March 1-15, 2014 1

Vol. XXIII, No. 8 Online: www. manilamail.us March 1-15, 2014

Dems, GOP hunt for edge in immigration bill
WASHINGTON D.C. A
leading immigration think-tank
says the immigration reform bill
is stalled for now in the House of
Representatives but that could
change next year.
While the impasse has dis-
appointed supporters of immi-
gration reform on the left and
right, both parties are likely to
exploit it for political gain, the
Migrant Policy Institute (MPI)
said in a report written by
Muzaffar Chisti and Faye Hips-
man.
By blaming inaction on a
perceived refusal by President
Obama to enforce laws, Repub-
licans will both avoid punish-
ment and tap into an issue that
mobilizes conservative voters.
And while Democrats are con-
cerned about losing leverage if
the Senate changes hands, in the
long term, they recognize that
the failure of reform bodes well
for their party in the 2016 elec-
tions, the authors declared.
They acknowledged that
fears of a Latino electoral back-
lash if immigration reform
is deferred is not a factor for
Republicans in 2014.
None of the competitive
Senate races this year are in states
with large Latino populations.
In the House, a vast majority of
GOP seats are in districts so con-
servative that there is virtually
no risk of losing to Democrats. In
these safe districts, immigra-
tion is not a popular issue, and
many incumbents believe that
Mail editor on Yolanda
relief efforts
By Bing C. Branigin
WASHINGTON D.C. The
streets were still clogged with
debris from the homes and other
structures demolished like match
sticks by super typhoon Yolanda
(Haiyan) last November. The
scene from the Tacloban City air-
port, just weeks ago the epicenter
of an international relief effort, to
Palo and adjacent towns, made
me very sad.
For over a month I was in the
Soreta eased out of PH
panel in talks with US
MANILA. The impasse in
talks to allow the United States
to rotate more troops to the
Philippines, including grant-
ing them access to the countrys
military installations, has report-
edly claimed its biggest casualty
when a ranking Filipino ofcial
was yanked out of the Philippine
panel.
A Feb. 25 article in the
Manila Bulletin by veteran
foreign affairs correspondent
Roy Mabasa claimed that For-
eign Affairs Assistant Secre-
tary Carlos King Soreta, who
served at one time as charges
daffaires and deputy chief
of mission at the Philippine
Embassy in Washington DC, has
Asiana Airlines ned
Page 4
Funds for Pinoy skater
Page 14
Cardinal Quevedo
Page 6
SUVs for drug
pushers Page 16
Leahs concert tour
Page 20
WASHINGTON D.C. Fili-
pino American groups vowed
to mount a full court press to
convince the Obama adminis-
tration to grant Temporary Pro-
tected Status (TPS) for Filipinos
in the United States.
Leaders of the Filipino
American Legal Defense and
Education Fund (FALDEF),
National Federation of Fili-
pino American Associations
(NaFFAA) and US Pinoys for
Good Governance (USPGG) met
with Rob Silver of the Depart-
ment of Homeland Security
(DHS).
Silver is legal counsel for
Alejandro N. Mayorkas, Deputy
Secretary of the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS). May-
orkas was formerly Director of
the US Citizenship and Immigra-
tion Service (USCIS).
The Philippines had sought
TPS for Filipinos in the US as a
humanitarian gesture and help
the country recover from the
massive devastation wrought by
super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan)
that killed over 6,000 people last
Nov. 8.
The meeting at the DHS
main headquarters in Washing-
ton, DC last Feb. 20 followed an
earlier meeting between Fil-Am
community leaders and Depart-
ment of State ofcials respon-
sible for brieng State Secretary
John Kerry on arguments for
granting TPS.
The group engaged top-
level staff ofcers representing
PNoy shuns Manila, takes
EDSA rites to Cebu
WASHINGTON D.C. For
the rst time in nearly three
decades, Cebu not the highway
for which the event was named
will be the focal point of anni-
versary ceremonies for the 1986
EDSA People Power revolt.
The Filipino American com-
munity in the Metro DC region
held a panel discussion about
the signicance of the blood-
less, popular uprising that ended
two decades of strongman rule
by then President Ferdinand
Marcos.
Talking on the theme
EDSA 28: Kapit-Bisig Tungo
sa Pagbangon (In Solidarity
Toward Recovery), the panel
was composed of University of
the Philippines history professor
Dr. Bernardita Reyes Churchill;
Rick Kessler, a Staff Director at
the Senate Committee on Home-
land Security & Government
Affairs and author of Rebellion
and Repression in the Philip-
pines; and Manila Mail colum-
nist and NaFFAA spokesman
Jon Melegrito, who led the Coali-
Continued on page 21
Continued on page 21
Continued on page 21
Continued on page 22
Continued on page 22
Lawyers JT Mallonga of FALDEF and Loida Nicolas Lewis of NaFFAA and
USPGG submit documents to Rob Silver (left) of the Department of Home-
land Security (DHS) to support Philippine bid for granting Temporary Pro-
tected Status. (Photo by Jon Melegrito)
DFA Asst. Sec. Carlos Soreta
Bodies are still being found three months after super typhoon Yolanda.
(Photo by Bing Branigin)
President Aquino in Cebu
March 1-15, 2014 22
March 1-15, 2014 3
China hoses off Pinoy shers as Japan joins drills in PH waters
MANILA. The Philippines
top general has accused Chinas
coast guard of using water can-
nons to drive away Filipinos
from their traditional shing
grounds in the Scarborough
Shoal that China has restricted to
everyone except their own sh-
ermen since 2012.
Armed Forces Chief of Staff
General Emmanuel Bautista told
a foreign correspondents forum
last Feb. 24 that the incident hap-
pened last Jan. 27.
The revelation coincided
with the visit of Adm. Harry
Harris Jr., commander of the
US Pacic Fleet. He reiterated
United States commitment to
help the Philippines if attacked.
The two countries have a long-
standing mutual defense agree-
ment and the US gives millions
of dollars each year to help mod-
ernize the Philippine military.
Bautista had also earlier
announced scheduled naval
drills near areas devastated by
super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan)
last year. Ofcials have pointed
out that the US and Japanese
navies are spearheading the
Pacic Partnership 2014 exercise.
Although emphasis of the
combined training exercise is
on disaster response, some see
it as a not-too-subtle message to
China that its bullying tactics in
the South China Sea may already
be yielding unwanted conse-
quences: a resurgent Japan thats
found it necessary to project a
military presence in the region.
China insisted that it was
unaware of water cannon use
by a Chinese coastguard ship on
Filipino shermen.
Scarborough Shoal lies 220
kilometers (135 miles) off the
main Philippine island of Luzon;
and about 650 kilometers from
Hainan Island, the nearest major
Chinese land mass.
In April 2012, the Philip-
pines and China had a tense
standoff which ended with the
former retreating from the shoal
-- a rich shing area.
China has since the begin-
ning of the year required foreign
shing boats to get approval
before entering waters that
China claims as its own.
I dont know anything
about the specic situation that
you just mentioned, but I want
to emphasize that China has
indisputable sovereignty over
the Spratly Islands and their sur-
rounding maritime territory. The
relevant Chinese maritime forces
are also carrying out normal of-
cial patrols in that area, Chinese
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman
Hua Chunying explained.
China claims about 90 per-
cent of the South China Seas 1.35
million-square-mile area. The sea
provides 10 percent of the global
sh catch, carries $5 trillion in
ship-borne trade a year and is
believed to be rich in energy.
Taiwan, Malaysia, the Phil-
ippines, Brunei and Vietnam also
claim parts of the sea.
Last year, Manila asked a
United Nations arbitration tribu-
nal to rule on the validity of Chi-
nas claim to most of the sea, but
Beijing has refused to be part of
the process. The arbitration pro-
ceedings are expected to begin in
earnest in spring.
We continue to give pri-
macy to its (the disputes)
peaceful resolution principally
through international arbitra-
tion, Bautista said.
All our actions are in sup-
port to that. We remain hopeful
that the issue can be resolved
peacefully and result in peace
and stability in the region.
March 1-15, 2014 44
SC afrms cybercrime law, fans fear for internet freedom
MANILA. The Philippine
Supreme Court has declare the
countrys controversial cyber-
crime law constitutional, dis-
appointing critics who argue it
could curb Internet freedom in
one of Asias most freewheeling
democracies.
The Cybercrime Protection
Law was passed in 2012 to stamp
out fraud, identity theft, spam-
ming and child pornography,
but its implementation was sus-
pended after coming under chal-
lenge from various groups.
The Supreme Court said
however that the section which
penalizes cyber libel is not
unconstitutional, court spokes-
man Theodore Te said, adding
that only the sender of the mate-
rial faced prosecution and not
the recipient.
Malacanang has joined the
fray, reminding critics of the
law that it was not made only
for online libel but for the other
more serious crimes perpetrated
on the internet.
Te added that opponents of
the law could also le a motion
for reconsideration.
Justice Secretary Leila de
Lima said the Supreme Court
decision was timely as the
government needed it to deal
with the growing number of
cybercrime cases.
Presidential Communica-
tions Secretary Sonny Coloma
assured the public that the con-
troversial law focuses on viola-
tions of human rights made on
the Internet, and that it wont
affect how the public normally
express themselves online.
A clear legal framework is
necessary to protect citizens and
balance the states duties, de
Lima stressed.
Party list Rep. Neri Colmen-
ares, who was among those who
challenged the law, said they
may appeal.
No one should go to prison
just for expressing oneself, espe-
cially on the internet, where
people express their frustration
with government, he said.
President Aquino signed
the law in 2012 but opponents
quickly said it gave the govern-
ment wide powers to curb inter-
net freedom due to provisions
that impose heavy prison terms
for online libel.
The law also gives the state
power to shut down websites
and monitor online activities, in
a country where major protests
have been organized through
Facebook and Twitter.
Changing airports name
sparks political skirmish
CLARK, Pampanga. If
some congressmen would have
their way, the country will have
another major airport named
after an Aquino; but whats
raising eyebrows is that it could
come at the expense of a Maca-
pagal.
The joint House committee
on transportation, and on gov-
ernment enterprises and priva-
tization, approved last Feb. 19
a bill that would rename Clark
International Airport in honor
of former President Corazon
Aquino, mother of current Presi-
dent Benigno Aquino III.
The airport inherited from
the US Air Force has been politi-
cal football since it was renamed
in honor of President Diosdado
Macapagal, father of former
President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo who has been jailed
while being tried for plunder by
President Aquino.
The former presidents polit-
ical allies are trying to restore her
fathers name but have not led
anything in Congress. Not yet at
least.
The countrys premier air-
port in Metro Manila is named in
honor of Mrs. Aquinos husband,
Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., who
was assassinated at the Manila
International Airport in 1983 as
he was being led out of the plane
that had brought him home from
exile in the United States.
Proponents of the bill said
it was needed for a more stable
and streamlined authority with
expanded capabilities. The
measure did not specically say
how that would be attained by
changing the airports name.
The bill will still need to be
debated and voted on in plenary.
Misa ng Bayan in
Silver Spring, Md.
WASHINGTON D.C. The
Migrant Heritage Commis-
sion has adopted the theme
of Thank you American and
the World for its 9th Misa ng
Bayan (Peoples Mass) that will
be held Silver Spring, Md. on
March 2.
The MHC is one of the
groups in the Metro DC
region raising funds for vic-
tims of super typhoon Yolanda
(Haiyan) that killed over 6,000
people last Nov. 8.
Grace Valera, one of the
groups co-executive directors,
said remembering to thank
those who responded to the
Filipinos appeal for help right
after the devastation in Taclo-
ban City and other parts of the
Visayas is just as important.
The mass starts at 4:00 PM
at the Christ the King Church
along West Highway, Silver
Spring, Md.
The Knights and Colum-
bus (thru the Santo Nino Coun-
cil 9462) will be assisting in the
rites.
The Lord is my Shepherd
Prayer Group of Christ the King
is this years lead choir. It will
supported by members of the
Fil-Am Ministry of St. Michael
in Silver Spring, MD, Fili-
pino Community of the Most
Blessed Sacrament in Washing-
ton D.C., the Filipino Commu-
nity of St. Rose of Lima (Gaith-
ersburg, MD, All for Jesus
Choir (Christ the King church)
in Silver Spring MD, the Holy
Family Parish Filipino/Ameri-
can Heritage Group in Mitch-
elville/ Bowie, MD, the FilCom
groups from Baltimore, St.
Judes Filcom Ministry (TBC),
and the El Shaddai Catholic
Charismatic Group of St. Ste-
phen in DC.
Critics of cybercrime law say it will curb freedom of expression.
Bill proposes to re-name Macapagal Airport to honor Pres. Corazon Aquino.
Airline ned for failing to help crash survivors
WASHINGTON D.C.
Asiana Airlines has been ned
$500,000 for failing to assist pas-
sengers and their families fol-
lowing last years crash in San
Francisco, federal transportation
ofcials announced last Feb. 25.
The US Department of
Transportation said the Korean
airline did not adhere to the
assurances in its family assis-
tance plan that airlines are
required to provide passengers
and their families to ensure
prompt assistance during major
aircraft incidents.
The ne was the rst of its
kind, the agency said.
Asiana Airlines disputed
the ndings, stressing that it pro-
vided extensive support to the
passengers and their families fol-
lowing the accident and will con-
tinue to do so.
Three people were killed
and more than 180 of the 307 pas-
sengers and crew members were
injured when the Boeing 777
clipped a sea wall and slammed
into a runway at San Francisco
International Airport.
The Department of Trans-
portation said that for a day
after the crash, the Korean airline
didnt widely publicize a tele-
phone number for family mem-
bers of the passengers, and that
the only number generally avail-
able was its toll-free reservation
line.
The reservations line did
not include a separate menu
option for calls related to the
crash and callers were required
to navigate through cumber-
some automated menus before
being connected to an Asiana
employee, the Department of
Transportations statement said.
Further, the agency said, it
took the airline two full days to
successfully contact the families
of only three-quarters of the pas-
sengers, and ve days to contact
several of the families.
Overall, the agency said
Asiana Airlines did not have
adequate resources to carry out
its family assistance plan, noting
it took two days for the airline
to send a sufcient number of
trained personnel to San Fran-
cisco and that it initially lacked
an adequate number of staff
who could speak the same lan-
guage as the passengers aboard
the ight.
The agency said the airline
also did not have a pre-existing
contract to clean passenger prop-
erty and return it.
In the very rare event of a
crash, airlines have a responsi-
bility to provide their full sup-
port to help passengers and their
families by following all the ele-
ments of their family assistance
plans, said Transportation Sec-
retary Anthony Foxx.
Survivors walk away from Asiana Airlines jet that crash-landed at San Fran-
cisco airport.
March 1-15, 2014 5
PAFC sets grants for
Metro DC, PH groups
The Philippine Ameri-
can Foundation for Charities
(PAFC) has announced that it
has earmarked $5,000 in grants
for qualied organizations in
the Washington, DC area and
the Philippines.
Awarding grants is part of
PAFCs mission so that it may
help organizations whose mis-
sion and goals are consistent
with those of PAFC.
Nonprot organizations
are invited to submit their
requests for a grant.
Beneciary must be a
legitimate nonprot organiza-
tion whose mission statement
is clearly compatible with the
mission statement of PAFC. At
the minimum, it must be a non-
prot, non-stock organization
or institution whose purpose
is to engage exclusively in the
conduct of charitable, educa-
tional, or cultural, activities.
If the beneciary is out-
side of the continental USA,
the organization must be spon-
sored by an eligible Filipino
American organization based
in the District of Columbia,
Maryland and/or Virginia.
Requests for an application
and inquiries may be sent to
Aylene Mafnas, co-chair of the
Grants Program at PAFC.DC@
gmail.com or 703-868-5660.
Deadline for applications
is 12:00 midnight of March 28
. The Charities Committee will
meet after March 28 to review
applications and advise the
winning organizations. Grants
may range from $100 - $1000.
PAFC limits the frequency
of grants to any eligible organi-
zation to once every two calen-
dar years.
Lewis joins MPI Board of Trustees
WASHINGTON D.C. Fili-
pino American businesswoman,
philanthropist and community
leader Loida Nicolas Lewis is
joining the Board of Trustees of
the think-tank Migrant Policy
Institute (MPI).
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio,
Chair of the Board of Trustees
of MPI made the announcement
last Feb. 25.
Lewis, Chair and CEO of
the investment rm TLC Bea-
trice, LLC joins veteran non-
prot leader and journalist
Louis Freedberg and former U.S.
Immigration and Naturalization
Service Commissioner James W.
Ziglar as new members of the
Board of Trustees of MPI, an
independent, non-partisan think
tank dedicated to analysis of the
movement of people worldwide.
Mrs. Lewis, a former gen-
eral attorney in the U.S. Immi-
gration and Naturalization Ser-
vice, assumed leadership of the
TLC Beatrice Foods business
conglomerate after the death
of her husband, noted African-
American lawyer and entrepre-
neur Reginald F. Lewis, in 1993.
Two years later, after steer-
ing the company to $2 billion in
revenue, she was named the most
powerful female CEO in America
by Working Woman magazine.
A native of the Philip-
pines, she is chair emeritus of
the National Federation of Fili-
pino American Associations
(NaFFAA), which she helped
found. Mrs. Lewis is a co-
founder of the Asian American
Legal Defense & Education Fund
(AALDEF), chair of the Regi-
nald F. Lewis Foundation and
founder and president of The
Lewis College in the Philippines.
We are delighted and hon-
ored that Loida Nicolas Lewis,
Louis Freedberg and Jim Ziglar
have joined the MPI board, and
welcome the unique perspec-
tives they bring to the Institute
with their impressive back-
grounds in business, philan-
thropy, journalism, non-prot
leadership and administration of
federal immigration functions,
said MPI President Demetrios G.
Papademetriou.
Loida Nicolas-Lewis
March 1-15, 2014 66
PH expands US-trained counter terror force
MANILA. The Philippine
military is expanding its special
operations capabilities, adding
two more battalions of light
infantry to form the Light Reac-
tion Regiment.
The website strategypage.
com noted this now thrust will
give the Philippines about 8,000
special operations operators.
The two new battalions join
the Light Reaction Battalion that
has been around since 2004 when
the Light Reaction Company was
formed through a $25 million
grant from the United States.
American Special Forces
advisors helped train Filipino
Scout Rangers for counter-ter-
rorism and hostage rescue opera-
tions as part of the global war on
terror,
The group said the Light
Reaction Company proved so
successful that more volunteers
(usually from the Scout Rangers)
were found and in the next few
years the unit was expanded to
a battalion.
The security website said
the impetus to further expand
Philippine special operation
forces came after the LRBs out-
standing performance during
the Sept. 9-28, 2013 battle against
Islamic separatists in Zambo-
anga City.
Even before the creation
of the Light Reaction troops, it
observed that the Philippines
already had formidable special
operations forces. These began
as the Scout Rangers in 1950s
that was formed to help stamp
out the Hukbalahap insurgency.
U.S. Army Special Forces
troops eventually helped train
and organize the Special Forces
Regiment that contained com-
mandos and troops similar to the
American Special Forces.
In the 1970s the Philippines
formed Special Operations Com-
mand but it was disbanded in
1989 after some of the special
operations troops took part in an
attempted coup.
In 1995 a new Special Oper-
ations Command was organized
with the Special Forces Regiment
and Scout Ranger. Both of these
units had been rebuilt after a
post-coup purge.
Asian Americans most prolic,
compulsive buyers - Nielsen
NEW YORK. Asian Ameri-
cans have an outsized impact
on the consumer marketplace
a Nielsen report concluded,
providing additional motiva-
tion for advertisers to focus their
attention on the fastest growing
multi-cultural segment in the
United States.
The Nielsens Signi-
cant, Sophisticated and Savvy:
The Asian American Consumer
2013 Report aims to shed light
on the groups buying behaviors
and viewing patterns. Asian
Americans have emerged as a
powerful economic force, it
observed.
The report noted that the
Asian American population has
grown at a rate of almost 58
percent between 2000 and 2013,
mainly spurred by immigration,
more than 4.9 times that of the
general population.
On top of this, the average
Asian American households
income continues to soar and
represents the highest of all
multi-cultural segments. Their
spending power outpaces even
that of the coveted Millennial
demographic, those currently in
their 20s and early 30s, by nearly
40 percent
Culture, value, efciency,
convenience and a strong
emphasis on the family shape the
buying behavior of Asian Ameri-
cans and often drive their pur-
chasing decisions, the Nielsen
report noted.
That includes the types of
stores they visit, the number
of trips they make and their
online habits. Asian Americans
make up the leading segment of
online shoppers, with 77 percent
making internet purchases in the
past year, versus 61 percent of
the general population.
The report found Asian
Americans to be the most pro-
lic and impulsive buyers in the
nation. Released last December,
the report noted that the aver-
age Asian American household
spends nearly 40 percent more
than the average millennial
household at $61,400.
Whats really signicant
about this Nielsen study is that it
holds not only numbers, but also
the behavioral aspects of the con-
sumers, said Associate Media
Director Siu Tam.
Cotabato Archbishop Quevedo named Cardinal of Peace
MANILA. Cotabato Arch-
bishop Orlando Quevedo was
formally installed as a Cardinal
of the Catholic Church at the
Vatican on Feb. 22, in an emo-
tional and momentous celebra-
tion that reunited Pope Francis
and predecessor, retired Pope
Benedict XVI.
Quevedo, who has long
promoted unity and harmony
between Christians and Mus-
lims, is the rst Filipino cardinal
to come from a Mindanao arch-
diocese.
The Catholic Bishops Con-
ference of the Philippines (CPCP)
has named him as a Cardinal of
Peace.
Iligan Bishop Elenito
Galido, Basilan Bishop Martin
Jumoad, Sorsogon Bishop
Arturo Bastes, Jaro Archbishop
Angel Lagdameo and Balanga
Bishop Ruperto Santos said in
a statement that Quevedo has
been instrumental in pushing for
peace in Mindanao.
Bishop Bastes, chairman
of the CBCP-Episcopal Com-
mission on Mission, said it was
timely for Pope Francis to install
Quevedo as Cardinal because of
his role in trying to bring peace
to Mindanao.
In the Vatican, former Pope
Benedict discreetly entered St.
Peters Basilica surrounded by a
small entourage and was greeted
with applause and tears from the
stunned people in the pews.
It was the rst time Bene-
dict and Francis have appeared
together in a major event since
Benedict retired a year ago and
became the rst pope to step
down in more than 600 years.
The two appeared together last
summer to unveil a statue but
the latest ceremony marked one
of the most important liturgical
ceremonies a pope can preside
over.
Some experts said his pres-
ence there signaled his approval
of the 19 men Pope Francis had
chosen to join the College of Car-
dinals, the elite group of church-
men whose primary job is to
elect a pope.
Pope Francis elevated car-
dinals from some of the worlds
poorest countries, including
Haiti, Burkina Faso and Ivory
Coast. They were the rst batch
of bishops to be named Princes
of the Church by Pope Francis.
Two hail from Africa, two
from Asia and six his native
Latin America, which is home to
nearly half the worlds Catholics
but is grossly underrepresented
in the churchs hierarchy.
With that precedent, chances
grew that Benedict would also
appear at the April 27 canoniza-
tion of his pope, John Paul II, and
Pope John XXIII.
PAF to buy ghter squadron
from South Korea
MANILA. The Philippines
will purchase a squadron of
FA-50 ghters from South Korea
in a deal worth $422 million
(P18.9 billion), according to a top
Philippine defense ofcial.
Fernando Manalo, Under-
secretary of Defense for nance,
munitions, installations and
materiel, said the government
had reached an agreement with
Korean Aerospace Industries
Ltd. for 12 of the aircraft and
would sign a contract before
March 15.
This is a very important
project together with the frig-
ate of the navy because of our
objective of building a minimum
credible defense, Manalo said
during the announcement.
The Philippines has
embarked on a ve-year, $1.68
billion (P75 billion) modern-
ization program to improve its
capability to defend its maritime
borders against the creeping
expansion of China in the South
China Sea.
In 2012, it lost control of the
Scarborough Shoal and since
May last year, Chinas vessels
have been in the vicinity of the
Second Thomas Shoal in the
disputed Spratlys, where Phil-
ippine troops are stationed on a
grounded transport ship.
Brunei, Malaysia, the Phil-
ippines, Vietnam and Taiwan
also have claims, to parts of the
Spratly Islands.
Manalo said a team from
South Korea came to the Phil-
ippines to negotiate the air-
craft deal, agreeing to reduce
by $500,000 the cost of spare
parts and accepting a 15 percent
down-payment from the govern-
ment.
South Korea agreed to
deliver the rst two aircraft 18
months after the contract signing
next month.
The Philippines has had no
ghter capability since it moth-
balled all of its US-built F-5A/Bs
in the early 2000s.
The FA-50 is a light attack
variant of the T-50 Golden Eagle
supersonic trainer that was co-
developed by KAI and Lockheed
Martin, which was designed
to replace F-5s operated by the
South Korean Air Force.
Last December, KAI signed
a contract to a US$1.1 billion deal
to export 24 FA-50s to Iraq.
The South Korean aircraft
maker is also seeking to export
T-50 family jets to the Philip-
pines, Peru and Botswana, while
eyeing the US Air Forces T-38
replacement program this year.
Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Car-
dinal Quevedo
Philippine Army expands US-trained counter-terror force.
Philippine ofcials announce theyre buying F-50 ghter jets from South
Korea.
March 1-15, 2014 7
NYC to issue IDs to undocumented immigrants
NEW YORK. Vowing to
make good on a campaign
pledge, New York City Mayor
Bill de Blasio said he will create
municipal ID cards for undocu-
mented immigrants.
While the cards would be
available to all New Yorkers,
they would be aimed at undocu-
mented immigrants who dont
have access to bank accounts,
library cards and even mem-
berships at Costco because they
cant produce ofcial photo ID.
The cards could be used
to secure apartment leases and
MTA senior passes, but wont
be valid for government benets
not otherwise available.
To all of my fellow New
Yorkers who are undocumented,
I say: New York City is your
home, too, and we will not force
any of our residents to live their
lives in the shadows, the mayor
declared in his rst State of the
City address last Feb. 11.
We will reach out to all New
Yorkers, regardless of immigra-
tion status, issuing municipal ID
cards available to New Yorkers
this year, he added.
We want to make sure that
no son or daughter of our city
goes without the bank accounts,
the leases, the library cards that make everyday life pos-
sible simply because they lack
identication, de Blasio said to
applause at LaGuardia Commu-
nity College in Long Island City.
Several cities in the country
have introduced similar ID ini-
tiatives.
While campaigning for
mayor last year, de Blasio cited a
Connecticut study showing that
crime fell by nearly 20 percent
in the two years after IDs were
introduced in Fair Haven, CT.
The drop was attributed in
part to undocumented immi-
grants feeling more comfortable
interacting with police because
they had proof of identity.
For a diverse city like
New York, the benets will be
immense, Steven Choi, execu-
tive director of the New York
Immigration Coalition, said in
an interview with the New York
Post.
De Blasios aides said he
would introduce legislation
authorizing the IDs in weeks.
Nationally, this country is
nally waking up to the notion
that integrating undocumented
immigrants into our society and
legalizing their status will make
us more secure, the mayor said.
SC rejects bid to renegotiate VFA with US
MANILA. The Supreme
Court has closed the door to any
attempt to re-negotiate the coun-
trys Visiting Forces Agreement
(VFA) with the United States.
The High Tribunal afrmed
last years ruling that junked a
petition to renegotiate provi-
sions of the VFA stemming in
part over the case of young US
Marine accused and convicted
of rape but exonerated by an
appeals court.
In a Feb. 6 resolution, the
court denied the motion led by
University of the Philippines law
professor Harry Roque Jr. last
year insisting on the issuance of
a writ of execution for the imple-
mentation of its Feb. 11, 2009
decision that ordered the Depart-
ment of Foreign Affairs to nego-
tiate with the US government for
a more equitable and just Visit-
ing Forces Agreement.
The court stressed that its
order for the DFA to negotiate
with US representatives for the
appropriate agreement on deten-
tion facilities under Philippine
authorities has been complied
with adding there was nothing
more to execute.
It should be noted that this
Court has no executing ofcer
unlike regional trial courts. This
is the reason why the execution
of the decision dated Feb. 11,
2009 has been delegated to the
court of origin, according to the
two-page ruling signed by SC
clerk of court Enriqueta Vidal.
Roque, who represented
former Vice President Teosto
Guingona Jr. in the case, led the
motion for execution last Feb-
ruary 2013 after the American
minesweeper USS Guardian ran
aground at Tubbataha Reef.
He explained that a renego-
tiation of the VFA could pave the
way for abrogation of the agree-
ment.
Roque was both petitioner
and counsel in the case before
the Supreme Court, questioning
the constitutionality of the VFA
after the US forcibly took cus-
tody of US Marine Lance Corpo-
ral Daniel Smith, who was then
convicted of raping a Filipina
identied only as Nicole.
In March last year, the High
Court denied Roques request,
saying the motion for execution
should have been led with the
Makati Regional Trial Court
Branch 139 where the case had
originated.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio
Militants want VFA scrapped.
March 1-15, 2014 88
PH offers best bang for the buck for tourists
WASHINGTON D.C. Bar-
gain hunters, outdoorsy types
and the food-obsessed should
look to the Philippines, accord-
ing to a USA Today report about
the 10 places to go while theyre
still cheap.
Christine Sarkis of Smater-
Travel.com placed the Philip-
pines on the top of her list. The
countrys combination of cosmo-
politan affordability and splen-
did nature make it a destination
that offers a lot for the money,
she wrote on USA Today.
The report cited testaments
from Lonely Planet and CIO
Wealth Management Researchs
Prices and Earnings report that
said Manila has some of the
cheapest shopping and upscale
dining in the world. For exam-
ple, a couple can buy a new
wardrobe there for about $410 --
seven times less than what youd
pay for similar items in Tokyo.
And the average cost of a three-
course meal in a good restaurant
is a mere $18, compared to about
$95 in Geneva or Oslo (two
cities that made it to another list
of the worlds most overpriced
destinations).
If youre concerned about
whether a visit to the Philip-
pines is appropriate so soon after
Typhoon Haiyan, know that the
country considers tourism to be
an important part of its recovery.
Large portions of the country
-- and the majority of popular
vacation destinations -- were
undamaged, Sarkis assured.
The other destinations that
made the list are Greece, the
Dominican Republic, Mexico
City, Lisbon (Portugal), Bucha-
rest (Romania), India, Soa
(Bulgaria), Nicaragua and Riga
(Latvia).
The article said the eco-
nomic crisis in Greece has damp-
ened tourism but theyre now
trying to win back with a siren
song of lower prices and smaller
crowds.
While the Caribbean isnt
known for its affordability, the
Dominican Republic remains a
bastion of value in a sea of high
prices, Sarkis said. With service
from low-cost carriers including
AirTran, Frontier and JetBlue,
and air-and-hotel vacation pack-
ages from not only a slew of air-
lines but also discount providers
like CheapCaribbean.com, the
Dominican Republic seems to
have an endless supply of afford-
able options.
She cites the Prices and
Earnings report that said Mexico
City is one of the cheapest places
in the world to stay in a ve-star
hotel: The average rate is $210
per night. Compare that to $730,
the average rate at a luxury hotel
in New York City, and upscale
Mexico City starts to seem daz-
zlingly within reach.
Lisbon is as easy on the eyes
as it is on the budget. Stretched
across a series of hills, the city
is a captivating combination
of friendly locals, picturesque
winding streets and affordable
pursuits. Lisbons mid-range
hotels are the cheapest among
the 72 cities surveyed, with an
average rate of $80 per night -- a
whopping 50 percent lower than
the global average.
Bucharests luxury accom-
modations have an average rate
of $190 per night, making it
among the cheapest cities in the
world to stay at a ve-star hotel.
Trinidad & Tobago eyes Pinoy health workers
WASHINGTON, D.C. The
tiny Caribbean nation of Trini-
dad and Tobago wants to recruit
more health workers from the
Philippines, ofcials told Philip-
pine Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia
Jr. after he presented his creden-
tials to President Anthony Car-
mona last Feb. 18.
Cuisia, who is the countrys
top envoy in Washington D.C.
also serves as the top Philip-
pine diplomat in the Caribbean
region.
President Anthony Thomas
Aquinas Carmona and other top
ofcials of Trinidad and Tobago
spoke highly of Filipinos, par-
ticularly the doctors and nurses
who have been serving there,
Cuisia reported.
We would like to express
our gratitude to the Philippines
for sharing with Trinidad and
Tobago and the rest of the world
its greatest resource: the Filipino
people, President Carmona
told Cuisia after formally accept-
ing him as Manilas nonresident
envoy to Trinidad and Tobago.
The Philippines has saved
millions of lives across the globe
by sending doctors, nurses and
other health workers to other
countries, President Carmona
said, sharing his own personal
experience with Filipino hospi-
tal personnel in Trinidad and
Tobago.
Cuisia said President Car-
mona attested not only to the
dedication and hard work but
also the genuine kindness and
loving care provided by Fili-
pino doctors and nurses who
attended to him and members of
his family on a number of occa-
sions.
Cuisia also met with Foreign
Minister Winston Dookeran,
Health Minister Fuad Khan and
Labor Minister Errol Mcleod.
With health as the current
administrations top priority,
the Ministry of Health has been
authorized to hire more workers
and that they are looking at the
Philippines to ll their require-
ments.
Khan said Trinidad and
Tobago has an urgent need for
Filipinos in the ancillary services
such as radiologists, ultrasound
and other technicians, medical
technologists and pharmacists
and possibly some more nurses
and doctors.
In his meetings with Presi-
dent Carmona, Cuisia con-
veyed Manilas desire to further
strengthen relations with Trini-
dad and Tobago through tech-
nical and economic exchanges.
He also thanked them for the
$100,000 that Trinidad and
Tobago donated for the reha-
bilitation of areas devastated
by super typhoon Yolanda
(Haiyan).
According to Philippine
Honorary Consul General Dr.
Marie Francisca Magno-Advani
there are close to 1,000 Filipino
workers and long-time resi-
dents as well as former citizens
in Trinidad and Tobago. Most
of them work as doctors, nurses,
pharmacists, engineers and hotel
employees.
NAIA discards immigration cards for Filipinos
MANILA. The Ninoy
Aquino International Airport
(NAIA) is going paperless start-
ing this March and will no longer
require traveling Filipinos to ll
out immigration cards.
Our target is a paperless
and queue-less airport within
2014, Justice Assistant Secretary
Geronimo Sy said.
In a report by airport cor-
respondent Raoul Esperas on
abs-cbnnews.com, Sy revealed
that new Philippine immigra-
tion arrival and departure cards
are being distributed to different
airlines with international desti-
nations.
Sy said that by March, all
arriving Filipinos no longer have
to ll out the new immigration
arrival cards while foreigners,
including Philippine passport
holders with existing immigrant
status, will be required to ll out
the new arrival cards.
For international destina-
tions, all Filipino departing pas-
sengers are required to ll out
the new Philippine immigration
departure cards while foreigners
and Philippine passport holders
with immigrant status will no
longer be required to ll out the
departure cards.
Sy said airlines are given
until April 1, 2014 to dispose of
their old arrival and immigration
cards.
It is important to imple-
ment this new Philippine immi-
gration arrival and departure
cards in preparation for a paper-
less and queue-less airport, he
explained.
He said they are exploring
other programs that can reduce
the problem of long queues in all
airports.
Meanwhile, Bureau of
Immigration executive direc-
tor Erwin Dimaculangan said
they expect to install 372 new
passport-reading machines and
computers this year, to replace
the old defective units.
Report shows Philippines is best bargain for tourists.
Philippine Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia present his credentials to Trinidad
& Tobago President Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona with Mrs. Cuisia
looking on.
Manilas Ninoy Aquino International Airport is notorious for long queues.
March 1-15, 2014 9
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March 1-15, 2014 10 10
August trial set in LA for Pinoy Bernie Madoff
LOS ANGELES. The trial of
alleged swindler Eminiano Jun
Reodica is now set for August
after being moved back several
times as probers uncovered the
extent of his alleged fraudulent
deeds spanning two continents
over a period of three decades.
Reodica, 69, once owned
one of the largest car dealerships
in the United States. He report-
edly immigrated to the US in the
1970s after graduating summa
cum laude from the University
of the East in Manila.
He became a poster boy of
the American success story in the
1980s when he went from work-
ing as a busboy in LA restaurants
to building his own car dealer- ship chain.
He is now in jail, waiting
for the start of his trial on Aug.
19. He faces a 51-count indict-
ment for bank fraud and false
statements on loan applications
dating back to the 1980s.
Reodica racked up $200
million in debt before declaring
bankruptcy for his companies,
Grand Chevrolet, Grand Wilshire
Leasing, Grand Wilshire Finance
Corp., and Grand Rizal Finance.
He allegedly defrauded banks
by forging car loan records and
reselling duplicate loans while
swindling clients with enticing
returns of up to 20 percent to the
tune of about $70 million.
When investigators began
probing the business as it was
collapsing in 1988, he report-
edly ed to his home province of
Laguna in the Philippines.
He was next sighted in
Queensland, Australia in the
early 1990s with a new identity
named Roberto Coscolluela.
He established the Richard
Gardner Tax Agency and RC
Insurance Pty Ltd in Brisbane
and allegedly duped up to 500
people in Queensland. In one
case, he allegedly convinced a
widow to invest a $A250,000
superannuation and insurance
payment she received after her
husband died with the prom-
ise of a 10 to 15 per cent return.
The widow never got her money
back, Australian authorities said.
The Australian press has
dubbed him as the Filipino
Bernie Madoff.
In November 2012 Roberto
Coscolluela and his wife Letti
tried to escape anew, this time to
Canada. When the plane stopped
in Los Angeles a ngerprint
check at Los Angeles Interna-
tional Airport revealed he was
the fugitive Reodica and was
arrested after eluding US author-
ities for 2 decades.
His trial was originally set
in January 2013 but was later
moved to May 21 then to Octo-
ber 22.
Fil-Am Honolulu city councilor to run for US Congress
HONOLULU. Filipino-
American Joey Manahan, cur-
rently a Honolulu City Council
Member has declared his candi-
dacy for Hawaiis First Congres-
sional District House seat.
If elected, Manahan would
be the rst Filipino immigrant to
serve in the US House of Repre-
sentatives.
The American Dream is
what led my mother to bring me
to the US from the Philippines
when I was just ten years old.
This country gave us opportu-
nities we otherwise would not
have had and Im so grateful for
that, said Manahan.
He lamented that that
dream seem to be slipping away.
We need leaders in Congress
who understand what it takes to
ensure that every person living
in this great nation has the
chance to succeed, he stressed.
Manahan was born in
Makati, Philippines and came to
America with his mother, Maite.
They rst lived in San Jose,
California, before moving to
Honolulu. His grandfather was
Dr. Constantino Manahan, a
prominent obstetrician in the
Philippines.
He is a grandnephew of
Philippine Senator Manuel
Manahan, as well as the grand-
son of the famous doctor
Constantino Manahan, and
his even more famous wife
Elvira. Manuel Manahan served
as senator in the 1960s. His
brother, Constantino, became a
much sought-after obstetrician
who helped establish the Makati
Medical Center.
In addition to his current
role as City Council Member,
Manahan previously was elected
to the Hawaii State House of
Representatives and spent two
years as the Vice Speaker of
the Hawaii Legislature. He has
focused on upgrading schools
and housing projects and pro-
moting Hawaiis tourism indus-
try for job creation.
Manahan also authored
the rst successful legislation in
any state to designate October
as Filipino-American Heritage
Month. He has advocated for
improved veterans benets and
reunication among the families
of Filipino veterans of World
War II.
LAPD seeks Filipino-American recruits
LOS ANGELES. The United
States second largest police
department is on the lookout for
Filipinos to join their squad.
While the Los Angeles area
is home to the largest Filipino
American community, Filipinos
make up about two percent of
the 22,000 strong force.
Our belief in community
policing is to have a force that
reects the community and the
Filipino community is a big com-
munity in the city of Los Ange-
les, Los Angeles Police Depart-
ment ofcer Jivlee Abalos said
in an interview with ABS-CBN
correspondent Steve Angeles on
Balitang America.
Abalos has been with the
LAPD for ve years. He origi-
nally worked as technology
consultant for IBM for 10 years,
but decided to follow his sisters
footsteps in law enforcement.
After patrolling the streets,
he now handles recruitment
and holds regular seminars with
potential future police ofcers.
The minimum salary starts
at about $49,000 for a high school
graduate. But college diplo-
mas or military experience can
increase the starting salary.
Salaries will increase with
promotions. Abalos revealed
that he has earned three promo-
tions in his ve years since join-
ing the police force.
With the high dangers of
being an ofcer, the LAPD also
offers benets for ofcers and
their families. They include
health, pension, insurance, col-
lege tuition and paid vacation
benets which all begin on the
rst day of the academy.
Requirements include being
at least 18-years old, having a
high school diploma or equiva-
lent, a clean criminal record,
clean credit, and must be a US
citizen or be applying for citizen-
ship.
Potential recruits must
undergo testing, questionnaires,
and background checks before
theyre accepted in the academy.
Candidates are also encouraged
to be in good health.
The department offer appli-
cants tness camps to get them
into better shape while they wait
for entrance into the police acad-
emy.
The academy lasts about six
months where training gets more
intense and lifelike. Then its off
to the eld where the stress level
can increase while continuing
the classes.
Pinoy caregiver succumbs to
burns while rescuing wards
CHICAGO. A Filipino nurs-
ing assistant, who tried to rescue
his two inrmed wards from a
re in Naperville, Chicago last
December, has died from his
injuries.
Allen Wish Awish
Belaguas, 21, died at a Rainbow
Hospice facility near Chicago on
Feb. 16. He suffered 3rd degree
burns and damage to his lungs
from smoke inhalation during
a heroic attempt to rescue his
wards.
He was injured in a Dec.
19 Naperville, Illinois house re
that killed a couple. Belaguas
was working as a caregiver for
57-year-old Tom, a brain cancer
patient and his and 56-year-
old wife, Jan Lambert who was
blind. They died in the re.
Belaguas had reportedly
already saved two of the cou-
ples relatives when he went
back inside the burning house to
save the Lambert couple.
He suffered third degree
burns and damage to his lungs
and was in a coma for two
months before his death.
He recently had become a
certied nursing assistant when
he took a job rst in a nursing
home and then in the home of
the Lamberts on Field Court in
Naperville.
He had been working there
only eight days, his mother Zeta
Pierson said, when the re began
about 6:50 a.m. on a Wednes-
day. Pierson said her son ini-
tially escaped the blaze, but then
came back to save the couple.
They said my son was
doing his job, Pierson said days
after the re.
Belaguas was born in the
Philippines and lived there until
about a year and a half ago, Pier-
son said. His caring tendencies
began to show when he helped
take care of elderly family mem-
bers such as his grandfather.
Eminiano Jun Reodica
Joey Manahan
The Los Angeles Police Department has stepped up efforts to recruit Filipi-
nos.
Allan Belaguas
March 1-15, 2014 11
Pinay trafcking victim reunites with family in US
JAMAICA, New York.
Human trafcking victim Dema
Ramos-Pradel was nally re-
united with the husband and
children she left behind to pro-
vide them a better life in the Phil-
ippines.
In 2009, a Kuwaiti diplo-
mat trafcked Ramos-Pradel to
the United States. The Mauban,
Quezon native said she worked
as a cook, housekeeper, nanny
for ve kids, and washed clothes
for the diplomats whole family.
In a report by ABS-CBN
correspondent Don Tagala on
Balitang America, he revealed
that Ramos-Pradel slaved for
her employer 20 hours a day for
seven days a week, but the diplo-
mat at the Kuwaiti Mission to the
United Nations paid her only 69
cents an hour, with no overtime
pay and no days off.
The 53-year-old Ramos-
Pradel escaped her abusive
employer in 2012 through the
help of Damayan Migrant Work-
ers Association, an organiza-
tion of mostly Filipino domestic
workers helping other workers
like her.
Ramos-Pradel received a
T-Visa after proving that she was
a trafcking victim in 2013. She
was then able to le an immigra-
tion petition to bring her family
to the US.
The Pradel family was
reunited in New York last Feb.
18.
Masayang-masaya ako
dahil yung pamilya ko nakarat-
ing ng maayos nang walang
sagabal na dumating dito sa amin sa America kaya ngayon
kami ay sama-sama kahit may
naiwanan pa akong tatlong anak
doon na may asawa na, (Im very
happy because my family has
made it safely to America and
were now together although
I still have three children left
behind because theyre already
married) said Ramos-Pradel.
Her husband, Zaldy, said:
Makita ko siya, di ko maiwa-
sang pumatak ang luha. Mata-
gal ko na siyang hindi nakikita.
Talaga nga namang nag-iisa lang
mahal ko sa buhay. (I couldnt
help crying when I saw her. I
havent seen her for a long time.
She is the love of my life).
A major part of Damayans
advocacy is reuniting Filipino
families especially those who are
victims of human and labor traf-
cking.
Our women go here in
America to work so they can
help provide for their fami-
lies back home, and its never
in the equation for them to be
separated with their families for-
ever, explained Linda Oalican
of Damayan.
Damayan ofcials said their
assistance does not stop when
families are reunited. They must
now focus on the familys inte-
gration process from teaching
them how to navigate their way
around their new home, to nd-
ing which schools to send their
kids to and how to nd jobs.
Dema Ramos-Pradel is reunited
with husband.
March 1-15, 2014 12 12
DSWD chief asked to explain rotting rice for calamity victims
MANILA. Social Welfare
Secretary Corazon Soliman is
facing congressional scrutiny
over thousands of sacks of rice
intended for typhoon victims
that have been rotting away in
warehouses.
The House committee on
good government and public
accountability has invited Soli-
man to its next hearing so she
could answer questions about
the rice rotting inside contain-
ers at the Subic Freeport worth
about P58 million.
We want her to tell us why
her department failed to obtain
the rice from Subic and distrib-
ute it to typhoon victims when it
was still t for human consump-
tion, said Pampanga Rep. Oscar
Rodriguez, committee chairman.
Its sad and unfortunate
that a huge shipment of rice is
rotting in while we have millions
of compatriots who need food
and other assistance in areas
devastated by calamities, includ-
ing super typhoon Yolanda
(Haiyan). This is almost criminal
on the part of the negligent of-
cials, he said.
The Customs Bureau seized
the rice from Vietnam in 2012
after it was wrongly declared as
construction materials.
But after two failed bid-
dings, then Commissioner Ruffy
Biazon forfeited the Vietnam rice
in favor of the government and
donated it to the Department of
Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) in Dec. 2012 for distri-
bution to victims of Typhoon
Pablo, which had struck the
country early that month.
SBMA Chairman Roberto
Garcia said Finance Secretary
Cesar Purisima called him
after Yolanda hit the country in
November to ask if the seized
Vietnam rice could be used to
help typhoon victims.
National Food Authority
deputy administrator Ludovico
Jarina said the Vietnam rice in
Subic is no longer t for human
consumption and may not even
be good for animals.
Seized rice donated to calamity victims rot inside containers.
US embassy brings consular services to Manila shopping mall
MANILA. The embassy of
the United States in Manila is
bringing its services closer to
the public as it hosts its 7th road
show in Pasay City on March 1
&2.
Dubbed as America in 3D:
A Road Show in Diplomacy,
Development, & Defense, US
Ambassador to the Philippines
Philip Goldberg said the event
is scheduled at the SM Mall of
Asia.
What were going to do
is bring about a little American
culture, a little bit of local music,
a little bit of embassy services,
consular services, bringing edu-
cation opportunities to people so
that they see how to go study in
the US, veterans services, the
American envoy revealed.
Aside from booths that deal
with consular and visa services,
the event is also going to pro-
vide entertainment and cultural
shows for free.
The two-day event will fea-
ture some of the activities like
food sampling, The Visa Talk,
cooking demonstrations, and
special musical performances
by Charice, Jed Madela, Luke
Mejares, the military band the
7th Fleet Band, Orient Express,
The Crew, Flippin Soul Stom-
pers, and Razorback among
others.
Youll see a little bit of the
United States, Goldberg prom-
ised.
He said visitors will have
the opportunity to ask questions
at booths set up for consular,
educational and veterans affairs
services.
Were going to have a lot
of entertainment. Were going to
have a baseball clinic, a basket-
ball clinic and lots of things for
kids. Its gonna be a lot of fun
so I invite everybody to come,
Goldberg said.
Fil-Aussie Jason Day in thrilling PGA win
ARIZONA. Filipino-Austra-
lian master Jason Day beat Victor
Dubuisson in an epic nal,
capturing his rst World Golf
Championship title at the 5th
extra hole of the Match Play nal
at Dove Mountain in Arizona.
Dubuisson, the world
number 30, making his maiden
appearance in the event, was
seeking to become the rst
French-born player to win on the
PGA Tour.
He won the last two holes
to extend the match but after
two incredible escapes he lost to
Days birdie on the 23rd.
Days father Alvin was Aus-
tralian and his mother Dening
was born in the Philippines but
moved to Australia in the early
1980s. He was born in Beaudes-
ert, Queensland.
Days victory in the elite
WGC series event earns him
$1.53 million in prize money and
a three-year exemption on the
US PGA Tour.
It is also expected to cata-
pult him from number 11 to
number four in the world rank-
ings, behind only Tiger Woods,
countryman Adam Scott and
Swede Henrik Stenson.
Days only previous win on
the US PGA Tour was in the 2010
Byron Nelson Championship.
He has endured a frustrat-
ing run of near-misses in big
tournaments, including runner-
up results in three major champi-
onships - the 2011 Masters, 2011
US Open and 2013 US Open.
Jason Day
The US Embassy in Manila reaches out to Filipinos through mall roadshow.
OPM concert to be held
in New York City
NEW YORK. Original Phil-
ippine Music (OPM) will take
center stage in a one-night only
concert in New York City in
April.
The concert will be a
musical tribute to celebrate Fili-
pino composer Cecile Azarcons
timeless pop songs that have
been pervading the airwaves
over the last 35 yearswhether
it be in their original form and
arrangement, or contemporary
renditionin the Philippines
or in many Filipino American
communities across the United
States, said Grace Labaguis,
Synergy Productions market-
ing director.
Dubbed An Evening of
Original Philippine Music with
Cecile Azarcon and Sounds of
Manila, the concert is sched-
uled for April 27 at the Peter
Norton Symphony Space (2537
Broadway and 95th Street).
The time is also ripe to
introduce Azarcons melodious
love songs such as Even If, I
Think Im In Love, and How
Did You Know, newly rear-
ranged by the renowned musi-
cal director and arranger Lorrie
Ilustre, and interpreted by
Sounds of Manila, a band that
produces an authentic 70s, 80s
Manila sound, to a more diverse
group of concertgoers, added
Labaguis.
Aside from Azarcon, Ilus-
tre, and the Sounds of Manila,
also performing in the concert
are emerging young vocalists
Tiffany Viray (Stars of Tomor-
row at the Apollo Theater),
Jared Martin (The Outstand-
ing Filipino Americans in New
York Awards at Carnegie Hall),
Arnel Arcedo (Finalist, Broad-
ways Rock of Ages at Super-
bowl Boulevard), and Tony
Gado (FDR Band); and guest
guitarist Carlo Tampac of Chap-
ter 2 band.
Sounds of Manila will also
launch in the concert one of
Azarcons three newest songs
that is included in the bands
debut album, which features 10
songs written and produced by
Azarcon, and arranged and co-
produced by Ilustre, available
in April 2014 and at the concert
hall lobby.
March 1-15, 2014 13
March 1-15, 2014 14 14
Pacquiao picks difcult sparring
mates for Bradley rematch
LAS VEGAS. Filipino
boxing champion Manny Pac-
quiao steps up training for his
April 12 re-match with American
Timothy Bradley as he moves
camp to Los Angeles and selects
sparring partners that include
one-time foe Miguel Cotto.
Pacquaio was expected
to begin training in earnest at
coach Freddie Roachs Wild
Card boxing gym although his
handlers havent announced a
schedule as of press time.
Meanwhile, the Nevada
Athletic Commission said both
Pacquiao and Bradley will be
subject to stepped-up drug and
hormone testing before their Las
Vegas rematch.
Nevada Athletic Commis-
sion Chairman Francisco Aguilar
called enhanced pre-ght test-
ing a new normal for boxing and
mixed martial-arts.
He credited Top Rank pro-
moter Bob Arum with support-
ing the testing protocol.
Bradley (31-0, 12 KOs) and
Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KOs) will be
ghting for the WBO 147-pound
title at the MGM Grand Garden
arena.
Bradley won a controversial
split decision over Pacquiao in
June 2012 in Las Vegas.
The Pacman has chosen
former IBF Junior lightweight
champion Steve Forbes and
former WBO junior welter-
weight champion Kendall Holt
to help him prepare for the ght.
Another possible sparring
partner is Miguel Cotto, who has
expressed his desire to help out
his good friend as much as he
can.
Both ghters train under
Roach, and Cotto could also use
the preparation with Pacquiao as
good practice ahead of his June
ght with Sergio Martinez.
Fil-Ams start fundraising for Martinezs 2018 Olympic dream
CARSON, California. The
Filipino American community in
Southern California has kicked
off a fund raising campaign for
Filipino gure skater Michael
Martinezs possible medal bid
in the next Winter Olympics in
South Korea.
I know he needs a lot of
funding for the next Olympics
so this is our kick-off fundrais-
ing for the many fundraising
that we will be doing for him,
said Nonie Belarmino of iDance
Studio Zumba in a report on Bal-
itang America.
Martinezs money woes
have been well documented
during the Sochi Games in
Russia. His family has been
forced to mortgage their home
to pay for his participation in last
months Winter Olympics.
He nished 19th overall in
his skating category, capping a
historic campaign: he is the rst
Filipino and the rst ice skat-
ing competitor from a Southeast
Asian nation to make it to the
Winter Games.
I feel very happy and
proud that I made it here in the
nal round and competing here
also in the Olympic Games. My
next is Im aiming at the next
Olympic Games and try to get a
medal, Martinez said in an ear-
lier interview.
Martinez and his mother
went to the US in 2011 to nd
coaching and training facilities as
he geared up for the 2012 junior
Olympics, claiming they had
little nancial support from the
government, while government
ofcials said a private sponsor
had shouldered his expenses.
That appears to have
changed though after his Olym-
pic appearance as Fil-Ams and
other groups like the MVP
Sports Foundation has started to
take notice and committed their
help for his future training and
to enable him to compete abroad.
With that experience, hell
learn what has to be done based
on the performances that he saw
from his competitors and hope-
fully a lot of money will be given
to him so he can hire the best,
one supporter noted.
Martinez will only be 21
years old when the next Winter
Olympics open in Pyeongchang,
South Korea in 2018.
Meanwhile, Fil-Am short
track speed skater J. R. Celski
helped capture the silver medal
for Team USA in the 5,000-meter
relay.
Celski, who captured two
bronze medals as a 19-year-
old during his Olympics debut
in Vancouver in 2010, nished
fourth in the 1,500-meter indi-
vidual race, crashed in the quar-
ternals of the 1,000-meter and
came in sixth in the 500-meter,
as most of the US speed skat-
ing team struggled in Sochi: the
silver medal was all the 25-man
contingent could muster and it
came on the last event in their
schedule.
Pinoy whiz kid to play to Virginia chess tilt
WASHINGTON D.C. Fili-
pino chess fans here could get
the chance to cheer on 6-year-old
James Henry Cabalu Calacday
who is now training intensively
for the World Open to be held in
Arlington, Va. in June.
The Bangkok-based Pinoy
whiz kid just won 2nd place in
the U-8 category of 6th IWICA
youth Chess championship last
February 8 in Thailand.
James Henry is now in a
rigid training with National Mas-
ters Ryan Dungca and Leonardo
Alidani for his next International
Tournament. National Master
Rudy Ibanez will also help James
Henry in a series of chess train-
ing while hes in Manila.
The only son of husband-
and-wife tandem Henry and
Regina Cabalu Calacday of
Gainseld Chess and Language
Centre in Bangkok, Thailand,
James Henry has been invited to
play in chess tournaments in the
US.
Henry, a former chess cham-
pion of Tarlac province, is cur-
rently based in Bangkok, Thai-
land.
He will watch his son play
in the Las Vegas International
Chess Festival on June 12 to 15 at
the Riviera Casino Hotel in Las
Vegas.
Its our dream for him to
become a grandmaster so I and
the missus are giving our all-out
support to our son, he enthused.
The young Calacday also
received an invitation to play
in the Continental Chess Asso-
ciation (CCA) Chicago Open on
May 22 to 26 in Wheeling, Illi-
nois, and the tough World Open
on June 30 to July 6 in Arlington,
Virginia.
James Henry along with
7-year-old World Youngest Fide
Master Alekhine Fabiosa Nouri
spearheaded the campaign of the
Philippine Age Group chess team
who won 65 medals in standard,
rapid and blitz events during the
last years 14th ASEAN+ Age-
Group Chess Championships in
Chiang Mai, Thailand.
The team collected 24 gold
medals, 28 silver medals and
13 bronze medals, a marked
improvement from 12-36-9 gold-
silver-bronze haul in 2012 edi-
tion in Vietnam.
Michael Martinez
J.R. Celski (left) with Team USA in
Sochi
Chess prodigy James Henry Cabalu
Calacday with trophy.
Manny Pacquaio with Timothy Bradley
March 1-15, 2014 15
Organizations are welcome to
submit their information for inclu-
sion in this calendar. E-mail details
to mpapoose@aol.com.
Mar 5 (Wednesday) 6:30-
9:00pm Philippine Ameri-
can Chamber of Commerce,
Washington, DC (PACC-DC)
Empowering Leaders Through
Executive Mentoring Carrie
Rich, CEO, The Global Good
Fund. For details and to regis-
ter: Rene Calandria at rene19va@
yahoo.com
Mar 8 (Sunday) 10:00am
Philippine American Founda-
tion for Charities, Inc. Salo-Salo
Brunch Roll Out of PAFC Pro-
grams for 2014. The Hermitage,
5000 Fairbanks Avenue, Alex-
andria, VA 22311, Auditorium
in the Basement Level. Contact:
Mya Grossman at mylenegross-
man@gmail.com
Mar 8 (Saturday) 6:30pm
Yolanda Relief Campaign (YRC)
of DC, Maryland, and Virgina
with the Philippine Humani-
tarian Coalition SPRING FOR
HOPE Dinner and Dance Ben-
efit with special guest perform-
ers. Dragonfly Bistro Restaurant,
13840 Braddock Rd. Centreville,
VA 20121. $45 VIP seating; $35
Regular Seating. Contact: Avic-
Marivic Macaranas 703-405-3199.
Mar 8 (Saturday) 1:00pm.
Bowling Tournament jointly
sponsored by Ateneo Alumni
Association. De La Salle Alumni
Association and UP Alumni
Association. Form your own
team of 4. Registration $25 per
bowler. Win trophies and prizes.
Proceeds to benefit calamity
relief programs in the Philip-
pines. Bowl America Shirley,
6450 Edsall Road, Alexandria.
Contact: butcharroyo@yahoo.
com
Mar 15 (Saturday) 7:30pm.
Monthly Filipino Mass. St. Ber-
nadettes Catholic Church, 7600
Old Keene Mill Road, Spring-
field, VA 22152. Mass Sponsor.
Sponsored by Filipino Ministry
of Northern Virginia in coopera-
tion w/ the Diocese of Arlington,
Office of Multicultural Minis-
tries.
PAARALANG PINOY : A
Slice of Pinoy: Workshops for
Kids: Paaralang Pinoy brings
workshops where kids can
actually try out an activity and
learn a slice of Pinoy culture. St.
Joseph Center of Our Lady of
Good Counsel Catholic Church,
8601 Wolftrap Road, Vienna, VA,
from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. To register,
please visit our blogspot: http://
paar al angpi noy. bl ogs pot .
com/2014/01/a-slice-of-pinoy-
workshops-for-kids.html and
click the Sign Up Genius button
on the right
Mar 16 (Sunday) Maglaro
Tayo! (A Street Games Work-
shop)
Apr 27 Mamiesta Tayo! (A
Fiesta Workshop)
Apr 5 (Saturday) 12:00-
5:00pm. ABS CBN DZMM with
ANCOP Global Pinoy Singing
Idol 2014 Cultural Assembly
Church , Winter Park, FL, Details
to come.
Apri 18 (Tuesday) 6:30-
9:00pm PACC-DC Social Media
as the New Marketing Billboard
Speaker: Terrence P. Sutherland,
Press Office Director, U.S. Small
Business Administration. Army
Navy Country Club 1700 Army
Navy Drive Arlington, Virginia.
. For details and to register: Rene
Calandria at rene19va@yahoo.
com
Apr19 (Saturday) 7:30pm.
Monthly Filipino Mass. St. Ber-
nadettes Catholic Church, 7600
Old Keene Mill Road, Spring-
field, VA 22152. Mass Sponsor:.
Sponsored by Filipino Ministry
of Northern Virginia in coopera-
tion w/ the Diocese of Arlington,
Office of Multicultural Minis-
tries.
Apr 27 (Sunday) PAFC.
Dakila Achievement Awards:
Recognition of outstanding Fili-
pino Americans in the Washing-
ton, DC Community. Marriott
Key Bridge, Arlington, Va. Con-
tact: Mitzi Pickard at mitzip888@
yahoo.com
May 3 (Saturday) 9:00
am. PAMWE-FtH Joint Benefit
Golf Tournament, Algonkian
Regional Park Golf Course,
47001 Fairway Dr., Sterling, VA
20165. Early Bird, $95; $110 after
April 15. Contact: {e[otp Sp;os
703-979-0838 or p2solis@gmail.
com.
May 3 (Saturday) 8 am-4pm.
Filipino-American Youth Lead-
ership Program (FYLPro) Fil-
Am Young Leaders Summit.
Filipino Community Center.
Waipahu, Hawaii. Young lead-
ers invited to discuss solutions
on how to advance Filipino-
American advocacies in FilAm
communities across the nation.
Register online at www.fylsum-
mit.com. Registration fee $50
will include conference packets
and lunch.
Jun 7 (Saturday) PAFC
Independence Day Gala Ball:
J. W. Marriott Hotel in Wash-
ington, DC. Dancing, entertain-
ment, special guests and more
in celebration of Philippine inde-
pendence from Spain. Contact:
Gloria Federigan at gfederigan@
aol.com
Jun 14 (Saturday) Catholic
Diocese of Arlingtons Diocesan
Multicultural Mass & Fair.
All Saints Catholic Church,
9300 Stonewall Road, Manas-
sas, Virginia. Contact: Corinne
Monogue 703-841-3888
Jun 29 (Sunday) PAFC Com-
munity Picnic and Sportsfest.
Tucker Road Park, Fort Wash-
ington, MD. Features Parada ng
Lechon, Cultural Show, Sports
including 5K Run, Tennis, Bas-
ketball and more. Contact: Gigi
Gopiao at xry741@verizon.net.
March 1-15, 2014 16 16
PMA cadet ghts honor code,
gets the cold treatment
BAGUIO CITY. Cadets at
the Philippine Military Academy
(PMA) are resorting to one of the
militarys archaic practices of
ostracizing one of their own into
resigning and leaving the school.
Cadet Jeff Aldrin Cudia has
been found guilty of lying by
the PMA honor committee but
has opted to stay and ght the
Academys honor system. He
was supposed to graduate as a
salutatorian of PMA Class 2014.
PMA spokesperson Maj.
Lynette Flores said the order to
ostracize Cudia did not come
from the PMA command, but the
Cadet Corps. None of the other
cadets will approach or speak
with Cudia, relegating him to a
pariah on campus.
But in the military, ostracism
can take a more pernicious form
so he is being kept in a holding
area for his own safety, Flores
said.
For being convicted of
honor violation, supposedly
ang honorable way for him is
to resign. But he insists on stay-
ing. They do not like what Cadet
Cudia is doing, said Flores.
Cudia was dismissed from
service after he went to class two
minutes late and supposedly lied
to the professor why he was late.
Cudias relatives posted his
plight on Facebook, which called
the attention of netizens and the
media. The Facebook narrative
by his sister, Avee, was taken
down shortly after it was posted.
The PMA, established in
1936 when the Philippines was
still an American colony, is pat-
terned after the United States
Military Academy at West Point.
Cadets abide by a strict honor
system that says lying and cheat-
ing will never be condoned.
The Honor System is strictly
observed in the academy by the
Honor Committee composed of
cadets. There are 25 members
one representative from each
batch in each of the eight com-
panies. When a cadet is found
guilty, he leaves honorably or
stay in service and be ostracized.
Flores explained that the
honor code is absolute and does
not distinguish shades of sever-
ity of the offense committed.
Once they lied, cheated, stole,
or tolerated the commission of
these offenses, there is only one
punishment for the errant cadet:
separation.
In the past, there were also
cases of cadets being dismissed
in service but this appears to
be the rst that became public
through social media.
Flores said the fact that
Cudia made the case public was
itself, another violation accord-
ing to Flores.
Speculations in military cir-
cles say that Cudia lied about the
reason as to why he was late to
avoid punishments and demerits
that will lower his cadet ranking.
The PMA assured that
Cudia was given due process
but General Emmanuel Bautista,
Armed Forces chief, nonetheless
ordered a re-investigation of the
case.
Mayor offers free SUVs to
drug informants
DAVAO CITY. Want a
free 4x4 sports utility vehicle?
Simply point police to the near-
est drug factory or perhaps
even your neighborhood shabu
dealer and Mayor Rodrigo
Duterte will do the rest.
Duterte, assailed by human
rights groups for his brand of
street justice, said the rewards
would help rid his bailiwick of
illegal drugs.
The latest clash with
alleged drug pushers last Feb.
21 resulted in seven killed and
led to the arrest of 36 others,
including a South Korean
national in Davao Citys
Muslim Village at Tibungco
District.
Chief Inspector Elizabeth
Jasmin, Criminal Investigation
and Detection Group (CIDG)
spokesperson, said policemen
armed with search warrants
raided the suspected shabu
tiangge but were allegedly
red upon as they approached
the area.
But the severity of the clash
seemed disproportional to the
amount of drugs recovered, at
least based on media reports.
One arrested suspect identied
as Rowena Yacob yielded ve
sachets of suspected shabu and
drug paraphernalia wrapped in
newspaper.
Also seized from the house
of a certain Abbas were two
sachets of shabu, drug para-
phernalia, a .357 revolver, and
bullets which were kept inside
a hole on the wall of the sus-
pects room.
But Duterte appeared
unfazed. A day later after the
police raid, he announced that
he was offering P10,000 (about
$230) to anyone who can pin-
point a drug user; an Isuzu
Crosswind, a popular sports
utility vehicle (SUV) to anyone
who can identify a drug pusher;
and the high-end Mitsubishi
Montero SUV to anyone who
can lead authorities to a shabu
factory.
Duterte is both hailed and
loathed for issuing controver-
sial shoot to kill orders and
offering rewards for the deaths
of criminals.
Actor willing to return to Manila
to help in pork probe
MANILA. An erstwhile
actor, now living somewhere
in California, whos portrayed
Christ and a martyred Filipino
saint in the movies, could help
send some real-life culprits in the
P10 billion pork barrel plunder
case to jail.
Actor Mat Ranillo III, who
has been tagged as having an
alleged role in the pork barrel
scam, is willing to return to the
country and testify on the plun-
der case, according to his sister
Suzette.
In an interview by GMA TV
News, his sister said he was will-
ing to y back from the United
States if his safety is guaranteed
by authorities.
Ranillo has been linked to
the pork barrel scam for alleg-
edly signing vouchers for the
kickbacks supposedly received
by Senator Jinggoy Estrada and
his mother, former First Lady
and Senator Loi Estrada.
His name has cropped up
repeatedly in testimony by wit-
nesses, including Ruby Tuason, a
former social secretary of former
President and now Manila City
Mayor Joseph Estrada who her-
self returned from the US last
month to testify in the case.
Some of the vouchers were
submitted in court by Ranillo
in his legal dispute against JLN
Corporation, a company owned
by alleged pork barrel scam mas-
termind Janet Lim-Napoles.
Justice Secretary Leila de
Lima admitted that theyve
received feelers from Ranillo
and welcomed it although she
appeared non-committal.
Lets see kung ano iyong
magiging value ng kanyang tes-
timony if and when he cooper-
ates, De Lima said.
However, the legal coun-
sel for the whistleblowers in
the P10-billion pork barrel fund
scam frowned on prospects
Ranillo might be used as state
witness, saying it is unlikely that
the actor had personal transac-
tions with the senators impli-
cated in the scam.
Lawyer Levito Baligod said
it might actually be detrimental:
waiting for Ranillos afdavit on
the scam might only delay the
investigation of the Ofce of the
Ombudsman, he warned.
More than 30 people, includ-
ing former and incumbent gov-
ernment ofcials, are facing graft
complaints before the Ofce of
the Ombudsman in connection
with the pork barrel scam.
Among the respondents are
Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon
Bong Revilla Jr. and Juan
Ponce Enrile. Detained business-
woman Janet Lim-Napoles and
Ruby Tuason, the latest whistle-
blower, are also respondents in
the complaints.
Navarro case ready for court
as another woman cries rape
MANILA. The Justice
Department is ready to move
ahead with charges against
model Deniece Cornejo, busi-
nessman Cedric Lee and at least
six others for last months maul-
ing of TV host Vhong Navarro.
The DOJ wrapped up on
Feb. 21 the preliminary investi-
gation into Navarros complaint
for serious illegal detention,
serious physical injuries, grave
threats, grave coercion, illegal
arrest and blackmail.
Cornejo has accused
Navarro of trying to rape her
last Jan. 22 but was suppos-
edly stopped when Lee and his
companions came to her rescue.
Navarro said he was set-up by
Cornejo so Lee could force him
to pay P2 million (about $47,000)
in exchange for not pursuing the
rape complaint against him.
But the already bizarre case
took another turn when another
woman accused Navarro of
raping her more than four years
ago.
Former pageant contestant
Roxanne Acosta Cabaero has
led a complaint with the Pasig
City prosecutors ofce, charg-
ing she was raped by Navarro in
2010. He violated me, he threat-
ened me. It was the most horric
moment of my life, she said
later in a TV interview.
She was part of a beauty
pageant at the time but didnt
tell any of the other contestants.
Cabanero recalled only being
able to tell her sister, who was 16
at the time, and a friend, whom
she trusted would not judge her.
According to Cabanero,
Navarro continued to contact her
via text message after the alleged
rape in 2010. She admitted
responding to him, and suppos-
edly pretending to be friendly,
saying she feared he might get
angry if she ignored him.
Cadet Jeff Aldrin Cudia
The Philippine Military Academy is countrys equivalent to West Point.
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte
Mat Ranillo III
Roxanne Cabanero
March 1-15, 2014 17
Around DC in Pictures
Former Consul General at the Philippine embassy in Washiington D.C. and
now assistant secretary for nance at the Department of Foreign Affairs in
Manila Ding Nolasco hosted a reunion lunch with Manila Mail editors at a
restaurant in Fort Bonifacio Feb 16. Photo shows from left, left, Nico, Jen,
and Cecil Nolasco, Mimi Katigbak, Lito Katigbak, Bing Branigin, and Ding
Nolasco.
Alamat artists (from left) Gabriego de Rios, Jon Melegrito, Julian Oteyza, Marvin Santos, Kevin Owens (seated),
Alicia Santos, Amy Quintos and host, David Valderrama talk about their art works depicting Philippine myths, leg-
ends and folk tales, such as the Balete Drive, Mariang Makiling, and The Coconut. The Brown Strokes on
a White Canvas exhibit is now on display through April 22 at the Filipino American Multicultural Center in Oxon,
Hill, MD. is co-sponsored by Tutubi
Enterprises and the Philippine
American Foundation for Charities
(PAF). (photo by Maurese Oteyza
Owens)
Long-time friends (from left) Dang Yusah, Lina Santiago (both from Silver
Spring, MD.), and Cyn Barrameda of Annandale, Va. are raising funds to
benet the Bohol Heritage Churches that were damaged by last years earth-
quake. Known as the dBars Kapit Bisig volunteers, they are also selling
t-shirts, designed and produced by Dang, as part of their outreach effort.
The Fundraising event is on March 22, 6pm-12 midnight, at the Christ the
King Catholic Church in Silver Spring, MD. Contact sndryusah@yahoo.
com. (photo by Jon Melegrito)
The Philippine Arts, Letters & Media (PALM) Council elected its new leaders (from left) Linda Yangas, Waret Bur-
croff, Beth Urbieta Swallow (vice president), Jane Vergel (seated, front), Malcolm Peck (secretary), Mitzi Pickard
(re-elected president), Lita Sese and Malcolm Churchill (treasurer.) The election was held Feb. 23 during a Salu-
salo hosted by Bob and Linda Yangas of Silver Spring, MD. The Sunday afternoon event also featured a potluck
meal, reading of love poems and singing of romantic ballads. (photo by Jon Melegrito)
Bohol Restoration Group (BRG) members (from left) Rina Alfsonso, Osamu
Osawa and Patrick Realiza discuss proposals for BRGs identify design
during a kick-off presentation Feb. 18 at the Philippine Ambassadors resi-
dence. The group was formed last November to provide professional skills
resources towards the long-term restoration of centuries-old churches in
Bohol that were damaged by a 7.2 earthquake last year. BRG members,
led by Margaret Lacson Ecarma, recently met with the Diocese of Tagbi-
laran and parish leaders in Bohol to immediately assess technical input for
the establishment of appendage structures for Baclayons Our Lady of the
Immaculate Church, Dauis Our Lady of the Assumption Church, and Loays
Church of the Most Holy Trinity. (Photo by Jon Melegrito)
Friday Night Laugh-in (FNL) fans Catherine Bodie (left) and Roy Fune of
Annapolis, MD. enjoy a moment of hilarity during an FNL segment featur-
ing the love story of Mencie and Ernie Hairston of Bowie, MD. Also in the
picture, from right, are Nenita Griggs and Mary Ann Eddy of Fort Washing-
ton, MD. The post-valentine comedy show included comedy sketches, a trivia
quiz on the love life of Philippine presidents, free advice, Pilipino-style, to
the love lorn by The Love Guru, and entertainment by singer Tom Rucker,
and the Tutubi Band. (photo by Jon Melegrito)
March 1-15, 2014 18 18
March 1-15, 2014 19
Another Fil-Am breezes
through Idol Top 13
LOS ANGELES. American
Idol aspirant Malaya Watson has
made it to the Top 13 of Ameri-
cas most famous singing compe-
tition, ensuring another Filipino
American would take a crack at
the title just like Jessica Sanchez,
Thia Megia, Jasmine Trias and
many more.
Watson, 16, easily made it to
the Top 13. But another Fil-Am,
18-year-old Marrialle Sellars
didnt make the cut.
Watson made an outstand-
ing rendition of Hard Times,
the song popularized by Ray
Charles. After giving an out-
standing performance during
the competition, she got posi-
tive remarks from the judges of
American Idol 2014.
She was included in the top
13 after being voted by the view-
ers as one of the Top 5 girls and
one of the Top 13 performers of
American Idol Season 13.
Her mother, Marian
Bandico, was born in the Philip-
pines. Yes, I am here to repre-
sent the Filipinos too, Malaya
declared in one interview.
The former tuba player
in Michigans Southeld High
School marching band said join-
ing American Idol has been a
childhood dream, ever since she
caught the singing bug from her
father.
Malaya is a fan of Fil-Am
celebrity singer apl.de.ap and
professes admiration for Filipino
Broadway star Leah Salonga.
She speaks only a smidgen
of Tagalog, Marian revealed
in one report, like Tatay and
Nanay (father and mother)
and Mahal Kita (I love you).
Shes already been to the Philip-
pines, during a medical mission
when she was in 1st Grade but
hopes to go back soon.
One website counted 15 Fil-
Ams whove made it to Ameri-
can Idols nal cut of contestants
(Watson would thus be the 16th
to make it through the shows 13
seasons).
Lea Salonga to join Il Divo in US concert tour
NEW YORK. The four guys
from Il Divo will get some help
from Broadway veteran Lea
Salonga as they tour the United
States this spring.
The classical musical group
announced on Feb. 19 that
Salonga will join the upcoming
tour Il Divo A Musical Affair:
The Greatest Songs of Broadway
Live.
Lea was the original Miss
Saigon in London and New
York. She also starred in a Broad-
way revival of Flower Drum
Song in 2002.
The tour kicks off on March
28 in Phoenix and ends in June,
with stops in California, Wash-
ington, Canada, Utah, Colorado,
Georgia, Indiana, Oklahoma,
Texas, Florida, Maryland, Penn-
sylvania, North Carolina, Ohio,
New York, New Jersey and
Rhode Island.
The tour is in support of Il
Divos latest album, the com-
pilation of Broadway songs A
Musical Affair.
Onstage, Salonga will help
the group sing such hits as
Some Enchanted Evening from
South Pacic, Tonight from
West Side Story, Memory
from Cats and Can You Feel
The Love Tonight from The
Lion King.
Il Divo, which came together
in 2003, is made up of tenor Urs
Buhler of Switzerland, baritone
Carlos Marin of Spain, pop artist
Sebastien Izambard of France
and tenor David Miller from the
United States.
Malaya Watson
Leah Salonga
March 1-15, 2014 20 20
Fil-Am designer offers solution to Yolanda homeless
MANILA. A young Fili-
pino American has struck on a
possible solution to quickly and
economically re-build the homes
of over three million people
left homeless by super typhoon
Yolanda (Haiyan) in the central
Philippines.
Rogelio Vonz Santos Jr.
has created the Buttery House
System, a steel-framed housing
structure that could be folded for
compact shipping and storage,
and unfolded into an immedi-
ately livable structure.
While it is important to
appeal to the heart, it is equally
important to appeal to the
mind, he explained.
Vonz has partnered with
designer Budji Layug and archi-
tect Royal Pineda to co-design
and implement their housing
system just a month or two since
he conceptualized it in Decem-
ber last year.
The Buttery House
comes in three congurations:
11.5-square-meter (sq m) single
unit, 15-sq-m single unit, with
bathroom, and 26-sq-m full unit,
with bathroom, with prices rang-
ing from P50,000 to P70,000.
The roof is made of galva-
nized steel, marine plywood and
heat insulation foam. The exte-
rior paneling is interchangeable
with various choices of materi-
als, such as marine plywood,
bamboo/sawali, metal or plastic.
Unlike other housing solu-
tions, the Buttery House is
stronger and faster to deploy and
erect in just a manner of minutes
by a few people. Since it is con-
structed in a factory assembly
process, developing it with sub-
standard materials is no longer
an issue.
Santos revealed they are
pilot-testing a village in Estancia,
Iloilo, for the housing model. It
was one of the communities that
sustained heavy damage when
super typhoon Yolanda struck
last November.
He said his team has already
deployed 20 Buttery Houses on
the site; they were donated by a
non-governmental organization
he did not name.
He explained that the But-
tery Team also aims to be a
movement of various groups,
private and public, to transform
it into a viable housing solution.
8 US lawmakers inspect relief efforts in Samar, Leyte
MANILA. An inuential
group of American lawmakers
were accompanied by United
States Ambassador Philip Gold-
berg to see for themselves how
the World Food Program (WFP)
and its partners were distribut-
ing US aid and how this was
making an impact on the lives
of survivors of super typhoon
Yolanda (Haiyan).
The US congressmen were
led by Ed Royce of California,
chairman of the House foreign
affairs committee. He was joined
by Reps. Steve Chabot of Okla-
homa, Brad Sherman of Califor-
nia, Joe Wilson of South Carolina,
Madeleine Bordallo of Guam,
Randy Weber of Texas, Joseph
Kennedy of Massachusetts, and
Luke Messer of Indiana.
Royce said he was par-
ticularly interested in how the
amendment he recently intro-
duced to the US law governing
foreign relief aid was helping the
Yolanda victims.
Dan Suther of the US Agency
for International Development
(USAID) said the amendment
helped a lot, as it allowed them
to source and buy food locally
for quicker distribution.
The USAID and its part-
ner NGOs are now authorized
to buy supplies locally or from
neighboring countries. Royce
explained that before his amend-
ment, all goods had to come from
the US, thus delaying emergency
relief efforts.
Sherman said the US courses
its relief assistance through the
USAID, which, in turn, funds
humanitarian NGOs like WFP to
deliver relief aid to the affected
families. The US Congress ear-
marked $83 million for Yolanda
relief, he revealed.
Residents expressed grati-
tude to the US congressional
delegation for the relief aid.
They were also given the second
tranche of rice assistance at 10
kilos per head, aside from food
packs. Big families went home
with sacks of rice.
The WFP reportedly got $25
million of the $83 million that the
US Congress released for emer-
gency and rehabilitation efforts
in the Philippines.
Praveen Agrawal, WFP
country director, said they were
already in Leyte a day after
Yolanda hit. We were on the
rst ight in, a C-130, he said,
adding that they closely moni-
tored the situation although the
extent of the destruction was
beyond what they imagined.
Royce later called on
President Aquino at Malaca-
ang Palace in Manila.
The California solon is a
long-time supporter of the Phil-
ippines and the meeting was
second with the Philippine
leader in the past 13 months,
according to a statement from his
ofce in Washington DC.
Royce shared his observa-
tions of his visit to Tacloban and
paid homage to the Filipinos
resiliency amid great loss and
devastation. He also discussed
his concerns about land-grab-
bing and corruption at the local
government level as well as the
importance of US-Philippines
security cooperation.
Also in the meeting were
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert
Del Rosario, Justice Secretary
Leila de Lima, Under Secretary
of National Defense Pio Batino
and Acting Assistant Secre-
tary for American Affairs Gina
Jamoralin.
Congressman Joseph Kennedy, one of the heirs of the Kennedy political
legacy, helps re-pack rice in Tacloban City.
California Rep. Ed Royce with Pres-
ident Aquino in Manila.
Sample of Rogelio Santos buttery house.
March 1-15, 2014 21
the Ofce of International Migra-
tion, Bureau of Population, Refu-
gees and Migration, which plays
a key role in the approval of TPS.
Its been three months
since Typhoon Haiyan and were
still waiting for the US govern-
ment to act on what is clearly
a humanitarian crisis, said
FALDEF President JT Mallonga.
Thats why were mounting
a full-court press because time is
of the essence, he stressed.
The US was among the rst
countries to come to the aid
of storm survivors, deploying
men, ships and aircraft from the
nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
USS George Washington battle
group and the 3rd Marine Expe-
ditionary Brigade. The US also
gave $86.7 million in emergency
assistance.
Mallonga was joined in the
DHS meeting by Loida Nico-
las Lewis and Angie Cruz of
USPGG, and Manila Mail colum-
nist Jon Melegrito of NaFFAA.
Although the Federal gov-
ernment shut down because of
the snowstorm, the meeting at
DHS went through. We are
eager to listen to what you have
to say, said Silver, who com-
mended Cruz, Lewis and Mal-
longa for traveling all the way
from New York during stormy
weather.
We at DHS are completely
aware of the devastation caused
by Typhoon Yolanda and its
impact on Filipinos here in US.
Thats why we immediately
issued immigration relief mea-
sures to ease their plight.
On November 15, a week
after super typhoon Yolanda
(Haiyan) struck Central Philip-
pines, the US Citizenship and
Immigration Service (USCIS)
issued reminders to Filipino
nationals that they may be eli-
gible to benet from such mea-
sures as change or extension of
non-immigrant status.
We appreciate these relief
measures. But TPS is urgently
needed now and I hope you will
convey this to Secretary John-
son, Lewis told Silver during
the meeting.
She also underscored the
importance of the issue to US-
Philippine relations. I am sure
President Obama would like to
see this matter resolved when he
visits the Philippines in April. A
denial of TPS would have seri-
ous repercussions.
Mallonga, who prepared
an 8-page Memorandum of
Law, presented a copy to Silver
at the meeting. TPS is mainly a
humanitarian relief, he argued.
In the case of the Philippines,
Haiyan poses a threat or danger
to many Filipinos lives. Factors
such as displacement, depriva-
tion, extreme poverty and vio-
lence brought on by Typhoon
Haiyan warrant a humanitar-
ian response from the United
States.
FALDEF, NAFFAA and
USPGG are part of a nationwide
campaign led by Relief 2 Recov-
ery, a coalition of more than 100
civic and faith-based organiza-
tions and labor unions.
In the last three weeks,
leaders and activists have bom-
barded the White House, DHS,
DOS and congressional ofces
with letters, e-mails, phone calls,
faxes and personal visits.
They have also resorted
to social media, such as Face-
book and Twitter, to mobilize
mass action across the country.
Its organizing efforts have suc-
cessfully enlisted the bipartisan
support of nearly a hundred US
senators and congressmen.
The DHS has announced
that the week of Feb 24-28 will
be a period of public engage-
ment around TPS for the Philip-
pines. Through a teleconference,
DHS ofcials will provide back-
ground information, eld ques-
tions and gather feedback.
As a community, we can
not let up on our efforts now,
Lewis said. We have to keep
calling DHS and urge them to act
expeditiously and favorably on
this urgent matter.
Fil-Ams mount... from page 1
Philippines as an ofcer of both
the DC-based Asia America Ini-
tiative (AAI) and the Philippine
National Red Cross (PNRC) in
the United States, to coordinate
the massive relief operation in
the Typhoon Yolanda affected
areas in the Visayas.
I made sure that the money
collected from the Washington
DC area for the PNRC, acknowl-
edged with receipts, went to the
victims.
As PNRC representative, I
was able to collect much needed
funding to help the relief and
rehabilitation efforts in the
Visayas.
I also helped coordinate
through AAI president Albert
Santoli, three plane-loads of
medicines, supplies and equip-
ment worth over $15 million for
the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.
Not many people know San-
toli, an American, has given his
heart and soul to poor Filipinos.
Three months after the killer
typhoon, Leyte is still in bad
shape.
The airport although opera-
tional doesnt have enough seats
for the passengers. We can still
all that twisted steel and broken
pillars.
Most of the vehicles we saw
on the streets came from interna-
tional relief agencies such as the
Red Cross, United Nations, etc.
Many homes, farms, bridges
are destroyed. The bulldozers,
makeshift tents and construction
pits made the place look like a
war zone.
Some schools were open but
they were in reality just shells,
buildings that didnt have roofs
or could be missing a wall or two
and looking lthy.
Temporary schools built by
the PNRC and the Chinese Red
Cross were obvious in Tacloban
City; so were the International
Red Cross workers distributing
food to evacuees.
I visited the mass graves
where paid hands continued to
bury victims three months after
the storm.
They had no identities and
no one knows for sure the exact
number of people that had
been buried in the massive pit.
According to some, the almost
one acre parcel of land had four
layers of bodies, piled one layer
after another. The bigger corpses
at the bottom, then the next size
up till the smallest ones near the
surface.
The international agencies
are starting to leave. Their man-
date only allows them to be there
for only certain amount of time.
The only remaining agencies are
the PNRC and a handful of vol-
unteers from the International
Red Cross, DSWD, faith-based
organizations and NGOs.
Richard Gordon is a Filipino
leader born to lead, inspire and
help.
In all of his elected and
appointed positions in govern-
ment he had done a lot that
many Filipinos dont seem to
appreciate.
He is not media-savvy and
that is his worst fault, especially
when he is attacked with innuen-
dos and malicious accusations.
The PNRC was poorly led before
he took over its reins. Now it is
one of the top Red Cross Societ-
ies in the world. The Philippine
Red Cross is now modern; it has
lots of hardware and equipment;
can respond faster; and has thou-
sands of volunteers and chapters
all over the Philippines.
Theres a lot of planning
and talking about the millions,
even billions, of dollars needed
for rehabilitation but the how,
when, who and what is still
being discussed. Fortunately, the
Red Cross already made their
plans including the design of
replacement homes, how many
to build and where; providing
for schools and livelihood.
Last February 21, the Bah-
rain Red Cross signed on MOU
for the construction of the rst
500 homes, two schools, and two
health centers.
Other countries are also
involved: Taiwan, Swiss,
Canada, Italy, Germany, Spain,
Japan, and South Korea. All
these countries are coordinating
their efforts through the PNRC.
AAI started rehabilitating
schools in Iloilo; this includes a
feeding program for kids, dis-
tributing books and giving cash
assistance to some students.
A core of local volunteers
is stationed in Panay Island to
ensure the basic needs of the
evacuees are provided. AAI con-
tinues to provide food and medi-
cines to Batad, Concepcion, and
three other coastal towns in the
island. Major livelihood projects
are also underway in those ve
towns.
AAI continues to engage
in relief efforts in Bohol where
hundreds are still in evacuation
centers.
Construction of destroyed
homes, schools, hospitals and
other infrastructure is still
needed.
Zamboanga City has thou-
sands of evacuees living in two
government centers. The victims
lost their homes during the ght-
ing between separatist rebels
and soldiers last year.
There have been reports of
children dying in the evacua-
tion centers because of the lack
of adequate food, potable water
and medicines.
The cities of Cagayan de
Oro, Davao, Olongapo and Subic
damaged by typhoon Pablo and
ashoods from other storms
need badly need help due to the
shortage of safe water, damaged
homes and schools, and impass-
able roads that have cut off many
areas.
Mail editor on Yolanda... from page 1
tion Against Marcos Dictator-
ship in 1978-1986.
But even as Fil-Ams remem-
bered, the event that unied a
nation 28 years ago only seemed
to expose the rift among its prin-
cipal players and their heirs.
Former President Fidel V.
Ramos was left to commemorate
the historic bloodless uprising at
the People Power Monument, a
block away from EDSA Shrine.
It was there that nuns, seminar-
ians, wealthy matrons, students
and street vendors, people from
virtually every walk of life, gath-
ered to stop the tanks sent by
Marcos to quash the uprising.
President Corazon Aquino,
the current Presidents mother,
did not get to Manila until People
Power was well under way.
News that then Defense Minis-
ter Juan Ponce Enrile and then
national police chief Ramos had
defected from Marcos reached
Mrs. Aquino in Cebu where
cloistered nuns quickly hid her
in their convent.
Organizers say the festivi-
ties marking the Feb. 22-25, 1986,
uprising was held in Cebu City
partly to accommodate President
Aquinos wish to be one with
the people.
Keeping the bulk of the cel-
ebrations in the national capital
has been criticized repeatedly in
the past as a symbol of Imperial
Manila because many Filipinos
believe that Marcos was toppled
from his position through the
combined efforts of Filipinos
outside Metro Manila and even
some who resisted the dictator-
ship overseas.
The President, who refused
to declare a national holiday
for the anniversary unlike his
predecessors, instead held
town hall meetings with vic-
tims of Typhoons Pablo and
Yolanda and the 7.2-magni-
tude earthquake that struck the
Visayas region.
Presidential spokesman
Edwin Lacierda insisted the
President wanted to be one
with the people, especially those
who were affected by the natural
calamities.
But even as the President
ew to Cebu, a group of Yolanda
victims traveled all the way to
Manila to express their concern
over the supposedly slow pace of
rehabilitation in the Leyte area.
Pres. Aquino also visited
Cateel, Davao Oriental prov-
ince, which suffered from the
onslaught of Typhoon Pablo in
2012, and then to Loon, Bohol
province, which was hit by a big
earthquake last October.
After the traditional EDSA
salubungan (encounter) at
the Cebu provincial capitol, the
President proceeded to Bantayan
Island, then to Leyte and Samar
provinces.
The salubungan actually
marks an episode in the EDSA
revolt when Enrile abandoned
his Defense Ministry ofce and
marched, together with his secu-
rity force that also happened to
be the core leaders of the Reform
the AFP Movement (RAM), and
joined forces with Ramos at
Camp Crame.
But even as people re-
enacted events at EDSA nearly
three decades ago, both Ramos
and Enrile, facing prosecution
for his alleged role in the P10
billion pork barrel scam, were
noticeably absent.
I told them, I am 85.75
years old already. Be consider-
ate with your grandpa, who is
not to be just so casually told to
go to Cebu, Ramos said of his
absence in Cebu.
He called on political leaders
to unite, which seemed to have
added meaning amid reports
that he is forging an alliance
with former presidents Joseph
Estrada and Gloria Arroyo to
support a common candidate in
the 2016 elections.
PNoy shuns Manila... from page 1
March 1-15, 2014 22 22
supporting reform would only
invite primary challengers, the
MPI said.
Of the 232 House seats held
by Republicans, only 24 have
a Latino population of 25 per-
cent or higher. Of those, only
four were carried by President
Obama in 2012 and ve more
could potentially have a close
general election.
If Republicans control both
chambers next year, they could
tackle immigration on their
own terms, enjoy more leverage
in negotiations with the White
House, and earn much of the
credit, the MPI said.
The GOP majority in the
House of Representatives has
backed out of an initial plan to
tackle immigration reform, albeit
through a piecemeal approach,
this year.
The debate surrounding
House Republican leaderships
short-lived immigration initia-
tive has several implications for
when a new effort at legislation
resumes, they pointed out.
The writers noted that the
Republican trial balloon surfaced
some deep-seated tensions in the
diverse coalition that was crucial
to negotiating and passing the
Senate bill.
They said that after Presi-
dent Obama signaled openness
to the House Republican plan,
now apparently abandoned,
the AFL-CIO announced that
it would withdraw support for
immigration legislation if it did
not include a path to citizenship.
The fracture served as a
reminder that the coalition
made up of labor, faith, busi-
ness, and law enforcement
groupsrepresents a diverse set
of interests and could quickly fall
apart if lawmakers seek another
opportunity to compromise,
they surmised.
It also foreshadowed a
looming debate for congressio-
nal Democrats over how hard
they should hold out for an inde-
pendent path to citizenship for
the unauthorized, according to
the MPI.
Dems, GOP hunt for... from page 1
Drunk PAL passenger faces
jail for rampage
LOS ANGELES. A Filipino
passenger was arrested and
faces up to 20 years for punch-
ing a ight steward aboard a
US-bound Philippine Airlines
jet last Feb. 23.
Statements given to federal
agents claim 53-year old Edgar
Nonga admitted to having had
four drinks at the Ninoy Aquino
international Airport lounge
before boarding PAL ight 112
heading to Los Angeles.
Upon boarding, Nonga, a
California-based security guard
who visited relatives in the Phil-
ippines with his parents, helped
himself to a bottle of whiskey
that he saw in the planes galley.
He then had another drink,
then trouble started when the
crew decided to cut him off after
he asked for one more, accord-
ing to an ABS-CBN News report
by correspondent Steve Ange-
les.
Nonga reportedly began
cursing at ight attendants in
Tagalog and even threatened to
have one killed if they did not
give him another drink.
Some witnesses claim
Nonga then puckered his lips
in an attempt to kiss the female
ight attendant who tried to
make him stop drinking.
A male ight attendant
identied only as RL stopped
Nonga from kissing his co-
worker. Nonga allegedly began
punching the male ight atten-
dant in the torso and head.
After Nonga was
restrained, he returned to his
seat. His mother then spoke to
the attendants and told them
to do what you have to do
because Nonga wasnt listening
to his parents either.
Passengers and other crew
members were able to restrain
him. He was arrested upon
landing in Los Angeles and
now faces federal charges for
disrupting a ight crew which
carry a 20-year prison sentence.
Nonga, a former US navy
man, claims to have had no his-
tory of being diagnosed with
any mental illness and was
honorably discharged from the
Navy. Ofcials, however, say he
was arrested for drunk driving
in 2010.
Nonga, who is currently
free on $10,000 bail, is sched-
uled to appear in federal court
on April 1.
been removed because of alleged
disagreements with his boss,
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert
del Rosario.
Citing unnamed sources,
Mabasa said Soreta drew Del
Rosarios ire over delays in forg-
ing the proposed Framework
Agreement on Enhanced Defense
Cooperation and Rotation Pres-
ence that would govern the
increased US military presence
in the Philippines.
The scheduled visit of
President Obama in April has
heightened the pressure to have
an agreement ready for signing
before that date. Mabasa indi-
cated that an accord has been
blocked by heated discussions
on the extent of Philippine con-
trol and access over US facilities
to be constructed inside Philip-
pine military camps.
Soreta, speaking after
one of the meetings that alter-
nate between Washington and
Manila, had stressed the need
to clearly dene the limitations
of American forces while they
are operating inside Philippine
camps to avoid questions of
sovereignty that could push the
Philippine Senate to demand
that it ratify the agreement.
The Philippine Constitution
prohibits the permanent basing
of foreign military forces in the
country, although there is no law
or provisions that dene what
the charter may construe as per-
manent or temporary.
The Philippine and US
negotiators have already held
ve meetings since August last
year. The most recent one was
held last January in Washington
and the next one is scheduled in
Manila in March.
President Aquino has pub-
licly declared that a nal agree-
ment was near.
Mabasas report said Soreta
has now been relegated to head
the Foreign Service Institute. He
will be replaced by his former
executive director Gina Jamora-
lin as acting assistant secretary
of the Ofce of American Affairs.
Philippine Consul General
to Los Angeles Maria Hellen
Barber Dela Vega will take over
Jamoralins post.
Other members of the Phil-
ippine negotiating panel are
Defense Undersecretary for
Legal and Legislative Affairs
and Strategic Concerns Pio
Lorenzo Batino, Justice Under-
secretary Francisco Baraan III,
and Defense Assistant Secretary
Raymund Jose Quilop.
Soreta eased out of... from page 1
Suspect Edgar Nonga is taken off PAL ight by police.
Cox travels to Samar
hometown to buoy spirits
MANILA. Jessica Cox, the
inspiring Filipino American avia-
trix, martial arts expert and moti-
vational speaker, is travelling to
her mothers hometown in East-
ern Samar to share her message
of hope to the thousands strug-
gling to rise above the death and
devastation of super typhoon
Yolanda (Haiyan).
Cox and her husband Pat-
rick Chamberlain ew to the
Philippines to extend support
and assistance to families and
persons with disabilities (PWDs)
who survived the typhoon.
We want to raise aware-
ness to the fact that there are sur-
vivors, families, they still need
our support. What were hoping
to do is express our support and
bring hope as best we can, Cox
said.
Cox is working with the
Handicap International to
support the groups effort in
Yolanda-hit Tacloban city in
Leyte and in Eastern Samar.
They have some recipi-
ents that they have been work-
ing with who have disabilities.
So, we will be meeting with
them, those who were disabled
because of the typhoon or those
who have disabilities and sur-
vived this typhoon, Cox said.
The goal is, Cox added, to
personally meet the groups
recipients and also just to show
our support and awareness to
the rest of the world.
The couple and a team doc-
umenting the life of Jessica Cox,
will be staying in Tacloban City
for two days and spend another
two days in Guiuan.
Coxs mother, Inez, hails
from Bobon in the municipality
of Mercedes in Easter Samar.
It will be Coxs rst time to
return to Eastern Samar after the
typhoon. She and her husband
last went there in February of
last year.
I remember when we rst
heard of this typhoon and we
were praying that our family
was ok because my mothers
family is still there, near Guiuan,
about 20 minutes, Bobon, Mer-
cedes, Easter Samar, and we
have families also in Guiuan so
well be seeing them and hearing
what they went through and also
help support, she said.
Over 6,000 people have died
and scores are still missing when
the typhoon struck the Philip-
pines on November 8, 2013.
Coxs aunt was among the
thousands who perished in the
typhoon.
And I do have one aunt
who did pass away from the
surge. She drowned in the surge
and that was very hard to hear.
But there are so many other lives
that even if we dont personally
know them, our hearts go out to
the families and we continue to
be there to show our support,
she said.
Cox said she has so many
fond memories of her mothers
hometown where she rst vis-
ited when she was just eight
years old.
Armless Fil-Am inspiration Jessica Cox with husband Patrick Chamberlain.
March 1-15, 2014 23
Fil-Canadian teen invents battery-free ashlight
Ann Makosinski, a 16-year-
old Filipina-Canadian, may have
found the key to the future.
She was just another teen-
ager with another science project
when she joined her local science
fair in Victoria, Canada, last year.
Her invention, a ashlight that is
powered solely from hand heat,
took second place at the compe-
tition.
Its a very simple project,
said Arthur Makosinski, Anns
father. It has four electrical
components. Lets move on and
do something different.
But had Ann left her project
in Victoria, situated just 25 miles
north of Washington State, the
world may have missed out on
a light source that doesnt use
batteries, solar power or wind
energy.
Writer Andrew Lampard
said this in his Yahoo! News
blog: Think about that for a
moment: a ashlight that shines
for as long as you hold onto it.
No more scrambling for and
chucking away AA batteries. It
could have an immediate impact
on more than 1.2 billion people
-- one-fth of the worlds popu-
lation -- who, according to the
World Bank, lack regular access
to electricity.
Stunningly, no one on
record has thought to use ther-
moelectric technology to power
a ashlight.
Lampard wrote the article
about Ann Makosinskis incred-
ible ashlight, but the story gets
better as he traces back what
drove the teen to do it in the rst
place.
The peltier tiles, which pro-
duce an electrical current when
opposite sides are heated and
cooled at the same time, turned
out to be a convenient solution to
a friends study problem.
Lampard related that two
years ago, Ann, who is half-Fil-
ipino, was corresponding with
a friend of hers in the Philip-
pines who didnt have electric-
ity. According to Ann, her friend
couldnt complete her home-
work and was failing in school.
That was the inspiration
for my project. said Ann, I just
wanted to help my friend in the
Philippines and my ashlight
was a possible solution.
Ann got to work. She
remembered hearing human
beings described as walking 100-
volt light bulbs: I thought, why
not body heat? We have so much
heat radiating out of us and its
being wasted.
After a few prototypes, she
unveiled her hollow ashlight,
so named because it has a hollow
aluminum tube at its core that
cools the sides of the peltier tiles
attached to the ashlights cyl-
inder. The other side is warmed
by heat from a hand gripping the
ashlight.
Ann spent several months
designing the ashlight and g-
uring out its voltage conversion.
Much has been written online
about powering a ashlight with
peltier tiles, but those devices
used heat from candles and blow
torches.
Anns patent-pending pro-
totype relies on hand warmth
only and required that she make
her own transformer, among
other difference-making factors.
Art Makosinski remembers
his surprise when Ann gured
out how to light the ashlights
bulbs at 20 millivolts: I didnt
believe it, I had to inspect the cir-
cuit. I said what did you do here,
do you have a hidden battery on
the other side?
At the behest of Kate Paine,
her ninth grade marine biology
teacher at St. Michaels Univer-
sity School, Ann submitted her
ashlight into the 2013 Google
Science Fair last spring. She
promptly forgot all about it.
Thousands of kids apply from
around the world. She said she
didnt think she had a chance.
A few months later, in Sep-
tember 2013, Ann was named a
nalist in her age group. She trav-
elled to Googles headquarters
in Mountain View, Ca. to pres-
ent alongside equally impres-
sive projects, like a cure for the
common cold and a robotic exo-
skeleton. I didnt expect to win
anything, she said.
At the science fairs gala
night, Ann and Art mingled
among top Google engineers,
eminent scientists and some of
the most innovative kids on the
planet. Hers was the last name
they expected to be called out the
winner for her age group. When
it was, Art almost dropped his
camera. Ann oated to the stage
as if welded to a conveyer belt;
her face was frozen in shock.
Her prize was a trophy
made out of Legos, a visit to the
Lego Group headquarters in
Denmark, and a $25,000 scholar-
ship.
I still have some of the
same confetti that rained down,
said Ann. Just an amazing expe-
rience and probably something I
wont experience ever again.
When Ann returned to
Victoria, she received a stand-
ing ovation at her high schools
Monday morning assembly. In
the months since, she has given
three TEDx talks and appeared
on the Tonight Show Starring
Jimmy Fallon.
I think its a lesson that
children can innovate, said
Art Makosinski. With the right
incentive and environment, they
can be quite innovative.
Lampard said people have
asked Ann where she wants to
attend university, expecting her
to name the likes of Stanford or
MIT. Ann said shes not thinking
that far ahead; she needs to get
through the eleventh grade rst.
And then theres the busi-
ness of securing her ashlights
patent and tweaking the pro-
totype for market. At roughly
24 lumens, Anns ashlights
brightness falls shy of commer-
cial ashlights, which output
dozens if not hundreds of
lumens.
Of her efforts to increase her
ashlights voltage efciency,
she said, I want to make sure
my ashlight is available to those
who really need it.
Fil-Am NASCAR driver tries chops in Batangas circuit
LOS ANGELES. Don
Pastor, the rst Filipino Ameri-
can NASCAR driver is heading
to the Philippines to complete
pre-qualication requirements
for the next and nal phases of
competition.
Pastor will be testing at the
2014 Asian V8 Championship
on April 4-6 in Batangas. This
event invites all national com-
petitors to the Philippines for a
pre-qualifying date on March
1 to determine which division
the racers will compete in. Don
hopes to compete in NASCARs
Pro-Class Division.
Last year, I went to the
UK to test for a GT3 Porsche
cup team and right after that, I
went to France to compete in the
Euro NASCAR series, Pastor
recalled. At this competition, I
placed number 13 out of almost
50 drivers. I was then named the
First Fil-Am NASCAR driver in
France.
He will be arriving a few
days early for his upcoming
race to meet the press and event
sponsors before driving up to
the Batangas Racing Circuit.
Some of his previous spon-
sors have included Petron Gas
and Bench. Whoever wins the
competition will be fully spon-
sored by the Asian V8 Organiza-
tion to go to the USA NASCAR,
Pastors ultimate goal for his
racing career.
Racing is all about pre-
cision, Pastor explained. It
makes me feel at peace and its
also about glory for our country,
the Philippines. I want to pro-
mote the Philippines through
my racing. Hopefully through
success in the sports, business
and arts we can become a thriv-
ing nation and improve our
position in the world.
A native of Southern Cali-
fornia, Pastor was born and
raised in Glendale.
The son of Filipino immi-
grations, Pastor developed his
interest in racing at the age of
four. His family moved back to
the Philippines where he spent
most of his childhood and teen-
age years.
Under the Federation
of International Automo-
biles (FIA), the committee
that approves racing licenses,
I received my license to race
when I was 15 years old, Pastor
said. The legal age in the Phil-
ippines to start driving was 16,
but I had been using a big bike
to get me to and from my high
school since I was 13.
Pastor began his racing
career in 2000, training until
his rst competition in 2002,
in the Philippine Touring Car
Junior Championship, going up
against veterans nearly twice his
age. This was his rst taste of
racing competition..
I was competing in local
Philippine races at the time and
there was a weekend that our
series shared a race track with
the Asian Touring Car Cham-
pionship drivers, he remem-
bered.
To date, Pastor has been in
eight race organizations and has
competed in approximately 96
races in his career.
His favorite race organi-
zation is the Europe Formula
BMW. However, he strongly
believes that the upcoming
Asian V8 Championship is going
to be more exciting because it is
launched in his native country.
Pastor will be competing
and representing the Philip-
pines, armed with a humble
and open-mindedness instilled
while growing up in the Philip-
pines.
Growing up in an amazing
country, an amazing neighbor-
hood, and an amazing school, I
knew that when I nished my
education there I wanted to take
everything my homeland taught
me and use it to build my char-
acter, he said.
A proud Filipino, he pro-
motes his heritage within his
chosen eld. I get involved
with charities and make sure
to give back to my community
for my blessings and talents,
Pastor said.
Pastor returned in 2005
and 2006 to the United States to
pursue his degree in computer
science. Although he thinks
this background has helped
him personally, he didnt have
enough passion to turn it into a
life-long career.
In 2007, he went back to the
Philippines again to race, and
in 2009 he became the overall
Touring Car Champion. He was
also elected by FIA that Driver
of Year and Philippine Endur-
ance Champion.
Ann Makosinski holding her ashlight invention.
Fil-Am Don Pastor
March 1-15, 2014 24 24
Scary time for pork
thieves
MANILA
I
s the law catching up with
the legislators who had alleg-
edly skimmed off their PDAF
allocations? Are these legislators
quaking in their boots now?
The so-called pork barrel
scam here is the most scandal-
ous case of theft of the peoples
money in recent times. Suppos-
edly a brainchild of pork queen
Janet Lim Napoles, the scheme
involved using legislators pork
barrel -- ofcially called Priority
Development Assistance Fund
(PDAF) -- to ostensibly nance
projects across the country.
But, in most cases, the projects
existed on paper only but not on
the ground.
The PDAF money, almost
intact precisely because there
were never any actual projects,
was allegedly shared by Napoles,
legislators, and people in the
government bureaucracy who
helped Napoles make the proj-
ects look real. In all, the Napoles
scam had allegedly amassed P10
billion.
But a monkey wrench hit
the works.
For some reason or another,
some of Napoles staff squealed
on her and told all. Prominently
among these former Napoles
associates is the unappable
Benhur Luy, a Napoles kin
whose relationship with her
somehow soured. Luy and his
co-whistleblowers exposed the
Napoles scam, complete with
a truckload of evidence. The
bulky evidence was sent to the
Ombudswoman, who is investi-
gating.
And now, the feces has
really hit the ventilator. A former
suspect in the scam who was
on the lam abroad has returned
to offer her testimony as a state
witness, in return for immunity
from prosecution.
Ruby Tuason, formerly
associated with ex-President
Joseph Estrada, has come for-
ward from self-exile to buttress
the governments case against
the accused, among whom, as
everybody knows, are Sens. Jing-
goy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile
and Bong Revilla.
From the mouths of Justice
Secretary Leila de Lima and Tua-
sons attorney, Tuason is touted
to have corroborative evidence
against the accused. De Lima,
borrowing from basketball par-
lance, claims Tuasons testimony
is a slam dunk for the govern-
ments case.
So, are the accused senators
(and the others) now trembling
in their boots, with immediate
incarceration hovering over their
heads because the charge of plun-
der is non-bailable? Arrest seems
a distinct possibility although the
timing is still up in the air. It will
be up to the Ombudswoman and
the Sandiganbayan, the special
court that handles cases against
public ofcials.
The accused dont look
overly perturbed, though.
Jinggoy Estrada has claimed
surprise and puzzlement over
Tuasons surfacing, claiming, as
before, innocence. Jinggoys dad,
the deposed ex-President and
now mayor of Manila, is con-
dent his son will emerge from
this scrap unscathed. Enrile and
Revilla have been virtually silent.
Perhaps its the bravado of
people used to wielding power
that makes Jinggoy Estrada
appear nonplussed. The Estra-
das have both tasted power and
undergone the agony and angst
of a court trial where they were
accused of plunder years ago.
As we all know, Estrada the
younger escaped jail, but Estrada
the elder paid for his crime,
although he did time in less spar-
tan and humiliating conditions.
Jinggoy must be a splendid
poker player because his counte-
nance betrays no anxiety or fear.
But then again, he is an actor,
albeit not a superb one, and he
can put up a brave face with ease.
Whichever is the case, Jing-
goy exudes the condence of
a gambler with an ace up his
sleeve.
The pork barrel scam cases,
if they do reach the courts, will
be pitting lawmakers who have
gotten accustomed to pulling
levers of power on one side and
two of the so-called Three Furies
-- de Lima and Ombudswoman
Conchita Carpio-Morales -- on
the other side. (The third Fury is
Kim Henares, the indefatigable
internal revenue commissioner
whos been relentlessly going
after tax evaders.)
Continued on page 30
On the Nomads in Our Midst
I
dont know what to make of
them, these groups I always
meet at the Hong Kong
International Airport, the usual
nal leg of my regular trip to
the Philippines. Waiting to be
boarded on their ticketed ights
to Manila, they are a lively bunch
to watch. They all come from dif-
ferent parts of the globe, but they
all talk to each other with a famil-
iarity of long-lost friends or rela-
tives. In their easily-recognizable
accents, they share experiences,
joke about their mishaps, trade
tips on getting jobs with higher
pay, and mostly, just to talk to
seek and feel kinship.
They are the Overseas
Workers, an exclusive term
assigned by the government
agency to men and women
doing contractual jobs outside
the boundaries of the Philip-
pines. The passports they carry
with pride sum up the number
of entries to and exists from
the countries they have gone
through, like the number of
beads they nger on the rosary
they always carry in their pock-
ets or wallets. They all know
their status and importance;
their government had to create
a special agency for their pro-
tection and needs abroad. Their
identity is well-marked in the
remittances they send regularly
from overseas, contributing to
the countrys income and thus,
to economic growth.
In my heart, I am nding the
emotion to feel for them. They
might as well be heroes to their
families and the country. They
are a special breed, no doubt. But
I am decades far removed from
their generation that I struggle
to dene, selshly, the degree of
admiration I should owe them.
My own two siblings have
been parts of these groups. They
both started separately as ship
hands in oil tankers that go
from one port, harbor or moor-
age to another loading and
unloading their precious cargo.
Their years of work experience,
backed by the diploma earned at
one of Manilas merchant acade-
mies, propelled them to position
of rst mate, a rank one step
below a captain.
In my brothers jobs, they
work, sleep and eat in their
respective ship six to seven
months at a time. Part of their job
contracts allows them to spend
back home four to ve weeks of
respite with their own family. As
with all overseas workers, the
state of separateness, feelings of
isolation, are inherent in the jobs
they perform. What keeps them
connected, rooted to their loved
ones, is through the technologi-
cal wonders of cellphones and
Skype dot com. Bottled- up emo-
tions, and sometime tears, are
exchanged in agreed-upon time
and distance. In one of very rare
moments spent bantering with
them, I would call them nomads.
Nomads they maybe, but
my brothers, like all the other
overseas workers, are parts and
parcel of Philippine culture. Like
the Badjaos in the Islands of
Tawi-Tawi, in the southwestern
parts of the archipelago, a few
nautical miles from the South
China Sea, my siblings travel
endlessly but not aimlessly.
They have their own missions,
their own dreams and hopes for
the future. They lead what the
Germans call wanderleben
(roving life) and their work-
ing experiences wanderjahre
(years of travel).
The Badjaos life is akin to
the seasonal migration of birds,
mammals, or butteries, like the
monarchs moving from north
or east to south of Mexico, the
surges the salmons make, or the
birds descending on the church
towers in Capistrano. Badjaos
depend on movement to survive.
Their houses are their boats and
their movement from one moor-
age to another is a part of their
culture. Until the Philippine gov-
ernment instituted a program for
them to live on land, those that
remained and opted for life on
the sea had led a predictable pat-
tern of roaming about or around.
The Badjaos have been
known to be excellent shermen.
From youth they learned the
cycles of shifting winds, tides,
currents, and schools of sh.
They are familiar with tricky
channels through reefs and rocks.
They know the specic locations
in waters by names. The moon is
their calendar and the phases of
the moon give them the knowl-
edge they need to survive on the
move. But this knowledge is not
enough in times of dire needs;
the margin of survival most
of the time stretches very thin,
ending frequently in disasters.
The Badjaos live on house-
boats, as with their neighbors,
the Tausugs, moving around
Jolo Islands, northeast of Tawi-
Tawi. A houseboat would call on
an island for drinking water, re-
wood, or for cassava and other
produce that farmers trade for
sh. A Badjao houseboat rarely
remains in one moorage for as
long as one month.
In the history of the world,
nomads have been parts of the
earths creation. Like the Bad-
jaos, nomads have always been
in our midst. The Ibn of Sarawak;
the Lapps of Finland; the Gaud-
iliya Lahars, wandering Hindu
artisans in the villages of Rajas-
than, India; the Bedouins of the
desert sands in Saudi Arabia; the
Taureqs of the Sahara regions of
Algeria, Mali, and Niger; and the
Guajiros in Colombia and Ven-
ezuela, in South Americaall of
them add colors and wonders to
the geographical makeup of the
world.
In our own time and in
our own country, the USA, our
lives are not without the normal
effects the present-day nomads
bring us. The foods we eat daily
come mostly from the farms in
California and Florida tended by
seasonal workers from Mexico
and parts of Central America.
The beach resorts and hotels
make our summer holidays
and recreations worth spending
through these establishments
part-time employment of Euro-
peans. These workers go from
one employment to another,
nomads in their own ways.
Filipinos living in the Philip-
pines and elsewhere in the globe
are peoples of 7.101 islands,
always succumbing to a persis-
tent siren call to go out of the
island-conclaves to commerce
and to pursue individual dreams,
aspirations that are parts of a
cultural identity. The nomads,
like the Badjaos, the overseas
workers, and my brothers, rely
on movement to survive, and the
path they follow leaves recogniz-
able marks on Filipino culture.
Relying on mans oldest way of
survival, they nd freedom and
identity in the life they lead.
March 1-15, 2014 25
Our self-healing power
I
n spite of all the powerful
inventions of man, includ-
ing the super computers and
other state-of-the-art electronic
devices, they have not come
close to matching the amazing
super human body. Even the
production of these man-made
machines cannot compare with
the wonderful miracle of cre-
ation itself, from fertilization
in the womb to the actual birth
of the child, to the progressive
growth of all components and
softwares and the escalation in
the sophistication of their versa-
tile abilities and functions as they
mature. After they are manufac-
tured, machines are limited to
their standard specs and narrow
options, if any, and do not regen-
erate and repair themselves to
the mind-boggling degree the
human body does on its own,
naturally.
From the moment the sperm
penetrates and fertilizes the
ovum, cell divisions continue
until all the tissues and organs
are formed up to the delivery
of the newborn. Throughout
those stages of development, cell
repairs and regeneration are con-
stantly taking place. As a matter
of fact, the same self-healing
takes place everyday in all of us
until we die. That is the marvel-
ous intrinsic power of healing
our human body has.
Bodily auto-response
When we sustain a cut, the
body reacts by constricting the
blood vessel to control the bleed-
ing. The blood also automatically
thickens to promote clotting. The
white blood cells accumulate at
the injured site and secrete lyso-
some to break down and digest
dead cells and the macrophages
engulf the debris and get rid of
them, cleaning the area for new
cell formation as part of the heal-
ing process. To soothe the pain,
the bodys built-in pharmacy
releases morphine-like substance
to reduce the hurt and provide
mild sedation. All these happen
spontaneously, simultaneously,
and efciently, under normal
and healthy situation. This is
how powerful and wonderful
the human body is.
However, if the individual
has abused his body with inac-
tivity, unhealthy diet, smoking,
excess alcoholic intake, unman-
aged stress, and poor hygiene,
then the DNA of this person
has sustained some damage and
his/her immune system has
been weakened and the bodys
defense system is lower as a
result. Compared to a healthier
body, this one will have a lower
resistance, heal poorly, and be
at a higher risk for infection and
other potential complications. As
such, this person is generally also
more susceptible to have dis-
eases like high blood pressure,
diabetes, heart attack, stroke,
cancer, and even Alzheimers.
Round the clock cell
vigilance
When a person develops
Approval of petitions after death of relative
I
n the past, if the petitioner
dies while the visa petition
is pending, the beneciary
would not be entitled to seek
approval of the petition. The law
changed with the amendment
of Sec. 204(l) of the Immigration
Act in 2009.
Under current law, an alien
seeking immigration benet
through a deceased qualifying
relative may obtain approval
of a visa petition or adjustment
application and refugee/asylee
relative petition if the alien meets
the following illegibility require-
ments:
Resided in the United States
when the qualifying relative
died;
Continues to reside in the
United States on the date of the
decision on the pending petition
or application;
Is at least one of the follow-
ing:
the beneciary of a pending
or approved immediate relative
visa petition;
the beneciary of a pending or
approved family-based visa peti-
tion, including beneciary and
any derivative beneciaries;
any derivative beneciary of
a pending or approved employ-
ment-based visa-petition;
the beneciary of appending
or approved Form I-730, Refu-
gee/Asylee Relative Petition;
an alien admitted as a deriva-
tive T or U nonimmigrant;
or
a derivative asylee.
The Immigration Service
denes qualifying relative as
an individual who immediately
before death, was:
the petitioner or principal
beneciary in a family-based
petition;
the principal beneciary in an
employment-based visa petition;
the petitioner in a refugee/
asylee relative petition;
the principal alien admitted as
a T or U nonimmigrant;
the principal asylee who was
granted asylum.
VISA PRIORITY DATES FOR THE PHILIPPINES
MARCH 2014
FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES
First: Unmarried sons/daughters
of US citizens Aug. 15, 2001
Second:
A: Spouses/minor children of
permanent residents: Sep. 08, 2013
B: Unmarried sons/daughters 21 years
of age or older of permanent residents Jun 08, 2003
Third: Married sons/daughters of citizens Feb. 15, 1993
Fourth: Brothers/sisters of citizens Sep. 01, 1990
EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES
First: Priority workers Current
Second: Professionals holding advanced
degrees or persons of exceptional ability Current
Third: Skilled workers, professionals May 15, 2007
Other Workers May 15, 2007
Fourth:
Certain Religious Workers Current
Fifth: Employment creation/
(Million or half-million dollar investor) Current
Continued on page 30
Establishing credit history
W
hen I came to the
United States years
ago, I tried several
times to apply for a credit card.
But all of my applications were
declined. They were saying the
same thing to me I did not have
enough credit. I was wondering
why not approve my applica-
tion so I could start my credit?
Sounds familiar? This could also
happen to you especially if you
do not have any credit history at
all.
Coming from a country
wherein most if not all purchase
transactions were done in cash
basis, it would be challenging
to answer this scenario. The
good thing is we dont need to
have the necessary funds to buy
something expensive in America
like a car or a house because we
can apply for a loan to get these
things. Again, where would you
start to establish your credit his-
tory? Let me tell you how.
Be an authorized user if
you have relatives or friends
who already have credit cards,
you could ask them to request
their bank to include you as an
authorized user of the account.
They will provide to their credi-
tors your basic information such
as name, address, date of birth,
social security number, etc. This
process does not guarantee any
approval for your next applica-
tion of your own but will give
some kind of credit score in the
near future.
Apply with a co-borrower
this is like an authorized user
as mentioned above. But this
method would include you as
another borrower who is respon-
sible for the balances that the
credit card may incur. Make
sure that you apply with some-
one who has already established
good credit as it will give weight
on the entire application. The
established borrower may have
been receiving offers in the mail
that you may want to explore
with them.
Secured Credit Card if you
want to apply on your own, one
of the best ways is to ask your
bank if they are offering secured
credit card. Your banker will ask
you to open a savings account
and make a certain amount of
deposit. Then you will apply for
a credit card with a credit limit
that is equivalent to your deposit
as security in case you will not
pay them. For example, you
open a savings account in the
amount of $500. Your bank will
put a hold on it and will give you
a credit card with a credit limit of
$500. The money in that savings
account cannot be withdrawn
unless you pay the balance and
close your secured credit card.
Secured Loan this is some-
what similar to a secured credit
card except it is one time xed
loan. Your banker will put on the
savings account the amount you
want to borrow as collateral. For
example, you apply for a $1,000
personal loan that will be given
to you to be paid on a monthly
basis with xed amount for a cer-
tain period of time, say one year.
Before giving the loan amount,
you have to open and deposit
$1,000 to an account wherein
they will put a hold on it. After
the loan is paid off, your bank
will return your deposit.
When you get your credit
card, make sure you use it. No
need to buy expensive things.
Use your card when you go to
convenience stores, buy gaso-
line, purchase coffee at your
favorite place and many other
small purchases. Limit your bal-
ance to 50% of your credit limit.
Once you get your monthly
statement, try to pay only the
minimum amount due or at
least leave some balance. Dont
pay-off. Remember your goal is
to establish credit. Use the card
as often as you could and do the
same thing as stated. Perhaps,
you have to continue this cycle in
a year. By the way, if your credit
card company offers an auto-
matic payment from your check-
ing account, always avail it. Most
important of all, pay on time and
never be late on your payment!
When you get your rst
credit card, offers will start
coming in the mail. Dont apply
yet as they will always pull your
credit. Avoid having so many
credit inquiries. You have to
wait for about 6 months to start
applying for new cards. Try to
maintain no more than four (4)
cards. Be disciplined and smart
in using your credit cards.
Once your credit is estab-
lished, maintain a good payment
record so in the future when you
need to buy your own house,
you will be ready for a mortgage
loan.
Until next time.
Continued on page 30
March 1-15, 2014 26 26
BRAISED ROCKFISH
R
ocksh is my familys
favorite and I always love
to cook it. However, a
caveat is in order for this type of
sh. You dont cook rocksh if
it is not really fresh because the
taste will be disappointing. I
have learned this from past expe-
rience.
Just recently, I was lucky
enough to come upon a very
fresh and just delivered whole
rocksh. I had it cleaned and
lleted at the store and imme-
diately cooked it when I got
home. We had a mouth-water-
ingly delicious sh dish, t for a
king to eat. This brings to mind
my vacations in the Philippines,
where we can buy the freshest
sh straight from the shermans
boat.
Ingredients:
4 rocksh llets, cut into
serving pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 small shallots, nely
chopped
thumb size ginger, julienne
1 cup water or little more
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 tablespoon white wine
1 bay leaf
Pinch dried basil
6 pieces cherry tomatoes,
halves
Salt and pepper
1 stalk spring onions (cut
into 1 crosswise)
Garnish: Freshly chopped
parsley
Methods:
Saut shallots and ginger
with olive oil in a non-stick
skillet (about 2 minutes). Add
water, oyster sauce, white wine,
bay leaf, and basil and simmer
for another 2 minutes.
Drop the sh in simmering
aromatic sauce and cook covered
for 10-12 minutes over medium
heat.
In the middle of braising the
sh, add tomatoes and season
with salt and pepper. Continue
cooking until the sh changed
its color and the sauce has thick-
ened slightly. Before removing
the sh from heat, add the spring
onions and garnish before serv-
ing.
Editors Note about Master
Chef Evelyn: 100 Most Influential
Filipina Women in the U.S., 2009,
Filipina Womens Network; MHC
Most Outstanding Migrant Award
in Culinary Arts, 2011; PAFC
Dakila Special Achievement Award,
2011; Owner/Chef, Philippine Ori-
ental Market & Deli, Arlington,
Virginia; Founder and President of
CHEW (Cancer Help Eat Well)
Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) public
charity formed to help and cook pro-
bono for Filipino-Americans who
are afflicted with cancer and other
serious illnesses; Culinary writer;
Member, Les Dames dEscoffier
International, Washington DC
Chapter; Member, International
Cake Exploration Society, Member,
Culinary Historians of Washington,
D.C.; Master Chef, French Cuisine
and Patisserie, Le Cordon Bleu,
London.
ROBBERS
A
pair of Michigan rob-
bers entered a record
shop nervously waving
revolvers. The rst one shouted,
Nobody move! When his
partner moved, the startled rst
bandit shot him.
WHISKEY
A man goes into a bar and
seats himself on a stool. The bar-
tender looks at him and says,
Whatll it be buddy?
The man says, Set me up
with seven whiskey shots and
make them doubles. The bar-
tender does this and watches
the man slug one down, then
the next, then the next, and so on
until all seven are gone almost
as quickly as they were served.
Staring in disbelief, the bar-
tender asks why hes doing all
this drinking.
Youd drink them this fast
too if you had what I have.
The bartender hastily asks,
What do you have, pal?
The man quickly replies, I
have a dollar.
SLOW GOLFERS
Joe decides to take his boss
Phil to play 9 holes on their
lunch. While both men are play-
ing excellent they are held up
by two women in front of them
moving at a very slow pace. Joe
offers to talk to the women and
see if they can speed it up a bit.
He gets about half of the way
there, stops and jogs back.
His boss asks what the prob-
lem is. Well one of those women
is my wife and the other is my
mistress, explained Joe. Phil
just shook his head and started
toward the women determined
to nish his round of golf. Pre-
paring to ask the ladies to speed
up their game, he too stopped
short and turned around.
Joe asked whats wrong?
Its a small, small world Joe, and
youre red, replied the boss.
CROSSWORD
Carlos is doing the cross-
word puzzle on the train to
work. Beside him is his friend,
Sonny who is also doing the
same puzzle. Two nuns are also
seated in front of them. After a
while Sonny asked Carlos:
Sonny: Do you know the
answer to 32 across?
Carlos: You mean the
4-letter word meaning inter-
course and ending in a k?
Sonny: Yeah, thats the one.
Carlos: Sure, the answer is
talk.
One of the nuns said,
Excuse me Sister Angela, but
would you pass me the eraser?
PROMISE
Yaya after being scolded for
breaking her promises: Maam,
hindi na po ako mangangako
ulitpromise!
SA TAGALOG
Dont Let Me Be The Last
To Know! - Huwag Mo Akong
Gawing Tanga!
You Should Know By Now
- Alam Mo Na Dapat Ngayon
Yan, Tanga!
Total Eclipse Of The Heart -
Maitim Ang Puso
Power Of Love - Buntis
Three Times A Lady - Super
Bakla
More Than A Woman -
Tomboy
AYAW
Boy and girl checks in sa
motel.
Girl: Bakit mo ako dinala
dito?
Boy: Pakakasalan naman
kita, ah.
Girl: Ayoko rito.
Boy: Wala ka bang tiwala sa
akin?
Girl: Basta ayaw ko. Mahina
kasi ang aircon nila dito, eh.
KUYA
Anak: Nay, Nay, si kuya,
mamamatay na yata.
Nanay: Bakit anak, anong
nangyayari sa kuya mo?
Anak: Nandun sa kuwarto,
nangingisay, tumitirik ang mata
at bumubula ang kanyang ano.
SINO?
Gorio: Sino ang pumatay
kay Magellan?
Isko: Eh, di si Lapulapu.
Gorio: Sino naman ang
pumatay kay Lapulapu?
Isko: Ewan, itanong mo sa
biyenan ko.
Gorio: Bakit?
Isko: Siya kasi ang nag-ihaw
nun, eh.
BAKIT
Nasa pintuan ng langit ang
isang pari at isang drayber.
Pari: Bakit naman ako
mapupunta sa purgatoryo
samantalang isa akong pari.
At bakit itong drayber pa ang
pupunta sa langit?
San Pedro: Ganito yun.
Noong tuwing magsesermon ka,
lahat ng nagsisimba ay natutu-
log. Samantalang tuwing nag-
mamaneho itong drayber na ito,
lahat ng pasahero ay nagdarasal.
March 1-15, 2014 27
The Polar
Vortex
W
hats that? Someone
from the West Coast
asked me as she lis-
tened to the TV weather news
coming from the East Coast.
Even here, were not too familiar
with it. The meteorologists sup-
posedly knew, but only a few
ever mentioned about it when
forecasting our weather condi-
tion. It has something to do with
the abnormal behavior of the
weather conditions happening
in East Coast, Midwest and some
parts in the West Coast, but the
coverage of above terminology
was not clear enough for the
laymen to understand.
I wanted to know more
about it, but of course, other
people out there must have suf-
cient knowledge or are scien-
tically savvy on the matter.
I checked the internet. It said,
Polar Vortex also known as
polar cyclone is a persistent,
large-scale cyclone near either
of a planets geographical
poles. Furthermore, The cli-
mate change is the result of the
stratospheric circulation that
can have anomalous effects on
weather regimens, a statistical
circulator between weak polar
vortex and outbreaks of severe
cold in Northern Hemisphere.
Did you understand it? Perhaps
you did. But honestly, I can only
pick up some sense of it, but then
again, some very technical terms
like stratospheric circulation,
weather regimens, statistical cir-
culator, weak polar vortex, etc.
are not clear to me. Because of
this, I lost the connections that
I was trying very hard to deci-
pher. I needed to dene impor-
tant technical terminologies that
I have encountered.
My husband advised me not
to pursue this topic that I was not
familiar with, but I did it, even if
I had to start from the very basic
route of looking for denition of
words in the dictionary:
Polar- I simply knew it was
opposing sides, like a political
candidate who has a polarizing
effect on the general public by
taking one side which result to
dividing people. Seriously, it
meant points on the earths sur-
face where a magnetic needle
dips vertically, situated near
the North or South poles, the
opposite ends of the top axis of a
sphere of the earth.
Vortex- Like a cyclone, it is
a whirling motion of any uid,
forming depression in center of
circle; whirlpool; whirling mass
of air, re, etc. which draws
with irresistible power. Plural of
vortex is vortices.
Hemisphere- The opposite
spheres are the Northern and the
Southern. Half of the sphere of
the earth is the Northern Hemi-
sphere (the cold states in the
US and other countries) and the
other half is the Southern Hemi-
sphere (the warm states in the
US and other countries, Philip-
pines included).
Stratosphere- It means the
upper part of atmosphere, about
six miles or more above earth.
Not a meteorologist or
a self-proclaimed savvy on
weather condition matters, I
can only use Hurricane Sandy
that we saw and I read about as
an example of this Polar Vortex
abnormality that happened two
years ago in the East Coast and
the weather madness that we
are currently experiencing here
and in other U.S. regions. Some
parts of California had snow fall,
cold weather in Florida and like-
wise some snow in the Midwest,
oods that besieged many states,
and warm/hot weather condi-
tion in cold states. Was Mother
Nature confused? The believers
of global warming were disap-
pointed. To delve into the matter
a little bit, our weather condi-
tions went crazy when the pres-
sure and temperature gradient
of the polar vortex became weak
, transporting warmer air to the
North pole and sending polar air
to lower or warmer altitudes.
The recent polar vortex
episodes in January brought
extremely low temperatures to a
good deal of North America. As
reported, In February (now), the
atmospheric phenomenon, usu-
ally conned to the Arctic regions
of earth will be dipping down
once again into many states. The
most likely affected areas will be
Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin
and the Dakotas. The warmer
temperature in the 50s and 60s
will bring rain instead of snow.
Though it might be a nice break
from the freezing temps, unfor-
tunately, this is actually a bad
thing the much snow packs on
the frozen ground in the Cen-
tral and Northeastern U.S. could
lead to ash ooding.This for
sure, will bring another immense
loss to people, properties and
livelihood. Governors are now
in tight situation coping with
the State of Emergency status
in their respective states as their
nancial resources have been
depleted during the recent past
calamities. Thus, help from the
Federal government is immi-
nent.
In Ending
I felt good writing about
Polar Vortex which my husband
said I knew very little about. I
admit, but at least I tried, and
only armed with awareness, lim-
ited exposure, knowledge and
resources on the subject, matter,
I forced myself to make some
efforts to look into it. I look for-
ward to the awakening of Spring!
* * * * *
Note : With gladness, I share
with you these messages from
my children on my recent birth-
day:
Our Dearest Mother,
On your birthday, with
gratitude, you deserve recogni-
tion for all youve done through
the years. It wasnt always easy,
but you kept on doing what you
could to raise us right and see
that we were loved.
We hope you know we
appreciate that and are grateful
for the place you hold in our
lives. Thank you for all the love
you give, Mom. We appreciate
and are grateful to you and all
the blessings in our lives.
All through our lives, weve
known we could turn to you to
help us think things through or
gure out just what direction was
right for us. With your steady
patience, love and understand-
ing , youve not only listened and
shared your advice, but youve
always reminded us to be true to
ourselves, our values, and our
dreams.
From the guidance youve
offered to the condence and
wisdom that youve built in us,
youve made us stronger than
you know, but never too strong
to need little help from you. To
this day, we cant believe youve
entrusted us with decisions that
have led us to where we are now.
Thank you for all your love and
support.
We love you, Mom. Happy
Birthday!
There Is Life After Wen
I
f you surf cable TV you are
familiar with the hair prod-
uct. You would need no
introduction to HSN, QVC,
and Guthy Renker. They are all
related to infomercials. I was
hooked on cable TVs direct-to-
consumer marketing once upon
a time. Wen became a favorite
after I got over the strangeness
of a conditioner masquerading
as a shampoo. I was convinced
I would look like the beautiful
models paraded on the show. I
made sure I will never run out of
Wen by putting it on autoship. A
new batch arrived every month
or so.
For a number of years I
shared my enthusiasm and
samples with friends. But that
product was great until the rst
frizz day. Then loyalty quickly
became a victim, tossed out from
sheer disappointment and pique.
One evening in Cebu, while
having dinner with friends, my
hair started to go crazy. It looked
as though a live wire ran electric-
ity through my body and settled
on my head. It was every wom-
ans nightmare, Shirley Temple
on her worst day. I felt betrayed.
You have to understand that
a less than perfect make-up is
tolerable because a smile really
does wonders whereas bad hair
ruins a womans equilibrium like
no other.
I ran to the nearest depart-
ment store the next day and
replaced Wen with a familiar
brand of shampoo and condi-
tioner. I dared them to work and
crossed my ngers. And they
did. I was peeved. They worked
extremely well. But then the
good people at the Beijing Inter-
national Airport, PEK for short,
discovered them in one of our
carry-on bags and threw them in
the garbage bin. Back to square
one. Shampoo karma is a bitch.
I am on the prowl for a good
Wen replacement, and would
appreciate suggestions although
what I have now which has coco-
nut oil as its main ingredient is
doing quite well. I am more than
pleasantly surprised.
As lighthearted and silly
as this tale might be it reminds
me of how exible and resilient
I could be. I should be used to
stepping out of my comfort zone,
after all not too long ago I had to
let go of my much loved home of
25 years and relocated to a Lilli-
putian condo unit. I resented it.
I now understand the wisdom of
the move and have warmed up
to maintenance-free living.
I think back to my younger
years and am embarrassed at
the number of times I wrung my
hands and railed at the heavens,
convinced my life was over. My
rst adult heartache was unbear-
able. Yet had it not happened,
I would not have met Mitch. I
would not be living this charmed
life with him and would not be
enjoying our ve adorable apos.
Unthinkable.
When I lost my mom I
didnt think I would get over the
pain and the guilt and the resent-
ment of her leaving me to worry
about my dad, but I have. I am
even able to make light of our
disagreements and arguments. I
am able to poke fun at how much
I take after her in temperament.
My son was on his second
year at Virginia Tech when those
horrible shootings occurred. The
girl he loved perished that day.
I didnt think the girls parents
would get over their suffering.
I saw the torment on my sons
face. The future looked bleak and
unforgiving. Yet time has eased
the pain and they have learned to
laugh again.
I did not imagine I would
reach my sixth decade. How
can life be so unfair? But as
Mitch tells me often enough, the
alternative is unacceptable at
the moment. I still have dots to
connect and books to write and
walls to climb and places to see.
Yes Virginia, there is life
after loss and heartbreak. The
heart will keep on beating. The
sun will continue to rise and
shine. And life will go on the
way it does.
March 1-15, 2014 28 28
Different newspaper headlines
W
hy are headlines in newspapers
in the Philippines about inves-
tigations and politics often dif-
ferent? The reason, according to a fellow
Tsismoso, is that the headline reects the
leaning or thinking of the publishers of
these newspapers.
For instance, while the Philippines
Daily Inquirer headlined the charges
against Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce
Enrile, et al, the Daily Tribune headlined
Jinggoys answer. The Manila Standard
and te Manila Times analyzed the expose
as part of Malacanangs campaign against
the opposition.
The disparity reects the ownership
of the publications. According to sources,
the Tribune is owned by former President
Joseph Estrada while the Manila Standard
reportedly belongs to supporters of former
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,
namely Ambassador Roberto Romulo and
the Razons. Why does the Manila Times
lambastes President Noynoy Aquino in
almost every issue? Because, one Tsis-
moso says, the publisher, who was once
close to Arroyo, wanted Noynoy to
appoint him presidential assistant.
Meanwhile, do not expect the Philip-
pine Star to attack House Speaker Felici-
ano Belmonte or the Inquirer to lambastes
the Romualdezes and Prietos, say Manila
insiders. Neither will the Manila Bulletin
publish any story that is derogatory to the
Manila Hotel or other enterprises owned
by the Yaps. Except for the Inquirer
and Star, all the others try to downplay
the current pork scandal. When the
Inquirer exposed the arbitrary use of
power by Binays in Forbes Park late last
year, all the other newspapers headlined
the replies of the Binays. Many publish-
ers are afraid to tangle with the Binays.
Knowing this background will make the
newspaper reader understand why the
news are slanted.
***
Columnist Johnny Mercado recently
sent this item titled The End of Maxine.
As we progress into 2014, I want to
thank you for your educational e-mails
over the past year. I am totally screwed
up now and have little chance of recovery.
I can no longer open a bathroom door
without using a paper towel, nor let the
waitress put lemon slices in my ice water
without worrying about the bacteria on
the lemon peel.
I cant sit down on a hotel bedspread
because I can only imagine what has hap-
pened on it since it was last washed.
I have trouble shaking hands with
someone who has been driving because
the number one pastime while driving
alone is picking ones nose.
Eating a little snack sends me on a
guilt trip because I can only imagine how
many gallons of trans fats I have con-
sumed over the years.
I cant touch any womans handbag
for fear she has placed it on the oor of a
public toilet.
I must send my special thanks for the
email about rat poo in the glue on enve-
lopes because I now have to use a wet
sponge with every envelope that needs
sealing.
ALSO, now I have to scrub the top of
every can I open for the same reason.
I cant have a drink in a bar because
I fear Ill wake up in a bathtub full of ice
with my kidneys gone.
I cant eat at KFC because their chick-
ens are actually horrible mutant freaks
with no eyes, feet or feathers.
I cant use cancer-causing deodorants
even though I smell like a water buffalo
on a hot day.
Thanks to you I have learned that my
prayers only get answered if I forward an
e-mail to seven of my friends and make a
wish within ve minutes.
Because of your concern,I no longer
drink Coca Cola because it can removes
toilet stains.
I no longer buy fuel without taking
someone along to watch the car, so a serial
killer doesnt crawl in my back seat when
Im lling up.
I no longer use Cling Wrap in the
microwave because it causes seven differ-
ent types of cancer.
And thanks for letting me know I
cant boil a cup of water in the microwave
anymore because it will blow up in my
face, disguring me for life.
I no longer go to the cinema because
I could be pricked with a needle infected
with AIDS when I sit down.
I no longer go to shopping centers
because someone will drug me with a
perfume sample and rob me.
And I no longer answer the phone
because someone will ask me to dial a
number for which I will get a huge phone
bill with calls to Jamaica, Uganda, Singa-
pore and Uzbekistan.
Thanks to you I cant use anyones
toilet but mine because a big black snake
could be lurking under the seat and cause
me instant death when it bites my butt.
And thanks to your great advice I
cant ever pick up a dime coin dropped
Editorial
Grant TPS Now
Its been more than three months since Typhoon Haiyan
hit the Philippines. In light of the devastation, which left more
than 6,000 people dead and tens of thousands more displaced,
it became immediately apparent that the Philippines needed
urgent relief and long-term rebuilding assistance. Factors such
as displacement, deprivation, extreme poverty and violence
brought on by the storm warrant a humanitarian response.
Recognizing its impact on undocumented Filipino immi-
grants here in U.S. who saw the need to more effectively help
in the relief and reconstruction efforts, the U.S. took steps to
ease their plight by issuing immigration relief measures, such
as changes or extensions of non-immigrant status.
But these relief measures are not enough. Shortly after
Haiyan, a national grassroots movement launched a campaign
to urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to grant
Temporary Protected Status to the estimated 270,000 undocu-
mented Filipino immigrants in this country. Nearly 100 mem-
bers of Congress from both parties have also called on the
Obama administration to act expeditiously and endorse the call.
The Philippine Government requested TPS in early December
and the U.S. State Department is expected to also support the
move.
TPS is mainly a humanitarian relief granted for 18 months,
allowing Filipino breadwinners in the U.S. to return home
without being harassed or threatened with deportation. Many
Filipinos have lost relatives in the storm or suffered tremen-
dous hardships. They need to be assured of legal protection so
they can continue providing material and nancial support to
the homeland. It is for this humanitarian reason that there is
overwhelming support across the country for the designation of
TPS to Filipino nationals.
We commend DHS for holding a public engagement on TPS
so it can consider all the arguments before making a decision.
Having completed this process, DHS must act now without fur-
ther delay.
Manila Times
Continued on page 30
March 1-15, 2014 29
Brrr cold
I
could not remember a U.S.
winter in the last thirty years
that was this cold at long
intervals. I thought the polar
vortex was gone for good last
week. Lo and behold, its back.
Some global warming skep-
tics are laughing. They are called
deniers by Al Gores disciples.
The deniers in return refer to
the global warming crowd as
alarmists.
The alarmists believe that
man made activities emit carbon
dioxide gas in the atmosphere
forming a greenhouse effect that
prevents heat from escaping
to the atmosphere resulting in
rising temperatures.
A leading denier Richard
Lindzen, climatologist at Har-
vard and the MIT admits that
the planet has warmed but that
it is by a very small amount, like
tenths of a Celsius and that mans
role is not much at all. He points
out that while the carbon diox-
ide emissions has signicantly
increased since the Industrial
Revolution, the average global
temperature has only risen by at
most 1 degree Celsius.
Only time will tell who is
right. If we look back forty years
ago, the so-called climate con-
sensus was global cooling. In
1974, Time magazine warned of
man-made global cooling. Uni-
versity of Wisconsins Reid A.
Bryson and other climatologists
reportedly suggested that dust
and other particles release into
the atmosphere from farming
and fuel burning prevent sun-
light from heating the earths
surface. The Washington Post
on January 11, 1970 published
an article- Colder Winters Held
Dawn of New Ice Age Scientists
See Ice Age In the Future. The
L.A. Times joined the consensus
debate with an article on January
15, 1970- Is Mankind Manufac-
turing a New ice Age for Itself?
Milwaukee Journal published on
December 5, 1974- Scientists Fear
Smog Could Cause Ice Age.
So far, Al Gores predictions
have not come to pass. When he
accepted his Nobel Peace Prize
on December 10, 2007, he boldly
predicted that the Arctic summer
ice could disappear in 2013. Well,
its now 2014 and the ice cap has
increased 60% in 2013.
***
The Sochi Winter Olympics
are over. Russia and President
Vladimir Putin won the medal
count. How sweet to savor
the thrill of victory. But while
Putins athletes were busy col-
lecting medals, the people of
Ukraine rose in revolt, reject-
ing Russias grandiose dream of
remaking another empire like
the Soviet Union of old. No to
Putin, yes to the western world.
Theres the agony of defeat.
***
Pres. Barrack Obama was
visited this month by France
President Francois Hollande.
Like the U.S. President, Hollande
was supported by the left. In his
rst and a half year in ofce, he
implemented a program of tax
increases and subsidized job cre-
ation, the French version of the
stimulus. Alas, reality sunk in.
He realized that his economic
Radyo
Tambuli
D
uring the pre-Spanish
era, village chiefs relied
on the tambuli, a trum-
pet-like instrument made from
carabao horns and indigenous to
the Philippines, to call people to
meetings or warn of approaching
marauders and other dangers.
Its an auspicious name to
give to a edgling communica-
tions project being hatched by a
crack team of communicators at
the Philippine Embassy in Wash-
ington D.C. Radyo Tambuli.
Elmer Cato, the Embassys
human dynamo, gushed about
the project, still in its infancy, to
push the Philippines premier
diplomatic outpost in the United
States at the forefront of frenzied
advances in electronic mass com-
munications.
It could soon provide the
nearly 4 million Filipinos in the
US an alternative source of news
and entertainment, delivered at
the touch of a nger wherever
they may be. Anyone with an
internet-enabled cellular phone
or tablet can listen in to the
latest news about the Philippines
(theyll be able choose which
Manila radio station to listen in)
or the latest OPM tunes (Elmer
revealed theyve already gotten
permission from Noel Cabangon
to play his songs in Radyo Tam-
buli test broadcasts).
It can also alert Filipinos,
especially those in the Metro DC
region (for starters) to breaking
news much like what the Philip-
pine Embassy is already doing
through social media; such as the
Navy Yard shooting and or more
recently, the rampage at a Mary-
land shopping mall that left three
people dead (it was located in a
place that Fil-Ams are known to
frequent).
We can warn our kababay-
ans about such incidents so they
know to avoid those places, or
provide more information that
we can generate from the author-
ities or even other kababayans in
the area, Cato explained.
He stressed that Radyo Tam-
buli is a work in progress. More
importantly, its an endeavor
that will require the help and
cooperation of the Fil-Am com-
munity.
While they are relying on
in-house talent to jump start
the project, Cato revealed that
theyve been coordinating with
some Fil-Am IT professionals to
help build the infrastructure that
will allow real-time interaction
between the station and its lis-
tening public.
He explained people can call
into Radyo Tambuli and select
from options that can allow
them to choose whether to listen
to news or to music; choose an
option to receive more specic
information (e.g., requirements
for passport renewals, consular
hours or holidays, etc.); or they
might choose to leave a message
or comment.
He added that the content
production cycle has even been
designed so listeners get updates
while theyre likely on the move:
during the morning or afternoon
rush hours when commuters are
trapped in buses, trains or their
cars. Just plug your cell phone
earphones in and listen to Radyo
Tambuli.
Cato is excited about Radyo
Tambuli and he has every reason
to be. Because its web-based, it
Opinion
Continued on page 30
The Winter of 87
R
ecent winter storms
remind me of a cold Janu-
ary day 27 years ago. Days
before, up to 18 inches of snow
blanketed the D.C. metro area.
Two heavy snowstorms struck
within three days of each other.
The rst, on January 22, blasted
the city with more than a foot.
The second hit three days later,
pummeling the area with an
additional 10 inches on top of
what had already fallen. Wash-
ington shut down for a week.
But a different kind of storm
was raging thousands of miles
away, drawing dozens of Fili-
pinos and Filipino Americans
to brave frigid weather and get
back to the streets that winter
day in January.
We gathered in front of the
old Philippine Embassy, wearing
boots and overcoats and waving
signs supporting ratication of
the new Philippine Constitution.
The atmosphere was festive, the
spirits lively. The EDSA eupho-
ria was still fresh. The images of
People Power armed only with
rosaries were still vivid in our
minds.
I remember carrying a bull-
horn. I had already put it away
thinking our days of protests
were over. During the dark days
of martial law, the bullhorn
amplied the voices of a small
band of activists who stood in
deance of Marcos goons.
And so we chanted slogans,
sang Bayan Ko, and made
enough noise to alert the cops
who came swooping down Mas-
sachusetts Avenue. Ambassador
Emmanuel Pelaez had to tell
them the demonstrators were
pro-Aquino supporters, not hos-
tile elements like the pre-EDSA
radicals who used to storm the
embassy with lightning pickets.
Afterwards, we marched
to St. Matthews Cathedral for a
prayer vigil, then returned to the
embassy for another rally. Gloria
Caoile pumped up the crowd
with stirring calls to action
and Amb. Pelaez declared that
People Power lives, undaunted
by threats of military dissidents
bent on driving Cory from Mala-
canang.
What set this all off was
a plebiscite in the Philippines
scheduled on February 2 to ratify
the countrys new Constitution.
Recall that when Cory Aquino
became president, she installed
a revolutionary government and
abolished the 1973 Constitution
that was in force during martial
law.
To speed up the restora-
tion of a full constitutional gov-
ernment, Aquino appointed a
48-member commission, which
completed its draft in October
1986. The Filipino people over-
whelming approved the new
charter one which put strong
emphasis on civil liberties,
human rights and social justice.
Until its ratication, how-
ever, there was a coup attempt
led by the Reform the Army
Movement (RAM) on July 6,
1986, less than seven months
before the scheduled referen-
dum. Clearly, the military insur-
rections goal was to thwart the
Filipino peoples will yet again.
All in all, from 1986 to 1989,
military dissidents many of
whom were Marcos loyalists
staged seven coup attempts
aimed at Corys overthrow.
Alarmed by a looming
danger to democracy, the Fili-
pino community came out on a
cold January day 27 years ago
Continued on page 30
Continued on page 30
March 1-15, 2014 30 30
prescription left his nation in
continuing stagnation. Now he is
seeking a reverse course, promis-
ing cuts in public spending and
taxes. He now argues that only
private businesses can create jobs
and revive growth.
The U.S. is in similar straits,
albeit faring somewhat better.
Although the recession ofcially
ended more than four years ago,
many Americans according to
polls believe that the nation is
still in recession. In spite of close
to a trillion dollars of stimulus
money poured into the economy
by the Obama administration,
the recovery has not been felt as
the labor participation rate has
shrunk to historic lows.
Obama and Hollande spent
some down time at the Jeffer-
son shrine in Monticello, Vir-
ginia. Two world leaders of the
same mold. One has learned his
lesson and is willing abandon a
failed experiment. The other one
wants to give more of the same.
He is not done with Obamacare.
He wants pre-K education for
everybody in the nation. Albert
Einstein once said that insanity
is doing the same thing over and
over again while expecting a dif-
ferent result. Pray that Barrack
proves Einstein wrong.
can be implemented through-
out the US, providing unprec-
edented yet targeted access to
Fil-Ams and Filipino nationals
all across America. The technol-
ogy is available and accessible.
And with the Filipinos reputa-
tion for doing so much with less,
achieving Radyo Tambulis goals
appear to be almost a sure thing.
You can help build Radyo
Tambuli, Elmer insists. Its in its
formative stage. Try calling (415)
638-5777 and let him know what
you think.
Radyo Tambuli... from page 29 Brrr cold... from page 29
to send a message of solidarity
to the Filipino people to stand
rm against military threats. We
didnt come this far to topple a
dictator and celebrate the gains
of EDSA only to allow Marcos
loyalists and military insurrec-
tionists to prevail.
It took a few more days for
Washington to thaw and recover
from the storm, but looking back,
it may take a few more years for
the Philippines to truly recover
from those dark days of political
repression and one-man rule.
Send your comments to
jdmelegrito@gmail.com
De Lima and Carpio-
Morales are known for their
feistiness and wouldnt back
down in the face of the inuence
and connections of the senators
involved. But more than their
guts, the two ladies are known
to be upright and committed to
their jobs. Add to that their care
in making sure their moves are
dictated by the letter and spirit
of the law.
There looms a battle royale
between the powerful and the
loyal servants of the law. Who
will win in the end?
It will not be an easy contest.
As court cases go in the Philip-
pines, it will be a long haul. The
protagonists determination and
stamina will be tested by the
pork barrel scam.
Large segments of the public
are sick and tired of the stealing
of the peoples money and the
abuse of power by elected of-
cials. No doubt they will be on
the side of de Lima and Carpio-
Morales in this looming grand
battle.
Are the senators and the
other accused shaking in their
shoes now? If they realize the
seriousness of their situation and
the potential consequences of
their alleged actions, they should
be.
Scary time for... from page 24
any form of illness, including
cancer, the normal response of
the body is to defend itself from
the attacker or invader. Every
second, the body is in constant
alert for anything that will alter
its normalcy.
When we are dehydrated or
famished, our brain sends appro-
priate impulses to make us feel
thirsty or hungry. When there
is anything wrong, our body
sends us warnings, some sooner,
some later. All the cells, the
building block of our body, are
in constant vigilance and state
of readiness 24/7 to do what is
needed to maintain health. Like
our heart, these cells are working
non-stop, even more so while we
are asleep, repairing and regen-
erating new cells to manage the
daily wear and tear in our body,
and producing anti-oxidants to
neutralize harmful free-radicals.
Homeostasis: body
equilibrium
The main goal of our bodily
system to maintain the normal
equilibrium, normal homeosta-
sis, where there is natural bal-
ance within us. Any external
or even internal force that is
negative is met with a vigorous
positive counterforce, aimed
at equalizing and maintaining
homeostasis. Dis-ease develops
when this balance is severely off.
The success of our natural
defense system also depends on
the degree or dose of the insult.
In infection, this depends on
the severity of the viral, bacte-
rial, fungal, or parasitic inva-
sion. If it is mild enough for our
body resistance to ght, then our
behavior alone, without medica-
tions, can thwart the infection.
Unbeknownst to us, this self-
healing is happening to us every
second of our life. We normally
have countless germs all over us.
We are teeming with germs
One of the dirtiest sources of
germs is paper money and coins.
Before you acquire any of these,
they have passed through thou-
sands of hands, most of them
dirty and contaminated, as all
hands are. Unfortunately, some
people do not even wash their
hands after using the toilet. Our
hands, our entire skin surface, for
that matter, have bugs on them
at any given time, except when
we wash them properly, and the
number is lessened. When we do
not wash them regularly (at least
8 times in a normal day), the
germs multiply.
In public places, we touch
door knobs, hand rails, posts,
tables and chairs, and almost
anything else, which are all
teeming with bacteria. At home,
bacteria abound, especially in
the kitchen, worse than in the
toilet, believe it or not.
That has been scientically
proven. Even our mouth has
plenty of germs in it, which,
if not reduced by good oral
hygiene daily, can cause halito-
sis (bad breath), tooth decay, and
gum diseases. And, as we have
written in our previous column
a few years ago, dental infection
can cause heart disease.
As long as our skin is intact,
the tens of thousands of bacteria
on it cannot penetrate the skin to
cause infection, unless the skin
is cut or is bruised, breaking the
skins protective barrier.
The reason why some people
are less prone to developing a
cold, the u, or other illnesses is
because of the uncompromised
integrity of their DNA and their
fortied immune system, as a
result of a healthy lifestyle. This
alone can help us maximize lon-
gevity.
The self-healing or auto-
repair and regeneration of the
body can be maintained or even
made more efcient through
wholesome behavior and habits.
Anything to the contrary will,
obviously, have the opposite
effect.
The human body is truly
magnicent and fabulous,
unequalled. It has the power to
think, to feel, to love, to reason,
its appendages are versatile and
very useful, it comes with a built-
in chemical plant, it can adapt,
and it possesses the enormous
ability to repair, regenerate, and
replicate itself. It is astonishingly
unique. I humbly and gratefully
bow to its Designer/Architect/
Builder.
Just like most things in life,
we reap what we sow, and the
power, most of the time, is in our
hands. We must not let go this
gift of wonder.
Our self-healing... from page 25
Ramon M Llamas, NMLS#:
483757, has been in the lending
business for more than 20 years. He
has helped thousands of homeown-
ers saved money in their mortgage
needs, purchase or refinance. Any
mortgage question or free personal
mortgage analysis, please email him
at homemortgage101@yahoo.com or
call his cellphone at 703.980.3984.
Establishing credit... from page 25
The Winter of 87... from page 29
in the car park because it was
probably placed there by a sex
molester waiting to grab me as I
bend over.
I cant do any gardening
because Im afraid Ill get bitten
by the Violin Spider and my
hand will fall off.
If you dont send this e-mail
to at least 144,000 people in the
next 70 minutes, a large dove
with diarrhea will land on your
head at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow
afternoon, and the eas from
120 camels will infest your back,
causing you to grow a hairy
hump. I know this will occur
because it actually happened to
a friend of my next door neigh-
bors ex mother-in-laws second
husbands cousins best friends
beautician!
Oh, and by the way...
A German scientist from
Argentina, after a lengthy study,
has discovered that people with
insufcient brain activity read
their e-mails with their hand on
the mouse.
Dont bother taking it off
now, its too late.
P. S. I now keep my tooth-
brush in the living room, because
I was told by e-mail that water
splashes over 6 ft. out of the
toilet.
NOW YOU HAVE YOUR-
SELF A VERY GOOD DAY
Washington Tisimis... from page 28
Bus kills Falls Church
Fil-Am
A 62-year-old woman was
killed after she was hit by a
Ride-On bus at the Rockville
Metro station last Feb. 25.
Anicia Caringal Castillo, of
Falls Church, Va., was struck
as she walked across the Metro
station entrance at around 7:30
p.m. Castillo later died at a local
hospital, Montgomery County
police said in a news release.
Castillos daughter, Jeanna
Sulse, said she never learned to
drive, relying on public trans-
portation to get around. She
was in the station waiting for
her husband when the mishap
happened.
Police said the driver,
Daryll Norvell Banks, 42, of
Lusby, Md., was trying to make
a left turn into the station. Two
passengers were on the bus, but
they left before police arrived.
Montgomery County
spokeswoman Esther Bowring,
said that Banks has been placed
on administrative leave. Hes
been a county driver since 2011,
according to Bowring.
Reports indicated that
Banks has received ve cita-
tions, including for speeding,
and a suspended registration.
Police are still investi-
gating the crash. Those with
information are asked to call
240-773-6620 or call the police
non-emergency number at 301-
279-8000.
Anicia Castillo
March 1-15, 2014 31
March 1-15, 2014 32 32