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june 11-17, 2020
T h e F i l i p i n o –A m e r i c a n C o m m u n i t y N e w s pa p e r
Volume 31 - No. 23 • 12 Pages
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Palace: Critics free to question anti-terror bill before court by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
President Rodrigo Duterte signs into law the establishment of the National Academy of Sports during a ceremony at the Presidential Guest House in Panacan, Davao City on Tuesday, June 9. With the president is Senator Christopher “Bong” Go. Malacañang photo by Joey Dalumpines
Malacañang on Thursday, June 11, said that critics of the controversial anti-terrorism bill are free to question the measure before the court. The bill, since President Rodrigo Duterte certified it as urgent, has been receiving a lot of flak for its broad definition of what constitutes as “terrorism.” Netizens comprised of youth, progressive, and human rights groups have trended the hashtag #JunkterrorBill and have also started petitions and appeals to veto the measure. “The truth is, once it becomes
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REPAIRS. Workers fix the fence around the Andres Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City on Thursday, June 11. The monument, which consists of tableaus depicting the Philippine revolution, is often a center for Independence Day celebrations. The country commemorates its 122nd Independence Day on Friday, June 12. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
How Fil-Am moms approach current events, ‘the talk’ with their half-black kids
USA
DATELINE Weathering two storms at once: Managing a revolution in a pandemic from the AJPress NEWS TEAM across America
There’s no getting around it: times are tough on all fronts. The current appraisal of law enforcement as we know it that is forcing the United States to redefine law, order and justice continues to permeate local, state and even federal bureaucracies in a way that prior Black Lives Matter-centered protests haven’t before. Like all consequential political movements, this revolution is comprehensive. But the other battle that 2020 found itself in, the COVID-19 pandemic, persists in the background, rendering an arduous global theater that requires careful attention and cautious methodology: a virus doesn’t take days off for revolution. That being said, the two storms the world
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Community members celebrate Filipino resilience during COVID-19
2020 has proven to be a year when the primordial demand for human connection and empathy is at an all time high. Even though recent divisive events and brutalities upset efforts to reach unity in the era of physical distancing, communities like the Filipino American community aim to bridge cultural gaps, particularly in the world of mental health. Every Friday of the month of May, the Los Angeles-based Filipino American non-profit organization Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) hosted a weekly webinar series called “Filipino Fridays,” which discussed a variety of issues related to mental health, leadership and the importance of community strength in midst of economic, political and emotional precarity. In the U.S., May is observed as both Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, a coupling that is befitting to discuss and unravel the deep stig-
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by Christina
M. Oriel
AJPress
AS protests continue across the United States for a second straight week, families are finding themselves having uncomfortable, yet crucial conversations about race, injustice and police brutality. For many multicultural Filipino American families, these discussions are not new, but the latest events have renewed the national discourse and awareness Jennifer Taylor (second from right) with her children Gregory, 17, Savannah, 22, and Jillian, 19, and husband Rod Photo courtesy of Jennifer Taylor around the systemic issues that dispropor-
tionately affect black Americans. In her book “Raising Multicultural Children: Tools for Nurturing Identity in a Racialized World,” Farzana Nayani, a Filipina-Pakistani diversity, equity and inclusion specialist, made an argument for normalizing multiraciality and talking about race in a positive, nonstigmatized manner. However, she recommended approaching the conversations holistically and with historical context to prevent children from gathering stereotypes or incomplete de-
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PH tourism industry Duterte pursues stronger ties with China gears up for recovery by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
by Momar
G. Visaya
AJPress
TRAVEL and tourism are among the economic sectors badly hit by COVID-19 and as the rest of the world prepares to reopen and countries are working hard to get their respective economies back on track, all eyes are focused on how recovery can be done. In the Philippines, industry officials are confident that the country can get back on its feet. “We share the optimism of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) who expressed confidence in the recovery of the Philippine tour-
ism industry,” shared Philippine Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat in a kapihan that focused on the tourism industry’s efforts and programs to guide its stakeholders. Puyat also thanked the tourism industry’s partners both in the government and private sectors for the help and support they have been giving to jumpstart the recovery process. “If there is one silver lining in this pandemic, it is seeing an even stronger sense of bayanihan between the government, the private sector and our stakeholders,” she said.
AS the Philippines marked its 45th year of diplomatic relations with China, President Rodrigo Duterte stressed the need for pursuing stronger ties with Beijing amid the coronavirus pandemic. “As the entire world continues to face challenges to security and stability and the rule of law, and with the rise of nontraditional and emerging threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic, further strengthening Philippines-China partnership takes on even greater significance,” he said in a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping dated June 9. “We must forge on and ensure that the potential of our special ties is fully realized,” he added. Duterte also described China as a “valued
friend” and assured that the Philippines remains committed ”to preserve and build on the gains of our close partnership for greater peace, progress and prosperity for our nations.” This, despite the maritime dispute over the West Philippine Sea between the two countries. China, aside from refusing to acknowledge the arbitral ruling that invalidated its sweeping claim to the West Philippine Sea, also continues to conduct reclamation activities and put up military facilities in it. Meanwhile, Duterte continues to forge stronger relations with China, receiving flak from his critics for having a softer stance against its aggression over the contested waters. He marked the two nations’ anniversary
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House panels to look into PDRs of other media companies by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
THE Philippine House of Representatives will soon be scrutinizing the Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs) of other media companies that have been granted with legislative franchise or are looking to apply for one. Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado (Bulacan, 1st District), chair of the House committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, ordered the panel’s secretary
to secure copies of PDRs “of all major broadcasting mass media in the country that will apply or otherwise applied and given franchise by this committee” during the joint hearing of his committee and the legislative franchises on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal. “Because what we are discussing is PDR, even if ABS-CBN is the only one applying now, this committee would like to see PDRs of all media and broadcasting companies,” Alvarado said in The Philippine government received a new batch of 150,000 COVID-19 testing kits from the People’s Republic of China last
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May 10.
Photo courtesy of DFA
June 11-17, 2020 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678
LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • June 11-17, 2020
(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com
From The Front Page
House panels to look into PDRs of other...
STRANDED. Passengers stay under the flyover near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, in Pasay City on Thursday, June 11. Many passengers were stranded when domestic flights were canceled by their airlines. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
Palace: Critics free to question...
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a law, they (critics of the bill) can still file cases because our judiciary is functioning. If there is a provision that violates the Constitution, it would be declared unconstitutional,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque. He also recalled the time he challenged the constitutionality of the Human Security Act (HSA) of 2007 and lost at the Supreme Court in 2013. “We actually went to court and attempted to question the constitutionality of HSA and failed. The courts have said it’s constitutional, then why would you continue questioning its constitutionality?” Roque said. The anti-terrorism bill, which seeks to strengthen the Human Security Act of 2007, grants any law enforcer the capacity to arrest and detain without warrant “a person suspected of committing any of the acts” punishable under the measure for 14 calendar days, extendable by 10 days. The suspected “terrorist” can also be placed under surveillance for 60 days, extendable by up to 30 more days, by the police or the military. Acts punishable under the bill
include: • Engaging in acts intended to cause death or serious bodily injury to any person, or endangers a person’s life; • Engaging in acts intended to cause extensive damage or destruction to a government or public facility, public place, or private property; • Engaging in acts intended to cause extensive interference with, damage, or destruction to critical infrastructure; • Developing, manufacturing, possessing, acquiring, transporting, supplying or using weapons; and • Releasing of dangerous substances, or causing fire, floods or explosions. Any person who will propose, incite, conspire, participate in the planning, training, preparation, and facilitation of a terrorist act; as well as those who will provide material support to terrorists, and recruit members in a terrorist organization will also be penalized by life imprisonment without the benefit of parole. Meanwhile, anyone who will threaten to commit terrorism, and those who will propose any terroristic acts or incite others to
commit terrorism will suffer imprisonment of 12 years. This also goes for anyone who will voluntarily and knowingly join any organization, association or group of persons knowing that such is a terrorist organization. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., for his part, slammed the critics of the bill, saying they are “totally misguided.” “They are merely creating their own ghosts and twisting the main intent of the bill,” he said Thursday. According to him, the anti-terror bill is a long overdue measure that will provide the government the means to effectively eliminate terrorist groups and allow Filipinos to live peacefully and without fear in their communities. “For the longest time, state forces have been fighting the enemy with its hands virtually tied behind its back. Although there were already opportunities in the past to get our hands on suspected terrorists, we could not simply because our current laws did not allow us to do so,”said Galvez. n
PAGE 1 Filipino on Thursday, June 11. “I hope that before the next hearing, we can secure [copies] and compare if all PDRs contain the same contents,” he added. Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor, meanwhile, pointed out that PDRs have been used as a circumvention of the constitutional requirement that mass media companies should be 100 percent owned and managed by Filipinos. “Ang PDRs po ay pagtatago sa tunay na pagmamay-ari ng dayuhan (The PDRs are used to conceal the true ownership of foreigners),” he said. ABS-CBN is currently being accused of foreign ownership, allegedly through PDRs. “There is an actual share in ABS-CBN Corp. They may not have their names. Wala sa pangalan nila yung ABS-CBN Corp. share, pero ang bawat PDR ay may katumbas na share sa ABSCBN Corp. (The ABS-CBN Corp. share may not be under their names, but each PDR is equivalent to a share in ABS-CBN Corp.),” Defensor said. ABS-CBN’s legal counsel, Cynthia Del Castillo, for her part, said that holders of PDRs issued by
Duterte pursues stronger ties...
PAGE 1 as an “auspicious time” to reaffirm their shared aspirations and the principles that they have committed to uphold as enshrined in the Joint Comminique 45 years ago. “These same sacrosanct principles for peaceful co-existence and mutually beneficial cooperations will remain our lodestar, as we continue to work together as partners under our Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation,” Duterte added. Malacañang said that the Philippines-China’s ties are enjoying a “renaissance” under the Duterte administration. “We hope that this renaissance will lead to better relations resolving all the disputes that we have between our two countries, increase economic ties, increase prosperity for both Philippines and China,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque. n
ABS-CBN Holdings are “passive investors.” “Ang only expectation ng investors (The only expectation of investors of) PDRs would be of course whatever cash distribution and gains they can derive in the trading and transfer of ownership of the PDRs. As far as the issuance of PDRs is concerned, the
PDR instrument does not transfer any voting rights, especially the right to vote directors,” she said. “We have not circumvented the Philippine Constitution, and all the terms and conditions of the PDRs have been fully disclosed and evaluated by the government agencies and the market authority,” she added. n
June 11-17, 2020 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL
Dateline USA
Weathering two storms at once: Managing a...
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has found itself in has opened up the door for a bevy of health problems. As Dr. Tung Nguyen of the University of California, San Francisco put it in a press briefing on Friday, June 5, these tumultuous times remind “us that the morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 include a worsening of other health problems due to competing priorities.” At the press briefing — which was hosted by Ethnic Media Services and focused on the twopronged crisis centered mainly in the U.S. — experts discussed the myriad of ways in which the protests, police brutality and civil unrest are contributing to the mounting health crisis. “The underlying causes of health disparities are the social determinants of health, and they include poverty, education, environment and health care access,” Nguyen continued, equating racism to physical viral infections that cause detriment to the body and mind. “We know that racism is often thought to be one of these determinants as well because we know that chronic exposure to racism causes the body to change adversely through the release of stress hormones and neurotransmitters.” The racism, in this case, involves the disturbing pattern of police using brute, fatal force against unarmed Black individuals. The recent killings of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd have catalyzed protests across the world, forcing
governments to reckon with the deeply-rooted racism that continues to pulse through agencies designed to protect the public. Besides the known damaging effects of systemic racism and bias, the protests themselves have also brought forth new health concerns. Recently, health experts like Nguyen have advised against the use of tear gas, which police squads across the country have been throwing at protesters to quell the demonstrations. A 22-year-old woman in Ohio died on May 28 from exposure to tear gas and pepper spray “discharged by police” at a protest two days before, the woman’s father told the local coroner’s office, according to a New York Post report. There have been 1.8 million infections and more than 107,000 deaths related to the COVID-19 virus in the U.S. as of Tuesday, June 9. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those numbers are expected to skyrocket as more and more parts of the country begin re-opening and protests continue without following social distance guidelines. Following those variables, the CDC predicts between 118,000 to 243,000 deaths by June 27, before most vaccines will be ready to advance to testing phases. Currently, there are 17 vaccines for the COVID-19 virus undergoing human trials, including an early vaccine called Moderna, which is expected to the third phase of testing before health experts determine its efficacy. But Nguyen noted that testing
for the Moderna vaccine isn’t expected until well into July. Nguyen noted that the COVID19 pandemic has put into sharp relief the existing impairments in the American health care system, brought on by politics that inhibit the possibility of an equitable system of care. “In my view, [the pandemic] has severely stressed all our dysfunctional systems — the health, economic, legal and political — to their limits and broke them,” Nguyen remarked. “We can no longer pretend that they are good enough, and they were never good enough except for those of us who enjoy [the] privilege.” The construct of racism that has infiltrated institutions, bureaucracies and everyday encounters is all-encompassing. You can’t talk about unemployment, poor education, food insecurity and climate change without bringing up racial disparities and the disproportionality of black and brown Americans to suffer from these flawed systems, Nguyen said. “Racism is a disease and police brutality is a disease vector, much like the job of a physician and in public health interventionists are the same: control the vectors and eradicate the disease,” Nguyen said. Eradicating a disease like racism, to most people, feels like a fool’s errand. Racism as a social construct has been around since the beginning of civilization, and although contemporary society can largely agree that racism is bad, pinpointing the finer ways
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How Fil-Am moms approach current events... PAGE 1
pictions of race from external influences. “Conversations about race without talking about systemic inequity present an incomplete picture of reality and can do harm because they can leave children unprepared when facing challenges or new awareness to societal issues. It is important to teach our children and others around us how generations of systemic oppression and current unconscious bias, negative stereotyping, and explicit discrimination can and do happen due to race,” Nayani wrote. For Jennifer Taylor, a mother of two daughters ages 22 and 19 and one 17-year-old son in Arcadia, California, the self-education on raising a biracial family began as early as when she was pregnant with her first child to anticipate future questions and curiosity about being both Filipino and black. Through the years, she and her husband have been candid and truthful about American society’s treatment towards black Americans. “I have been reading books on interracial and multicultural parenting since I was pregnant with my first child so I knew that the conversation about colorism and their mixed identity had to happen at a young age,” Taylor told the Asian Journal. “My husband and I have always been open in conversations and not sheltering the kids from the harsh reality of anti-blackness. There’s no need to candy coat hate.” One particular book Taylor found helpful to read to her chil-
Monica Alvarez-Mitchell (center) with her family (L-R) daughters Lydia, 21, and Abigail, 14, husband DeRohn, and sons Bryan, 15, and DeRohn Jr., 20.
Jennifer Fontanilla with her son CJ, age 9.
Maria Hendy (right) with her husband Stuart and their children Harmony, James and Matthew.
dren is “I’m Chocolate, You’re Vanilla: Raising Healthy Black and Biracial Children in a Race Conscious World” by Marguerite Wright. Reaching out to friends and family members who are black has also helped through the years and inspired her and her daughters to start Swirls for Girls, a non-profit organization for multicultural girls and their caregivers in the Los Angeles area. Monica Alvarez-Mitchell, a mother of four between the ages of 22 to 14 in the New York area, said the awareness of race began around the age of five when her eldest son was in school and a classmate called him black. Experts say the start of schooling is around the time when children begin to ask questions about the differences they perceive in others. “My son didn’t know that he was black because his skin was light. So it became important that we explained why he was being called black. My son was confused about skin color versus culture,” Alvarez-Mitchell told the Asian Journal. “We had to explain that cultures define identity and that being black and Filipino was pretty special because we had two cultures to call our own. Despite what anyone says or how they say it, be proud because we were not only equal but in some ways even luckier than others.” Jennifer Fontanilla, a mom in La Palma, California, similarly said that at the age of 4, her son began asking why his father has a darker skin tone. Other conversations have come along the way as her son, who is now 9 years old, is more becoming more perceptive of the world around him. “I had to explain that there are different cultures and races and that that is ok and a beautiful thing because ‘we created you.’ Every stage is different and each conversation is started because of a new encounter of information,” she told the Asian Journal. While history classes at school cover certain historical moments like slavery, segregation and the civil rights movement, Fontanilla has sought other venues for teaching her son about black history, such as going to museums and watching movies. “Of course this needs to be appropriate. I remember my son watched ‘Hidden Figures’ with me and it gave him the perspective of how black women were treated in the workplace. What’s important for him to note is how white people mistreated these people based upon the color of their skin and see how life back then included using separate bathrooms and drinking fountains,” she said. An added layer for black families is “the talk” about what to do and not do when confronted by a police officer. Taylor said she and her husband spoke to their children when they were preteens about how to manage if they are stopped. “I don’t remember the exact words, but I do remember that it
made me sad and mad enough to secretly excuse myself from the dinner table and cry alone in the bathroom. I never had those talks as a young Filipina girl. I do know what it feels like to be thought of and treated inhumanely,” Taylor said. For Alvarez-Mitchell, it was brought up following the death of Trayvon Martin, a 17-yearold black unarmed teenager who was shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida in 2012. Martin’s death and the acquittal of his murderer subsequently ignited the Black Lives Matter global movement. Her children were told to be aware of their surroundings, to not be out and about alone, and to stay calm and not escalate a situation if someone is trying to harm them. When her older kids got their driver’s licenses, the conversations shifted to what to do if they get pulled over, which included tips like keeping hands visible and to not fight back with the cops. “These were very no-nonsense conversations. We simply had to tell them that this is the reality they have to deal with. I remember that they asked questions about what if the cops did this or that,” Alvarez-Mitchell said. “We had to tell them the truth: that a cop can do whatever to them, they simply must take it. Even if the cop does anything wrong, the only focus is to get away from the cops [and out] of the situation alive.” Following the more recent deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd, families are balancing the collective emotions in the household as well as how they can stand in solidarity and use their voices. It’s important that parents create a space for their kids to process the events, especially as graphic images and videos are played out online and on the news — including the videos of Arbery and Floyd which have been widely shared. As children often receive cues from their parents, Fontanilla made it a point to remain calm when reacting to current events and passing the information to her son in terms he could grasp. It also initiated part of “the talk” between the two of them. “I had to explain that the events are not just stemming from one incident but rather a culmination of what has been happening for centuries. I had to explain about how we are to treat and respect different cultures and that not all cops are bad. If he hears anything that is hurtful, he needs to remember that those are lies and not the truth. I reminded him that it will hurt and I saw that it made him sad as the tears welled up in his eyes. I started introducing the idea to him that he needs to be aware that as a black person, there are things that he needs to take extra precautions on because of his skin color,” Fontanilla said. Maria Hendy, a mother in Bur-
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Dateline USA
LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • June 11-17, 2020
Community members celebrate Filipino...
PAGE 1 mas held strongly by the Asian American community. The final “Filipino Friday” meeting on May 29 — called Bridging Our Journey — brought together leaders in the Fil-Am community in LA as well as local officials in a robust conversation about the dire need for mental health awareness in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has sparked anti-Asian sentiments across the country and the world. “Bridging our unique personalities and also our unique traditional values in Asian American culture, and to share it among our residents who really need it [is really important] because those are some of the gaps that they see needs to be filled and that we at SIPA want to see,” said John Swing, community economic development program manager for SIPA. Among the most pressing issues affecting the collective mental health of the Asian American community includes the complex crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic which, for the Asian American community, is multilayered. Not only are Asian Americans fighting to stay healthy and avoid contracting the virus like the rest of the world, but they are also fighting a new wave of racism and discrimination related to the virus while ensuring their financial livelihoods are secured. Since the middle of March when COVID-19 catalyzed widespread safer-at-home orders, the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Committee (A3PCON) has reported more than 1,500 incidents of hate directed toward the Asian American community through its hate crime tracker, as previously reported by the Asian Journal. The LA County Commission on Human Relations also reported a surge in hate crimes and incidents targeting the Asian American community, announcing more than 100 reports of hate incidents related to the pandemic from February to April. Hoang Nguyen, the field deputy for LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis, said during the SIPA webinar that through the county hotline 2-1-1, which is dedicated to
reporting hate crimes, the county was able to direct victims to the “appropriate resources and referrals.” A small minority of the incidents reported to the county and A3PCON include violence, but a majority of them include verbal attacks and microaggressions like derogatory remarks and slurs as well as accusations of being infected with the virus. (The connection of the latter references the virus’ origin in Wuhan, China.) Nguyen also noted that tracking incidents like this help to inform community education, policing and mental health programs that can help combat the specific discrimination that the Asian American community is facing right now. “Fighting hate isn’t just about education, though that’s a big part of it. It’s about knowing that these incidents happen [and] just because we’ve only had a couple hundred [reported] incidents happen doesn’t mean that only a couple hundred incidents actually happened,” Nguyen said, acknowledging the Asian American community’s hesitance to reach out to law enforcement. A key part of mental health management in a modern, capitalist world involves the economy, and while the overall American economy is experiencing an upturn, the financial state for many Filipino Americans remains at risk. Nguyen praised the Board of Supervisors’ implementation of the eviction moratorium which, for the 88 cities in LA County, allowed for renters to skip rent if their finances were affected by the pandemic and prevented “more people from falling into homelessness.” In the LA proper, Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell of the 13th District shared that his office was currently working on a reprioritization of funding, allocating $2 million from public infrastructure projects to be split evenly between renters protection programs and small business relief. He also shared that an unspecified portion of the $100 million the city received from the federal CARES Act would be allocated
to rent subsidies for low-income residents, adding that he plans to allocate $2 million toward cultural enrichment events and programs like the Lotus Festival and Filipino events for the 13th District. “It’s okay that even during a pandemic --- when we know there’s lots of suffering and lots of precautions that we all must take --- we take a breath and celebrate what we have,” O’Farrell shared. Among the industries hurt most by the pandemic, the non-profit sector continues to experience its own financial quandaries. OrFISH FOR FOOD. A man catches fish to feed his family amid the COVID-19 threat in Bacoor, Cavite on Wednesday, June 10. Fishing is part of ganizations like SIPA, which are the livelihood of people residing along the coastal area. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan fuelled by in-person community events and programs, have had to adjust to the virtual workworm to adhere to physical distancing PAGE 1 measures. but sure” approach in reopening ation,” said Jojo Clemente, presiBut the Asian Pacific ComDepending on when travel re- the tourism industry and regain- dent of the Tourism Congress of munity Fund (APCF), which has strictions are lifted, the United ing the confidence of visitors both the Philippines. served as an alternate source of Nations specialized agency warns international and domestic. Clemente added that they have funding for API nonprofits since that international tourist arrivals The department also issued also been meeting with their 1990, exceeded its May fund- could fall by between 60% and travel advisories through its dedi- counterparts for market updates, raising goal and raised $190,000 80%. cated website www.philippines. citing Korea and Australia and from 1,500 unique donors to fund Puyat said that in a webinar travel/safeph, to help travelers saying that they still want to visit nonprofits like SIPA. with the UNWTO last week, its with up–to-date and reliable in- the Philippines when it becomes According to APCF program Secretary-General Zurab Pololi- formation about travel protocols possible. manager Christine Lee, almost kashvili expressed his confidence and health measures in place; At the kapihan, Puyat men70% of the organizations it that the Philippines can restart the establishments open to ac- tioned that she is traveling to Booversees said that their operat- and recover. commodate OFWs and essential racay this week along with fellow ing budgets had been negatively The secretary also cited a workers along; requirements for secretaries Eduardo And (DILG) impacted by the pandemic, and Forbes Magazine report which in- stranded tourists and OFWs and and Roy Cimatu (DENR) to see roughly 40% said that they had cluded the Philippines in a list of new policies and updates in the the possibility of reopening the not received funding during the rising stars in travel, among with tourism industry. island to tourists. crisis. six other countries that have the “Titingnan namin ang (We Among the new policies that “This is something that is very potential to become a major tour- Puyat mentioned is about these will look at the) health protocols concerning to us because we ist destination in the post-COVID accommodation establishments doon,” she said, citing the imporknow that after this [pandemic] world. needing DOT certification in or- tance of health and safety protois all over, we’re talking about The article said that with more der to operate, based on guide- cols in the country’s tourism desrecovery, and we have to wonder than 7,500 islands, “this mas- lines set forth by the Inter-Agency tinations. if our nonprofits like SIPA are sive archipelago has something Task Force for the Management She also mentioned that Boequipped to serve our communi- to offer for even the most finicky of Emerging Infectious Diseases racay has zero cases of COVID-19 ties,” Lee shared, adding that the of tourists.” The Philippines is (IATF-EID). and that they are looking at “travAPCF has been collaborating with joined by Ethiopia, Iran, MyanAccording to IATF-EID’s Reso- el bubbles” or “travel corridors,” philanthropists to ensure funding mar, Georgia, Slovenia and Tuni- lution No. 43 of the Omnibus especially since the country has to these community nonprofits. sia in the list of “highly underrated Guidelines on the Implementa- 7,641 islands. The Filipino American com- nations” that have yet to become tion of Community Quarantine, “We can actually look at particmunity relies on leadership that world-class destinations. “Accommodation Establishments ular islands that are zero COVID represents it and vows to look at “Tourism isn’t just a headcount (AEs) may operate only upon the or practically very minimal Covid issues with an intercultural lens. of visitors. More importantly, it is issuance of a Certificate of Au- because it is safe for domestic And the quickest way to achieve an industry that creates jobs and thority to operate by the DOT.” tourists to go to that place, and that is to have a city government supports communities,” Puyat Domestic Tourism eventually we can open it to forthat reflects the constituency’s said. Domestic demand is expected eign tourists,” Puyat explained. demographic makeup. Tourism in the New Normal Cesar Cruz, president of the to recover faster than internaFilipina American Jessica To mitigate this unprecedented tional demand according to a Philippine Tour Operators AssoCaloza, Board of Public Works global downturn in the industry, UNWTO Panel of Experts survey. ciation (PHILTOA) echoed Puyat’s Commissioner for the City of LA, DOT has resorted to what Puyat The majority expects to see signs sentiments. His organization, comshared that despite budget cuts referred to as aggressive market- of recovery by the final quarter of posed of about 400 tour operators u PAGE 7 ing campaigns. 2020 but mostly in 2021. and travel agency members, has Its ‘Wake up in the Philippines’ Based on previous crises, lei- been planning to jumpstart docampaign included video adver- sure travel is expected to recover mestic tourism through various tisements of the country’s pic- quicker, particularly travel for vis- activities, including virtual events. turesque attractions, 360–degree iting friends and relatives, than “We are looking forward to plagued the community, kick- underwater virtual tours and in- business travel. having these travel bubbles as starting many social media cam- structional cooking videos featur“Like everyone here on the pan- we reopen our domestic tourism paigns by Asian Americans to ing Filipino chefs. el, we are very optimistic that we so we can all bounce back,” he bring awareness to the issue and DOT hopes to sustain its “slow will be able to rise above this situ- said. n to come up with solutions to mitigate anti-Asian sentiments. That being said, it would be at odds to ignore the current and ongoing fight to end police brutality, and Asian Americans who’ve previously neglected to stand with the Black community should now show solidarity, Yang said. “That has to change,” Yang said. He referenced Tou Thao, C<>8C @DD@>I8K@FE `j X 9@> @JJL< k_\j\ [Xpj% D8EP `e fli Zfddle`kp E<<; the Hmong-American officer pfli j\im`Z\j% K_\i\ Xi\ k_fljXe[j n_f dXp nXek kf \og\[`k\ k_\`i i\j`[\eZp fi who stood by and didn’t interglijl\ ]lcc Z`k`q\ej_`g Ylk [feËk befn _fn kf Y\^`e Xe[ n_\i\ kf ^f% vene with the officer who knelt on George Floyd’s neck as he died, and how Thao’s behavior highlights the flawed racial dynamics within the Asian American community. (Thao was later 8J@8E AFLIE8CËJ GIF=<JJ@FE8C J<IM@:<J ;@I<:KFIP# n`cc efn Y\ charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aidilee`e^ n\\bcp# \m\ip K_lij[Xp f] CXj M\^Xj <[`k`fe% ing and abetting second-degree manslaughter.) “We recognize that there is racism within our own commu8AËj GJ; ZXe _\cg PFL i\XZ_ flk kf k_\d X]]fi[XYcp Xe[ \]]\Zk`m\cp% nity and that we recognize that is part of systemic racism, so part of the solution is having those hard conversations with our own community,” Yang shared. n
PH tourism industry gears up for...
Weathering two storms at once: Managing a... PAGE 4 that racism seeps into nearly every space of modern life has become more muddled. In national public health and safety crises, empathy plays an enormous role, but when these crises largely target the Black community, empathy isn’t guaranteed, according to Jody D. Armour, the Roy P. Crocker Professor of Law at the University of Southern California. As a professor specializing in racial injustice, Armour discussed the phenomenon of ingroup empathy bias wherein the care and empathy directed towards one group isn’t directed to other groups of society. Armour referenced the lack of urgency among health and disaster agencies regarding Hurricane Katrina. It took days for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to respond to the majority-Black communities that found their homes destroyed and lives in danger, but instances like 9/11 triggered “a panic of empathy” and immediate relief. “It happens on a neuronal level and it’s not even conscious a lot of the time, but the bottom line is we have relative indifference to
the suffering of those who don’t belong to our in-group,” Armour explained. In addition to supplementing the immediate courses of action that activists are advocating for — reallocating police budgets to homelessness, education and other public services that directly benefit lower-income communities of color — comprehensive cultural reckoning and undoing have to occur at the community level first. The Asian American community isn’t detached from the conversation of systemic anti-Black racism. John C. Yang, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, stressed the importance of standing up for the Black American community as Asians, a group that has “not always stood up for the African American community in this cause.” As the Asian Journal has extensively written, news coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic has fomented racism and discrimination targeted at the Asian American community. Microaggressions, bullying, Zoom bombs and in some cases violence has
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How Fil-Am moms approach current events...
PAGE 4 bank, California, said that while there were no explicit discussions about racism and discrimination through the years, her 19year-old daughter Harmony is participating in protests and engages in discussions at home about what she sees in the media. “Now that she is 19 and these protests are going on, she is listening and she has the understanding of the situation. We will watch the news together and she will listen to what her dad will say. She has several friends that are walking [in] the protests and she will tell us that there are some incidents on the protests that are not being shown on TV,” Hendy told the Asian Journal. As Taylor’s children are now young adults, they are processing and reacting to the events differently in their own ways, but she and her husband reiterate that they are “strong, smart and resilient.” “We are having raw conversations about the injustice of being black. One of my kids is angry that her non-black friends and family did not know how much pain black people are in and what has led up to this point. Another one of my kids feels that nothing is going to change and has resigned to life being unfair,” Taylor said. “We are still in the middle of the storm so it
is hard to say how we will come out with this. But we are giving our kids the room to express their emotions and individually letting them approach the issue with whatever they feel is best for them.” While the whirlwind of emotions is valid, Alvarez-Mitchell’s family is trying to be proactive and see a glimmer of hope in the protests and calls for change. “We have a myriad of emotions from sad to angry to frustrated to helpless at times. But we accept that this is our reality. So now [we] are trying to focus our efforts on how to create change. We are focused on protesting, educating our social circles of the black American reality and changing the narratives we are seeing from certain media outlets. We are also trying to keep some level of hope through it all,” she said. On social media, many Fil-Ams have expressed the tough discussions they’ve been having with older relatives about anti-blackness, colorism, colonial mentality and internalized racism. For biracial Fil-Ams, they have shared encountering microaggressions or ignorant remarks from other Filipinos or even extended family members about the color of their skin or their appearance. “There are ignorant people who do not understand the dam-
aging effects that are said, and that can come from people you would least expect it to come from. In the Filipino culture, one of the saddest things I have experienced is that there is no tact. Statements are said almost with no regard, [like] ‘You’re taba!’ or ‘Sobrang itim mo!’ The part that is sad is that in our culture, we’re taught to respect our elders. So this makes it difficult when we want to defend what is right, but then that can come off disrespectful when you’re trying to make your point and correct what is wrong,” Fontanilla said. Alvarez-Mitchell emphasized that their children have the right to respond and express how certain comments have made them feel but to be respectful in the delivery. It can also be a teaching moment for both parties. “Stay patient. Family is important. So try to forgive ignorance and focus on love and respect for your family member. Even when you are pushed by them, stay calm,” she said. “When family gets too much to bear, express your feelings. Be firm about how you see things. Never let a family member’s misguided beliefs go without stating your differing point of view. Your voice matters. But remember that you won’t always change their opinion or vice versa. Just ensure your family does not minimize your opinion or voice.” n
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June 11-17, 2020 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL
Opinion
A continuing trade AMID the pandemic, President Rodrigo Duterte is again fulminating against the priority targets of his administration: drug dealers. In his address to the nation last week, the President reiterated his promise to kill drug traffickers. The statement was prompted by a series of shabu busts conducted by law enforcers even amid various levels of lockdowns imposed nationwide to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. A day before the President’s warning, a police raid on a house in Marilao, Bulacan led to the confiscation of 756 kilos of shabu valued at P5.1 billion. Perhaps the COVID-19 quarantine and the consequent widespread loss of livelihoods made the illegal but highly lucrative drug trade more attractive. Despite the President’s reiteration of his warning, police on Saturday afternoon, June 6, seized another 36 kilos of shabu with an estimated street value of P244.8 million in Tambo, Parañaque. Chinese suspect Jin Long Cai and his Filipino companion Danny Apiga were shot dead in the sting. Where do such massive amounts of prohibited drugs come from? Methamphetamine hydrochloride can be manufactured in home laboratories, but the precursor drugs need to be imported. The biggest
source of both precursors and finished shabu has been China. The former head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Aaron Aquino, had openly lamented that one of the weakest links in the war on illegal drugs is the Bureau of Customs. Aquino had pointed to the biggest drug hauls of the PDEA, with the contraband brought in right through the country’s ports. Either BOC personnel are sleeping on the job or are in cahoots with the drug traffickers. Authorities must find out, and determine if any crooked officials may be involved in the continuing shabu trafficking operations. Authorities must also tighten screening of the entry of Chinese nationals, who for some time have enjoyed the privilege of obtaining tourist visas on arrival in the Philippines and then disappearing from the state’s radar. Even their own government is looking for Chinese lawbreakers, wherever they may be in the world. The illegal drug trade is hugely profitable, and traffickers rarely take a rest. With law enforcers busy enforcing quarantine rules, the traffickers should not be allowed to take advantage of the pandemic to grow their business. (Philstar.com)
Features
Editorial
The Fil-Am Perspective Gel Santos-Relos PRO-LIFE. Anti-abortion. Antiillegal immigration. Rule of law. Conservatism. Christian faith and values. Lower taxes. Fiscal responsibility. These are the core issues close to our hearts as Filipinos in America, making many kababayans lean Republican instead of the prochoice, more inclusive, more tolerant and progressive Democratic Party. In the many presidential debates I moderated for The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast “Balitang America,” I heard how these fundamental reasons have compelled Filipinos in America, especially those who have been here for decades, to vote for whoever is the Republican nominee. For more than a decade, I have witnessed how Fil-Ams of different political affiliations and principles have agreed to disagree and remained respectful of each other’s differing opinions and made a deliberate decision to remain friends despite the political divide. Those who were in the middle, unaffiliated, and independent had a hard time deciding because almost always, the nominees were all of good character and personal integrity, that the factors they had to consider would just be the platform offered by each nominee and their party. Sure there were a few “personalan”, digging some dirt against the opposing party and nominee, but the engagement of kababayans with each other was generally civil and courteous…until Donald Trump ran for President in 2016. From then on, the engagement, even among Filipinos in America, became vile, toxic, divisive and destructive. I do not know which of Trump’s attributes caused these qualities and attracted some kababayans to
Philstar.com photo
Dear Filipinos in America: It is time to let go of fanaticism and call out Trump for betraying his oath to the Constitution be blindly loyal to him — the self-professed billionaire reality show star who loved “firing people”; the self-absorbed man who would pretend to be a different person who would personally call reporters from media outlets to reveal juicy stories as “Trump’s publicist”; the white, rich, powerful businessman who is so obsessed with Barack Obama, so much that he would fabricate conspiracy theories that the first African American president of the United States was not really born in America but in Kenya or Indonesia, raising doubts in the hearts and minds of people who, like him, were not ready to accept that Black people can also be president. Probably the rise of social media also factored in, because for the first time, we have witnessed the immense power of technology in sharing their comments online, hiding behind a different name or alias, posting comments without thinking of the content and the tone of their rhetoric. We have been taken aback by how different social media platforms could also be used to spread fake news stories by questionable news organizations and paid trolls whose objective was to destroy political opponents no matter what the cost. Perhaps, this toxicity is spreading like a virus because of the man who takes pride in modeling this kind of behavior and rhetoric. Sadly, not only the people who adore him as his loyal fans emulate him. The party of Lincoln, Reagan and Bush is now likewise hijacked by Trump, and those in the executive and legislative branches who wanted to hold on to power by riding in Trump’s popularity abandoned the very conservative values that used to define the GOP (Grand Old Party). “The presidency does not
change a person but reveals his true character”, paraphrasing Former First Lady Michelle Obama. For three years — issue after issue — we have seen Trump dig deeper into a bottomless pit, and sadly, he is pulling the nation and the American people in his quagmire. His unbridled, unhinged and irresponsible use of the power Office of the President and the bully pulpit that goes with the office without regard to the truth and facts to destroy people, American institutions, news organizations, businesses and industries critical of him and against his personal agenda; his inhumane treatment of immigrants, especially people of color — both undocumented and documented, including refugees; his betrayal of public trust as revealed by the Mueller report, his pro-rich anti-poor economic policies that have made the leagues of billionaires and millionaires become richer as ordinary hard-working Americans become poorer without decent living wages and social services meant to be the equalizer for them to rise higher; to the way he handled the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritizing his political agenda over the safety of the American people, denying facts and science, using religion in his reality show presidency — these are but a few examples. And now this, the heartless killing of another Black man in the hands of the police just ignited the anger of Black people, people of color and their supporters. Individuals around the country are risking their lives amid a pandemic to protest against racism, racial injustice, police brutality and Trump’s fanning the flame of division in response to this crisis. THE BOTTOM LINE: Donald Trump has betrayed the American people and the oath he took when he was sworn in as presi-
dent — to defend and protect the Constitution and be the president of ALL Americans. Do not take my word or opinion for it. Listen to leaders of his own party who are out there in a limb protecting the conservative values of principles of their party. Listen to Constitutional scholars, listen to historians, open your eyes to how his actions betray his promises, and how his rhetoric betrays his own claim. Read this piece written and signed by 89 former defense officials, published by the Washington Post on June 5, 2020: President Trump continues to use inflammatory language as many Americans protest the unlawful death of George Floyd and the unjust treatment of black Americans by our justice system. As the protests have grown, so has the intensity of the president’s rhetoric. He has gone so far as to make a shocking promise: to send active-duty members of the U.S. military to “dominate” protesters in cities throughout the country — with or without the consent of local mayors or state governors. On Monday, the president previewed his approach on the streets of Washington. He had 1,600 troops from around the country transported to the D.C. area, and placed them on alert, as an unnamed Pentagon official put it, “to ensure faster employment if necessary.” As part of the show of force that Trump demanded, military helicopters made low-level passes over peaceful protesters — a military tactic sometimes used to disperse enemy combatants — scattering debris and broken glass among the crowd. He also had a force, including members of the National Guard and federal officers, that used flash-bang grenades, pepper spray and, according to eyewitness accounts, rubber bullets to drive lawful protesters, as well as members of
the media and clergy, away from the historic St. John’s Episcopal Church. All so he could hold a politically motivated photo op there with members of his team, including, inappropriately, Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper and Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Looting and violence are unacceptable acts, and perpetrators should be arrested and duly tried under the law. But as Monday’s actions near the White House demonstrated, those committing such acts are largely on the margins of the vast majority of predominantly peaceful protests. While several past presidents have called on our armed services to provide additional aid to law enforcement in times of national crisis — among them Ulysses S. Grant, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson — these presidents used the military to protect the rights of Americans, not to violate them. As former leaders in the Defense Department — civilian and military, Republican, Democrat and independent — we all took an oath upon assuming office “to support and defend the Constitution of the United States,” as did the president and all members of the military, a fact that Gen. Milley pointed out in a recent memorandum to members of the armed forces. We are alarmed at how the president is betraying this oath by threatening to order members of the U.S. military to violate the rights of their fellow Americans. President Trump has given governors a stark choice: either end the protests that continue to demand equal justice under our laws, or expect that he will send active-duty military units into their states. While the Insurrection Act gives the president the legal authority to do so, this authority has been invoked only in the most extreme conditions
when state or local authorities were overwhelmed and were unable to safeguard the rule of law. Historically, as Secretary Esper has pointed out, it has rightly been seen as a tool of last resort. Beyond being unnecessary, using our military to quell protests across the country would also be unwise. This is not the mission our armed forces signed up for: They signed up to fight our nation’s enemies and to secure — not infringe upon — the rights and freedoms of their fellow Americans. In addition, putting our servicemen and women in the middle of politically charged domestic unrest risks undermining the apolitical nature of the military that is so essential to our democracy. It also risks diminishing Americans’ trust in our military — and thus America’s security — for years to come. As defense leaders who share a deep commitment to the Constitution, to freedom and justice for all Americans, and to the extraordinary men and women who volunteer to serve and protect our nation, we call on the president to immediately end his plans to send active-duty military personnel into cities as agents of law enforcement, or to employ them or any another military or police forces in ways that undermine the constitutional rights of Americans. The members of our military are always ready to serve in our nation’s defense. But they must never be used to violate the rights of those they are sworn to protect. *** 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.
How a Filipino American immigrant unlearned racism Commentary
Jon Melegrito I will confess that I’ve had anti-Black sentiments. I don’t make any excuses. When we first moved to Washington DC, we moved into an apartment that was predominantly Black. It was in the ‘60s and we just got married. And there was a swimming pool in our apartment and I told my wife not to go because a lot of Blacks go there. We thought
that the pool was dirty and dangerous. I’m ashamed to think about this now, because it’s despicable – but this was the level of thinking we had when we first immigrated into America. We were conditioned to think of Blacks as inferior through American media in the Philippines. It took me a while to understand that this type of thinking had no place. I had to educate and unlearn myself to liberate from racism. This painful process of unlearning happens when you study history. The author Carlos Bulosan wrote about Filipinos being treated like dogs in the past in America. And now you compare that to Black communi-
ties – the way they are mistreated and unjustly regarded, especially in light of Black Lives Matter. There are a lot of commonalities between Filipinos and African Americans. I have two granddaughters. In my old age, I find that if I do anything worthwhile for the rest of my life, it’s to dedicate myself to making sure that they inherit a world where there is social justice and that there’s a good relationship among races. After all, the struggle of Black communities for justice and equality is also our struggle, and it is part of the American story. This story was originally published in 2016 via AARP x NextDayBetter storytelling campaign.
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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Dateline Philippines
Pacquiao denies talking about running for president with Arum by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
PHILIPPINE Senator Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday, June 9, denied that he discussed his supposed plans to run for president with his former longtime promoter Bob Arum. “We talked about Crawford, but we didn’t talk about politics,” he told ABS-CBN News’ Dyan Castillejo. His statement came after Arum revealed that Pacquiao had confided to him about his intention to run for the presidency. “I did a Zoom telephone call with him (Pacquaio), ‘Bob, I’m gonna run in 2022 and when I win, I want you there at my inauguration,” Arum said. However, the 41-year-old senator stressed they only talked about a potential showdown with Terence Crawford, the undefeated WBO welterweight titleholder. “Yes, we discussed the fight against Terence Crawford. Wala namang problema, maganda ‘yun (There’s no problem with that, it’s going to be a good fight),” Pacquiao said. He added that he will only return to the boxing ring once a vaccine for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been developed. “[Lalaban tayo] pagka-may vaccine na ‘yung coronavirus. Depende naman pagka safe na ang mga tao at para for my own good (I’ll only fight if there’s already a vaccine for the coronavirus. It will depend on if it’s safe
RETURNING OFWS. A Philippine Coast Guard personnel assists returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) upon their arrival via Gulf Air GF-154 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, in Pasay City on Sunday, June 7. The OFWs underwent reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) tests as pre-requisite for returning Filipinos. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan Philippine Senator Manny Pacquiao
for the people and it’s also for my own good),” he said. ‘Vote wisely’ Arum’s statement about Pacquiao’s political plan sparked concern among Filipino netizens, who questioned his capability to run the country and who urged Filipinos to vote wisely. “Pacquiao is thinking of running as president in the 2022 elections. Hindi pagkatao ang pinaguusapan dito (His personality isn’t the one up for discussion) but his capability. He can’t even defend his stand during debates,” one Twitter user posted. “May this be a reminder not to make the same mistake you did in 2016. Please vote wisely sa
Photo from Instagram/@pacquiaomanny
(on) #Halalan2022,” she added. “So, Pacquiao is planning to run for president this 2022 elections? I hope Filipinos won’t make the same mistake again, 2016 elections was a nightmare and it still haunts me up to this day. We don’t want another homophobe, who’s clearly illequipped, lead this country,” another user tweeted. “I salute Pacquiao’s compassion for the people, and as our pride as an athlete, but not his capability of running for the presidency. Pls. vote WISELY this 2022. We should take (into) consideration the future of our country when voting for the next leader,” said another. n
COVID-19 infections in Philippines jump to 24,175 with addition of 443 cases by Gaea
Katreena Philstar.com
Cabico
MANILA — The number of confirmed coronavirus diseases (COVID-19) patients in the country reached 24,175 on Thursday, June 11 after the Department of Health reported another huge increase in new infections. The DOH logged 443 new cases Wednesday—253 fresh cases and 190 late cases. The day before, the country saw 740 additional infections. Fresh cases refer to patients
who tested positive within the last three days, while late cases were patients who tested positive from at least four days earlier. Of the newly-validated cases, 83 were detected in Metro Manila, 72 were from Central Visayas, while 288 were spread out across the archipelago. Hundreds of new cases are still being detected in the country daily despite the nearly three-month implementation of quarantine measures. Two hundred seventy more recoveries were registered,
pushing the number of COVID19 survivors to 5,165. This is the highest number of recoveries in a day. But nine more people died due to the severe respiratory disease. This brought to 1,036 the country’s death toll. President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to address the nation on Monday and provide new directives on community quarantine measures. The coronavirus pandemic has killed at least 415,277 people out of the more than 7.35 million infected worldwide. n
Major crimes ‘hit all time low’ during quarantine –PNP THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday, June 10 reported a 57 percent drop in focus or major crimes in the country throughout the quarantine period that started in March. PNP Chief Archie Francisco Gamboa said this was based on a comparative analysis by the Joint
Task Force COVID Shield, which reported 5,652 incidents from March 17 to June 8, 2020 against 13,004 cases from December 24, 2019 to March 16, 2020. The focus or major crimes are murder, homicide, rape, robbery, physical injury, theft, and car theft. Motorcycle and car thefts reg-
istered the highest drop at 82 percent and 81 percent respectively. Robberies went down by 68 percent followed by theft at 67 percent. Rape posted a 49 percent drop, physical injury, 38 percent; murder, 37 percent; and homicide, 30 percent. (ManilaTimes.net)
US wishes Philippines a ‘prosperous’ Independence Day amid VFA uncertainty by Bella
Perez-Rubio Philstar.com
THE American state department on Wednesday released a statement in anticipation of Philippine Independence Day on June 12. “On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I wish the people of the Republic of the Philippines a happy and prosperous independence day on June 12,” US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said. Pompeo went on to celebrate the strong partnership between the two countries. “The U.S.-Philippine alliance is fortified by our shared history, rich people-to-people ties, and deep bilateral cooperation. As we stood together during World War II and in the global fight against terrorism, our nations are partnering again to contain and mitigate COVID-19. Our friendship and cooperation stand as a model for ensuring peace, stability, prosperity, and health across the Indo-Pacific,” he said.
This statement comes amid some uncertainty over the future of the Visiting Forces Agreement, which the Philippines has terminated. The VFA allows Filipino and American forces to hold joint trainings on Philippine soil. It was signed by the Philippines and the US in 1998 and ratified by the Philippine Senate in 1999. Last January, President Rodrigo Duterte announced his plan to terminate the VFA after his political ally and former police chief Sen. Ronald dela Rosa’s US visa was cancelled. Officials claim that the move was also in response to the US Senate resolution condemning the human rights violations in the Philippines and the call made by some American senators for detained opposition senator Leila de Lima to be freed. The decision to scrap the VFA was made formal in February, kicking off a 180-day countdown for it to expire. However, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. an-
nounced earlier this month that the president ordered the suspension of the termination of the VFA. The suspension is for six months but can be extended for another six. Locsin said the coronavirus pandemic and “heightened superpower tensions” had prompted Duterte to make the decision. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, commander of the Philippine Army, welcomed the chief executive’s decision, saying it would help the country as it continues to face the COVID-19 pandemic. He also stressed the long-established relationship between the two states, anchored on the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has clarified, however, that Duterte has not changed his mind about the termination of the agreement. “When it comes to the VFA, what was suspended was the process of termination. The president has no new decision when it comes to the termination,” he said at a press briefing. n
Community members celebrate Filipino... PAGE 5 that are plaguing many of the city’s departments, her mission to ensure that the Filipino American voice is included in city issues hasn’t steadied. “One of the greatest privileges I have in serving the city is being your first Filipino American Commissioner on the Board of Public Works, and that holds especially true in May for APA Heritage Month,” Caloza said. “These stories and struggles that you uplift, not just in May but really everyday, help inform the work that we
do at City Hall so that we are better policymakers, that we create better programs that really help address the needs that you all bring to light, and that is so critically important for us. We need your work and advocacy so that we can do our jobs.” Caloza acknowledged the charitable work of Filipino small businesses in supporting frontliners of the COVID-19 pandemic, like the food donation projects from The Park’s Finest and HiFi Kitchen. Despite the difficulties of the
current situation, these businesses continue to provide for the community while adjusting and adapting to the ever changing economy, she said. “I think that what you’re all proving to be true right now, is that we will get out of this stronger, and we will get out of this smarter and more resilient,” Caloza said. “One thing I hope you take away from this is that we continue to really serve each other as a community and your struggles are our struggles.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress) n
‘China will soon install air, naval base on Scarborough Shoal’ by Patricia Lourdes Philstar.com
Viray
MANILA — After hinting that it will impose as air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in the South China Sea, Beijing would soon reclaim Scarborough or Panatag Shoal, retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio warned. Scarborough Shoal, a traditional fishing ground as ruled by a United Nations-backed tribunal in 2016, lies 124 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales. In an interview with ANC’s “Headstart” Thursday morning, Carpio noted that Beijing needs military bases to control the South China Sea. Beijing’s expansive claims in the South China Sea comes from its nine-dash line map, which the arbitral ruling already invalidated. “If they really want to control the South China Sea they have to put up an air and naval base on Scarborough Shoal because there’s a hole in their radar missile coverage,” Carpio told ANC’s “Headstart.” The retired magistrate also noted that Beijing had installed military outposts in the Paracels and Spratlys. However, China needs a base in the northeastern section of the contested waterway, which is near Scarborough Shoal.
“When China recently hinted that it will impose an ADIZ over the South China Sea... that means one thing — China will soon reclaim Scarborough Shoal to put up an air and naval base,” Carpio said. Beijing delaying South China Sea code Carpio also warned that nothing will happen to the negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) between China and ASEAN countries, including the Philippines. Beijing would only agree to a code of conduct after they have reclaimed Scarborough Shoal and completed their island-building activities in the South China Sea, according to the retired magistrate. “That means nobody else can build and that will legitimize what China has done in the South China Sea. All these artificial islands of China will be legitimized... so that’s why China’s been delaying this code of conduct because it has not yet completed its islandbuilding,” Carpio said. US an ally in defending Scarborough Shoal On the termination of the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), Carpio believes the military convinced President Rodrigo Duterte to suspend the country’s withdrawal from the
defense pact. Last week, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. announced that he sent a notification to the U.S. Embassy suspending the termination of the VFA for six months, which can be extended to another six months. The VFA was supposed to end in August. Carpio criticized the administration’s earlier move of withdrawing from the VFA, calling Duterte’s foreign and defense policy in “total disarray.” “Suddenly we realize that because we notified the U.S., we are terminating the VFA we are suddenly without an ally to protect and defend Scarborough Shoal,” Carpio said. “That means we have not thought through the termination of the VFA. We just terminated on a whim. That is not how to conduct foreign policy, that is not how to defend our country,” he added. Duterte earlier said he would terminate the VFA if the U.S. fails to “correct” the cancellation of Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s visa. Malacañang later on insisted that this move was not made on a whim but was impelled by “a series of disrespectful acts” by some U.S. senators, who have been vocal against human rights violations linked to Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs. n
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June 11-17, 2020 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL
Journal Reflecting on husband’s death, Pinay weather anchor Maria Quiban Whitesell releases guide to grief and healing A YEAR after Maria Quiban Whitesell’s husband Sean died of glioblastoma, a friend mailed her a book containing all the email updates she sent during the 18 months he battled the aggressive form of brain cancer. “It spurred the memory and promise that Sean and I made to each other, which was to write the story,” Quiban Whitesell told the Asian Journal. “That’s really how it began and I thought I needed to go back and write so it’s been a couple of years in the making.” Nearly five years since her husband’s death, Quiban Whitesell, an Emmy Award-winning weather anchor and meteorologist for FOX11 in Los Angeles, released “You Can’t Do It Alone: A Widow’s Journey Through Loss, Grief and Life After” this week. A mix of a memoir and guidebook, the latest release offers insight for families and caregivers as they care for loved ones with terminal diseases and make preparations for life after. “I wanted to share my story and if that could help someone, then that could help heal my
heart,” Quiban Whitesell said. “When I went through this in the beginning, there were very few resources. When you search brain cancer and glioblastoma, a lot of information comes up, but there weren’t any real, or as many, personal stories.” Based on personal notes, journal entries and emails to her support system, the Filipina American news personality provides an intimate and raw look into her family’s handling of the diagnosis and death of a loved one, while putting on a brave face to deliver weather updates to millions of views each day and creating a life with a young son afterward. At the end of each chapter, co-writer Lauren Schneider, a licensed clinical social worker, offers universal lessons on acceptance, grief and healing. “When you are going through the kind of crisis that I went through, and for many people facing a terminal or any devastating disease, the last thing you want to do is sit down and read a very long clinical book,” Quiban Whitesell said. Quiban Whitesell begins by detailing how she met her late husband Sean — a television show writer and producer — and the family they started together with
Maria and Sean Whitesell with their son Gus
Front cover of “You Can’t Do It Alone”
By Christina
M. Oriel
AJPress
EMPLOYMENT
Fil-Am comedian Jo Koy
Photo from Instagram_@jokoy
Jo Koy to film movie with Steven Spielberg By Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
FILIPINO-AMERICAN standup comedian Jo Koy is set to work on a movie with the revered filmmaker Steven Spielberg. “I signed a deal with SteMaria Quiban Whitesell holds a copy of her new book, “You Can’t Do It Alone: A Widow’s Journey ven Spielberg’s company. [He] Through Loss, Grief, and Life After,” released on June 9 by Hachette Books. watched my last special ‘Comin’ a son named Gus. After noticing In the subsequent chapters, In Hot’ and then he gave me a behavioral changes, Sean went Quiban Whitesell writes about deal for a movie, so get ready in for check-ups that revealed the resources that helped her for that. We’re writing the script a diagnosis for glioblastoma in and the family, such as finding a now,” the comedian said in a June 2014. support group of other spouses Zoom interview with The Manila Following the news, the couple experiencing the same disease Times Entertainment and other was faced with having to commu- (called the “Seven Samurai”), members of the Philippine press nicate the diagnosis and treatment as well as what she wished she on Tuesday, June 9. Spielberg’s production complan to their friends and family, knew about balancing work, especially to their son who was 3 caregiving and parenting. In the pany, Amblin Partners, will team years old at the time. Schneider 18 months, the Whitesell family up with Dan Lin’s Rideback to suggests avoiding euphemisms, got to a point where they “chose produce the movie which will be such as lost, passed or went to joy” and built memories in the based on Jo Koy’s real life experiences. sleep, and to communicate in remaining time together. “Steven’s 100 percent on board. age-appropriate language for the “I decided to take six weeks child to grasp. The family was off and we were going to create We just signed the deal maybe a upfront with telling Gus about new memories for us and try to couple of months ago. So yeah, Sean’s cancer diagnosis, while prioritize that time with our son,” be on the lookout. I’m doing a making sure to not confuse it she said. “We went on a couple movie called ‘Easter Sunday’ with terminology like “sick” or of vacations, experienced Dis- which is an idea I pitched and it’s “not feeling well” that could be neyland, and concerts. We did a going to showcase more Filipino used for less serious conditions lot of things and found as much actors and more Filipino stories, also. PAGE 10 and we’re going to get this in as
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many movie theaters as we can,” Jo Koy added. He also expressed his excitement with having Spielberg and Lin on board with the movie. “These two powerhouses are going to back this for us. I’m very proud to put it out there,” Jo Koy said. The comedian is also doing a collaboration with clothing brand Illest, which is set to be released on the same day as his Netflix comedy special. “Jo Koy: In His Elements” will be available on the streaming platform on June 12. According to Jo Koy, the special will show how beautiful the Philippines is, and how beautiful the people are. “Everything about this special is Filipino, the cameraman, the people in the audience, the people that own the venue,” he said. Jo Koy, whose birth name is Joseph Glenn Hubert, first took the stage in Las Vegas in 1989 and has been working as a stand-up comedian ever since. His two previous Netflix specials are “Comin’ in Hot” and “Live from Seattle.”
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Health@Heart Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS SINCE the first COVID-19 case was detected and confirmed on January 20, 2020 (144 days ago) in the United States (in the State of Washington) in a man who returned from Wuhan, Hubei, China, on January 15, 2020, and the official declaration by WHO of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States has had around 2.1 million cases and almost 115,000 deaths; the Philippines, about 23,000 cases and more than 1,000 deaths. Worldwide, there are almost 7.3 million cases and about 420,000 deaths. Remdesivir running out Since drug manufacturer Gilead released the first dose (50,000 vials) of the FDA-approved experimental intravenous antiviral drug Remdesivir the week of May 4, 2020 of its promised donation of 1.5 million doses, there has been a snag in the production and confusion in the distribution of this cure of COVID-19 to various hospitals in the USA. The current supply is projected to run out by the end of June, unless Gilead successfully ramps up its production, or another drug maker comes up with another curative drug. There are various antiviral drugs and medications being studied in other countries. Vaccines appear not to be forthcoming soon, but anticipated to be available within a couple of years. Hydroxychloroquine not effective, hazardous! The hype about hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a preventive or curative drug for COVID-19 appears to be dying down as dozens of reports from reputable medical centers show that this famous anti-malaria, antilupus, anti-arthritis decades-old drug (solo or in combination with Azithromycin) was not effective in preventing or curing COVID-19, and may have even contributed to some COVID-19 cardiac deaths from fatal arrythmia (Torsades de Pointes, QT prolongation) in about 10 percent or more. Dr. Anthony Fauci, an epidemiologist and Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was against the use of HCQ from the very beginning, suggesting randomized, dou-
Community Journal
LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • June 11-17, 2020
Latest on COVID-19 Protect yourself from COVID-19: Stop smoking and vaping now
ble-blind clinical studies on the drug first to find out its efficacy and safety for COVID-19. In a large registry research involving 15,000 COVID-19 patients, published in Lancet, showed “all of the hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine groups had higher rates of in-hospital mortality (16-24%) than the control group (9%). They also had higher rates of ventricular arrhythmia during hospitalization (4-8%) versus controls (0.3%). A study involving 1,438 COVID patients in New York revealed the same “no benefit” results. In view of the multiple dozens of trial studies on hydroxychloroquine around the world, the World Health Organization had temporarily halted hydroxychloroquine trials due to safety concerns. By this midJune, the data results from the HCQ reviews of the WHO Solidarity Trial and other ongoing trials will be released. The final verdict on HCQ for COVID-19 will be out soon. How does SARS-CoV2 get to a person The SARS-CoV2 virus that causes COVID-19 is transmitted by droplet from the breath, speech, cough, or sneeze of an infected person to anyone within at least 6 feet, especially to seniors, even more rapidly to seniors with health issues or to those with compromised immune system. Young children could also get infected. With one sneeze by an infected individual, it is estimated that there are 40,000 viral molecules that is sprayed with a trajectory that could reach up to 9 feet, and remain airborne an hour or so, depending on the airflow or wind. The virus is plastered against the mucous membrane of the eyes, nose, and mouth, the reason goggles and face covering are important. To survive, the virus needs a host, a human in this case, to survive and replicate. The virus has a predilection for the respiratory system, so it goes down the breathing pipe and eventually to its main target, the lungs. What kills the COVID-19 patient Once the virus enters the host, it replicates rapidly. In the trachea, bronchi, and the lungs, severe inflammation takes place, to which the body’s immune system reacts, causing the release of body mediators called cytokines, in response
to the injury. A cytokine storm results, which in itself leads to multiorgan damage. The inflamed lungs thicken and solidify (pneumonia) and their swollen air sacs loaded with fluid losing their ability to do release of harmful carbon dioxide and absorb/provide oxygen for the body. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome sets in and kills about 13-15 percent of patient above 80 years old. The others, more stoic and/or younger, survive with ventilatory support. Majority without. The other mode of death is cardiac in origin. It has been noted that COVID-19 patients, especially the elderly or those with previous heart condition, also develop inflammation of the heart, myocarditis, poor ventricular function (cardiomyopathy), and finally heart failure and cardiogenic shock among about 20 percent of them. This widespread clinical findings around the world among COVID-19 patients (inspired by data from Wuhan, China) led to the standard practice of testing the Troponin level on admission of COVID-19 patients, and if needed, doing other cardiac tests. The elevated Troponin level was associated with poorer recovery and higher mortality (at least 69.4 percent) compared to 13.3 percent among those who are Troponin negative. Doing this test could save countless lives among COVID-19 patients. Reclosing after re-opening The experts believe a second or more waves of COVID-19 is possible, as what happened in the 1918 pandemic that wiped out more than 50 million people around the world, and the other pandemics (SARS, MERS, etc.) thereafter. In Singapore and South Korea, which had aggressively dealt with COVID-19 very early and had strict measures and contact tracing, there was a strong resurgence in crowded dormitories. The same recurrence in China, Japan, and Italy. COVID-19 reinfection was found in Wuhan recently among those with flare-ups up to 50 days after recovery. Reclosing after re-opening (due to resurgence) is imposed in South Korea and Lebanon, among others. Days after North Carolina relaxed some of its stay-home rules, a new high of 443 cases in one day was confirmed. The various protests going on where
by By
Elisa Tong, MD, MS
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine University of California, Davis DOCTORS like me and many other health professionals are working to treat sick patients for the COVID-19 virus. The best ways for you to help are to stay home, wash your hands, and not smoke or vape. Here are three good reasons why you should stop smoking and vaping now: Smoking doubles your risk of developing respiratory infections. In one study,1 391 healthy volunteers had 1 of 5 respiratory viruses, including a coronavirus, dropped in a liquid into their noses. The volunteers who smoked were twice as likely as those who did not smoke to develop an infection. Smoking is known to weaken the immune system and the body’s ability to fight infections.2 Smoking doubles your risk of getting sicker from COVID-19. In a review of 5 studies published to date,3smoking is most likely associated with getting sicker with COVID-19. In the largest study of 1099 people with COVID-19,4people who smoke were 2.4 times more likely to get really sick (e.g. admitted to an intensive care unit, needing mechanical ventilation, dying) compared to those who did not smoke. Smoking can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other health problems that may contribute to serious illness.2 Stopping smoking still helps your health if you have COPD or heart disease.5 Vaping can also harm lung health. Growing evidence suggests that the aerosol from vaping devices can harm lungs at the cellular and organ levels and worsen the body’s ability to fight respiratory infections.6 The re-
cent outbreak of e-cigarette, or vaping-associated product lung injury, predominantly affecting young people, is still a major public health concern.7 You can get free help to stop smoking and vaping! The California Smokers’ Helpline is here for you. Counselors will help you develop your own personal quit plan by phone or chat. Text and app programs are available too. It is great to work through the stress and anxiety with caring professionals during these times about how to stop. The counselors can also talk with you about medications like nicotine patches, gums, or lozenges that are overthe-counter and help manage cravings. You may be eligible for special offers that send free nicotine patches to your home. Keep a smoke-free home to protect others as well. Secondhand smoke worsens lung health for nonsmokers, especially children.2 If you are a nonsmoker, contact the Helpline to find out how to help someone you love quit smoking or vaping. Being smoke and tobaccofree is as important as washing your hands and covering your cough for your health and the health of your family and our community. References 1 [Cohen S, Tyrrell DA, Russell MA, Jarvis MJ, Smith AP. Smoking, alcohol consumption, and susceptibility to the common cold. Am J Public Health. 1993;83(9):1277-1283. 2 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Smoking: 50 Years of Progress: a Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: US Department of
people do not wear masks and do social distancing could cause more COVID-19 infections, evidence to be obvious within the next 2 weeks. The potential wave or waves of COVID-19 resurgence will depend on people’s behavior and discipline. We are the transmitters/ spreaders of this killer virus, and ONLY WE, the people, can stop it. The government cannot.
And we cannot blame anyone else. This current pandemic might go beyond this year and early 2021 before it ends. In the meantime, it behooves each one of us to be wise, responsible, and prudent in following the guidelines, to stay safe. Going against the government will not help. Each of us has a vital role to play to defeat this invisible killer and put an end to this
Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health;2014. 3 Vardavas C, Nikitara K. COVID-19 and smoking: A systematic review of the evidence. Tobacco Induced Disease. 2020;18:20. 4 Guan WJ, Ni ZY, Hu Y, et al. Clinical Characteristics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in China. N Engl J Med. 2020. 5 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Smoking Cessation. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health;2020. 6 Gotts JE, Jordt SE, McConnell R, Tarran R. What are the respiratory effects of e-cigarettes? BMJ. 2019;366:l5275. 7 King BA, Jones CM, Baldwin GT, Briss PA. The EVALI and Youth Vaping Epidemics Implications for Public Health. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(8):689691.] (Advertising Supplement)
great human tragedy. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United NetworkUSA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.
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June 11-17, 2020 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL
Anita Linda bows out at 95 by Iza Iglesias ManilaTimes.net
PHILIPPINE cinema’s oldest actress Anita Linda, Alice Buenaflor Lake in real life, died on Wednesday, June 10 at the age of 95. The news was confirmed by director Adolfo Alix Jr. who paid tribute to the multi-awarded veteran actress on Facebook. “This is a very sad day for me. I am trembling as I am gathering my thoughts… She is like my lola (grandmother) and part of my family,” Alix said. “The great Anita Linda passed away this morning at 6:15 a.m. at 95. Prayers for her soul. My condolences to her family and her children, Francesca Legaspi and Fred Osburn,” he added. Alix worked with Linda in various movies, including “Presa” and what is now Linda’s last official film, “Circa,” in last year’s Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino. The award-winning filmmaker partnered with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) in June 2019 to mount “Sandaan: Dunong ng Isang Ina,” an event to honor the veteran actress’ contributions Philippine cinema. FDCP Chairman and The Sunday Times Magazine columnist Liza Diño-Seguerra also expressed her admiration for the veteran actress. “I just heard about the passing of the Great Anita Linda from director Adolf Alix Jr., and it’s heartbreaking. Last year I posted my memorable encounter with her. A once in a lifetime chance na makadaupang palad siya,” she shared. “This was what she said to me, ‘Liza, life has been good to me. Matanda na ‘ko, malabo na ang mga mata ko, hindi na ako masyadong makarinig. Pero hanggang ngayon, nandito pa rin ako. Ayokong iwanan ang buhay
dahil masarap mabuhay,”’ Diño recalled. “It was such a humbling experience to have been able to spend a moment with one of the country’s living treasures. To Miss Anita Linda, the industry is blessed to have you po. Thank you for being an inspiration to all of us. Your words will forever be in my heart. Paalam po. Hanggang sa muli.” Eight-decade career It was in the early 1940s when Linda was discovered by director Lamberto Avellana while watching a stage show at Avenue Theater. Her early acting years mostly took place on bodabil (vaudeville) since the Japanese war forced film studios to close down. When the war ended in 1947, Avellana wasted no time in casting Linda for Premiere Productions’ “Sekretong Hong Kong,” after which she landed her first lead role in the movie, “Alyas Sakim” (directed by Moises Cagin) that same year. In 1951, Linda portrayed the title character in Gerardo de Leon’s “Sisa,” a film based on the tragic character in Jose Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tangere. She won her first acting award for the role, then called the Best Actress Maria Clara Award, from the precursor of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (Famas) Awards. De Leon cast Linda anew for “Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo” (1952), which earned her a Famas Best Actress nomination. In the 1970s, Linda further gained critical acclaim in maternal roles for Lino Brocka’s “Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang” (1974); “Isa Dalawa Tatlo” (1974); which won her a Famas Best Supporting Actress Award; and “Jaguar” (1979), which earned her a Gawad Urian Best Supporting Actress nomination. Jaguar was also nominated for the Palme d’Or at
Features
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Vhong praises ‘Eat Bulaga’ for ‘new normal’ measures by Deni
Rose Bernardo Philstar.com
Anita Linda Photo courtesy of Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino
the 1980 Cannes Film Festival. In 1982, Linda was honored with Natatanging Gawad Urian ng Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, the highest award the film critics’ group bestows. She continued to reap recognitions through the ‘80s and ‘90s, among them, a Gawad Urian Best Supporting Actress award for “Takaw Tukso” in 1987; and in 1998, her second Famas Award for Best Supporting Actress and a Star Award for the same category in Mario O’Hara’s “Ang Babae sa Bubungang Lata.” Linda portrayed an aging actress in the O’Hara classic, while her Famas award set a record for the oldest actress to ever win a Famas at age 74. Beyond her 80s and 90s, Linda remained active in the movie industry. She garnered widespread acclaim in 2008 for her role in Alix’s independent film “Adela.” Portraying a lonely woman celebrating her 80th birthday all alone, she was named Best Actress by the 10th Cinemanila International Film Festival (Southeast Asia Film Competition); the Young Critics Circle; and in a tie with Judy Ann Santos, by Gawad Tanglaw Awards. The New York Times film critic Stephen Holden further praised Linda’s performance as “quietly transfixing.” ABS-CBN’s Mario Dumaual reported that the actress’ daughter, Francesca, told him her mother succumbed to heart failure.
Liza hailed among world’s most beautiful women
SOUTH Korean actress Son Ye-jin was hailed as the Most Beautiful Woman in the World this year, according to a global poll. According to Starmometer website, the “Crash Landing on You” star bested 29 semi-finalists, garnering a total of 4,354,037 votes on social media and in the online poll. BLACKPINK’s Lisa came in second place (3,852,340 votes), followed by TWICE’s Tzuyu (1,232,298 votes) and Thai actress Urassaya “Yaya” Sperbund (879,075 votes). Completing the Top Ten Most Beautiful Women in the World are Song Hye Kyo (818,537 votes), BLACKPINK’s Jisoo (865,851 votes), Rosé (856,964 votes), and Jennie (524,044 votes) and Kapamilya actress Liza Soberano (295,151 votes). Nominations in the poll were open to women aged 20 to 40 years old of any nationality. Apart from beauty, the criteria included charm Liza Soberano Photo from Instagram/@lizasoberano and the celebrity’s popularity index. (Philstar.com)
“IT’S Showtime” host Vhong Navarro praised “Eat Bulaga” for showing adaptability and resilience during this time of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In an online teleconference with the media last Wednesday, the actor admitted that he checked out “Eat Bulaga” last Monday, when their rival noontime TV show on GMA piloted their “new normal” measures to prevent COVID-19 spread. “Ngayon, ang sinasabing kompetisyon, parang wala nang kompetisyon kasi sa nakikita ko, ang lahat ngayon ang gusto lang magpasaya. Nakikita ko ‘yung ‘Eat Bulaga,’ nasilip ko sila nung isang araw, tina-try talaga nilang magpasaya kahit kulang-kulang sila,” Vhong said. “At ganun din ang ‘Showtime.’ Kahit kulang kami, ‘di pa talaga full force, nagpapasaya pa rin kami ng tao. Kumbaga, tulong-tulong ang ‘Eat Bulaga’ at ‘Showtime’ na magpasaya ng tao dahil alam nilang kailangangkailangan nilang makalimot pansamantala sa mga problema nila at magbigay papremyo para makatulong sa mga nawalan ng trabaho.” Since Vhong and his “It’s Showtime” co-hosts will be back
to work beginning this week, the show, he said, has also setup “new normal” guidelines and measures for everyone’s safety. These include dividing their production crew into teams that would alternate in working from home and from the studio. The comedian admitted that he is sad that their show, pending ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal, cannot go on-air to compete with “Eat Bulaga’s” timeslot on free TV. But he is glad that their show will return on-air starting June 13 via the new Kapamilya Channel available on Sky Cable channel 8 and channel 167 (highdefinition), Cable Link channel 8, GSAT Direct TV Channel 2, and other Philippine Cable Television Association-member cable TV stations. Navarro shared that his sadness stems not only from losing their free TV platform, but also because many of his fellow Kapamilya stars and employees from other shows have not yet returned to work. “S’yempre malungkot, ‘di lang ‘yung outlet, nalungkot ako ‘di lang sa programa pero pati du’n sa iba pang shows na ‘di pa nakakabalik. Bilang artista, co-host, ramdam ko sila… Sila, umaasa lang din sa trabaho nila para buhayin ang pamilya nila. So, nararamdaman ko ‘yung lungkot nila na i-meeting kayo via Zoom para
Vhong Navarro Photo from Instagram/@vhongx44
sabihin na ‘Sorry guys, hanggang dito na lang muna tayo’.” Due to the pandemic, Vhong said he learned to appreciate his job and fellow workers more. “Dahil sa nangyaring pandemic na ‘to parang ‘yung trabaho sa isang saglit pwedeng mawala kahit napakatagal ka na r’on kasi wala s’yang pinili eh. Ang kumpanya pwedeng magsara, pwedeng mawala, malugi, at may matatamaan at matatamaan. So, ang akin lang, dapat mahalin talaga natin ang trabaho natin.”
Kris considers taking up political science, producing docus by Niña
V. Guno
Inquirer.net
KRIS Aquino gave a peek into some of her plans as fans called for her showbiz comeback. Comments requesting her to return to television came after she posted a video greeting via Instagram on Tuesday, June 9, for Darla Sauler, the former head writer of her now-defunct show “Kris TV.” Instagram user @badgalbilly asked Aquino if she was going to make a comeback. Aquino replied, “I still need a medical clearance because of my autoimmune issues — I’m leaving everything as part of God’s plans for my life.” “My other path is to take an online course (since many are now available) — political science — sometimes you also have to follow the call of destiny.” Her response prompted one @winnie_ragudo to comment, “yesss! We need intelligent people like you in government!” Aquino explained that she
Kris Aquino Photo from Facebook/Kris Aquino
wanted to get an education to be more informed. “Oops I should have clarified — my dad started as a war correspondent for the Manila Times. Every morning [I] watch Chris Cuomo on CNN [and] he comes from a political clan… [and] he has a law degree — so he’s able to tackle political issues from many perspectives.
“I don’t want to have an opinion because of my DNA, [I] want to be thoroughly informed [and] very [well-rounded] from my education,” she reasoned, adding, “There’s a part of me that want to be a content creator of documentaries that [I] myself hosted [and] produced.” Aquino said back in 2018 that she could not return to ABSCBN, her network for about 20 years, due to politics. “Its franchise is at stake,” she explained, stating that “while I have no issues with President Duterte, his supporters don’t like me. I know the realities of life. I understand why I still don’t have [TV projects] up to now.” ABS-CBN’s franchise expired this year and with no renewal, was ordered shut down by the National Telecommunications Commission. In the meantime, Aquino has kept a presence online with vlogs on platforms such as YouTube and Facebook, and interacts with fans on social media.
Reflecting on husband’s death, Pinay weather anchor... PAGE 8 joy as we could have each day. It wasn’t always positive all the time. It was hard to get to that point but it was a choice we both made together. We were going to choose to be happy and live for the moment.” The book ends with Quiban Whitesell talking about life moving on as a widow — from the condolences to questions about dating and the possibility of remarriage — and how she’s honoring her late husband by using her platform to bring awareness to the form brain cancer and the lack of a cure. “But perhaps the fact that I am still here — ready for whatever the future holds, reaching out for help when I need it, and finding strength in the memories of love that make me who I am — gives you a ray of light on your journey.
Maria and Gus visit Sean’s grave in Los Angeles
I hope you know that you too, will never be alone,” she writes. Here are excerpts from Quiban Whitesell’s interview with the Asian Journal, edited for length and clarity. On Filipino culture: “I am so thankful for the love and care the nurses, who were all Filipino, gave Sean and our whole family. It really makes me tear up because it speaks to our culture. Without them, I don’t even think Sean would have lived as long as he did because they really cared for him and for all of us and would even bring us Filipino food. Sean and I had talked about going to the Philippines to show him where I was born and where my family was from. I was remiss to show him that part of my life and history.” On communication: “It was important to set the tone for ev-
Maria and Sean with their families during their wedding
Maria and her son Gus met former Vice President Joe Biden in February 2016 when he was a special guest at their church in Los Angeles.
eryone. I always deferred to Sean on how he felt about the decisions that we were facing and together as a couple and as a family, we decided what we needed to do and everyone else supported us around that. Communication and honesty are key. We were very careful to be very sensitive to one another and our needs and desires. I think that was one of the reasons why I wrote those email updates every month, sometimes twice a month, to keep everyone in the loop. They wanted to know what’s going on.” On dealing with the diagnosis as a public figure: “That was a challenge having to put on a smile every day because part of
Amid Sean’s diagnosis, the couple prioritized “choosing joy” and spending time as much time together as a family. Photos courtesy of Maria Quiban Whitesell
my job is to bring you the good news. On days, where I didn’t feel like smiling, it was a bigger challenge but inevitably, I was able to do it through compartmentalizing what’s in front of me. I was able to leave caregiver Maria at the door. The real smiles came through because I have a job that I love and enjoy and I have people that I work with who are funny and are incredibly loving and supportive.” On self-care: “Our family therapist always tries to remind me about that. She’ll ask, ‘What did you do for yourself today? So I will try to schedule playdates, as I like to call them with Gus, with some of my friends and try to get my nails done. That’s sort of an inexpensive but satisfying way to get away for a couple of hours and try to take some care of myself that way. Luckily, I have friends and family who will drag me out of the house and get me to have fun.” On meeting former Vice President Joe Biden: “I remember that Sunday vividly in February 2016. It was a particularly difficult morning and I was praying and asking God to help heal my heart. I just kept repeating Sean’s name in my head and asking him for a sign. There was a commotion at the back of the church and the priest announced that we had a very special visitor that day and there was our Vice President Joe Biden. I knew that his son had just passed away a few months before from the same disease that Sean did. I needed to go and say hello to him. I started crying and told
Maria (center) with her Filipino side of the family
him we had something in common. He changed his demeanor right away. He was so connected and present and wanted to make sure he told Gus and myself that he understood what we were going through. He just gave me so much comfort by telling me that things were going to be okay and eventually, better for us.” On faith and spirituality: “One of the reasons why I fell in love with Sean was that he had a very strong faith. He was a better Catholic than me, that’s for sure. He brought me back to the church in a way and we still have a very special relationship with our church. We’re still talking to priests who have brought us comfort even if they don’t have all the answers. There are many occasions where I can tell you that Sean is still here with us.” On keeping memories alive: “We were fortunate that Sean was able to write some stories for Gus that he can look back on when he’s older. They’re little nuggets of advice from his dad, which I hope he will find value in a little bit later. Gus is amazingly funny and curious and even
though he probably looks more like me, he acts a lot like his father. We talk to daddy all the time. Sean is always with us. We continue to live our lives the way Sean would have wanted us to and so we always honor and remember him, but we also live for ourselves and finding our future and happiness.” On grieving during a pandemic: “I really feel for those families who are unable to be with their loved ones. Some of the things that I think will resonate with them is this powerlessness that we had through our whole process. Many people now who are suffering through the pandemic have this feeling of this lack of control or just helplessness. What I say to [them] is, ‘You are stronger than you think you are. I can tell you that when faced with the most challenging crises in your life, just know that you can get through it too…You have a village there for you so seek out and find them.’ Even through this time when we are physically apart, technology can help us find a support system.”
(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com
LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • June 11-17, 2020
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http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678
June 11-17, 2020 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL
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