By Myrna Lopez

The London Olympics is in full swing. The determination to win is evident in every creased brow and pursed lips of the athletes. They want to be the best at their selected sport. They want to get the gold. Expectations are high and the excitement can be unbearable. That intensity takes its toll and cameras seem to have an uncanny way of baring souls for the world to see.

I understand such passion. I live my life with an exuberance that sometimes unsettles those around me. I am now a grandmother of three boys. There is an expectation that I should act and think a certain way, more matronly. I rebel at such proscriptions. There is still that hunger, that sense of purpose that drives me.

I am a nurse by profession but have since reinvented myself. I have decided to become a writer.Several of my poems have been included in anthologies. There are several manuscripts in different stages of re-writes. One of these days I will be a published author.

This decision has changed me and the way I look at the world. There is an openness to new exploits that exhilarates me. Each day is a gift that I am impatient to unwrap. It brings with it adventures I’m impatient to experience. Even sadness is bearable because it teaches me lessons in fortitude and patience.I am like a kid let loose inside a chocolate shop with coins in every pocket.

Life is a bowl of whatever fruit you crave. Cherries are passé. And if the harvest is a poor one, learn to bide your time. Or better yet, dig deep inside that cornucopia and reach for the delicacies of your choice.

If the world is a stage, I’m well prepared for that too.I was six years old when I watched my first movie, Ang Bakya Mo Neneng   . My young mind rejected the concept of a make-believe life. I was certain I was watching other people’s actualmiseries and felt uneasy, like a peeping Tom. Likewise, I want it all and maybe someday I will have it all.

When I Grow Old

When I get there, I will tell you.  

But these things I know parI will eat all those chocolates.  

I will be the same fool  

who will not have learned the mystery of life.  

And petals will not be sacrificed just  

because I wondered  if he loved or loved me not.  

I will get rid of all the looking glass.  

Accept that wrong reasons are wrong turns,  

but they are adventures and will right themselves.  

Expect to remain complicated  

and not understood.  

I will have conquered words  

and connected dots  

and broken through walls, or scaled them  

whichever was faster.  

But explain myself? Why? Will it make  

what I did with my life rewind itself?  

Regrets are for the really ancient.  

And when you get there before me  

be patient.    

I’m in no hurry.  

Send comments to: myrnamlopez2012@yahoo.com

By Jocelyn P. Porteria

If you are thinking of doing a short sale, you might as well ACT FAST AND DO IT NOW!!!  If you are experiencing hardship and owes more than the value of your home, you may want to consider doing a short sale especially if you have been turned down on loan modification multiple times.

The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation program ends in 2012.  Meaning, any debt cancelled by January 1, 2013 will be taxable.  Once you do the short sale, any amount forgiven should be taxable as you will receive 1099 from the banks or lenders that service your mortgage.  This should be counted as your income.  Imagine an additional $100,000 income on your Income Tax Return?  However;   The Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 generally allows taxpayers to exclude income from the discharge of debt on their principal residence. Debt reduced through mortgage restructuring, as well as mortgage debt forgiven in connection with a short sales and foreclosures qualifies for the relief.  There is a pending proposal as to an extension on this ACT paralleled to the HAFA Program (Home Affordable and Foreclosure Alternative) which was extended until 2013.  Until the Debt Forgiveness ACT is approved, you are at risk to get taxed on forgiven debt passed 2012.

What is the difference between HAFA and the Debt Relief Act?  HAFA was designed for homeowners who want to sell their principal residence but the fair market value is less than the pay off amount of the mortgage.  For example, fair market value of your home that is based on the current SOLD properties in your area is $200,000 and you owe $300,000.  That is when you do short sales when bank agrees to a short pay off and forgive the difference.  In addition, you will still receive $3,000 relocation assistance and offer the second mortgage (if applicable) up to 6% of the pay off amount.  Both lenders waived their rights to collect the deficiency of the loan.  That will set you free from any responsibilities or future payment for that loan.  That is on the loan part.

Debt Forgiveness Act is based on your income tax returns.  The difference on your debt maybe forgiven or waived by the lender; however you have to report as income on your income tax returns if the sale of your home took place after 2012.  That is the big difference.  There is an insolvency issue that may prevent you from paying taxes even after the ACT expires.  It is a little bit complicated as you have to prove to the extent that your total liabilities should be more than your total assets including all you own and the interest on your pension plans and value of the retirement account.

So, if you have hardship and have tried loan modification but consistently declined by your lender; you better resort to short sales rather than foreclosures.  Foreclosures most of the times do not waive your loan balance once your property is sold by the lender in Auctions and Foreclosure Sales and so with the tax implications.  Another hit will be your credit scores and credit history that may stay there for up to ten years.  With short sales, you may be qualified to purchase another home for as short as two years or so.  After short sales, you can move on and build up your credit again.

  Note:  Jocelyn Porteria is a Realtor® licensed in VA. She earned a designation of ABR, GRN Accredited Buyer’s Specialist and GREEN Designation, CDPE Certified Distressed Property and Short Sale Expert, (SFR) Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource. For more info, visit her website at www.jprealdeal.com or call her at 571-432-8335 or email at realdealconsulting@yahoo.com   for a free confidential evaluation of your individual situation, property value, and possible options. She is also an accredited agent of Ayala Land, SM Residences and Century Properties in the Philippines

Are these the signs of global warming? Or end of world as Nostradamus and Mayans have predicted?

A Tsismoso philosopher sent in the following observation to Washington Tsismis. "Pare, consider the following ominous signs: A gigantic solar flare that will hit the earth soon, floods everywhere in the world – including the flooding of Metro Manila,- the droughts in the United States, strong tornadoes and storms, giant forest fires around the world, extreme heat in Europe and the United States, the rise of ocean tide due to melting of ice in the North and South Poles, the carnage in Syria which is a Biblical spot, admission by some unbelieving scientists that global warming is real, the giant Tsunami in Japan and the radiation emitted by a destroyed nuclear power plant, the exploration of Mars by the spectacular landing of the US's vehicle to map the planet… and so on.

"If you go to the internet and access the end of the world scenario, there are other sites about the end of the world."

Well, for Tsismoso and his friends, these scenarios disappear after three or four shots of bourbon or brandy.

  ***

Sshhhhhh…Rumors are rife that a FilAm group is planning to award Eric Lachica with the "Hydra Award" for being a tireless Filipino American leader with multiple heads. Here is a report from a Tsismoso reporter:

"Eric is probably the only leader who can write letters to US President Barack Obama, Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario and other top American and Filipino leaders. Now, whether he got a response or not is immaterial as long as these letters were published or broadcast in the media. Eric is the man behind the Filipino veterans of World War II, the chief advocate of what some had dubbed as a Quixotic campaign for portable Medicare, a rabid leader of the US Pinoys for Good Governance (USPGG), chief organizer of demonstrations in front of the White House and the Chinese embassy, self-proclaimed master lobbyist in the US Congress who claims credit for the final recognition by the US government of Filipino veterans of World War II and the grant of benefits to some of the aging survivors, a topnotch PR (public relations, tanga) man, a master news photographer, reporter par excellence ..etcetera, etcetera..

  ***

Is Barack taking the Asian American voters for granted? This was the question that FilAms are asking after the Mitt Romney campaign issued a press release naming Elaine Chao and retiring Filipino American congressman as among the leaders who have formed the Asian Americans for Romney group.

  ***

Why was there no report about the results of the Bronco-11 World Championships in Chesterfield, Virginia, in which the Barakos from the Philippines participated late last month? The reason, according to some Tsismosos, was that the Barakos lost their pants. They were no match for the big 11-year-olds from the US, Europe and Mexico.  The 14 kids and their 10 adult chaperones went home dejected. The winners were the outlet malls in Virginia where the kids and chaperones bought sports goods to bring home.

  ***

Now here are the Ten Commandments for Seniors (New Version) as culled from the Internet:

 1. Thou shalt not complain.

Huwag maging reklamador. Kung hindi mo gusto ang isang bagay talikuran at kalimutan.

2. Thou shalt not discuss thy ailments, even if asked.

Lahat ng tao ay may karamdaman sa, o pananakit ng katawan.  Kahit usisain ng ibang tao huwag magpahayag ng mahabang nobela ng inyong karamdaman.

3. Thou shalt not be argumentative, domineering and sanctimonious.

Iwasan ang makipagtalo, mapagmataas at magkutya ng kapwa tao, o magpakitang banal na virgen.  Lahat ng tao ay magkaiba – merong gago na madada pero walang magawang tama, merong mataas ang noo saksakan naman ang utang, at meron ding palasimba ala angel ngunit palaaway at ang salita ay parating nagtatapos ng p…. ina mo.

4. Thou shalt not feel sorry for thyself.

Huwag maawa sa sarili.  Kahit maglulupasay sa iyak at maguntog ng ulo sa pader walang makikiramay sa mga taong malalim ang katangahan at mababa ang pagtingin sa kanilang sarili.

5. Thou shalt not despairingly compare today with the "good old days."

Huwag paulit-ulit na ihahambing ang magagandang nakaraan sa nangyayaring kasalukuyan.  Kahit pumuti ang uwak hindi na babalik ang mga nakaraang panahon.

6. Thou shalt not find too much fault with younger people.

Huwag makialam sa problema ng mga kabataan.  Ang kanilang ginagawa ay umaayon sa kanilang panahon at mga kaibigan.

7. Thou shalt not let thyself grow sloppy in body, dress or mind.

Mag-ayos ng katawan at maligo araw araw.

8. Thou shalt not expect constant attention from thy family.

Huwag maghintay ng pagkalinga na manggagaling sa sariling pamilya. Tapos na ang iyong panahon.  Ang panahon nila ay para sa kanilang sariling pamilya.

9. Thou shalt not try to change people.

Huwag na huwag subukan na baguhin ang ibang tao.  Lahat tayo ay may iba-ibang kulay, hugis at isip.  Manahimik ka na lang kung ayaw mo ng away.

10. Thou shalt not insist upon being right all the time.

Huwag kang makulit.  Ang makukulit ay ipinapain sa leon.

Tsismoso's 11th commandment: &&&&&^#@&*

(with Scallion Mignonette)

We just came back from the Philippines after joining the most incredible and the best tour we have ever experienced, which is sponsored by the Philippine Embassy called the 7th Ambassadors/Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour to the Philippines (July 11-14).  Every angle of this tour was perfectly organized and maneuvered (including the best hotels, air, sea and land transportations) and there are no words to describe how wonderful this Tour was!  Beyond my wildest expectations is our experience to have a personal appearance and lunch with the President at Malacanan Palace, including the tour of the Palace!

One of the most exciting portion of this Tour was the fabulous dining everywhere we went.  There were always feasts of modern and native Filipino and other foreign-influenced dishes with grandeur presentation and with deluxe service… every minute detail was covered by this safe-hassle-and-worry-free Tour.  

One of the many dishes both my husband and I encountered during our wonderful stay in our home country is the Flying Tilapia.  This attracted me the most because of its creativity and workmanship.  So, here is my version of Flying Tilapia with a "flirt" that will capture your taste and imagination.  A word of advice:  Don't limit yourself to deep frying, if that intimidates you–broil instead, which I have tried with just slight deviation in cooking methods.

Ingredients:

1 medium size tilapia, scaled, gutted and cleaned

1/2 cup flour

2 tablespoons cornstarch

3/4 cup beer

Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons breadcrumbs

Vegetable oil for frying

Scallion Mignonette

Combine the following ingredients:

1/4 cup chopped scallions (or spring onions)

1/3 cup distilled vinegar

1 large shallots, minced

1 teaspoon finely grated ginger

Pinch cracked white pepper

1/4 teaspoon salt

Methods:

Starting from the tail, filet the tilapia but leaving a little flesh on the bones, ending up to the neck and without separating the filet.  Slightly season with salt.

In a large bowl, whisk both the flour and cornstarch then add the beer; whisk until smooth then season with salt and pepper.  Add the tilapia to the beer mixture (batter) and turn to coat all parts of the tilapia and beneath the wings.  Scrape the excess batter from the fish to even out the thin coating.  Wrap the fish in a foil and leave it there for a few minutes until ready to cook.

In a large sauce pan or deep fryer, heat enough oil to 350 degrees just to cover the tilapia.  Meanwhile, sprinkle all parts of the fish and beneath the wings with a little breadcrumbs.  Then fry the tilapia, opening both wings with the help of a prong or fork (to make the flying look) until the light crust is just set; continue to fry until deep mahogany or golden brown and crunchy on the outside.

Drain in a wire rack for about 5 minutes; transfer to a platter and serve right away with scallion mignonette.  

Chef's Tips:  To facilitate preparation, when buying fresh tilapia, have it cleaned on the spot and ask for ice and secure it in a plastic.

Master Chef Evelyn:  100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the U.S., 2009,  Filipina Women’s Network; MHC Most Outstanding Migrant Award in Culinary Arts, 2011; PAFC Dakila Special Achievement Award, 2011; Owner, Philippine Oriental Market & Deli, Arlington, Virginia; Founder and President of CHEW (Cancer Help  Eat Well) Foundation, a  501 (c) (3) public charity formed  to help and cook pro-bono for Filipino-Americans who are afflicted with cancer and other serious illnesses; Culinary writer, master baker and cake designer (kitchen-tested and mastered more than 400 recipes, and counting); Member, Les Dames d’Escoffier International, Washington DC Chapter; Member, International Cake Exploration Society, Master Chef, French Cuisine and Patisserie, Le Cordon Bleu, London, U.K.; Producer/Host of the cooking show  “Evelyn’s Kitchen  Cooking with Friends”

Celestino Almeda

WASHINGTON D.C. – Filipino World War II veteran Celestino Almeda, 95, was recently featured by the Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) as among some 4,000 veterans who are still waiting for recognition of their services almost 70 years after the war.

"We are just asking for fair treatment," Celestino Almeda told PBS. He is among those applicants for compensation who were not granted veteran status and are contesting that decision.

PBS said the path for recognition began years ago for Almeda, who fought for nearly six years to become a naturalized citizen via his veteran status. Almeda celebrated his 95th birthday this past June. "Guess where I celebrated my birthday?" Almeda asked, chuckling. Along with other guests, Almeda attended a reception hosted by Secretary Hillary Clinton in honor of Filipino President Aquino. "I was one of the invited guests," Almeda said.

PBS then cited President Franklin Delano Roosevelt 's conscription of the Philippines Commonwealth Army to fight the Japanese. "They were promised that they would be given all of the benefits [of] U.S. soldiers" said Rozita Lee of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance. "In 1946, during President Truman's term, Congress decided there wasn't enough money to continue doing this and they reneged." This was the Rescission Act of 1946 that removed full benefits from Filipino veterans.

The fight for more complete benefits for Filipino veterans escalated during the 1980s with the push for naturalization. Over the years, advocates also fought for injury compensation and treatment at Veterans Affairs hospitals. Their most substantial victory came in 2009, when President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that began the process of compensating Filipino veterans for their service.

The status of Filipino veterans remains complicated because there are multiple classifications listed in Department of Veterans Affairs documents. In addition to the Philippine Scouts, who directly served in a division of the U.S. Army, some Filipinos served as members of the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, or as guerrilla fighters.

Philippine Scouts were able to be verified more easily because they were recorded through the U.S. military. However, veterans like Almeda who fought as soldiers in the Commonwealth Army faced more structural and bureaucratic barriers. In addition to filing in 1946, a second count of veterans was taken two years later, in 1948. By current standards for recognition, veterans must have their name on the 1948 list in addition to their discharge papers.

Certain documentation from the Commonwealth Army is not considered a valid replacement for not being on the 1948 list. "They say I don't have any records," Almeda said. "[The Department of Veteran Affairs] does not recognize the records from the Philippines army."

FilAm participants in the cultural program pose for a group picture.

OCEAN CITY, Maryland – This city experienced one of the biggest crowd that attended the two-day "Tribute to the Philippines" held here July 21-22.  Hundreds of Filipino families also came to watch the exhibitions, cultural performances and musical presentations of Filipino American organizations in New

The event, now on its third year Greater Philadelphia.

Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian said he was pleased to see many Filipino Americans at the opening ceremony and thanked them for coming to Ocean City to support the event.

For his part, Consul Zaldy Patron of the Philippine consulate in New York, who represented Consul General Mario De Leon, Jr., said, "We are grateful to the City Council of Ocean City for its continued partnership with the Philippines Consulate General. This is certainly a "win-win" event for both parties.

The Philippines is able to promote its people, culture, tourist destinations and products to the residents and tourists of Ocean City.

Ocean City, on the other hand, is able promote itself as a summer get-away for Filipino Americans."

Ocean City, dubbed as America's greatest family resort attracts about 100,000 tourists during summer time.

Twenty-two exhibitors joined the two-day trade and tourism fair, occupying the entire Music Pier pavilion, venue of the event. The exhibitors included Western Union (the event's major sponsor), food vendors, travel agencies, sellers of Philippine products and handicrafts (such as traditional Christmas parol (lantern) and hand-woven products of the Mangyan ethnic group of Mindoro), Philippine National Bank, real estate company, yo-yo toy store, media, nurses groups and Filipino American organizations.

Joining Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian and Philippine Consul Zaldy Patron at the opening of "Tribute to the Philippines" in Ocean City July 21 are Michelle Gillian, Ocean City Chamber of Commerce executive director, Public Relations director Mark Soifer, Rene Sese a FilAm leader and Mrs. Hermie Aczon of the Filipino Executive Council of Greater Philadelphia.

For two days, nurses belonging to the Philippine Nurses Association of Pennsylvania, Philippine Nurses Association of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia, Philippine Nurses Association of Delaware Valley and Adventis University of the Philippines-Philippine Union College Alumni Association of New York conducted free blood pressure and blood sugar tests to around 200 visitors visiting their booths. The AUP-PUC group also conducted a separate health and wellness seminar at Ocean City Community Center on 22 July. The free medical services highlighted the valuable contribution of Filipino American medical professionals to the U.S. healthcare industry.

On 21 July, morning and afternoon cultural shows were held in front of the Music Pier to the delight of hundreds of people walking along the boardwalk.  The crowd was visibly impressed with the Philippine Folk Arts Society, a rondalla group based in Philadelphia, as it played traditional Filipino music and with the Philippine Mutya Dance Co. of Philadelphia and the Philippine Youth of South Jersey for performing Philippine aborigine dance and folk dance, respectively.

Members and volunteers of Adventis University of the Philippines-Philippine Union College Alumni Association of New York, together with Consul Patron and Mr. Soifer, during their "Blue Zone" health and wellness seminar held at the Ocean City Community Center on 22 July.

In the evening of 21 July, Filipino American talents from New York and New Jersey were featured in the "It's More Fun in the Philippines Concert" held at the Music Pier auditorium.

Performers included the Sounds of Manila Band, Archie D', Kay Habana, Aviela Reyes, Gail Banawis, MB2NY, Nina Mojares and Gabe Basalatan. The City Council of Ocean City, in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General, co-produced the concert with Richard Reyes, who also directed the show. (With text and photos by AJ press)

Kyla Ross

Kyla Ross put a bright luster on her Filipino and Asian roots after helping to propel the US gymnastics team to an Olympic gold in London.

Kyla is part of the “Fab Five” that ended a 16-year gold medal drought in this event. She is the youngest member of the US Olympic delegation in London and is widely seen as one of the future stars of women’s gymnastics in America.

Her mother, Kiana, is Filipino-Puerto Rican. Kyla’s father, Jason, is part Japanese and part African-American.

Kyla’s gold medal raised the standard for other Filipino-Americans who still have to show their wares at the London Games. They include BMX cyclist Daniel Caluag and taekwondo’s Paige McPherson.

Most of the other Filipino athletes have already bowed of contention, at least one of them kicking up a fresh cloud of controversy in boxing in what say was bad scorekeeping just weeks after Manny Pacquiao lost in a questionable ring decision.

"She was born with muscles,” Kyla’s mother said in a recent interview, apparently only partly in jest. “We would go to the park and everybody would say 'Whose baby is on top of that jungle gym?' And I would say 'Oh, that's my baby. Don't worry about her, she's fine.'”

Kiana has worked as hotel supervisor and also with gymnastic team. Jason on the other hand is an outfielder with the Atlanta Braves baseball team.

Starting at age 3, Kyla once trained in Virginia, in Richmond and later in Glen Allen before moving to Costa Mesa, Ca. to be under the tutelage of coaches Jenny and Howie Lang.

Incidentally, one of the alternate members of Team USA was also a Fil-Am, 15-year-old Sarah Finnegan of St. Louise, Mo. whose mother Linabelle Cruz Finnegan hailed from Quezon City.

After her London Olympics stint, many experts predict the world will see a lot more of the diminutive 5’1” gymnast.

But Ross’ glorious victory drew a contrast to the loss of Philippines light flyweight contender Mark Anthony Barriga who lost on points against Kazakhstan’s Birzhan Zhakypov.

Filipino sports officials and commentators were incensed with Canadian referee Roland Labbe who failed to stop Zhakypov’s wrestling tactics and instead penalized the Filipino for supposed head-butting. The fight was awarded to the Kazakh 17-16.

The Philippines protested the fight but this was dismissed. “Of course, I got tired because he kept throwing me around and the referee didn’t even give him a penalty despite at least three cautions,” said Barriga.

“I gave it my all. I wanted to win for our country…we thought the decision was unfair. But I just have to move on. That’s boxing,” he added.

The 19-year-old Barriaga had earlier dispatched Italy’s Manuel Cappai to move up to the Round of 16.

The controversial decision was just one of many that marred the boxing competition in boxing. Charges of fight fixing had dogged the Olympics in London. At least two officials had been expelled, some suspended and at least two decisions have been reversed.

Fil-Am Paige McPherson, 21, had her first taekwondo bout on Aug. 10. She is fighting in the women’s under 75 kg class.

A surprise qualifier during the Olympic trials, McPherson, defeated 2004 Olympic silver medalist, Nia Abdallah, to earn a spot in Team USA.

Fil-Am Daniel Caluag is vying for a medal carrying the Philippine tricolor in London..

The 25-year-old Caluag, son of a Filipino couple from Bulacan who migrated to the US many years ago, figured prominently in three tough qualifying tournaments to get the needed high-ranking points and emerge as the only Asian to make it to the BMX event in London.

It also marks the first time that a Filipino has qualified for the Olympics since the Union Cycliste Internationale has set qualifying standards for the Games.

The last time a member of the Philippine team won a medal was at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics courtesy of boxer Mansueto Velasco Jr. who earned a silver. The country bagged bronze medals in boxing in the 1992 and 1988 Olympics.

Photo shows Mr. Bacani posing with the consular staff, from left: Eden Regalario, Joey Macatula, Luisa Remulla, Lourdes Cruz, Alberto Bacani, Consul Arlene Magno, and Lyra Ocampo.

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Philippine embassy's consular section has served the oldest Filipino American who walked in on July 27, 2012 to secure a special power of attorney.

The person is Alberto C. Bacani, 101 years old, who walked into the Consular Section lobby to have his Special Power of Attorney and Affidavit of Appearance notarized for his pension claims in the Philippines.

Accompanied by his nephew, Mr. Alberto C. Bacani appeared strong and healthy, other than the fact that he walked with a cane and was legally blind in one eye.

In 1976, when Mr. Bacani turned 65 and could no longer get a job after having worked as a teacher and registrar at the University of the East in the Philippines, he came to the United States with the hope that he could still be productive in the land of opportunity that the U.S. was known for back home.  And work he did, for the next 34 years, retiring at the age of 98 from his last job at the Biological and Economic Analysis Division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Crystal City, Virginia.

Mr. Bacani related with pride how the hall in the Division's library was named after him – the Bacani Reading Room – in honor of his efforts to organize the library in less than a week, where previously there was none, as well as in recognition of his ability to finish tasks assigned to him before they were due.

Mr. Bacani is also the first Filipino veteran to receive the lump-sum payment of US$15,000 under the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund, in recognition of military service rendered in World War II.

Mr. Bacani is currently writing his life story with his wife of 75 years, and they hope to finish their book by November this year.  The couple celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary in May 2012.

Mr. Bacani is an uncle of retired Catholic Bishop Teodoro Bacani, one of Philippines' most popular Roman Catholic bishops, and is related to Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay by affinity.

The last time Mr. Bacani visited the Embassy was 5 years ago.

WASHINGTON D.C. – Philippine Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. has renewed his appeal to Filipino Americans to lobby for the passage of the Save our Industries Act (SAVE Act) which he said is now on the "radar screen" of Congress.

He said both houses of Congress is expected to vote on a trade package that will include the SAVE act during the "lame duck" session of Congress after the November elections.

"Now is the crucial time to boost our campaign for the SAVE Act," Cuisia said in a letter to the community online," he said, adding that "if passed by the US Congress, this job creating, innovative piece of legislation will invigorate trade between the Philippine apparel industry and the US textile industry."

Built on strong and historical ties, the SAVE Act would represent the first significant Philippine-US bilateral trade enhancement and cooperation initiative since 1974. It is a win-win legislation worthy of the support of the Filipino-American community that want to come to the aid of both its native and adoptive countries.

He said members of Congress are more likely to act on a piece of legislation if they are being asked by their constituents to do so.

"The FilAm community is at the core of what would be a breakthrough in renewed trade partnership between their two countries. As the end game is imminent, Filipino-Americans need to demonstrate their advocacy toward SAVE Act. You could send you petition letters to your Senators and Congressmen through www.saveourindustriesact.org or take the opportunity to personally meet your legislators, especially when Congress is on recess from August 6 to September 7 when they will be in your respective districts," he said.

"Kailangan po nating magka-isa upang lubos na maitaguyod ang SAVE Act  para sa mas mayabong na kalakalan at mas makabuluhang ugnayan sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Amerika."

The Feed the Hungry, Inc. 12th Annual Golf Tournament was held on July 14 at the Prince William Golf Course located in Nokesville, Virginia. Ninety-five avid golfers braved the sweltering heat to indulge in their passion for their favorite game while contributing to a worthy cause. Also, several generous sponsors and friends have donated funds and goods to support this annual FtH fundraising event.

All proceeds of the tournament will go towards the rehabilitation of the victims of Typhoon Sendong that devastated the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan in Northern Mindanao in December 2011.  The tournament was coordinated by a Committee, chaired by Estela “Ethel” Sanidad, and composed of Tess Alarcon, Pablito Alarcon, Lottie Buhain, Vangie Ganuelas, Dennis Ocampo, Lori Ocampo, Mario Sanidad, Pepito Solis, Percy Solis and Solita Wakefield.

In addition, a number of volunteers, namely,  Willie Buhain, Manny Mendoza, Tony Nadora,  Mikayla Park, Roslyn Sanchez, Maritel Sanidad, Manny Santiago, Lyta Sese, Nina Tamayo, and Bobby Tamayo shared their time and energy for the success of the tournament.

The tournament opened with a ceremonial tee-off by General Delfin Lorenzana. After the game, everyone enjoyed a delicious buffet lunch, with lechon, catered by North Star Café & Grills, of Maryland.

The event ended with the awarding of trophies to the winners:  Cecile Rasul  Ladies’ Champion and Erma Casem  Ladies’ Runner-up; Chris Ward  Men Flight A Champion, and Caesar Caligtan  Men Flight A Runner-Up; Gene Lee  Men Flight B Champion, and Art Santos  Men Flight B Runner-Up.

Mike Jumilla and Caesar Caligtan won the trophies for Closest-to-the-Pin, and Longest Drive, respectively.

WASHINGTON D.C. – Undocumented immigrants, including thousands of Filipino youth, who entered the United States when they were young will be among the  beneficiaries of the "Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals" that will be implemented starting Aug. 15, 2012.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) said Aug. 2 that those eligible to request for deferred action are people with final orders of deportation and those who have never been in removal proceedings by USCIS. They can request to remain in the US and apply for a work permit.

USCIS said it will start issuing forms developed for this specific purpose on Aug. 15. Requestors can then mail their deferred action request together with an application for an employment authorization document and all applicable fees to the USCIS lockbox. In addition, all requestors must provide biometrics and undergo background checks. Fee waivers cannot be requested for the application for employment authorization and biometric collection. However, fee exemptions will be available in limited circumstances.

The four USCIS Service Centers will review requests.

A recent report by the Asian Pacific American Legal Center said that the Filipino-American community has the highest number of undocumented youth in the country.

"Filipinos have the highest number of undocumented youth in the United States," said Joyce Noche, supervising attorney of Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance's (APALC) Immigration and Citizenship Project.

Meanwhile, the USCIS has urged requestors to avoid immigration services scams.

It said "many people offer help with immigration services. Unfortunately, not all are authorized to do so. While many of these unauthorized practitioners mean well, all too many of them are out to rip you off. This is against the law and may be considered an immigration services scam."

If you need help filing an application or petition with USCIS, be sure to seek assistance from the right place, and from people that are authorized to help. Going to the wrong place can delay your application or petition, cost you unnecessary fees and possibly lead to removal proceedings USCIS wants to combat immigration services scams by equipping applicants, legal service providers and community-based organizations with the knowledge and tools they need to detect and protect themselves from dishonest practices.

To accomplish this goal, USCIS launched the Unauthorized Practice of Immigration Law (UPIL) Initiative.

(For more details, see immigration column of Atty. Januario Azarcon on p. 30)

OPS in rubber boat rescue kids in QC.

In a virtual reprise of the massive Ondoy floods, vast areas of Metro Manila and nearby provinces went under water from non-stop monsoon rains killing scores of people and leaving thousands homeless and huddling in jampacked evacuation centers.

The Philippine weather bureau PAGASA said rains falling on Aug. 6-8 broke even Ondoy’s record of 455 mm in 24 hours.  The rains that fell within that 72-hour window was equivalent to nearly 3 months-worth of normal rainfall for the area.

And just like Ondoy, the worst was experienced just as a tropical storm was already exiting the country. This round of monsoon rains was spawned by the storm that also struck Taiwan and China.

It intensified the usual rain patterns over vast tracts of the Philippines, including the Ilocos, Central and Southern Luzon regions as well as the Cordilleras.

This prompted Office of Civil Defense chief Benito Ramos to describe flooded areas as a virtual “water world” referring to a Kevin Costner futuristic movie where the entire planet suddenly became composed of water. Reports said 82 percent of Metro Manila was underwater.

Water at the La Mesa dam in Quezon City spilled over and rapidly moving floodwater destroyed dikes in Bulacan and the northern fringes of the capital region. Residents of villages devastated by last year’s floods were forced to relive the harrowing ordeal, including those in Marikina Valley.

Filipino-Americans in California with roots and family in Marikina are mobilizing to send urgent help back home.

“I have a sister and two brothers and mostly close relatives. For sure, I'm always worrying about what's their condition and I know Marikina, since it is a valley, it's always flooded every time there's a natural disaster ” said Leo Ignacio of Long Beach. Ca.

 “I just had a call from my sister, they're okay. The floods going inside the house and thankfully they're all safe,” he added.

Ignacio is the former president of the Marikina Association of Southern California. He, along with other members, also started the Marikina-Marikenians Community Scholarship Foundation International, which originally intended to provide scholarships for children in Marikina.

After six months of applying, they got their approval as a non-profit organization less than two weeks ago.

The foundation will concentrate on providing assistance to families in distress. They will begin their charity to their hometown by collecting money to send to disaster relief efforts in the Philippines.

The group is planning to create fundraiser events in the near future to help assist family, friends, and neighbors victimized by the latest natural disaster.

Government offices, courts and schools were suspended in Manila and nine northern provinces after the torrent started on the evening of Aug. 5.

President Aquino ordered private businesses to close on Tuesday (Aug. 7), while the Philippine Stock Exchange suspended trading. On Aug. 8, government offices were reopened so that officials could assist the evacuees.

Up to 80 per cent of metropolitan Manila – an area of about 12 million inhabitants – was flooded, according to the OCD.

Ramos said 58,237 people abandoned their homes to stay in evacuation centers in Manila and other affected provinces, while 70,800 took shelter with their relatives or friends.

Many roads in the capital were impassable as floodwaters reached 2 meters in some areas.

Hundreds of commuters and scores of cars were stranded in swamped streets across Manila, which was recovering from its soaking by Typhoon Saola in the last week of July.

Initial reports said more than 50 people have perished from the storm and floods that hit Luzon last week. The death toll is expected to rise as reports trickle in from the Metro Area and surrounding provinces. Eight people including five children were killed when a landslide buried three houses in a village in the Manila suburb of Quezon City, according to Mayor Herbert Bautista.

The weather bureau said the rains were caused by the south-west monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Saola that battered the northern and central Philippines in late July, killing at least 53 people in floods and accidents.

By Jon Melegrito

Detroit, MI

Why, of all places, do you have to hold the NaFFAA Empowerment Conference in Detroit?

More than a couple of people have inquired. Why not in Washington DC where public policy is being made? Or in Los Angeles, where the largest concentration of Filipinos are? Or even in Las Vegas where the Filipino population grew by 146 percent in ten years?

That made sense to me. But the national chairman is based in Michigan and that’s how the venue was chosen.

In retrospect, it may have been prescient.

Detroit, after all, is the city known for a car industry that went bankrupt but recovered soon enough after a government bailout. Now Ford and General Motors are booming again.

The parallels with NaFFAA may be a stretch, but the optimist in me yearns for such metaphors. Like Phoenix rising from the ashes. As the story goes, the phoenix is a mythical bird with fiery wings that lives up to a hundred years. Near the end of its life, it settles into a nest of twigs which then burns ferociously, reducing bird and nest to ashes. And from those ashes, a fledgling phoenix rises  renewed and reborn.

Again, that analogy may also be stretch. NaFFAA hasn’t quite burned itself to ashes, yet. It’s struggling, yes. It’s certainly not like its former self when 2,000 Filipino American leaders formed NaFFAA in Washington DC in 1997, with great hopes and expectations. We hit the ground running, riding high with pride and purpose. For at least 7 years, we maintained a strong presence in the nation’s capital, with a very clear focus: political education and legislative advocacy. We rallied and lobbied for Filipino World War II Veterans Equity, for comprehensive immigration reform and other bills pertaining to social justice and civil rights. Our main focus was on issues directly affecting Filipinos in America and the policy makers in Washington DC who are making the rules. We were at the table, along with coalition partners from the Asian Pacific American community, holding briefings with US administration officials and federal agencies. When we spoke, they listened.

But we strayed away from that. Now we’re all over the place but nowhere to be seen and heard where it matters the most: the US Congress and the White House.

And that’s when the engine started to sputter.

By the way, NaFFAA’s re-elected national chairman, Ed Navarra, is an engineer by profession. When he took office two years ago, he stressed that “advocacy” will be NaFFAA’s main driving force. Advocacy for veterans equity, immigration reform, workers rights, social justice and civil rights. We have since added to that civic engagement. The FilAm Vote project, launched 8 years ago, would be the vehicle for building community power.

That made sense to me then. It makes even more sense to me now. The engineer in the national chairman knew something that, in my gut, needs to be looked into. Why is the engine that’s NaFFAA sputtering? Why isn’t it connecting to the real lives of real people in our community? Why is NaFFAA driving all over the map, but going nowhere?

It may well be time to tinker with the engine and analyze, with an engineer’s eye for detail, what needs to be done to get it moving again. And forward.

First, NaFFAA’s original vision of uniting the entire community under one “umbrella,” needs to be revised, scaled down and refocused. Building one national organization that encompasses all aspects of community life  social services, commerce & business, charity and humanitarian concerns, medical missions, Philippine support, arts, culture and history, women and youth  was, indeed, an impossible dream. Over time, that reality stared us in the face but we kept looking the other way.

Second, everybody wants to do something for the community, for the home country, and for the adopted country. But not everybody wants to operate under one umbrella. We know that now. And we’d better change our mind sets and refocus the organization’s true and vital mission of political empowerment. By narrowing it down to political education and advocacy, we will actually broaden the possibilities of civic engagement and provide clear direction to our organizational efforts and initiatives. It will make us think big. And achieve immediate results. Like registering 5,000 or 50,000 new Filipino American voters.

As to partnering with other national organizations, like FAHNS, the Filipino Womens Network, and the Philippine Medical Mission, we should endeavor to then use our political clout and advocate for common issues, like an official declaration of Filipino American History Month or health care reform. When the ‘Desperate Housewives’ controversy broke out years ago, it showed the potential of working with doctors and nurses and other heath professionals. With women’s rights under attack in some state legislators, NaFFAA can partner with FWN chapters all over the country to educate the community about bills being rammed in state capitols.

I call this consciousness the NaFFAA State of Mind. It means simply being political and making no apologies about it. It means being “armed and dangerous” in Washington DC’s policy-making circles so they recognize our voice and acknowledge our presence. It means giving money to political campaigns and not simply have “kodakan” with politicians.” It means having a seat at the table with national, state and local elected officials when they debate and discuss those issues affecting our interests.

Third, my hope is that we find the resources to re-establish the NaFFAA Washington DC office with a paid full time executive director to run this engine. Forget the “impossible dream.” Building power for the nearly 4 million Filipinos in this country is not really impossible. The tools are there. We just need to put mind, heart and soul to it  and our money where our mouth is.

As Gloria Caoile puts it, when the organization’s focus is calibrated and we’re on the same page, the dream of political empowerment is not so impossible after all.

Send comments to jonmele@aol.com

By Juan Mercado 

MANILA

A less-than transparent Judicial and Bar Council emerged  from  the 1987 Constitution. Impeachment of the 23rd Supreme Court chief justice, however, pried open once hush-hush  discussions. JBC has  belatedly   tapped the ongoing cyberspace revolution..

 TV cameras panned on faces of  aspirants — some deluded —  for the  short list to considered by the President   for appointment as  the  24th  “Chief”  Twittered questions  were read out. . As a result,. citizens  saw a parade of  talent, nobility, experience — plus  gall  and warts.

 Across  town,  the uproar continues over  President  Benigno Aquino’s scalping of  TV Patrol, Anchor  Noli de Castro. At  ABS-CBN’s 25th anniversary celebration, PNoy  flayed  de Castro for  snide partisanship in baritone. A  former vice-president, in the discredited Macapagal administration, De Castro  voiced “raw opinion and speculation” in  his newscasts,  P-Noy groused.

P-Noy shouldn’t have slammed the newscaster on home grounds, tut-tutted some. An informal  ABS-CBN  survey found  32 percent   circled wagons around De Castro.  The President  had  a point,”  63 percent  said. ”. The commanding  two-to-one  lead indicates that   substance  counts more than form

"( It ) was a situation waiting to happen.”, wrote Rappler’s redoubtable Chay Hofilena. This  ethical sore  stems  from  the notorious   “revolving door”  Journalists bolt  into  politics, then   bail out  to their old roles, without qualms,  The  “anchor’s new clothes” didn’t  blot out  the fact that he  “was too high up in the political hierarchy of the Arroyo administration.

 These clashes show  “It’s more fun in the Philippines,” as the January 2012 tourism   slogan claims.  But  these   high profile  clashes obscure equally significant  issues. One is the almost blanket intrusion into  privacy  within  a digital world.

 Cebu  Judge Rapahel Yrastorza  dismissed  a petition for habeas data by parents of  St. Theresa's College students, all under 18.  School  authorities found the  kids, uploaded on Facebook, pictures of themselves in skimpy bras, smoking  and drinking at a bar.. `Under  RA 7610 and a Cebu City ordinance, minors are not permitted inside a bar

 In  a private conference, the parents signed  sanction slips  that  the school issued.  Recommended remedial measures, including undergoing religious  retreat, were mutually agreed upon.   The minors  were allowed to graduate. But  the school said no to their  marching  and receive their diplomas. `

 The parents  sued.  They  “ brought the  issue outside of the four walls of the school” into the open.   STC  repeatedly turned down media request for  copies of  controversial photos. The decision agreed that STC was right in asking   that  a Family Court, where records are kept confidential to protect minors, hear the case.

 Two later withdrew their lawsuits. .The remaining  complainants left asked the court issue a writ of habeas to compel  the school to reveal it’s  downloaded Facebook  photos. A writ of habeas data is a judicial remedy for  those  whose right to privacy in life, liberty or security is violated. It  grants a chance to question the data or withdrawal.

 The “ libertarian writ” of habeas data  was  meant  to address political killings, along with habeas corpus and  amparo writsw, the  Court noted. .The complainants did not  show any threat to life, liberty or security. Sourcing of photos from  Facebook  accounts of the students, by the school,l was not illegal. It was  done as part of enforcement of its policies and disciplinary actions.

The Court  is convinced …the minors  were aware of the warning, by Facebook itself, that the people they share with can always share with others who are not “friends” to the original account. In short, information uploaded to Facebook somehow loses it privacy along the way.”

 Like other social network sites, Facebook is wild west.  There are 83 million illegitimate accounts on the net, FB revealed Friday. Almost 9 percent fractured rules.

The  Yrastorza  decision sealed  demise of the  students claim  of privacy violation, STC  counsel  Joan Largo wrote: More important, it “presents an opportunity to dwell on the all-important issue of cyber responsibility.”

 Courts here and  in other jurisdictions caution:  “No reasonable expectation of privacy” can be expected in  social networking sites.” That is the nature of the beast.  It is also what  complainants meant   that their photos “found their way into the cyber space for everybody to see.” 

 The measure of protection,  granted by the reasonable expectation, diminishes as relevant technology becomes more widely accepted, “ the Supreme Court  here ruled back in 1998.  In  Ople vs. Torres ( G.R. No. 127685 ). The measure of protection, hinges on a two-part test: (1) whether by his conduct, the individual exhibited an expectation of privacy; and (2) whether society recognizes this expectation as reasonable.

 MySpace, Facebook and  similar  sites : “are public spaces”, New York City Supreme Court  found There  can be  no legitimate reasonable expectation of privacy.  “There  are  millions of  Internet  users, .the Court noted in Kathleen Romano’s case against Steelcase Inc. “"[I]n this environment, privacy is no longer grounded in reasonable expectations, but rather in some theoretical protocol better known as wishful thinking." 

"Our youth is exposed to new realities of the cyber age,” Largo says.. Parents may benefit  from a debate on cyber citizenship. #

( Email: juan_mercado77@yahoo.com )

By J. G. Azarcon, Esq.

At a time when unemployment edged up to 8.3% and gross domestic product for the second quarter of 2012 limped to an anemic 1.25%, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D, Nevada) takes to the Senate Floor and accuses presumptive Republican presidential nominee of allegedly failing to pay income taxes for the last ten years. Reid claims that his information came from a reliable source that used to be connected with Bain Capital, the company that was formerly managed by Mitt Romney as CEO.

Reid’s canard filled the airwaves and effectively diluted the negative news on the economy that the Democrats wanted to keep from the public as the election draws closer. Gov. Mitt Romney vehemently denied the accusation insisting that he has filed his tax returns and paid a lot of money to the government and challenges Reid to identify his sources.

How can anybody from Bain Capital know if Romney did or did not pay his income taxes in the last ten years if he or she did not spy on the governor like a shadow every minute in that period of time? Was Harry Reid hallucinating about this imaginary man who purportedly whispered in his ear or was he lying outright? Harry Reid wants us to believe anonymous sources who cannot be subjected to a credibility test. Suppose Sen. John McCain takes to the Senate floor and spills information from an unidentified source telling on Harry Reid’s alleged sexual encounter with a goat. Should we swallow it hook line and sinker? Will Harry Reid give that a stamp of fairness?

Mitt Romney’s father left him millions of dollars in inheritance. Instead of pocketing unearned wealth, he donated everything to his church. When he rescued the Salt Lake City winter Olympics in the 80’s, he declined any salary. Is this a man who would scrimp on taxes to live well?

 ***

Several states have initiated voter registration laws that will require the presentation of officially issued photo ID in the registration and voting process. The state of Florida is in the process of sanitizing its voter rolls to weed out names of people who are dead, disqualified by conviction or moved out of state. The objective is supposedly to prevent voter fraud.

The Obama Justice Department intervenes and sues the state of Florida. The administration views voter ID laws as schemes to suppress the vote, particularly the minority community. Ironically, the Justice Department is suing the state of Kansas for extending the advance voting period for military personnel. Isn’t this voter suppression directed against a voting sector that historically favored the GOP?

The right to vote should be sacrosanct. As such, it should not be treated as a trivial exercise. It should be safeguarded so that the one-man-one-vote principle will not be diluted by the votes of those who are not entitled to cast ballots.

Those opposing photo ID voting laws argue that there is no evidence of voter fraud to justify stringent verification of identity. I don’t buy this excuse. In the last presidential election, I volunteered as a precinct observer. Here comes a lady who just presented a voter registration card and no other identification at all. How can I tell if she just picked up the voting card of somebody who used to live in her house but have since moved away or died?

Election irregularity actually starts in the registration process. An acquaintance of mine was walking in a public place when he was solicited to register to vote. He told the solicitor that he was not an American citizen. To his surprise, he was told- it’s OK, they will sort it out when you vote.

An immigrant green card holder gets a knock on her door. “I’m here to register people to vote.” The immigrant says that she was not an American citizen. The visitor at her door was persistent. “Go ahead and register so you can vote in the local election.” And so she did register and vote in the local election. The nightmare came a few years later. She was honest enough to disclose to the Immigration Service in the naturalization application that she has voted in a US election. Her citizenship application was denied.

By Rodney Jaleco

Juan Ponce Enrile is ready to tell his story. A former ABS-CBN colleague, Ces Orena-Drilon, got the scoop on a forthcoming bio of one of the pillars of Philippine politics, a man once dreaded then adulated then distrusted and now celebrated. “After 5 decades, he is now ready to tell his story,” Ces declared.

The man many like to call JPE (“Manong Johnny” to Ilocano peers and fans) was one of the architects of Martial Law and the ultimate Malacanang insider for much of the 14-year Marcos dictatorship.

He’s always practiced a disciplined silence of what transpired in the cold, dark shadows of power and now that he’s promised a glimpse, I’m very excited.

One teaser  the declaration of Martial Law which Marcos announced on the morning of Sept. 22, 1972 (actually dated Sept. 21) was actually ready in June 1971. Enrile, then Marcos’ Defense Secretary, couldn’t be wrong with the date. He said he typed the proclamation himself  complete with Marcos’ edits and corrections  because he didn’t trust anyone.

The gathering storm of dictatorship was stirred by two men who were widely regarded as among the most brilliant of their generation.

Born on Valentines Day, he was able to overcome squalid beginnings through a combination of native genius, hard work and luck. He was an illegitimate son of a fisherman’s daughter in Gonzaga, Cagayan. Nearly in his teens, he set off to find his father  a powerful politician and renowned lawyer Alfonso Ponce Enrile who quickly took the boy under his wings.

He graduated cum laude at Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines College of Law.

Marcos, then a Senator with a keen eye for talent, spotted the young lawyer and charged Enrile with his personal legal affairs in 1964, about a year before Marcos won his first term as President.

He was named Secretary of Justice in 1968 and in 1970 Marcos appointed him to head the Department of National Defense (leaving briefly in 1971 for an unsuccessful Senate run).

One of Marcos’ justifications for declaring Martial Law was a fabricated communist attempt to bomb Enrile’s car on Sept. 21, 1972. He now claims that he went along with Marcos’ plot on the understanding that he would lift Martial Law after a year. True or not, it took Enrile over a decade to finally sever ties with Marcos, leading a putsch after he claimed Marcos tried to kill him.

The people rallied around Enrile and then military chief Fidel V. Ramos, protecting them from Marcos tanks and finally scuttling his dictatorship. But after helping to win back the country’s freedom, he was forced to retreat and abort what many believed was his ultimate ambition to be President  after losing a high-stakes political game with President Corazon Aquino.

Most expected him to ride into the political sunset. But he was still capable of springing surprises such as when he divorced his wife Cristina Castaner who was then appointed Philippine ambassador to the Vatican in 2008.

Forced to resign as Defense Secretary in 1986, he ran for various congressional posts. He won the Senate Presidency in 2008 and most likely unknown to him at the time that thrust him to another appointment with destiny.

His conduct during the televised impeachment trial of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona not only reminded people of his mastery of law, he also offered an image of a man unbent by the storms of life, a sharpness belying his 88 years and succumbing to the temptation of conjuring a Philippines led by someone like JPE.

With an aura built in large part by the phantoms of martial dealings, Enrile’s motives have always been surrounded by doubt and uncertainty. “Whether the people believe it or not, I have always thought of the country first,” he told Ces.

JPE is an enviable position. Most see him as too old to become president (he’ll be 92 when the next elections roll along) but still healthy, intellectual and admired  he seems ready for his ultimate role, a statesman with the opportunity to tell the real story that defined a generation.

I can’t wait to hear it.

By: J.G. Azarcon, Esq.

On August 3, 2012, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will begin to accept applications for deferred action status on August 15, 2012. The agency will produce the official application form by August 15. The process will cost $465.00 in filing fees.

Deferred action is an exercise of prosecutorial discretion on the part of DHS not to initiate or enforce removal proceedings against certain aliens without valid status who meet certain guidelines. Eligible aliens may also apply for temporary work authorization. Deferred action status will be valid for two years, subject to renewal.

To qualify for deferred action, the applicant must prove the following:

1. Was under 31 years old on June 15, 2012;

2. Came to the U.S. under the age of 16;

3. Entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or your lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012

4. Has continuously resided in the US for at least five years before June 15, 2012 (since June 15, 2007),and was physically present in the US on June 15, 2012;

5. Is currently attending school, has graduated from high school, has obtained a G.E.D. certificate, or is an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or Coast Guard;

6. Has not been convicted of a felony offense, significant misdemeanor offense, three or more misdemeanor offenses, or otherwise poses a threat to the community or national security.

Aliens who have previous arrest or a conviction record need to obtain all court documentation pertaining to the criminal record. A felony is a federal, state, or local criminal offense punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.

Significant misdemeanor is an offense for which the maximum term of imprisonment authorized is one year or less but greater than five days and meets the following criteria:  (a) regardless of sentence imposed, is an offense of domestic violence; sexual abuse or exploitation; burglary; unlawful possession or use of a firearm; drug distribution or trafficking; or driving under the influence; or (b) is one for which the individual was sentenced to time in custody of more than 90 days, excluding period of suspended sentence.

Deferred action status  merely provides a shield from deportation and allows the alien to work and sustain himself/herself in the US.  It is not amnesty nor does it lead to permanent resident or any other lawful immigration status. It does not allow the alien to sponsor family members.

It must be clearly understood that the grant of deferred action status is discretionary on a case by case basis. According to the memorandum issued by the Director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement on June 15, 2012, there is no right to the favorable exercise of discretion by the agency. It does not “prohibit the apprehension, detention, or  removable of any alien unlawfully in the United States or to limit the legal authority of DHS or any of its personnel to enforce federal immigration law.

By: Jose Todith Garcia, Esq.

A Filipino nurse is forbidden from speaking Tagalog in the hospital where she works.

A computer programmer from India is given a salary that is 20% less than what his American counterparts receives.

A 50-year old Caucasian job applicant is rejected for being too old.

A Muslim ladys job promotion is turned down because of her religious beliefs.

Yes, it happens all the time.  Workplace discrimination is so rampant that the federal government has put in place a system for avoiding one.  The law is clear:  It is illegal to discriminate against a person on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, gender, or physical disability.  There are exemptions, but these are very limited.

Discrimination is against the law, and the penalties are punitive.

And stiff.

So stiff that in February 1999, a nursing home in Gladstone, Missouri (Woodbine Healthcare Center) agreed to pay a total of $2.8 million to settle an EEOC lawsuit involving 65 Filipino nurses, who were assigned to work as nurse aides despite being petitioned as RNs.  Those given RN jobs were paid less than their American counterparts.

This was by far the largest employment-related discrimination case involving Filipinos to date.  It wasnt the last, however.

Recently, a couple of Filipino nurses from the Washington, D.C. area were awarded an undisclosed amount by their former employer (Bon Secours Hospital) as a result of an EEOC investigation.  The discriminatory act?  The nurses were not allowed to speak Tagalog during their lunch breaks.  Lest anyone be confused, however, the same was not ruled an act of discrimination per se.  Discrimination was found because the employer did not impose a similar policy against other nationalities in the workplace.

In another case, decided August 2010, a California-based aircraft services company (Mercury Air Centers, Inc.) agreed to settle a $600,000 discrimination lawsuit in which at least seven employees, including a Filipino, were allegedly subjected to “a barrage of harassing comments” by another employee, who was promoted to a supervisory position despite the victims complaints against the latter.  Coddling a “harasser” is, therefore, an act of discrimination, according to the ruling in this case.

Prior to this, in November of 2008, the EEOC obtained a race and national origin discrimination judgment against a Nevada U-Haul company for discriminating against Filipino and Hispanic workers.  Not only were the victims subjected to derogatory slurs, i.e., “go back to Mexico,” the victims were also told that they had to be “White to get ahead.”  Indeed, qualified Filipino mechanics were denied promotions while less qualified Caucasian employees were promoted.  The employer was ordered to pay $153,000.

Lastly, a Filipino nurse whose Director of Nursing job was terminated at a high-end Illinois retirement facility (Presbyterian Homes) had won an EEOC case for national origin discrimination in November of 2007.  The employer agreed to pay $125,000 as part of a consent decree before a federal district court, in addition to taking affirmative steps to recruit Asian/Filipino nurses.

These and all other cases convey a simple message:  If you are an employer, you must treat all employees equally and with dignity, to avoid hefty fines and penalties.  While workplace discrimination is slowly being eradicated in this country, the ghost of invidious machinations still lingers in our society, and gradual exorcism is the key.

Otherwise, be prepared to face the wrath of the ghost-busting EEOC.

By Rodney J. Jaleco

New rules governing foreign medical missions in the Philippines are dampening the enthusiasm of some Filipino-Americans at a time when Philippine officials are precisely calling on them to “give back” to the mother country.

Many are complaining that helping Filipinos back home just got more complicated.

“When the requirement becomes too difficult, less physicians will volunteer their time to join medical missions,” Maryland-based Dr. Zorayda Lee-Llacer told the Manila Mail.

“To me this is R.I.P. to our enviable, proud tradition of giving back to our less fortunate fellow countrymen. Goodbye medical missions and hopefully our in-country healthcare projects survive. What a setback to our great plans to bring in international colleagues,” rued Juan Montero II of Chesapeake, Va. in an email seen by the Manila Mail.

At least one FilAm group has already decided to put-off a scheduled medical-surgical mission to San Jose, Antique in mid-January 2013.

The Philippine Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) started to implement last July a new set of guidelines that puts into motion a law signed by then President Joseph Estrada, among the last bills he approved before being ousted in a People Power revolt almost 12 years ago.

Efforts to spare FilAm physicians doing volunteer work in the Philippines have apparently been ongoing for the past several years. Now they are upset that the PRC is actually pushing through with the new requirements.

Nevada-based Dr. Daniel Fabito, former president of the Association of Philippine Physicians in America (APPA), revealed in an email message to other concerned Fil-Ams that President Aquino had promised to look into this issue last January.

“Inspite the sincere efforts by the PMA, PCS, Global Coalition and other stakeholders to ease the requirements in the conduct of worthwhile and humanitarian endeavor, we are faced with additional setbacks,” he said.

The guidelines are contained in a resolution approved last June 21 that stipulated, among others, non-Filipino professionals who intend to practice a profession in the Philippines  including those joining short-duration volunteer missions  to register or secure special temporary permits from the PRC and the respective Professional Regulatory Boards.

The rules covered foreign nationals in the Philippines through international treaty or agreements, including those working for foreign companies or aid organizations, and “former Filipino professionals”.

The special temporary permits are valid for only one year but can be extended. The permits can be obtained by paying a P3,000 ($73) application fee, P8,000 ($195) for the cost of the ID itself and the purchase of liability insurance.

Foreign doctors need to produce a copy of their passport, an authenticated copy of the professional license issued by their country of origin, proof of purchase of liability insurance in the Philippines and the Special Temporary Permit.

Balikbayan Filipino physicians may opt to renew their Philippine licenses by showing their old PRC identification card, a copy of their license or registration issued by their adopted country and payment of a penalty equivalent to the number of years they allowed their Philippine license to expire.

Pablito Alarcon said he’s been trying to renew his Philippine geodetic engineer’s license but one requirement is to attend a seminar and join the Geodetic Engineer Association of the Philippines. But he noted the seminar is not available on-line which poses a major stumbling block for engineers like him who may wish to use skills and experience, honed by years of working in the US, to help countrymen back home.

Dr. Lee-Llacer says that while she agrees aggrieved families should be compensated for medical malpractice, that could be a tempting target for opportunistic lawyers.

“Malpractice insurance is the red meat for tort lawyers. Haven't we learned that in US and guess what has happened to our unaffordable healthcare system?” Dr. Montero asked.

“When we go on surgical missions, we spend our own money for the air fare to the Philippines. We bring a significant amount of surgical supplies that we give to the hospital. We spend our valuable time collecting and packing these supplies. We spend money from our own pockets to ship these supplies. This is a labor of love,” Dr. Lee-Llacer stressed.

She added that proof of a valid license especially those issued in the US should suffice to establish the competence of visiting Fil-Am professionals. “Those are not easy to get,” she argued, “the US requires many proofs of training and specialty certifications. All states monitor the practice of every physician.”

“My husband and I have been members of the Maryland Medical State Board, each one of us served 8 years which is a total of 16 years,” she pointed out.

Dr. Lee-Llacer added that in most instances, medical-surgical missions by visiting Fil-Am doctors and nurses are pre-approved by medical organizations in the targeted beneficiary areas, and they submit reports to local government and village officials before leaving.

“We do not want to compete with the income of local practitioners,” she told the Manila Mail.

The need for help from overseas Filipinos couldn’t have been more relevant with days of torrential rains flooding large parts of the Metro Manila region and surrounding provinces.

In an email message shared by Tess Alarcon of DC-based Feed the Hungry (FtH), she revealed a mobilization to help some of the 332,000 Filipinos displaced by floods across the country. The FtH said they are targeting to help 500 families in 2 barangays in Naic, Cavite with the possibility of extending this to Kawit town.

They will purchase rice, canned goods, ready to eat meals, sugar, milk, bottled water and other emergency supplies from whosesale stores in the Philippines, she added.

By Oscar O. Bunoan

Son:  Dad, isn't it that the Father is always the King of the House? That's what our teacher told us.

Dad:  (Very flattered) That is very true, my son.

Son:  How come you're always scared of Mom?

Dad:  Ah..ah..ah… but your mom is the Ace of this house… (darn!)

DRINKING

After a nice and lovely party…

Drunk Hostess:  Thanks for coming but don't drink and drive, okey? Hik

Drunk Guest: And why not? Hik

Drunk Hostess:  Because you might stop suddenly and spill your drink, duh!

DON'T WORRY

A daughter saw her mom bathing her little brother, who is naked to the bone.

Daughter:  (Kind of worried)  Mom, how come I do not have one like that like my brother has.

Mother: Don't you worry, my dear… you will have lots of them when you grow up.  

ANO BA

Merong isang babae at isang lalake ang nakaligtas at napadpad sa isang maliit na isla nang maaksidente ang kanilang bapor dahil sa dumaang bagyo.  Pagkaraan ng dalawang buwan.., nagkaroon sila ng relasyon.

Babae:  Mahal mo ba ako?

Lalake:  Ah… eh.. Hindi.

Babae:  (Dismayado) Eh bakit nakipagrelasyon ka sa akin kung ganyan ka pala?

Lalake:  Hellerrr… Meron pa ba akong pagpipiliang iba? Bruha.

HINDI BALE

Pare 1:  Pare, nawawala ang credit card ko, pero ang balak ko huwag nang i-report?

Pare 2:  Bakit naman?  Delikado yan, pare.

Pare 1:  Hindi na bale pare ko. Kasi, mas maliit mag-charge yung magnanakaw kaysa sa Misis ko.

CREDIT CARDS

Ikinasal sa judge and mag-asawang Peter at Helen.  (Medyo palabiro ang judge).  Sa halip na sabihing "You may now kiss the bride."  Ang sabi ay…"Mister, isurender mo na ang mga credit cards mo kay misis sa harap ko, kung gusto mong maging masaya ang pagsasama niyo".

NAG-ABROAD

Juan:  Grabe, pare!  Yung ka-text ko nag-abroad na yata.

Ponce:  Bakit mo naman nasabi yan? Hindi man lang ba nag-paalam sa iyo?

Juan:  Nagpaalam naman. Kaya lang iningles ako "The subscriber cannot be reached". Nasa Amerika yata.

      What is the basis for China’s claim over all islands and shoals in the South China Sea, a name given by Western countries that once colonized the region?

      China says its claim is based on history, citing alleged maps drawn up by Chinese traders and fishermen that traveled the region for centuries. This  probably includes pirates like Limahong who twice tried to occupy Manila in the 1500s but was repelled by Filipinos.

      The name China Sea, according to Wikipedia, was first used by the Portuguese who occupied parts of China and other countries in Southeast Asia and India. Later, other European colonizers added South to pinpoint its exact location.

      If China’s logic is followed, the heirs of the former rulers of the Majapahit empire which ruled parts of Mindanao and had crude maps of the region can claim it as their territory.  Spain and the US can claim the Philippines as theirs. The Sultanate of Sulu that exists to this day can also lay claim to Mindanao, Palawan and the Spratlys that were once under its control. So were the Arab traders who were frequent visitors to the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries.

      Joe Ma. Sison, founder of the Maoist Communist Party of the Philippines, himself ridiculed China’s claim saying that if history is the basis for its claim, then Rome can claim all the former countries within the Roman empire.  Heirs of Genghis Khan, ruler of the Mongolian empire in the 1000s, could also claim to China and other countries in the Persian gulf that his hordes once conquered.  The Philippines can also lay claim to islets in the Sulu Sea, Saudi Arabia all the areas within the Arabian Sea, Mexico all the islands in the Gulf of Mexico and India all countries in the Indian Ocean.

      Like Tibet, China wants to impose its ridiculous claim over the entire South China Sea by force. This includes Japan’s Senkaku islands simply because it is located in the East China Sea.

      Instead of answering these questions, China is now occupying most of the islets and shoals and stationing troops in them despite loud protests from Vietnam and the Philippines.

By Dino  Dela Rosa 

Musical acts and spoken word seem to be distant cousins but not to Regie Cabico and    Don Michael 'Don Mike' Hodreal Mendoza, established Filipino-American thespians, who came up with the idea of combining both worlds into their weekly cabaret act "LA-TI-DO Cabaret."

Don Mike and Regie both co-host the show. With Regie regaling the audience with jokes and his ebullient wit and Don Mike closing the show with a showtune. They also invite guest performers each week.

They both did this e-interview the day after the show. La-Ti-Do Cabaret is every Monday from 8-10 p.m. at the Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave. Washington D.C.). Closest Metro stop is Dupont.

Q: Your show received an enthusiastic response from the audience last night, is it a lot of work to put up this kind of show?

A: Absolutely, because the demands are constant. It is more a labor of love because it is not about the money. Regie and I do this because we want to provide the artistic community an outlet that is supportive, low-pressure and most importantly fun. Most series are usually one or the other kind of art form, and at La-Ti-Do we provide both! After over 6 months of running this series, I've learned that Tuesday is my "day off," but everything leading up to Monday after that is scheduled from contacting the upcoming participants to posting notices on our Facebook page.

Q: You gave a showstopping rendition of "Gimme, Gimme" (from "Thoroughly Modern Millie"). Will you be belting out more showtunes in future shows?

A: Yes! For me personally, La-Ti-Do has become my weekly saving grace from my everyday routine and is an escape from the issues that cause me stress. It is also my outlet to try out new material and experiment with older pieces from my book. "Gimme Gimme" is one of my favorites because it lets me prove that men can belt out show stoppers too! Cabaret is all about parts you wouldn't normally play in a full production and more about the meaning behind the song you're singing, so it gives me a chance to experience the subtext of songs and characters that aren't usually accessible as an Asian American actor.

Q: Last year, you were in the well-received productions of "Kiss Me Kate" and "Take Me Out." Will we be seeing you in any productions this fall?

A: Recently, "Kiss Me, Kate" actually received a Ruby Griffith Award for Outstanding Musical and one of our actors from "Take Me Out" received a Washington Area Theatre Community Honors Award for his work, so I was proud that I was part of these two productions. As for me, I am taking a short break from full productions to focus on making La-Ti-Do a success. It is my baby and I want to see it grow to its full potential before I can focus on anything else in my artistic life. However, I will be the feature performer on Monday, September 10th at 8pm, so if you'd like to see me in my own feature segment please be sure not to miss out on that night!

La-Ti-Do started on January 23, 2012 and was presented to a full-house of Don Michael and Regie's friends and artistic colleagues at the Black Fox Lounge in Dupont Circle. Since then, it has blossomed into Washington, DC's first and only weekly spoken word and musical theatre cabaret series and a permanent addition to the DC artistic community with the help of key people such as venue co-owner Russwin Francisco and resident accompanist Jonathan Tuzman.

Some guest musical performers of noteworthy mention have been Helen Hayes Award nominees and winners Vishal Vaidya, Katie McManus, Chris Sizemore, Will Gartshore, Joshua Morgan, and some world renown poets/spoken word artists have been Gail Danley, Sonya Renee Taylor, Fanny Sophia Walker, Chris August, and Vijai Nathan.

We have an upcoming La-Ti-Do celebration on Saturday, September 15th from 9:30pm to 11:30pm to celebrate 9 months of the series and to raise money for the betterment of the show, i.e. to bring more talent in from outside of the region and to improve the quality of our outreach and press materials such as creating a website. For more information on La-Ti-Do, please refer to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/LaTiDoDC, our Twitter handle at @LaTiDoDC, or our email address at LaTiDoDC@gmail.com

 Q.- Were you and Regie influenced by Sylvia Plath?

- Can you explain more about the spoken word since some readers may not familiar with it?

Regie explains: Spoken word is an umbrella term that includes stand up comedy, storytelling and poetry. The emphasis at La Ti Do is on slam poetry. The art of competitive performance poetry where a poet has 3 minutes to read her or his poem in front of judges randomly selected from the audience. The poet does not have costumes, music, or props.

Slam poetry is a unique American art form and when combined with cabaret performance, the art of storytelling is heightened. We feel that these two art forms resonate and give a richness and new audience to both art forms of spoken word art culture and cabaret performance.

Last night, Adele Hampton demonstrated slam poetry. Reverend Nuge was a traditional storyteller and Gowri K.'s work mixed both traditional poetry and slam poetry. Regie Cabico's Russel Stover Dates and a 1 Night Stand  chocolate piece was a piece of performance art. Slam poetry is art for social change and pushes American Literature towards theater. It is almost a poem as 3 minute play. Slam poetry and Sylvia Plath may share a "confessional" style, but the birth of Slam Poetry came in the late 80s as a cultural evolution from rock and roll, stand up comedy and performance art.

CINCINNATI, Ohio -Several youth choirs from the Philippines won gold and silver medals during the World Choir Games held in Cincinnati, Ohio early last month.

Philippine Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. was present to show his support for the Filipino participants in the competition on July 7 and meet with top Ohio officials.

He later attended a town hall meeting organized by the Filipino American Association of Southern Ohio (FASO).

The top Philippine medal winner was the Samewing Singers from the Ilocos Norte National High School in Laoag who won a silver medal, the highest level in the Musica Sacra championship; gold medal in the Open Competition for folklore songs; and silver medal in the Open Competition for Youth Choir of Equal Voices.

Other Filipino medal winners were the Miriam College High School Glee Club, which was awarded gold in the Open Competitions of Youth Choir of Equal Voices and Musica Sacra; Zamboanga Hermosa, which won two silver performance medals and one bronze medal in the Open Competition; and the Kammerata Singers, which garnered two silver performance medals in the Open Competition.

The competition also had choirs with strong Philippine identities including the Vox Viri singers from New Jersey, Prime Note Ensemble from West Covina, California, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Children's Choir from California.

Cuisia personally congratulated the Samewing Singers and Miriam College High School Choir for the awards they received during ceremonies held on July 8 at the U.S. Bank Arena.

The World Choir Games are said to be the Olympics of choral music.  According to the organizers, the Games have united people from around the world "through the power of song and in the spirit of friendly competition." Throughout the event's history, more than 2,000 choirs have participated in competitions across Europe and Asia.

The ambassador met Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory at the Proctor & Gamble Twin Tower banquet hall together with other dignitaries from other countries.

Later, he attended a town hall meeting organized by the Filipino American Association of Southern Ohio (FASO) headed by Guillermo Guinigundo, president of organization. The World Choir Games organization received dignitaries from throughout the world.  

At the town hall meeting organized by FASO at the Guinigundo residence in West Chester, he was enthusiastically received by the members and leaders of the Filipino community from Cincinnati and outlying vicinities.  Ohio State Representative Courtney Combs read an Ohio General Assembly resolution welcoming and honoring Cuisia for his experience and presence holding the Town Hall Meeting.

Members of the community expressed admiration for Cuisia's ability and willingness to discuss a variety of topics including those on labor, the economy, Philippine-U.S. defense cooperation, current disputes in the West Philippine Sea, and immigration issues. The Ambassador also touched on topics pertaining to Medicare portability as well as the plight of overseas workers and human rights.

WASHINGTON D.C. – It's August and as the summertime is winding down and vacation time is coming to an end, some 79 million children and adults are getting ready to go back to school for the 2012-2013 school year.

Already, parents and children alike scan the newspapers and websites looking for sales to shop for a multitude of school supplies and the latest clothing fads and essentials.

And these are the facts that the US Census Bureau often releases when the time comes.

Back-to-School Shopping: $7.7 billion was the amount of money spent at family clothing stores in August 2011. Only in November and December were sales higher. Similarly, sales at bookstores in August 2011 totaled $2.4 billion, the strongest sales month of the year.

For back-to-school shopping, choices of retail establishments abound: In 2009, there were 28,520 family clothing stores, 7,092 children and infants clothing stores, 26,651 shoe stores, 8,945 office supply and stationery stores, 21,628 sporting goods stores, 9,390 bookstores and 8,663 department stores.

Students – 79 million. The number of children and adults enrolled in school throughout the country in October 2010 & from nursery school to college. They comprised 27 percent of the entire population age 3 and older.

Pre-K through 12 Enrollment-72 percentage of children 3 to 6 enrolled in kindergarten who attended all day, as of October 2010.

Social and Economic Characteristics of Students in 2010:

24% Percentage of elementary through high school students who had at least one foreign-born parent in October 2010.

-27% Percentage of students ages 12 to 17 who were in a gifted class in 2009.

- 70% Percentage of 6- to 17-year-olds who were highly engaged in school (children reported as liking school, being interested in school and working hard in school) in 2009.

Languages -11.8 million Number of school-age children (5 to 17) who spoke a language other than English at home in 2010; 8.5 million of these children spoke Spanish at home.

Colleges 16% Percentage of all college students 35 and older in October 2010. They made up 34 percent of those attending school part time.

-41% Percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds enrolled in college in 2010.

- 56% Percent of college students who were women in 2010 (includes both undergraduate and graduate students).

Rewards of Staying in School -$74,000 Median earnings of full-time, year-round workers with an advanced degree in 2009. Workers whose highest degree was a bachelor's had median earnings of $56,000. Median earnings for full-time, year-round workers with a high school diploma was $33,000, while workers with less than high school diploma had $25,000 median earnings.

By Leandro DD coronel

MANILA

President Benigno Aquino III spoke in Pilipino, his country's national language, and told his "bosses" that the speech he just delivered wasn't his, but the people's. "This is  your SONA," he declared, referring to his State of the Nation address on Monday, July 23.

Aquino calls the people his "bosses." "Kayo ang boss ko," he likes to tell them. By that he means that he's the people's servant and takes orders from them.

After two years in office, Mr. Aquino gave a report to the people, using the Congress as his venue, as mandated by the Constitution. 

He said he had done a lot. After intentionally delaying existing projects in order to review them when he took office, his government is now ready to go ahead with infrastructure and social projects. His agenda is full with proposed action on education, health, police and military concerns.

His government is addressing the need for about 67,000 classrooms in public schools, in which every child would get textbooks on a one-to-one basis.  State colleges will get a funding boost of nearly 44 percent. Women's health is a priority, an emergency cash-transfer for the truly poor is in place, and universal health insurance will soon be a reality. The military will receive a boost through a P103 billion modernization effort. Low-cost housing for soldiers and policemen have been built, with more to come.

Infrastructure projects will include new airports, an expanded rail system and new roads. All these without raising taxes.

Business processing operations (BPO), or call centers, turned over US$11 billion  in 2011 and are projected to grow to $25 billion by 2016, generating indirect jobs for 1.3 million employees.

Tourism has grown. In the first six months of 2012, 2.1 million tourists arrived and the government expects 4.6 million to come in all of the current year. The target is 10 million tourists in 2016.

Self-sufficiency in rice, the Filipinos' staple, has been an elusive target of past governments. Aquino said that prospect is now in sight next year and the country won't need to import and may even be able to export if the rains and typhoons won't be as destructive as in the past.

Agrarian reform, particularly farmers' ownership of the land they till, is a controversial issue in the Philippines. Rich landowners have been able to hold on to their holdings even though there's a law that mandates the distribution of land to farmers. One side of Mr. Aquino's family owns a large "hacienda" in his home province of Tarlac which had been resisting distribution. The President promised that his administration "will follow the law" ordering the transfer of their hacienda to farmers, and that by 2016, the end of his term of office, all lands covered by the agrarian reform law will have been given away to farmers. That's a promise farmers and social activists will be watching with keen eyes.

The President said the Philippines' dispute with China over a reef in the West Philippine Sea (or South China Sea) required cooperation between the contending nations. He assured that he "will not give away what's ours," to loud applause from the audience. He asked for the Filipinos' support and solidarity in signalling to China the country's intention to be firm on the issue.

He denounced his critics (he called them "miron,<D>" Filipino colloquial for idle people who have a lot of time to criticize) who are always negative and who urge him for forgive and forget the wrongdoings of past government officials. He said "we can forgive but not forget." Bringing these past officials (mainly referring to his predecessor, Gloria Arroyo) to court "is justice," he stated. Giving them a chance to defend themselves is justice, and equal access to the law is justice. 

To those who tell him to "move on" instead of spending a lot of time going after past officials, he declared, "Isn't the agenda of change moving along?"

"Nothing is impossible," he thundered toward the end of his one-and-half-hour speech (the longest SONA, some have observed). If the people, his "bosses," will help, guide and help him and government, nothing is impossible.

"This is your SONA," he ended.

Mr. Aquino's frequent use of Pilipino is a departure from past presidents who often spoke in English, which isn't the native tongue or the preferred language of the masses. I'm surprised that, for someone who came from a family belonging to the elite class, he's very comfortable with the vernacular, spoken liberally with colloquialisms and familiar expressions.

The President has promised a lot, something a commentator (a dean of a college in Manila) called "ambitious" but in a positive way. Mr. Aquino has set a grueling agenda for the next four years for himself and his Cabinet. He himself has cut out his work for himself. No wonder he asks the Filipino people, his "bosses," for help and guidance.

Let's hope he hasn't overestimated his own capacity to produce results. Let's hope he's not being over-ambitious.

WASHINGTON D.C. – Philippine Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr. exhorted Filipino-Americans to realize their true power by going out to register and vote in November as the nation’s largest Fil-Am organization vowed to intensify efforts to bring more Fil-Ams to the voting precints. (Photos on p. 16)

“Since Day 1 I have been telling them that for us to have a potent voice in the US Congress, Fil-Ams would have to go out and vote,” Cuisia told the Manila Mail.

In Detroit, Mi. the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations (NaFFAA) held its 10th Empowerment Conference to renew its long term goal of mobilizing Filipinos of voting age in the US to go out and vote in local and national elections.

Vowing to seize the opportunity made possible by their growing numbers in the US  3.4 million, according to the 2010 Census  the Fil-Am community leaders reaffirmed their commitment to register their family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and newly-naturalized citizens and get them to the polls in November.

In Nevada, for instance, the number of Filipinos grew by 146 percent in 10 years. Other so-called battleground states, like Virginia and Florida, have drawn the attention of both national parties because of the rapid growth of the Asian American community.

“This was in the minds of our founding fathers when NaFFAA was formed 15 years ago,” said NaFFAA National Chairman Ed Navarra in his keynote address at the opening of the conference on Aug. 3. “An ethnic community that is able to translate its numbers into political muscle and influence national policies that affect our interests.”

He recalled how NaFFAA’s founding chairman, Alex Esclamado,  rallied the community to press Congress to pass the Filipino Veterans Equity bill. “Alex believed in harnessing our numbers to correct an historic injustice. It may have been an ‘impossible dream,’ but he knows it takes political action to make it come true.”

Cuisia suggested that American policy- and lawmakers have not really responded to the political potential of the Fil-Am community because of its virtual absence in elections.

“Unfortunately in the last 2 presidential elections less than 10 percent of Fil-Ams actually cast their votes and that’s why we don’t have a potent voice in the US Congress,” the Philippines’ chief envoy pointed out.

“Legislators look at that and say anyway the Filipinos don’t vote,” he added.

In the 2004 presidential elections, only 594,000 Filipino Americans voted – a decline of 7 percent because 122,000 registered voters did not cast their ballots,” said Gloria Caoile, former NaFFAA national vice chair and co-chair of FilAm Vote. 

"It didn’t get any better in 2008. Potentially, 40 percent of our total number can be mobilized to go to the polls. But we need to register them if they haven't done so and educate them on issues that directly affect our community so they will appreciate what's at stake, especially for our children and families."

Parallel to the get-out-to-vote campaign, Cuisia explained that more Fil-Ams should pursue political office or at least consider a career in American politics.

He pointed to Alexander de Ocampo who is running for a seat in the Los Angeles, Ca. city council. De Ocampo belongs to the pioneering batch of the Filipino American Youth Leadership Program (FAYLP) which recently returned from a working tour of the Philippines where they met with top Philippine political and business leaders.

As his project for the FAYLP, de Ocampo reportedly wants to promote political empowerment because, as the Philippine envoy averred, “he’s eventually going to run for higher political office; he’s quite young and it’s good he’s starting early.”

Cuisia noted that Rep. Steve Austria, the first 1st generation Fil-Am to win a seat in the US Congress, is not running for re-election in November.

Energized by the day’s discussions, delegates caucused separately as Democrats and Republicans and mapped out strategies to mobilize their base. “But our common goal is to build political power for our community,” said Caoile.

“So much is at stake that we can’t afford to simply stand by and not be politically engaged.”

At the 3-day NaFFAA conference delegates also addressed immigration reform, the DREAM Act, the SAVE Act, medicare portability, medical and trade missions to the Philippines, pending issues related to Filipino World War II veterans, and the legal defense of Filipinos who need assistance.

The Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF), a NAFFAA affiliate, was set up four years ago for this purpose. It is providing legal counsel and assistance to Jose Antonio Vargas, the acclaimed Pulizer-Prize winner who recently disclosed his status as an undocumented immigrant.

FALDEF is helping Vargas  in his advocacy of the DREAM Act, a bill that will legalize the status of thousands of young students whose parents came to the U.S. without legal documentation. (rjj)

By Rodney Jaleco

Secretary Edwin Lacierda is part of the Malacanang “blue bloods”.

All spokesmen have a special relationship with their principals and his ties to President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III are no exception. He has been speaking for Mr. Aquino since the 2010 campaign so to a certain degree he knew what makes his boss tick.

He was in town for a 3-day conference at the World Bank. He invited the Fil-Am press to interview him at the Philippine Embassy. A communication arts graduate of Dela Salle University (who also earned a law degree from Ateneo), it became evident this guy loves to talk.

The meeting over a bento-box dinner turned out to be a pleasant, no-holds-barred discussion of a wide array of issues ranging from the President’s love life to his management style.

The President’s day usually starts at 10, Lacierda revealed, and he likes to work through lunch, holding about 4-5 meetings a day. Ordinarily, his official work day ends at 6 or 7 in the evening (unless he’s on a provincial or foreign sortie, or calls for his Cabinet) although he brings papers home to Bahay Pangarap, an old one-bedroom guesthouse built in the 1930s for visiting dignitaries that has been converted to quarter President Aquino.

Lacierda said they are fully cognizant of criticisms of how President Aquino’s calendar is so lightly-packed. He argued that some of his meetings are sensitive and confidential, and thus are not reflected in his official schedule.

Are those after-hours devoted to, you know, his “love life”? The President is the most eligible bachelor in the Philippines and yet long-term relationships seem to elude him. His latest quest reportedly involves a 28-year-old banker coming from a prominent Filipino family.

He explained that there is an “internal house affairs office” headed by Susan Reyes that usually presides over such matters. “We don’t ask. We have an understanding that I only talk about matters of state, not matters of the heart,” Lacierda declared, extricating himself.

I once ran into him at a modest, deserted snack place in Magallanes (Makati). It was so forgettable, I have trouble even remembering when that happened but I knew his mother, the venerated President Cory Aquino had already left office.  He seemed perfectly happy in his quiet corner, enjoying a sandwich and that image  of a man who relished anonymity and simplicity  has for me, always defined his character.

I asked Lacierda if the President still goes out for these quick snacks. He recounted that soon after he was sworn into office, he tried to sneak out to a Kowloon drive-through near his mother’s Times Street home (presumably for some King Pao or pork siomai) but was stopped by Presidential Guards.  

He is a hamburger and hotdog man, Lacierda shared. No salads for this President. And he still smokes.

The President is a tough boss, he said. “(Finance) Secretary (Cesar) Purisima once described going in front President Aquino like defending a thesis. The President always provides a political perspective to a certain plan of action. His number one question is always ‘how do we explain this to the people’ especially when it involves spending the people’s money.”

Lacierda said although the President hoped it, he didn’t expect his Cabinet officials to stay through his 6-year term. Thus, he confirmed that a revamp of the President’s team loomed.

“A number of Cabinet officials came from the private sector and really did a lot of sacrifice” accepting a government post. Lacierda cited Energy Sec. Rene Almendras who the President felt has been “unfairly vilified”.

“Sabi ni Presidente ang hirap maghanap ng tao willing to work for the government tapos binabatikos pa ng husto sa bagay na hindi niya naman kasalanan (The President said it’s so difficult to find people willing to work for the government and they get criticized so much for something that’s not their fault),” Lacierda related.

As Energy secretary, Almendras is often blamed for fuel price increases, Lacierda explained, that are in reality dictated by market forces.

But the Palace spokesman said when the President starts looking for new people it will not be determined by party affiliation. He noted that most Cabinet officials don’t belong to any political faction  except for Vice President Jejomar Binay (PDP-Laban) and Local Government Sec. Jessie Robredo, Budget Secretary Butch Abad and Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas who all belong to the President’s Liberal Party.

“If people are going to be revamped, it won’t be because of alignments for next year’s elections. He places a premium on both loyalty and competence,” Lacierda insisted.

He cited the case of Secretary Leila de Lima who the President didn’t know until he interviewed her for the top Justice Department post or Health Secretary Enrique Ona who actually voted for President Aquino’s rival Sen. Manny Villar during the 2010 elections.

By Angelyn Tugado-Marzan

“Wala na si Pidol!” “Tepok na si Kevin Cosme!” “Dedbol na si John Puruntong!” “Yari na si Facifica Falayfay!” Last July 10, 2012, all these meant “Patay na si Dolphy!” Yes, Rodolfo “Dolphy” Vera Quizon, the undisputed King of Comedy in Philippine entertainment, died at age 83. He left behind said unforgettable characters he portrayed on television and the movies plus more than six decades of witty antics only the Filipino soul could appreciate and find joy in.

Filipino Americans were shocked  and deeply saddened at the news of Dolphy’s passing. “Nakakaiyak, wala na si Dolphy!” Said Danni Gonzalez. “I remember his movie, “Ang Tatay Kong Nanay,” which I watched in college with my childhood sweetheart and now wife, Lynn. We’re lucky we were able to buy volumes of his successful television show, “John En Marsha.”

“I never thought he would die!” said Nancy Ceniza of the Philippine Nurses Association of Metropolitan D.C., Inc. “People like him should not die so young! Age 83 is not old; 100 plus is old! His death is a great loss, especially for the Philippine movie industry. We love him but if it’s God’s will, we cannot do anything.”

“Laughter will now resonate in Heaven!” some reacted, referring to Dolphy joining Filipino comedians who passed away before him, including Panchito, his sidekick with a large nose; Babalu, his other sidekick with a long chin; Cachupoy with his trademark hair that was always parted in the middle; Bert “Tawa” Marcelo with his infectious high-pitched laughter; Chiquito; Pugo and Togo; Tugak and Pugak; skinny Palito; Ading Fernando, Apeng Daldal, Bayani Casimiro; Bentot, or comediennes Nida Blanca, Chichay, the eternal Lola with the scratchy voice; Dely Atay-Atayan, the haughty domineering mother-in-law who had one scathing advice: “Magsumikap ka!”

“He was the Bob Hope of the Philippines!” mused Carl Abella of Alpha Travel as he referred to the English-born American comedian who, like Dolphy, was extremely popular in radio, television and movies.  Bob Hope appeared in vaudeville, a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the US during the early 20th<D> century.  Dolphy appeared in “bodabil,” the stage shows prevalent in the Philippines during World War II and influenced by the American vaudeville composed of song/dance numbers, slapstick comedy routines, magic acts and chorus girls. Before becoming famous, both worked at various odd jobs: Bob Hope, doing dance and comedy acts on streets, etc and Dolphy, shining shoes, sorting bottles by size, attaching buttons at a pants factory, and driving calesas.

Both Bob Hope and Dolphy’s careers spanned six decades of giving the best medicine laughter  to their countrymen even through the dark periods of their respective countries. “I grew up with Dolphy just as Americans grew up with Bob Hope,” recalled Filipino American Raul Mercado, manager at the imposing L’Enfant Plaza Hotel in the US capital. “I can relate to his movies: he’s always the underdog but he turns out victorious at the end,” said Elmer R. Daluz, realtor of Fairfax Realty

Others see Dolphy’s comedic acts as scenes of everyday life, soothing the pains of the downtrodden and the miseries of the poor. “Growing up, we never missed “John En Marsha” on tv. His humor, though for the masses, was classy,” said sisters Angelli and Agnes Fabella. “I cried when I heard about his death!” said Noemi Dabu.  “Talagang matatawa ka kasi nangyayari sa buhay ang mga sinasabi niya!” quipped dental technician Willie Fernandez of Virginia.

“Pag may problema ka, panoorin mo siya!” advised Art and Annie Asistores. “His funny antics will make you forget your problems,” beamed Mylene M. Lopez. Cho Ortega of Lumpia, Pansit, atbp Filipino Restaurant found Dolphy’s punch lines to be so funny that “you just get to laugh out your tiredness.” Said Dr. Archimedes and Roring Jao, “He made us laugh through the years.” “Pagpinapanood mo si Dolphy, nakakalimot ka ng kahirapan,” enthused Presy Guevara.

“Dolphy was a good clown. I enjoyed his humor!” Gloria Maria Federigan smilingly said. “He was very humble,” said Jeannette Abella as she recalled watching religiously “Home Along Da Riles.” “Mabait at matulungin talaga si Dolphy, very respectable and approachable,” recalled the Comedy King’s fellow Filipino actor Ruel Vernal as he mused encounters with Dolphy in Manila while savoring last July 23, 2012 the sights and sounds of the Asian Festival, including the Philippine Village at the George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

Dolphy’s humility was witnessed first hand by Emelina Garcia Camp who, together with Waret Binebile Chastain, are pondering on how the construction of the grotto of Ina Poon Bato (one of the numerous titles of the Blessed Virgin Mary)will be a reality  in Vienna, Virginia. Camp recalled how Dolphy, famous as he was, would unassumingly drop by her alma mater, the Philippine Women’s University (PWU) on an official visit with then PWU President Helena Z. Benitez.

Mama Connie Valera who lived and worked as a swimming instructor at the posh Manila Hotel for seven years recalled Dolphy’s quiet demeanor as he would drop by some evenings at the hotel’s pool area to visit her students who were actors and actresses and quietly regale them, including her, with funny stories as they sipped coffee by the poolside tables.

“I learned about Dolphy’s generous spirit from his son, Rolly Quizon who was my classmate at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) High School,” recalled  UST Alumni Association in America President Greg Abella who’s busy with preparations for the upcoming Bingo Nite and Karaoke Extravaganza on August 25th<D> at the National Philippine Cultural Foundation, Inc. (NPCF) building in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

“I met Dolphy when I was an anesthesiologist at the Manila Doctors’ Hospital. He was so amiable, handsome, and very funny as he visited his actress-friend!” recalled Dr. Ellen Carag as she reminded me of the movie, “Botleya” (starring Boots Anson Roa) to be shown at the Hermitage Senior Living Place in Alexandria, this August. “As a Christian, I forgive him for fathering 17 children, without the sanctity of marriage. After all, he did take care of all of his children.”

“Dolphy lived a good full life of fun and happiness. His being a funnyman will not be forgotten,” reflected  Filipino American Amy Pascual Quinto of the Washington Post. Indeed, with or without the prestigious Philippine National Artist award, it is, as Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay said, “only fitting that we remember Dolphy for the happiness he brought to our lives.” Thank you, Mr. Dolphy! May you rest in peace.