September 15, 2013 1

Vol. XXII, No. 21 Online: www. manilamail.us September 15, 2013

Pinay Juicy Girls
P10
Gunrunning
bros P3
OFWs protest
pork P4
Gay couple in
USAF P12
Katys Taal
video P4
Whats China
up to in
Panatag Shoal?
MANILA. The countrys
ambassador to China was
ordered home to dramatize
Philippine displeasure over the
laying of 75 concrete blocks on
Panatag (Scarborough Shoal)
but Beijing accused Manila of
creating trouble out of nothing.
The Philippines is accusing
China of laying the foundation for
a permanent facility in violation
of international maritime law
and ignoring Manilas call
for international arbitration
for a peaceful resolution.
Chinese Foreign Ministry
spokesman Hong Lei threw
the blame right back at the
Philippines, saying it was
causing the problems, days
before a key regional meeting
being hosted by China.
The Scarborough Shoal
is Chinas intrinsic territory.
The Philippines should respect
Chinas sovereignty, he
said during a news brieng.
Foreign Affairs Department
spokesman Raul Hernandez
said Ambassador Erlinda Basilio
was called back to Manila for
consultations but said she
would be sent back to her post
after an unspecied period.
A Philippine aircraft
photographed Panatag Shoal last
Sept. 2 and found the concrete
blocks two cubic feet in size
Jobs gain fuel Fed talks,
PH Peso falls to P44:$1
WASHINGTON D.C.
Employers added 169,000 jobs
in August, making a slight dent
on the unemployment rate and
further fueling speculation about
rumors the Federal Reserve is
about to scale back its bond-buy-
ing program which is making a
lot of countries nervous.
Investors here and abroad
could cheer this as a sign the
US economic recovery is taking
hold, but looking deeper into the
Labor Department report also
raised concerns that all is still not
well and the rebound remains
precarious.
China is already bracing
Va. Dems, GOPs spend
heavily to lure core voters
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia.
This coming November guber-
natorial elections is shaping up
as one of the most expensive
ever for candidates to the top
Commonwealth political post.
With still two months to
go before the Nov. 5 ballot, the
Republican Governors Associa-
tion and the Democratic Gover-
nors Association have shelled
out just under $10.3 million on
behalf of their favored candi-
dates.
The GOP group has spent
more than twice as much as its
Democratic counterpart, accord-
ing to politico.com RGAs total
spending is a hair under $7 mil-
lion, including $3 million in
direct donations to state Attor-
ney General Ken Cuccinellis
campaign.
DGAs spending has come
overwhelmingly in the form of
lump-sum contributions: of the
approximately $3.4 million that
Continued on page 22
Continued on page 22
Ventriloquist bird discovered
in Luzons Sierra Madre range
LAWRENCE, Kansas. A
new bird species that can throw
its voice around, possibly to
confuse nearby predators, has
been discovered by research-
ers in the rain forests of the
Sierra Madre range in Northern
Luzon.
Twenty-three new bird
species have been recently
identied by researchers from
the University of Kansas Bio-
diversity Institute, according
to Pete Hosner, a KU graduate
student in ecology and evolu-
tionary biology.
They include the Sierra
Madre Ground Warbler, a
largely ightless, ground-walk-
ing songbird with no known
Continued on page 22
Mysterious concrete blocks raise questions of what Chinas doing in Philip-
pines Panatag Shoal.
Continued on page 22
MNLF invasion raises fear of another Mindanao war
ZAMBOANGA CITY.
Troops clashed with armed fol-
lowers of former Moro National
Liberation Front (MNLF) chief
Nur Misuari in a Zamboanga
City neighborhood, raising the
specter of another secessionist
war in Mindanao just as the gov-
ernment appeared near ending
another with a rival Islamic
group.
At least six people have
been killed and 24 wounded in
the ghting that started Sept. 8,
according to Zamboanga City
Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco.
The ghting started shortly
after about 400 heavily armed
followers of Misuari, founder
of the Moro National Liberation
Front (MNLF) and leader of the
Muslim Mindanao autonomous
region created as part of the
peace settlement with the seces-
sionist group.
He was removed from his
post by former President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo in 2001 and
Misuari is currently out on bail
on terrorism charges.
Some the groups leaders
said they were ghting for an
independent Muslim state in
Mindanao. But a faction of the
MNLF distanced itself from the
Continued on page 22
Troops surround band of MNLF rebels in Zamboanga City.
by Jonathan Melegrito
Special to the Manila Mail
WASHINGTON D.C. Fili-
pino American leaders from
around the nation get a chance
to make their pitches for issues
close to their community, includ-
ing immigration reform and
recognition for Filipino World
War II veterans in a meet up
with leaders of the Republican
Party in Las Vegas, Nevada next
month.
The invitation to Filipino
American community leaders
Continued on page 23
U.S. Rep Ed Royce
September 15, 2013 22
N. Dakota oil boom may
tap Pinoy workers
WASHINGTON D.C. The
North Dakota energy boom
is opening new opportunities
for the Philippines, including
the hiring of skilled Filipino oil
workers that Philippine Ambas-
sador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. said
should be exploited.
North Dakota is not only
the fastest growing state econ-
omy in the US. It is now also the
second-highest oil producing
state next only to Texas, he said.
We are being given the
opportunity to be part of this
boom and we should take advan-
tage of it by looking into invest-
ments in infrastructure and pos-
sibly even jobs for Filipino oil
workers, Cuisia added.
The Philippines top envoy
made the call upon returning
from North Dakota, consid-
ered the heart of Americas oil
and gas boom, where he led a
three-day economic diplomacy
outreach mission to the Bismark
and Fargo upon the invitation of
Gov. Jack Dalrymple.
In his meetings with North
Dakota ofcials led by Gov-
ernor Dalrymple, Cuisia said
there used to be as many as
2,000 Filipinos working in the
energy sector in the US, includ-
ing a number in Louisiana who
helped rehabilitate offshore oil
platforms that were damaged by
Hurricane Katrina.
Governor Dalrymple is
very interested and wants to nd
out how North Dakota could tap
Filipino workers, Cuisia said,
adding that he will bring this
opportunity with the Philippine
Overseas Employment Adminis-
tration.
He explained Philippine
companies will have the chance
to explore this and other possible
business opportunities in North
Dakota when a trade and invest-
ment mission from the state
visits Manila in February.
North Dakota presently
accounts for 10 percent of the
overall daily oil production of
the US, producing 800,000 bar-
rels of oil per day in June alone
and even overtaking the produc-
tion of California and Alaska.
North Dakota ofcials said theyre looking into possibly hiring Filipino oil
rig workers.
September 15, 2013 3
PNP help sought to nab PH arms merchant
NEW YORK. Authorities
have sought the help of Philip-
pine police to track down the
brother of a New York City
police ofcer and a Los Angeles
airport agent earlier arrested for
smuggling high-powered re-
arms to the Philippines.
Ofcer Rex Maralit, 44, was
taken into custody last week by
the New York Police Department
(NYPD) internal affairs bureau
following a complaint lodged
by the Department of Homeland
Security.
His brother Wilfredo, a
US Customs and Border Patrol
agent at the Los Angeles Interna-
tional Airport, was also arrested.
Authorities in the Philip-
pines are hunting for a third
brother, Ariel Maralit, who
reportedly sold the guns there.
There are concerns because the
smuggled weapons, including
sniper ries and scopes, pose a
security threat if they fell to the
wrong hands.
The US will seek his extradi-
tion after hes taken into custody.
All three are charged with
conspiracy to violate the Arms
Export Control Act and unli-
censed rearm dealing, and each
face 5 years in jail if found guilty.
The Justice Department
said that Between January 2009
and March 2013, the defendants
engaged in a scheme to smug-
gle high-powered assault ries,
sniper ries, pistols and rearm
accessories from the United
States to the Philippines, where
they were sold to overseas cus-
tomers.
According to the complaint,
Ariel Maralit identied custom-
ers and sought the assistance
of his brothers to purchase and
ship the weapons. In response to
customer orders from the Philip-
pines, Rex and Wilfredo bought
the weapons on rearms-broker-
ing websites, disassembled then
smuggled them out of the US in
disguised shipments.
None of the defendants
obtained export licenses or fed-
eral rearms licenses in connec-
tion with the weapons they sold,
the complaint continued.
On several occasions, the
defendants used their law
enforcement credentials to get
discounts for the purchased
weapons.
The powerful and danger-
ous rearms that the defen-
dants illegally exported and
sold include the Barrett M82A1
.50 caliber semi-automatic rie,
the SCAR, and the FN Herstal
5.7mm semi-automatic pistol.
The Barrett M82A1 .50
caliber semi-automatic rie is a
long-range, weapon capable of
penetrating body armor, exterior
walls of buildings and even air-
craft. The Barrett rie is favored
by specialized military forces
due to its extraordinary power
and range. The SCAR is a mili-
tary rie designed in 2004 at the
request of the United States Spe-
cial Operations Command for a
new family of assault ries to be
used by US Special Forces. The
FN Herstal 5.7mm semi-auto-
matic pistol is a high-capacity,
battleeld weapon capable of
ring a projectile that can pen-
etrate body armor.
Rex appeared before a New
York judge on Sept. 6. Wilfredo
appeared at a federal courthouse
in Santa Ana, California the same
day and was granted a $300,000
bond.
Wilfredo and Rex are sched-
uled to appear together in a New
York federal court on Sept. 23.
Brothers Rex and Wilfredo Maralit were arrested for conspiracy to smuggle
weapons outside US.
September 15, 2013 44
PH tourism boss elated by Katy Perry music video
MANILA. The Philippine
Tourism Department is
overjoyed by American pop
singer Katy Perrys latest music
video after it incorporated images
of the countrys Taal Volcano.
Released last Thursday,
the Roar music video
features a shot of the famous
Philippine landmark and
its surrounding lake at the
2:28- and 2:39-minute marks.
In the video, which had over
14.7 million views as of posting,
Perry is seen as a survivor of a
plane crash who successfully
adjusts to living in the wild.
Tourism Secretary
Ramon Jimenez said he
was very happy because
the music video appeared
to suggest the Philippines
is obviously paradise.
Its no secret that,
when Katy Perry went to the
country, she fell in love with
Philippines. I would not be
surprised if she made the choice
herself, Jimenez speculated.
Perry visited the Philippines
in October 2009 January 2012,
as part of her concert tours.
Jimenez elation was in
sharp contrast to the indignation
of many in the Philippines from
novelist Dan Browns description
of Manila as the gates of
hell in his book Inferno.
In 2012, Hollywood action
ick The Bourne Legacy
extensively featured gritty
Manila, prominently showing
the Philippine capitals trafc
jams and crisscrossing streets
packed with pedestrians.
The lm nonetheless showed
El Nido, Palawan in its closing
scenes, which was then lauded
by the Department of Tourism.
PH wants sher jailed, Taiwan offers ne instead
MANILA. The Philippines
Justice Department will
push through with charges
against a Taiwanese sherman
caught allegedly poaching in
the countrys waters despite
attempts by Taipei authorities
to settle the case out of court.
Police say there is strong
evidence against Taiwanese
Tsai Po who was nabbed
Sept. 3 near the Philippines
Batan Islands, close to the
maritime border with Taiwan.
Our evidence is quite
strong. He was collecting lobster,
ornamental sh and sharks,
one ofcial said, adding that
this wasnt the rst time Tsai
encroached in Philippine waters.
The local police was
reportedly alerted by Filipino
civilians whove complained
that Taiwanese shermen have
become more brazen after a
fatal shooting of a 65-year-
old Taiwanese sherman by
Philippine Coast Guard men
sparked a diplomatic row.
The shooting occurred
in waters also claimed by
Taiwan near the Batan Islands.
Taiwan responded with
sanctions, including a ban on the
hiring of new Filipino workers.
Relations were only
beginning to normalize
after the Justice Department
recommended murder
charges against the Filipino
coastguard men when this
latest incident happened.
Tsai denied the charge,
insisting he was in Taiwanese
waters when he was stopped.
His catch, vessel and shing
equipment were conscated. If he
is convicted of poaching he faces
a US$100,000 ne and his seized
items will not be returned to him.
The head of Taiwans
Fisheries Agency was quoted in
news reports as saying they are
negotiating for Tsai to receive
the lightest penalty, which could
be the payment of a ne worth
between $50,000 and $200,000.
Katy Perry video with backdrop of the Taal lake and volcano.
Pork protest spreads to OFW remittances
MANILA. The protest
against lawmakers abuse of
pork barrel funds moved to his-
toric EDSA, the birthplace of two
People Power revolts that top-
pled two Philippine presidents,
but the Palace appeared more
anxious of a backlash from a cru-
cial sector overseas Filipinos.
Migrante International, an
alliance of 122 Filipino migrant
organizations, has called for a
Zero Remittance Day on Sept.
19 as a symbolic protest and
political exercise for all OFWs
to show outrage on issues that
affect them.
Deputy presidential spokes-
person Abigail Valte dismissed
the call and reminded over-
seas Filipinos it wont hurt the
Aquino administration as much
as their own families. They
know what their families need,
Valte said.
Remittances from overseas
Filipinos reached a record $21.39
billion last year, a 6.3 percent
increase from $20.12 billion in
2011. The dollars came mostly
from Filipinos in the United
States, Canada, Saudi Arabia,
United Kingdom, Japan, United
Arab Emirates and Singapore.
Our remittances keep the
economy aoat is being plun-
dered by greedy ofcials, said
Migrante International chair-
person Gary Martinez in a state-
ment.
The one-day remittance
boycott is largely symbolic,
according to most experts, but it
touches a raw nerve for a nation
that relies heavily on the money
sent by nearly 10 million Filipi-
nos working or living abroad.
OFW remittances comprise
more than 12 percent of the Phil-
ippines Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) and more importantly,
is driving consumption that is
fueling the countrys 7.6 percent
growth rate in the rst semester
of 2013, the envy of Asia and
much of the world.
Public outrage continues to
grow over the pork barrel scam
that highlighted the scourge of
corruption and patronage poli-
tics in the Philippines.
The President recognizes
this concern, Valte assured
OFWs in a radio interview last
week.
Church joins pork protests
Another source of concern,
protests moved for the rst time
to EDSA on Sept. 11, the sym-
bolic seat of extra-legal politi-
cal change, a move endorsed by
inuential Catholic bishops.
This is not just an offense
of malicious unscrupulous citi-
zens or the betrayal of elected
public ofcials. This is an offense
against God who commanded us
Thou shall not steal and Thou
shall not covet your neighbors
goods, the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP) wrote in a pastoral letter
read in churches all over the
country.
Our protests should not
just emanate from the bad feel-
ing that we have been personally
or communally transgressed,
violated or duped. It should
come rather from the realization
that God has been offended and
we have become less holy as a
people because of this, it added.
Our rst response to the
pork barrel issue must be not
protest but contrition. We are
not just victims of a corrupt
system. We have all, in one
way or another, contributed to
this worsening social cancer
through our indifferent silence
or through our cooperation
when we were beneting from
the sweet cake of graft and cor-
ruption, the bishops said.
A Rizal Park protest rally
organized last Aug. 26 drew
thousands. They were joined
by many more outside the capi-
tal and outside the Philippines,
powered by social media and the
net.
Two days later, Janet
Napoles, the woman at the
center of the pork barrel storm,
surrendered to President Aquino
after apparently being tipped off
that government agents were on
the verge of capturing her. The
Edsa Tayo protest last week
aimed to build on the momen-
tum and further pressure the
Aquino administration.
Malacanang is not per-
turbed by the protests, Valte
stressed, but they are keeping
a close eye for the mass actions
remain peaceful and orderly.
The EDSA protest came in
the heels of the approval by the
House appropriations commit-
tee of the proposed 2014 budget
amounting to P2.268 trillion
(about $55 billion), which still
includes lawmakers pork barrel.
Napoles trial not for
show - Palace
Napoles is now detained in
former President Joseph Estra-
das old prison accommodations
at Fort Santo Domingo in Sta.
Rosa, Laguna, guarded by a con-
tingent of specially-trained coun-
ter-terrorism cops and under
non-stop surveillance from 6
cameras installed just for her.
This administration has a
strong resolve to make sure jus-
tice is served, Valte said in an
interview over state-run radio.
The President, she said,
wants a conviction for the P10
billion pork barrel scam. Apart
from Napoles, the case could
drag key lawmakers.
Whistle-blowers, state
auditors and former executives
of government corporations
have consistently tagged Sena-
tors Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy
Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr.
as among those who channeled
their pork barrel over the years
to bogus non-government orga-
nizations set up by Napoles.
The Justice Department is
wrapping up investigation into
a Commission on Audit report
against at least 82 non-govern-
ment organizations (NGOs) that
allegedly received over P6 billion
from the Priority Development
Assistance Fund (PDAF) of sev-
eral solons from 2007 to 2009.
September 15, 2013 5
San Diego acting mayor wont seek city post
SAN DIEGO. The citys
acting Mayor, San Diego City
Council President Todd Garcia,
wont be seeking the post during
emergency elections on Nov. 19.
Garcia lled the vacancy
left by the resignation of
former Mayor Bob Filner,
forced top step down last
August 30 after he could not
shake off allegations of sexual
harassment by several women.
Born in La Jolla, Todd
grew up in Clairemont. He is
part Filipino, Native American,
Puerto Rican and Dutch.
Garcia is also openly gay.
Gloria said in a statement
that he wanted to focus
on his work as interim
mayor and city councilman.
I would have enjoyed
running for mayor, he said. I
like the job. A week on, I can tell
you its a pretty sweet gig, but
you need me to govern. You dont
need me to campaign right now.
He was quoted in a story
on City News Services saying
Filner, a longtime champion of
Filipino World War II veterans,
left his post with substantial
and serious problems
that had to be attended to.
The Ofce of the Mayor
will be staffed by experienced,
responsible, and responsive
individuals who share my goal
of moving the city forward in
a transparent, collaborative
way, said Gloria in a statement.
What weve learned is
that one person can do a lot of
damage, and we have to make
the right choice this time,
Gloria said. Im just grateful
youre going to have a lot of
good choices on that ballot.
There are about 30 people
vying for San Diegos mayoral
post although Democratic
Councilman Kevin Faulconer
and Republican Carl DeMaio,
a former councilman, appear
to have the inside tracks.
If no one wins a majority in
the Nov. 19 election, the top two
contenders advance to a runoff.
San Diego City Council president
Todd Garcia.
September 15, 2013 66
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September 15, 2013 10 10
Drug rings eye PH as gateway to US market
MANILA. The drug menace
in the Philippines already a
national crisis could get even
worse as major drug syndi-
cates look for new markets in
the United States, warned a top
narcotics ofce from the State
Department.
As trafcking organiza-
tions for heroin in Afghanistan
and Myanmar search for new
markets in the United States, the
Philippines will be at the point of
exit across the Pacic, US Assis-
tant Secretary for International
Narcotics and Law Enforcement
Affairs William Browneld said
in Manila last week.
He said Latin American
cartels were trafcking growing
amounts of cocaine and meth-
amphetamines to increasingly
wealthy East Asian countries.
I am sorry to say this but I
fear the problem is going to get
worse before it gets better, he
told reporters during a visit at
Camp Crame, the national police
headquarters.
Philippine anti-narcotics
chief Arturo Cacdac said they
were looking into the Mexican
links of a Chinese gang arrested
while allegedly manufacturing
methamphetamine hydrochlo-
ride commonly known in the
Philippines as shabu in a high-
end subdivision last January.
Its possible that Latin
American drug personalities
are looking to the Far East as a
market for drugs, not necessarily
cocaine but also shabu, he said,
using the local name for meth-
amphetamines.
In 2012, Brownelds agency
warned about an increase in
foreign organized criminal activ-
ity from China, Hong Kong and
Taiwan.
Insurgency groups operat-
ing in the Philippines partially
fund their activities through local
crime, kidnapping for ransom
and the trafcking of narcotics
and arms, and engage in money
laundering through ties to orga-
nized crime, the BINLEA report
said.
The State Department has
previously named the Philip-
pines as one of the 66 major drug
money-laundering countries in
the world.
US cracks down on Korean bars with Pinay juicy girls
WASHINGTON D.C. Of-
cials of the US Air Force in South
Korea are cracking down against
juicy girls scantily-clad
hostesses who entice off-duty
servicemen to buy them exor-
bitantly priced juice drinks in
exchange for their company.
Ofcials have warned bar
owners in the Songtan red light
district to get rid of the juicy
girls or they will forbid Ameri-
can servicemen from patronizing
their establishments, according
to Job Rabiroffs Sept. 3 article in
the Stars & Stripes.
Songtan is located just out-
side the Osan Air Base.
Authorities say theyve
decided to stamp out the juicy
girls who it turns out are
mostly Filipinas, according to
Rabiroff because they suspect
its fueling the illegal trafcking
problem in the country.
US Air Force Korea has
for years employed zero toler-
ance policy toward prostitution
and human trafcking and that
buying overpriced drinks in a
juicy bar supports the human
trafcking industry, a form of
modern-day slavery, Rabiroff
wrote.
He quoted Seventh Air
Force commander Lt. Gen. Jan-
Marc Jouas: The presence of
juicy girls that are contracted,
whose passports are held by
the bar owners, who are moved
from city to city and bar to bar
its indentured servitude and
its inconsistent with who we are
as a service, and the standards
were trying to establish on base
and within the sphere of inu-
ence we have outside the gate.
The report also quoted Felic-
itas Bay, the Philippine labor
attach in Seoul, who lauded
the US Air Forces efforts. She
expressed the hope the policy
would be applied to other enter-
tainment spots near US military
facilities who may engaged in
the same questionable practices.
Bay admitted they were
hard-pressed stopping the inux
of Filipinas who are often lured
by unscrupulous recruiters in the
Philippines, sweet-talking the
girls with promises of legitimate
jobs in South Korea.
I salute the rm resolve
and conviction of the Osan Air
Base leadership in their efforts
in the campaign against human
trafcking, she said.
Jouas said ofcials at
Kunsan Air Base are in the pro-
cess of starting a similar effort in
nearby America Town another
entertainment district hosting
juicy bars - and he has talked
to other US Forces Korea of-
cials, including Gen. James Thur-
man, in an attempt to replicate
their Songtan initiative.
Rabiroff said the number
of juicy bars outside Osan Air
Base has dropped from 44 to just
10 over the past year.
While it is impossible to
determine exactly what percent-
age of juicy bars promote prosti-
tution, he wrote, it is common
knowledge that some juicy girls
who fall short of sale quotas are
often forced by club owners to
prostitute themselves to make
up the revenue difference a
practice known as bar ning
In addition, some juicy
girls arrange to meet custom-
ers outside of work, where they
strike sex-for-cash deals or pose
as girlfriends and ask for money
to send home or pay off debts,
he added in the Stars & Stripes
article.
Scene outside Songtan bar.
September 15, 2013 11
Top Pinoy designers featured in Portland fashion show
WASHINGTON D.C. The
October 9 gala opening night
program of Portlands 2013
FashioNXT will feature top Fili-
pino fashion designers to mark
observance of Filipino-American
Heritage month.
The show to be held at 8 pm
at the Vigor Shipyard is being
staged together with the US-
Philippine Society. It will show-
case the Philippines continuing
contribution to Americas rich
cultural heritage, blending tra-
ditional and modern styles and
fabrics including rare textiles
made from pineapple ber.
The US-Philippines Soci-
ety welcomes this opportunity
to showcase the latest in inno-
vative Philippine fashion and
design. FashioNXT has earned
international recognition, and
the Philippine-inspired fashion
themes will only enhance the
shows growing reputation as a
trend-setter in the world of fash-
ion, said Hank Hendrickson,
the Societys Executive Director.
The Philippine designers
presenting at FashioNXT include
Alan Del Rosario, Anthony Cruz
Legarda, Francis Libiran and
David Tupaz.
We are honored that the
US-Philippines Society chose
FashioNXT for the Philippine
designer runway show, said
FashioNXT Executive Producer
Tito Chowdhury.
That the show celebrates
Philippine-American Heritage
Month makes it even more spe-
cial. The Philippine Embassy
supports the Societys efforts,
and FashioNXT looks forward
to welcoming Ambassador and
Mrs. Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. to Port-
land for this important event.
Tickets to FashioNXT may
be purchased at www.fash-
ionxt.net. Enter the discount
code Philippines for a savings
of10% off on all tickets.
Delta Airlines is offering
10% off on airline tickets for
FashioNXT. Just click on the
Delta Airlines logo at www.fash-
ionxt.net. The Courtyard Mar-
riott Portland City Center is also
offering discounted room rates.
FashioNXT is the place to
be for fashion Oct 9 at the Philip-
pine Designer Runway Show.
FashioNXT Portland (www.
fashionxt.net, www.facebook.
com/FASHIONXtONLINE) is
produced by Tito Chowdhury,
who produced Portlands inter-
nationally recognized fashion
week featured recently in Time
magazine and the Wall Street
Journal. FashioNXT presents
fashion forward lifestyle on the
runway and the lifestyle plaza.
The US-Philippine Society
(http://www.usphilippinesso-
ciety.org/) aims to raise aware-
ness about todays Philippines
in the United States. The Soci-
ety, an independent non-prot
organization, promotes interest
in building on the rich and long-
standing ties between America
and the Philippines and work-
ing to strengthen that unique
historical relationship in the 21st
century.
September 15, 2013 12 12
Fil-Am couple among first to get
same-sex benefits
LAS VEGAS, Nevada. A Fil-
ipino American same-sex couple
was among the rst to enroll for
spousal benets after the Penta-
gon announced it was putting
new rules in place as a result of
the recent Supreme Court deci-
sion against the Defense of Mar-
riage Act (DOMA).
1st Lt. Michelle Bagalawis
wanted to be rst in time wrote
Keith Rogers in an article for the
Las Vegas Review-Journal.
She and her spouse Suzanne
Angeles-Bagalawis, who grew
up in Long Beach, Ca. both have
roots to the Philippines.
Bagalawis is an education
and training chief for an Air
Combat Command training sup-
port squadron at Nellis Air Force
Base located here.
They entered their names in
the Defense Enrollment Eligibil-
ity Reporting System on Sept.
3 the rst working day of the
month and the rst day legally
married same sex couples in the
military could do it since the
Supreme Court ruling last June.
Benets including base
housing, commissary privi-
leges, medical care and service
members life insurance were
made available to legally mar-
ried same-sex spouses and their
dependents retroactive to the
date of the ruling, June 26.
To qualify, they must have a
bona de marriage license from
any of the 13 states or the District
of Columbia that recognize gay
marriages California, Wash-
ington, Iowa, Vermont, Con-
necticut, Maryland, Maine, New
York, Massachusetts, Minnesota,
New Hampshire, Delaware and
Rhode Island.
Although Nevada is not
on the list, Bagalawis works in
a military installation which
makes her eligible to enjoy fed-
eral benets.
Angeles-Bagalawis, now a
civilian who sells time shares
locally, had been an enlisted
airman but was medically dis-
charged.
They met in 2002 at Shep-
pard Air Force Base in Wichita
Falls, Texas, and were married
10 years later in Des Moines,
Iowa, on March 19, 2012.
Its Lt. Bagalawis 2nd mar-
riage and Angeles-Bagalawis
1st. They have a 6-year-old son
from Bagalawis earlier marriage
to an enlisted man that lasted
two years.
Rogers wrote, Bagalawis
said the stigma of being gay or
lesbian in the Air Force is gradu-
ally fading. I think its gotten
better. I dont really hear any
remarks, she said. Ive been
open to my commander and
some people at work and theyve
said if anything comes up just
bring it to our attention.
Im sure people are still
talking in their own inner cliques
about what they think about
same-sex marriage in the Air
Force. Im excited. I feel great
about it, Bagalawis was quoted
in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Apologetic Iowa chief steps down after rocky tenure
IOWA CITY. Public Safety
Commissioner K. Brian London,
who earlier apologized for slight-
ing Filipinos, resigned from his
post on September 4 after spend-
ing just 11 months on the post.
London apologized last
month for telling department
employees that, in his experience
with lie detection tests, Filipinos
were difcult to polygraph.
London headed a depart-
ment that investigates major
crimes, among others.
Philippine Ambassador
Jose L. Cuisia Jr. called him to
demand an explanation right
after hearing of complaints
lodged by Filipinos in the area
with Philippine consular ofcials
in Chicago, Il.
London explained to me
that his statements were taken
out of context and were part of
efforts by disgruntled individu-
als to discredit him, he said.
According to the envoy,
London apologized profusely,
stressing he didnt intend to
offend them.
Commissioner London
was profuse in expressing his
apology to me over his state-
ments and repeatedly said it was
never his intention to disparage
or malign any particular nation-
ality, most especially Filipinos,
Cuisia added.
But it appears stirring the
Fil-Am community was the least
of his problems. London and two
other department ofcials were
sued last month for ring a Divi-
sion of Criminal Investigation
agent allegedly as retaliation for
reporting a speeding violation
of a state vehicle used by Gov.
Terry Branstad.
London appeared to be
hounded by controversy almost
as soon as he was named to head
Iowas public safety department.
He had no ties to the state and
had worked until 2010 as the
top law enforcement ofcial in
Floridas Department of Finan-
cial Services after stints with
the Central Intelligence Agency,
Secret Service and Interpol.
The governors ofce
declined to say whether Brans-
tad, who plans to run for re-elec-
tion next year, sought Londons
resignation.
He was replaced by Larry
Noble, a former state trooper,
who held the post in 2011-12
until his retirement.
The Iowa Public Safety
Department includes the Divi-
sion of Criminal Investigation,
the Iowa State Patrol, the state
Fire Marshal, the Division of
Narcotics Enforcement and the
Fusion Center.
Exhibit promotes PH
retirement destination
MCLEAN, Va. Filipino
artist Gabriel de Dios is hold-
ing a benet exhibit of his most
recent works at the 2K McLean
Studio along Great Falls Street.
De Dios said the exhibit
was sponsored by ex-Navy
Capt. Domingo Tucay and his
wife Daisy who is founder and
president of the Global Philip-
pine Association of Retirement
Counselors (GPARC).
The organization promotes
the Philippines as a retirement
destination by establishing
retirement villages in key loca-
tions around the country and
developing care programs for
participants.
A percentage of the sales
from this exhibit will go to
this organization which the
artist fully supports. De Dios
is a graduate of the Philippine
Military Academy (Class 81)
and was a major in the Philip-
pine Army Special Forces, but
has since swapped his rie for
brush and palette after immi-
grating in Virginia.
He has a distinctive style
that often features scenes from
the Philippines.
He requests that interested
parties call for appointments to
visit the studio through phone
number (703) 847-2099.
Public Safety Commissioner K.
Brian London
USAF 1st Lt. Michelle Bagalawis and her spouse Suzanne Angeles-Bagalawis.
Pinoy artist Gabriel de Dios works celebrate the Filipino culture.
September 15, 2013 13
Getting to know Juliana
By Jocelyn Porteria
Have you ever passed by
66 and noticed a sign by the
highway with a Philippine ag
as part of the logo? Yes, thats
struck me when I saw it. The
store is called JULIANAS and
that was a brilliant idea. That
motivated me to go to the store
and meet the owner; but let me
tell you rst, her name is not Juli-
ana ironically.
Shes the typical Filipina
beauty with great personality
and stands taller than normal
Filipina height like mine.
Her name is Nessa, one
of the owners; and the store is
named after her late mother Juli-
ana who passed away in 1979.
The store was opened in June
2005 on her mothers birth date.
Another husband and wife team,
Nessa ran the store full time and
her very supportive husband
Steve Hall on a part time basis.
I cant help but comment
on creative shelves throughout
the store where the merchan-
dise were neatly arranged with
cute price tags. She proudly said
those were customized by her
husband through the years.
Ness came to the US in 2000
from Abu Dhabi, lugging her
natural entrepreneurial talent.
Even in her old days, she can
come up with anything that
sells to her friends and families
and earned suki everywhere
including AVON, Video, phone
cards etc.
She even started Paluwa-
gans so she can raise capital
for whatever items she would
like to sell and whats hot in the
market during those times. In
Abu Dhabi, she owned a Tailor
Shop and a Restaurant featuring
Filipino cuisine of course.
The store is huge and set
up like warehouse style which
is very trendy nowadays. Tons
of Filipino products and items
seems like if you cannot nd it
in any other Filipino stores, we
have it feeling. Just to give you
an idea: you can nd authentic
San Miguel Beer and Red horse
from the Philippines here!!
Thats a treat right there.
They have a huge inven-
tory I should say. Nessa said
her prices are very competi-
tive and think of Divisoria
as she proudly enthused.
Aside from the typical Fili-
pino products and services like
remittance, video rentals, phone
cards etc; she has a small corner
ofce in the store which she use
on her travel agency business.
She is an accredited Travel Agent
and its called Julianas World
Travel and Tours, LLC. Thats
what you call One Stop Shop.
This year, she started online
ordering and her future plans
include full blast with her Travel
business and start a carry-out
something like a budget meal for
busy people and enjoy the taste
of Manila right here in the DC
area. You can go online at www.
shop.thejulianas.com or call 703-
335-8277/9377 for more info.
Jocelyn tours around the
Northern VA area to feature
Filipino establishments that
offer products and services to
our Kababayans so you know
where to go and enjoy a part of
our country whether its food,
products or just hang around.
You may contact her at ojporte-
ria@yahoo.com or her cell at 571-
432-8335.
Julianas store proprietor Nessa Hall shows off wares.
ObamaCare boon for
Pinoy nurses?
MANILA. Thanks to
Obamacare nursing gradu-
ates in the Philippines could
get jobs just as good as work-
ing abroad without leaving the
country, one business outsourc-
ing executive predicted.
Healthcare Information
Management Outsourcing
Association of the Philippines
chairman Jeff Williams said the
high demand for medical grad-
uates in the healthcare informa-
tion management (HIM) indus-
try can be attributed to Presi-
dent Obamas Patient Protec-
tion and Affordable Care Act,
which requires a wider cover-
age and quality health services.
With about 200,000 unem-
ployed nursing graduates,
Williams said, the Philippines
should take advantage of the
thriving industry.
He said positions available
in the healthcare outsourcing
industry include medical tran-
scriptionist and medical coders.
Without citing any gures,
Williams said these jobs are
well paid.
At present, there are about
45,000 full-time employees
in the countrys HIM sector,
which generated about $460
million in revenues in 2012.
With the imminent imple-
mentation of Obamacare the
demand is only expected to
grow. Williams said US com-
panies prefer to work with Fili-
pinos because they are highly
educated, medical-oriented yet
under-utilized.
He also said the Philip-
pines young population is
also a plus factor compared to
US with an aging workforce in
the medical eld. The average
age of registered nurses in the
US is 47 years old and about a
quarter of them are 54 years or
older.
Williams added that in the
10 years hes been working in
the Philippines HIM industry
he has not received any nega-
tive feedback from clients.
September 15, 2013 14 14
The ofcers of the Philippine Nurses Associations of Metropolitan DC., Inc, held their meeting at the Mrs. Philip-
pines Homes, in Ft. Washington, last September 7. President Leonora Mendoza, discussed with the other ofcers
their many projects left in 2013, the Medical Mission to the Philippines, and their hosting of the National PNA Con-
vention in 2016. The PNA also, provides the rst aide service at the annual Asian Festival, this year to be held in Ft.
Washington, Maryland September 18 to 29. Other ofcers includes Lorna Imperial Seidel, Vivian Sola, Emelie Dear-
ing, Prima Colburn, Achilles Amados, Carol Robles, Mila Cariaga, Febes Galvez, Teresita Delima, Elsa Aquino,
Alicia Calayag De Leon, Trinidad Padama, Rozalinda de la Pena, Lourdes Careaga, Zany Amado, Myrna Joy Arel-
lano, Alice Andam, Diana Comiso, Emma De La Rosa, Marissa Usman, Resureccion Jao, and Teresita Simoy. (Photo
by Bing Branigin)
The US-Philippine Society, and the Philippine Embassy held a dialogue with
the Filipino Young Professionals at the Romulo Hall, Philippine Embassy,
last September 5. L to R: Patrick Realaga, Bryan Lozanao, Emil Trinidad,
and Ben De Guzman. (Photo by Bing Branigin)
Friends of Elsie and Totoy Castrence of Fort Washington, Maryland gathered for a despedida at the couples resi-
dence recently to bid farewell. The Castrences, long-time community leaders, are moving to Manila later this month.
Among those who came to wish them well were Prof. Serge Floro of American University and her husband, Peter
Gribbin and Ning Sola, Art and Daisy Victoria, Munam Villorante Goodwin, Yvonne Reyes, Julio and Dading Maca-
ranas, Dolly Pascual, Pepot Simbulan and Rommel Simon, Telly and Paul Encarnacion, Josie and Lisa Simbulan and
Jon and Elvie Melegrito. (Photo by Marcia Castrence)
Another school room is completed by Feed the Hungry Fil-Am Inc. from
donations made by the World Bank Group Filipino Association and donors
in the Metro DC area. This school room was built at the Alauli Elementary
School in Pilar, Bataan. Feed the Hungry has built more than 100 school
rooms across in the Philippines. (Photo courtesy of Pablito Alarcon)
September 15, 2013 15
If you would like to include
your organizations forthcoming
event, please send the information
to Maurese Owens at mpapoose@
aol.com.
Sept 21 (Saturday) 9:30-
1:30 NaFFAA, AACEES, Mabu-
hay, PAFC, PNA, Depression
Beyond the Blues: Mental Health
Challenges in the FilAm Com-
munity. Residence on Green-
belt, 9885 Greenbelt Rd, Lanham,
MD 20706. 301-486-1590. With
speakers Mila Tecala, Director
for Center for Loss and Grief;
Dr. Marilou Tablang-Jimenez,
MD; Medical Director, Mont-
gomery County Crisis Center;
Msg Mariano Balbago, Spiritual
Advisor; and Karen W. Burks,
Prince Georges County Dept.
of Family Services and Mental
Health Disabilities Division .
Free. Contact: Jon Melegrito
at jdmelegrito@gmail.com or
202.361.0296
Sept 21 (Saturday) 6:00pm-
1:00am Medical Mission of
Mercy USA Superheroes Night
Masquerade Ball to benefit 2014
Medical Mission to Sorsogon,
Bicol. Fairview Park Marriott in
Falls Church, VA. $80. Contact:
Yoly Arzadon 703.750.3768.
Sept 28 (Saturday) 8:00am-
5:00pm PNAMDC 4th Educa-
tional Conference Light the
Fire Within - Empowerment
and Leadership Registration
Fee: PNAMDC Member-$79,
Non-Member-$89, Students-$59
Springhill Suites - 6065 Rich-
mond Highway, Alexandria,
VA 223032Contact: Lorna Seidel
PhD, RN delegatingnurse@
gmail.com or tel. No. (202)710-
0759
Sept 28-29 (Saturday &
Sunday) 10:00am-8:00pm Asian
Festival. Rosecroft Raceway,
6336 Rosecroft Dr, Ft. Washing-
ton, MD 20744. Sponsored by
Singha Beer and Thai Tennis
Organization of America. Fea-
tured village is the Philippines
and is sponsored by PAFC. For
participation as a vendor or per-
former, contact: Eileen Nadal,
eileen_nadal@yahoo.com
Oct 5 (Saturday) 6:30 pm-1
am. Ateneo Alumni Association
of Metro Washington DC Blue
and White - Gala Night Crystal
Gateway Marriott Ballroom, 1700
Jefferson Davis HighwayAr-
lington, VA 22202. Contact: Jojo
Mendoza at jo2mendoza76@
yahoo.com or Butch Arroyo at
butcharroyo@yahoo.com.
October 17-20 College of
the Holy Spirit North American
Foundation (CHSNAF) Cen-
tennial Conference and Grand
Reunion, Ballys Hotel in Las
Vegas. Contact: Dulce Guevara
at dulce_guevara_2000@yahoo.
com.
Oct 18 (Friday) 6:00pm-
11:30pm Philippine American
Chamber of Commerce 20th
Anniversary Dinner Dance.
Tysons Corner Marriott, 8028
Leesburg Pike, Tysons Corner,
VA 22182. $60. Contact: John
Cabrera 240-401-9138 orjohn@
cfalliance.com
Oct 18-20 (Friday-Sunday)
UP Sigma Delta Phi Sorority
Alumnae Association (Metro
WDC Chapter) Unity sa DC
Reunion. Chevy Chase Marri-
ott Courtyard Contact: Loulou
Rosales at loulou.rosales@gmail.
com
Oct 19 (Saturday) 6pm-
12mn Bicol Association of Met-
ropolitan Washington DC30th
Sarung Banggi Gala Fundrais-
ing. Bethesda Ballroom, 5521
Landy Lane, Bethesda, Mary-
land 20816. Attire Formal. For all
the charitable causes including
scholarships and the Surgical
Mission.$65 pre-paid; $70 at the
door.
Nov 9 (Saturday) 6:00-
12:00pm Feed the Hungry, Inc.
Handog 2013 at Hilton Alexan-
dria Mark Center, Alexandria,
VA. Contact: (703) 978-2709;
email: LOT197@aol.com
Nov 9 (Saturday) 6pm-
12:00m APODCAA 7th Annual
Dinner Dance, Fort Myer Com-
munity Center, Arlington, VA.
$40. Contact: Romy Valle 240-
751-3356 or rgvalle1952@yahoo.
com
Nov 11 (Monday) 6:30 pm
Philippine Arts Letters and
Media Council (PALM ) with
Philippine American Founda-
tion for Charities (PAFC) Book
Launch of Emelina Galangs
Angel de Luna and the Fifth Glo-
rious Mystery. Young adult fic-
tion. Philippine Embassy. Con-
tact: Mitzi Pickard at mitzip888@
yahoo.com
Nov 16 (Saturday) 2pm
5pm PAFC Dr. Jose Rizal Youth
Awards, Romulo Hall, Philip-
pine Embassy,Washington, DC.
Contact: Aylene Mafnas 703 868
5660.
Nov 17 (Sunday) PAFC
DAKILA Awards Brunch. Mar-
riott Keybridge on Novem-
ber 17, Sunday. Details to be
announced.
Nov 23 (Saturday) 6:00pm-
11:00pm PNAMWDC Medical
Mission Dinner Dance Fund-
raising. St. Columba Parish Hall
- 7804 Livingston Rd. Oxon Hill,
MD 20745. $30. Contact: Alice
Andam - (703)216-0671 or pre-
sandam@aol.com
Nov. 23 (Saturday) 5:30
USTAAA 4th Anniversary Gala
& Thanksgiving Masquerade
Ball. Fairfview Marriott, VA.
Prepaid $65, at door $70. Free
parking. Contact: Amy Quinto at
amysdesign@hotmail.com
September 15, 2013 16 16
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September 15, 2013 17
Filipino pride and camaraderie among Americans and Canadians of Filipino descent manifested at the 9th Annual
Intercity Basketball Tournament of the Filipino Basketball Association of North America (FBA-NA).
Text and photos by Angelyn Tugado-Marzan
Hosted by the Filipino-American Basketball Association of Metropolitan DC (FABA of Metro DC), said tournament held August 31-September 1, 2013 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in
Washington, D.C. and at the New 24 basketball and ftness facilities in District Heights, Maryland was participated in by 112 teams from the United States, including those from metro Wash-
ington, D.C. (including Virginia and Maryland), Austin, Houston, and San Antonio in Texas; Chicago and Glendale Heights in Illinois; New J ersey and New York City as well as from Toronto,
Durham, Mississauga, Vaughan, Windsor and Winnipeg in Canada.
Grand Marriott ballrooms that had witnessed formal events of the Filipino American community were converted into 5 basketball courts where young basketball players belonging to the
Tykes (11 years old & younger), Peewee (ages 12-13), Bantam Boys and Girls (ages 14-15), and Midget Boys and Girls (ages 16-17) divisions played. Those belonging to the J uvenile (20
years & younger), Mens 511 & under, Mens Open and Womens Open (no age limit), Senior (32 years and older) and Masters (42 years and older) divisions played at the New 24 facilities.
The Washington, DC team won the championship trophy in the Masters Division. It was hard work!exclaimed visibly tired but jubilant Ferdinand Lim to Manila Mail. We had to beat 7 other
teams before we won!On the other hand, statuesque 14-year-old competitive swimmer Chanel Cogan of Centreville, Virginia won the Best Museaward during the opening ceremony of the
two-day tournament. Her win not only delighted the Washington, DC team she represented but also her beaming parents Scott and J ohnna Cogan and equally beautiful younger sister Isabelle
Cogan.
FABA of Metro DC, Inc. President and FBA- NA Secretary General Ken
Gonzales Mendoza (front, 2nd from right) joins the jubilant Washington,
DC team after being declared 2013 FBA-NA Masters Division champion.
In photo (front, l-r) Dennis Tabliga, B. Asinero, and Maritet Villacorte;
(standing, l-r) FABA Special Adviser Rudy Sinon, Mike Pagdanganan, Joey
Bretana, Coach Rolly Santos, Team Manager Dr. Mel Madarang, Eduardo
Padilla, Rafael Consing, Jr., Gerry Llames, Kaju Bhullar, Duane Vazquez,
Jeff dela Concepcion, Ferdinand Lim, Vince Policarpio, Edwin Villacorte,
Bert Maraan.
Washington, DCs Tykes Division player Jomar Roque (in glasses) dives to grab
the runaway ball as a Toronto Tykes Division player tries to stop him.
FABA ofcers Ely Sy (standing, 2nd to right) and Agnes Espeleta (seated,
center) join others in cheering with much gusto the Washington, DC team.
Legendary Philippine actress and MOWELFUND President Boots Anson Roa
(seated, left) and her family, including daughter tournament emcee Lea Roa
Cuevas (seated right), and tv personality Chiqui Roa Puno (3rd from right)
lend moral support to the players via a video message while Chiquis husband,
Philippine Deputy House Speaker Congressman Roberto Robbie V. Puno
(standing, 2nd from right) joins Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III,
FBA-NA Commissioner Ben R. Libao, FABA President Ken Gonzales Mendoza,
and Maryland Delegate Kriselda Valderrama in sending their congratulatory
notes via the tournaments souvenir program. With Boots are (seated, 2nd from
left) Cecille Javier (sister of Filipino composer/tv actor Danny Javier of the
Apo Hiking Society), Sabrina, Becky Pagsibigan; (standing, l-r) Russell & Ryan
Cuevas, Niko Puno, Rachel Cuevas, Randy Puno, and Pat Pagsibigan.
Maryland Delegate Kris Valderrama (left) and Bing C. Branigin, pose with
2013 FBA-NA Best Muse awardee Chanel Cogan of the Washington,DC
team and spectator Verush Benitez (right). Valderrama and Branigin, along
with PAFC President Aylene Mafnas, Atty Nedo VAlera, and Grace Valera,
were judges in the tournaments Best Muse and Best Uniform contest during
the tournament.
Cheerful FABA volunteers (front, l-r) Eileen Moreno, Ruth King, Art Cal-
iguiran, Tonette Aldaza; (2nd row, l-r) Kaye Asinero, Paul King, and Bruce
Malcolm.
Comforting an injured player are the tournaments medical director and
nurse Ruth King (center) as well as FABAs (l-r) Ely Sy, Agnes Espeleta and
and Michelle Sunga.
Providing moral support to Washington, DC team Peewee Division players
(l-r) Grean Ramos, Andrew Singson, & Kenny Catubig prior to their game are
(front, l-r) FABAs PRO Agnes Espeleta and tournament volunteer director Art
Caliguiran, Sr. as well as volunteers (back, l-r) Jessica & Angeli Genoves, Avic
De Mesa, Celest Asinero & Rita Dadivas.
FABAs Maddie Pagdanganan (2nd from right) & Celest Asinero, prior to
the closing ceremonies, help serve dinner catered by North Star Cafe and
Grill to more than a thousand tournament players, volunteers, & specta-
tors, including Anjelica Misyel T. Marzan (left) and Migrant Heritage
Commission (MHC) singers and dancers.
Little Miss Migrant Heritage Josette Francia (in red) with her sister
Jasmine, Miss Teenage Philippines America Chastity Centina (behind
Francia), and Miss Teen Philippines Maria Clara Alyssa Avelino enlivened
tournament participants & their friends and families with song and dance
numbers choreographed by former Philippine Embassy Cultural Ofcer
Grace Valera (3rd from right) beside Winnepeg players who won in the
Bantam Girls Division.
Vienna, Virginia-based Filipino brothers Aaron and Beau Canlas (right) of
SNRG rendered a hip-hop number during the tournaments opening and
closing ceremonies. The Canlas brothers, who recently performed for DC Mayor
Vincent C. Gray and other dignitaries at the historic Lincoln Theatre in down-
town DC, will be performing Oct. 25, 2013 at Jammin Java in Vienna, Virginia.
They gave out free t-shirts printed with their own original designs and proudly
made in the Philippines.
Kirby Asunto who sang during the tournaments opening ceremonies is
anked by (l-r) Isabelle Cogan, Ruth King, Gigi Magno, and Maria Guanio.
FABA ofcer George Sy (between daughter Chloe Sy (left) and Briana
Asinero of the Washington, DC teams Girls 14U Division) invites all
interested basketball players to join FABA and future FBA-NA tournaments
while experiencing Filipino pride and camaraderie amongst other Filipinos
who simply love the game of baskteball.
September 15, 2013 18 18
Forum marks Labor Rights Week in PH Embassy
WASHINGTON, D.C. The
Philippine Embassy commemo-
rated Labor Rights Week with a
day-long forum at Romulo Hall
attended by students, labor of-
cials and observers from the
embassies of Indonesia, Singa-
pore and Thailand.
The forum hewed along this
years Labor Rights Week theme
New Century Workers, Your
Education and Work Matter
was held Aug. 16.
It was organized by the
Philippine Overseas Labor
Ofce and the Consular Section
of the Embassy and was held in
cooperation with the Wage and
Hours Division (WHD) and the
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) of the
US Department of Labor; the
National Labor Relations Board
(NLRB); the Equal Employ-
ment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC); and the Migrant Heri-
tage Commission (MHC). In his remarks, Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr. commended the
four agencies for being instru-
mental in providing an enabling
climate for a safe, fair, balanced
and discrimination-free work-
place and vowed to further
strengthening the Embassys
partnership with them.
At this crucial time when
various economic challenges are
facing the United States, we can
expect the youth sector to bear
the brunt of these challenges, as
they undeniably impact on their
employment prospects, work
circumstances, income and even
education, Cuisia said.
It is our advocacy to ensure
that you, our young workers, are
able to work in an environment
that gives you both satisfaction
and security, while cultivating
a positive work ethic in you, he
stressed.
Jennifer Kole, Acting Inter-
national Coordinator, OSHA;
Mindy Weinstein, Acting Direc-
tor, Washington Field Ofce,
EEOC; David Kelly, Deputy
Assistant General Counsel,
NLRB; and Mark Lara, District
Director, Baltimore District
Ofce, WHD served as resource
persons.
Labor Attach Luzviminda
Padilla said their efforts to join
hands with the US government
in celebrating Labor Rights Week
was an offshoot of the joint dec-
laration and agreements with the
Department of Labor for mobi-
lizing the WHD and OSHA to
provide collaborative activities
on information sharing, outreach
and training for Filipinos about
their rights to proper compensa-
tion and a safe working environ-
ment.
Consul Arlene Magno said
the agreements also paved the
way for the Embassy to sign local
alliances with the regional ofces
of the WHD and OSHA in the
various states for jurisdictional
coverage.
The Embassy has so far
entered into local alliances with
the Florida ofces of OSHA and
WHD.
Philippine Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr. addresses a well-attended forum on labor rights at the Philippines that
featured speakers from various US agencies.
Lunch at Jollibee
Visit Gen. Douglas MacArthur Memorial Museum

Snack at Red Ribbon
Halo-Halo/cake/mammon
Dinner at FeLynn Filipino Restaurant

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OPTION: Visit battleship USS Wisconsin
September 15, 2013 19
Talking about depression in Lanham, MD
WASHINGTON, D.C. Karen
W. Burks, a mental health of-
cial of Prince Georges County,
Maryland, Department of Family
Services and Mental Health Dis-
abilities Division, is one of the
important speakers at a forum
on depression and mental health
problems to be held in Lanham,
Maryland on Sept. 21, 2013.
Her topic, Mental Health
Services: Navigating the Health
Care System, will touch on
mental health services under
the Medicaid and Medicare pro-
grams -- as an effort to reach out
to a varied audience in the Fili-
pino American community.
As a representative of the
Core Service Agency in Prince
Georges County, I can certainly
speak to the services avail-
able through the Public Mental
Health System, and how to
access those services, she wrote
in her acceptance letter to the
forum organizers.
Information on how to
access these services in the
mental health care system would
be a practical help especially to
those in need of it in the Fil-Am
community, according to the
organizers.
Accessing mental services
has become even more chal-
lenging, and possibly more
complicated, at a time when the
mental health services have been
expanded through Medicaid in
the Affordable Care Act health
law to cover an aging population
and a surging youth population.
Burks work is closely linked
with the expanded mental health
services in Prince Georges
County, which includes the On
Our Own resource and support
center for the mentally ill as well
as mental health promotional
activities to involve community
residents.
Which is exactly the pur-
pose of the forum titled Depres-
sion: Beyond the Blues: Mental
Health Issues and Challenges in
the FilAm Community.
Concerned about tragic inci-
dents in the FilAm community,
representatives of community
organizations got together this
summer to plan a forum in an
effort to help break the climate
of silence over the stigma that
prevents appropriate help for
mental health problems.
Tragic incidences of suicide
by two teenagers and a contract
teacher from the Philippines, an
aberrant behavior of a grand-
mother who threw her little
grand-daughter to her death in a
mall, and the latest one of a knife-
brandishing Costco employee
who was shot to death by a
policeman in an effort to subdue
her; and who, according to rela-
tives was depressed for having
recently lost custody of her two
children in divorce are the only
ones openly known in the com-
munity about cases of possible
depression or mental-health
related problems that probably
could have been prevented if
given appropriate help..
Mila Tecala, Director,
Center of Loss and Grief,
explained, Filipinos have dif-
culty adjusting when they are
depressed, or pushed over the
edge. We have a great capac-
ity to suppress, ignore or deny
the problem, thinking it will go
away. We dont want to hear the
truth.
The complete list of topics
and their speakers is as follows:
Depression: What is it and
what can we do about it? Mila
Tecala, MSW, ACSW, LICSW,
DCSW Director, Center for Loss
and Grief; Mental Illness: Diag-
nosis & Treatment: Dr. Marilou
Tablang- Jimenez, MD Medical
Director, Montgomery County
Crisis Center Filipinos & Mental
Health: Spiritual Perspectives
and Cultural Challenges: Msgr.
Mariano Balbago, Jr. Spiritual
Advisor, Shrine Rector & Parish
Priest Mental Health Services:
Navigating the Health Care
System: Karen W. Burks, Prince
Georges County Dept. of Family
Services and Mental Health Dis-
abilities Division.
The forum will be held Sat-
urday, Sept. 21, from 9:30 to
1:30 p.m. at The Residence on
Greenbelt, 9885 Greenbelt Road,
Lanham, Maryland, 20706, Tel:
(301) 486-1580.
It is free and open to the
public. It will start with the
panel presentations, followed
by break-out sessions in small
groups to elicit reactions and
suggestions from the audience.
Lunch will be served.
The closing session will
focus on suggestions gleaned
from the discussions on what
the community can do next for
an awareness-raising, self-help
activity. Interested parties are
encouraged to register.
The event is a joint project
of the National Federation of
Filipino American Associations
(NaFFAA) Capital Region 2,
Mabuhay, Inc.; Philippine Amer-
ican Foundation for Charities
(PAFC), Inc.; Philippine Nurses
Association of Metropolitan
Washington DC (PNAMWDC),
and Association of American
Counselors for Ethnic Elderly
Services (AACEES).
For more informa-
tion/RSVP contact: Jon
Melegrito: jdmelegrito@gmail.
com, 202-361-0296; Mencie
Hai rst on: menci e. hai rst on@
gmail.com, 240-355-4930; Ellen
Carag: ellen.carag@gmail.
com, 703-339-7744; Leonora
Mendoza:norrad79@verizon.
net, 703-765-8474; Maurese
Owens: mpapoose@aol.com,
703-606-7686; Rita Gerona-
Adkins:rgeronaadkins@yahoo.
com, 703-522-2195.
September 15, 2013 20 20
PH, US forces stage war games in Luzon
LEGASPI CITY. As over
2,000 Filipino and American
troops stage mock amphibi-
ous assaults in various parts of
Luzon, some will be repairing or
building schools here later this
month as part of a civic action
engagement by the US and Phil-
ippine military.
The treaty allies are hold-
ing the three-week Philippines-
United States Amphibious
Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) in
at least ve military camps in
Luzon the Naval Education
and Training Command in San
Antonio, Zambales; Crow Valley
in Capas, Tarlac; Marine Base
Gregorio Lim in Ternate, Cavite;
Marine Barracks Rudiardo
Brown in Metro Manila; and at
Basa Airbase and Clark Field in
Pampanga.
The war games com-
mences on Sept. 18.
US forces are comprised of
the 13th Marine Expeditionary
Unit and 3rd Marine Expedition-
ary Brigade.
PHIBLEX is designed
to improve interoperability,
increase readiness, and enhance
the ability to respond to natural
disasters or other regional con-
tingencies.
The parallel civic activities
will be jointly undertaken by the
US Marines Corps and the Phil-
ippines Naval Forces Southern
Luzon.
Airstrike probed
SAGADA, Mt. Province.
Human rights groups are inves-
tigating an Aug. 29 airstrike
here that reportedly hit innocent
civilians and destroyed farmers
crops.
Government gunships
struck a suspected New Peoples
Army (NPA) camp to support
advancing members of the Phil-
ippine National Police (PNP)
who eventually captured the
alleged insurgent camp after suf-
fering at least two dead.
Kalipunan ng mga Katutu-
bong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas
(KAMP) chair Piya Macliing
Malayao said the aerial bomb-
ings scared local residents and
destroyed crops.
The ghting affected the
towns of Sagada, Besao and
Bontoc. Those affected were
from the Fidelisan, Dallic and
Bontoc tribes whose main liveli-
hood are farming and hunting.
But military spokesman Lt.
Col. Ramon Zagala stressed that
no civilians were hurt in the air-
strike that reportedly lasted 7
hours. He added the helicopters
were only responding to a call
for air support from the PNP.
Zagala said the NPAs
shouldnt be in Sagada because it
was a peace zone.
New skills for inmates
CEBU CITY. Sen. Alan Peter
Cayetano, who addressed the
International Contact Center
Conference and Expo here ear-
lier this month, revealed the
some Cebu City Jail inmates
recently graduated from a call
center training course.
Now he doesnt think there
will be a contact center operat-
ing inside a jail facility anytime
soon but hopes inmates who
have received training could
gain employment once they are
released from jail.
He met the 44 inmates who
became the rst batch to com-
plete the program in Cebu.
Aside from Cebu, the same
program is also being offered at
the Metro Manila Integrated Jail
and Taguig City Jail.
There are 200 inmates cur-
rently training in a nishing
course for call center agents, cre-
ative web design, web develop-
ment and computer hardware
servicing.
Cayetano said some jails in
the US and Canada have pro-
grams for inmates working as
contact center agents.
He said talent supply is one
of the main concerns the indus-
try.
Contact Center Associa-
tion of the Philippines president
Benedict Hernandez urged mem-
bers to take an active role in the
organization and help bring the
industry to even better heights.
He asked them to pledge
their time, effort and resources
to give back to an industry that
has enabled them to have high-
earning careers in the country.
Taguig twits Makati
TAGUIG. Road side baners
here are drawing a lot of atten-
tion, especially from ofcials in
neighboring Makati.
The broadside is widely
believed to be a spillover of the
two towns ongoing ght for
ownership of parts of Fort Boni-
facio, the former army head-
quarters that is now one of the
priciest pieces of real estate in the
Philippines.
Without mentioning Makati
directly, I Love Taguig ban-
ners reportedly put up by the
local government state that the
city has lower taxes, no number
coding (for vehicles), better
public service, and bans corrup-
tion.
Bawal ang corrupt, the
banners say.
A July 30 ruling penned by
Court of Appeals Associate Jus-
tice Marlene Gonzales-Sison,
upheld several presidential ats
declaring Fort Bonifacio as part
of Makati.
Makati Mayor Jejomar
Erwin Binay said he feared the
friction could lead to violence.
In a statement, his ofce alleged
that armed men wearing I Love
Taguig shirts on board a marked
Taguig government vehicle were
seen removing Makati banners
along Kalayaan St.
I cannot help but express
my dismay and frustration over
the actions of these Taguig per-
sonnel. You do not win an argu-
ment with intimidation and
Gestapo tactics, Binay rued.
They are sowing panic in
our barangays. They have no
right to be in Makati. This will
not be tolerated, he complained.
St. Augustine feast
CAYAGAN DE ORO. Arch-
bishop Antonio Ledesma led the
river procession of the image of
St. Augustine that was one of the
highlights of celebrations mark-
ing the 80th anniversary of the
Catholic diocese here.
Cagayan de Oro Mayor
Oscar Moreno welcomed the
prelates barge at Duaw Park
where the river procession
ended.
Duaw Park is the newly ren-
ovated area adjacent to the tennis
court and the Cathedral church
which is located below the Ysa-
lina Bridge.
The procession started at the
rivers mouth in Barangay Maca-
balan where 41 boats decorated
with owers and indigenous
materials assembled. Everyone
aboard the boats also recited the
novena.
Each boat, represented by
different sectors, carried various
religious images.
Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales
and 19 other bishops led the
High Mass at the St. Augustine
Metropolitan Cathedral Church.
Monsignor Elmer Abacahin
of the St. Augustine Cathedral
said Kagay-anons have a lot of
things to be thankful for this
year.
The festivities were capped
by a reworks display by the
banks of the Cagayan de Oro
River.
Outstanding sons
& daughters
BAGUIO CITY. Nine Baguio
citizens, including three in the
military service were feted here
to mark the citys 104th charter
day celebration at the Baguio
Convention Center.
The awardees were
announced by Mayor Mauricio
Domogan; they were:
Oscar Cadelina, founding
president of the Baguio-Benguet
Public Information and Civic
Action Group (BB-PICAG), Inc.
which for 38 years has worked
with and for residents of Baguio
during times of calamities and
accidents.
Pines City National High
School principal Dr. Rachel Bug-
tong will also receive the out-
standing citizen award for com-
munity service and education.
Henedino Luzano, better
known as Jimmy Luzano, or
Lolo Doro on the airwaves is
an awardee for the eld of jour-
nalism. Working as a broad-
caster, reporter, scriptwriter,
announcer, commentator, pro-
gram director and drama talent;
he became the station manager
of DzWX and later the area
manager for Northern Luzon of
Bombo Radyo Philippines. He is
now retired.
Baguio Country Club gen-
eral manager Anthony de Leon
was cited for his contributions to
promoting sports tourism in the
city.
Eye doctor Marcelino Dizon,
Jr. reaches out through mission
work and vision programs; in
schools, at the city jail and the
community as a whole. He also
does research on Amblyopia,
Istrabimus, Dilopia, Low Vision
and vision-related problems.
Fred Fangonon who pio-
neered eco-composting and
demonstrated this in Loakan
Proper received the award for
community service. Starting
young, Fangonon planted trees
in his place of birth and now pro-
duces organic fertilizers to grow
fruits and luscious vegetables in
his rooftop garden, and teaches
others to follow suit.
The awardees were chosen
by the Society of Outstanding
Citizens of Baguio (Socob).
Three soldiers join the list
of awardees; Colonel Romeo
Brawner, Jr, Major Daneck Dang-
awan, and Police Superintendent
Edgar Alan Okubo. Baguio-born
Col. Brawner, Jr., is a 1989 grad-
uate of the Philippine Military
Academy, and has served the
country for 24 years.
Major Daneck Dang-awan is
also a Baguio-born soldier work-
ing in the chaplain service where
he pioneered the prayer walk,
vesper divine services through
music and neighborhood host
bible studies.
A graduate of the Philip-
pine National Police Academy
(PNPA), P/Supt. Edgar Alan
Okubo has served the govern-
ment for 22 years. His experience
includes the pursuit of danger-
ous lawless elements and even-
tual capture and prosecution.
Habal-habal cops
DAVAO CITY. Police of-
cials here announced they will
soon deploy undercover traf-
c enforcers aboard the popu-
lar habal-habal, a modied
motorcycle that can accommo-
date more back-riders.
They will be used to gather
intelligence but their cop-drivers
will also be allowed to charge
fare from passengers. When they
have no passengers, they can act
as rst responders to emergen-
cies according to Police Senior
Inspector Bryan Deiparine, com-
mander of the Talomo Police Sta-
tion.
Despite being outlawed
habal-habal is a preferred
mode of transportation.
Deiparine said there is an
arrangement with other agen-
cies so that they can operate their
disguises as these motor-riding
cops also take in paying passen-
gers.
It will be part of the Police
Integrated Patrol System
(PIPS) intrdocued last year and
which is credited with reducing
crime by 85% in Talomo district.
Deiparine said they have
Hometown News
US troops in Philippines for war games.
Controversial Taguig poster.
Habal-habal
Continued on page 23
September 15, 2013 21
September 15, 2013 22 22
for what it foresees as sharp
volatility in the global nancial
market if the starts tapering what
is essentially the biggest remain-
ing vestige of President Obamas
stimulus program.
For Filipino-Americans that
volatility is most evident in the
exchange rate which has hov-
ered in the PHP44 to USD1 range
the lowest its been since 2012.
Brazil, Russia, India, China
and South Africa are setting up
a $100 billion fund to steady cur-
rency markets.
The unemployment rate
fell by 0.1 percent to 7.3 percent
but this was more the result
of 312,000 Americans leaving
the work force by stopping to
work or stopping to look for jobs
than a real rise in employment.
The Labor Department
report has been highly antici-
pated by investors because
decent growth could persuade
the Federal Reserve to begin dial-
ing back its bond-buying stimu-
lus at its Sept.17-18 meeting.
The Fed currently buys
about $85 billion bonds a month.
The Labor Department also
revised its estimate for job gains
in June to 172,000 from 188,000
and in July, from 162,000 to
104,000.
Businesses added 152,000
jobs in August, while federal,
state and local governments
added 17,000. The retail and
health care industries led the job
gains.
The Philippine Central Bank
said the economy was strong
enough to absorb the nancial
buffeting. This is something
driven more by market senti-
ment rather than the fundamen-
tals of the macro-economy of the
emerging markets, explained
BSP deputy governor Diwa
Gunigundo.
Jobs gain fuel Fed talks... from page 1
10 nautical miles northwest
of the shoals entrance. Two
vertical posts were also found
just north of the entrance, near
where three Chinese Coast
Guard vessels were anchored.
China has forbidden
Philippine ships from sailing near
Panatag Shoal. The Philippines
has steered clear as the military
adopted a no-confrontation
policy while it is trying to build
a minimum credible defense.
There are fears China
might replicate what its
done at Mischief Reef where
structures built as shelter for
Chinese shermen while the
Philippines wasnt watching in
1994 has morphed to fortied
structures that serve a military
purpose, according to Carl
Thayer, a regional maritime
specialist at the Australian
Defense Force Academy.
This latest development at
Panatag Shoal comes one the
even of the 6
th
China-ASEAN
Senior Ofcials Meeting and the
9
th
Joint Working Group Meeting
on Implementation of the 2002
Declaration on the Conduct of
Parties in the South China Sea
(DOC) in China on Sept. 14-15.
Thayer says the timing
is deliberate. Should Manila
protest too loudly, China
could call off talks and blame
Manila for violating the
spirit of the DOC, he said.
Or the Philippines may
be intimidated from raising
its protest too loudly for fear
of offending fellow ASEAN
[Association of Southeast Asian
Nations] members who have
invested in the forthcoming round
of meetings, Thayer explained.
While Philippine ofcials
are convinced the concrete blocks
are precursors for permanent
structures, some experts say that
is not a foregone conclusion yet.
This is not the typical
pattern of Chinese construction,
explained Ian Storey, a maritime
specialist at Singapores Institute
of Southeast Asian Studies. He
said they usually start with
wooden structures on stilts; then
octagonal wooden structures,
and then a concrete fortication.
He said its possible
the blocks were dropped by
Chinese shermen to tether
their boats, especially now
that the monsoon season has
started in the South China Sea.
We have been here
before, Storey said. In 2011,
the Philippines claimed that
Chinese ships had unloaded
construction materials at Amy
Douglas Reef, but never
provided photographic
or material evidence to
support that allegation.
close cousins. The discovery is
described in last months issue of
The Condor, a scientic jour-
nal of the Cooper Ornithological
Society.
Theyre unique and they
have no close relatives, Hosner
stressed.
They tend to inhabit dense
forest understory, where they
feed on insects. Their song is
extremely high in pitch and ven-
triloquial. Its almost impossible
to locate the source of the sound
in the forest, he explained.
They always sound like
they are far away even when
they are almost at your feet,
Hosner added.
He said the ground-warbler
looks similar to two other species
of ground-warblers in the Philip-
pines so they were overlooked at
rst.
The three species of
ground-warblers now recog-
nized are essentially identical in
size, shape and juvenile plumage
coloration but they differ from
one another in adult plumage
coloration, Hosner explained.
DNA tests by KUs Molecu-
lar Phylogenetics Laboratory
proved decisive to differentiat-
ing the new ground-warbler.
When we noted the different
plumage coloration between
adult birds in the Cordillera and
the Sierra Made, we sequenced
DNA to determine if the plum-
age differences were individual
variation within a species or if
the two plumage forms were
also genetically diagnosable. We
found that Cordillera and Sierra
Madre birds were highly diver-
gent in their DNA and almost as
different as the distinctive Bicol
Ground-Warbler in Southern
Luzon, he concluded.
Working in the Philippines
is awesome, Hosner said. Usu-
ally its hot and dirty work but
we always camp near a stream
for a water source which helps.
Sometimes our visits coin-
cide with typhoons which add
some excitement. One of the
sites where we found the Sierra
Madre Ground-Warbler, Mount
Cagua, is an active volxano with
thermal vents and mud pots.
Hosners co-authors are
Nikki Boggess, Carl Oliveros and
Robert Moyle from KUs Biodi-
versity Institute and Department
of Ecology and Evolutionary
Biology; Luis Sanchez-Gonzalez
from the Biodiversity Institute
and the Universidad Nacional
Autonoma de Mexico; Philip
Alviola from the University of
the Philippines Los Banos; and
Rolly Urriza from the Philippine
National Museum.
Whats China up to in... from page 1
Ventriloquist bird discovered... from page 1
armed men.
The MNLFs Sema faction
announced they were not sup-
porting Misuari. MNLF-Sema
Faction secretary-general Abdul
Kong Sahrin said the move
was more about gaining power
rather than independence.
Climaco said over a thou-
sand people have ed their
homes since violence erupted
last night.
The MNLF men clashed with
government troops in Barangays
Mariki and Rio Hondo.
Evacuees from Arena
Blanco and Rio Hondo sought
shelter at the Tetuan Central
School, Tetuan Parish Church
and Talon-Talon National High
School.
Senior Superintendent
Wilben Mayor, Philippine
National Police Spokesperson,
said 200 civilians in Kasanyan-
gan were trapped in the gun-
ght.
The police tried to avoid
engaging the gunmen when pos-
sible to spare civilians from get-
ting in the crossre.
Climaco suspended classes
in all levels in the city. Isabela
City, Basilan Mayor Cherilyn
Santos Akbar also closed down
schools for fear the ghting
might spread there.
MNLF spokesperson
Emmanuel Fontanilla denied
they provoked the ghting,
claiming their armed followers
went to Zamboanga City to serve
as advance forces to escort
Misuari who wanted to visit the
city.
Ang plano sana is for
the chairman to peacefully go
around Mindanao to consult the
people tungkol sa declaration of
independence without resulting
to any violence, Fontanilla said.
Misuari recently declared
independence for Palawan, Zam-
boanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu,
Tawi-Tawi, and even Sabah and
Sarawak, which are controlled
by Malaysia. He called it a
peaceful revolution.
The declaration of inde-
pendence came after the MNLF
rejected the peace pact between
the Philippine government and
the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF).
The MNLF argues that the
government must not abandon
the tripartite review of its 1996
nal peace agreement just to
accommodate the Framework
Agreement for Bangsamoro
(FAB) of the MILF.
MNLF invasion raises... from page 1
September 15, 2013 23
the committee has spent in Vir-
ginia, $3.2 million of that sum
has come in direct donations to
party bet Terry McAuliffe.
Between the two candidates
themselves, McAuliffe has regu-
larly outraised Cuccinelli: at the
end of June, he had $6 million
in the bank compared with $2.7
million for Cuccinelli, according
to politico.com.
The last few public polls of
the race have shown the Demo-
crat with the upper hand, but
both sides agree that the race
remains close and competitive.
Both candidates are report-
edly concentrating on getting
core Republicans and Democrats
to turn out and vote. Voter turn-
out is usually much lower in
gubernatorial races compared to
national elections.
Pundits believe whoever is
able to motivate their voter base
more will win the election.
On the one hand, the task
is harder for McAuliffe because
fewer of the young and minority
voters who helped propel Barack
Obama to historic victories in
Virginia typically come to the
polls.
On the other hand, Cucci-
nellis bid is hampered because it
does not have the sophisticated
les of voter information that
propelled Obamas data-driven
win last year.
Va. Dems, GOPs spend... from page 1
was sent by U.S. Rep. Cathy
McMorris Rodgers (WA-5), chair
of the House Conference Com-
mittee, and coursed through
the ofce of Philippine Amb.
Jose L. Cuisa, Jr. The letter was
co-signed by U.S. Rep Ed Royce
(CA-39), chairman of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee, and
U.S. Rep. Joe Heck (NV-5).
The meet up will provide
a unique opportunity for leaders
of the Filipino American commu-
nity across the country to con-
nect with members of Congress
to discuss legislative and policy
priories, both on the domestic
and foreign policy fronts, the
letter from GOP leaders said.
We want to hear about the
issues that are important to you,
so that we can work together to
secure a more prosperous Amer-
ica.
Ed Navarra, Chairman of
the National Federation of Fili-
pino American Associations
(NaFFAA), disclosed details of
the meeting recently.
The meet up between
leaders of the Republican Party
and the Filipino American com-
munity is set for Oct. 12 in The
M Resort Spa Casino in Las
Vegas, NV to discuss legislative
and policy priorities, both on
the domestic and foreign policy
fronts.
The program, which will
last from 1:00-5:00 PM will fea-
ture remarks from congressional
leadership and members of key
committees, as well as breakout
sessions where participants can
discuss topics of interest with
their US representatives.
We are delighted that lead-
ers of the Republican Party are
reaching out to our community,
Navarra said.
We are, after all, the second
largest among Asian Ameri-
cans in this country. And our
issues, especially comprehen-
sive immigration reform, need
to be addressed seriously and
urgently by our elected ofcials
in Congress.
Similar meetings by the
GOP leadership had been held
recently with the Vietnamese
American and Korean American
communities.
As the meeting is between
the Republican leadership and
the members of the Filipino
American immigrant commu-
nity, the meeting will be apoliti-
cal and non-partisan in nature,
explains NaFFAA National Vice
Chair JT Mallonga and Director
of the Filipino American Legal
Defense and Education Fund
(FALDEF).
Be that as it may, we shall
consider any inputs coming from
Fil-Am Democratic or GOP cau-
cuses.
Mallonga adds that efforts
are currently underway to draw
the participation of national
groups like the Federation of
Filipino American Chamber of
Commerce, social service orga-
nizations and other regional and
local afliates.
We want to encourage as
many in our community to take
advantage of this rare oppor-
tunity to engage in a dialogue
with members of Congress and
express our concerns, he said.
NaFFAAs advocacy has
focused mainly on passage of the
immigration reform bill, passed
by the Senate earlier this year.
NaFFAA is also working
with congressional leaders in
both chambers to pass legisla-
tion that will help Filipino World
War II veterans claim their ben-
ets under the Filipino Veterans
Equity Compensation (FVEC)
Fund. More than 4,000 veterans
have led appeals with the Dept.
of Veterans Affairs after their
claims were rejected because of
eligibility requirements.
Rep. Joe Heck of Nevada
is among those who have intro-
duced bills in the House address-
ing veterans concerns. His bill,
led in July, would direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to accept certain documents as
proof of service in determining
the eligibility of an individual
to receive amounts from the Fili-
pino Veterans Equity Compensa-
tion Fund.
The legislation was drafted
in response to veterans having
their claims for compensation
denied on the grounds that they
did not possess the proper docu-
ments, when many have docu-
mentation of their service.
Far too many Filipino-
American veterans have passed
without being properly recog-
nized for their service to the
United States during World War
II, Rep. Heck said.
This bill clearly denes the
types of documents the Secretary
must accept as proof of service
so that our denied veterans will
be recognized. These brave men
deserve to live out their nal
years knowing that the sacri-
ces they made all those years
ago have been recognized and
H.R. 6464 will nally make their
dreams of recognition a reality,
he explained.
Presently, there are about 12
bills in the House related to Fili-
pino veterans, including one that
would fast track the immigration
visas of veterans families and
facilitate their reunication.
Once all these bills are rec-
onciled into one, we will launch
a national campaign to get this
measure passed, Navarra
added.
Filipino American leaders
are also expected to push hard
in persuading Republican House
leaders to pass the immigra-
tion bill this year. We are very
concerned that the House lead-
ership has not acted with the
same resolve as the Senate in
solving our broken immigration
system, points out Navarra.
Thats why our meeting in
Las Vegas is critical in conveying
our concern.
Mallonga also stressed the
importance of the dialogue as a
two-way conversation. I know
that part of this Republican effort
is to win our votes, which is per-
fectly understandable. But to get
our support, they must also be
attuned to our needs as a grow-
ing and inuential ethnic group
in this country.
GOP hears out Fil-Ams... from page 1
been asking for more police cars
but have not gotten them yet.
The area of coverage is
equivalent to a size of a city or
town, considering that Davao
at 244,000 hectares is one of the
countrys largest cities in terms
of land area.
Talomo has one policeman
for every 3,000 people; Deiparine
said the ideal ratio is one cop for
1,000 people.
Proudly Ilonggo
ILOILO CITY. The city has
a new brand, a slogan that pro-
claims I am Iloilo Proud to be
Ilonggo that was launched on
the occasion of the 76th Charter
Day celebration last month.
Mayor Jed Patrick Mabi-
log said Ilonggos should put in
their hearts and minds the new
brand with a sense of owner-
ship and pride. This is the pride
of every Ilonggo to claim I am
Iloilo proud to be Ilonggo, as we
put our city forward to develop-
ment, he averred.
The citys lone Congress-
man Jerry Treas urged Ilong-
gos to set aside politics and work
with pride for Iloilos continuing
progress.
The day commemorates the
signing of then Pres. Manuel L.
Quezon of Commonwealth Act
158 establishing Iloilo as a char-
ter city. The day was marked
with a Dragon Boat race and a
job air at Robinsons Place-Iloilo.
Killer road
PUERTO PRINCESA,
Palawan. The provincial gov-
ernment has nally approved
the rehabilitation of this citys
South National Highway after it
claimed more lives, including the
daughter of a former the provin-
cial administrator.
Seven people died in a col-
lision between a passenger bus
and a sports utility vehicle (SUV)
last Aug. 27. Among the fatali-
ties was the daughter of former
APEC party-list Representative
Ponciano Payuyo and current
provincial administrator Atty.
Augustine Rocamora.
The Sangguniang Panlala-
wigan presided by Vice Gover-
nor Dennis Socrates approved
Resolution No. 89-2013 penned
by board member Marivic Roxas
to instantly check and reha-
bilitate that portion of the south
national highway.
Roxas said the road section
is now considered accident-
prone area due to the number
of accidents that have been
reported there.
Palawan killer road toll.
Hometown News... from page 20
Feed the Hungry aids 1,245 Maring victims
SPRINGFIELD, Va. Con-
cerned donors and volunteers
here swung into action to help
hundreds of ood victims in the
Philippines.
The Feed the Hungry Fil-Am
Inc. provided help to typhoon
Maring victims in Cavite,
according to a report shared
with the Manila Mail by Camille
Buhain. Large parts of the coun-
try was devastated its winds and
heavy rains last Aug. 19-21.
With the nancial aid given
by Feed the Hungry Fil-Am, Inc.
and other generous donors, my
friends and I, as well as co-mem-
bers of the Rotary Club of Cavite
Sentro, were able to organize,
purchase goods and repack the
same all in a matter of two days,
Buhain wrote.
A total of 1,245 packs of
relief goods were ready for dis-
tribution on August 24, 2013,
Saturday. Each pack contained
1.52 kilos of rice, canned goods,
and biscuits for the children.
Relief goods were distrib-
uted in three sites: in Wawa,
Barangay Zapote V. It covered an
area right beside Coastal Road.
We had to stop on the shoulder
lane of Coastal Road, unload the
sacks of relief goods and traverse
steep stone pathway going down
to the area where many informal
settlers live.
Truly, it is where the poor-
est of the poor in Bacoor are
located.
Surprisingly, the distribu-
tion was very well organized.
Thanks to Barangay Captain
Norman Lacson and his staff
who were very efcient --
making sure that only those who
were not beneciaries in other
relief operations were given tick-
ets.
Second site was in Sali-
nas 3. We asked the help of a
dedicated Rotarian, Mrs. Belle
Figuerra, in the distribution of
tickets since she lived in the area.
She gave tickets to the urban
poor in 3 barangays, namely:
Salinas 3, Niog 2, and Mambog.
Since the areas she visited
were bukirin and difcult to
reach, she was kind enough to
allow us to distribute the goods
at her home.
Finally, the last distribu-
tion site was in Barangay Kain-
gin. The tickets were given out
under the strict instruction that
only one ticket per household.
This was to enable us to reach
out to more households in the
barangay.
Thank you to Feed the
Hungry Fil-Am, Inc. for the
opportunity to serve. We are
sure the 1,245 beneciary fami-
lies would also like to extend
their gratitude for your generos-
ity.
September 15, 2013 24 24
Five year rule
I
was showing homes this
weekend with a rst time
homebuyer; a new client who
saw my ad and article on this
column. We were having fun
looking in and out of potential
homes that match his search cri-
teria and I can proudly say that I
answered his questions on home
ownership with ying colors.
Then he asked me casually,
how long do you think I should
stay in my house before I sell it
and upgrade to a new one? That
blocked my brain for a little bit.
Not that I dont know the answer
but the question requires a lot of
answers.
We usually buy a house as
a starter; like one room condo if
you are single or a couple then
moves up from there if we are
one of those who rmly believe
it is better to buy than to rent and
we worked hard to keep up with
the good pay and credit score.
Then start a family, extended
family and the cycle goes on. The
usual idea is as long as you pay
xed interest rate and portion
of the principal, you are good.
Well, maybe. Here is where the
ve year rule kicks in so you will
not be losing money in the end.
If you stay in your home for
less than ve years, the rst hit is
closing costs. I always calculate
at least 3% of the sales price clos-
ing cost unless there are some
unusual costs. Lets say the new
house is now $300,000. This is
about $9,000 closing cost out of
your pocket.
The second hit is when you
look at your mortgage state-
ment: One of the Real Estate
experts pointed out: Usually, it
isnt until youre about ve years
into paying down your mortgage
that youve made enough prog-
ress on the principal to make it
a better deal than paying rent
each month. As he stated, when
you take out a mortgage, you are
paying an interest rate on what
you owe. So, in the rst year,
when the principal is highest, the
interest you need to pay is also
the highest. However, since the
monthly payment is the same
throughout the term of the loan
(at least with a xed rate mort-
gage), more of the payment
will be used to cover the inter-
est payments, meaning less is
going towards the principal. As
your principal goes down, your
interest payments will go down,
leaving more of your check to go
towards the principal.
The ve year rule is just in
general. Most of us including
myself when I was not a Real
Estate Agent; that as long as
I can afford the monthly pay-
ment with my paycheck without
thinking other costs, Im good.
Bad idea and this is mainly the
reason why most homeowners
were and still in distressed situ-
ation in todays market.
We already counted our
eggs in the basket (equity) when
nothing is there yet. Market
crashed and BOOM! The rest is
history.. The smartest and the
better idea: to buy a house that is
below what you can afford then
make extra payments to the prin-
cipal. In this case, the balance
will reduce faster and so with the
interest payment. Think of it this
way. The higher you pay on the
principal from what is in your
statement, the lower the interest
payment will be. I am not talk-
ing about the interest rate but Im
talking on the calculated interest
based on your regular monthly
payment.
Of course there are other
factors like renting it out or if
you would turn it into an invest-
ment property. Any decision
has to be made and supported
with research and professional
help especially if you are not that
savvy in Real Estate. This is your
money and your investment for
the future. To simply say it;
there is no room for Oppps..
Note: Jocelyn Porteria is a
Realtor licensed in VA. She earned
a designation of ASP, Accredited
Staging Professional; ABR, Accred-
ited Buyers Specialist; CDPE Cer-
tified Distressed Property and Short
Sale Expert, (SFR) Short Sales and
Foreclosure Resource. For more info,
visit her website at www.jprealdeal.
com or call her at 571-432-8335 or
email at realdealconsulting@yahoo.
com for a free confidential evalu-
ation of your property, individual
situation, property value, and pos-
sible options.
Schizo
Destiny
F
ew things are harder
to put up with than
the annoyance of
a good example. Mark Twains
remark is apt for September
9. Thatd be 135h birthday of
Sergio Osmea. As the 4th Phil-
ippine president, he led a war-
shattered country into a new
republic.
President Osmena once pro-
hibited Sergio Jr from accepting
honoraria for lecturing at UP.
You see that same delicadeza in
Commission on Audit Grace
Pulido Tan. Without raising her
voice, she documents massive
funneling of pork barrel into
spurious NGOs.
Senators Bong Revilla, Loren
Legarda, and Ferdinand Marcos
Jr. ladled P10 million each to two
Bataan towns, a 2012 Commis-
sion on Audit report states. Sen.
Jinggoy Estrada sliced P5 mil-
lion. Five other senators and 24
plus congressmen were similarly
tagged earlier.
Marcos Jr. declined to com-
ment until investigation is
completed. Legarda denied
knowing bogus.NGOs. Jinggoy
ddles the innocent injured
dirge. El que da escusa, acusa asi
mismo, Chavanco-speaking folk
in Zamboanga snort. He who
excuses himself accuses him-
self.
Is Don Sergio just a line-
etched image on the P50 peso
bill? Or is the man who was jour-
nalist, bar topnotcher, legisla-
tor to wartime exile and Presi-
dent relevant --- even to NBI
stool pigeons?
Our grandchildren hardly
know Don Sergio. Educator
Antonio Calipjo Go blew the
whistle on error studded text-
books in public schools. Hes
been pummeled by publishers
who cashed in on the mis-educa-
tion of our youngsters.
Come September 9, ofcials
will pay lip service to President
Osmena. Day after, it will be
business as usual. Is this schizo-
phrenia destiny? People will
not look forward to posterity
who never looks back to their
ancestors, Edmund Burke
wrote. Don Sergio graduated
in 1892 from Colegio de San
Carlos. In law school, he met a
student thatd shape his whole
life: Manuel L. Quezon.
After topping the bar he
was elected governor of Cebu.
He founded the newspaper El
Nuevo Da. From 1907 to 1922,
he served in the Philippine
National Assembly where he
rose to become Speaker. For 13
years, he represented the 10th
Senatorial District. -- and played
key roles in major issues like the
Tydings-McDufe Act on inde-
pendence.
As Japanese troops ram-
paged in World War II, Quezon,
Immigration Notes
By J.G. Azarcon, Esq.
Love visa
T
rue love may pave the way
for a ticket to the United
States.
An alien who is the ance(e)
of a U.S. citizen petitioner may
be issued a K-1 visa which will
allow entry to the U.S. for the
purpose of marrying the U.S.
citizen petitioner.
To qualify for a K-1 visa, the
petitioner and the alien must sat-
isfy the following requirements:
(i) the parties have personally
met within two years preceding
the date of ling of the petition;
(ii) they must have a bona de
intention to marry; and (iii) they
are legally qualied and actually
willing to conclude a valid mar-
riage in the U.S. within ninety
days after the ance(e)s arrival.
The requirement for a per-
sonal meeting within two years
preceding the ling of the peti-
tion may be waived by the Immi-
gration Service if the parties can
establish that the meeting would
result in extreme hardship to
the petitioner or would violate
the traditional customs of the
beneciarys foreign culture or
social practice, as in marriages
arranged by parents. Health rea-
sons, travel restrictions or nan-
cial burdens are circumstances
that may merit a waiver based
on extreme hardship.
The documentation neces-
sary to prove contact and intent
to marry includes, among others,
photographs of the parties being
together, letters, e-mail, tele-
phone bills and afdavits of rela-
tives who have personal knowl-
edge of the relationship.
If the alien beneciary has
minor children, the children can
come with the principal ben-
eciary under a K-2 visa, either
accompanying or following to
join within one year of the issu-
ance of the K-1 visa.
If the alien or the petitioner
fail to marry within 90 days of
the aliens arrival, the alien then
becomes subject to removal. A
K-1 visa holder will not qual-
ify for an extension of stay or
change to another immigration
status, i.e. B-2, H-B1 or employ-
ment based immigrant petition.
If the alien marries another U.S.
citizen instead of the petitioner,
the alien cannot apply for adjust-
ment of status while remaining
in the U.S.
The only way for a K-1 visa
holder to adjust status to perma-
nent resident in the U.S. is by
marriage to the petitioner within
90 days of arrival.
VISA PRIORITY DATES FOR THE PHILIPPINES
SEPTEMBER 2013
FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES
First: Unmarried sons/daughters
of US citizens May 08, 2001
Second:
A: Spouses/minor children of
permanent residents: Current
B: Unmarried sons/daughters 21 years
of age or older of permanent residents Jan. 22, 2003
Third: Married sons/daughters of citizens Dec. 22, 1992
Fourth: Brothers/sisters of citizens Feb. 02, 1990
EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES
First: Priority workers Current
Second: Professionals holding advanced
degrees or persons of exceptional ability Current
Third: Skilled workers, professionals Dec. 01, 2006
Other Workers Dec. 01, 2006
Fourth:
Certain Religious Workers Current
Fifth: Employment creation/
(Million or half-million dollar investor) Current
Continued on page 30
Continued on page 30
September 15, 2013 25
On Lives
Lived in
CLAs Craft
C
LA is Cesar Leyco Aguila,
a former classmate at the
then Faculty of Philoso-
phy and Letters at the Univer-
sity of Santo Tomas in Manila,
a roommate at an apartment I
shared with three other friends
for almost two years, a colleague
at the then Philippines Herald
where we pursued a career in
journalism, and a friend.
Throughout this friendship,
I was never aware of his Span-
ish background, much less, of his
being a descendant of a family
from Castile, until he started
giving spaces to his middle
name in authoring a rst novel,
Between Two Worlds, and
his second, The Big River and
Other Stories, his middle name
had always been an initial L..
Leyco has been a revela-
tion, a discovered nugget, and
sometimes at nights, an intruder
in my bank of memories, but
a welcoming sound of music I
have been hearing from his far
off retreat in Sydney, Australia.
Because of all of these, times
and experiences shared, I am
giving his second work a chance
to speak for itself but only on
matters that pertain to what this
column is all about.
And because of past trips
and journeys we both went
through, I might sound a little
biased; this is as much a warn-
ing as it is an endorsement of his
talent.
The Big River is a novella,
a literary term, a ight of fancy
that hovers, never settling down
between a short story and a
novel. A very long short story
in form, but to me an unnished
novel, for it leaves a reader ques-
tions that remain unanswered at
the end.
The Big River separates
itself from the ve short stories
in this paperback edition, not
because of its length but because
of its setting, Aguilas unde-
clared and unpronounced grow-
ing up years in San Jose, Batan-
gas, and glimpses in real life of
his Spanish lineage.
The novella is all about Fed-
erico, a child of ve years, his
fears in the beginning of leav-
ing his fathers hacienda with
his father and mother and all
their valuables to go to another
hacienda where his grandfather
lives, but without his favorite
toy, a coche, and his yaya, Jovita.
The departure is hasty
because of an impending arrival
of the enemies, drones heard
of ight of Japanese warplanes
overhead. In his grandfathers
place, he meets Tomasino, later
his playmate, and is introduced
to a new babysitter, Clara. Fed-
ericos and Tomasinos times
of play are spent near or at the
bank of a river, the big river of
the novella, a prohibited place
for Federico, and later, a tragic
place for Tomasino where in an
act of play, is swept away by a
strong current, never to be seen
nor heard of again.
The conicts and compli-
cations in the novella revolve
around physical relationships,
undeclared, unheard, and
unseen by many but only by
the persons responsible for their
happenings, Federicos father
who has sired Jovita from a
tryst with an unnamed woman
and Federicos grandfather who
has fathered Tomasino from a
relationship with a woman, her
name also unrevealed.
But the novella also tells of
cultural traits, aspects of Fili-
pino ways revealing patterns
of behavior handed down from
parents to offspring, unham-
pered by passage of times.
Spanking Federico by his
parents, as a threat and as an
effective act of stopping his tan-
trums, had always been prac-
ticed in many households until
the act became a subject of scorn
and litigations under the legal
sanction of physical abuse.
The circus, troupe of mimes, jug-
glers, clowns, lion and elephant
tamers, and re-eating actors,
is still the highlight of a towns
esta, a part of the nations folk-
lore.
A childs visual experiences
of play are still, in many rural
areas, the joy of catching a drag-
ony in ight with ones hands
and Tomasinos cajoling with
the wind so he can show Fed-
erico how to y a kite. Or setting
a trap to catch a rice bird. Sink-
ing marbles down a hole, nd-
ing rubber bands with a stick in
a mound of sands, impromptu
races, and play-acting at soldier-
ing, all are still to be seen among
children who are not yet blessed
with ownership of PCs, laptops,
iPods, iPads, or Tablets.
The sound of distant church
bells, signaling the Angelus, is
still the time to stop all plays and
other activities, to pay reverence,
and to head home for dinners.
Winter Bliss, a short story
set in New Jersey City, tells of
familys Christmas Eve dinner
where the invited guests are a
couple of Japanese descendants,
the Yamamotos, and social talks
among those in celebratory
mood are expressed in the pecu-
liar Asian accents.
The host, highlighting an
evening of friendship, tells of an
incident that happened in a small
town in Batangas, you guess it,
in San Jose.
During the waning months
of Japanese occupation of the
Philippines, the townspeople
overpowered a small contingent
of Japanese soldiers headed by
a captain, named Yamamoto,
not the same general who had
wrought havocs among Ameri-
can and Filipino soldiers.
The people of the town,
declaring themselves as victims
of atrocities, wanted revenge.
But the hosts father, a beloved
and a respected towns doctor,
intervened and told them of
the good deeds this captain had
done for him and his family. In
the end the anger dissipated and
the captain was released.
But then out of nowhere a
member of a guerilla band stood
in front of the captain and shot
him. The hosts father carried
and buried the captains dead
body at the towns cemetery
with the help of those who had
been members of the angry
crowd. The story brings relief to
the Yamamotos, who until then
didnt know the whereabouts of
their grandfathers body.
Manhattan Ghost, a short
story, tells of what alcoholism
and obsessive drinking can do
to a marriage, and to a husband
who is hungering for recognition
in his profession and to a wife
who is longing for affection.
The Diamond Man is a
story of an African immigrant
living in Sydney, Australia who
had managed to smuggle a piece
of diamond from a mine while
still in Ghana by swallowing it
but has suffered frustration since
then because he cannot nd a
way of bringing it out. The irony
of thinking and feeling that he is
rich and the reality of being poor
and helpless at the same time is
well told.
The Letter, told in Italics,
a literary device used to recap-
ture emotions felt in the past, is
a poetry of eeting moments of
love and desire and the frustra-
tion of separation.
The Journeyman is a story
of a revisit, but actually a coming
home of a journalist to a culture
that dened his stay in the Phil-
ippines, working with colleagues
and friends in a daily newspa-
per, in international news ser-
Worlds Happiest
Demonstrators
DALY CITY
W
e must be the happiest,
jolliest demonstrators
in the world. If our
Egyptian friends could only take
a cue from us, there wouldnt be
that many fatalities in Cairo as a
result of the recent upheavals in
that country.
We raise our voices in pro-
test over the Mother of All Plun-
ders of the National Treasury,
call for a massive demonstration
at the Rizal Park and all over the
country. And what do we end up
having? A picnic.
The gathering last August
26 was described by one enthusi-
astic participant in these words:
Hahaha! what an event! it was
so joyous.
Indeed, the pictures I saw
of the demonstrators, posted
on FaceBook showed everyone
having a great time.
We have seen how mass
movements like that have
resulted in anarchy in Pakistan,
Korea, Egypt and even in Europe
and the United States. But not
in the Philippines. Even when
we are being robbed blind, we
manage to have a party.
Even our insults are good
for a laugh. And that manages
to soften the bite. We echo the
infamous lines, Moderate your
greed! But when a biting mani-
festo is issued, the proponents
are told to moderate the lan-
guage.
In connection with the
August 26 demonstration, I
wrote a manifesto, upon the
request of Wally Reyes of the
Overseas Filipinos for Good
Governance, based in Los Ange-
les, California. Heres what the
manifesto declared:
We are Global Filipinos,
dispersed across the world in
a virtual Diaspora. Seeking a
better life for ourselves in foreign
lands. Sharing the fruits of our
toil with our loved ones in the
Philippines. And helping keep
the Philippine economy aoat.
We have a stake in our
Motherland. We have a duty to
protect its interests and uphold
the welfare of our people. And
when they are ignored, exploited
and abused by the countrys
leaders, we must raise our voices
in protest.
We thus declare solidarity
with the August 26 Movement.
The March of Millions at Rizal
Park and across the nation to
condemn ofcial corruption and
the epic plunder of the national
treasury. We echo the Cry of
Balintawak on the same historic
day in 1896 that set ablaze the
Philippine Revolution against
the abuses of the Spanish colo-
nizers.
The Pork Barrel Plunder
is institutionalized thievery of
astonishing magnitude. Ofcial
pillaging in the guise of the Pri-
ority Development Assistance
Fund. Engineered by profes-
sional swindlers. Masterminded
by members of the Senate and the
House of Representatives. Abet-
ted by the Department of Budget
Management and the Commis-
sion on Audit. And, worst of all,
through the machinations of the
past President and the tacit bless-
ings of the current one. Exposed,
not by dutiful public servants
but by disgruntled accessories
and by the militancy of media.
We are relieved that Presi-
dent Benigno S. Aquino III, after
much resistance, has nally lis-
tened to the outcry of the citi-
zenry and has announced his
intention to abolish the PDAF.
But we nd no reason yet
to celebrate. Firstly, because his
decision is an obvious attempt
to preempt the August 26 Move-
ment, and not out of a rm con-
viction that the pork barrel is an
invitation to plunder. Secondly,
because the PDAF may be rein-
carnated in another form but
for the same dubious reason: to
buy the loyalty of members of
Congress and reward them for
their cooperation. And thirdly,
because the thieves remain at
large and unpunished.
President Aquino now
promises strict scal controls. But
too many times in the past have
we, the citizenry, been lulled
into believing that reforms were
in place, only to nd that other
ways of raiding the national trea-
sury had been devised. When
the manifesto was shown to one
of the stalwarts of the Black &
White Movement and a member
of the Hyatt Ten, she commented
that the language was unnec-
essarily belligerent towards the
President and doubts his sin-
cerity towards the reform he is
Continued on page 30
Continued on page 30
September 15, 2013 26 26
STUFFED CHICKEN WINGS
(Peek Kai Yaa Sai)
T
his Thai recipe is kind of
difcult, especially debon-
ing the chicken wings. But
after deboning 1 or 2 wings, sub-
sequent ones will be relatively
easy and once you do this recipe
the next time, it will be a piece of
cake. Challenge yourself. The
end-result will be self-rewarding
on top of a super-delicious dish.
Ingredients:
Paste:
1 root coriander
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1/4 teaspoon powdered
white pepper
Stufng:
6 chicken wings (deboned)
1 cup minced chicken breast
1 oz. cellophane noodles,
soaked in cold water
half cup thinly sliced cab-
bage
2 stems spring onion,
chopped
1 stem celery, chopped
Seasoning:
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tablespoon soya sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
Methods:
Using mortar and pestle,
pound the garlic, coriander root
and powdered white pepper into
a paste. Set aside.
In a mixing bowl, mix the
paste from the mortar with
oyster sauce, soya sauce and
sugar. Add the chicken, cab-
bage, noodles, celery and spring
onion. Mix well and set aside.
Stuff chicken wings with
the stufng and steam for 10-15
minutes.
Meanwhile, mix 1 cup
our and 1 cup water and dip
the steamed chicken wings and
deep-fry in hot vegetable oil on
medium heat until they become
golden and crispy.
Serve with sweet chili sauce.
Making the sweet chili
sauce:
1 big piece red chili
3 cloves garlic
3 tablespoon sugar
3 tablespoon vinegar
half teaspoon salt
In a mortar, pound red chili
and garlic into a paste. Dissolve
sugar with vinegar and salt.
Add the paste from the mortar
and mix well. Serve the sauce
with stuffed chicken wings.
Chefs Tips: To debone
chicken wings: Separate the
wings from the drumsticks and
set the drumsticks aside for
another recipe. Pull the skin
off the wings holding from the
tip end of the wings. Hold the
knuckle end of the wings and
use a sharp knife to cut around
the bone, then scrape away the
esh.
Editors Note: Master Chef
Evelyn: 100 Most Influential Fili-
pina Women in the U.S., 2009, Fili-
pina Womens Network; MHC Most
Outstanding Migrant Award in
Culinary Arts, 2011; PAFC Dakila
Special Achievement Award, 2011;
Owner/Chef, Philippine Oriental
Market & Deli, Arlington, Virginia;
Founder and President of CHEW
(Cancer Help Eat Well) Founda-
tion, a 501 (c) (3) public charity
formed to help and cook pro-bono for
Filipino-Americans who are afflicted
with cancer and other serious ill-
nesses; Culinary writer; Member,
Les Dames dEscoffier International,
Washington DC Chapter; Member,
International Cake Exploration
Society, Member, Culinary Histo-
rians of Washington, D.C.; Master
Chef, French Cuisine and Patisserie,
Le Cordon Bleu, London.
DEPRESSED
A
man sat at a bar, drinking
slowly. On his face was
the saddest hang-dog
expression. The bartender asked,
Whats the matter? Are you
having troubles with your wife?
The man said, We had a
ght, and she told me that she
wasnt going to speak to me for
a month. The bartender said,
That should make you happy.
The man said, Not if the
month is up today!
HOW OLD?
Angus McClod walks into a
bar and asks for a bottle of forty-
year old Scotch. The bartender,
not wanting to go down to the
basement and deplete his supply
of the rare and expensive liquor,
pours a shot of ten-year Scotch
and gures that his customer
wont be able to tell the differ-
ence.
Angus downs the Scotch
and says: My good man, that
Scotch is only ten years old. I
specically asked for forty-year
old Scotch.
Amazed, the bartender
reaches into a locked cabinet
underneath the bar and pulls
out a bottle of twenty-year old
Scotch and pours the man a shot.
The customer drinks it down and
says, That was twenty-year old
Scotch. I asked for forty-year old
Scotch.
So the bartender goes into
the back room and brings out a
bottle of thirty-year old Scotch
and pours the customer a drink.
By now a small crowd has gath-
ered around the man and is
watching anxiously as he downs
the latest drink. Once again
Angus states the true age of the
Scotch and repeats his original
request for forty-year old Scotch.
The bartender can hold off no
longer and disappears into the
cellar to get a bottle of prime
forty-year old Scotch. Soon, the
bartender returns with the bottle
and pours a shot.
Angus downs the Scotch
and says, Now this is forty-year
old Scotch!
The crowd applauds his dis-
criminating palate. An old drunk
who had been watching the pro-
ceedings with interest, raises a
full shot glass of his own: I bet
you think youre real smart,
slurs the drunk. Here, take a
swig of this.
Rising to the challenge,
Angus takes the glass and downs
the drink in one swallow. Imme-
diately, he chokes and spits out
the liquid on the barroom oor.
My God! Angus exclaims.
That tastes like piss!
Great guess, says the
drunk. Now, how old am I?
HISTORY
Bambi, a blonde in her
fourth year as a USC Freshman,
sat in her US Government class.
The professor asked Bambi if she
knew what Roe vs. Wade was
about.
Bambi pondered the ques-
tion; then, nally, said, That
was the decision George Wash-
ington had to make before he
crossed the Delaware River.
50th ANNIVERSARY
An elderly couple decide
to celebrate their ftieth anni-
versary by re-living their hon-
eymoon. They get a reservation
for the honeymoon suite in the
same hotel at the same resort.
After waking the next morning
to a room service breakfast they
begin eating in the nude.
The wife says Oh Harold!
This is just like fty years ago!
My breasts feel all warm and
tingly!
To which he replies Well,
they ought to, Gladys... One is
hanging in your oatmeal, and the
other is in your coffee!
BAGONG KASAL
Matapos ikasal ang tatlong
magkakapatid... sina Ana, Marie
at Plata, natulog muna sila sa
bahay ng nanay nila bago mag-
honeymoon abroad. Sa kalau-
nan ng gabi kumatok ang ina sa
bawat kuwarto ng mga anak.
Nay: Ana, ok ka lang ba
diyan?
Ana: Ok lang po, nay.
Nay: Marie, ok ka lang
diyan?
Marie: Ok lang po, nay
Nay: Plata, ok ka lang ba
diyan?
Hindi sumagot si Plata kaya
umalis na lang ang ina. Kinabu-
kasan, tinanong ang ina si Plata
kung bakit hindi ito sumasagot
kagabi.
Plata: Di ba sabi ninyo nay,
pag puno ang bibig huwag mag-
sasalita? (Ayos!)
NUMBERS
69 = Good Position
96 = Magkaaway.
66 = Bading
6.9 = Kadiri (Kasi may
period.)
INDAY
Sir: Inday, si sir mo to,
nabangga kotse ko and I need
cash!
Inday: Aru, dugo-dugo
gang ka no?
Sir: Gaga! Si sir mo talaga
to!
Inday: Gago ka rin! Si sir,
ang tawag sa kin sweet pie.
ANG TOTOO
Marko: Pare, ano ang una
mong tinitingnan pag may
nakasalubong kang maganda at
seksing girl?
Jinggo: Una kong tiniting-
nan ang mga mata ng misis ko.
Marko: Bakit nga?
Jinggo: Mahirap nang
magulpi.
BARIL
Boy: Tay, yung boypren ni
ate, may dalang baril kanina.
Itay: Bakit mo naman nasabi
yan... nakita mo ba?
Boy: Hindi po, pero narinig
ko po si ate, ang sabi sa boy-
pren... sa labas mo iputok,
huwag sa loob.
September 15, 2013 27
Beyond
Family Visit
E
very year or so, she comes
over from Manila to visit
her children and grand-
children and, of course, some
friends. However, she could
not make it more often because
of her busy work schedule and
commitments that cannot be just
left hanging. She has TV shows,
movie appearances and teach-
ing loads at the University of
the Philippines and Ateneo de
Manila.
But what she considers as
her most compelling undertak-
ing is her being both the Presi-
dent and a Trustee at the Movie
Workers Welfare Foundation,
Inc. or what is commonly known
in the movie circle in Manila as
the MOWEL Fund.
Boots Anson Roa: As in
the past visits, on the 2nd day
of arrival, her social calendar
becomes full in which case she
misses her secretary who man-
aged her schedules in Manila,
but daughter Leah willingly
takes over said task here. With-
out exaggeration, there was
something every day. Prior-
ity of course was the family
reunion with the children and
grandchildren. The scenario
was like Christmas dinner minus
the Christmas tree. One of the
numerous gatherings was the
mini-reunion of close friends
held at the home of the Chuas.
It was nostalgic to see our
children, who were teen-agers
then, now adults, some came
with children of their own, talk-
ing and chatting. They all still
look almost the same but with
some kind of maturity, con-
dence and aura above their
heads. We, the mothers (Boots
Anson Roa, Cristina Romuladez,
and myself, minus Pinky Puno
who was in Manila), sat around
the cozy kitchen table looking
at them, recalled their activities
and teen-age antics, all proud
because they all graduated with
degrees, now having careers of
their own and all living indepen-
dently.
Bistro 7107: Last year, I took
Boots to the newly opened Sweet
City Deserts in Vienna, Virginia
to meet with the Filipino owner,
Manny Tagle (brother of Cardi-
nal Antonio Tagle). This time, I
took her to Bistro 7107 in Crys-
tal City in Arlington, VA for
dinner. This new restaurant is
also owned by Manny Tagle. She
was excited to take pictures of
the place with Manny to show
them to the cardinal who is a
friend. We all complimented
Chef Liza Estebro who came out
to chat a little bit with us. Boots
liked the chicken embutido. My
husband, Pat and our children
Ricky, Winnie and husband
Austin Brodin were happy with
the dinner.
One of the activities that we
enjoyed was going to Tysons
Mall for shopping. Macys was
our favorite department store.
Boots favored two pairs of shoes
and thee tops. I got one shirt. It
was a nice time to have a little
chat and talk about some per-
sonal stuff while we were in the
tting room.
MOWELs Fundraising
Event: On the two days of her
visit, Boots had arranged with
the Filipino Ministry group to
have the showing of a musical
Filipino movie, I Do, Bidoo,
Bidoo held at the Our Lady of
Good Counsel Church social hall.
An active member of the group,
her daughter Leah and her col-
leagues worked hard to make the
fundraising event a success. The
two-nights had good showings.
After Virginia, Boots went to
Tampa, Florida to show the same
movie, then to New York and the
last leg at Las Vegas.
It was gratifying to Boots
that she went home with the
bacon for MOWEL. Shes been
holding her position for sev-
eral terms now and I believe
that she will be the perennial
president of the foundation. The
behind the scene movie workers
are the recipients of the funds
being raised with gigantic initia-
tive of Boots. These are the little
people working but without
any resources for medical and
funeral expenses. At times Boots
uses own resources when the
coffer is very low.
With a calculated short visit,
she had shared some of her valu-
able time to y to other states
for fundraising events. This has
become a mission for her, a pas-
sion to do something for the poor
in the movie circle.
Popular in the Filipino
American community: Many of
us may recall that Boots was a
popular and most sought after
media personality and leader
in the Filipino- American com-
munity in Metro Washington,
DC. She was invited to almost
every event, programs and balls
of various organizations. After
her term of ofce at the Embassy
of the Philippines, she and hus-
band Pete Roa decided to return
back to Manila with their two
children, Joey and Chiqui about
a couple of years ago. Being a
former TV personality and direc-
tor at one of the TV channels in
Manila, Pete missed home and
felt that Manila was calling him
back. Daughter Leah and son Ben
stayed behind. In no time, Boots
was in the movies and TV shows
again, able to re-establish her-
self smoothly. The Challenges:
A person of strength, courage
and character, she met some
challenges in life in Manila. Her
father, the former Oscar Moreno,
the dashing movie actor in
Manila, fell ill under the charge
of Boots until he was bedridden
and eventually passed away.
Then son Joey had a kidney
transplant which required exten-
sive search for a compatible
kidney donor. It was quite a feat
to absorb and undergo with the
rudiments of the search and hos-
pital requirements. The saying
when it rains, it pours comes
to life in the Anson-Roa family.
Pete had high blood pressure
attack which left half of his body
paralyzed. Boots became the on
the lead person in the family.
He died about six year ago.
Art Imitates Life: Boots is
an excellent and one of the few
respected actresses in Manila. I
only saw the challenges that she
encountered in her adult life, but
there must be some early on in
Nightmare on 3rd Street
T
he rst Saturday eve-
ning this September was
spent watching the movie
Planes with the grandsons.
While walking towards the
movie theater, I saw several
white tents that were lined up
on the main street of the Reston
Town Center. A huge banner
proclaimed the weekend a Food
and Wine Festival. I shuddered.
I hate to admit it. White tents
make me break into sweat.
In 2006 Mitch and I were co-
chairs for the PAFC (Philippine
American Foundation for Chari-
ties, Inc.) Festival and Parade.
The event took place on 3
rd
street
just across the Capitol in Wash-
ington DC. We were blissfully
unaware of the magnitude of the
task that lay before us.
My introduction to Wash-
ington, DC bureaucracy was not
pleasant. I was incensed to learn
how they made licensing and
permits difcult and expensive.
My litany of sorrows was made
even longer by how arbitrarily
they changed their protocol from
year to year.
A major part of the festival
was the group of vendors who
rented the tents for the day.
There were food vendors, craft
artists, and new businesses who
applied for spaces. It was chal-
lenging to assign spots accept-
able to all. And after offers and
counter-offers were ironed out,
there were some who didnt
bother to show up.
Before the event, we were
asked to appear at the venue and
mark the spots where the tents
were to be placed. We dodged
between cars and buses. DC
drivers are not patient drivers.
Horns blared. They pointedly
looked at the red spray paint I
held in my hands, rolled their
eyes, and mouthed expletives. I
was the crazy woman from hell
who needed a straightjacket
because I obviously had a screw
loose.
Dealing with the tent com-
pany required several follow-
ups a day because items disap-
peared and reappeared on the
spreadsheet seemingly done
by an invisible and anonymous
hand. I was besieged by com-
puter goblins. I was warned
that if the number of chairs and
tables didnt tally at the end of
the affair, the wrath of Zeus will
descend upon me.
The night before the festi-
val, we were asked to be there
at midnight to accept delivery.
It was physically impossible to
account for hundreds of items
so we signed the papers on faith
and mentally crossed ourselves
for good luck. Sleep eluded us.
By 5am we were back to survey
the area for readiness. The dis-
order made me heartsick. Tents
were in disarray and with barely
two hours before vendors were
to arrive, I lost it. I turned to the
man in charge who was a rough
character with an equally rough
vocabulary and let loose some
choice words of my own.
Somehow from out of that
proverbial hat, the rabbit was
shed out and the festival hap-
pened. That year marked the
hundredth year anniversary of
the Filipino migration to Amer-
ica. It was a special celebration.
Two stages were positioned at
opposite ends to accommodate
the number of performers. I saw
the exuberance of the unexpect-
edly large crowd of smiling faces
milling around me. I smiled back
distractedly, my mind awhirl
with a thousand and one things
that needed my attention.
A special parade was
planned that included the use
of cars which were to carry dig-
nitaries invited for the occasion.
It was not to be. I was called
by the head of security and lec-
tured like a truant child. No
vehicles allowed. A copy of the
permit didnt help. Case closed.
I argued that we had elderly
people who required transpor-
tation. The blame for any crisis
would fall squarely on their lap.
They grudgingly permitted the
use of a car.
T hat summer day was
cloudless with a blazing sun
but the heat, the recongured
parade, and the long lines did
not dampen the crowds enthu-
siasm. They would have partied
on if the police had not showed
up in force and ordered the festi-
val closed at the appointed time.
Mitch and I boomeranged
from one end of the festival area
to the other since before day-
break. Our eyes were glazed
over from fatigue and near col-
lapse so we passed each other
with only token nods of recogni-
tion. But lest you think rest was
at hand, perish the thought. The
nightmare wasnt over just yet.
Committees were assigned
for specic areas of responsibil-
Continued on page 30
Left to right: Ricky Pagsibigan, Atty. Austin Brodin, Boots Anson Roa,
Becky M. Pagsibigan, Pat Pagsibigan, Winnie Pagsibigan Brodin
Continued on page 30
September 15, 2013 28 28
Hail to Bong!
H
urrah! Bong beat Big Bert! The
year of the Bongs has come and
so the changing of the guard at
the helm of the Manila Mail, the 22-year-
old Filipino American biweekly in the
nations capital.
Bong will assure the Mails continuity
for another quarter of a century. Congrats
Bong. Kudos to Big Bert.
***
Tra-la-la, the year of the snake is
about to end.
For the double-crossers, two-tim-
ers, Don Juans, kulasisis, balimbings,
talangkas, etcetera, it will be back to
normal.
The 2013 year of the water snake
made people develop the ability to read
complicated situations, like being caught
in agrante delicto, if you know what I
mean. It will make some astute in observa-
tions and deft in actions. It was a symbol
of an active, snaky and very seductive
animal.
At the start of the year, heres what
the Feng Shui said, with annotations by
Tsismoso, of course!
For those who are looking forward
to the coming Valentines Day, be care-
ful: The snake is romantic and charming.
(Inggat) He possesses a sense of humor
while the female is usually beautiful and
successful. (Patay) In case person born
in the year of the snake chooses a part-
ner, he/she will be jealous and posses-
sive. Even when the relationships are left
behind this possessiveness will be cloud-
ing the snakes life.
Rejection is the worst thing that can
ever happen to them. (Dont give him any
rearm) Such people must be received,
welcomed, accepted and approved by
those with whom they come in contact.
Generally they need a lot of security.
It often happens that snake people
have one set of rules for themselves and
one for their partner and this side of their
nature can become a basis for misun-
derstandings in the future. (Mayabang,
like...) But, when they are really romanti-
cally involved these people are also loving
and attentive, stimulating and playful,
though it takes time for them to get over
their fears or discuss their weaknesses.
The best partner for a snake-type
person is someone who would give him
freedom, but it is also important for him
to feel secure and adored. (Remember
the man whose P was cut in PH or was
burned with boiling water in CA)
The person born in the year of snake
is the wisest and most enigmatic of all.
(Ano, sira?) He/she can become a philos-
opher, a theologian, a political lizard or a
wily nancier. (Huh, like the pro and anti-
Obama people) Such person is a thinker
who also likes to live well.
The snake-person loves books, music,
clothes, and ne food; but with all his
fondness for the good things of life, his
innate elegance gives him a dislike for fri-
volities and foolish talk. (Boleros, maya-
bangs out) They like communicating and
like interesting conversations. If the con-
versation becomes repetitive their atten-
tion may soon wander. (Walang palabog-
labog).
These people have a special feeling
that enables them to judge situations cor-
rectly and so they are alert to new pos-
sibilities and when they have an idea
of what to and how to do it, they you
pursue it persistently and energetically.
(He is all-knowing like...oh never mind).
These people are self-condent and usu-
ally dont bother themselves listening to
someone elses opinion. But this side of
their character has also a negative load.
Refusing to listen to constructive advice,
they may get into needless trouble.
Although it is difcult for such
people to take advice, they are patient
with others when it comes to give a hand
of help, and their ability to look at a prob-
lem from a variety of angles is extremely
appreciated. (Just like E...eeek) When
faced with a dilemma snake people as a
rule act with speed and conviction, since
they believe intensely in what they are
doing and rarely waste time or energy on
projects lacking in good potential.(Min-
sang palpak)
Snake person perfectly knows how to
wind down and relax when such opportu-
nity arises. This type of people often makes
protective and caring friends. However,
their anger can be quickly aroused, and
they will soon get back if there is a suspi-
cion that someone has taken advantage of
their trust or has hurt those close to them.
In money matters, people born in the
year of snake have good luck; they dont
have to worry about money too much,
such people will always be able to nd
couple of banknotes if they need it. (Like
robbing a bank?).
The snake-person has an ability to
read complex situations quickly and
Editorial
Republicans Reach
Out to FilAms
With prospects of comprehensive immigration reform look-
ing dimmer each day, thanks to a House leadership that doesnt
share the same resolve as the Senate, Filipino American leaders
must do everything they can to keep this measure from slipping
to the back burner.
For those whove maybe forgotten, the Senate passed a
bill in April that would provide a path to citizenship, increase
employment visas for foreign workers and reduce family-based
visas that would adversely affect family reunication policies.
But the House, sad to say, has dragged its feet. It is also dis-
maying to learn that House leaders may even prefer a piece meal
approach, which would doom prospects for xing a broken
immigration system.
Filipino American community leaders have an opportunity
to voice out their concerns, not only about immigration but on
other issues as well, when they meet up with House Republican
leaders next month in Las Vegas.
House Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers invited,
through Philippine Ambassador Jose L. Cuisa, Jr., Filipino
American leaders to connect with members of Congress to dis-
cuss legislative and policy priories, both on the domestic and
foreign policy fronts. We want to hear about the issues that are
important to you, so that we can work together to secure a more
prosperous America.
Theres a real danger that comprehensive immigration
reform might get lost, said NaFFAA National Chair Ed Navarra,
Meeting with the Republican leadership is therefore critical to
lobbying efforts to secure passage of this very important and
critical legislation.
Indeed, this is a rare opportunity for leaders in our commu-
nity to put the pressure on elected representatives who have
been reluctant to take up the issue of immigration reform.
Members of the community at large will also do well to call
their US representatives and impress on them that comprehen-
sive immigration reform is in the best interest of this nation.
Continued on page 30
September 15, 2013 29
New cowboy
P
res. Barack Obama warned
Syria that using chemi-
cal weapons in its internal
turmoil would be tantamount
to crossing the red line. Read
between the lines, if you do this,
there will be hell to pay.
Thats very scary coming
from the executioner of Usama
Bin Ladin. Bashir Assad must
have been wet in his pants from
fear, except that he knew it was
just a slip of the tongue. And so
Bashir Assad tested Barack. The
British conrmed that the Syrian
government used it against the
rebels many many months back.
Assad found Barack looking
the other way. And so Assad
decided there was no hell to pay
and he went on his merry way
last month blasting a rebel held
territory with chemical weapons,
this time in heavier concentra-
tion. The human suffering cap-
tured on video is too gory to
watch even for a mortician.
Shocked by the hideous
massacre of innocent civilians,
Pres. Obama is reminded of his
red line. Obama, the slayer of
Osama suddenly got aficted
by amnesia. I didnt draw the
red line, he said. The world
did when it passed treaties and
agreements and this and that, he
insisted. But there is no wiggle
room this time. And Barack,
pressed against the corner was
compelled to swallow a lot of tes-
tosterone to make him look like a
fearsome cowboy. There will be
hell to pay this time.
Now he is on the spot. He
is out to demonstrate that he
knows more about pulling trig-
gers than skeet shooting. Obama
would like to halt Assads use
of weapons of mass destruction
by going to war without really
going to war. His war strategy is
to shoot from afar and avoid get-
ting hit by your own shrap
Obama was one of the erc-
est critics of former Pres. G. W.
Bush for his handling of the
Iraq war. Bush did not succeed
in getting the approval of the
U.N. Security Council and relied
upon the support of the coali-
tion of the willing composed
of approximately 30 countries
to battle Saddam Hussein. And
Bush was able to obtain congres-
sional approval to go to war.
The President brags that
America under Obama is now
more respected in the world.
As he assembles an alliance of
nations to teach Assad a lesson,
his call to action is being met by
deafening silence. Great Britain
said yes, then no. France is eager
but will probably fold its tail
on the day of reckoning. As for
congressional approval, Obama
may nd himself with just loyal-
ists Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Harry
Reid answering his call to arms.
In a more risky undertaking,
Commander-In-Chief G.W. Bush
was able to organize a battal-
ion while Commander-In-Chief
Barack Obama could hardly
form a squad of allies. What hap-
pened to Americas world lead-
ership?
Before Obama can persuade
the world to follow his lead, he
must sell his war to America.
Bush had a clear purpose, rightly
or wrongly, to remove Saddams
Failure of
leadership
A
true leader, Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. once said,
does not search for con-
sensus, rather he molds it.
President Obama cut a sad,
lonely gure during the G-20
summit in St. Petersburg, Russia
as he courted support for a puni-
tive strike against Syrian Presi-
dent Bashir al-Assads forces
over their use of chemical weap-
ons.
The President argued his
case before the American people
in a Sept. 10 broadcast.
Americans are exhausted,
weary after over a decade of
continuous warfare. There are
more pressing concerns at home
even the news of thousands of
jobs added in August failed to
lift the peoples mood.
The President faces a loom-
ing battle over Americas debts,
budget cuts and the sequestra-
tion, as well as selling his sig-
nature health initiative which
enters a crucial junction in
October when the insurance
exchanges provision kicks in.
His advisers were surprised
when President Obama, nally
deciding to strike at Assad
forces, declared he would rst
seek congressional approval.
The President said he
wanted a limited, surgical strike
to deliver the message that the
United States would not tolerate
the use the chemical weapons.
The last time an Ameri-
can President went to Congress
to seek war legislation the US
invaded a sovereign nation or
drove a usurping army out of
one. But President Obama said
he did not intend to invade
Syria or even put boots on the
ground.
That made his decision to
go to Congress even more puz-
zling. Two years ago President
Obama argued he didnt need
congressional approval before
bombing Muamar Khaddafys
Libya because it did not involve
US ground troops or sustained
ghting or active exchanges of
re with hostile forces. Whats
different in Syria?
Weve become witness to a
President spending the precious
little political capital he has left
for military action thousands of
miles away to sway a brutal and
very convoluted conict for an
extremely murky outcome.
If he had proof that Mr.
Assad was behind the gassing
of his own people, killing more
than 1,400 including hundreds
of children, the President should
have exercised his prerogative
as Commander-in-Chief, strik-
ing with stand-off Tomahawk
cruise missiles and he would
have accomplished his avowed
objectives to demonstrate to the
Syrian dictator and his generals
that breaking a nearly century-
old convention against chemical
weapons carry a stiff price.
Its immediate, low risk and
it gets the job done. With the
US motive clear, there wouldnt
be speculations about regime
change or fears of a reprise of
Iraq.
His hesitation allowed
opposition to galvanize and
perhaps hastened his slide as
a lameduck president. Its also
complicated the US mission it
will now have to hit harder and
heightened risks to Americans.
Opinion
Continued on page 30
Meet Up in Sin City
S
o what is it they say about
what happens in Vegas?
The world outside is not
supposed to know what you
do in this desert oasis. You can
romp to your hearts content or
blow all your savings playing the
tables or slots. Or any other kind
of mischief. And your private
philandering and pampering
will never go public.
But whats about to take
place in this entertainment
capital is not meant to remain a
secret. The Republicans, in fact,
want the proceedings to be open
and the participants to be, yes,
open as well to the partys court-
ship of, in this case, the Filipino
American vote.
Recall that the GOP is
still reeling from its electoral
defeat in the last national elec-
tions because the Latinos and
Asian Americans voted over-
whelmingly, by more than 70
percent, for Barack Obama and
the Democrats. The Republican
Partys anti-immigrant rhetoric
was blamed largely for candi-
date Mitt Romneys drubbing
in the polls. Recall that during
the primaries, GOP candidates
took turns demonizing undocu-
mented immigrants, going as
far as to suggest that they self-
deport themselves. Not a seri-
ous and honest public policy, but
one that panders to a radically
conservative base.
After some soul searching,
GOP leaders resolved to tone
down the partys anti-immigrant
stance and reach out and touch
not just someone but everyone in
the Latino and Asian American
communities.
And thats what GOP strat-
egists hope to achieve. Next
month, House Republican lead-
ers have reserved a large hall at
The M Resort Spa in Las Vegas
for a meet up with Filipino
American leaders. In her letter of
invitation, Cathy McMorris Rod-
gers, chair of the House Repub-
lican Conference Committee and
a US Rep. from Washington,
said the meeting will provide a
unique opportunity for leaders
of the Filipino American com-
munity across the country to con-
nect with Members of Congress
to discuss legislative and policy
priories, both on the domestic
and foreign policy fronts. We
want to hear about the issues
that are important to you, so that
we can work together to secure a
more prosperous America.
Fair enough. Filipino Amer-
ican leaders, led by NaFFAA,
have accepted the invitation and
will be converging in Las Vegas
October 12. Indeed, this is an
opportunity for NaFFAA to ex
its muscle and let the voices of 4
million Filipinos heard. This is
what political empowerment is
all about.
NaFFAAs national summit
in Las Vegas earlier this month
should prepare the leadership
to engage members of Congress
face to face. For two days, the
board of directors and regional
chairs formulated strategies,
from effective advocacy to busi-
ness partnerships. Priority
number one is to build the orga-
nizations capacity to be armed
and dangerous. That is, to be
well funded and adequately
staffed so it can operate more
effectively.
The meet up with congres-
sional leaders is a test of NaF-
FAAs leadership in articulating
a political presence and a consis-
tent message that should com-
mand attention not only in Octo-
ber but for years to come. It must
be clear to these lawmakers that
NaFFAA is a Filipino American
organization mainly concerned
with issues affecting Filipinos in
the U.S.
The Las Vegas meet up,
aside from its obvious benets,
also provides NaFFAA a rare
opportunity to build relation-
ships with other national orga-
nizations. The last time this
happened was eight years ago,
also in Las Vegas, when The
Desperate Housewives contro-
versy spurred a tactical alliance
between NaFFAA and Filipino
American doctors and health
professionals.
So, when it comes to politics,
expect this meet up in Vegas to
be talked about a lot. It may not
signicantly affect the current
debates in Congress, but its a
good start.
Send your comments to
jdmelegrito@gmail.com
Continued on page 30
September 15, 2013 30 30
weapons of mass destruction
which posed a serious threat in a
post 9/11 era. Obama just wants
to shoot across the bow to send a
message to Assad so he may not
repeat the use of chemical weap-
ons.
What good does launch-
ing a few hundred missiles if
it does not even eliminate the
threat? Its an expensive way of
saving presidential credibility
after Assad crossed Obamas
red line. Its even more compli-
cated in the light of Syrias civil
war. There are reports that rebel
forces opposing Bassir Assad do
not have the same political color
and Al Queada extremists are
dominating a very aggressive
faction. If true, America could
end up ring shots at Assad with
Al Queada cheering on the side-
lines.
Dear Barack, Im so con-
fused. I look to the Commander-
In-Chief for leadership, but Im
afraid you look even more con-
fused.
Striking now without forc-
ing Assads surrender, real or
symbolic, -- will be utterly use-
less. The window of changing
attitudes in Syria has closed. The
damage to American credibility
and prestige can no longer be
undone regardless of how much
shock and awe American mis-
siles and bombs can muster.
Syria has highlighted a
failure of leadership. President
Obama, the American leader, has
failed.
Failure of leadership... from page 29 New cowboy... from page 29
then set about resolving them
in a quiet, controlled manner.
It is much more convenient and
useful for this people to work
independently, because in this
case they have freedom to travel
and negotiate on their own
terms.
The snake-people cannot
stand being limited by others
and this is another reason for
them to work solo. People born
in this year are logical and orga-
nized workers and have all the
qualities needed to acquire new
skills. They also have a very
good memory and that enables
them to fulll the projects thor-
oughly. They are purposeful and
getting towards their aim spot-
ting potential troubles and react-
ing immediately.
On the other hand, should
they have achieved their goal
the snake-people usually with-
draw to gather their thoughts,
and rest. But they need not much
time to renew their energies and
be ready for new challenges.
Ideal Job for the Snake
Include Professor, Linguist,
Teacher, Psychiatrist, Psycholo-
gist, Astrologer, Clairvoyant,
Personnel ofcer, Public rela-
tions executive, Interior designer.
Some Famous Snakes: Kim
Basinger, Randy Crawford,
Bob Dylan, Greta Garbo, Art
Garfunkel, Audrey Hepburn,
Paul Hogan, Liz Hurley, Carole
King, Dean Martin, Robert Mit-
chum, Mike Oldeld, Ryan
ONeal, Dorothy Parker, Brad
Pitt, Brooke Shields, Paul Simon,
Dionne Warwick, Oprah Win-
frey, Virginia Woolf, Susannah
York. (For local snakes, lets start
withoh never mind.
Snake Compatibility
Compatible with: Ox,
Rooster, Dragon
Less Compatible with: Rat,
Rabbit, Snake, Horse, Dog, Ram
Least Compatible with: Pig,
Monkey, Tiger
her life. It is said that only those
who have undergone so much in
life who can really emote and put
life into a character. She is one
person who is so well balanced,
calm, contained and cool. With
condence, she demonstrates
wisdom and humor. I value her
friendship.
Beyond Family Visit... from page 27
Osmena, Gen Douglas MacAr-
thur and ofcials slipped into
Cagayan de Oro. They were to
be evacuated to Australia, on the
US Presidents instructions.
MacArthur took one look at
the shabby B-17 that landed mid-
night at Del Monte airport and
blew a fuse, recalls William Man-
chester in his book: American
Ceasar. The decrepit aircraft...
would endanger the party he
cabled the US Secretary of State.
I could not undertake such
responsibility. He demanded
the three best planes. The cable
worked and two of three new
B-17s managed to make it.
We were roused in the
dead of night and drove to the
aireld where two Fortresses
waiting say, unpublished mem-
oirs of Manuel Quezon Jr.
***
The Life Act which
amended the Immigration Act
has expanded the eligibility
for a K visa to provide for a
new temporary status (K-3) for
spouses of U.S. citizens and their
minor children who are outside
the U.S. waiting for the approval
of their permanent resident visa.
To obtain a K-3 visa, the U.S.
citizen must rst le an immi-
grant petition for the alien spouse
who is outside the U.S. After the
immigrant petition is led, the
K-3 visa petition must be led
in the U.S. by the U.S. citizen
spouse. If the marriage occurred
outside the U.S., the K visa must
be issued by the consulate where
the marriage occurred.
K visa holders are entitled
to be issued work authorization
pending adjustment of status to
permanent resident.
(Any questions pertaining
to this article may be addressed
to 703 893 0760)
Schizo Destiny... from page 24
Love Visa... from page 24
Washington Tsismis... from page 28
ity. One such area was the clean-
up at the end of the festival. The
crew didnt show up. I didnt
even have the energy to get
angry. Friends who realized our
predicament stayed until all the
bloated garbage bags were dis-
posed of, and the last chair was
accounted for. We are forever
grateful.
Mitch and I nally arrived
home to rest and recover after
36 hours of toil and labor. The
nightmare was over. Maybe this
article will exorcise my distaste
of white tents. So I hope. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pahabol: Relax, this is not
a nightmare. Its a PARTY! The
Ateneo Alumni Association of
Metro WDC will have its biennial
fundraiser, The Blue and White
Gala, on Saturday October 5
th

at the Crystal Gateway Marriott
in Arlington. Please visit www.
ateneodc.org for more informa-
tion. Come and party with us.
Nightmare on 3rd... from page 27
vice, and in broadcasting net-
work. He meets the same trafc
jams but shows delight in seeing
the all-too familiar jeepneys, the
deliberate disregards for street
lanes by drivers, the potholes,
and the disillusions in the eyes of
the man, the object and purpose
of his trip, the mentor in his pro-
fession.
Sitting on a lounge chair
at his home in Sydney, Austra-
lia afterwards, recollecting his
thoughts and measuring the
benets of his trip, the assassina-
tion of his mentor for exposing
corruptions in the national and
local government, this incident
that happened shortly after his
departure from Manila, and the
assailant still unknown, are all
for Cesar Leyco Aguila, the jour-
neyman, to ponder. Has he left
this culture behind? He being
born and nurtured in the Philip-
pines ways, although of Spanish
heritage, will all these stay in his
memories and forever affect his
thinking and acting ways? Tell
me, my friend.
NOTE: The Big River and
Other Stories, in paperback,
126 p., published by the Uni-
versity of Santo Tomas Publish-
ing House, in Manila, Philip-
pines. Copyright by Cesar Leyco
Aguila, 2011. Sold at the National
Book Store and other outlets in
the Philippines and distribu-
tors in the US and elsewhere in
the globe where Filipinos and
descendants concentrate.
On Lives Lived in... from page 25
undertaking especially in rela-
tion to PDAF.
In other words, she wanted
the language of the manifesto
moderated. But which part?
Isnt the pork barrel an
invitation to plunder? Havent
we seen that from the recent
revelations? Why is Aquino still
defending the necessity of the
pork, if he, indeed, is rm in his
conviction that it deserves to
be abolished? Why does he still
want to retain his own multi-
billion peso discretionary fund?
Doesnt that give us reason to
doubt his sincerity?
And why did he have a
half-change of heart, just shortly
before the August 26 protest?
Wasnt that an attempt to soften
the impact of the planned dem-
onstrations? That was not the
most sterling display of leader-
ship. I used the term preempt.
Other media had a less gentle
description of it: Hijack!
Isnt it a fact that, too many
times in the past have we, the cit-
izenry, been lulled into believing
that reforms were in place, only
to nd that other ways of raiding
the national treasury had been
devised ?
What happened after EDSA
One? After EDSA Dos?
Sure, Aquino has vowed
to institute strict controls. Well,
then, for starters, why doesnt
he look into the accusations
that Batanes, the congressional
district of the wife of Budget
Secretary Butch Abad, has been
getting more than its justiable
share of pork? Of course the
accusation has been hurled by a
former Arroyo lieutenant, but if
it isnt true, why has there been
no denial or denunciation of it?
In the rst place, why did
it take disgruntled accessories
and a militant media to blow
this case wide open, rather than
dutiful public servants? Are we
to understand that, if Janet Lim-
Napoles had been more gener-
ous with his co-conspirators,
we would never have found out
about the P10-billion scam?
Has the misuse of the pork
barrel really been such a deep-
held secret? Isnt this something
that coffee shop habitus have
known all these years?
Thus, we stand by our man-
ifesto and make the following
demands:
We thus demand enact-
ment of the Freedom of Infor-
mation Act, without the strings
that the President and members
of Congress would attach to it.
Only by this means can we have
full access to the scal activities
of government, the better to spot
and expose instances of ofcial
abuses.
We demand full retribu-
tion from those who have pil-
laged and plundered our hapless
nation, whatever positions they
hold.
Finally, we demand that
President Benigno S. Aquino III,
as the proponent of the Straight
Path of Governance, set the
example by allowing full trans-
parency and scal controls over
his own discretionary funds.
Pork by any other name still
reeks of grease.
Let the August 26 Move-
ment proceed. We the Global
Filipinos join the Million March-
ers in spirit. Let this be the start
of the long road to honest and
competent governance. For the
Motherland!
As I write this, Im betting
that the objects of our derision
are simply waiting for our anger
to subside before they go back to
their old ways (theres a Taga-
log term for it: Lilipas din ang
galit). All the insults that have
been hurled at them will be for
naught because, as the Tagalogs
put it, Lilipas din ang hiya.
Our biggest weakness, and
the reason we have been repeat-
edly abused, is that, as a people,
we cant seem to remain angry
long enough. Worse yet, we have
such a poor collective memory.
I suggest that the next dem-
onstration we hold should no
longer be joyful or fun.
(mmsi13@gmail.com)
Worlds Happiest ... from page 25
September 15, 2013 31
September 15, 2013 32 32