Issue 78, August 2024
Women & Media Café
A platform for conversation, action
Filipino athletes ‘Mabuhay’ to the 22 at the Paris Olympics
Lumen Castaneda
A kindergarten teacher for 55 years
Letter from the Editor
Renewed energy for Democrats as Biden bows out
Filipino Americans voiced their support for President Joe Biden’s decision to “stand down” and drop out of the race and to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris to be the party’s candidate for president.
National Federation of Filipino American Associations National Chair Brendan Flores said President Biden’s decision not to seek reelection “deserves our respect and gratitude.” We can all appreciate, he said, the “dedication and hard work he has shown in serving the nation.”
Biden announced on July 21 that he is abandoning his reelection bid “in the best interest of my party and the country.” He thanked Vice President Kamala Harris for “being an extraordinary partner” in his presidency and endorsed her as the Democratic Party standard bearer. Party faithfuls began to gravitate behind Harris framing the November elections as a contest between “the Prosecutor and the Prosecuted” referring to Republican candidate Donald Trump who was convicted on 34 counts in a hush money trial.
Enzo Manzano, president of the Filipino American Democratic Club of New York said there is a “multitude of achievements to celebrate” in Biden’s term. He continues to put his country first and decide on what is the best path forward.
“We thank him for his decades of service.”
Founding Editor
Cristina DC Pastor
Managing Editor Rene Pastor
P.O. Box 8071
New York, NY 10116
NAFFAA’S Brendan Flores with President Joe Biden at the White House
He said, “There is too much at stake with Trump on the ballot and we will do all we can to defeat him once again.”
Business and community leader in Philadelphia Brad Baldia said President Biden’s decision to step down and subsequently endorse Harris “was a surprise to many people.”
He noted that since the President's endorsement of Harris, she has raised over $27.5 million dollars and received the major endorsements of most governors and Democratic political leaders.
“We are seeing a renewed energy for Democrats and progressives and just in time for the Democratic National Convention.”
Biden has been one of the most accomplished presidents in modern history, he said, and Harris will only help to “ensure that we save our democracy from tyrants and criminals like Donald J. Trump.”
As for real estate professional Edwin Josue, he believes “Biden made the right decision: Country’s interest before self. Such a gentlemanly act!” He is confident Harris “will galvanize women, minority voters and the new generation.”
There had been mounting calls even from prominent leaders within his party for Biden to step down. They cited his declining health and had concerns about his ability to defeat Trump based on surveys. Biden had rejected such sentiments insisting he could win the race. Until he tested positive for COVID-19 and missed campaign rallies. Four days later, he made the announcement he was withdrawing and that he would just finish the remainder of his term. – Cristina DC Pastor
Contributing Writers
Angelito Cabigao
Ludy AstraquilloOngkeko
Lindy Rosales
Vicky Potenciano-Vitug
Queer, trans Asian American youths need caregiving too
By Sunita Sohrabji
AAPI young adults who are queer or trans often find themselves alone: estranged from traditional families and friends who are not supportive or don’t understand their identity.
“We don’t often think of caregiving as something that we need for ourselves. We think caregiving is individual, in a home, or there’s someone that’s giving care to their elder parent,” said Dianara Rivera, director of Narrative Strategy at the Asian American Resource Workshop. “But caregiving is political. We’ve seen the legislative and political attacks on the queer community. We have to find ways to take care of ourselves and to take care of each other,” Rivera told EMS.
“When we bring caregiving into the public space and make it communal, we really learn a lot. There’s few and far between spaces for our community,” she said.
Rivera grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. “I felt pretty isolated. We were not the only Filipino family, but we were definitely one of the few. I had my Filipino friends, but honestly, back then I didn’t even know I was queer. I did not figure it out till I was 20.”
“And I did not see a way I was supposed to be, especially as a queer person, even though I didn’t know it yet. So I really had to figure it out on my own,” she said.
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, AARW is one of five organizations involved with Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC’s Narrative Change and Caregiving Project, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Through the initiative, AARW aimed to collect stories and art about what interdependence looks like in queer and trans communities. The work is being shared with the public and policymakers.
| Not your Model Minority
AARW’s project also aims to combat the model minority myth. While some of the organization’s previous initiatives have focused on AAPI elderly people, this project engaged solely young queer and trans adults.
The organization created a series of workshops for the local QTAPI commu-
nity to write, paint, and draw.
“There’s a lot of expectations for us to fit the model minority and stay submissive to the American gaze, but I say be brash, loud, and unapologetic. Disrupt the norm of white cisnormative America,” wrote Jenny Ly, who also created a mosaic of found objects at the first workshop last August.
| The complexity of identity
“At AARW, I’ve met a lot of lovely queer folks at events that make me realize that we need more intersecting identity spaces to care and love for each other. Being QTAPI is complex, but to embrace my vulnerability is being able to accept myself and the new things I discover about being QTAPI,” wrote Ly. A poetry writing workshop was also held that month.
Last September, AARW facilitated an “Ask for Help, Ask for Love,” workshop, aiming to challenge the myth within the AAPI community that asking for help is shameful and burdensome to the person who is asked. Participants explored the barriers which made them fearful of asking for help, including fear of rejection, past rejections, and the myth that one must be strong amid a community that is struggling.
The final workshop in December featured photography. One person brought a photo of a fragment of a sari. “My grandmother passed away when she was very young. When my mother came to America, the only thing she had from her mother’s was this sari. Today, it’s the only thing left of my grandmother,” they wrote.
“My mother gave me a piece of the sari, which I wear as a scarf on special occasions, and she kept the other half. Photographing this scarf feels like immortalizing my grandmother’s memory,” wrote the photographer.
“I was really happy to be able to give a lot of folks an opportunity to share their knowledge and practices of caregiving with the larger community,” said Rivera. “The feedback I got was really that it was great to have this space specifically for the QTAPI community. Being able to just bring the sense of aliveness was really heartwarming.” – Ethnic Media Services
The QTAPI community. Photos courtesy of the Asian American Resource Workshop
May our Philippine athletes reap the rewards of their hard work
PARIS -- France just knows how to wow the world with the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics!
Every other country that hosted the modern Olympics since its founding in Greece in 1896 held the opening ceremony in a giant stadium. Each country’s athletes marched waving their flags to the cheers of the audience particularly their fellow citizens assembled in the designated stadium.
What did France decide for the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics held from July 26 to August 11, 2024? President Emmanuel Macron’s government and the Paris City Council decided that the Seine River between the Île de la Cite and Île Saint-Louis would be the venue for the opening ceremony!
The Paris Council spent to clean up the Seine River for €1.5 billion so each country’s top athletes would be in a boat waving their country’s flags and a section would be safe for a swimming tournament to be held on the river!
Thus, along both sides of the river, strict rules and expensive ticket prices allowed thousands of spectators from around the world to cheer each country’s contingent as their boats cruised along the river.
Needless to say, the largest number of athletes, nearly 600, were on the ship waving the flag of the USA. The biggest ship of course and the largest applause belonged to the French contingent (573 athletes, second to the USA) waving the tri-colors of Blue, White and Red.
Aside from this parade of ships, the performance of Lady Gaga in pre-recorded French song with multiple dancers carrying pink plumes was a tribute to the late French artist Zizi Jeanmaire. Céline Dion in resplendent silver gown sang “Hymne à l'Amour,” a tribute to Edith Piaf and her sort of defiance against fate because she has recovered from a debilitating disease.
Another jaw-dropping event was the silver hologram horse first seen in the movie “Frozen 2” galloping over the waters of the Seine River with a woman dressed in silver-looking armor riding on its back.
The most unique feature aside from the river parade was how the French managed to have Marie-José Pérec and Teddy Riner light the Cauldron of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at the end of an exceptional opening ceremony. Created by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur, the Paris 2024 Cauldron is different from all previous Olympic Cauldrons! This giant ring of fire topped by a monumental balloon took to the skies over Paris. For the first time in the history of the Games, the Olympic Flame will shine without fuel, until the
26, due to pre-games preparation but the boat was filled with our top Filipino athletes. It is the largest contingent since Olympics 2020 Tokyo, where 19 top Filipino athletes competed.
How proud I was to shout “Mabuhay” from the Île Saint-Louis side to salute the best athletes of the Philippines, who have worked relentlessly to earn their place in the Olympics Games Paris 2024. So was the Philippines Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who sat in the Olympic Family Section on the bank of Île de la Cite.
Who are the 22 players who reached their dreams of representing the Philippines in Paris 2024 after proving themselves champions in their chosen sport?
• In Boxing, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Felix Marcial (men’s); Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas, Hergie Bacyadan (women’s)
• In Athletics, EJ Obiena (Pole Vault), Lauren Hoffman (400m hurdles), John Tolentino (110m hurdles)
• In Fencing, Samantha Catantan (1st Filipino woman fencer)
• In Golf, Bianca Pagdanganan, Dottie Ardina
• In Gymnastics, Carlos Yulo (PH best bet), Emma Malabuyo and Aleah Finnegan (previously US contenders), Levi Ruivivar
• In Judo, Kiyomi Watanabe (women’s 63kg)
• In Rowing. Joanie Delgado (1st Filipino woman)
• In Swimming, Jarod Hatch, Kayla Noelle Sanchez (previously with Canada’s team)
end of the Olympics (powered by LED lights and water vapor), thanks to the French EDF (Electricity of France).
Going back to the Parade of Boats, as the predicted rain started to fall, athletes on the Philippine boat waved the distinctive flag of white triangle with the Golden Sun and three Stars with the Blue on the top half and Red at the lower half of the flag.
Of the 22-strong Team Philippines, seven were scheduled to arrive after July
• In Weightlifting, Elreen Ando (who edged out Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz), John Ceniza, Vanessa Sarno Each of these 22 Filipino athletes made the supreme sacrifice to devote their time and resources to prepare for the Olympics. As of this writing, the Summer Olympics Paris 2024 is in full swing. God willing, may they reap the rewards of the tough, grueling competitions with a gold, silver or bronze medal!
Boat carrying Team Philippines cruises along the Seine River. Photos: SEA Sports News
Filipino community welcomes, lauds Women & Media Café
By Marivir Montebon
Fierce and compelling narratives woven with beautiful songs in the diaspora depicted the coming-out of Women & Media (WAM) Café as a shared platform for Filipino women in New York. Many in attendance loved the unique cultural presentation.
Dr. Connie Uy, retired medical doctor and former board chair of the Philippine American Friendship Committee, gave a heartwarming message on Facebook to describe the launch on June 21, 2024, at the Philippine Center on 5th Avenue.
“Congratulations to Marivir and Crien. A very successful launch of your WAM! Well-orchestrated and excellent topics and impressive speakers. The entertainment presentation of the musicians was great. The food was delicious! I enjoyed the whole program,” she writes.
“A very substantial conversation,” said accountant Ledy Almadin, an officer of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce.
WAM is a platform for mutual support for conversation and action of women leaders and media in New York organized by journalists Marivir Montebon of Awesome Media, Ltd., and Cristina DC Pastor, founding editor of The FilAm newspaper and co-founder of Makilala TV. It is a project of the tax-exempt Women’s Immigration and Communications Café (WICCAFE) and the media companies owned and operated by Montebon, the Awesome Media Ltd. and Pastor’s The FilAm.
WICCAFE, born in 2018, is an NYS-registered nonprofit formed by Montebon to provide immigrants a platform for their stories and women’s rights advocates to offer professional assistance as needed.
The evening ensued with the deep and insightful experiences shared by the speakers as media practitioners punctuated by songs curated by Mongado whose voice enthralled the audience.
Vice Consul Cathe Aguilar welcomed the guests at the Kalayaan Hall on behalf of Consul General Senen Mangalile. Aguilar is the newest addition to the consular staff in New York.
| Fierce and compelling messages
New York journalist Cielo Buenaventura’s narrative dwelled on aging and how stereotypes of old people may have to be broken. “No one can stop the march of time. We all age,” she said.
Society, however, regards old people as useless and disposable, and Buenaventura offered ways of respecting and honoring ‘super-agers’ with their wealth of experience.
Justine Calma of Vox Media acknowledged the power of the media to teach, such as her experience as a young child, learning the English language and science fast through children’s shows. But she also critiqued how media has portrayed women as one-dimensional -- as vixen, villain, or victim.
“That lack of fair representation affected me too. It’s hard to become what you cannot see. Luckily, I saw something different. I admire Filipino women
From left: Singer Carla Mongado, Cristina DC Pastor, speakers Anne del Castillo, Justine Calma, and Cielo Buenaventura, and Marivir Montebon.
Awesome Media’s Marivir Montebon (left) and The FilAm’s Cristina DC Pastor created WAM Café as a platform for conversation and action for women.
who are strong, smart, and challenging stereotypes.”
Lawyer Anne del Castillo of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs offered support programs from the city for community organizations to thrive and be sustainable. She acknowledged how the Filipino press made efforts to reach out to her to amplify her position as then commissioner for media and entertainment in NYC.
“The topics were timely, especially on aging. The combination of narratives and songs made it easy and enjoyable for us to absorb the heavy discussion,” said Marlon Manalastas, a guest from Washington, DC.
The launch was supported by leaders in the Filipino community in New York: Dr. Romulo
Aromin, Jr., Ms. Nora Galleros of Galleros-Robinson Accountants, Dr. Dely Go of Nursing Network LLC, Cely Deauna & Asian Pacific Travel, Carla Mayol, Nieva Quezon, Marisse Panlilio, Joebert Opulencia of Orientours, FGMM Crafts, Lumen Castaneda, Fiesta in America, NAFFAA, Likha Art Café, Eric Bustamante of Philippine National Bank New York, and the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce.
The WAM Café and WICCAFE logo is an artwork by Leani Alnica Auxilio and the masterpieces by Queens-based artist Luis Caraos made the program visually vibrant.
Photos by Edwin Josue, Jocelyn Bernal, Lindy Rosales, and Boyet Loverita
Speakers (from left) Anne del Castillo, Justine Calma, and Cielo Buenaventura.
Singer Carla Mongado, marimba artist Andrew Beall and flutist Mayu Saeki.
A well-attended event.
Vice Consul Catherine Aguilar talks about her journey as a young diplomat in her opening remarks.
I LOVE MY JOB Computer refurbisher Richard Reyes: ‘Computer CPR one machine at a time’
By Cristina DC Pastor
About 20 years ago, Richard Reyes would scour recycling centers for discarded computers he could bring back to life. The reason for his rescue mission? To save computers from going to landfills or to send them to the Philippines to be used by rural schoolchildren.
As recycling centers have been more restrictive in the ability to pick up computers for refurbishing and recycling, Reyes now sources computers from different places like government auction sites which allow universities, city, state, and federal agencies to dispose of old computers. Reyes said, “I typically resell them for between $60 to under $150. These are usually computers that run slow, don’t support the latest Apple and Microsoft Windows operating systems and many people don’t know what to do with them.”
It isn’t about the money. Reyes wanted to revive the computers to give them a second life and to provide an alternative to big box stores or online with an option for a lower cost computers for individuals and families. The work involved is typically fixing hardware or software. Reyes may use current or older versions of Apple Macintosh OS, Microsoft Windows, and Linux. For machines that can no longer run Mac and Windows, Linux, he said, is a great alternative that is not as hard to use as it seems.
“Things have changed in recycling and refurbishing,” said Richard, who works as a regulatory and compliance professional at Morgan Stanley in Baltimore. “In the beginning, I had set up an LLC and was an authorized Microsoft Refurbisher. These were during the days when it was easier to source machines to refurbish.”
Sourcing computers for refurbishing is not the same as before. Today, it is not as easy to scour the recycling centers in townships. Government auction sites and Facebook Marketplace provide sources for used and/or disposed computers. More importantly, today’s computer hardware and parts are now made differently compared to old parts now considered outdated.
“Also 20 years ago, not too many people owned computers,” he said.
The people who could afford a home computer (desktop or laptop) owned computers installed with Apple (Mac) or Microsoft (Windows) operating systems. The entry of the Linux operating system, according to Reyes, is a game changer. The option to refurbish has increased because Linux, which emerged since the 1990s, is known to be a stable computer system, and in most cases works
‘Do not dispose of anything even if they’re old.’
out of the box. While systems installed with Linux may be less susceptible against malware, viruses, computer crashes and other issues; it is important to install antivirus, anti-malware, and enable the software firewall.
So, what kinds of people would buy refurbished computers?
It all depends on the application, he said. Some old computers are still good for word processing or playing games. They have no webcams or Internet capability so they’re safer for children to use. They can be used by older people trying to get familiar with technology or by children as their first computer. There are also retrogamers who like to play old, ‘nostalgia’ games like Atari or Pac-Man on discontinued computers using refurbished hardware, he added.
“One group I know is looking for an old Windows XP for retro-games which will not run on new hardware,” he said. “I’m not a gamer so I am still learning to understand what retro-gamers want…I have old all-in-one iMacs with 128 or 256 megabytes of video RAM just right for their needs.” This is small compared to today’s computers which may have 1 gigabyte or more of video RAM.
He said, “Sometimes you may not need a Ferrari with all the bells and whistles, you just need a jalopy that runs and gets you from point A to point B.”
Reyes’s main computer is an Apple Mac from 2010 which he bought from Facebook Marketplace for $95. “I refurbished it. I put the software that runs on that machine,” he said.
His attitude toward computers is not to dispose of anything even if they’re old. There might be some use for it for others in the future.
‘I Love My job’ is a new segment of The FilAm featuring Filipinos who have rare and unique occupations. If you know someone, please pitch us a story at thefilamny@gmail.com.
Richard’s Apple Mac from 2010 bought from Facebook Marketplace for $95. ‘I refurbished it.’
Lumen Castaneda: Founder of UNIFFIED ‘forced’ to be a teacher
By Cristina DC Pastor
Paraluman Castaneda –Tita Lumen to many in the Filipino American community – is one year shy of 90. When she looks at people around her, she mutters to herself with a chuckle, “Seems to me I’m the oldest.”
Reflecting on nearly nine decades of her life, she looked back on her pathbreaking vocation as a kindergarten teacher and how being an educator has paved the way for the founding of UNIFFIED, one of the biggest Filipino American teachers organizations in the New York metro area.
“Actually, I was forced to be a teacher by my father,” she confessed to a recent episode of Women & Media (WAM) podcast hosted by Marivir Montebon and Cristina DC Pastor. She spoke softly but articulated her words clearly with no hint of bitterness against her father. She would have been happy, she said, working in an office as a secretary.
Despite her initial protests, she carried on with her father’s chosen career and discovered later in life how teaching had been nothing but kind to her. She taught kindergarten for 34 years in the Philippines, came to the United States on a tourist visa, became a day care teacher and later a public school teacher for 21 years.
“A total of 55 years,” she said. “People think I must love teaching. Yes, toward the last part of my life I did not want to leave the teaching profession. I love it especially watching kindergarten children and even though teaching kindergarten requires a lot of patience.”
“I miss my students, I miss my angels,” she sighed.
The leap from day care to the “big school” was not easy at first.
“I was scared,” she said. A teacher’s aide at the day care said she should try teaching at a regular school, but Lumen said she had heard rumors that Bronx children carried knives to school. “I said I’m afraid to go there because the kindergarten children bring knives. I said I don’t want to go there.”
Reason prevailed and Lumen made the jump and worked for the Board of Education at the Bronx for two decades during which time she witnessed no kindergarten child bring a knife to school. “I realized that is not true,” she said, a sheepish smile forming across her face.
Tita Lumen being interviewed on Women & Media podcast.
On her 87th birthday in 2022.
Wearing the Korean national dress ‘Hanbok’ during a 2020 visit to Seoul.
She left the Philippines after the People Power revolt of 1986 and came to the U.S. on a tourist visa. She left behind five children who encouraged her to go find a job away from the political turmoil in the country at the time. Her husband stayed home with the children although his job as an accountant required frequent travels abroad.
She co-founded the United Federation of FilAm Educators (UNIFFIED) 10 years ago with two other teachers Ronie Mataquel and
Lynne Ciocon. How the organization has grown, she marveled. It now has 71 chapters in the Philippines and 26 in the U.S. It had organized five summits in Koronadal, General Santos, Iloilo, Capiz and one in the U.S.
| A day in the life
Lumen at 89 is still very visible in community gatherings, her most recent being the June 30 Pistahang Bayan community picnic at a park in Jersey City organized by the Philippine Consulate. A wheelchair gets her around, or a cane for short distances. Daughter Jenny drives her to her many errands.
Her daily routine starts with a litany of prayers in the morning. The Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, and Hail Mary are usually followed by prayers to Padre Pio, known as the healing saint, for 30 minutes to an hour. She gets up and takes a shower, returns to her bedroom to watch Daily Mass on YouTube.
“After my mass I take breakfast.”
She goes down to the kitchen to cook breakfast. “I fry an egg or two. Or cook something else but I usually make sinangag. I do tapsilog.” No coffee for her, only hot honey lemon drink.
After washing the dishes, she goes back to her room to check messages on Facebook usually from UNIFFIED members. After responding, she goes out to the sunroom to water her plants. She despairs when she sees them wilting. Otherwise, the world of Lumen Castaneda remains full of cheer and optimism and bright as her hydrangeas.
On the way to the PAFCOM parade assisted by UNIFFIED co-founder Ronie Mataquel and daughter Jenny Castaneda
Lumen from 3 years old to becoming a kindergarten teacher.
With children (from left) Jenny, Jondi, Peewee, Joji, and Jimmy (seated)
Calendar of Events
| August 11
Annual picnic of the UPAA New Jersey
Van Saun Park Pavilion 1
216 Forest Avenue
Paramus, N.J.
RSVP 201-988-6745 Text only
| August 11
2024 NY Yankees Filipino Heritage
Hat Available at the Anthony Volpe Gold Glove Bobblehead Day Use special code: Filschool August 11
For questions: Joe Grande at Jgrande@yankees.com
| August 16
It’s a Fashion Show! The Commanders, Knights, Ladies, Friends
Sheraton La Guardia East Hotel 135-20 39th Avenue Flushing NYC
| August 16 to 17
Igniting the Power in Us: NaFFAA 16th National Empowerment Conference & Civic Leadership Forum
The Atheneum Detroit 1000 Brush Avenue Detroit, Michigan
| August 17 & 18
Fiesta in America (with Sounds of Manila) American Dream Mall
1 American Dream Way East Rutherford, N.J
| August 17
8th Kids Philippines Annual Charity Golf Tournament Pequot Golf Club 127 Wheeler Road Stonington, CT
Contact Cherry at 860-234-4607
| August 24 and 25
One Singular Sensation: A dance fitness experience (with J Elaine Marcos)
567 Broadway, NYC
| September 7
New York Fashion Week
Now casting for models
Contact Grace Steadfast at 304-601-4368 or email Steadfast. fashion.design@gmail.com
| September 7
New York Fashion Week with AJ Platinum Productions Metropolitan Pavilion NYC For more info call 801-577-0193
| September 14
OMTA Awards by Knights of Rizal Long Island Leonard’s Palazzo 555 Northern Blvd. Great Neck, N.Y.
| September 15
Feast Day of San Lorenzo Ruiz
St. Patrick’s Cathedral 611 5th Avenue NYC
Contact Fr. Joseph 347-884 0811 or gotojoseph@outlook.com
| September 15
Kirby Asunto & Drake McCain
Taylor: Fundraising concert for church repairs
Divine Mercy Parish
232 Central Avenue
Rahway N.J.
| September 20
Jo Koy: Just Being Koy Tour Prudential Center
25 Lafayette Street
Newark, N.J.
| September 28
28th Biennial induction of officers of the Philippine Nurses Association of New York
1 Marina Drive Bronx, NYC
| October 6
Fashion for Compassion Cancer
Charity Gala by FACC
Hyatt Regency
1800 President’s Street
Reston, VA
Contact info@filamcancercare.org
| October 6 (rain date October 13)
3rd Annual Filipino American Festival at Harvard Square / Philippine American Alliance
Harvard Square
Church Street parking lot Cambridge, MA
Email contact@hspaa.org for details
| October 27
14th Annual TOFA (The Outstanding Filipino Awards)
Honolulu
| November 15
Jo Koy: Just Being Koy Tour
Palace Theatre
Albany N.Y.
| November 15 to 17
Rizalian Unity in Action: Knights of Rizal USA Eastern Regional Assembly
Newark, N.J.
| 2025
February 6 to 8
Knights of Rizal International Assembly Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino Salinas Drive Lahug, Cebu City
Aug 3 is Manuel Quezon Day in Saranac Lake, N.Y.
By Lindy Rosales
August 3 was a momentous date in Saranac Lake in Upstate New York.
For the first time, the village in the Adirondacks Mountains hosted a “President Quezon History Day” to remember the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth who passed away at Saranac Lake 80 years ago on August 1, 1944.
Historians said Quezon had suffered from tuberculosis in his last few years and lived in Saranac Lake -- known for its healing mountain air -- hoping to find a cure for his illness.
“It’s a celebration commemorating the death of President Quezon in Saranac Lake 80 years ago,” said Amy Catania, executive director of Historic Saranac Lake (HSL), a nonprofit that preserves the community’s legacy and history. “As the first democratically elected president of the Philippines, it’s so important in our history that he was with us when he died, and we really want people to know about
Manuel Quezon is the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth.
him and his history.”
Catania marched in the Philippine Independence Day parade on Madison Avenue last June 2 together with the HSL organization. It was her way of getting to know the FilAm community intimately.
“I’m so excited. This is just overwhelming. We’re absolutely thrilled. It’s so exciting to be with here with all of these people, that care about the
Filipino culture and history, and we’re learning so much,” she said.
FilAm couple Kat Hadlow and Ambie Garcinela, who live in nearby Lake Placid, have found out that President Quezon passed away in Saranac Lake. They contacted the HSL organization and were given a private tour. They saw the room where President Quezon had stayed during his last few months.
“It was a room with lots of windows, and he can look out and see the trees and nature outside” said Hadlow. They found a “banig” on the floor which was brought all the way from the Philippines for the former president’s use. Lake Placid is a10 minute-drive to Saranac Lake by car and both are popular tourist destinations for winter sports.
It was the first “President Quezon History Day,” and authentic Filipino food was served for lunch, prepared by Filipinos who live around the area, said the organizers. “We hope to do our celebration in Saranac Lake every year,” said Catania.
The Manuel Quezon Day was a street festival featuring the following:
• Street fair with Filipino food, vendors, and musical performances
• Dance performances held at Harrietstown Town Hall
• Filipino-inspired cuisine available at the Hotel Saranac throughout the weekend
HSL presented a special exhibit about President Quezon, and a video recording of a tour of Camp Massapequa, where he had stayed.
According to the Camp Massapequa history on Localwiki.org, “Manuel Quezon, the president of the Philippines, came to Saranac Lake in June 1943 and again in June 1944. He had been invited by President Franklin Roosevelt to establish a government in exile in Washington, DC, but Quezon had tuberculosis and was looking for a better summer climate.”
The August 3 event was held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Village of Saranac Lake, Downtown.
Activities For All Ages, Trade Exhibits, Sponsors, Business, Concerts & Networking !
AMERICAN DREAM
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY
AUG 17-18 10AM
Saturday, Aug. 17 • Starts at 10am.
Opening ceremonies with community leaders and prominent government o cials; sponsors & exhibitors, featuring Philippine destinations, business to business presentations, concerts, fashion show, health screening, activities for various age groups, childrens’ pavilion, collectibles, live bands and dancing! At American Dream.
Sunday, Aug. 18 • Starts at 10am. Mass celebration followed by colorful Santacruzan parade; sponsors & exhibitors, featuring Philippine destinations, concerts, fashion show, health screening, activities for various age groups, childrens’ pavilion, live bands and dancing! At American Dream.
People’s Ball - Sunday, Aug. 11
Starts at 11am. at Marriott Newark Int’l Airport NJ. This elegant event has brought together influential figures of the Filipino American community. Reserve your seats or a table now. Call 212-682-6610 or email:info@fiestainamerica.com
[Partial List of Saturday Performers] D'Divas Of Good Vibes Line Dancers of St. Vincent • Lirazen Rose • VOX • Bibak NY • Wynnum Sabile Rose • C.E.B.U. Inc.• Kayumanggi Choral • The Amazing Filipiniana Dance Ensemble of New Jersey • Not Shy Dance Crew (KPOP) • Carmelo Designs by Carl Andrada “Filipiniana”
Register at info@fiestainamerica.com to receive a 20% discount on all American Dream-owned rides during the week of Aug. 19-25, 2024
[Partial List of Sunday Performers] KJ Herwig & Friends • Band Of Brothers • The Green Planet • Droovy • The Angels • Bayani • Slaysian • Not Shy Dance Crew • Carmelo Designs by Carl Andrada “Philippine Inspired Costumes” For an updated list of performers, please visit www.gophilppines.co or www.fiestainamerica.com
‘Granny Prostitutes:’ Sex workers and the stigma of aging
“Granny Prostitutes” – “Lola Magdalena” in the Philippines –is the story of five maturing sex workers who live together in an old ‘bahay sa tisa,’ inherited by Bela (played Liza Lorena) from her deceased paramour.
The semi-retired prostitutes include Dalena (played by Gloria Diaz), Luningning (Pia Moran), Corazon (Perla Bautista) and Sunshine Cruz (Miriam), each with her own heartbreaking story.
Dalena, who part-times as a faith healer, a bogus one, appears to be the leader of the flock. She is fair-minded, helpful to others, and is everyone’s friend. We learn halfway through the movie that she is estranged from her daughter who despises her after she is pimped into prostitution. Dalena’s granddaughter, though, cares for her ‘lola’ and tries to bring the two women together despite their differences that appear unbridgeable. The granddaughter suffers from the Lupus condition.
Bela, the landlady, has a steady income from the women’s rent as her boarders. She is effectively retired from the trade. But there’s a catch with the house. She has no proof of ownership and lost track of the lawyer who has the documents. Her lover’s son continues to harass her into leaving the house and returning the property he believes doesn’t belong to her.
Luningning is madly in love with Daks, a much younger man obsessed with male pageants but is not gay. She gifts him with a motorbike, which she pays in monthly install-
insights on prostitution as a profession or as socio-cultural zeitgeist, except a dramatization -- with touches of comedy – of the lives of prostitutes past their prime. One of the writers said some of the stories are fictional and some are loosely based on true-tolife narratives in Bocaue, considered the Olongapo or “sin city” of Bulacan province, about a cougar, an obsessive family breadwinner and a woman reimagining the passion of a love lost.
The women all gave stunning performances, especially Gloria Diaz and Pia Moran whose roles are richly textured. The cancer-stricken Miriam (Sunshine Cruz) has the mawkish parts, but the film with touches of lighthearted humor did not come across as pure drama.
ments, confident that with her generosity he will never leave her. He does.
Corazon appears to be in the early stages of dementia and lover’s name Ernesto is constantly in her heart and her lips. One day, she goes off in search of Ernesto and gets lost.
The two eventually find each other rekindling their romance of long ago, but his wife is able to track him down and bring him back home.
The still-beautiful and attractive Miriam is another tragic character. She is diagnosed with Stage 4 cervical cancer and has no means to buy medicine and pay for her chemo treatment while still supporting her family.
The film has all these storytelling trajectories which take it in different directions. One that led the film to its very end was Dalena agreeing, albeit reluctantly, to appear in a livestreamed porn so she can raise enough funds to pay for her granddaughter’s Lupus treatment.
The so-called “cemetery scene” has Dalena dancing seductively while three teen boys pleasure themselves. The boys urge her to be bolder and reveal more – ‘Sayaw pa, lola’ -- but
Dalena, embarrassed, demeaned and guilt-ridden at going down the livestream route is reduced to tears as she picks up the boys’ money thrown at her.
“Granny Prostitutes” shows no new
The censors gave it a PG rating. -- Cristina DC Pastor ‘Granny Prostitutes’ was one of the Philippine films shown at the New York Asian Film Festival from July 12–22.
Luningning (Pia Moran), Daks (Carlo San Juan) and the motorcycle gift.
Prostitutes past their prime, clockwise from top left: Liza Lorena, Pia Moran, Sunshine Cruz, Gloria Diaz and Perla Bautista. Photos courtesy of Hero Hito Production
ASAP Tickets: A Family Legacy of Affordable Travel and Unmatched Service
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Livestream sensation Gigi De Lana rocks NYC
By Lindy Rosales
Gigi De Lana, a Filipino singer who became famous on YouTube during the pandemic recently held her third concert with her band Gigi Vibes.
“Rated Gigi” was a standing-room hit at Astoria World Manor in Queens on April 21. This was Gigi’s second New York City concert.
Gigi spoke exclusively to The FilAm after her soldout show. She said her group Gigi Vibes started out as a wedding band.
“Actually wedding band po talaga kami. Matagal na po kaming magkakilala. Doon po kami nag-start sa garahe, maliit lang. Sa pandemic talaga kami nakilala. We started livestreaming as a fundraiser for my mom,” she said.
Her mother Imelda is reported to have stage 4 breast cancer. Although in serious condition, she is proud of her daughter who is a fast-rising star in the music world.
At first, Gigi Vibes comprised just Gigi and her pianist and musical director Jon Cruz.
“Then nag tuloy tuloy na po. Sinama ni Jon si Romeo, kasi po sabi ni Romeo, sardinas na lang po ang kinakain niya. Then Jake (base) and then Oyus (lead singer) joined us. Don Romeo Marquez plays the drums, Jake Manalo plays bass and Oyus plays the guitar. The band members are grateful for the warm reception, support and sold-out shows,” she said.
“Bakit nga ba Mahal Kita” was their breakout hit. Their version of the song, originally rendered by Roselle Nava, went on livestream in 2021 and reached 15 million views. It was Charo Santos-Concio who discovered her and her band and signed them up with ABS-CBN.
“Actually, very unexpected po sa amin ang Gigi Vibes,” she said expressing surprise at the rousing accolades the group has received from Filipinos around the world. “Kasi po talagang hindi natin na-eexpect eh. Sold out tayo. Maraming maraming salamat. We are very very happy. At the same time, I’m still overwhelmed about it. We did not expect this to happen.”
De Lana’s second time in New York, in Brooklyn was in 2022. At that time, the world was just beginning to open up amid the pandemic. She performed as a solo artist grooving to rock and roll and alternative rock.
‘I’m still overwhelmed. We did not expect this.’
Producer Lovely Sons estimated the Brooklyn crowd at a thousand people. They started planning for the world tour in November 2023. After New York, the tour proceeded to Las Vegas, Los Angeles and then to Canada. The North American leg of the tour will finish in May 2025. Then the band will go home to the Philippines for a break. The world tour will resume with a concert in Sydney, Australia.
Sisters Janelle and Arielle Calalang drove all the way from Northvale, New Jersey to watch Gigi in concert. They were lucky to find a parking spot quickly. It was their first time to see the singer in concert.
“Our mom is a huge fan, but she couldn’t come today. We took so many videos for our mom. It was really good, we had a lot of fun. She’s so pretty in person,” the sisters gushed.
Their favorite band member is Oyus, the guitarist. “His voice is so nice, so angelic.”
Gerard Valino and his wife Jeehan from Staten Island said their favorite Gigi song is “Angel Baby.”
The couple and their friends are big fans. They meet every Friday in Valino’s backyard to listen to Gigi’s songs. Their friends started calling their backyard “Jerry’s Grill” like the similarly named Filipino restaurant on the West Coast. Gerard is a chef at the Four Seasons Hotel in Manhattan, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. Their friends couldn’t come to the concert as tickets were sold out.
“We love you Gigi,” said Jeehan.
Author interviews Gigi after the concert.
Photos by Lindy Rosales
Glenn Obieta, a registered nurse, has followed De Lana’s career since the early days of the pandemic. His favorites are her love songs, also known as “hugot” songs. His favorite cover song is “Bakit nga ba mahal kita.”
De Lana made special mention of her rendition of the song “Angel Baby” which garnered 16 million views on YouTube. She sang it to the crowd with people joining along. Her first album is titled simply, “Gigi De Lana.”
Gigi’s U.S. tour continues in the following states:
October 5 - Hawaii - Filcom Center, Waipahu, Hawaii October 11 - Washington D.C.
October12 – Houston, Texas - Immanuel Center
October 18 – Tampa, Florida - Bayanihan Arts and Events Center
October 19 - Indiana
October 25 - Fresno
October 26 - Arizona
October 31 - Los Angeles
November 2- Pechanga - Temecula, California
November 9 - Arlington, Seattle Angel of Winds Casino Resort
November 15 - San jose
November 16 - Sacramento
November 24 - Binhi at Ani Filipino Community Center, Kahului, Hawaii
November 30 - University of Guam, Guam
The Gigi Vibes with author Lindy Rosales and photographer Cesar Loverita
August
Gigi De Lana
Livestream sensation rocks NYC