muscles to strengthen our faith; 2. Prepare us until we are ready to receive the grace of God and the answers to our prayers; and 3. To make us realize God is in command, that God is in control. Listening to Cardinal Dolan made me think about how this is so real in our life, especially this year. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come.” The threat of the coronavirus to our lives and livelihood; the financial problems we are facing; the hatred and division in our families, in our nation, in our world; the feeling of emptiness and disconnect in our hearts and among us — these make us pine for a better tomorrow, for a better world, for solutions to our problems, answers to our prayers. For us, Christians, or for people of other faith, or for those
with no religion at all — we feel that deep need to plug into a higher power, a power greater than ourselves, than our might. For us Christians, that is God. However, God uses our trials and tribulations to make us introspect as we wait, and search within our hearts if our own thoughts and actions go toward the direction of our prayers. We pray for our good health and safety during this pandemic: do we do our part to protect us, or loved ones and others? Do we wear a mask, practice social distancing, avoid crowds, and sacrifice so that lives may be saved? We pray for abundance in harvest, but do we plant good seeds? Do we nurture them with hard work? Do we protect them with integrity? Do we foster growth and protection in others? Do we rush things, sacrifice quality, life, safety and miss on God’s best? We pray for enlightenment and peace, but do we search for and share the truth? Or do we lean on our own understanding, ego and personal agenda and false gods that twist our fidelity to the truth? We pray for love and unity, but
do we fill our thoughts and our hearts with the divinity of every human being and our equality in the eyes and heart of God? Or do we think we are more superior than others? Holier than others? Do we speak words and do acts of empathy? Compassion? Do we forgive or do we harbor resentment, revenge and ill will, instead of goodwill? Do we choose to think of what we share in common with others rather than what makes us different and apart? Do we think and speak and act toward building bridges instead of walls? We pray to honor and serve our God, but do our thoughts and words and action follow God’s Ways and calling in our life: “Whatever you do to the least of your brethren, you do unto me”? Do we think of the greater good and commit to something bigger than ourselves? God is using our trials and tribulations to reach up to Him, to allow Him to mold us, to prepare us to receive His grace. Remember the candles that the priest lights up during each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas? Christianity.com explains:
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Trump’s authoritarianism is still dangerous
Commentary
ENRIQUE
Philstar.com photo
has encouraged wrong-headed exceptionalist behavior. I was in line to enter a grocery store the other day when a few patrons ahead of me was a man not wearing a mask. An employee approached him, saying, “Sir you need to wear a mask” to which the man answered, “I don’t care about masks.” The employee responded, “Sir, it’s not about you. We are trying to keep this store open, so folks can buy groceries; we will get shut down if someone gets sick while shopping here.” The challenges in managing the spike in coronavirus cases here in the U.S. could very well be due in part to these exceptionalist attitudes that pervade the American psyche. I think, however, that despite American exceptionalism, Trump’s failure to unite the nation in a common fight against a serious health threat has needlessly led to more American deaths from the virus. For comparison, the 260,000 deaths and counting (as I write this), is more than four times the American combat deaths in Vietnam (60,000). I am puzzled why so many Americans affirmed Trump’s leadership. It is true that many voted for him, simply on the basis of single issues like abortion while ignoring his racism. But the vast majority feel that his leadership has given them reassurance and comfort. Why is this? I have been nudged into this search by a chat—via text mes-
sage—with a German friend, a space scientist in Germany who texted me the observation that begins this essay. What is it that my friend is so attuned to about developments in the United States under Trump to draw this observational parallel between the rise of Nazism in Germany and the rise of authoritarianism in the United States? A recent article by Matthew C. McWilliams in Politico may offer some insight into why my German friend found Trump’s tenure at the White House so compellingly descriptive of the rise of Hitler and Nazism in preWWII democratic Germany. McWilliam’s Politico essay derives from a much larger work, “On Fascism: 12 Lessons From American History”. I should also note that there are other studies out there about America’s authoritarian tendencies, but I find McWilliam’s observations rather prescient of the tableau that unfolded during this election year. McWilliams begins by observing that through high school civics classes, we come to believe that America is uniquely immune to authoritarianism as a country founded on freedom, equality, and justice. But he quickly adds, this is a national fairy tale. An authoritarian strain in American politics appears to have been stirred up by Trump’s candidacy during the 2016 elections, he observes. Voters then had a chance to repudiate this strain, but Trump won. Much damage has been done in the
ensuing 4 years but voters in 2020 finally repudiated him. Yet, McWilliams warns this strain of American authoritarianism will not magically vanish even if Trump loses. It is thus critical to understand the characteristics of this strain; it is doubly urgent to shine a light on it given the huge support that Trump has garnered, which shows how prevalent it is in the American body politic. What kinds of policies and changes will American authoritarians support once stirred up? McWilliams notes that American authoritarianism is not a policy preference such as lower taxes or pro-life, but a world view “that can be activated in the right moment by anyone with a big enough megaphone who is willing to play on voter’s fears and insecurities.” Thus activated, authoritarian leaning Americans “are predisposed to trade civil liberties for strongman solutions to secure law and order; and they are ready to strip civil liberties from those defined as the ‘other’.” Several incidents attest to this willingness to curtail civil liberties in ‘strongman’ fashion. During the summer of 2020 at the height of protests over the deaths of African Americans in the hands of police, Trump famously tweeted, “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.” Shortly afterward, law enforcement officers used tear gas and riot control tactics to forcefully clear peaceful protesters from
Lafayette Square for Trump to walk to St. John’s Church for a photo-op. He has openly encouraged violence. When protests against “stay at home” orders to help blunt the spread of the virus took place in Michigan, Minnesota and Virginia, In separate, all-caps tweets, Trump shouted, “LIBERATE MICHIGAN,” LIBERATE MINNESOTA,” LIBERATE VIRGINIA.” In the latter, he urged Virginians to “save your great 2nd Amendment. It is under siege!” These may have encouraged open insurrection for shortly thereafter, a militia group engaged in a plot to kidnap Michigan’s governor Gretchen Whitmer. Fortunately, the plot was thwarted. More recently, he fired his Defense Secretary for no apparent reason other than his refusal to use the military to quell peaceful protests in Washington, D.C. McWilliams feels, that authoritarian leaning Americans are more likely to support limiting the freedom of the press and agree that the media is the enemy of the people rather than a valuable independent institution. (Trump’s animosity with the press is public knowledge.) They are also more likely to think the president should have the power to limit the voice and vote of opposition parties, while believing that those who disagree with them are a threat to our country. This election year, Trump and Republicans have repeatedly cast aspersions on the validity of mailed ballots as
open to fraud and have filed lawsuits to prevent them from being counted. Fortunately, those in charge of canvassing votes, have conscientiously carried out their tasks, as judges have thrown out lawsuits alleging irregularities as being without merit. “American authoritarians fear diversity,” McWilliams writes, “they are more likely to agree that increasing racial, religious and ethnic diversity is a clear and present threat to national security. They are more fearful of people of other races, and agree with the statement that “sometimes other groups must be kept in their place.” This fear of diversity is clearly the motivation behind Trump’s order to defund diversity training. A ban issued in late summer forbids federal funding for “spending related to any training on ‘critical race theory,’ and ’white privilege.’” The memo urges agencies “ to identify all available avenues within the law to cancel any such contracts and… divert Federal dollars away from these un-American propaganda training sessions.” McWilliams observes that “The political path to galvanize American authoritarianism is… well worn and documented. First, purveyors of the paranoid style conjure an “other.” Second, this other is described as different from mainstream Americans, and identified as a clear and present threat to majoritarian values and traditions.
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Dateline PhiliPPines
SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • deCembeR 2-4, 2020
A
Duterte names 60 more government Isko tells youth: Be more critical of government execs dismissed for anomalies by Rey
GAlupo Philstar.com
by Alexis
RomeRo Philstar.com
MANILA — President Duterte’s shaming of government personnel tagged in anomalies continued as he read more than 60 names of people who have been dismissed from the service during a public address last Monday. Most of the dismissed personnel he mentioned worked for local governments, including mayors, while the rest were connected with the Departments of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Agriculture (DA) and Education (DepEd); the Commission on Higher Education (CHED); Bureau of Customs (BOC); the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Among the wrongdoings linked to the dismissed personnel were extortion, graft, grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and abuse of authority. “We have come to the part where I have to honor... my commitment to the people to report the progress of our campaign against graft and corruption... There are names of people who have been charged... These people were dismissed with finality only this year,” Duterte said. The dismissed personnel mentioned by the President were former secretary Nasser Pangandaman, Rowena Agbayani, Ronald Venancio, Teresita Legaspi Panlilio, Ricardo Oblena and Apipa Usman Manalocon of the DAR; Luben Quijano Marasigan of the DA; Doroteo Galavia, Lucinda dela Cruz and Mary Ann Sta. Maria Parcon of the DepEd; Rebecca
Among the wrongdoings linked to the dismissed personnel were extortion, graft, grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and abuse of authority. Philstar.com file photo by Joven Cagande
Teodosio Esto of the DepEd-managed Libacao National Forestry Vocational High School; Julito Vitriolo of CHED; Delia Morala of the BOC; Exequiel Arevalo Jr., Ferdinand Relasyon and Renato Masangkay of the PNP; and Brian Tuanquin, Ethelbert Aaron Kiunisala and Nilo Olimpo of the AFP. The list of dismissed local government personnel included former Iloilo City mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who has been accused by Duterte of involvement in the illegal drugs trade. Mabilog has denied the accusation. The Chief Executive said Mabilog had been dismissed for “grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.” The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of Mabilog in 2017 over questionable wealth. Other dismissed local government officials mentioned by
Duterte were Louie Senolos, Pedro Ruiz Jr., Renato Fontanil, Royle Macandog, Sergio Emprese, Sheila May Llanto, Constancia Salonga, Daisy Pili, Reynaldo Policarpio, Reynaldo San Pedro, Eduardo Ravena, Sherwin Antazo, Romeo Roseos, Renerio Raboy, Boyet Geronimo, Tito Fernandez, Ivan Siy Alcarioto, Danilo Casasola Sr., Merlinda Cuevas, Ferdinand Mojica, Rafael Palisoc Sr., Rodolfa Flores, Bel Altares, Maria Alicia Providencia, Mosibicak Guiabel, Ann Rutche Moreno, Renato Tubo, former mayor Nena Quijano, Wilfredo Laid, Toribio Reyes III, Jessie Galano, Beverly Faith Tanggol and Minisah Pundamudag Solaiman. Duterte also enumerated nine personnel whose former affiliations were not mentioned, namely, Dorothy Calimag, Gilbert Pineda, Luzviminda Torres, Teresita Reyes, Rogelio Capiral, Florufina Pelismino, Nena Quijano, Rosalina Cuadra, Rosemarie Luib and Faisal Dimaporo Macabato. Interior Secretary Eduardo Año also reported that 782 complaints have been filed against 1,278 persons tagged in anomalies related to the distribution of COVID-19 pandemic aid. Año said 367 complaints are under investigation while 270 others have been referred to prosecutors. Thirty cases have been filed in court while 27 complaints have been refiled before the ombudsman. Año said 184 administrative cases against barangay chiefs have been referred to the prosecutor, 57 are already in courts and 66 have been refiled before the ombudsman. A total of 89 barangay chiefs have been suspended, he added. n
God’s advent message for us amid...
PAGE A6
“The most common Advent candle tradition, however, involves four candles. A new candle is lit on each of the four Sundays before Christmas. Each candle represents something different, although traditions vary. The four candles traditionally represent hope, faith, joy, and peace. Occasionally, a fifth white candle is placed in the middle and is lit on Christmas Day to celebrate Jesus’ birth.
In Advent, God is asking us to WAIT. When we wait, we hope. When we hope, we have faith. When we have faith, we experience the joy and peace as we take that step of faith, and God will help us do things we cannot do on our own, and will take us to where we cannot go on our own — in His time. “Peace be with 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.
*** 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.
MANILA — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno yesterday called on the youth to be more critical of the government and public issues, but cautioned them against resorting to violence to make their voices heard. Speaking at the 157th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio at the Katipunan Shrine near the city hall, Moreno underscored the importance of love for country and God. He urged the youth to take inspiration from the courage and ideals of Bonifacio, but “avoid violence against our fellow Filipinos.” Moreno said the youth should emulate Bonifacio’s principles as a way of showing affection for the country. He also reminded government officials to effectively serve
the public and “take note of the teachings of the country’s heroes, which should serve as guide in nation building.” Zamora leads Bonifacio Day rites In San Juan, Mayor Francis Zamora led the commemoration of Bonifacio Day along with National Historical Commission of the Philippines executive director Restituto Aguilar and other local officials. Zamora also lauded the heroism of health workers and other frontliners in the fight against COVID-19. The city government conducted events in Barangay Onse in honor of Bonifacio, with strict compliance to quarantine protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. Barangay Onse, which celebrated its feast day yesterday, is a historic site where Bonifacio
Speaking at the 157th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio at the Katipunan Shrine near the city hall, Moreno underscored the importance of love for country and God. Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban
was believed to have sought shelter and congregated with other Katipuneros before the battle of Pinaglabanan. n
Trump’s authoritarianism is still... PAGE A6 Third, the paranoid leader stokes fear that a hidden conspiracy to undermine mainstream values is afoot and alleges that the other is behind it—activating American authoritarians. Finally, in its most virulent manifestation, the growing fear of the other is manipulated to rationalize actions that violate fundamental values, norms, laws and constitutional protections guaranteed to all Americans.” The fear that Trump has stoked, was most evident this summer amid BLM protests when a St. Louis couple started waving guns at BLM protesters who were peacefully walking through their neighborhood. Fear-mongering was most evident during the Republican National Convention when Trump himself warned that “Joe Biden and the radical left are also now coming for our freedom of speech, and want to bully us into submission.” Another speaker, without much evidence, declared, “They (Democrats and Sanders) want to destroy this country.” In defeating Trump this election cycle, Americans may have dodged the proverbial bullet of authoritarianism and fascism. But immediate and longer-term dangers lurk. The fear-mongering that was on open display at this summer’s RNC plays on the unease many whites feel about
the increasing diversity that they are experiencing through changes in the demographics of their neighborhoods, towns and cities. This unease is well illustrated by increased racially biased calls for police intervention through 911—for BBQing in a park (Oakland), for a Latino man playing with his lighter complexioned grandson (Torrance), for sitting at a Starbucks (Philadelphia), for a black student napping in her dorm’s commons room (Yale). A White woman was also caught on video for blocking an African American from entering the apartment building where he lives. In an age characterized by easy access to social media platforms, disinformation and falsehoods seem to have become part of our daily informational diet. We have yet to master the critical thinking skills to winnow out the chaff from the truth. Our social networks have turned into giant echo chambers, making it difficult to be objective on some issues. For the longer term, McWilliams urges us to “rebuild faith in the institutions of government and democracy by demanding that our leaders are constrained by the rule of law and our fundamental constitutional principles.” He adds that “we must confront and make peace with our history. We have much to be proud of as
Americans, but we also have a history that needs to be confronted…Reconciliation of our past transgressions strengthens us as a people.” This is strong medicine. I agree. White supremacy is a central pillar of nazism. It is likewise the scaffolding that supports slavery, apartheid, and Jim Crow. The attitudes and beliefs that grew out of these institutions still infuse American culture today. They manifest themselves through feelings of discomfort at the sight of “othered ” Americans in spaces they weren’t expected to be at, leading to 911 calls. They are what make Americans highly susceptible to authoritarian leaders. McWilliams warns that “A country where authoritarian ideals are ascendant, and remain ascendant, is no longer a democracy. It is on the road to fascism...” I hope that this presidential election has rerouted us away from fascism, and towards a society that affirms equality, diversity, and individual liberties. *** 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. ••• Enrique de la Cruz is Professor Emeritus of Asian American Studies at Cal State University, Northridge.
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The nal TheAsian AsianJour Jour nalMDWK MDWKMAGAZINE MAGAZINE- - December December 2, 2, 2020 2020
Apl.de.Ap Foundation Int’l, HiFi Kitchen partner for adobo pop-up shop to fundraise for typhoon relief in the Philippines by
AJPress
one day only, diners can get a taste of Apl.de.Ap’s adobo while giving back FOR to the Philippines, which has been recently hit by three typhoons.
The Black Eyed Peas member’s non-profit organization, the Apl.de.Ap Foundation International, is partnering with Los Angeles’ HiFi Kitchen to bring “Unbreakable: Adobo in Action” this Saturday, Dec. 5. The casual takeout/delivery café in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown will sell special orders of adobo, the beloved marinated Filipino chicken dish, using Apl.de Ap’s secret Pineda family recipe. Proceeds from the sales of Apl’s adobo will benefit PeDRO, a non-profit organization dedicated to typhoon relief in the Philippines. Advance online orders are now accepted at https://www.hifi-kitchen.com/ events, while quantities last. “We’re calling on the community to join us in helping the typhoon victims in the Philippines,” said Apl.de.Ap, recording artist and founding Filipino member of the Black Eyed Peas. “I’m proud to collaborate with HiFi Kitchen to raise donations through our ‘Adobo in Action’ effort.” The destructive typhoons in Asia, known as Typhoon Vamco (Ulysses), Typhoon Molave (Quinta), and Super Typhoon Goni (Rolly), have devastated the Philippines, thrashing cities, towns and provinces with landslides and flooding. The typhoons resulted in lost power for millions of Filipinos, more than 250,000 evacuations, and dozens of deaths. The country’s largest island of Luzon, loca-
Philippine Senator Manny Pacquiao
Pacquiao OK with sons joining showbiz, but says no to entering the ring By AllAn
PolicArPio
Inquirer.net
Chicken adobo based on Apl.de.Ap’s family recipe
tion of its capital in Manila, saw its worst flooding in years. Since October, eight different storms have wreaked havoc in the country, as flash floods, landslides, and power outages continue. “In honor of Giving Tuesday, this is a perfect time to place an order online now for Apl’s adobo,” noted Chef Justin Foronda of HiFi Kitchen, “but don’t wait until tomorrow
The Apl.de.Ap Foundation International is partnering with HiFi Kitchen to raise funds for typhoon relief.
as quantities are limited.” Pre-orders for “Adobo in Action” are now available online at HiFi Kitchen, with pickup scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5, between 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. HiFi Kitchen is located at 1667 Beverly Blvd. in LA’s Historic Filipinotown. Street parking and adjacent parking lot available. Social distancing will be enforced, and face masks are required for order pickup.
For the fundraiser, participants may choose from a single order of adobo for two ($50) or a dinner tray for four ($100), based on availability. Every donor with a receipt (and wearing a mask while observing safe social distancing) may have the chance to meet Apl.de.Ap in person on Dec. 5, at time of food pickup at HiFi Kitchen. More details available athttps:// hifikitchen.com.
Photo from Instagram/@mannypacquiao
SENATOR Manny Pacquiao has no problem with his two eldest sons, Jimuel and Michael, pursuing show biz. He and his wife, Jinkee, are actually supportive of it, he said. Just not boxing, the boxerturned-politician stressed— “that’s against my wishes.” “My firstborn, Jimuel, really wants to box … experience amateur competition. But if you will ask me, I don’t want him to. Boxing is a tough sport. I let him experience the rigorous training, so he can realize that it’s not easy,” he related in a video group interview, which introduced him as the newest endorser of the ubiquitous online multiplayer battle game “Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.” Not only is boxing punishing, but also dangerous, he pointed out. And his fears aren’t unfounded. “It’s a serious sport that can get you killed … like what happened to my friend. It can happen and can’t be totally avoided,” said Pacquiao, who lost his close friend, Eugene Barutag, after a bout in 1995. They were only 16 then. “Boxing is one of a kind. You have to be a true warrior in order to sustain yourself and fight in the ring. You don’t
just go stepping into a fight. You need to have focus and make a lot of sacrifices. You need hard work and discipline—all these qualities,” he said. “I don’t want my children to experience that.” Jimuel, 19, has expressed interest in acting and has been undergoing workshops. Michael, 18, is an aspiring rapper and has already put out his first album. And this early, the two are already getting a taste of public scrutiny that goes with being in the limelight. Jimuel’s relationship with ex-girlfriend, actress Heaven Peralejo, was fodder for tabloid gossip. And though Michael’s Wish 107.5 Bus performance of his song “Hate” drew raves and 13 million views on YouTube, it also attracted critics, who think that he only benefits from his father’s name. They have to be ready for these, Pacquiao said. “Michael isn’t used to that. There are bashers and sometimes he can’t handle it; he gets sad about it,” he said of his second child. You can’t please everyone. That’s one of the pieces of advice he gives his children. “I just make them understand that not everyone in social media will be supportive. Some will bash them. And I tell them to be understanding,” he said. Continued on Page 3
April Boy wears signature cap during wake
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 2, 2020
By Jan
Milo Severo Philstar.com
APRIL Boy Regino’s wife Madelyn Regino thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for providing financial support for the Original Pinoy Music (OPM) icon. In her Facebook page, Madelyn said Duterte gave financial support to April Boy for his maintenance medicines monthly. “Maraming Salamat sa aming Mahal na Mahal na Pangulo Duterte na Mula Noon Hanggang Sa Huling Laban Ng Buhay Na Aking Mahal na Mahal na Asawa Idol April Boy Regino ay hindi niya ito binitawan,” she said. “Sa hindi po nakakaalam si Tatay Digong po ang nagbibigay buwan buwan para sa maintenance ng mga gamot ni Idol, simula pa nun Mayor pa lang siya hanggang sa naging Presidente na siya,” she added. She also thanked Sen. Bong Go and other people who paid their respects to the singer. “Gayundin sa aming Mahal na Senator Bong Go at sa lahat ng nakiramay sa unang
Drew Arellano
April Boy Regino
gabi at sa lahat ng nakikisampatiya sa fb,messenger, celpon, you tube,mga babasahin at sa ibat ibang programa sa telebisyon at radyo na binigyan siya ng tribute Maraming Salamat po,” Madelyn said. April Boy died last
Philstar.com photo
Sunday due to complications from diabetes. Madelyn said that the singer also had stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease. In his wake, the “Jukebox Idol” wore his trademark jacket and cap instead of the traditional Barong Tagalog.
Making big waves in London’s West End By ricky lo Philstar.com
THERE’S another Filipina who is making big (as in BIG!!!) waves in London’s West End. Her name is Christine Allado, who stars in the musical Prince of Egypt, the soundtrack of which is nominated Best Musical Theater Album in the Grammys slated early January next year. In the musical, she plays Tzipporah, the wife of Moses (played by Charlton Heston in Ten Commandments, the epic movie based on the book Prince of Egypt by Dorothy Clarke Wilson). Conversations featured Christine in 2017 just a few weeks before the opening of Hamilton, the sung-through musical about the life of Alexander Hamilton (one of America’s Founding Fathers), in which she played a dual role as Peggy, the youngest of the three Schuyler Sisters, and (in Act 2) as Hamilton’s mistress Maria Reynolds. After her West End debut in From Here to Eternity as understudy of the lead character Lorene, Christine starred in more musicals including Sweet Charity, West Side Story (for BBC’s 60th anniversary production), Cinderella, Wasted, Phantom of the Opera and Here Lies Love as the understudy for the former First Lady Imelda Marcos role and as Dovie Beams (it was Mark Bautista who played Ferdinand Marcos). She has also performed with Andrea Bocelli. In that 2017 Conversation, Christine shared, “I was born (July 16, 1995) into a very musical family. We value education in the arts and in academics as well. But above all things, we love music. So I was very fortunate to have that as my background. I’m a city girl so as a child I grew up in Makati and then we moved to Quezon City. I went to school at St. Paul’s Pasig and college at UP Diliman. I have a postgraduate degree in Music and Theater from the Academy of Music in London. “I’ve always loved theater and film and I’ve always lived my whole life singing. So to be able to join the two together is a sublime gift. I’m thankful for it every day. No one in my immediate family is in the performing arts, so I guess I’m the black sheep in the bunch, hehehehe!!!” Christine has gone a long way since her honing days at Trumpets Playshop. Recalled Carlo Orosa, “She was already a standout vocally as a kid when she joined Trumpets Playshop. Every year, she would take classes in musical theater and voice classes at
creative team and producers two years ago where we did a reading of the show and some of the music. I didn’t know they were going to be doing a West End version of the show but while I was in New York, I got offered the show and the role of Tzipporah. No auditions or anything! I was very shocked as well that that could be possible!” What is the extent of your participation in the Prince of Egypt album? “I am very lucky and proud to be singing one of the most beautiful songs in the album, Christine Allado Photo from Instagram/@christineallado When You Believe, made famous by the Grammy-winour Musicademy in Shangrining version by Mariah Carey La Mall. She’s very warm and and the late and great Whitney humble as a young girl. When Houston. I also have two origiyou know her, she’s always the nal Stephen Schwartz songs first to greet and give you a that I sing in the album, a feisty hug. and fiery solo called Dance to “Her teacher Lani Ligot the Day, and a beautiful love recalled that Christine would duet called Never in a Million seek advice on major decisions Years. I also open Act 2 with like taking jobs in Hong Kong a small solo and end the show Disneyland and enrolling in a with some singing, so I’m kind musical theater course at the of dotted all over the album.” Royal Academy of Music in What was the process and London. backstory of the album’s mak“Her mom and family mem- ing? bers were all so supportive and “We learned all the music she was always very willing to in rehearsals back in December perform just anywhere even for last year and we found out we free. were doing an album towards “She had buddies and Christmastime. It was so excitwould perform side by side ing to know we were going with other Playshop students to be doing an original cast like Tippy Dos Santos and Red recording and that I was going Concepcion (now playing The to be a great part in it. We reEngineer in Miss Saigon).” hearsed with the orchestra in a Here’s our exclusive Constudio and eventually recorded versation with Christine last the vocals with Stephen Thursday: Schwartz himself directing us. What was your initial He gave me very specific and reaction after knowing your useful notes for my character group was nominated Best and directed me to get exactly Musical Theater Album for what he wanted. It was honthe Grammys? estly a dream come true! The “I honestly thought it was man who wrote the music to a joke or a mistake! It took a so many wonderful shows such while for it to sink in but the as Wicked, Pocahontas, Pippin moment I knew it was real, and so many more!” I was jumping up and down Will you be part of its and bursting with excitement! future staging? I couldn’t believe anything “Yes! We hope to be back like this was even possible. in the spring of 2021 when Especially as an actress, it’s COVID is hopefully under connot something you aspire to. trol. I’m so proud to represent But what a miracle it is that it’s Filipinos on the West End even an opportunity you can stages, especially while I play realize.” such a strong and powerful How was the Prince of role.” Egypt album cast recording? How was your stint in “We recorded the original Hamilton? cast recording back in January “It was one of the best this year in London before all years of my life for sure. To be the craziness of the pandemic. part of such a phenomenon And how lucky that we did, as was an absolute honor. And I they were considering doing still feel very much a part of it the recordings in March when as the blessings from it keep it would not have been pospouring through and people sible to finish the album.” always associate me with the Did you audition or was show which is lovely!” the role of Tzipporah asWith West End closed, signed to you? what keeps you busy? “This is the first time I “It was quiet in the bedidn’t exactly audition for a ginning with not much work role. I did a workshop with the Continued on Page 5
Pacquiao OK with sons joining showbiz...
From Page 2 “This has happened to me, from the beginning of my career until now… I try to draw inspiration from that.” Pacquiao has three other kids: daughters Princess, 14, and Queenie, 11; and son Israel, 6. And while his children’s lives can never be more different from the life of poverty he and Jinkee led growing up, Pacquiao makes it a point to show them where their parents came from. “We teach them household
chores. We had them study in General Santos City (his hometown) for two years, so they could realize that life isn’t just about comfort and luxury, which they enjoy now. I want them to know the kind of life we had so that they grow up humble and helpful to others,” he said. “Thankfully, God is good, and the children are kind and respectful.” Meanwhile, Pacquiao said he accepted the role as “Mobile Legends” ambassador mostly because of his
kids. “I already know of the game even before they got in touch, because Jimuel plays the game on his phone, and regularly streams with friends. So, why not be a part of what my son loves?” he said. He’s not that strict with his children when it comes to gaming, but they should be able to manage their time responsibly, stressed Pacquiao. “They just have to be responsible, and make time for themselves, their family and their studies.”
GMA photo
Discover & explore more exciting places with Drew By Boy
aBunda Philstar.com
CONTRARY to what people think about him being a hodophile and always on the lookout for new adventures, Drew Arellano would like to make it clear that he’s just out of the house twice a week for work even before the coronavirus pandemic. “So ever since naman, I’ve always been a ‘househusband,’” quipped Drew who is a loving husband to Iya Villania and a responsible dad to their three kids: Antonio Primo, four; Alonzo Leon, two; and Alana Lauren, four months. “So, nothing really changed (when pandemic hit). It’s just a little bit more time with the family which definitely is not something to complain about.” Drew sees it vital to connect with his kids more often to know them well — how they’re growing up, what their likes and dislikes — and that also “makes your relationship get deeper day by day.” Thus, Drew found it tough to answer when asked about his struggles during the height of the pandemic because he’s among the lucky few who didn’t find any anxiety-producing situations while staying at home all day.
“The quarantine gave us more reasons to be happy with the kids; true happiness kaya parang it’s hard to think kung naging challenging for me (the hard lockdown). All I can say is, being with my family means more happy times. We’re very happy having three kids.” It was only a couple of days ago when Drew began going out of the house to once again discover and explore exciting places in the country as Biyahe Ni Drew (BND) returned to primetime slot of GMA News TV last Nov. 13. In the coming weeks (Friday nights at 9:15), new episodes are set to treat televiewers to breathtaking sights and adrenaline-pumping adventures. The Asian Artists Agency, Inc. (AAAI) talent also agreed that there is nothing like stretching your legs again and getting some fresh air. He is aware that a lot of people are still wrapping their heads with the idea of traveling but by following to the letter the safety protocols and health guidelines of LGUs, Drew assured that it is safe to travel. “We (with the BND team) always wear masks, we always wash our hands and we do social distancing but more than these parang the mindset now
is alam mo this could actually work. Ako, personally, it’s not about working anymore but this (show) is now like an advocacy of informing people on how to travel during this time of uncertainty — what is allowed to do and what are the things to bring para makapasok? I think these are the questions na nasa utak ng mga tao so these are some of the things that we also want to inform the audience.” Part of their preparation prior to visiting a place is outsourcing stringers from faraway places to know the guidelines strictly being implemented. “’Pag ganun, of course, I have to work from home because I just can’t fly yet. So far, it’s not challenging at all. It’s been different but at the same time it’s very exciting to share with the people what we know and what they can actually enjoy again.” Asked to give tips before planning on a travel, Drew replied, “I travel because of my work that doesn’t seem like work (laughs). I can say that anyone can be a biyahero and there are so many ways to enjoy even on a budget. But it would be nice to keep in mind that when you travel now, you travel with a purpose.”
community The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 2, 2020
Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes THERE seems to be a misconception in the general public that you can only obtain
EMPLOYMENT
Can I obtain a divorce if my spouse refuse to sign? a divorce in California if your spouse will sign the divorce papers. I get this question a lot from our family law clients. The fact is that California is a no fault state and you do not
need your spouse’s signature in order to get a divorce. What is more important is being able to properly serve your spouse with the divorce petition and satisfy the jurisdictional requirement of the Court by showing that either you or your spouse resided in the State for at least 6 months prior to filing the petition and in the County for 3 months prior to filing the petition. When you file a divorce petition, you have to serve your spouse with the summons and petition. Your spouse then has 30 days to file a response after being served with a divorce petition. If your spouse fails to file and serve you with a response, you can file a request for default against your spouse after 30 days. You can also file a proposed judgment for the court to approve. The default procedure can be done even if there are issues of property division, custody, visitation, and support. However, the Court will still review your proposed judgment and property division to make sure it conforms to the policy towards equal division of community property. Meaning, you have to propose a division of community property that is pretty much equal between the spouses. If your proposed property division is one sided such as distributing all community property to you and giving all the community debts to your spouse, the Court would probably not grant your judgment. The Court would probably set a hearing for you to explain why this is an equal division of community property. The only time you may need your spouse’s signature is if your spouse files a response to your divorce petition. This is called “contesting” the divorce. If your divorce is contested by your spouse, you can resolve the case either by “settlement” or by “trial.” However, you do not have to settle all the issues in the case at once. Under the
Whatever happened to happily ever after? Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA
(ExcErptEd from the conclusion of a 3-part article) … There is news of suicide that hits you harder because you personally know the person who took his own life. By all accounts, he has led a good life but unknown to all, was going through overwhelming personal struggles, quietly wallowing in darkness and despair never wanting to cause a ripple and simply gave up. In many cases, those in their immediate family orbit say, they never saw it coming and will be left wondering WHY. Suicide, contrary to the lyrics of a popular song, is never painless. Those left behind who will have to pick up the pieces deal with the heavy pall of gloom and perhaps even guilt, that descends on them for a long time. So how does one deal with the dark night of the soul? I don’t know about you but it seems to me that darkness can only be fought and won decisively by seeking the light. Only light can dispel darkness. Psychotherapy, anti-depressants and all other known scientifically proven ways of dealing with mental illness and the eventual sickness of the soul may be of some help. But as in anything, the first step is to acknowledge and admit the condition as a serious cause for concern and to seek help right away. This is the crucial first step towards healing. And the hardest…… The courage to recognize and admit one needs help may not be enough though. Humility is a key ingredient. The afflicted must reach out to someone he can trust, someone who cares about him and lead him to those that can help. This is when fervent heartfelt prayers, his own and those of others, can assault Continued on Page 5 the heavens for mercy.
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“ … You have changed my mourning into dancing, O Lord, and have girded me with joy, alleluia…” —Psalm 30 In many cases, the bigger part of defeating the darkness of the soul lies within one’s self. Seek the light every which way possible, both physical and spiritual. Even the very act of being exposed to sunlight can fight off the sadness that afflicts many when the fall and winter seasons with their diminished amounts of sunlight come every year. If you have strayed from the Christian faith, COME BACK , renew and rekindle that relationship with God. He is the vine; we are the branches. Cut off from God, we wither and die. In daily life, seek the company of genuinely happy people who have that buoyant tendency to lift others. They have the force of high tide that lifts all boats. Cheerfulness is the daylight of the soul. Bask in joy-filled people’s megawatt light until you can generate your own. It may just be a flicker of hope in the beginning that grows into a bigger flame that may become a bonfire blazing within one’s soul. Quite possibly, with the Holy Spirit’s help, that once-ailing soul can become a light bright enough to give hope to others similarly situated. Like anyone else, cheerful people do have problems and undergo dark times. But they have within their inmost core, a steady spark of God’s light that enables them to tap into a wellspring of joy, no matter what season of the soul they are going through. You must stay away from negative, depressed people. Darkness can and will go viral given the chance. They have twice the force of gravity to bring you down to the depths of despair. In my pedestrian view, since deep depression is es-
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sentially a disease that afflicts the mind and withers the soul, all physical remedies seem to me to fall far short of true healing. A spiritual illness can only be cured by spiritual means. Match the method to the madness. A leap of faith is a must. God is light and only God can dispel the darkness of one’s soul. Without God, one can do nothing. The promise is clear for many who have remained steadfast in their faith. Faith is the solid and unwavering core belief that Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead so we may live happily ever after far beyond death into eternity. This is the ending really worth seeking for every life story. Rock solid faith brings a bottomless well of hope. Faith gives us a deep, down to the marrow, heartfelt and genuine appreciation of God’s unfailing love to see us through and bring us home in His own good and perfect timing. God gave us life as a gift. Our gift to God in return, is to live as joyfully as possible the whole enchilada, the full measure of that life until we are called home. What then is the ultimate weapon against dangerous depression that afflicts many today? It is JOY, the pure and simple expression of gratitude for GOD’S ENDURING LOVE. Christmas always reminds many hearts and homes God’s gift of love and joy. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com
Battle of the alma matter
GOLpH Cup Foundation and Kahel GC have teamed up to host the 1st Annual Battle of the Alma Mater at Sierra Lakes Golf Club in Fontana, California on Saturday, December 5, 2020. This event will feature golfers from six distinguished schools including Ateneo, DLSU, UST, U.P., Colegio San Agustin and DLS-Zobel all vying for the Al Justin Pintor Trophy. Some of the notable participants include Consulate General Adelio Cruz representing the University of the Philippines and former collegiate and PBA standout Jun Reyes of Ateneo. Our main objective is to collect donations including clothes, shoes, personal hygiene kit, canned goods, cash and school supplies to be distributed in the poor areas of the Philippines.
This event is sponsored by Al Justin Pintor of Beacon Hospice Care and Instagram Vlogger Manila Slice Golf - Rudy Mortero. Sierra Lakes
Golf Club is located at 16600 Clubhouse Dr, Fontana, CA 92336. For more information, please email ddevera111@ yahoo.com.
Trumpets Playshop that you’re using in your international career? “So much! Trumpets Playshop taught me how to be a good cast member, how to work as a team and achieve the same goal. It taught me to be confident and believe in myself and what you have to offer. It laid the groundwork for where I am today for sure!” What are your plans when live entertainment resumes? “I can’t wait to be back on
stage! I have a few shows over Christmas and in January so I’m already busy. But I can’t wait to keep being on stage where we belong!” Are you planning to live in London or will you be coming home to settle in the Philippines? “I’m not sure! I think a bit of everywhere really! Manila, London, New York and L.A.! That’s the dream! But the Philippines will always be my home.”
Can I obtain a divorce if my spouse...
From Page 4 concept of divisible divorce, you can settle some of the issues and set the other issues which you and your spouse cannot agree on for trial. Our office try to resolve cases through settlement because it is more cost effective and the parties are usually happier with the outcome. In that situation, the parties may avoid the cost and uncertainty of going to trial by executing what is called a stipulated judgment which is in essence an agreement as to all the issues in the divorce case. For issues which you and your spouse cannot agree on, you will have to go through the litigation process which
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 2, 2020
Making big waves in London’s... From Page 3 around so I made the most of it and took a break as I’d been going from show to show. But now it’s been picking up, I’d been a part of a Netflix and DreamWorks cartoon and that was released over the summer. I recorded a few more cast recordings for new projects and have been back in the West End doing workshops. So it still keeps going even though it’s behind the scenes!” What did you learn at
entertainment
involves obtaining discovery, exchanging declarations of disclosures, and preparing the case for trial. Ultimately, you will obtain your divorce at trial in addition to adjudication of the distribution of community assets and debts amongst other issues. It is in the best interest of the party to retain the representation of competent counsel who will assert his or her rights under the family code.
*** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may
make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com. Web: kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement)
Superior Golf Club recently held a November Tournament at Tukwet Canyon Golf Club with special guest LPGA Pro Bianca Pagdanganan. The group came together to show support for the future star of the LPGA tour. Superior Golf Club International presented a $1,500 check donation. Guests included Consul General Adelio Cruz, Catherine Cruz, Rey Perez, Coronel Roland Vilena, Nick Francisco and Rose Sarreal. Photo by Benny Uy
Why Sarah feels like she’s been married for 10 years already
IN a recent virtual interview that we attended, Sarah Geronimo was asked if having babies or raising kids was already on top of her priorities, now that she’s married to Matteo Guidicelli. “Not just yet,” she said. “Unang una sa lahat, we want to save first. Before the kids come, we want to enjoy this stage in our lives as husband and wife. We hoped we’d have enough time to enjoy each other’s company. Pero biglang nag-lockdown, so we didn’t get to travel and enjoy married life as much as we would have if not for this pandemic. “I even joked that it felt like Matt and I have already been married for 10 years because we were together 24/7. Gusto sana naming makapagipon for our travel funds. Ang galing nga ng asawa ko—he’s very organized. He’ll say, ‘Let’s set these funds for groceries, for our needs at home, etc.” “Then, we also want to build our own home. We’ve
Sarah Geronimo
set our priorities … medyo nakakalula po. But if you plan ahead and organize
Photo from Instagram/@justsarahgph
your priorities well enough, everything will follow.” (Rito P. Asilo/Inquirer.net)
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