JUNE 2009
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JUNE 2009
NISSAN-
INFLUENCING DOWNTOWN L. A. By: Cecilia C. Lim
S
pin around Downtown LA and you are bound to observe a litany of various car dealerships in the strip. But there is one towering them all – the teamwork of Richard Luengo and Roberto Tavera – General Sales Manager and Fleet Manager of NISSAN Downtown LA respectively.
Whether you are looking for a coupe or sedan, a hybrid or convertible, NISSAN of Downtown LA is America’s best car dealership with a large inventory and unrivaled selections. Because of the dramatic changes shaking the economy, car buyers are becoming more dependent on the expertise of the sales manager than ever before. This is where Roberto Tavera undoubtedly leads the herd. He inspires prospective and serious car buyers to visit his store and soak up with sales insights provided by his knowledgeable and astute General Sales Manager Richard Luengo to participate in NISSAN and MERCEDES BENZ series of “sales events”. They both seek to stay abreast of the latest challenges and opportunities for “car shoppers”. Together they work to understand their customers’ foremost needs and goals – to protect and maximize their buying power. Roberto Tavera is an expert of his trade. He can close the best deal for his buyers with perfect gauge and no mistakes. It could be a beautiful NISSAN coupe, a gorgeous MAXIMA sedan or a most coveted luxurious MERCEDEZ BENZ, a gentleman and a flawless performer. He has a clear head and a ready plan to stare down the beast. He makes sure the patron goes home contented and a winner. “People are my top priority”, Tavera declares. “I am a happy and a hardworking Fleet Manager which is why I have a successful relationship with my GSM. I enlighten my Filipino customers of the attractive substantial discount sales offered here at NISSAN of Downtown LA, an open door for earnest buyers created by the volatile markets, bankruptcies and uncertainties of the
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troubled times. “THERE IS NO BETTER TIME TO BUY A NISSAN OR A MERCEDES BENZ THAN TODAY”, he boldly asserted. Roberto Tavera is honest and straightforward. “I believe that a General Sales Manager wants to have a great Fleet Manager, so I know my role and what I am made for”, he added. He found a good GSM who ingrained into his “mission statement”, this phrase – Luengo and Tavera are “a team” who will always seek the best deals for customers. Jointly they provide comprehensive and in-depth understanding of current industry developments and extend to their clientele unparalleled service in the details – CONVENIENCE, CONTENT AND GREAT SAVINGS. Richard Luengo and Roberto Tavera are more than a team. They are dynamic duos who constantly deliver. Richard Luengo - General Sales Manager (213)748-4501 ext. 4500 Cell Phone: (213)210-7173 e-mail: 2richardl@dtlamotors.com Roberto Tavera - Fleet Manager (213)748-4501 ext. 4119 Cell Phone: (818) 434-5841 e-mail: rtavera@dtlamotors.com Nissan of Downtown LA 635 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015
“THERE IS NO BETTER TIME TO BUY A NISSAN OR A MERCEDES BENZ THAN TODAY”
JUNE 2009
features
President / Publisher
ROD DASCO
Vice President / Editor -In-Chier
CECILIA C. LIM
Art Director
RONALD CRUZ
Managing Editor
LEA CRUZ
Fashion Consultant
MICHAEL HERRERA Haus of M
Graphic Designers
RONSKIGFX.COM LUI TEH FRANCIS REYES KAMILLE ALICBUSAN
Contributing Photographers
Writers
JOEY BORAO CARLO CRUZ ROBBY MANANQUIL KEVIN R. TEVES BONG MALABANAN KATSI DEL ROSARIO PINOYGRAPHERS ATTY. RAY BULAON ATTY. ROMAN MOSQUEDA KAT INIBA BARBARA SINGERS CECILIA BRAINARD CHANDRA PANDULA EDMUND INDUSTAN KATHERINE ANN URSOLINO JOY GO
Beauty Contributor
JOEL SEBASTIAN
Sales
ETHEL CHAN ERIC FRANCISCO TITA MANGILA ROSBY TEOPACO
Editorial Board
LUISITO C. LIM LYDIA C. LIM PASTOR EMIL BERMOY PASTOR LILY BURTON
www.lapinoymagazine.com publisher@lapinoymagazine.com editor@lapinoymagazine.com info@lapinoymagazine.com submission@lapinoymagzine.com sales@lapinoymagzine.com artdept@lapinoymagazine.com
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical without permission in writing from LA Pinoy Magazine.
The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited or contributed
manuscripts, photographs, artworks or advertisements.
LA Pinoy Magazine is a
monthly publication. All information regarding editorial content or property for sale is deemed reliable. No representation is made as to the accuracy hereof and is printed subject to errors and omissions.
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JUNE 2009
Our Cover Photography by: Joey Borao Asst. Photographer: Bong Malabanan Gown Designer: Mariah Burks Hair & Make-up: Daniel Chinchilla
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Models: Sherry Landry/Modu Saye
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THE AGGRESSIVE & BOLDER ISSUE
NISSAN
Influencing Downtown L. A.
12
COVER STORY Interracial Marriages
14
GOOD TRIP Explore Oklahoma City
15 & 18 17 20 24
FEATURES Celebrating Independence Day Life in the Skidrow KAT’S CORNER STYLE The Untold Story Of A Soap Opera Queen EDITOR’S PICK Worry A Persistent Evil
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ON AIR
26
BUILDING WISELY Why Baby Boomers Need Immigrants The Power To Get Wealth
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I OWE PAULA
JUNE 2009
features
8
PUBLISHER’S NOTE THE NEW LA PINOY
B
y calling LA Pinoy “new” we have made the first one obsolete and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear. There are certain things we must correct in the “old”, about moods for instance. Moods never go by praying. Moods go by kicking. We are going to the next level advancing by a continual effort of shaking ourselves by the scruff of our necks in order to do what we thought we could not. When we first presented this vision of LA Pinoy, the goal of sweeping every heart for love of fellowmen, it was received with pettiness, bickering and competing egos. Undaunted, despite of great difficulties, we persevered through prayer and now we can truly say that God has given us blessings finding a team of capable and available personnel, who will turn the Pinoys here, in the Philippines and those in foreign and distant lands into a community of direction and vitality. By His gracious hand LA Pinoy is becoming a byword and occupies a place in the Filipino home. We know in our hearts that you, our faithful readers will stand by us by keeping us your companion, and TOGETHER WE GROW STRONGER, developing the ability to embrace and discern the Lord Almighty’s dealings. LA Pinoy will endure despite the mounting global reports of economy in crisis because you are on our side. We will fulfill God’s calling and commitment to stand tall to follow our dream. LA Pinoy is proud to catch a rising star, RONALD “RONSKI” CRUZ, as its new art director... a young artist with great reputation... solid, deep and determined. Through his expertise, LA Pinoy will gain boldness and confidence and will give its advertisers and readers a thrilling preview of provocative photography and impeccable designs that will fill up the vacuum where we had fallen short. Enjoy reading the more aggressive and bolder look of LA Pinoy! HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!!
ROD DASCO President/Publisher
EDITOR’S NOTE I
t was not so long ago that LA Pinoy Magazine represented a dire outlook in media prospecting. Paralyzed by the global economy upheaval, everyone has the very reason to be concerned. Against all odds we pressed on and entered a business climate unstable and even more challenging than I thought. But we still decided to undergo a complete transformation in the way “lush” lifestyle magazines are made, coupled by an increasing awareness of that change by Filipino-American readership has resulted in the now 32-page publication in FULL LIVING COLOR, to be found today either via web at www.lapinoymagazine.com, via Facebook or in various distribution sites. The major makeover in the look and content of LA Pinoy was the result of positive feedback from its AUDIENCE AND ADVERTISERS - a constant lifeline making LA Pinoy able to undertake the possibilities. LA Pinoy evolved surreptitiously by adopting unique and less familiar clichés modifying inscription headings appearing more dramatic. The additional pages will satisfy the demands of LA Pinoy enthusiast who graciously are voicing out their views through constant e-mails and phone calls of their flair to read more. La Pinoy is a lifestyle magazine showcasing mainly Filipinos living in America and various Filipino talents worldwide. We will also impart mixture of other races as we continue to adapt, to interact and to be influenced by mixed cultures here and abroad while maintaining our own unique cultural heritage. We are excited to collaborate with HAUS of “M” by SIMPLICIO MICHAEL LUIS, one of the most celebrated designers of this generation to display exclusive snapshots of pure elegance exclusively for LA Pinoy beginning with the best spirited casual tees that are “short” on effort but “long” on style. A writer yet to be discovered is our new Managing Editor, LEA CRUZ, a beautiful wife and a mother of three - simple and quiet but her thoughts and opinions speak volumes. We also welcome the PINOYGRAPHERS, a treat for LA Pinoy like a bag of freshly roasted peanuts – it’s impossible to stop looking at their photos until you’ve seen every shot in diverse creativity and styles. Last but not least, LA Pinoy is pleased to have a major addition in its editorial staff, a most deserving art director RONALD CRUZ popularly called by his peers as simply “Ronski”. His profession demands great energy and no slow motion but he has perfect perspective in every aspect of his craft. He is an artist beyond expectation. His designs cannot be truly described, it can only be experienced. Now, I close with my favorite and heartfelt expression - we give GOD all the glory for the doors HE continues to open leading people worldwide into a growing relationship with HIM and becoming a community of movement and favor. LA Pinoy CELEBRATES FREEDOM THIS INDEPENDENCE DAY!
CECILIA C. LIM Vice President/Editor in Chief
JUNE 2009
cover story
Interracial Marriages By: Lea Cruz
“In marriage, no matter what race you belong to, you still experience the same problems.”
“I am in an interracial marriage. Due to cultural differences, we have had our moments, good and bad. I remember when we were newlyweds and trying to sort out our cultural differences while learning to live with each other, the funniest incident that occurred with us was with language. In the United Kingdom, they have different words for certain objects. One is the word, “Torch”. When my husband first asked me to pass the “Torch” I had no idea what he was trying to tell me. I thought he meant the real thing...a log with a flame at the end. I tried to explain to him that there were Torches in Waikiki but I didn’t have any at home. We went back and forth with our argument until I finally realized that he was asking me to hand him a flashlight. Just one of many situations we can now laugh at.” -
Pispiza
A
nyone who migrates to another country adapts to its environment. And here in America, the land of migrants, interracial marriages are sprouting almost everywhere. It had been a taboo before due to social prejudices but slowly has been acceptable, but not entirely. Intriguing, it makes me wonder how they cope with their cultural differences in addition to other underlying problems that marriage entails. Here are the details of my insightful interviews: Interview #1 Filipino Female Married to a Black Male (A 1) Interview #2 Filipino Female Married to a Vietnamese Male (A 2) Interviews were conducted separately.
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Q: How did you meet? A 1: My cousin introduced us. We had a double date. A 2: We met at work. Q: Were you initially attracted to him? How did your date turn into a relationship? A 1: No, I was not initially attracted to him. We started as friends then it just happened. A 2: No, we became friends & it started from there. Q: What did you like about him, about his culture? A 1: He’s everything I’m not. We’re opposite in a good way. He’s more focused & determined compared to me. And he has this “Southern hospitality”. He’s more oldfashioned, conservative, hospitable, warm, down to earth, which are similar to Filipino culture. They’re also family oriented, has close family ties. A 2: I like that he has dreams & knows how to achieve it. He’s hardworking, responsible & mature. Vietnamese are somewhat similar to Filipinos. They are conservative, warm, & closely knit. Q: Do you really prefer other race? Did you have previous dates with your own race? How can you compare dating with that of your race versus a different race?
A 1: For some reason I’m attracted to his race & vice versa. My previous boyfriend was also Black. I had also dated some Filipinos. Comparing both, I guess I’m more attracted to a Black because he seems to be more challenging for me. In courtship, I believe he was more of “himself”. There were no inhibitions. He’s direct to the point & more aggressive. A Filipino treats me as very fragile. He is so good, less of a challenge for me. A 2: I really don’t have any preference in terms of race. Yes, I had a previous relationship with a Filipino, my own race. Comparing them, well my husband was raised here so he’s more “Americanized”. I think compared to a Filipino, he’s a better communicator. He’s more direct to the point. Q: Did it ever cross your mind that you might encounter a lot of problems due to your differences? Do you encounter problems like sarcastic remarks from strangers? Any problems in your marriage related to your cultural differences? A 1: No, because I think it has been accepted here especially in Los Angeles. And yes, I think we may have problems like common marital problems but not specifically related to our racial differences. Fortunately, we haven’t heard any sarcastic remarks from anyone. Our families accepted our relationship. I guess the only problem we had related to our cultural differences is on religion. We have different religions. I’m a Catholic & he’s a Baptist. We compromise on our differences. He agreed for our son to be baptized at the Catholic Church. A 2: We had several problems related to our cultural differences in terms of religion, food, communication. Sometimes I misinterpret him or I’m too sensitive when he says something. But in time, I learned to tell him how I really feel & he explains what he meant to say. Q: What can you suggest to couples who are into interracial relationships? A 1: It doesn’t really matter. I mean it’s not an issue for us. We get along well & have things in common, which is more important. Compromise is the key to a good relationship. A 2: In marriage, no matter what race you belong to, you still experience the same problems. Although I think there would be more disparity with interracial couples. In any marriage, understanding, compromise & communication are needed to work things out.
Interracial marriages--some may ridicule, some may not accept. But come to think of it, it’s amazing. Amazing how opposites attract & how they work on bridging their cultural or racial differences. Well I think it all depends on how interracial couples will look on things. Challenges may either lead to success or failure. But when there is harmony, unity & true love in spite of diversity, it’s simply amazing!
Photography by: Joey Borao Asst. Photographer: Bong Malabanan Gown Designer: Mariah Burks Hair & Make-up: Daniel Chinchilla Models: Sherry Landry/Modu Saye
JUNE 2009
EXPLORE OKLAHOMA CITY
PROMINENT FILIPINO COMMUNITY by: Barbara Singer
W
e were pleased to learn there is a prominent and friendly Filipino community in Oklahoma, who frequently get together to share good times, parties, Filipino food, traditional songs and dances. Students at the University of Oklahoma, who are members of the Filipino American Student Association, participate in events and community service. The Filipino community here is a tight knit group, who is supportive of each other and have many potlucks to celebrate christenings, graduations, weddings and they enjoy singing karaoke. They may be far from the Philippines, yet they keep the islands alive in their hearts, homes, food and culture. Oklahoma City has its own Philippine International Baptist Church, grocery store: L& M Video Filipino & Oriental Foods (5504 E. Rene Ave., OKC) and the popular Fortune Palace Restaurant (4609 S. May Ave.).There is a sense of friendship and camaraderie among Filipino-Americans as they participate in cultural events and humanitarian projects in Oklahoma City.
There are several Filipino organizations in the Oklahoma City area. These organizations are: Philippine American Civic Organization of Oklahoma (PACO) Filipino American Association of Oklahoma (FAAO) Philippine Medical Association of Oklahoma (PMAO) Philippine Federation of Oklahoma (PFO)
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“
On this day we honor the fall of Bataan when about 10,000 Americans and 60,000 Filipino soldiers surrendered after three months defending the U.S. territory in the Philippines and began the 55-mile “Death March” to prison camps. On this day we honor survivors, war veterans from World War II, who courageously fought for our independence.
“
By: Lea M. Cruz Pedro then becomes Peter, Ising now Isabelle. However we change our names or our views among others, as we adapt in our new found country, Filipinos all over the world hopefully will never forget their own cultural heritage. Are you still Pinoy at heart? Do you still know how to sing our national anthem? Celebrate Independence Day? Impart our cultural traditions to the younger Filipino generations? Tina-tagalog mo pa ba ang mga anak mo?
Photography by: Bong Malabanan
June 12 is our Independence Day. On this day we honor the fall of Bataan when about 10,000 Americans and 60,000 Filipino soldiers surrendered after three months defending the U.S. territory in the Philippines and began the 55-mile “Death March” to prison camps. On this day we honor survivors, war veterans from World War II, who courageously fought for our independence. On this day we celebrate the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009, providing a one time payment of $15,000 to eligible US Citizens war veterans & at least $9,000 to eligible non-citizens. On June 12 & forward, we take pride in being Filipinos wherever we may be!
JUNE 2009
features
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KAT’S CORNER by: Kat Iniba
S
ummer is my favorite time of year -basking in the sun, barbecuing with family and friends, and spending time at the beach! But let’s face it, nothing beats keeping cool during the summer than spending it inside the air conditioned movie theaters. With that said, I thought it only fitting to list summer’s Blockbuster Movies.
Two movies already out created quite the buzz last month. Nothing seemed to claw at X-men Origins: Wolverine. With its first weekend of release, Hugh Jackman and company grossed an estimated 87million. It’s no surprise that with all its success, Fox is now working on a spin-off. The spin-off will feature Deadpool, played by Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds. Following in Wolverine’s footsteps was the latest JJ Abrams directed movie, Star Trek. Star Trek beamed in over 75million it’s first weekend of release. Director JJ Abrams, who was not a Trekkie before signing on to the movie, definitely went where no man has gone before, by giving the latest flick a younger and more action-packed vibe.
Coming soon in theaters: 1. “Up” the latest film by Pixar is already garnering attention by debuting at the Cannes Film Festival - a first for animation films. The film tells the story of a stowaway boy scout and senior citizen who travel to South America in a house powered by thousands of balloons. “Up” will be in theaters May 29th. 2. “Transformers Revenge of the Fallen”. Actors Megan Fox, Shia LaBeouf, and Director Michael Mann return in this 2nd installment of the Transformers Series, coming out on June 24th. 3. “Public Enemies” due out on July 1st is another Michael Mann directed film which stars Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Academy Award Winner Marion Cotillard (“La Vie en Rose”). Set in the 1930s, “Public Enemies” follows the true story of bank robber John Dillinger. 4. “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince” is scheduled for a July 15th release. This is the 6th film in the Harry Potter Franchise which tells the escapades of Harry and his friends as they search for a way to unlock Voldemort’s defenses. Harry Potter is the biggest grossing movie franchise of all time, outdoing Star Wars and James Bond 007 films. Now in my Blast from The Past section…. During my coverage of the East West Players 43rd Anniversary Visionary Awards Dinner, I had the opportunity to catch up with extraordinary entertainers namely Lea Salonga and America’s Best Dance Crew – Quest. As always, 2002 Visionary Award recipient, Lea Salonga’s flawless “Reflection” performance was absolutely captivating. She was very excited about her upcoming concert at the Aratani Theater in Little Tokyo. And Quest, reminded us, yet again, why they were crowned Randy Jackson’s America’s Best Dance Crew. They can also be seen in the upcoming Alvin and the Chipmunks film the “Squeakuel” due out this Christmas. For more of Lea Salonga and Quest’s interviews, plus their full length performances, check out http://myspace. com/halohalotvshow.
JUNE 2009
features
Photography by: CarloCruzPhotography.com
L
unch at the Union Rescue Mission (URM) is ser ved in three batches. First ser ve is at 11a.m., exclusively for men who are in URM’s Recover y, Apprenticeship, and Transitional Living Programs. Second ser ve is at 12 p.m., exclusively for women and women with children. This includes women who live in the streets. Third ser ve is at 2p.m., exclusively for men who are not in the URM program. Hence, ever y homeless male is welcome. A slice of meat, a scoop of rice or mashed potato, a half-cup of cooked vegetables, a bowl of green salad (sometimes a scoop of fruit) and a slice of bread comprise lunch. Besides ser ving the food, we also have to clean the tables before the next batch of people comes in. It was during the second ser ve last Friday, May 8th, when I got the chance to talk face-to-face with a 4-year old girl on Skid Row. Her mom and her three sisters regularly eat at URM. Almost all the women have left the dining hall. I was cleaning one of the tables near the water fountain,
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when she was tr ying to get her drink. The mom was about 15 yards away feeding the youngest daughter. She tried to reach for the paper cup, but she was a little short. I went near her and asked if she would like my help. Instead of answering, she just stood motionless, staring at me. That few seconds of silence tore me apart. Her eyes were calm, yet sharp. She did not call her mom, but she seemed to size me up whether I was a good or a bad guy. Then, after she realized that I was one of those who served them food, her facial expression changed in an instant. I saw in her eyes a helpless child who had been harboring pain and exhaustion, sleepy yet awake, tr ying to grow up fast. She smiled wr yly and said, “Yes, please.” I know that these children have no other choice, but to live on Skid Row. They were collateral victims of poverty, unemployment, lack of affordable housing, substance abuse, domestic violence, changes and cuts in public assistance (welfare) program, and job loss. Statistics on families with children who are homeless each night in Los Angeles County is 29% of 84,000 homeless people. Without help from non-profit organizations, such as Union Rescue Mission, Los Angeles
Mission, The Midnight Mission, etc., these children will literally be out sleeping in tents, on cardboards, or in plastic tarps. Yes, education in the U.S. is mandator y. Ever y school age child is required to be in school on weekdays, except if a child has health issue or family emergency. That 4-year old girl should be in pre-school. However, some homeless moms just do not have the means to take their kids to school even if education is free. I probably have to be at Skid Row before 6 a.m. one of these days to check if there are orange (school) buses picking up the kids for school. After lunch service was over, I decided to walk around to do more obser vation. I saw a little place called School-On-Wheels. Compared to the buildings of other non-profit organizations on Skid Row, School-On-Wheels is just a molehill. It has been run by a retired nun. Its window has been decorated with cut-up paper arts. Its facade is so modest that my heart falls for it. I hope to stop by in one of these days to check its program. If its mission suits me, especially on the spiritual aspect of its program, I probably would be giving to SchoolOn-Wheels one day of my two days beginning next month. If not, then, I would be sticking both of my days with URM’s kitchen and, later, in it’s Learning Center.
Y
esterday, May 22nd, I again was in Skid Row for my volunteer work with the Union Rescue Mission. Fortunately, I was requested to man the bread station, and not the lettuce or the chopped tomatoes, the stewed diced white meat or the corn. All of these require the servers to move fast for the trays to get into the hands of those in line. We have white bread, raisin bread, and r ye bread, so I often asked which one they prefer
to have. This allowed me to look at ever yone and obser ve those who were already eating. I also have the opportunity to tell them to enjoy their meals and that ‘Jesus loves them’. Young and old Asians, African-Americans, Hispanics, and Caucasians were represented. Sane, insane, shabbily dressed, and formally dressed were there to be ser ved lunch. There was even a guy, who was wearing a clean coat and tie, so opposite to a guy, who wore a dirty pair of shoes and a black plastic trash bag to cover his upper body. Certainly, homelessness doesn’t excuse any nationality. Sometimes, it hits someone, because of extravagance and addiction; many times it victimizes someone, because of job loss and unemployment. Nevertheless, the one that touches me most besides those hapless children, are those with mental instability. I can’t help myself but to sympathize for those I saw staring blankly at their food, or for those talking and laughing as they talked either to their food trays or to an imaginar y person beside them. Most of the time, they were the last ones to turn their trays in. Others don’t even have the time to finish their food before the security officer would announce that their eating time is up.
But you know what, you cannot underestimate homeless people. Even though they don’t seem to obser ve cleanliness, most still do. In between ser vice, ser vers have to clean tables. We were supposed to dispose our old gloves, washed our hands properly before wearing another clean pair of gloves. In one occasion, one of the volunteer inadvertently forgot to dispose her latex gloves. She immediately went to her station, because the next serve was about to begin. Immediately, a homeless lady called the attention of the supervisor to report it.
So, when you’re on Skid Row doing some volunteer work, forget the idea for once that they sleep on card boards, tattered tents, or plastic tarps at nighttime. Many of those who don shabby or showy dresses cannot just be taken for granted. And if you have time or a dime to spare, open up your heart or pocket to help URM and other agencies on Skid Row. Yesterday, URM run out of disposable plastic gloves. All the agencies are non-profits; thus operating by faith. Come on, let’s help them a little.
JUNE 2009
style
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Female Model - Ivory silk mesh Ao Dai (Vietnamese Traditional Tunic Style) with seashells beaded detail. Male Model - Floral printed cotton linen blazer and black stretch twill trouser.
JUNE 2009
Female Model - Halter turquoise and gun-metal grey silk charmeuse evening gown. Male Model - White stretch cotton opened back detail shirt and charcoal leopard print stretch twill trouser.
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Male Mode l- Whit e s t ret ch cot t on ope n e d bac kde tail s hirt a nd cha rcoa l le opard prin t stret ch t w ill t rous er. Fe male Mode l - S ca rlet ha lt er s ilk c h arme u se e ve n in g gow n w it h bla ck be ade d d et a il a t t he w a is t .
All of the pieces with different price range are available at
Thai Nguyen Couture. www.thainguyencouture.com
JUNE 2009
editor’s picks
WORRY A PERSISTENT EVIL
“In the midst of the worrisome details we capitalize on endless fears, doubts, tasks, expectations and pressures until we lose focus on what really matters.”
W
hile we all have different lists, our deep relentless worries carry a similar effect. They make us uneasy. They steal smiles from our faces. They
cast dark shadows on our futures by spotlighting our shameful pasts. Stubborn anxieties work like petty thieves in the dark corners of our thoughts as they pickpocket our peace and kidnap our joy.
Left to do its insidious work, worry will eventually drain us of all resources and leave us emotionally bankrupt and spiritually immobilized, which is why anxiety must be confronted head-on. The first step in that process is to analyze and understand its power. Worry is the painful uneasiness of the mind that feeds on impending fears. In its mildest form we simply churn. In its most severe form we panic. This is a good place to pause and dig deeper. Why is anxiety so wrong and spiritually debilitating? ANXIETY HIGHLIGHTS THE HUMAN VIEWPOINT AND STRANGLES THE DIVINE, so we become fearful. When we worry we have such a high level of awareness of the human events surrounding us that God’s perspective gets choked out and puts us on edge. Worry disables our ability to distinguish the incidental from the essential so we get distracted. In the midst of the worrisome details we capitalize on endless fears, doubts, tasks, expectations and pressures until we lose focus on what really matters. Anxiety siphons our joy which makes us judgmental rather than tolerant. It suffocates the flow of love and grace for others and eventually makes us negative, bitter, narrow and unforgiving. The little worries, the cares of this world choke the WORD. The Remedy for Worry? The only cure for worry is OBEDIENCE TO THE SPIRIT. The word of the Savior is ABANDON.
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ONAIR
APOLOGIESA NECESSARY PART OF RELATIONSHIPS By: Cecilia C. Lim
I INSIGHT FOR LIVING Dr. Charles R. Swindoll
“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough
KKLA 99.5 FM Radio 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. (M-F} trouble of its own.” LIVING WORD
“For the Lord longs to be
Pastor Lance Sparks
gracious to you. He rises to
KBRT 740 AM Radio
shot you compassion. For the
2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (M-F) Lord is a God of justice; and blessed is the man who waits patiently for Him.” TURNING POINT
“The happiest people I know
Dr. David Jeremiah
are the ones who have learned
KKLA 99.5 FM Radio
how to hold everything loosely
8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. (M-F) and have given the worrisome, stress-field, fearful details of their lives into God’s keeping.” POWER POINT
“Consider it all joys my brethren
Dr. Jack Graham
when we encounter various
KKLA 99.5 FM Radio
trials, knowing that the
10:00a.m. - 10:30a.m.
testing of your faith produces endurance. And have endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be complete lacking nothing.”
THRU THE BIBLE RADIO “When he seeks he will find me and I will show him great and Dr. Vernon Mc Gee KKLA 99.5 FM Radio
wonderful things he does not
6:00a.m -6:30a.m.
know.”
f we offend someone and yield insincere contrition - this will only stoke the fire. We belittle the other person’s feelings, undermines the offense and circumvents genuine repentance. If we do nothing else right, at least we should demonstrate genuine remorse. It is not only the words we speak but also tone of voice and body language that communicates authenticity – and humility is the key in all three areas. It is wise to pray and ask GOD assistance before attempting to make amends. We must get our pride under control and take responsibility of our actions. There is no need to exaggerate our offense or bear the burden for things we did not do but we should be up front about our behavior. Once we have accepted our mistake we need to stop there and ask for forgiveness. This is the step that actually seals the deal. It puts the ball back to the other person’s court and the opportunity to erase the offense and the beginning to seek new favor. Indeed, there is an art of offering a true apology. Does anybody know? But the good news is, most of us have plenty of opportunities to practice. IN TOUCH Dr. Charles Stanley KKLA 99.5 FM Radio 9:30 a.m – 10:00 a.m. (M-F)
Back to the Bible Pastor Woodrow Kroll 12:00 noon – 12:30 p.m KKLA 99.5 FM Radio Sunday “Be sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else”. 1Thess 5:18 “My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials “. James 2:12 “Be on your guard … but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; to Him be the glory both now and forevermore”. 2Pet 3:18
JUNE 2009
WHY BABY BOOMERS NEED IMMIGRANTS
building wisely
BY: ATTY. ROMAN MOSQUEDA
T
hose born between 1946 and 1964 comprise the giant Baby Boom generation, the first of whom will reach age 65 in 2011 and the last in 2029.
As Baby Boomers estimated at 78 million retire at age 65 in the next two decades, resulting in mass retirements and crises in Social Security and Medicare, who will replace them in the workforce? As retirees transform themselves from net taxpayers to net recipients of pension and health benefits, who will support Social Security and Medicare? As seniors age 65 and older become net home sellers, resulting in mass sales of homes, who will buy the homes in the next two decades to avoid downturns in home values? University of Southern California’s Prof. Dowell Myers in the School of Policy, Planning, and Development answers these questions by discussing the roles of immigrants and their children in filling these jobs, supporting economically the increasing number of seniors, and buying homes from them, in his 2007 book, “Immigrants and Boomers: Forging a New Social Contract for the Future of America” (Russell Sage Foundation). Aside from his position that immigration is slowing down, not speeding up, Prof. Myers asserts that immigrants, in particular Latinos in California, have exhibited pronounced progress in English proficiency, income below the poverty level, and homeownership, for those who have lived here for 30 or more years. Increasing Importance of Immigrants
To Aging American Society: Prof. Myers estimates that the degree to which the ratio of seniors to working-age adults will be thrown out of balance over the next two decades is 67 percent. This 67 percent increase in the senior ratio brought about by retiring Baby Boomers, according to Prof. Myers, is the mother of many crises: Social Security, Medicare, and home sales downturn. Indeed, the implications for mass retirement by seniors and the struggle for replacements in the workforce are profound, according to Prof. Myers.
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Thus, immigrants as workers, taxpayers, and homebuyers, become increasingly important as supporters of the aging Baby Boom generation.
Legalizing Undocumented Immigrants In the United States: It is estimated by Jeffrey S. Passel that undocumented immigrants amount to 12 million of the total foreign-born population of 37 million in the United States, based on the March 2005 Current Population Survey. The 12 million undocumented workers comprise roughly 5% of the U.S. labor force in the underground economy. It is further estimated that between one-half and three-quarters of undocumented workers pay federal and state income taxes, Social Security taxes, as well as Medicare taxes. But they are ineligible for almost all federal public assistance and most federal-state programs, according to the 2005 Economic Report of the President, cited by the Immigration Policy Center’s “The Economics of Immigration Reform: What Legalizing Undocumented Immigrants Would Mean for the U.S. Economy” (April 2009). Aside from the benefit of drawing all undocumented workers into the tax system through legalization, legal status allows them to earn higher wages, pay higher taxes, and spend more. Indeed, legalization levels the playing field for all workers and businesses, while the alternative to legalization: deportation (removal) would be expensive (estimated at $41.2 billion annually according to a study by the Center for American Progress) and result in a loss in annual spending ($1.8 trillion) and in annual output ($651.5 billion), according to a study by the Perryman Group.
(The Author, Roman P. Mosqueda, has Economics and law degrees, and has been practicing immigration law for over 20 years. He is a member of AILA, Los Angeles Chapter).
“H
THE POWER TO GET WEALTH
e gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me. But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth…” (Deuteronomy 8:16-18)
In the Old Testament, God promised His people that He will bring them to a rich land “flowing with milk and honey” after they were released from Egyptian slavery. In the above passage, however, Moses warns them that once they get to the land of promise, they shouldn’t forget about how God had provided for all their needs throughout their journey and say that they got rich only by their own efforts.
BY: ATTY. RAY BULAON
If you are a Christian, the Bible says that it is God’s will for you to be rich in every area of your life. But He also wants you to always remember that the power to create wealth comes from Him. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do your part. If you are working in a job, you should do your job the best you can. If you have a business, you should continue running it. But whatever it is that you are doing, rest assured that God is working behind the scenes to prosper you in what you do.
JUNE 2009
“The habit that made me steal money in my school days, the habit that made me tell lies, the habit that made me a slave.”
I
recall this day May 27, 1993. I stopped at a ‘Stop n Go’ store where usually I pick up freshly brewed coffee and my favorite mucho manly Marlboro Reds cigarettes.
“Sir, today you got to excuse me, we ran out of Marlboro brand”. Oh no, that is what I hate to hear, “hey Patel, come on man, you know I come here everyday for my coffee and for my Reds”. He was really sorry for not being able to give me that valued customer service, which I deserve since I was going to that ‘Stop n Go’ for years. Looking in his eyes I said, “now that you don’t have my brand, throw me what ever you have.” He was not that happy, yet he gave me a pack of cigarettes. I couldn’t care less to notice the name of the brand.
I OWE PAULA By: Chandra Pandula They placed an oxygen mask on to her mouth, got her on the stretcher and took her away to St John’s hospital along with Jerry. All this happened in minutes before even I could enquire about Paula. Paula was rushed into ER. It was too late. I believe Paula left this world in the ambulance itself. embraced
Paula
and
the
Death doc-
tors were trying to save the baby. We were shocked and speechless. We waited, patiently praying in the hall, holding Jerry’s hand. After three hours, Jerry was called in and was given the second sad news. The baby could not be saved. It was discov-
ered in medical reports that Paula seI stopped in my driveway to smoke. I heard cretly smoked even during pregnancy. an ambulance charging into our housing complex. Four paramedics jumped out and ran into Mr. Jerry Shane’s place, who It was almost 9.30 PM. I stopped at my driveway and wanted to have a happens to be my fifth door neighbor. smoke. Just when I was about to light it, Paula Shane, Jerry’s wife is expecting her first baby and Shane’s family is all excited about the baby girl. Jerry always talked on how excited he is about becoming a dad.
I heard Paula’s words, “Save my baby! Help me save my baby!” I stopped and gave a serious look at the blue pack. It printed ‘NOW’. I had a second look. Yes, the cigarette’s brand name was
I was concerned, looking at the ambu- ‘NOW’. I immediately said to myself, lance, I ran towards Jerry’s home to en“NOW OR NEVER”. Immediately I took quire if everything is okay. a vow and quit smoking, the habit that Paula was in severe premature labor, battling in pain, crying while holding her stomach. It was terrifying to see her crying in agony, saying, “Save my baby! Please help me, save my baby!” The paramedics were attending, suddenly her voice stopped and her eyes froze.
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lived with me for over 20 years. The habit that made me steal money in my school days, the habit that made me tell lies, the habit that made me a slave. It is indeed sad and tragic. Yet, I owe my day May 27, to Paula.
"The habit that made me steal money in my school days, the habit that made me tell lies, the habit that made me a slave."
JUNE 2009
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