New York/New Jersey Dec 3-9, 2010

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Volume 4—Issue 9 • 16 Pages

DECEMBER 3-9, 2010

DHS supports DREAM ACT says it will improve immigration enforcement

by Dymphna

Calica-La AjPress

Putt

THE proposed law providing eligible undocumented students a path to citizenship is expected to help improve immigration enforcement in the US. In fact, the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) will help the government weed out illegal residents who have committed crimes so these can be removed from the country, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said.

“The current version of the DREAM Act provides that the students must undergo a rigorous background check,” US Secretary for Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said.

“Only those of good character will be eligible for relief.

Those with criminal records will be eligible for removal immediately,” Napolitano told a telephone press conference from the White House last Dec 2.

The press conference, part of the administration’s ongoing information campaign, was attended by Asian Journal along with mainstream and ethnic media outfits nationwide.

The latest DREAM Act version allows those who graduated from any US high school to apply for legal residence.

They need to show proof that they arrived in the country before turning 16 and have lived in the US for five years. He or she also has to have good moral character to qualify for the program.

“Nobody who poses a threat to public safety will be able to adjust their immigration status,” Napolitano added during the press conference.

The program will give qualified immigrants conditional status for six years, during which he or she will be required to either serve in the US military for two years or complete PAGE A2

at UN Security Council in NY

PH stresses civilian protection in armed conflict In light of continuing concerns on areas in conflict, around the world, the Philippines has assured the United Nations Security Council that it will place the “utmost importance of protecting civilians.”

“The Philippine Government attaches special importance to the issue of protection of civilians in armed conflict,” Permanent Representative to the Philip-

DATELINE

pine Mission to the UN in New York Libran Cabactulan said at the open debate of the Security Council last Nov. 22.

The Philippines was among the 53 countries whose representatives each delivered a statement before the Security Council.

“The Philippine Government is firmly committed and continues to work seriously and with global stakeholders to

protect civilians in its national territory and around the world,” he also said in a separate statement.

“We are particularly concerned over the security of Filipinos overseas that may be caught in-between clashes in areas of conflict or in areas of potential conflict,” he added.

The ambassador said the Philippines PAGE A2

NY congressman Solarz, Filipinos’ BFF dies at 70

USA

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM across America

NaFFAA to step up rebuilding efforts MEETING in San Francisco for its 9th Empowerment Conference, members of the 13-year-old National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) elected new national officers and vowed to focus their efforts in the next two years on advocacy, voter participation, forging partnerships and rebuilding NaFFAA’s infrastructure.

PAGE A4

Dallas court favors Marcos victims

A FEDERAL judge in Fort Worth, Texas recently awarded a $10 million settlement to Filipinos in the Philippines who were human rights victims during former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos’ regime.

US District Judge Terry Means approved the class-action lawsuit involving 9,539 Filipino human rights victims during the Marcos regime and seven companies that owned land, PAGE A4

WASHINGTON— Former New York Congressman Stephen J. Solarz, a foreign affairs expert who in 1986 revealed the extravagance of Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos, died on Monday. He was 70.

A staunch campaigner for democracy, he last visited the Philippines in US Congressman Stephen J. Solarz is welcomed by President August 2009 to at- Corazon Aquino in Malacañang in this file photo. Solarz was a tend the funeral staunch supporter of Filipinos against the Marcos dictatorship. of democracy icon Inquirer.net photo Corazon Aquino.

Solarz angered many of his fellow Democrats when in 1991 he cosponsored the resolution authorizing President George H. W. Bush to wage the first war against Iraq. A year later, he lost his seat in a dramatically redrawn Brooklyn district that he had served since 1974.

Solarz’s son-in-law Glen Prickett said the nine-term congressman died at George Washington Hospital in Washington after a four-year PAGE A2

Students hold signs in support of the Dream Act last Nov. 19 in Fresno, California. The legislation would grant undocumented students who were brought into the United States as minors by their parents a path to citizenship through higher education or military service.

AP file photo

Indefinite stay not automatic after marriage to Filipino - PH govt

by Tetch

Torres Inquirer.net

MANILA—The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reminded foreigners that marriage to a Filipino does not give them the right to stay indefinitely or acquire permanent residence in the Philippines.

Thus, William Silas Parlin, 41, will undergo deportation proceedings after he was arrested by Immigration officials last November 22.

Silas, who was given a permanent visa by the BI due to his marriage to a Filipina, is wanted in the United States for mail fraud.

“The fact that he is married to a Filipina does not withdraw him from the operation of our immigration laws nor does it make him ipso facto a Filipino citizen,” said Ledesma.

He said aliens admitted into the country have no right of indefinite stay, al-

though a foreigner may apply for permanent residence if he or she is married to a Filipino citizen.

“However, since the stay of aliens in our country is just a privilege, even if they are married to Filipinos, Parlin lost that privilege when we found out that he is a fugitive from justice and, therefore, an undesirable alien,” Ledesma added.

Parlin was arrested in his residence in Pateros on the strength of a deportation warrant issued by Ledesma pursuant to a summary deportation order of the BI board of commissioners.

BI intelligence chief Faizal Hussin said Parlin will soon be deported to the US to stand trial for mail fraud before a US district court in Maine, which issued a warrant for his arrest.

Hussin also said the US State Department had revoked Parlin’s passport which made him an undocumented alien.

‘Pacquiao effect’ on Pinoys Cory makes Time power list subject of study EVEN IN DEATH

by Joanne

Rae Ramirez Philstar.com

MANILA—One of the 25 most powerful women of the past century, according to Time magazine, is a Filipino—the late President Corazon Aquino.

In its 2010 Time 100 Special Issue released last month, Time hailed Aquino, along with the late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, the late Mother Teresa and media personality Oprah Winfrey as among the 25 women who most influenced the

world in the past century.

Only two Asians were on the shortlist – Aquino and Jiang Qing or “Madame Mao,” wife of Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong.

The magazine listed the names alphabetically, and also included Nobel Prize winner scientist Marie Curie, fashion icon Coco Chanel, Madonna, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

PAGE A2

by Elmer

Kristian Dauigoy Inquirer.net

BAGUIO CITY—Even psychologists are intrigued by the so-called Pacquiao phenomenon.

Filipinos worldwide rejoice every time Manny Pacquiao brings down an opponent, but can Pacquiao, who is also a politician, boost the Filipinos’ sense of their national identity?

This was what Adrianne John Galang, a De La Salle University psychology professor, said he hoped to find out in a study he presented the other day at the 35th Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Philippine Psychology) conference at the University of the PAGE A2

AJPress file photo by Robert Macabagdal

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A DECEMBER 3-9, 2010 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

DHS supports DREAM Act PAGE A1 two years of college education. After the conditional status, the person can apply for US citizenship.

The Homeland Security secretary gave the statement to “re-emphasize her department’s support” for the DREAM Act which is currently being debated on at Congress lame duck session.

It will be recalled that the Obama administration have been clamoring for bipartisan support for the DREAM Act. Opponents of the measure, which include many Republicans, said the bill is flawed because the “amnesty” would unreasonably add to the nation’s workforce.

The proposed legislation was introduced unsuccessfully at various times in the House and Senate since 2001. In 2009, Sen. Majority leader Harry Reid said the DREAM Act will be part of a planned comprehensive immigration reform bill.

This also fell through due to lack of bipartisan support.

Last September, the DREAM Act, along with a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, was incorporated into the National Defense Authorization Act for the Fiscal Year 2011. But this, too, was shot down by Republicans in Congress who said the DREAM Act is unrelated to the Defense bill.

Napolitano stressed in the press conference that the bill will help DHS in its immigration law enforcement which has had a “historic push” since the Obama administration took office in 2009.

“It complements the DHS’ efforts to prioritize our enforcement resources for removing criminal aliens from the country,” she said, adding, “This means prioritizing the enforcement of the

law for whom it makes the most sense.”

“What does not make sense is the idea of spending our enforcement resources to young people who have no criminal record, Napolitano said.

She noted these young residents were brought to the US through no fault of their own so they have no individual culpability.

“I urge Congress to pass the DREAM Act, set aside old labels that do not mean anything and get to the substance of what this statutory revision would do,” Napolitano said. “(It will) enable these young people brought into this country, not of their own accord to become legalized members of American society,” she added.

It is estimated that approximately 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school each year but they cannot go on to pursue their dreams of higher education or continued development. According to the Migration Policy Institute, one in ten potential DREAM Act beneficiaries comes from an Asian country.

Meanwhile, grassroots groups who make up the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) are stepping up efforts to show their congressional representatives that their communities urgently want the DREAM Act to pass.

“This is the best opportunity we’ve had in years to finally bring some relief to our communities,” Marissa Graciosa, FIRM’s coordinator said in a statement.

FIRM, a project of the Center for Community Change, is a coalition comprised of more than 200 of the country’s largest and most active state and local immigration advocacy groups representing nearly every state.

Cory makes Time power...

PAGE A1 Mrs. Aquino, who died last year of colon cancer, and whose only son Benigno III is now President of the Philippines, was cited for her role in the restoration of democracy in the Philippines through peaceful means.

“Her sudden ascension as the first female President of the Philippines was the battered islands’ first step toward democracy,” wrote Rachelle Dragani in the tribute to Mrs. Aquino dated Nov. 18.

“Weathering both coup attempts and corruption charges, Aquino was unable to push through much of the social reform that her supporters had hoped for. But when she stepped down in 1992, she still stood tall as the people’s choice,” the article stressed.

Mrs. Aquino, ironically, never sought political power in her life and was content to be a support-

ive wife to her husband, former mayor and governor and then senator, Benigno Aquino Jr. His assassination in 1983 led her to take up his crusade, saying, “I would never be able to forgive myself if I knew I could have done something for my country and didn’t.”

Of her style as President, she told a joint session of the US Congress in 1986: “As I came to power peacefully, so shall I keep it. That is my contract with my people and my commitment to God. He had willed that the blood drawn with a lash shall not in my country be paid by blood drawn by the sword but by the tearful joy of reconciliation. We have swept away absolute power by a limited revolution that respected the life and freedom of every Filipino.”

The Full List of Time’s 25 Most Powerful Women of the Century.

Jane Addams (1860-1935) Corazon Aquino (1933-2009) Rachel Carson (1907-1964) Coco Chanel (1883-1971) Julia Child (1912-2004) Hillary Clinton (1947-Present) Marie Curie (1867-1934) Aretha Franklin (1942-Present) Indira Gandhi (1917-1984) Estée Lauder (1908-2004) Madonna (1958-Present) Margaret Mead (1901-1978) Golda Meir (1898-1978) Angela Merkel (1954-Present) Sandra Day O’Connor (1930-Present) Rosa Parks (1913-2005) Jiang Qing (1914-1991) Eleanor Roosevelt (18841962) Margaret Sanger (1879-1966) Gloria Steinem (1934-Present) Martha Stewart (1941-Present) Mother Teresa (1910-1997) Margaret Thatcher (1925-Present) Oprah Winfrey (1954-Present) Virginia Woolf (1882-1941)

PH stresses civilian protection...

PAGE A1 has taken into account the reports and recommendations of the UN Secretary General on the matter. In fact, the Philippines has “taken appropriate measures to integrate these in the implementation of its national policies and work plan,” he added.

“With an estimated nine million Filipinos overseas, it is our duty to ensure that our nationals are protected wherever they go,” Cabactulan said.

“As we continue to work for global peace and security, we must remain vigilant in prevent-

ing the outbreak of any conflicts.

In the event of conflict, however, we must make sure that our nationals are protected. There is much work that needs to be done,” he explained.

Cabactulan expressed appreciation to the Security Council for its consistent and untiring engagement in this issue, both at the thematic level and country-specific cases.

At the same time, he commended the United Kingdom for its able and competent chairmanship if the Informal Expert Group on the protection of civilians since its establishment in

NY congressman Solarz...

PAGE A1

battle with cancer of the esophagus.

Prickett called Solarz a “great champion of human rights” and a “great opponent of repressive regimes.”

Solarz’s most well-known battle was in 1986, when he held highly publicized hearings to prove that Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos had looted the Philippine treasury of millions of dollars to buy real estate in the United States. He led the congressional movement to withhold military aid to the Philippines until Marcos could be driven out and Corazon Aquino installed as the President.

During the hearings, Solarz accused Marcos of running a “kleptocracy” and enriching himself and his wife at the expense of his country’s citizens.

Gulf War A few years later, Solarz surprised some with his willingness to play a leadership role in authorizing the first Gulf War after Iraq invaded Kuwait.

Some thought because he had been an early opponent of the Vietnam War, he should have favored continuing sanctions in the Gulf—the position of the Democratic Party leadership.

Solarz, who was a senior member of the House foreign

January 2009.

Meanwhile, at the Security Council meeting, Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos, Undersecretary General for Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay and Director General of the International Committee of the Red Cross Yves Daccord gave their respective briefings and shared their perspectives on the latest developments regarding protection of civilians in armed conflict in troubled areas around the world. (AJPress) affairs committee, said at the time that the Gulf War was not comparable to Vietnam. Rather, it was more like World War II. “I would imagine that the Kuwaitis must feel today exactly the way the French felt after the Normandy invasion,” he said.

“They obviously did not relish having bombs dropped on their homes and factories and fields but they knew this was the price they had to pay to be liberated from the Nazis.”

According to an obituary provided by his family, during the debate on the war, Solarz said, “The great lesson of our time is that evil still exists, and when evil is on the march, it must be confronted.” (AP)

‘Pacquiao effect’ on Pinoys...

PAGE A1 Philippines Baguio.

Galang said low crime rates during Pacquiao’s fights were some of the “anecdotal evidence” that the boxing champion influenced the national behavior.

“I wanted to find real evidence of a Pacquiao effect,” Galang said.

Filipino or American?

In March, Galang gathered 18 of his students to test how strongly they saw themselves as Filipinos. The test was done for three consecutive Mondays after Pacquiao’s victory over Ghanaian Joshua Clottey on March 14.

Galang said he used the Brief Implicit Association Test (BIAT), which measures how a person associates words with concepts shaped by his or her experiences.

He required his students to sit in front of a computer monitor, where he flashed in sequence English words like “self,” “I,” “me” and “mine.”

Each time the words were flashed on the screen, Galang asked the students to describe whether each word was a Filipino or an American concept.

He theorized that the impact of Pacquiao’s fights on behavior would determine the speed by which the students responded.

Automatic response “They responded faster and quickly associated the words ‘self,’ ‘I,’ ‘me’ and ‘mine’ with ‘Filipino.’ This means that the students are closer to the Filipino concept cognitively,” he said.

Galang also said the tests indicated that the students responded much faster on the

Monday (Nov. 29) that preceded Pacquiao’s win, compared to the tests he conducted two weeks after the fight.

“They reacted much faster right after Pacquiao’s bout. It became automatic to them to say that they are Filipino,” Galang said.

More studies needed The test to determine the “Pacquiao effect” is still in its early stages, he said.

Galang said he conducted a new set of tests after Pacquiao’s win over Mexican Antonio Margarito on November 14. He said 128 subjects were tested online.

He has not released the results of the latest test.

“This is just a glimpse. There may be or there may not be [a Pacquiao effect]. It is subject to further studies,” Galang said.

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A

Dateline USA

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Negotiators work on tax Stranded drivers endure hours on snowy NY highway deal as House passes bill

by Carolyn

Thompson APWriter

by Stephen

Ohlemacher APWriter

WASHINGTON—The House passed a bill Thursday to extend middle class tax cuts while letting those for the wealthy expire, even as talks continued on extending them all.

The House bill was a political maneuver to satisfy Democratic lawmakers’ supporters who oppose extending tax cuts for the wealthy. It has no chance in the Senate, where Democrats need Republican support to pass tax legislation.

House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio used barnyard language to describe the House vote to reporters during a news conference.

“I’m trying to catch my breath so I don’t refer to this maneuver going on today as chicken crap, all right? said Boehner, who is in line to become House speaker in January. “But this is nonsense, all right?

The election was one month ago. We are 23 months from the next election, and the political games have already started trying to set up the next election.”

Sweeping income tax cuts enacted under former President George W. Bush are to expire at the end of the year. If Congress does not act, taxpayers at every income level would be hit with a significant tax increase.

President Barack Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress want to extend the tax cuts only for individuals making less than $200,000 and married couples making less than $250,000. The bill passed by the House would do that.

The vote was 234 to 188. All but 20 Democrats voted in favor of the bill; all but three Republicans opsuggesting at one point that the posed it. two leaders had failed personally Republicans and some rank-and-file Democrats because their 10-month study want to extend the tax cuts for everyone, and the didn’t directly ask troops whether White House has left open the door for a compromise the law should be repealed. to do that for up to three years.

“Every great leader I’ve ever known always consulted subordinates for their reviews, no matter what the issue,” McCain said.

Mullen took particular exception to suggestions by McCain PAGE A1 son, according to Swift. that his opinion was less valuable This is the second time the because he wasn’t directly com- believed to have been bought human rights victims have manding troops from his perch at with money from Marcos’ es- been awarded a large sum from the Pentagon. tate, the Fort Worth Star-Tele- cases against Marcos.

“You do not have to agree with gram reports.

According to legal docume on this issue,” Mullen said.

Attorney Robert Swift, a law- ments of the case, Filipino ac“But don’t think for one moment yer who has been representing tivist Romulo Del Prado and that I haven’t carefully consid- the Filipino victims for over two thousands of Filipino victims, ered the impact of the advice I decades, told the Star-Tele- known legally as Class of Judggive on those who will have to gram, “I think it’s a start. After ment Creditors of the Estate of live with the decisions that advice 25 years, I hope it’s a start.”

Ferdinand E. Marcos, filed the informs.”

The plaintiffs were either vic- class-action lawsuits against Gates and Mullen on Thursday tims or heirs of victims of hu- Marcos after he was deposed asked Congress to act as soon as man rights during the Marcos in 1986. The former president possible to pre-empt further in- era, which lasted from 1965 was served with numerous tervention from federal courts. until he was overthrown in complaints, claiming damages Earlier this fall, a federal judge 1986. The companies involved for human rights violations. in California shook the Penta- – Ellesmere Investment Corp., Between 1992 and 1995, gon’s cautious effort by ordering B.N. Development Co., Jason three separate jury trials in Hathe department to stop enforcing Development Co., Langley waii were held concerning the the ban. For eight days, the ban Investment Corp., Pender In- issues of liability and damages. was lifted, creating confusion and vestment Corp., Revelstoke In- Ultimately, President Marcos uncertainty among troops until vestment Corp. and Vernon In- was cast in judgment for nearan appeals court granted a stay vestment Corp. – are believed ly $2 billion in damages to the and reasserted the policy. to have been companies started plaintiff class, according the up by Marcos during his reign. legal documents of the case.

However, 15 years later, the After legal fees, the victims will be awarded $1,000 a per- plaintiffs have yet to receive

BUFFALO, NY—For some motorists stranded all day on a snowy highway in western New York, their plight is heading into the evening hours.

Authorities said the number of stranded vehicles was thinning on Interstate 90 in suburban Buffalo, better known as the New York State Thruway. But workers still continue to free up motorists, and an 11-mile stretch of the highway remains closed.

Hundreds were left snowbound after a big rig jackknifed Wednesday evening, caused a backup, and vehicles got stuck as a storm dumped about 2 feet of snow on the area. Police closed the highway early Thursday morning.

Throughout the day, buses have been gathering people from cars and trucks and delivering them to a shelter set up at a seTruck driver John Joyce waits in a long line of stranded vehicles on the New York State Thruway nior center. No medical problems during a winter storm in Buffalo, NY, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010.

AP photo by David Duprey were reported.

McCain faults military gays study, wants ban kept

by Anne

Flaherty Associated Press

WASHINGTON—Senate Republicans led by a doubting John McCain dug in their heels against allowing gays to serve openly in the military, clashing with the Pentagon’s top leaders and dimming Democrats’ hopes to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell” this year.

In tense exchanges with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, McCain and other Republicans dismissed a Pentagon study on gays as biased and said objections by combat troops were being ignored.

McCain blamed politics for pushing the matter forward during wartime, and he predicted soldiers and Marines would quit in droves if they had to serve next to gays open about their sexual orientation. He scoffed at testimony by Gates and Mullen, who said concerns among some combat troops could be addressed through time and training.

“We send these young people into combat,” said McCain. “We think they’re mature enough to fight and die. I think they’re mature enough to make a judgment on who they want to serve with and the impact on their battle ef-

fectiveness.”

McCain, a four-term Republican and former Navy pilot who endured a harrowing ordeal as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, has taken a higher profile on socially divisive issues since losing the 2008 presidential race to Barack Obama. He has even differed with his wife, Cindy, who in a recent online video opposed the military policy and accused the government of treating gays like “second-class citizens.”

McCain’s opposition foreshadows this month’s Senate debate on a bill to overturn the 1993 “don’t ask, don’t tell” law banning gays from serving openly in the armed forces.

Majority Leader Harry Reid, DNev., has promised a Senate vote, but Republicans have blocked previous attempts on procedural grounds. Further hurting chances of repeal is an agreement among the Senate GOP not to vote on any bill this month before addressing tax cuts and government spending.

Throughout Thursday’s hearing by the Senate Armed Services Committee, McCain was openly dismissive of Gates and Mullen, appearing angry and even

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has indicated he is open to a temporary extension of all the tax cuts.

Obama said Thursday he’s optimistic Democrats and Republicans can reach agreement on critical issues in the coming weeks, including the tax controversy.

Speaking to more than 20 newly elected governors, Obama said making sure tax cuts don’t increase for the middle class is his priority.

“I believe it will get resolved,” Obama said. “That doesn’t mean there might not be some posturing over the next several days. But I’m confident in the end people are going to recognize that it’s important for families who are still struggling to have some relief and it’s important for our economy to make sure that money is still out there circulating.”

The White House is pressing Congress to extend jobless benefits and other tax credits enacted as part of Obama’s massive economic recovery package last year. Those proposals could form the basis of a compromise on the Bush tax cuts.

Beyond unemployment insurance, the White House made the case Thursday for extending Obama’s Making Work Pay tax credit for individuals, a tuition tax credit and a tax break that rewards employers who hire unemployed workers. All are to expire at the end of the year.

Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers estimated that if Congress does not extend the jobless benefits, 2 million unemployed workers will lose coverage this month and 7 million will by November 2011.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and White House Budget Director Jacob Lew began holding closed-door meetings Wednesday with a small group of lawmakers from both parties to negotiate a deal on the Bush tax cuts. Those talks continued Thursday, even as the House voted on the Democratic plan.

Dallas court favors...

any money, Swift told the StarTelegram.

Swift said the difficulty has been tracking down Marcos’ estate through a maze of shell companies.

Swift said it is believed that Marcos began making land deals in the 1950s through a confidant, Jose Campos, who used offshore companies.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Marcos began buying land across Tarrant County, about 22 miles West of Dallas, using money that he pilfered from citizens of the Philippines, Swift told the Star-Telegram.

He added the settlement was the right decision as a means to quickly deliver compensation to the victims, many of whom live in poverty.

“In some respects, the settlement is a no-brainer,” Swift said. “The class receives $10 million, which can be distributed very shortly, and we’re still able to pursue other Marcos properties, which we are doing.” (Joseph Pimentel/AJPress)

NaFFAA to step up rebuilding efforts PAGE A1 Eduardo Navarra, 66, of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan was elected national chairman, succeeding Greg Macabenta of San Francisco, Calif. A systems engineer with Ford Motor Company for 30 years, Navarra retired recently to devote his time to community service. He has served as chair of NaFFAA’s 8 MidWest region states for 8 years.

Also elected were JT Mallonga, 56, of Bloomfield, NJ as national vice chair; and Brendan Flores, 25, of Las Vegas NV as national youth chair. Mallonga is a New York practicing attorney and founder of the Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF). He served as regional chair of the Eastern Region for four years. Flores is a business administration student at the University of Phoenix and a vice president at the Wells Fargo Bank. All three executive officers were voted into office unanimously.

Equal partners In his acceptance speech, Navarra vowed to strengthen NaFFAA’s political presence in the nation’s capital through active advocacy and coalition building. “While we will continue to address Philippine concerns, we will direct our collective energies towards issues that affect our community here in the US,” he declared. “We will undertake these initiatives not as an umbrella organization but as an equal partner with other national formations and local groups that have a stake in protecting and promoting the interests of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in this country.”

Among the issues that NaFFAA will continue to be engaged in are comprehensive immigration reform and equity benefits for the spouses and widows of Filipino World War II veterans.

“We are grateful to our champions in Congress, like Sen. Daniel Inouye, Sen. Daniel Akaka, and Rep. Bob Filner for securing the long-awaited official recognition of our veterans and the one-time compensation,” he said. “But their widows, and their sons and daughters, also deserve a measure of justice.”

Looking towards the 2012 elections, Navarra stressed that Filipino voter participation is key to community empowerment. “We need to translate our numbers into political power,” Mallonga added. “This requires getting more eligible immigrants to be naturalized citizens, registered as voters and turning out in the polls.” The nationally-coordinated effort will be implemented through the FilVote program, in partnership with national coalitions and regional organizations.

The 3-day conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Burlingame, Calif. from Nov. 1921. Among the highlights: State of NaFFAA Address Outgoing National Chairman Greg Macabenta outlined NaFFAA’s achievements in the last two years—from the successful advocacy of Filipino veterans benefits to internal restructuring of the organization—and provided a sober assessment of the NaFFAA national office’s limited capacity.

Intergenerational leadership The Conference theme, “Building the Next Generation of Community Advocates,” was designed to fully engage the delegates in the total

experience of understanding and knowing how to implement the tools of advocacy. “We’ve completed a full cycle of leadership in NaFFAA’s first 12 years,” says Ben Menor, the conference chairman. “We’ve achieved our goal of igniting the flames of consciousness within our community.

We’re on track for the next 12 years and beyond.”

Panels led by young Pinoys and Pinays, included sessions on “Early Literacy,” “Mentorship,” “Bridging Our Generations,” “Empowerment in Health” and “Advocacy through Digital Media.”

Memorandum of understanding between the Philippine Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) and NaFFAA Representing the Philippine Government was Imelda Nicolas, CFO Chair, who signed the MOU with Navarra. It says in part: “We resolve to work together to initiate and undertake the implementation of projects and programs that promote the welfare of Filipinos in the US.” A legacy of pride Delegates honored Filipino Americans who won elected office as city mayors, city council and school board members and state legislators.

Special mention was made of the election of Tani Cantil-Sakauye as chief justice of California high court, Rob Bonta as Alameda City Council member, Kris Valderrama and Ron Villanueva as state legislators in Maryland and Virginia respectively; and Ohio Rep. Steve Austria, who was reelected to the US Congress.

Legislative initiatives Advocates for the Save Our Industries Act (S. 3170) urged delegates to lobby their US representatives to support the measure that would help the struggling textile manufacturing in the Philippines. Activists also asked help in pushing the DREAM Act, a bill that provides a pathway to legal status for undocumented youth brought to the US at a young age.

Close to 200 delegates from all over country attended the conference and listened to speakers including San Francisco Commissioner Dennis Normandy, Hollywood Actress May Flores, NaFFAA National Chair Emeritus Loida Nicolas Lewis, Philippine Consul General Marciano Paynor Jr.; Hector Vargas and Rozita Lee, Commissioners on President’s Advisory Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islanders; NAFVE National Coordinator Ben de Guzman and Rodel Rodis of US Pinoys for Good Governance.

Rene “Butch” S. Meily, President of PLDTSmart Foundation, a major sponsor of the conference, delivered the keynote speech at the Isang Diwa Gala Night program on The Image of the Philippines in the US. In his farewell remarks, Macabenta thanked one of NaFFAA’s founders, Alex Esclamado, whose wife Luly accepted “The Order of the Carabao” Award. Macabenta also acknowledged the “hard work and dedication” of conference organizers Ben Menor and Baylan Megino, Online Coordinator Lorna Dietz and Region 8 Chair Jose Pecho.

The NaFFAA National Board will convene in Washington DC early next year to map out its 2year plan. The 2012 empowerment conference will be held in Detroit, Michigan. (Jon Melegrito)

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 3-9, 2010

A

Ray Parks Jr., Playing for Georgia Tech University

Like Father, Like Son

by Joseph

Pimentel / AJPress

FIL-AM Ray Parks Jr. has a long way to go before he catches up to his father, a Philippine basketball legend, but he’s well on track on doing that.

The 18-year-old Parks Jr., a 6’3” point guard, who had been playing at National University in the Philippines, recently signed a letter-of-intent to play basketball at Georgia Tech University, a school known to produce top flight NBA point guards.

Photo by Mim Brown-SGGryphons.com

“We’re very happy to welcome Ray to our program,” said Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt in a statement the school released on November 22. “He’s a combination guard who is an excellent three-point shooter, and he has improved rapidly over the last six to nine months with his point guard play. He made a very positive impression on everybody around our program, and we feel fortunate to have had him sign with us during the early signing period.”

To die hard Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) fans, if his name sounds familiar it should be. He is the son of PBA Hall of Famer Ray Parks Sr., who many consider the Michael Jordan of the PBA. Parks Sr. was a star at Memphis University before being drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the mid-1980s. He never played in the NBA. He bounced around professional teams in the CBA and Europe before settling in the Philippines.

In 12 scintillating seasons in the PBA, Parks Sr. played in 220 games, scored 9,000 points, grabbed over 3,000 rebounds and dished out more than 1,000 assists. In 1989, his best season, Parks averaged 52 points per game. He was also named the PBA’s Best Import player of the Year a record seven times. He was recently inducted into the PBA, becoming the second American to do so.

Those are high basketball achievements but his son may surpass him.

The younger Park is the 32 ranked shooting guard in the nation, according to Rivals. com a basketball recruiting website. Another recruiting service, Scout.com, ranked him 26 and a four star recruit.

An ESPN scout describes Parks as a guy who “continues to grow on us the more we see him. He brings it every time he touches the court. The lefty plays with a reckless abandon from the shooting guard position.

He has one of the better strokes we have seen to this point knocking down long jump shots with consistency. When you crowd him at the line he is skilled enough with the

ball to create something off the dribble, preferring to get all the way to the basket.

The scout said one area Parks’ needs to improve on is his defense but overall, “Bobby has a good body with a strong frame which allows him to defend and rebound at a high level. When you look for a guy to come into your program and compete from day one I don’t think you will find anyone more competitive than Bobby.”

Born and raised in the Philippines, Parks Jr. left the island for better basketball competition at the age of 13. The family moved to Memphis when Parks was 13, and he played basketball his ninth and 10th-grade years at St. George’s Independent School in Collierville, Tenn., where he was the state private school player of the year in 2009.

He transferred to Melrose High School for his 11th-grade year, and helped his team win a class AAA state championship in 2010.

He went back to the Philippines for his senior year and played ball for National University where he also led them to a basketball title.

He also played on the All-Asian team in the 2010 Nike Global Challenge in Hillsboro, Ore., and for the Philippine National Team in 3-on-3 basketball in the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

According to reports, he wants to eventually play for the Smart Gilas Philippine National Team.

Parks Jr. has a long way to go before he can match his father’s achievement but he’s well on his way. n

Dateline Philippines

Webb asks high court to cite NBI in contempt

MANILA—Hubert Webb, one of those convicted in the Vizconde massacre case, has asked the Supreme Court to cite the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in contempt.

In a 61-page petition, Webb’s counsel Demetrio Custodio Jr. said, “The recent loss by the NBI of the semen specimen which could have conclusively established the innocence of petitioner Webb is not a case of innocent negligence. It is wilful suppression of evidence.”

Webb, according to Custodio, volunteered to submit his semen specimen for DNA examination believing that it would yield a negative result.

“A negative finding in the DNA examination of the semen samples, which are in the custody of the NBI, would have ensured the acquittal of petitioner (Webb) who has been languishing in jail for 15 years for a crime that he did not commit,” Custodio said.

“The NBI’s report that the semen sample is lost has caused him deeper anguish. The responsible public officers of the State should be made accountable and penalized for their negligence in preserving the semen specimen, which was entrusted to their custody.”

Respondents in the case include NBI Director Magtanggol Gatdula, former NBI directors Carlos Caabay and Nestor Mantaring, Dr. Renato C. Bautista, Dr. Prospero Cabayanan, lawyers Floresto Arizala Jr., Reynaldo Esmeralda, Arturo Figueras, Pedro Rivera and John Herra.

Webb has a pending motion before the Supreme Court to acquit him, claiming that his rights to due process had been violated. (Inquirer.net)

Justice, death will make Lacson surface

by Maila

Ager Inquirer.net

MANILA—Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Thursday said he would only surface when “justice is rightly served or when I’m already dead.”

Lacson, who has been in hiding after a warrant of arrest was issued against him for his alleged involvement in the Dacer-Corbito double murder case in 2000, said he would rather “suffer in pain but with dignity “ than do jail time for a crime he did not commit.

“I will only come out when justice is rightly served, or when I’m already dead,” he said in a statement emailed to reporters by his staff.

“It may not be the best way to spend geezerhood, but unless you get me ahead of my time, I prefer to suffer in pain but with

Palace distances from leaked US memos

by Delon

Porcalla Philstar.com

MANILA—Malacañang washed its hands off the WikiLeaks issue—which revealed that 1,796 diplomatic cables sent by US embassies all over the world came from Manila—for the simple reason that these communications didn’t fall under the term of President Aquino.

“There’s nothing on the Aquino administration on that matter because it’s February 2010 and backwards,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said, pointing out that Mr. Aquino assumed office only in June 30.

Lacierda begged off from making any further comments, since, being a lawyer himself, nobody knows the authenticity of the contents of the diplomatic communications between the US government and many other foreign embassies worldwide.

“We don’t even know if they are authentic. We don’t have any information what those leaks are.

We have not seen the documents.

We have no basis to comment.

It’s too early to speculate,” Lacierda told reporters in a briefing.

“Until such time there is truth to it we cannot comment on that.

These are cables pilfered from the US State Department. The cables are with the US,” he added.

Effectively and impliedly, Malacañang is tossing the matter to Mr. Aquino’s predecessor, Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (now a Pampanga congresswoman), who served as president from January 2001 to June 29 this year.

WikiLeaks reported that a total of 1,796 of the more than 250,000 diplomatic cables sent by US embassies around the globe between 1966 and February this year came from the Philippines.

The online whistle-blower, an organization devoted to revealing secret documents, has drawn condemnation from the US government for its revelations.

“The cables, which date from 1966 up until the end of February this year, contain confidential communications between 274 embassies in countries throughout the world and the State De-

partment in Washington DC. 15,652 of the cables are classified ‘Secret,’” WikiLeaks stated in its website.

The American mission in Manila is the 44th among the 274 embassies and consulates around the world and the fourth in Southeast Asia with the biggest number of cables that had leaked.

The Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom said that all but two of the total sent by the US embassy in Manila were sent between January 2005 and February 2010. The two remaining leaked cables were dated Nov. 21, 2001 and July 19, 1994.

The diplomatic cables have also been sent to other global publications.

For her part, US embassy spokesperson Rebecca Thompson said “any unauthorized disclosure of classified information

by WikiLeaks has harmful implications for the lives of identified individuals that are jeopardized, but also for global engagement among and between nations.”

dignity, sitting alone with my conscience for the rest of my life, rather than do time in jail for a crime I did not commit,” he further said.

Lacson said the facts are too glaring to ignore, citing for instance the testimony of his former aide, Cezar Mancao, who had linked him into the killings after admitting that he had been pressured and promised a good life by the previous administration.

Mancao then applied to become a state witness by testifying that sometime in September or early part of October 2000, when former president (Joseph Estrada) was out of the country, he supposedly overheard Lacson ordered the murder.

“Never mind that unassailable documents say that I was out of the country during that time,

hence the physical impossibility of having engaged in that supposed ‘car conversation,’” said Lacson.

And just last November 11, Lacson said Mancao manifested before the court through his counsel that “he only learned of the sordid affair ‘ex post facto’” or after the fact.

“He ‘knew’ but he didn’t know. Should I take his place in jail?” asked Lacson.

“As lawyers like Secretary De Lima would always say, ‘untrue in one thing, untrue in everything,’” he said referring to Justice Secretary Leila De Lima.

Lacson then appealed to the justice secretary “to exercise what she said is her plenary power to ask the court to withdraw the information and conduct a reinvestigation” of the case.

Cruz tells DZIQ: Cops hunting down Lacson 24/7 MANILA— Philippine National Police Spokesman Senior Superintendent Agrimero A. Cruz Jr. tells Radyo Inquirer the relentless efforts of police operatives to find and arrest Senator Panfilo Lacson.

He says police will not stop searching for the fugitive senator until he is collared to face charges he masterminded the murders of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in 2000.

At the same time, Cruz stresses the importance of putting up a P2 million bounty for Lacson’s arrest.

Listen to the full interview of DZIQ with Cruz. (Inquirer. net)

A DECEMBER 3-9, 2010 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426

Opinion

Features

Taking chances MOST people are used to using metaphoric phrases such as “winning the lottery” or “hitting the jackpot” whenever they encounter a fortunate incident in their lives.

In the Philippines, however, “winning the lottery” is more than just a phrase—it has become a recent mantra to those people who hoped that they could be the winners of the whopping P 741 million (approximately $16,723 million)—until someone was declared the sole winner last November 29.

After 86 draws, the lucky bettor who placed the combinations11-16-42-47-31-37 at a lotto outlet in Olongapo City, Zambales was declared the winner, thus ending the momentary suspense of other hopeful bettors.

Despite the inevitable disappointments of the nonwinners, the hefty amount of prize money recently won in the 6/55 Grand Lotto seem to be slowly directing the public to prefer the legal numbers game over the unauthorized jueteng, a palace official said.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that although they lack concrete data, they are basing on the “anecdotal statements from people,” thus coming up with the observation that “it seems like jueteng was affected. Because the prize is really big, many are encouraged to bet in a legal way.”

Lacierda also clarified that the favor of lotto over jueteng might also depend on the amount at stake.

“How often does a pot reach this high? It’s something that is very, very subject to fortune,” the spokesman added.

The government has long been battling the numbers game jueteng, an illegal numbers game. It has

been participated by the rich and poor alike, with the promise of unlimited bets and quick money.

Likewise, the recent 6/55 Grand Lotto’s lucrative jackpot prize also got people—from housemaids to the officials of the Malacañang—placing their bet on the jackpot prize with great hopes of winning.

Linda Oducayen, 45, a housemaid in Pasay City, said in an interview from the Asian News Network that she is placing her hopes in winning the lotto believing that it is the only way she could lift her family out of poverty.

“I don’t usually pray the rosary, but now I do, especially a few hours before I bet,” Linda said in Filipino.

In a report from the Inquirer, Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto, also a lotto bettor, said that there is a possibility that lotto will be a “jueteng killer” should the minimum prize be P200 million (or approximately $4,535 million).

Admitted that he himself also placed his bet on the Grand Lotto, Lacierda said that President Aquino is not prohibiting Palace officials like him to try their luck on lotto not only for the possible fulfillment of a dream, but also for additional funds to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Although the funds accumulated by the PCSO will be used in alleviating the conditions of the poorest of the poor, members of the church however criticized government officials who placed their bets on the lotto.

Retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Cruz expressed his dismay on senators who bet on lotto

EDITORIAL

THERE is something about the holiday season that makes us want to dream more, give more, love more! One indicator is the recent report in consumer The Fil-Am confidence, showing that the Consumer Perspective Confidence Index rose to 54.1 in November, up from a negatively revised 49.9 in OctoGel Santos-Relos ber. People are spending more, hopefully a real sign of optimism in the market.

However, with the job market still in trouble with a 9.6% unemployment rate, and millions more people losing their jobless benefits, many critics remain skeptical that Americans are once again driven by the sentimental urge to splurge, the noble aim to give and share more during the holiday season even if many of them may not really have the means to do it.

Those people who are not liquid with their cash flow will once again swipe their credit cards this holiday season to buy gifts to enable their families to enjoy the traditional feasts of the sea-

Philstar.com photo

saying in a local radio interview that he finds it inappropriate for senators to place their bets on lotto for they might send a wrong message to people to rely on luck instead of hard work given their “high positions.”

To risk is one of life’s greatest adventures. Most of

times, it takes courage to take a chance. Sometimes, all it takes is a twist of good luck for a person to win a challenge. But no matter what the results may be, it is how a person reaps the benefits or consequences of the chances he or she has taken that will determine his character. (AJPress)

Taking ‘the chance’ route

son. Of course, we know swiping plastic is not free—the money we borrow needs to be paid with hefty interest in the future. While reports show less Americans have defaulted on their credit card payments in the past months, this holiday season may just reverse back the gains we have made from austerity.

Yes, in a way we can view this as a sign of optimism in the US economy, that maybe 2011 will be better than 2010. But then again, this is taking chances. For many, taking this leap of faith seems worth it, if only to create priceless memories for their families here in America and in the Philippines.

Many of our kababayans here borrow money from the banks using their credit cards just so their loved ones in the Philippines will get a balikbayan box full of gifts and a lavish noche buena feast for Christmas. Despite the recession, not exhausting all possibili-

ties to make our loved ones’ Christmas wishes come true is not an option for many. Naghihirap man tayo, kailangang mairaos pa rin daw ang Pasko.

When we cannot reach our goals through accepted conventional means, such as through our jobs and savings, many of us take the “chance route.”

We bet on a better future through the use of loans and credit cards. Some of our kababayans religiously go to casinos to sit for hours in front of slot machines waiting to hit the 7-7-7 jackpot!

Others invest on lottery—the superlotto and the megamillions and all sorts of games of chance.

Our kababayans do the same in the Philippines. Recently, the jackpot reached P741 million pesos ($16.7million). The lotto mania grew as anticipations of winning close to a billion pesos mounted. We hear conversations and dreams of “what will I do if I win the jackpot?,” all around the country.

For some of us the answer may be as lofty as quitting our job and just enjoying life through our winnings, or traveling around the world, or buying the biggest mansion in elite neigh-

95 million copywriters I used to complain about 60 million copywriters. That was the population of the Philippines decades Greg B. Macabenta ago, when I was working with an ad agency in Manila and was handling the Nestlé account.

It was my way of protesting the way every Juan, Pedro and Maria felt competent to criticize and suggest improvements on the advertising campaigns we created. Invariably, ten different people had ten different ideas on how to improve our work.

Poor Secretary Bertie Lim and Campaigns & Grey. Now, they’re hearing from 95 million copywriters.

A friend in the US, Wally Reyes, who was president of an ad agency in Manila and, at one time, was Undersecretary of Tourism, sent me an email asking me “what my take was” on the Pilipinas Kay Ganda theme of the Department of Tourism (yes, the one that P-Noy has ordered withdrawn and changed).

I haven’t responded to Wally. But at the time he sent me the email, I had written a piece entitled, Proud to be Pinoy, referring to the fact that Manny Pacquiao and Fil-Ams like California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye and Giants ace pitcher Tim Limcecum have given us reason to hold our heads high in the world.

But I also added that there are many other reasons to feel proud of ourselves as a people: “And yet, we have many reasons to feel Proud to be Pinoy, and not just vicariously. Not the least,

Street Talk

the beauty of our people and our land.

“I guess this is the rationale behind the new campaign of the Department of Tourism revolving around the theme, Pilipinas Kay Ganda or Philippines, the Beautiful.”

“I think it’s a good advertising theme, reminiscent of America, the Beautiful.’ But to make this campaign fly, we need to work on our national psyche and imbue our people with genuine pride in ourselves as a nation.”

That really means creating a culture of tourism.

That, in turn, means improving our tourism infrastructure, ensuring peace and order and security, and investing in advertising and promotions to reach, create awareness and persuade tourists, sportsmen, adventurers, World War II veterans, retirees, businessmen, investors, conventioneers and assorted travelers, as well as overseas Filipinos, to visit our shores.

Whether or not Pilipinas Kay Ganda or any other slogan or theme statement will work will depend on all of the above. Ninety-five million copywriters arguing over the merits of the ad agency’s brainchild will not change that harsh reality.

But I guarantee you: Take care of the basics and any combination of words that describe the beauty of the Philippines or its various tourist attractions will work.

Heck! Why argue that Pilipinas Kay Ganda cannot be understood by non-Filipinos? It’s the easiest thing to add a parenthetical phrase that explains what it means. The more important point is whether or not we can support that statement.

Was Senator Chiz Escudero right in commenting that there is no reason to change Dick Gordon’s WOW Philippines campaign?

Yeah, sure. But if no advertising and promo-

borhoods, or high-end cars, designer clothes and accessories. However, for our humble kababayans back home, I hear wishes so basic and so real— things we, who have enough, take for granted. They say if they win the lotto grand prize, their mother or father can already come back to the Philippines and need not work in the middle east or Hong Kong as a domestic helper or contract worker. Some dream of getting that coveted prize so their parents or brothers and sisters need not become “TNT” in America—running around like a fugitives just to find work and be able to send money back home.

I hear kababayans praying to win so they can provide their chronically-ill family member with the medical care he needs to prolong his life. Yes, they too have wishes to make.

Hindi naman daw masamang mangarap—malay mo ito na ang suwerteng magbabago ng buhay mo. Lately, it was reported that there was one lone winner of the big pot! Who could this lucky Filipino be?

Dreaming, wishing, faithful anticipating—they all have a function

tions money is invested, it won’t work, either.

And if the culture of tourism isn’t developed in our country and among our people, there will nothing to be “wowed” by.

The point that the Pedros, Juans and Marias— along with the Chiz Escuderos and the wise guys in the legislature—should focus their genius on is how make the best of what we now have, with what few resources and promotions budgets are available, while we ALL work on improving our tourism assets.

In this regard, the travel and tourism industry should invest in this as aggressively as the government.

The reason Las Vegas is such a major tourist draw is because the casinos are investing heavily in tourism promotions. The reason Hawaii is such an attractive tourist destination is because the travel and tourist industry in the islands are investing heavily in tourism promotions.

But in the Philippines, the Department of Tourism is expected to do all of the investing, while the travel and tourism industry does the complaining and criticizing.

Guess who benefits from tourist traffic?

And now, poor Bertie Lim and its ad agency are getting it from 95 million copywriters who think that Pilipinas Kay Ganda ain’t got it.

So what are they suggesting?

Are they going to launch a contest on the best tourism slogan? Will they create a committee of creative geniuses to concoct the right combination of words? Will Chiz Escudero and the Senate constitute a committee that will conduct an investigation into the reasons why our tourism industry has been left biting the dust behind Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the rest of Asia? Will Miriam Defensor-Santiago demand that Bertie Lim be replaced with “heavyweights?”

Or will someone sit down, do a reality check, calmly assess what resources are available and work on a viable plan that doesn’t depend on the

to keep us going and fighting in the battlefield that is life during this recession. They serve as defense and coping mechanisms and may actually be healthy when coupled with vision, planning, real hard work and perseverance. They become toxic when we just leave our fate all up to chance, as we have no control over the results, if we only take this route.

Hopefully the optimism in the air and the reported improved consumer confidence will drive the engine of the economy to higher gear—boosting demand for products and services, creating more jobs in an upward spiral way.

As we prepare for the holidays and look forward to the new year, we can only pray, hope and do our share through hard work so our bet on 2012 being a better year will hit the jackpot! *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com,facebook.com/ gelrelos, twitter.com/gelsantosrelos.

syntax or symbolisms or visual appeal of an advertising slogan?

Several months ago (before P-Noy became president), I submitted a plan to Director Rene de los Santos of the Department of Tourism in San Francisco for a sustained media advertising campaign in the US, combining the limited budgets of the various stakeholders in the travel and tourism industry, as well as those government agencies desiring to reach out to the overseas markets.

My thesis is that, individually, none of them can afford to sustain a year-long effort—not even Philippine Airlines. But intermittent promotional blitzes and “marketing roadshows” are a waste of money. Without a follow through, fat chance these efforts will sink in.

Breaking into a market is like pushing a boulder up a hill. If you don’t have enough muscle to push it all the way up to the top, as soon as you run out of steam, the boulder will roll right back to where you started.

So how to fund a year-long campaign? One way is to combine the limited resources of the stakeholders to make them add up to a substantial sum that can pay for such a campaign.

How does that work? Imagine a series of TV commercials and full page or even double-spread full color ads that talk about all of the wonderful things that all kinds of people can discover and relish in the Philippines.

Of course, that brings us back to making sure that all of those wonderful things are in place and worth offering to the world.

But, as far as I can tell, there are enough of them to get a viable campaign started. What I think needs to be done is for all of the interested parties to get together to agree on getting the infrastructure in shape for the follow-up campaign and for the long haul.

Pero, utang na loob, leave the copywriting to the copywriters. (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.

ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President & Executive Editor

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Dateline Philippines

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A

Palace confident P1.6-trillion 2011 budget will be approved this month

by Delon

Porcalla and Marvin Sy Philstar.com

MANILA—With the Senate’s early approval of the proposed P1.645- trillion (app. 37.3 billion) national budget for 2011, Malacañang is confident of getting it signed by President Aquino before the end of the month.

“If things go well as quick in the bicameral conference committee, we are hoping that the budget can be signed by the President in around, I think, the end of December,” said deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte.

“We’re hoping na mag-tuloy tuloy na iyung pagpasa na ating (everything goes well with the) reform budget,” she said.

The Palace official reassured the senators that safeguards have been put in place for the smooth implementation of the P21-billion conditional cash transfer program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development for the poorest of the poor.

“The implementation of the program involves going to far-flung areas and really reaching out to these people at hindi lang naman iyan isang bigayan lang tapos aalis na (and it’s not just a matter of handing the money and leaving the place). The progress of the family-beneficiaries will be monitored,” Valte said.

She made the statement to justify the P4 billion that would be allocated for the hiring of new employees by the DSWD. “It’s not just for hiring, you also have to understand this is because we want the CCT to have a wider coverage,” she said.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, for his part, lauded the early approval of the budget.

“With this early approval, we hope that our legislators will once again demonstrate their sense of duty and exercise urgency, so that both House and Senate may be able to approve a harmonized bill

by Dec. 14,” he said in a statement.

The DBM has two weeks to examine the Congress-approved budget, before it is submitted for signing by the President.

If the schedule holds, it will be the first time in more than a decade that the General Appropriations Act is signed into law before the start of a

fiscal year. The last time a budget program was approved before the succeeding fiscal year was in 1999 during the Estrada administration.

“It will be a good start for our country if we have a budget that is not only approved on time, but also addresses the urgent needs of our people in a timely manner. This is a ray of daylight in the oftenhazy budgeting affair,” he stressed.

“We want to keep the sun shining on the budget process not only for this year but for the rest of President Aquino’s term,” he said.

For climate change Sen. Loren Legarda, meanwhile, said the inclusion of around P44.87 billion in the proposed 2011 national budget for climate change response and disaster risk reduction measures, was “a significant achievement for our nation.”

She said the allocation represented 2.72 percent of the total national budget, or higher than the minimum one percent pushed by Asian legislators including herself during a recent summit on climate change and disaster risk reduction.

“We now realize that we can no longer be apathetic and complacent on the environmental issues and disaster concerns of our country,” Legarda said in a manifestation she delivered before the approval of the 2011 national budget in the Senate last Wednesday.

“I call on the executive department to ensure that all these disaster resiliency measures are institutionalized in the respective agencies of government and to guarantee the efficient and effective implementation of such programs,” she said.

For Sen. Pia Cayetano, the approved budget showed the administration’s “skewed priorities.”

Cayetano said the first budget of the Aquino administration would be remembered for “scrimping on allocations for public tertiary education and hospitals as well as agriculture and vital public infrastructure.”

She also said the allocation for CCT was “too large an amount to invest in an untested program.”

Cayetano, along with her brother Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter and Sen. Joker Arroyo voted against the Senate version of the 2011 national budget.

OFWs want to spend Christmas in PH

by Mayen Jaymalin Philstar.com

MANILA—Filipino workers employed in Afghanistan pressed for the immediate lifting of the deployment ban there so they could return and spend the Christmas holidays here.

Catherine Sobrevega, leader of the 5,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Afghanistan, said most of them would like to spend Christmas in the Philippines but could not return immediately due to the existing deployment ban.

“We hope the Aquino government would lift the ban as a

Christmas gift to Filipino workers here in Afghanistan,” Sobrevega said, adding they are apprehensive that they may not be able to return to their work.

The government banned the deployment of workers to Afghanistan due to prevailing hostilities there but Filipino workers continued to sneak into the country despite the ban.

According to Sobrevega, President Aquino already created a task force to review the deployment ban.

A team from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was

supposed to fly to Afghanistan this week to conduct a review, but canceled the plan due to the growing tension in Korea.

“We are appealing to President Aquino to let the DFA’s fact finding team come to Afghanistan the soonest possible time so it can come to an informed review of the labor deployment ban policy,” Sobrevega said.

She said the team from the DFA should also look into the order of the US government to terminate the employment of Filipino workers and comply with the deployment ban.

News Briefs Manila celebrates 147th Bonifacio Day With the aim to encourage unity, patriotism, and active volunteerism in the country, Gatpuno Andres Bonifacio Music and Policy Foundation, Inc. recently launched a movement that will help promote awareness in the local arts and culture via a concert entitled Mga Awit ng Pag-Ibig sa Inang Bayan held recently at Manila in commemoration of the 147th birthday of Andres Bonifacio.

With several local leaders of Quezon City as the foundation’s head, the movement aims to propagate patriotism through music, songs, and other cultural events that includes active volunteerism by forming and maintaining choirs in the different barangays according to the Manila Bulletin.

The choral concert, Mga Awit ng Pag-Ibig sa Inang Bayan, was held at 8 in the evening of Bonifacio Day, November 30, 2010.

Immigration official returns $10,000 An immigration officer at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport found and returned an envelope containing $10,000 to a Filipino family that was about to board a plane bound for Canada last November 27 at around 11:15am.

Amando Amisola, the immigration officer designated at the special departure counter said in a report from the Star that the owner of the found money, Patricio Francisco was surprised and “almost hugged” him for joy as he told the owner that he left his money and was surrendered at the airport’s immigration office.

“The money is a family fund for their visit to Canada,” Amisola said.

DOH to request budget for contraceptives, cites Pope’s statement With the suggestive statement from Pope Benedict XVI to use condoms in order to hamper the spread of HIV AIDS, the Department of Health (DOH) takes it as an opportunity to be allowed to purchase contraceptives in line with the department’s family program next year.

Citing the statement of the Pope in his speech, DOH Secretary Enrique Ona together with other health officials justified the planned purchase of contraceptives before the Senate. Ona said in his speech that the allotment of P880-million ($20 million) for the purchase of contraceptives from the P32.627 billion ($758.8 million) budget for next year is just appropriate considering the pontifical statement.

Senator Loren Legarda, meanwhile, questioned the DOH on how it plans to address the Millennium Development Goals, Disaster Risk Reduction programs, and issues that concern maternal deaths and birthing centers with the remaining budget.

One with the Pope’s statement but against the use of other contraceptives other than condoms, Sen. Vicente Sotto also aired out his concern saying that the use of contraceptives violate the provision in the Constitution that pays importance to life, protects, and strengthens the family.

Considered as one of Asia’s most predominantly Catholic nations, a large part of the Philippine society and politics remain to be influenced by Catholic teachings that includes the preservation of life that prohibits contraceptive use believing it encourages abortion.

US PH Embassy honors 23 Outstanding Fil-Am students With the aim to encourage Filipino-American students to learn more about the Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal, the Embassy of the Philippines in the US recently granted 23 FilAm students the Dr. Jose Rizal Youth Awards for excelling in academics while also taking part in extracurricular activities.

A project of the Philippine American Foundation for Charities (PAFC) Inc., with the support of the Philippine Embassy, the Dr. Jose Rizal youth awards were presided by the Ambassador of the Philippines to the US, Willy C. Gaa; together with the President of the PAFC, Ms. Rebecca Pagsibigan; and the Vice President of PAFC and Chairman of the Dr. Jose Rizal Youth Awards, Mr. Robert Tamayo.

According to the Philippine Embassy website, the recipients of the awards were Katherine Argente,Eliza A. Buan,Mavis Joy C. Manaloto, Jenelle Virginia F. Chu,Marc Daniel C. Manaloto, Bernadette L. Ferrer, Jaena Marie F. Chu, Joel James Vazquez, Michael Ramada, Hanna Michelle Montoro, Kelvin Jens Moncera, Amanda L. Andrei, Ruth Joy L. Relador, Krizia-Ivana Tan Udquim, Tatiana B. Lozano, Kevin L. Argente, Mark Ramada,Alfred-Enberg Tan Udquim, Joseph McHenry Cajayon Chavez, Natalia Fernandez, Kayla Argente, Jacob Filon, and Nariella Fernandez.

Pedicabs pulling Santa’s sleigh highlight a Christmas display during a lighting ceremony in Tabaco, Albay. Pedicabs are a popular mode of transportation in the city.

Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban

De Lima to remain in DOJ; no Cabinet revamp this year

by Christine O. Avendaño Inquirer.net

MANILA—President Aquino said he was “very happy’’ with Justice Secretary Leila De Lima’s performance as he maintained that there would be no changes in his Cabinet, at least until the remaining days of the year.

Rumors had floated that Aquino would transfer De Lima to the Commission on Elections after Comelec chairman Jose Melo steps down at the end of January next year.

Dousing the rumor, the President said, “I’m very happy with her in the Justice department,’’ adding that he had even asked her to make suggestions on who could be Melo’s possible replacement given that she was an election lawyer by profession.

Aquino said he would “place someone else in the Comelec” and that if he transfers De Lima to the poll body, “I will be doing myself a disservice and her.”

Speaking to INQUIRER reporters at the 25th anniversary of the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Wednesday night, the President said he did not intend to make changes in the lineup of the Cabinet at this time, especially when he pointed out that people were satisfied with the performance of his administration as shown by its high satisfaction ratings in the lat-

est surveys.

“When you got very positive results and then the next step you do is remove the people that make people happy, that’ doesn’t seem to be a logical thing to do,’’ Aquino said, as he pointed out the plus 60 percent approval ratings his five-month-old administration garnered in the Social Weather Station survey which he stressed was a “100 percent difference’’ from the last approval rating that the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo got, -40 percent.

Aquino also denied rumors that he was letting go of Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo and his close friend, Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno.

The Inquirer learned from a source privy to Cabinet changes last week that Romulo would be replaced by former ambassador to the United States Alberto del Rosario very soon. Rumors said that Romulo would be transferred to the Commission on Audit.

Puno was also said to be exiting the Cabinet soon, according to the same source.

But Aquino said Romulo will stay on as secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs “until the end of the year unless (Romulo) requests that he be reassigned somewhere but at this time there are no plans

yet and not for this year.’’

Asked if he would let go of Puno, he said: “Not at this time. Don’t do things at the end of the year. He’s been attending to the matters that I have been assigning him.’’

The President also said he “did not think anybody has new complaints’’ against Puno, who had been assailed earlier by critics when he was linked first to “jueteng” operators as well as his performance in the August 23 hostage crisis.

As for rumors that he would be appointing former Speaker Jose De Venecia to be the country’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Aquino said he had “not signed anything to that effect.’’

Asked then whether he was satisfied with his Cabinet, he said that “everybody has room for improvements’’ because “we’re all humans.’’

The President admitted that he had pointed out to “certain quarters they should be improving.’’

He reminded that Palace officials were now in the midst of coming up with plans on how to implement his administration’s objectives next year.

On Thursday, Palace officials suggested that those floating names as possible Cabinet replacements should just mention their picks to the President.

A DECEMBER 3-9, 2010 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426

DEC. 3-9, 2010

people events arts culture entertainment

Americans and Filipinos at War

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An Asian Journal Magazine

Th e A s i a n J o u r n a l N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY D EC . 3, 20 1 0

John Sayles film, a remembrance of the

by Joseph Pimentel / AJPress

US-Philippine war

S

ometime next year, kids in the Philippines will watch an often neglected part of their country’s history. Not much is written about the Philippine-American war, which lasted from 1899 to 1902, with Americans controlling the Philippines thereafter up to the latter’s independence in 1946.

But John Sayles, the writer and director of Amigo, felt it was an important topic to explore. Sayles, an award-winning independent film maker, decided to make a movie and write a book about it. A Moment in the Sun will be released next year. The movie, Amigo, has already come out and is touring the festival circuits. It has received mixed reviews from critics but reviewers in the Philippines praised it and said it’s an important topic to bring up.

Shot entirely in Bohol, Philippines, the movie stars Oscar Award winner Chris Cooper, Garrett Dillahunt, DJ Qualls and Filipino actors Joel Torre, Irma Adlawan and Bembol Roco. Amigo will make its debut in the Philippines next June.

Sayles and his production team have also partnered up with the Philippine education department and they will begin to air the movie for elementary and high school students.

The Asian Journal (AJ) caught up with Sayles (JS) and in a group interview with other media, discussed the movie after the American Film Institute’s Film Festival at the Grauman Chinese Theater in Hollywood last month.

AJ: This is a period piece. What drew you to writing and making a film about the Philippine-American war?

JS: I think two things. One, it’s an unknown part of history. I started to wonder why I didn’t know about it because I know a lot of about American history and why don’t Filipinos even know about it?

And it was also because it really is the beginning of American imperialism. We really thought of ourselves as an anti-imperialist country and even started the Spanish-American war to free the Cuban people and then we were going to free them and walk away and then

somehow, a year later, we’re in the Philippines fighting against Filipinos taking their country away. That was not a comfortable shift in the American consciousness. In fact, there was a very large anti-imperialist movement. Andrew Carnegie and Mark Twain were the most famous guys against it and it was a big movement but unfortunately they didn’t win.

There were also racial and religious grounds and other things going on. But a lot of it was that this was a war when the North and South made friends again.

This was the first war that Southerners began to fight under the stars and stripes flag that they had swore they hated, that their dads had fought against when they were confederates. So for Americans, this was an important war. It wasn’t a noble one but it was an important war.

AJ: What kind of research went into this project?

JS: I must have read 100 or 200 books, some were in Spanish because some of the stuff about the war were only written in Spanish.

There were a lot of good Filipino historians to read. I’ve read personal diaries. There are some stuff that’s on the web that are good but you track it down you read it and take what you can from it and just try to immerse yourself in it until you feel like, okay I’ve been there I can write it.

AJ: What was it like working with the Filipino cast?

JS: Well, the Philippines has a real film industry so they have a lot

Charice sings at Rockefeller Center

by Ricky Lo

of talent. They have a lot of people who’ve made 35mm, 16mm films.

They’ve shot with video.

Our cinematographer is one of their premier cinematographers.

She was doing Jollibee commercials one day and shooting our feature the next day. So, we really did not have a problem finding a really good crew and really good actors.

What the Philippines doesn’t have is a lot of independent films.

They are just starting to have a little independent film movement and a little independent film distribution. Those are things that are just starting up, so it was a great experience for us that the Philippines is one of Asian countries where a lot of people speak English. On our set, a lot of people were speaking English, Tagalog, Ilonggo, Boholano, and Cebuano. Occasionally, the Chinese guys would also speak [in] Cantonese as well. So there was a lot of translating, but it really felt like we had a team making a movie, and that was great.

AJ: Talk about the Philippine cast.

JS: Aside from Joel, whose work I knew at all, was Bembol Roco, who I remember from The Year of Living Dangerously. But then, [when] I hired these people, I just met them and I didn’t know how much they’ve done [and] have not seen much of their work because Philippine movies tend not to travel. But we’d be in a taxi and we’d be chatting with the driver. We’d tell him that we’re making [a movie] and he’d ask who’s in it. Then [we’d] name the cast and he’s [asking] “how’d you get those guys?” So it’s an extremely well-done movie.

Kapuso stars for PUSO NG PASKO Artista Challenge Revealed!

/ Philstar.com

fans of Glee, the hit TV musical-drama in which she plays nerd Filipino exchange student Sunshine Corazon, as “the little boy lady with a powerful voice who hails from the Philippines, home of the greatest boxer in history,” referring to Manny Pacquiao who has just won his eighth title after seven in different divisions.

As a fitting finale, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg helped turn on the 30,000 energy-efficient lights Singer Charice performs during the 78th annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting that dress up the Christmas ceremony Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010, in New York.

AP photo Tree.

MANILA—More than a concert titled Hitman David Manuel learned that the month after she drew a standFoster and Friends which also 74-foot Norway Spruce was ing ovation with her heartfeatured Natalie Cole, Peter donated by a firefighter from stopping rendition of David Cetera, American Idol gradunew York who was one of the Foster songs at a Big Dome ate Ruben Studdard and the first to respond to the World concert a month ago, Charice Canadian Tenors.

Trade Center during the Sept. made the audience teary-eyed It was Foster who com11, 2001 terror attack in New Tuesday night, Nov. 30 during posed My Grown Up ChristYork. the lighting of America’s famas List which is popularized Incidentally, even if she mous Christmas Tree at Rockby Michael Buble who, like wanted to, Charice might not efeller Center in Manhattan.

Charice, is a David Foster be home for Christmas due to “More than a million protege. previous commitments in the people gathered at the Center Security at the Rockefeller US. She was supposed to do to watch the lighting,” reCenter was very tight because a Christmas special for GMA ported Felix Manuel, Funfare’s of a terror scare during the but she begged off at the last Big Apple correspondent (and lighting of a Christmas Tree minute. Her Philippine manone of the “beauty experts”). in Oregon recently, added ager, Grace Mendoza, said “Inclement weather didn’t Manuel. that Charice is recuperating dampen the enthusiasm of Other performers during from dehydration. Together audience, most of whom didn’t the Manhattan ceremony were with Foster and those in the mind waiting for hours for the Josh Groban, Mariah Carey, entourage, Charice suffered ceremony to start.”

Susan Boyle, Kylie Minogue, from food poisoning after Charice sang her first numJessica Simpson, Sheryl Crow having lunch at a Japanese ber, My Grown Up Christmas and Katherine Jenkins. restaurant in Singapore where List, so beautifully touching A technical glitch before they flew from the Philippines that many in the audience Charice started singing her to mount the same show at were seen wiping tears even second song didn’t spoil her the Big Dome. But all of them as they gave her an ear-splitperformance. recovered soon enough and ting applause. Charice then “She managed to sing fan- went on with the show. sang Jingle Bell Rock. She was tastically,” added Manuel.

“With her Rockefeller accompanied on the piano Manuel was among several Center performance,” said in both songs by Foster, her Filipinos who braved the rain Manuel, “Charice has again mentor, who also backed and the winter cold to cheer painted a nice picture of the up Charice at the Big Dome for Charice who is known to Philippines.”

PUSO NG PASKO Artista Challenge kicks off the merry month of December with 24 Kapuso stars, 12 partner families and communities, several hair-raising challenges to perform, and over five million pesos in cash and prizes!

Joining the main hosts—award-winning broadcast journalist Vicky Morales and Kapuso star Richard Gutierrez—are challenge hosts Rhian Ramos and Drew Arellano and the celebrity challengers: Sunshine Cruz and Cesar Montano; Heart Evangelista and Ervic Vijandre; Rachel Ann Go and Kris Lawrence; and Fabio Ide and Gwen Zamora.

Completing the line-up of the Kapuso celebrity challengers are Carla Abellana and Geoff Eigenmann; Bianca King and Aljur Abrenica; Ynna Asistio and Mark Herras; Paolo Contis and Sam Pinto; Kris Bernal and Rocco Nacino;

Jennica Garcia and Carl Guevarra; Bubbles Paraiso and Benjie Paras; and Raffy Tima and Mariz Umali.

They will be performing the challenges to win cash and prizes for their partner family and the family’s community. The challenges range from the death-defying to the heart-warming.

The teams selected their partner families from among hundreds of entries that comprise of the “most deserving” families – those that have done good deeds for others or their community. Over five million in cash and prizes will be awarded to the 12 partner families.

PUSO NG PASKO begins on Dec. 7 for GMA Pinoy TV viewers in the United States, Asia Pacific, and Middle East. Call your preferred pay TV operator now to subscribe.

(Advertising Supplement)

You must still be living with your American spouse to avail of three-year citizenship

Immigration Corner

after obtaining his or her green card, instead of the normal five years.

As most people know, green However, there is a catch: card holders may apply for the LPR must still be living with US Citizenship after five years his or her American spouse in residence in the US. However, if “marital union” in order to avail married to an American, there of the three-year citizenship. This is a special “fast-track” route to basically means living under the citizenship, whereby a lawful same roof, or actually residing permanent resident (LPR) is eligible together. If the couple is divorced to file for naturalization three years or separated, even an informal Atty. Michael Gurfinkel

TELECAST SCHEDULE TFC

Sunday Sunday

5:45pm PST 12:10am PST

original replay

ANC US

Sunday Thursday

11am PST •7pm PST

original replay

ANC PHIL

Monday Friday

3am Phil •11am Phil

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*aired within TFC regions only

Failure to list his children almost ended up in his deportation/removal The resolution in this Sunday’s brand-new episode of ‘Citizen Pinoy’ REDWOOD CITY, CA—The Lazaro family lived a quiet but happy life in Davao. Eventually, the family was petitioned by their grandparents in Hawaii. It was a family petition, but three siblings, including Jerry, had to be left behind. They aged-out and that meant waiting for another 11 years. In the meantime, Jerry had two children with his girlfriend.

When Jerry was processed for his immigrant visa (and upon the advice of his well-meaning mother), he told the consul that he did not have any children. Jerry was, therefore, recorded as single and childless.

Jerry arrived in the US and started living his American dream. Life was good for the next five years, until Jerry decided to apply for his citizenship. At that point, he declared his two children, in order to be able to later petition them. Of course, it was discovered on record that he entered “single and childless.” Jerry was accused of fraud. In a month’s time, Jerry’s naturalization application was denied, and he was served with a Notice to Appear, which starts the removal process.

This came as a shock to Jerry and his entire family—how could his illegitimate kids cause his deportation?

He went to consult with a lawyer, but after several meetings, Jerry lost faith in his initial lawyer. He was about to lose hope, until a friend referred him to “attorney-of-last-hope” Michael J. Gurfinkel. Upon hearing his story, Atty. Gurfinkel declared with confidence—“I will fight for you!” Hope sprang anew for Jerry and his family.

This Sunday, watch another successful immigration story unfold when leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel brings you a brand-new episode of your favorite immigration program Citizen Pinoy. Atty. Gurfinkel will also answer viewers’ immigration questions on everyone’s favorite segment: Your Tanong, My Sagot.

Don’t miss this brand-new episode on an all-new Citizen Pinoy this Sunday (December 5th), at 5:45pm (PST) with a replay the next Sunday, at 12:10am (PST) on TFC. And for kapamilya in Houston and neighboring areas—Citizen Pinoy will be going there for the first time this December. So save the date on Sunday, December 12th at KTBU Channel 55, 11150 Equity Drive, Houston TX 77041. Audience call times are at 12nn / 3pm / 6pm. As a public service from the TFC and the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel, seats are FREE, but you need to reserve now at www.citizenpinoy. com or you may call toll free 1-866-487-3465. More updates will also be made available on the website so be sure to click and visit www. citizenpinoy.com.

JCPenney welcomes the Christmas season with gift-giving ideas for everyone on your list PLANO, Texas—JCPenney rings in the Christmas season with something special for everyone on your list, from the trendiest teen and tiniest tot, to loved ones near and far. JCPenney’s Christmas 2010 gift ideas celebrate the spirit of giving with the hottest trends, the newest gadgets, sparkling jewels, inviting decor and entertaining essentials.

With 1,100 stores nationwide and jcp.com’s 24/7 online site, JCPenney is America’s gift headquarters where customers can shop stress-free throughout this joyful season, knowing they’ll always find affordable gifts of style and quality, at a price that makes sense.

Here’s a look at what’s in store at JCPenney for this season’s smart shoppers: This season is mad about plaid at every price. Wrap up this bargain: the SJB Flannel Plaid Shirt for him ($9.99) For little guys, team up big-boy looks with a Arizona Plaid Woven Shirt ($8.99) She’ll love the latest look in handbags with the Liz Claiborne Flap Bag or Mini Satchel, available in multiple color ways ($19.99) Keep your young fashionista looking stylish with Paisley Blue Leggings from Supergirl by Nastia ($9.99) Sassy & snappy Note Card Sets

with colorful graphics and messages like “Chocolate is the Answer” and “Give Peace a Chance” are a great way to express the season’s sentiments ($9.99) Share family photos in a fun, unique way with a set of Photo Coasters ($9.99) For the handy man in the family, you can’t go wrong with the Totes Multi-Tool Set ($9.99) Fashion Savvy Gifts Under $25—Give gifts that up the style quotient!

Wrap her wrist in whimsy with candy-colored Digi Tek Watches ($11.99) Big Cuffs and Oversized Bracelets are big news for devotees of fashion jewelry. Treat her to versions in gold, silver and hematite from Liz Claiborne, Mixit and Worthington ($11.99-$18.99) Make a color statement with Liz Claiborne’s Tri-color Glass Necklace ($17.99) Bring on the bling with Mixit’s red or purple statement Necklace ($24.99) Keep her warm all winter with flirty Cardis with ruffles and lace ($17.99) from Decree She’ll go wild for feline and fem: Worthington’s Leopard Blouse ($19.99) or a.n.a’s Leg-o-MuttonContinued on Page 5

separation (i.e. the couple split up and are living in different locations) the person may not be eligible for the three-year citizenship.

Recently, I have come across several cases where the USCIS intensely investigated the “marital union” in cases where the people were seeking three-year citizenship. And it makes sense.

After all, if they are claiming fast

ACCUSED OF FRAUD AND ALMOST DEPORTED FOR NOT DISCLOSING HIS CHILDREN AT HIS VISA INTERVIEW! Jerry (left) claimed he was single (which he was) and childless (he had two children with his girlfriend) when he first came to the US under a family petition.

Five years later, when he applied for US citizenship, Jerry claimed his two children as his dependents and he was accused of fraud. See how “Attorney-of-last-Hope” Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) saved the day on a brand-new episode of your most popular immigration program on television—’Citizen Pinoy’—this Sunday, December 5th at 5:45 pm PST. Also—Kapamilyas in Houston and surrounding neighborhoods in Texas have the chance to get their Immigration questions answered live when leading immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel brings your most popular immigration program on television— ’Citizen Pinoy’ to KTBU Channel 55, 11150 Equity Drive, Houston TX 77041 on December 12th, Sunday. Audience call times are at 12nn / 3pm / 6pm. As a public service from TFC and the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel, seats are FREE, but you need to reserve now at www.citizenpinoy.com or you may call toll free 1-866-487-3465.

track citizenship, you can bet that the naturalization examiner is going to question them about whether or not they are still living with their American spouse.

In several cases, some LPR’s who were no longer living with their American spouse were impatient to wait for 5 years, and thought they could trick or fool the USCIS. However, they were investigated, got caught, and were placed in removal proceedings.

Not only were their naturalization applications denied, but the USCIS went after them, to take away their green cards.

In one situation, a Filipina married a US citizen, who petitioned her. However, she had moved out soon after the marriage. She got lucky and was able to obtain a conditional green card. She was even able to have the conditions removed two years later, even though she was no longer living with the American.

(Ordinarily, to obtain a conditional green card or have the conditions removed, the couple is supposed to still be living together, and demonstrate that the marriage was “bona fide” (meaning not fixed)).

After securing her unconditional green card, she decided to try her luck once again. Rather than waiting out the five years and applying for naturalization the regular route,

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An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY DEC. 3, 2010

she decided to apply for the fast-track citizenship, by again claiming she was still living with her American husband.

Well, the USCIS investigated, by going to the house in the early morning, talking with neighbors, interrogating the American spouse, and noting in that some of the “joint” documentation she submitted, she and her American spouse had different addresses.

So, USCIS uncovered that she had not been living with her spouse for some time.

Eventually, the USCIS denied her naturalization application, based on her misrepresentations about living together with her spouse. In addition, the USCIS also uncovered that she had not been living with her spouse at the time she obtained her green card. Therefore, not only was her naturalization application denied, but USCIS concluded that she had made misrepresentations in connection with obtaining her green card, and accused her of marriage fraud. The USCIS sought to have her deported/removed, for having obtained her green card through misrepresentation.

The bottom line is you should certainly apply for benefits if you’re entitled to them. But don’t try and play games or look for improper shortcuts or quick fixes.

If you are still living with your

American spouse, then by all means apply for citizenship after three years. But if you are not living with the American anymore, not only do you risk having your naturalization application denied, but you also risk being put in removal proceedings.

That is why it is so important that a person seeks the advice of a reputable attorney, whenever applying for immigration benefits, to make sure that they are truly eligible and that their eligibility can be properly documented, with the proper proof and evidence. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

Each case is different. The information contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and reenactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES

(Advertising Supplement)

4

An Asian Journal Magazine

Lowe’s Energy Center goes nationwide

Th e A s i a n J o u r n a l N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY D EC . 3, 20 1 0

ABS-CBN dominates 19th KBP Golden Dove Awards

MANILA—The Kapamilya network dominated the 19th Golden Dove Awards arranged by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP).

ABS-CBN brought home a total of 22 awards on September 25, capping it with the Best TV Station recognition. The broadcast giant’s News and Current Affairs programs received several recognitions.

Bandila got Best TV Newscast. The highest recognition given by the KBP was awarded to Ces Drilon, who was named as the Ka Doroy Broadcaster of the Year. (Ka Doroy is the late Teodoro Valencia, widely regarded as the Dean of Filipino Journalists).

Bandila and Drilon’s triumphs followed the successful debut of the program’s new format last November 22. With more and more viewers getting hooked to its fast-paced and interactive format, the new Bandila is all set to change the landscape of late night newscasts.

Headlined by the triumvirate of acclaimed journalists Drilon, Julius Babao, and Karen Davila, the new Bandila not only offers comprehensive reports on the day’s biggest news but also allows viewers to immediately react on news reports.

Drilon, Babao, and Davila can be seen during the newscast using their own tablet and laptop computers to read comments that viewers send in through social networking and micro-blogging sites.

Bandila executive producer Paul Henson said this is ABS-CBN’s way to empower Filipinos to take part in issues that matter to them. Henson added, just like the award-winning Bayan Mo, iPatrol Mo: Ako ang Simula citizen journalism campaign, Bandila is a platform where ordinary citizens can be heard.

The four-year old newscast is currently enjoying

positive reviews online, with posters commending its “revolutionary,” “hip and informative” concept, as well as its powerhouse combination of anchors.

Rated K for the Best TV Magazine Program, Sports Unlimited for Best TV Sports Program, while Salamat Dok was named Best Public Service Program.

ABS-CBN’s Harapan: The Vice Presidential Debate bagged the Best TV Special Program recognition and Studio 23’s Y-Speak got Best Public Service Program.

It was a double win for Maalaala Mo Kaya as it won Best Radio and TV Drama Program.

For radio categories, dzMM’s Sa Kabukiran was named Best Radio Science and Technology Program while Ka Louie Tabing won the Best Radio Science and Technology Journalist award. Pasada 630 of Karen Davila and Vic Lima again won the Best Radio Public Service Program, and Radyo Patrol Balita of Alex Santos and Jasmin Romero got Best Radio Newscast Award.

The Best Radio Jock award wento to China Heart of 101.9FM. For individual awards, Henry Omaga-Diaz was named Best TV Newscaster while Alex Santos was honored as the Best Radio Newscaster.

Boy Abunda was named the Best Public Affairs Program host for The Bottomline, Ted Failon as the Best Radio Public Affairs host, and DZMM’s Edwin Sevidal for Best Radio Field Reporter.

Judy Ann Santos was also recognized as the Best TV Drama Actress while Coco Martin got the Best TV Drama actor award.

KBP holds the annual event with the aim to give tribute to the best programs on TV and radio.

What could be Vicky’s fondest wish?

by Maridol

Rañoa-Bismark

Philstar.com

MANILA—When you’ve been on top of the game for eight straight years, you don’t panic at the slightest sign of a threat to your throne.

Vicky Morales, host of GMA 7’s top public service program Wish Ko Lang is not having sleepless nights over Shalani Soledad, whom TV5 fielded as Willie Revillame’s co-host right smack in the Saturday afternoon timeslot she (Vicky) is currently lording over.

In fact, Vicky welcomes Shalani’s entry into the scene.

“That means more help for those in need,” explains Vicky.

That sunshiny attitude that brightens up the most hopeless situations in show hearkens back

to her childhood.

“Everyone in our family is always joking,” reveals Vicky.

“We’re typical Pinoy. We laugh even when we have problems.

We were brought up to deal with bumps along the road.”

That’s why she’s far from depressed, even if the cases she features look grim. Affected yes, but never depressed. Vicky would rather look for the silver lining.

“The stories don’t bring me down because they always have a happy ending,” she explains.

“There’s always a resolution.”

Kind-hearted souls offer to help. Generous sponsors underwrite the aggrieved person’s transportation fare, give scholarships, an array of items to start a sari-sari store, etc.

Acts of kindness, are things

you don’t easily forget. Vicky still remembers the words of someone the show helped in the Luzon leg of its anniversary episode: “You can forget what kind of help you gave to others.

But the person you helped will never forget it.”

That’s why Vicky always stops and listens to anyone who approaches her in the mall and asks if Wish Ko Lang can help him/her. She gets the person’s name and waits for him to write a short account of his story. Then, Vicky submits it to the staff to research on.

She also gets referrals from Mike Enriquez’s Imbestigador , news anchor Mariz Umali and others.

“I get sacks upon sacks of letters and e-mails,” relates Vicky.

From energy monitors to leak detectors to solar panels, energy-saving products come to one place MOORESVILLE, NC—How can you better manage energy consumption as colder weather creeps in and electricity bills creep up? How about getting the answer to your energy-saving questions in one place?

Launched recently in all of its US stores, the Energy Center of Lowe’s is the first of its kind for a major retailer. Here, you will find energy-saving products such as solar-powered products and ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs in one place, making all your money-saving and energy-saving plans for your homes a reality.

“The Energy Center builds on Lowe’s commitment to bring more innovative products and services to our customers,” said Nick Canter, Lowe’s executive vice president of merchandising.

“By pulling together comprehensive options to help them manage their energy use, the Energy Center makes it easier for customers to become more energy efficient while putting money back in their pocket.”

Beyond traditional energysaving methods that influence many Asian homes, the best thing about reducing energy consumption nowadays is that you can measure energy use and even generate renewable energy.

Take your cue from the following amazing products offered at The Energy Center: Measuring energy use How to find energy leaks. The handheld Black & Decke Thermal Leak Detector ($49.99) makes it easy to find energy leaks in the home. An LED light changes color to indicate changes in temperature around windows, doors and in the attic.

Sealing the gaps and cracks, and properly insulating, can save a homeowner up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs, according to the US. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) How much appliances cost to operate. The Kill A Watt EZ ($34.97) by P3 International measures how much appliances really cost to operate. Simply plug

the appliance into this device, which plugs into the wall outlet and accurately displays projected costs by week, month or year.

It also can measure how much money standby items such as TVs and computers cost when not in use. For more power monitors, including whole-home energy monitors like The Energy Detective ($240) from Energy Inc., visit Lowes. com.

Reducing energy costs What to do with drafty gaps. Once drafty gaps have been identified with a Thermal Leak Detector, save energy and save money by sealing them with caulk, weatherstrip or insulating foam.

These products, along with energy savers such as CFLs, programmable thermostats and dimmer switches that Lowe’s sells throughout the store, have been consolidated in the Energy Center to make it easier for customers to tackle energy efficiency as a project.

What to do with standbyoff mode power devices. The average US. household spends more than $500 over five years to power devices while they are off (or in standby mode), according to the EPA. Eliminate that power loss, and the need to fumble around under the computer desk, with Choose Renewables’ Bye Bye Standby ($19.97). The set of remote-controlled outlets easily plugs into a power strip or electronic devices and switches them on and off individually,

or together, with the touch of a button.

Generating renewable energy When to start using sol ar power. Lowe’s Energy Center is also helping consumers take their first step into solar power. The Solar Lite flashlight ($18.97) by Hybrid Light can hold a charge for up to three years. Charge it once by exposing it to any light source, natural or artificial, and store it until needed. It’s durable and waterproof.

When you’re seeking power on the go. Sunforce’s 1.8-watt Solar Battery Maintainer ($19.97) and 5-watt Solar Battery Trickle Charger ($49.97) use the power of the sun to maintain a full capacity 12-volt battery. The maintenancefree panels work with cars, SUVs, RVs, boats and other vehicles, and can plug directly into a vehicle’s charging port.

When solar panel is the way to go. Consumers who own their homes and have ample sunny, Continued on Page 5

5 Calendar of Events across

An Asian Journal Magazine

Th e A s i a n J o u r n a l N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY D EC . 3, 20 1 0

America

December 3

‘Healing is Believing’

NABA Championships in NJ a huge success

by Art Tempo Photo by Mae Palaci, ArtempoNY

John, Ruel, Russell and Ronald and their families traveled all the way from Winnipeg, Canada to the Jersey Shore, a 36-hour trek in all. They were just a few of the thousands who converged at the annual basketball extravaganza that is the North America Basketball Association (NABA), which saw the biggest weekend in its 23-year history recently, as 24 franchise areas from Atlanta to New Jersey and New York and York City (Ontario) and even London, UK sent basketball teams in ten different divisions.

Hosted by the Jersey Shore Athletic Group (JSAG), this—the largest intercity Fil-Basketball Madness on the East Coast—featured 113 teams, a spectacle covered live and also shown in the USA and Canada and the Philippines served by ABS-CBN. One of the most remarkable aspects of this intercity event is the dedication of entire families and their friends to the basketball competition— and camaraderie—that enable this to run year after year. JSAG upped the ante this year with the all-out drive for large-scale participation, and media coverage in metro New York/ New Jersey as well as on radio, cable and online outlets.

Saturday morning saw a packed Brookdale Community College Gym with all the colors and age groups of the franchise teams, welcomed by past JSAG president DV del Valle and Dr. Ronnie Damasco, NABA commissioner, and regaled by entertainers Sheryn Regis (doing two numbers

by Beyonce that brought out the music video wannabes all around the gym) and Geneva Cruz with her trademark dance moves.

In the same month that the United States Senate reaffirmed its recognition of the observance of Filipino-American History Month, this event was indeed relevant.

Teams from Canada and the USA Started in the late 1980s, NABA brings together teams from the East Coast and Midwest of Canada and of the United States. This year, the NABA franchises included Atlanta, Brampton, Central Jersey, Detroit, Florida, Glendale Heights, Illinois, Jersey Shore, Long Island, Mississauga, Montreal, New Market, NY Staten Island, North Jersey, North York, Philadelphia, Scarborough, Toronto-Dolce, Winnipeg, Vaughn, Virginia, Washington DC, York City in North America, plus a guest team from London, England.

Games pitted teams on 16 courts over the nine

different venues. It was a great outcome, with finalists across the divisions representing a cross section of the franchise groups: • TYKES (boys/ girls under 11 years old): Champion: Winnipeg and Runner-up: Toronto Dolce; MVPs: Shawn Maranan & Jalen Millan • PEEWEES (boys/ girls under 13): Champion: NY Staten Island and Runner-up: Scarborough; MVP: Patrick Jamison • BANTAMS (boys under 15): Champion: Toronto Dolce and Runner –up: North York; MVP: Richie Aragon • JUNIORS (boys under 17): Champion: NY Staten Island and Runner-up: JSAG; MVP: Carlo DeChavez • JUVENILES (men’s under 20): Champion: NY Staten Island and Runner-up: Philadelphia; MVP: Peter Panousopoulos • MEN’S OPEN: Champion: Illinois and Runner-up: JSAG; MVPs: Sandro Tovalin & Julius Pascolado • SENIORS (men’s 35 years and up): Champion: NY Staten Island and Runner-up: Florida; MVP - Chris Traumer • MASTERS (men’s 45 and over): Champion: JSAG and Runner-up: Central Jersey; MVPs: Carlo Blandura & Henry Muzones • GIRLS (under 17): Champion: York and Runnerup: JSAG; MVP: Cassandra Nofuerte • LADIES’ OPEN: Champion: Brampton and Runner-up: Montreal; MVP: Jessica Roque Eight other locations in NJ hosted the rest of the games.

JSAG community partnership On the final day, JSAG president Ceasar Morte declared that NABA 2010 proved to be “the best basketball competition between Filipino-Americans and Filipino-Canadians played for the entire world to see. We heard nothing but praise” from venue owners to referees, the police and local residents.

Founded in 2004, but with roots that go back to the ’90s, JSAG is a dynamic organization organizes basketball leagues, with a strong leadership and membership base, based in Toms River, NJ. Its officers, aside from Morte, the president, include Ricky Gomez, President-Elect; Tottie Felibrico, Treasurer; Alex Cayetano, Auditor; Fe Tayo, Secretary; Vic DeGracia, Sports Development; Al Sobredilla, Public Relations Officer; Leny Reyes, Fundraising Officer; DV Del Valle, NABA Liaison Officer; and Elections Committee Officer Gayle Mantes (www. jsagonline.org).

Lowe’s Energy Center Goes...

From Page 4 south-facing roof space also might be candidates for Westinghouse Solar’s 180-watt AC solar panels ($893 per panel). Winner of a 2009 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Product Award, the panels are available in the Energy Center at

select Lowe’s stores and can be purchased through special order at all Lowe’s locations.

Lowe’s has won eight consecutive ENERGY STAR awards for its leadership as a retailer of energy-efficient products and in 2010 became the first

winner of the ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award in Retail. To get started on saving energy and money, visit Lowe’s in-store Energy Center. For more inspirational ideas and projects, go to Lowes.com/EfficientHome.

(Advertising Supplement)

JCPenney welcomes the Christmas season...

From Page 3 sleeve Leopard Turtleneck ($17.99) Find the perfect blue: Decree has jeanious fits and finishes for Denim divas; choose from a range of jeggings, premium-look washes, and destructed styles ($24.99) Help him welcome the outdoors with a Dockers Trapper Hat ($19.99) or SJB Orange Puffer Vest ($17.99) Cheer him up with a Claiborne go-with-everything Merino Sweater ($24.99) Top off the trends with her faux-fur lined Trapper Hats in lime, red or sky blue ($14.99) or his SJB Fair Isle Knit Cap seen on the slopes ($12.99) Little girls will rave about the Uproar Faux-Fur Vest ($17.99) Give a little giggle with the Arizona Animal/ Critter Hat ($19.99); find your preferred pet: sock monkey, raccoon, koala and panda, among others Serve up chic with the Cindy Crawford Style Textured Red or Gold Glass Serving Bowl ($19.99) Bring out the kid in them with a Remote Control Car ($14.99) or Helicopter($19.99) Fun for the entire family, give a gift like Tabletop Foosball or Air Hockey ($19.99) Fun and Fab Gifts Under $50—Make magic with these fabulous, frugal finds!

Rock her world and wrap up something hot like pure Cashmere Sweaters in a variety of hues from nicole

by Nicole Miller ($49.99) She’ll be aglow from tip to toe, in a One-Shoulder Cocktail Dress with rosette detail, from Bisou Bisou ($49.99) Olsenboye designers Mary-Kate Olsen & Ashley Olsen created a strapless confection with ponte bustier and plaid taffeta skirt for teen and tween fashionistas ($29.00) Add a kick to her Boot collection: The a.n.a “Kat” Scrunch Boot ($39.99) is available in black, grey or beige; the Decree “Boulder”Tall Wedge Boot with faux-fur trim ($49.99) is available in black and dark tan What’s better than the perfect Fair Isle Sweater from American Living he’ll enjoy season after season ($29.99) Man-up his jeans with this handsome Arizona Bomber Jacket ($39.99) Casually tailored, he’ll always be well-dressed in this Stafford Corduroy Blazer ($49.99) Indulge little girl dreams with this Arizona Faux Leopard Fur Coat that will strike envy in all her little gal pals ($34.99) Start their mornings off with a smile; the cooks Smiley Face Pancake Pan promises to do just that! ($29.99) Save on designer cupcakes and let them whip up their own treats with a Baby Cakes Mini Cupcake Maker ($29.99) Trend-Setting Gifts Under $75—Surprise them with

more for less!

Share your sentiments with our Sterling Silver faith, hope and love Pendants ($54.99) on a delicate silver chain Every girl needs the Quintessential LBD: this season, it’s a sleeveless black satin stunner with embellishment and rusching from JCPenney ($74.99) MNG by Mango designed a fun knit dress with gold and copper paillettes (available Dec 1) that can serve double duty as a tunic over leggings, for more casual gatherings ($78.99) Give her gams the hottest black Boot of the season: Worthington’s fierce over-the-knee style ($69.99) Whether hiking to work or trekking through the woods, Skechers’ Suede Verdict Boot promises him plenty of miles ($59.99) Plug in to one of the most innovative iPod speaker ideas with iHome’s LED Color Changing iPod Speaker System ($59.99) Perfect for tucking into a small space, a second home, or when the kids come home---a cooks Energy-Saving Induction Cook top ($69.99) Special Someone Gifts Under $100 – Gifts for those who hold a special place in your heart!

Let her sparkle plenty with Diamonds from One Kiss by Cindy Crawford . She’ll want to wear the striking Sterling Silver and Color Enhanced Black Diamond Pendant on every occasion ($99.99) Unlock the love with this stunning 14K Gold over Sterling Silver Key Pendant from One Kiss by Cindy Crawford ($99.99) Splurge – Spoil them with gifts they’ll never forget!

Shower her with diamonds and gems! Go dramatic with One Kiss by Cindy Crawford® Sterling Silver and Color Enhanced Black Diamond Hoop Earrings ($129.99), or opt for a rainbow of color with a JCPenney 18K Gold over Sterling Silver Genuine Multi Gemstone Bangle ($159.99) and a genuine multi-gemstone 18K Gold over Sterling Silver Necklace ($159.99) Little kids--and big ones too--will spend hours of fun with this Lionel Santa Fe O Gauge Train Set ($199.99) Your directionally-challenged friends and family will never get lost again, thanks to your thoughtful gift of the new Garmin Nuvi 4.3 GPS Navigation System ($199.99) This Christmas season, no matter what your budget, JCPenney makes it easy to find just the right gift for everyone on your list. And for those in need, JCPenney and The Salvation Army have once again marshaled the spirit of joy to give on a grand scale online with the Angel Giving Tree Program. From now until December 14, customers can spread the Christmas cheer to tens of thousands of children and seniors facing hardships in communities across America by allowing customers to easily purchase toys, clothing or gift cards for a child or senior in need directly from www.jcp.com/angel.

Experience the amazing God-given talent for healing of Fr. Suarez which has been recognized by the Vatican in “Healing is Believing,” a Eucharistic Celebration with Healing happening on December 3, 7pm at St. Stephen Martyr Catholic Church, 320 West Garvey Avenue Monterey Park, California 91754. For more information to the event please call Eddie or Carmen Tolentino (323) 724-1051, Beatriz (626) 429-6617, Richard Pingol (626) 484-4624, Alejandra Arenas (626) 993-4236 or email at the_base@yahoo.com or rpingol624@gmail.com.

The Upsilon Sigma Phi of Greater Los Angeles and the West Coast Sigma Delta Phi will hold their joint Christmas Party on Friday, December 3, 2010 at the Castaway Restaurant, Verdugo Room, 1250 E. Harvard Rd. Burbank 91501. Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Duo of Willie Manacsa & Ralph Victoria. For further information, please call (818) 943-8838 (MYA).

December Serenade St. Genevieve Catholic Church presents a December Serenade featuring Joan Cano, Pete Avendano, Gelo Francsico, Bob Shroder and Chamber Orchestra, and the St. Genevieve Music Ministry on Dec. 3, 8pm at the St. Genevieve Catholic Church, Roscoe Blvd., Panorama City 91402. Donations are $10 Parishioner, $20 non-parishioner, kids 10 years below are free.

GGCC hosts 6th Quarterly ACAPINOY and Gospel Meeting Golden Gate Church of Christ (GGCC) will host the 6th Quarterly ACAPINOY and Christian Evidences Gospel Meeting on December 3-5, 2010, at the GGCC Auditorium, 701 8th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94118. For more information and direction to the 6th Quarterly ACAPINOY and Gospel Meeting, call (415)221-2631, (415)584-7095 or (650)438-3531. Snacks and refreshments will be served.

Fil-AM JazzFest to Feature Living Legend On December 3 at Catalina Bar and Grill Jazz Club 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, Annie Brazil will headline a concert featuring Bo Razon, Johnny Alegre, Abe Lagrimas, and introducing Carlo David and 2010 Talent Search winner VJ Rosales. Tickets for the 6th Annual Fil-Am JazzFest Presented by ABS-CBN are now on sale through the JazzPhil-USA Website: www.

JazzPhil-USA.com.

FAREPA San Francisco Dinner FAREPA San Francisco Peninsula Chapter is hosting its 6th Annual Christmas Party and Installation of Officers for 2011 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Burlingame, CA. It will be an exciting evening of fun, food, dancing and entertainment.

Anakbayan 5th anniversary celebration Anakbayan Los Angeles invites you to our 5th anniversary celebration and book launch of four new volumes by Professor Jose Maria Sison. Join us at this momentous community event on Friday, December 3rd from 6-9pm at the Grace United Methodist Church, 2325 E. 3rd Street, Long Beach, CA 90814. Suggested donation of $5. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

For more information visit anakbayanla.tumblr.com or email info@anakbayanla.org

Upsilon Sigma Phi and West Coast Sigma Delta Phi Christmas Party The Upsilon Sigma Phi of Greater Los Angeles and the West Coast Sigma Delta Phi will hold their joint Christmas Party on Friday, December 3, 2010 at the Castaway Restaurant, Verdugo Room, 1250 E. Harvard Rd. Burbank 91501. Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Duo of Willie Manacsa & Ralph Victoria. For further information, please call (818) 943-8838.

December 4

Stars of Hope on 5th Ave. Please join us for the parol-lighting for the “Stars of Hope on Fifth” Project at 5pm at the Lobby of the Philippine Center, and the Simbang Gabi sa Katedral at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral at 6:30pm

SBPAK 1st reunion Samahang Basketbolistang Pinoy sa Amerika at Karatig (SBPAK) will be holding its 1st reunion at Las Vegas on Dec. 3-4. All professional and amateur basketball players who played in MICAA, NCAA, UAAP, PBA, PBL, MICABA, BIBLE, Inter-Barangay, Inter-Plant, and Palarong Pambansa are welcome to attend. For more information, contact Enrico ‘Kado’ Rivera (626) 2905751 or Bobot Salas (818) 335-2417.

Annual Christmas Family Party of Kagayanons of Southern California All are invited to attend the Annual Christmas Family Party of Kagayanons of Southern California at the Whaley Park Community Center, Long Beach, CA. For inquiries call (626) 912-0883.

Philippine Indigenous Music: KALINGA In collaboration with SIPA and Kayamanan ng Lahi Series 1 of Philippine Indigenous Music: Kalinga will be presente ad the SIPA Community Center, 3200 West Temple St, Historic Filipinotown, LA. For more info, visit www.jazzphilusa.com or call (323) 521-3588.

UPAAGLA celebrates annual Lantern Parade The University of the Philippines Alumni Assn. of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) is celebrating its annual Lantern Parade at 6pm on Saturday, Dec. 4 at the Dance Village, 1925 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA. 90026. The public is invited to this event, which commemorates the UP tradition of celebrating Christmas with a parade of colleges. The event cost is $20.00 per person.

For more information, please contact the following officers: Myrna Aquitania - (626) 289-1209; Nati Matitu-Mercado - (818) 378-3451; Alma Onrubia - (213) 446-5513 and Dors Maligalig - (323) 547-4802.

Philippine Indigenous Music: Palabuniyan Traditional Maguindanaon Kulintang Ensemble Music, in Collaboration with SIPA & Kayamanan ng Lahi. Tickets: $5 minimum donation suggested; Free to those who purchase two-night JazzFest package More Info: www.JazzPhilUSA.org; TELEPHONE 323-521-3588 or EMAIL info@ jazzphilusa.org

Kulinarya: A Filipino Culinary Showdown Come and witness the culinary prowess of the six finalists who will do actual cooking. Selected Filipino restaurants will also offer food samples while local artists will provide entertainment. Tasting ticket can be purchased online and at various outlets at $20 per booklet. Participants will also have the chance to win fabulous raffle prizes. For more information, please call 415.956.4060 415.956.4060 , send email to pdotsf@aol.com, or log on to www.experiencephilippines.org. Event will be held at the Metreon, 4th and Mission St in Downtown San Francisco.

Annual Paskong Pinoy Celebration You are cordially invited to a Filipino Tradition of Christmas Presentation of beautiful Lanterns and some with caroling music already in the lanterns with so much bright lights - Homemade Lanterns and Commercial Lanterns Made in the Philippines. The event will be held at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church Aquinas Center, 12627 West Bellfort Ave., Sugarland, TX 74478.

December 5

4th Annual Christmas Concert at St. Kilian Church Everyone is invited to watch the 4th Annual Christmas Concert at St. Killian Church featuring the Philippine Chamber Singers of Los Angeles and Bob Shroder and his Chamber Orchestra on Dec. 5, 7:30pm St. Kilian Church, 26872 Estanciero Drive, Mission Viejo, CA 92691. For tickets contact Art Leoncio (714) 323-0015 or Chai Leoncio (949) 933-2387.

UST Singers Alumni USA In Concert Everyone is invited to watch the University of Santo Tomas Singers Alumni USA concert on Dec. 5, 7:30pm at 500 Fairview Ave., Brentwood, CA 94513. Tickets are $10 and proceeds will go to the construction of the new Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Hall. For more details call (925) 634-4154. Tickets are available at the Parish Office and IHM Choir members.

If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com

6

An Asian Journal Magazine

Th e A s i a n J o u r n a l N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY D EC . 3, 20 1 0

Filipino-Americans and African Americans support the Reginald F. Lewis Museum Representatives from the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Philippines in Washington, DC pose for a picture with ePassport applicants during an outreach program held at the John Paul II Campus Ministry Center in Charleston, West Virginia on 13 November 2010. The consular service has been made possible through the support of Fr. Carlos Melocoton, Director of Campus Ministry at the University of Charleston.

Members of Bisayan Doctors (BISDOCS) pose for a picture with the consular team of the Embassy of the Philippines in Washington, D.C. after the oath-taking ceremony for Dual Citizenship during an outreach program held at the John Paul II Campus Ministry Center in Charleston, West Virginia on 13 November 2010. The twenty-one (21) participants are members of BISDOCS, a group of Filipino doctors practicing their profession in Alabama.

UPAANJ Elects and Inducts New Officers for 2011-2012

It was an almost perfect day for new beginnings. With the temperature outside hovering in the 60s, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of New Jersey chose its new set of leaders for 2011-2012 at the

Woodbridge Hilton in Iselin , New Jersey .

Elected officers were: Leonie Mariazeta, President; Madelyn Yu, Vice-President; Zaida Hertan, Treasurer; Amy Ybasco, Secretary; Joy Celo, Assistant Secretary;

Press Relations Officer, Ermy O. Bonus; Lydia Boyle, Auditor. Nine members were also elected to the Board of Trustees.

Keynote Speaker was Dr. Amado Gabriel Esteban, Interim President of Seton Hall University . He spoke of “The Role of UP Graduates in a Global Environment.” In his talk, Dr. Esteban emphasized the value of hard work, citing his own rise in his career experience in the academia. He says there will always be someone out there who’ll be smarter than you, but “I was never out-worked by anyone.”

Consul General Cecilia Rebong of the Philippine Consulate also graced the occasion with her presence.

Her talk centered on Efren Penaflorida, honored as the CNN Hero for 2009 for his Pushcart Classroom project to help educate the underprivileged youth in his hometown in the Philippines. She spoke of lessons which can be gleaned from the life of Efren, among which: You only need a simple idea and an abiding desire to help for your project to be a success.

Dr. Esteban inducted the new set of officers and Board members after the open forum of 70 attendees. The questions from the floor were varied but what was evident was the group’s desire to help the Philippines and their concern for the US leadership in the global economy.

Consulate OPEN on Saturday, 4 December 2010 NEW YORK—It seems like 2010 zipped by in a flash and we are fast approaching the end of the year, and the endless round of festivities that make a Filipino Christmas special.

For our consular outreach teams that successfully completed ten weekend services this year, we are kicking-off the Christmas season with our final Saturday at the Consulate this December 4, providing the convenience of weekend hours to the Filipino community in the Tri-state area during the winter, that we provide the community in the ten-state jurisdiction of the Consulate during the spring and summer seasons.

For consular information, downloadable forms, documentary requirements and procedures related to Passport, Visa, Dual Citizenship and Legalization of documents, please visit our website: www.pcgny.net.

We hope to see you on Saturday, 4 December 2010, our final weekend consular service for the year

4 Dec 2010 Saturday

PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL NEW YORK 556 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10036 (5th Ave b/n 45th & 46th streets) Consular services will be provided from 10am – 4pm HEALTH SCREENING SERVICES Offered by the Philippine-New York Jaycees from 10am to 4pm at the Lobby of the Philippine Center BP screening, stress analysis, exercise demos, nutrition counseling, health assessments, breathing test, etc.

FREE LEGAL CLINIC provided by the Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF), from 10am to 4pm at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center Special Evening Event: SIMBANG GABI SA KATEDRAL (Saint Patrick’s Cathedral - Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st streets) For the fourth year in a row, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral will celebrate the Filipino “Simbang Gabi” tradition with an evening “Mass of the Gifts” at 6:30 pm on December 4.

Edward Cardinal Egan, Main Celebrant / Homilist All are invited!

NAPABA Installs New Leadership for the 2010-2011 Bar Year WASHINGTON—The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), which represents the interests of over 40,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) attorneys and 62 local APA bar associations, has installed its Board of Governors for the 20102011 bar year.

NAPABA’s newly elected Officers, Regional Governors, and At-Large Members were sworn into office at NAPABA’s Anniversary Gala and Celebration Dinner on November 20, 2010, during NAPABA’s 22nd Annual Convention in Los Angeles, CA. The dinner was hosted by actress Tamlyn Tomita (The Joy Luck Club), who was a lively Mistress of Ceremonies, and the swearing-in was preceded by an inspiring speech by the Honorable L. Tammy Duckworth, Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs. The Board of Governors were sworn into office by the Honorable Denny Chin, Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

The NAPABA Board of Governors is comprised of the Executive Committee, which consists of nine elected Officers, the Regional Governors, who each represent one of the nine NAPABA regions across the United States, and four At-Large Members. Brief biographies of the incoming Officers are included below, and more information can be found at www.napaba.org.

Executive Committee President: Paul O. Hirose is Of Counsel with Perkins Coie LLP, where he represents corporate clients in commercial litigation as well as business and transactional matters. Mr. Hirose serves as Marketing Counsel for Isuzu North America Corporation where he is responsible for business and consumer litigation, motor vehicle franchise and marketing, advertising, employment, and intellectual property matters.

Before attending law school, Mr. Hirose was a licensed Certified Public Accountant in California and worked at Deloitte Haskins & Sells as a Senior Tax Consultant.

Mr. Hirose served for several years as Treasurer of NAPABA

and is a member of NAPABA’s Leadership Advisory Council.

President Elect: Nemish M. Patel is the Division Chief of the Diversity Management and Operations Support Division of the Office of Civil Rights and Liberties for the Transportation Security Administration, US Department of Homeland Security, where he manages the team that provides advice, training, and technical support for all TSA components to ensure compliance with civil rights and EEO laws and regulations. He also leads the agency’s diversityrelated efforts and coordinates diversity management with the Office of Human Capital.

Previously, Mr. Patel was a member of the Labor and Employment Practice Group of an AmLaw 100 law firm where he specialized in diversity/risk assessment. He began his career as an Honor’s Program Attorney with the US Department of Justice, and he later served as a senior trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division, Special Litigation Section. Mr. Patel’s leadership includes serving as Vice Chair of the DC Commission on Human Rights, Member of the ABA President’s Commission to Advance Diversity in the Legal Profession, Board Member of the NAPABA Law Foundation, and Co-Chair of the NAPABA Diversity Task Force. Mr. Patel was previously selected as one of NAPABA’s Best Lawyers Under 40.

Vice-President for Finance & Development: Linda Lu is a Senior Attorney with the Corporate Litigation Division of the Law and Regulations Department of Allstate Insurance Company. Ms. Lu manages nationwide and statewide class action litigation challenging Allstate’s policies, practice, and procedures, and is also a member of the Allstate Law Department Diversity Committee. Before joining Allstate, Ms. Lu was an attorney at Lowis & Gellen in Chicago. This will be her second term as NAPABA’s VP of Finance and Development. Ms. Lu was previously a recipient of NAPABA’s Best Lawyer Under 40 award. Currently, she is a Board Member of the Chinese American Bar Association and an appointed member of the

District 34 Local School Council.

Vice-President for Programs and Operations: Emily T. Kuo is Associate General Counsel of M. D. Anderson Services Corporation, a nonprofit supporting organization to The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, focusing on health and corporate law. Following two terms as VP of Membership, Ms. Kuo will be serving a second term as VP of Programs and Operations for NAPABA. She also serves on the Council of the State Bar of Texas Asian Pacific Interest Section, the Board of Trustees of the Asian American Bar Foundation of Houston, and was the 2007 President of the Asian American Bar Association of Houston.

Ms. Kuo was selected as one of NAPABA’s 2007 Best Lawyers Under 40 and, from 2007-2009, was named a Texas Super Lawyer - Rising Star by Texas Monthly magazine. Ms. Kuo serves on the boards of directors for the Society for the Performing Arts and Houston Early Music.

Vice-President for Membership: Sumbal Mahmud currently serve as Counsel to the Minnesota Stroke Institute and manages a private client base in the US and abroad. She is a consultant and frequently lectures and teaches seminars internationally.

Vice-President for Communications: Bryce K. Kunimoto is a partner in the litigation practice group of the Las Vegas office of Holland & Hart LLP. His practice focuses on commercial litigation cases involving contract disputes, banking law, trade secrets, partnership disputes, NASD/ FINRA broker-dealer disputes, and construction law. He has represented large national banks, gaming companies, developers, hotels/casinos and technology companies. Mr. Kunimoto is a former NAPABA Regional Governor and was the Co-Founder and Co-President of the Asian Bar Association of Las Vegas.

Secretary: Bijal Vakil is the executive partner in charge of White & Case’s Silicon Valley office and a member of its intellectual property practice.

He represents entities of all

sizes, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to Silicon Valley startups, in IP litigation, strategic counseling, and technology licensing matters. He represents clients in numerous district courts, the International Trade Commission, and before the Federal Circuit. Mr. Vakil is active in community organizations and devotes his time to pro bono matters and is a recipient of the Minority Bar Association’s Unity Award and was named as one of NAPABA’s 2010 Best Lawyers Under 40.

Treasurer: Camilla M. Eng serves as General Counsel to JM Eagle, where she leads the law department of the world’s largest plastic pipe manufacturer and advises on corporate strategy and implementation. Prior to her current role, she served as a Deputy City Attorney for the Renewable Energy Group at the Department of Water and Power in Los Angeles, CA. Immediate Past President: Joseph J. Centeno is an equity partner with Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP. Mr. Centeno founded the firm’s Diversity Committee and is the firm’s Diversity Partner. In 2006, Diversity & the Bar Magazine named Mr. Centeno as one of “The Best of the Best” labor and employment lawyers. He was recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer and NAPABA’s “Best Lawyers Under 40.” Mr. Centeno has served as VP of Finance and Development, President-Elect, and President for NAPABA. He has been President of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania, a Senior Hearing Officer to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Disciplinary Board, and Commissioner to the Philadelphia Human Relations Commission. Mr. Centeno also served as board member to the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group, NAPABA Law Foundation, the National Employment Lawyer’s Council, and the Homeless Advocacy Project.

Regional Governors Central Region: Lawrence “LG” Almeda Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, Ann Arbor, MI Northeast Region: Jeffrey Hsi, Edwards Angell

The second generation of Reginald F. Lewis’ family. These 20-something and 30something cousins, including daughters Leslie and Christina, continue to live the legacy left

by Reginald F. Lewis by the way they live their lives and lead others to succeed. Back row (L-R) J. Russell Fugett, Brandon Fugett, Reginald Fugett, Justin C. Wiley, Marcus Fugett, Elliott A. Wiley Jr. Front row (L-R): Sabrina Dutton, Lindsey Fugett, Leslie Lewis Sword, Lena Fugett Polite, Christina Lewis Halpern. Photo by REJ & Associates, Inc

Washington DC—On December 7, the family man, financial icon and inspiration to many African Americans in law and business would have been 68. But 17 years ago, Reginald F. Lewis passed away at 50, after having lived a full life showing that drive, hard work and determination can overcome all economic adversities and racial differences. He also left behind a true and loyal partner in Loida Nicolas Lewis, the Filipina American philanthropist and top community leader who made sure that RFL’s legacy lived on in grants, buildings, scholarships and museums named after him. The greatest of these to some, is in Washington DC’s neighboring town, Baltimore, where the Lewis Museum of African American History and Culture stands masterfully and proudly.

Also standing proud on Massachusetts Avenue is the grand Philippine Embassy, with its mighty flag swaying peacefully in the wind. And on Tuesday, Washington DC will re-witness a marriage of two communities that have done many great things especially when coming together as demonstrated by these two people who come from different backgrounds and history but chose to unite to make one great story. Loida Nicolas was the strong and loyal partner of Reginald Lewis, faithful beyond death. But Nicolas’ affair with the Filipino American community is also steadfast as she is a visible spokesperson and leader of all Filipino American concerns that she courageously brings up to the Philippine, or American president (and other political leaders). Just as her husband’s foundation supports African American students at Harvard or Maryland, she supports Filipino students in Sorsogon and New York. Just as African American children are inspired by Reginald F. Lewis’ intelligence and passion, Loida N. Lewis inspire Filipino Americans with her community involvement and compassion. On Dec 7, it is these two communities’ chance to get together and take steps to support the two persons that have given much to them: a good example, inspiration, and a sense of pride.

“I thank Ambassador Gaa and the Philippine Embassy for their generosity of space and spirit. I am also happy to show my family and the African American community here in Washington DC, our Philippine home away from home here in the United States,” said Mrs Lewis. “It is especially touching that this event was speearheaded by my nephew, J. Russell Fugett, who is following the footsteps of my husband in his business prowess here in Washington DC.” “My ancestors left a tremendous legacy and inheritance that is far more valuable then any amount of money. I intend to build on this through business and service.” said J. Russell Fugett, a graduate of the The George Washington University School of Business “Given the large and affluent African American and Filipino American Community in Greater Washington, DC, I wanted to create more awareness of and greater support for The Lewis Museum in Baltimore” The young Fugett, 31, is doing just that by organizing “Celebrate The Legacy: A Reception For New Friends of The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture” at the Philippine Embassy on 1600 Massachusetts Avenue” on Tuesday, December 7th, 2010, 630pm to 830pm.

“I hope that people will leave this event with a stronger sense of who my Uncle was, and why it is important to support his legacy which is represented in large part by The Lewis: the largest African American History museum on the east coast,” added Fugett.

For more information about the Lewis Museum in Maryland, please visit www.africanamericanculture.org. To register for and support this event, please go to www.rfl68.eventbrite.com

Kalusugan Coalition Community Forum & Open House on Dec. 4 Kalusugan Coalition invites you to a Community Forum & Open House! Join us for our open house at our new office in Woodside, Queens. Also participate in our community forum to receive an update on one of our main heart health projects, AsPIRE, and find how you can partner with us to better serve the health of the Filipino community in New York.

Saturday December 4, 2010 10am to 4pm Kalusugan Coalition Office 39-04 63rd St., Woodside, NY 11377 (between 39th Ave. and 37th Ave.) 9:30am - light breakfast served 10am - KC and AsPIRE Overview Community Health Worker Role 10:30am - KC Partners’ Voices, Q&A 12pm - Lunch 12:45 - Community Feedback 2pm - 4pm - Open House for General Public Please RSVP by Nov. 26 at info@kalusugan coalition.org. For more info, please contact Rhodora Ursua at (212) 263-3776. Visit www. kalusugancoalition.org.

Palmer & Dodge LLP, Boston, MA Jin Hwang, Verizon Wireless, Morristown, NJ Northwest Region: Michele Wong Microsoft Corporation Law and Corporate, Redmond, WA Southeast Region: Bill Simonitsch K&L Gates LLP, Miami, FL Southwest Region: George Chen Bryan Cave LLP, Phoenix, AZ Central California Region: Cyndie Chang Duane Morris LLP, Los Angeles, CA Southern California Region: Tirzah Lowe Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP, Irvine, CA

Eastern California Region: Danette “Dee” C. Brown CA Department of Insurance, Sacramento, CA Northern California Region: Kiran Jain Office of the City Attorney, Oakland, CA At-Large Board Members Andrew T. Hahn, Sr. Seyfarth Shaw, LLP, New York, NY Christopher C. Javillonar Bryan Cave, Kansas City, MO Ekwan Rhow Bird, Marella, Boxer, Wolpert, Nessim, Drooks & Lincenberg, Los Angeles, CA Andrew A. Vu SAP Business Objects, Palo Alto, CA

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Th e A s i a n J o u r n a l N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY D EC . 3, 20 1 0