July 1-15, 2014 1

Vol. XXIII, No. 16 July 1-15, 2014

PH Embassy extols Pinoy
resilience, US help
WASHINGTON, D.C. Top
Philippine and United States
ofcials here cited recent events,
especially the massive humani-
tarian response to the Novem-
ber 2013 Typhoon Yolanda
(Haiyan) tragedy and signing
of a military access agreement,
as proof of ever-improving rela-
tions between the two countries
during celebrations of Philippine
Independence last June 12.
The Philippine Embassy
marked the 116th anniversary
of Philippine Independence by
paying tribute to the US and the
Estrada, Revilla jailed for plunder raps
MANILA. The pork barrel
scam controversy has taken its
toll on the countrys most pop-
ular and powerful politicians,
locking up Senators Jose Jing-
goy Estrada and Ramon Bong
Revilla Jr., and are expected to be
followed soon by former Sena-
tor Juan Ponce Enrile who once
enforced military rule in the
Philippines.
Estrada was surrendered
by his father, former president
and now Manila City Joseph
Estrada, himself convicted of
the same charges his son now
faces, to the police headquarters
at Camp Crame last June 23.
Revilla yielded three days ear-
lier to the Sandiganbayan (graft
court) which issued the warrant
against them.
A third arrest warrant is
expected to be issued shortly (as
this paper goes to press) against
former Senate President Juan
Ponce Enrile.
They have been indicted for
plunder, a non-bailable offense.
After the Storm concert draws stars
WASHINGTON D.C. In
the worst of times, Filipinos are
known all over the world for
giving the best of themselves,
says Mya Talavera Grossman,
President of the Philippine
American Foundation for Chari-
ties (PAFC).
This is especially true
when natural disasters strike,
when deadly earthquakes or
killer storms wipe out entire
villages and cities, leaving
thousands of people dead.
(More photos on page 13)
This sentiment was amply
demonstrated on June 15 when
Filipinos and Filipino Ameri-
cans in the area and from us
far as Houston, Texas and San
Francisco, Calif., almost lled
the 2,442-seat Concert Hall of the
Kennedy Center, for the After
the Storm concert, a major
fundraiser for Typhoon Haiyan
recovery.
Joining them were hundreds
of diplomats, members of Con-
gress and state legislatures, local
ofcials and ordinary Ameri-
cans.
To help make the fund-
raising effort possible, a star-
studded cast led by Filipino
By Jonathan Melegrito
Special to the Manila Mail
WASHINGTON D.C. More
than 30 participants representing
national organizations and vet-
erans advocacy groups launched
last June 21 a campaign to win
ofcial recognition for the contri-
butions of Filipino World War II
veterans through Congressional
Gold Medal.
They unanimously agreed
to be part of a national coalition
with a unied goal of securing
appropriate legislation in the
United States Congress, educat-
ing the American public about
the critical role Filipino soldiers
played during the war, estab-
lishing a national education pro-
gram for schools and colleges in
partnership with the Smithson-
ian Institution, raising funds,
and mobilizing both the Filipino
American community and the
general public to help achieve
these goals.
PH stays at Tier
2, keeps US aid
By Jennie L. Ilustre
WASHINGTON D.C. The
Philippines retained its Tier 2
ranking in combating sex traf-
cking and forced labor, that
virtually guaranteed it will con-
tinue to receive nearly half a bil-
lion dollars in long-term devel-
opment aid from the United
States.
The State Department 2014
Human Trafcking country-
by-country report released last
June 19 noted the Philippines
Performers acknowledge the audiences appreciation after their nale. The artists included Apl. De Ap, Joshua Bell,
Darren Criss, Lou Diamond Phillips, Christine Rocas, Rodell Rosel, and Lea Salonga. (Bing Branigin)
Continued on page 16 Continued on page 16
Continued on page 16
Continued on page 15
Continued on page 16
Mugshot photos of Sens. Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada at Camp Crame.
97-year-old Filipino World War II veteran Celestino Almeda drives home a
point with Nevada Rep. Joe Heck, a member of the House Armed Services
Committee, which held a hearing on Capitol Hill last June 24 to investi-
gate the plight of the elderly Filipino veterans whove been denied equity
compensation benets by the Department of Veterans Administration. (Photo
courtesy of Eric Lachica)
July 1-15, 2014 22
July 1-15, 2014 3
Brothers plead guilty to gun smuggling raps
NEW YORK. Two Filipino-
American brothers, one a former
New York City police ofcer and
another a former Customs and
Border Protection ofcer have
pleaded guilty to trafcking
unlicensed weapons from the
United States to the Philippines
using their law enforcement cre-
dentials to score discounts.
The Filipino Reporter said
ex-New York Police Depart-
ment (NYPD) ofcer Rex-Gene
Maralit and his US Customs of-
cer sibling Wilfredo Maralit have
entered into a plea deal that will
see them serving four to six years
in prison.
But federal prosecutors said
the brothers would get reduced
sentences if their third brother,
who received the smuggled gun
shipments in the Philippines
would come to the US and plead
guilty as well.
That younger brother, Ariel
Maralit, is still at large in the
Philippines and is considered a
fugitive, ofcials said.
Rex and Wilfredo Maralit
pled guilty to violating the Arms
Export Control Act.
Each faces up to 20 years
behind bars although lawyers
noted at the hearing on June 12
that the estimated sentence called
for by the guidelines, which are
only advisory, was about ve to
seven years.
Rex Maralit, 45, a 10-year
police veteran making about
$76,488 a year, worked at the
NYPD Equal Employment
Opportunity Ofce at One Police
Plaza until his arrest in Septem-
ber.
He and his wife and their
three young children live in
Lawrenceville, N.J.
Wilfredo Maralit, 49, had
been a customs ofcer at Los
Angeles International Airport.
Filipino found guilty in wifes murder
LOS ANGELES. A South-
ern California jury has found
62-year-old Filipino, Tomas
Infante guilty of rst degree
murder for beating and stabbing
to death of his wife in a casino
parking lot in January 2013.
Prosecutors claimed that
Infante killed 57-year-old Charito
Tolentino after his girlfriend dis-
covered that he was married.
He then allegedly put his
wifes dead body in a car trunk
and left it at a casino parking lot
some 20 miles away where she
was found days later after being
reported as missing.
Infantes son testied during
the trial that his father told him
he had killed his stepmother.
Investigators claimed they
found blood in the couples West
Covina garage. Surveillance at
the casino where Infante left the
car carrying Tolentinos body
had also linked him to the crime.
Though Tolentino lived 40
miles away in West Covina, she
worked as a nurse at a local hos-
pital in LAs Filipinotown neigh-
borhood.
Infante is scheduled to be
sentenced on July 8 and could
get 25 years to life in prison.
Ex-NYPD ofcer Rex Maralit and
wife outside court.
Tomas Infante
July 1-15, 2014 44
PH signals support for re-armed Japan
MANILA. President Aquino
signaled his support June 24 to
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo
Abes move to relax the nations
pacist stance and strengthen its
military as both countries con-
front an increasingly assertive
China.
The Philippine leader how-
ever said talks with his Japanese
counterpart did not include a
possible military alliance.
He said he believed Abes
push to expand the militarys
role would benet regional sta-
bility, and vowed to deepen
bilateral strategic partnerships
on both security and economic
fronts.
Theres been some debate
on the Japanese governments
plan to revisit certain interpre-
tations of its constitution, the
President said.
We believe that nations
of good will can only benet
if the Japanese government is
empowered to assist others, and
is allowed to come to the aid of
those in need, especially in the
area of collective self-defense,
he added.
Washington has
welcomed the move, and
several South East Asian
nations which have their
own territorial disputes
with China appear will-
ing to see Japan and
the United States build
stronger security ties
But the Japanese
leader has faced criticism
that he was pushing for
the change too quickly
without thorough
debate, and has drawn
suspicion from China
and South Korea, which
feel Japan has never
atoned properly for its
aggression during World
War II.
The Philippine sup-
port is fueled by fears
that China is accelerat-
ing its land-reclamation
projects in disputed
parts of the South China
Sea to use them as bases
for its military and its
shing eets.
Beijing has brushed
aside complaints from the Phil-
ippines, saying it was legitimate
activity within its own national
territory.
China claims almost the
entire South China Sea, reject-
ing claims in whole or in part
by Vietnam, the Philippines,
Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia.
Japan has been embroiled
in its own spat with China over
a group of islands in the East
China Sea, known as Senkaku in
Japan and Diaoyu in China.
Japan has pledged to pro-
vide 10 patrol ships to the Philip-
pines and is currently studying a
similar plan for Vietnam, which
has gured in almost daily
confrontations with Chinese
ships over the deployment of a
deep-sea oil-drilling platform in
waters claimed by Hanoi.
Pres. Aquino with Japan PM Shinzo
Abe
July 1-15, 2014 5
July 1-15, 2014 66
US, PH navies to hold drills near China-occupied shoal
MANILA. The Philippines
and United States hold joint
naval drills near the disputed
Scarborough Shoal off the west-
ern Luzon coastline from June 26
to July 1, according to a report
from the Reuters news service.
The exercise will reportedly
be done about 80 miles from
Scarborough Shoal where Chi-
nese vessels are on continuous
patrol. Five warships, including
a US guided-missile destroyer
and about 1,000 troops will take
part in the week-long Coopera-
tion Aoat Readiness and Train-
ing (Carat) exercises, which
include live-re drills.
The US Navy is deploy-
ing the USS Halsey, an Arleigh
Burke-class missile-guided
destroyer; the USS Ashland, a
dock landing ship; and the USS
Safeguard, a rescue ship, to the
Philippines.
The Philippines will be
represented by the BRP Ramon
Alcaraz, a former US coast-
guard cutter, and the BRP Emilio
Jacinto, a former British Royal
Navy ship.
This has nothing to do with
the Philippines and China dis-
pute or the territorial dispute in
the West Philippine Sea, spokes-
man Lt. (jg) Rommel
Rodriguez stressed but
later acknowledged pre-
vious CARAT exercises
have taken place outside
the vicinity of Manilas
maritime dispute with
China.
Monsoon oods
Mindanao
COTABATO CITY.
Thousands of families in
Central Mindanao ed
homes after monsoon
rains caused oods and
triggered landslides the
past days.
Authorities have
declared a state of emer-
gency in the provinces of
Cotabato, Maguindanao
and Bukidnon, where
91 villages have been
ooded. Crop losses were
estimated at $500,000.
The monsoon season
in the Philippines started
during the rst week of
June.
Cop nabbed
for slay
CEBU CITY. A police of-
cial wanted for the slaying of
Cebu-based millionaire hotelier
Richard King is now in custody
after yielding to Davao City
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, authori-
ties said.
Three suspects arrested ear-
lier for Kings murder tagged Sr.
Supt. Leonardo Felonia, chief of
the Davao regional police intel-
ligence unit, as the man who
ordered the hit. King owns the
Crown Regency hotel in Quezon
City and has properties in Bora-
cay and other resorts.
King was shot dead as he
stepped out a dinner party in
Davao City last June 12. There
is a half-million-peso reward for
the capture of his assassin.
US and PH Navy ships
July 1-15, 2014 7
July 1-15, 2014 88
Fil-Ams tune in to PH radio stations
WASHINGTON D.C. Filipi-
nos in the United States can now
listen to radio broadcasts from
the Philippines on their mobile
phones.
The availability in the US
of broadcasts from six leading
Filipino radio stations, including
the Catholic-run Radio Veritas,
was announced by the Philip-
pine Embassy and AudioNow,
the worlds leading call-to-listen
platform, during the celebra-
tion of Philippine Independence
recently.
With the service, Filipinos
may now access the follow-
ing radio stations by calling
their assigned telephone num-
bers: Radio Veritas (Manila):
231.460.1846; Peoples Television
Network (Manila): 231.460.1000;
Catholic Media Network
(Manila): 712.432.7150; Spirit FM
(Antique): 712.432.7197; Radio
Maria (Tarlac): 231.460.1020; and
DUltimate (Clark Free Port):
712.432.6999.
The calls have no surcharge
and use only mobile minutes.
With the launching of Radyo
Tambuli, the Philippine Embassy
became the rst foreign mis-
sion to utilize the call-to-listen
platform for public diplomacy
purposes. Radyo Tambuli can be
accessed by calling 415.628.5777.
Pinoy seaman killed
in mishap
WILMINGTON, Ca. A Fili-
pino seaman was killed by an
accident aboard his ship while it
was unloading cargo at the Los
Angeles port last June 18.
Investigators believe the
unnamed 39-year old Philip-
pine citizen suffered a fatal blunt
force trauma on the head as the
container ship, Cap Posada, was
unloading cargo. He worked for
Hamburg Sud, which is head-
quartered in Germany.
Port ofcials said the ship-
ping companys shipping agent
will make the arrangements to
transport the workers remains
back to the Philippines.
TNTs get DMV licenses
LOS ANGELES. Undocu-
mented immigrants will get a
chance to legally drive in Cali-
fornia when a new law signed
by Governor Gerry Brown last
October takes effect in January
next year.
Californias Department of
Motor Vehicles (DMV) is now
going through a public comment
period as it considers how to ini-
tiate the new law.
The application process
expected to be similar to basic
driving requirements, its time to
prepare. We encourage people,
or members of our community
to renew their passports if they
have the ability to. We know
theres some process in that and
some difculties but were trying
to make sure its accessible as
possible, explained advocate
Anthony Ng.
Several states have laws
that allow undocumented immi-
grants to drive legally. However,
federal law requires the licenses
to look different from the stan-
dard state drivers licenses for
federal security reasons.
July 1-15, 2014 9
Pope Francis to visit Yolanda
calamity victims
TACLOBAN CITY. A complex to
be named in honor of Pope Francis will
be built in typhoon-battered Palo, Leyte
province, in time for the papal visit in
January next year, according to an ofcial
of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP).
Palo Archbishop John Du said of the
Pope Francis Complex Center would soon
start in the compound of Metropolitan
Cathedral of our Lords Transguration
in the town of Palo.
The complex comprising of an
orphanage, a chapel, a clinic and a home
for the elderly is being nanced by the
Pontical Council Cor Unum for Human
and Christian Development.
The Vatican has yet to nalize the
Popes itinerary for his rst pastoral visit
to the Philippines.
Leniency for JPE
MANILA. President Aquino said
hes ready to give humanitarian consid-
eration to Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, 90,
after hes arrested for his role in the pork
barrel scam.
The Bill of Rightssays a ne shall
not be imposed or cruel, degrading, inhu-
man punishment inicted. The way I read
that, the guythe senator is 90 years old
the guy is known to have a lot of ailments
that has to be (put in) consideration, the
President said.
Enrile, like Sens. Jinggoy Estrada and
Bong Revilla, is charged with graft and
plunder for allegedly funneling his Pri-
ority Development Assistance Funds to
bogus organizations.
PGMA clinic closed
TAGAYTAY CITY. Authorities here
have shuttered the clinic that performed
stem cell treatment on former President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo because it
didnt have either a medical or business
license.
Tagaytay City Mayor Agnes Tolen-
tino ordered the Green and Young Health
and Wellness Center clinic owned by
Antonia Carandang-Park closed.
She said Park was practicing medi-
cine even though she herself admitted that
she had not taken the required licensure
examination. A Professional Regulation
Commission certication also showed her
name was never on the roll of Philippine
doctors.
Tolentino said Parks clinic was only
licensed as a Massage Clinics/Sauna/
Turkish/Swedish Baths
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If you would like your organi-
zations events to be include in this
calendar, please send the informa-
tion to Maurese Oteyza Owens at
mpapoose@aol.com.
July 5 (Saturday) 9:30-
6:00pm. Council of The Filipino
American Friendship Day hosts
The Fil-AM Friendship Day, in
honor of Philippine Indepen-
dence Day, June 12. A Filipino
cultural festival at The Red-
wing Park, 1398 General Booth
Boulevard, Virginia Beach, VA.
Parade at 9:30 a.m. followed
by entertainment with various
local artists and artists from
TFC ABS-CBN such as Matteo
Guidicelli, and Gello from TFC
Barangay USA. Contact: Tricia
Orpilla 756-672-9432 or triciaor-
pilla@gmail.com.
July 12 (Saturday) 7-11
pm, Mayon Global Foundation,
Inc. Summer Disco Dance. Wis-
consin Place Recreation Center,
5311 Friendship Blvd., Chevy
Chase, MD 20815(10 minutes
walk to Friendship Heights
Metro by Bloomingdales). Dona-
tion: $20 per person includes
dance instructions and light
dinner. Tickets sold in advance.
No cash transactions allowed.
Wine and beer: $5.00 tokens only,
advance purchase. Proceeds go
to the Foundations projects.
Checks made to Mayon Global
Foundation Inc. and mailed
to: 22320 Cantereld Way, Ger-
mantown, MD 20876. Contact:
Danny Orio at daniloorino@
aol.com or (301) 332-3999
Jul 19 (Saturday)
7:30pm. Monthly Filipino
Mass. St. Bernadettes Catho-
lic Church, 7600 Old Keene
Mill Road, Springeld, VA
22152. Mass Sponsor:. Sponsored
by Filipino Ministry of Northern
Virginia in cooperation w/ the
Diocese of Arlington, Ofce of
Multicultural Ministries
July 20 (Sunday) 10:00am-
dusk. UP Alumni Assn Annual
Picnic, Rock Creek Park Picnic
Grove #24. Contact: Liza Virata-
Theimer at lizavirata@yahoo.
com
July 27 (Sunday)
10:00am Birhen ng Anti-
polo, USA, Inc. Devotional
Mass. Basilica of the National
Shrine, 400 Michigan Ave NE,
Washington, DC 20017 tel (202)
526-8300. Contact: bnantipolo@
gmail.com
July 27 (Sunday) 1:45pm Fil-
ipino American Basketball
Assn. Semi-Finals and Finals.
South County High
School, Centre Court, 8501
Silverbrook Rd. Lorton,
VA . Check http://www.fabam-
etrodc.org for detailed schedule
July 28 - 31 Philippine Dept
of Foreign Affairs and Dept of
Tourism Ambassadors, Con-
suls, General and Tourism Direc-
tors VIP Tour, Annual program
open to all. Three-night stay
in Dusit thani Hotel in Makati,
with meals and entertainment,
wreath-laying ceremony at Rizal
Park, tour to villa Escudero in
Laguna, visits to special sites
in Manila and Makati. Led by
Ambassador Jose Cuisia, Jr. For
information, visit www.acgtdt.
com or contact the Philippine
Department of Tourism Ofce
in New York at 212 575-7915
or pdotny@aol.com; or the Phil-
ippine Embassy in Washington,
D.C. at 202 467-9398 or cul-
tural@philippinesusa.org.
Aug 7-8 (Fri-Sat) Noli Me
Tangere (Touch Me Not) as an
opera. Kennedy Center Eisen-
hower Theater. Contact: 201-651-
0229 or www.maffaa.org
Aug 7-10 (Fri-Mon) National
Federation Filipino American
Association National Empow-
erment Conference. Town &
County Resort and Conven-
tion Center, 500 Hotel Circle N,
San Diego, CA 92108. Details
empowerment.naffaa10.org
Aug 9 (Sat) All Saints
Filipino-American Ministry
Monthly Rosary and Meeting.
9300 Stonewall Rd., Manassass,
VA. Contact: Leila 571-247-1984
Aug 16 (Sat)
8:00am. ANCOP Walk for the
Poor (5K). Jones Point Park (5
Point Jones Drive), Alexandria,
VA. To register: ancopusa.org
Aug 16 (Saturday)
7:30pm. Monthly Filipino
Mass. St. Bernadettes Catho-
lic Church, 7600 Old Keene
Mill Road, Springeld, VA
22152. Mass Sponsor:. Sponsored
by Filipino Ministry of Northern
Virginia in cooperation w/ the
Diocese of Arlington, Ofce of
Multicultural Ministries
Aug 23 (Sunday)
10:00am Birhen ng Anti-
polo, USA, Inc. Devotional
Mass. Basilica of the National
Shrine, 400 Michigan Ave NE,
Washington, DC 20017 tel (202)
526-8300. Contact: bnantipolo@
gmail.com
Sep 6 (Saturday) Philip-
pine Nurses Association of
MDC 3-K Family Fun/Run/
Walk. Tucker Road Community
Center Park, Tucker Rd, Fort
Washington, MD. $30. Contact:
Nora Mendoza at norrad72@
verizon.net
Sept 13-14 (Saturday-Sun-
day) Asian Festival, Rosecroft
Raceway, Ft. Washington, MD.
Details to come.
Sep 13 (Saturday) 6:30 pm La
Salle Philippines Alumni Asso-
ciation Bente Berde (LSPAA
Turns 20) Crystal City Mar-
riott Hotel, 1999 Jefferson
Davis Highway, Arlington, VA
22202. $75 per person includes
dinner-dance and chance to win
a cruise for two to the Baha-
mas. Restrictions apply. Checks
payable to LSPAA with memo
Bente Berde Gala and mail to:
Aurora Arellano at 6615 Burling-
ton Place, Springeld, VA 22152
July 1-15, 2014 13
Multi-awarded singer Lea Salonga
(holding microphone) receives
standing ovation at the closing
of After the Storm Benet Con-
cert June 15, 2014 at the Concert
Hall of the Kennedy Center in
Washington, D.C. Others are, from
left, concert director Baayork Lee,
opera soprano Melissa Mino, tenor
Rodell Rosel, apl.de.ap of the Black
Eyed Peas, actor/songwriter Darren
Criss, actor Lou Diamond Phillips,
violinist Philippe Quint, and bal-
lerina Christine Rocas. (Photo by
Angelyn Tugado-Marzan)
Ambassador and Mrs. Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. with Apl.De.Ap who participated
in the After the Storm concert and later joined the reception commemo-
rating the 116th Philippine Independence anniversary at the Roof Terrace,
Kennedy Center, June 15.
Lou Diamond Phillips,Filipino
American movie/tv personality and
emcee of the concert with Sophia
Negroponte, and Amb. John Negro-
ponte, president, US-Philippine
Society, at the Independence recep-
tion at the Roof Terrace, Kennedy
Center, June 15.
Darren Criss, actor/musician/song writer joins Miss Lea Salonga on stage
at the Kennedy Center.
Christine Rocas, lead dancer with
The Joffrey Ballet Co, performed a
breath taking number, Swan Lake.
The crowd was stunned with her
grace and perfect performance.
Miss Rocas was one of the perform-
ers at the After The Storm, A benet
Concert For The Philippines, June
15 at the Kennedy center, Washing-
ton, DC.
Ethel Mercado, Philippines Honorary Consul to Texas poses with Cong.
Bobby C. Scott (D-VA), Vice Chair, US-Philippines Congressional Caucus,
at the reception.
Also at the Independence Day reception are from left, Hank Hendrickson,
Executive Director, US-Philippine Society, Ed Stull of the Kennedy Center,
and Ms. Josie Cruz Natori, of Natori Creations.
Shown from left are Mrs. Eleanor
De Leon, wife of Philippine Consul
General to New York, Amb. Libran
Cabactulan, Philippine Permanent
Ambassador to the United Nations,
and Jessica Fox, Fil Am armless
pilot, at the reception to commemo-
rate Philippine Independence and
to thank donors who have contrib-
uted to the Typhoon Haiyan relief
efforts. The event was held at the
Roof Terrace of the Kennedy Center,
June 15.
Amb. Jose L. Cuisia, Mrs. Vicky J. Cuisia (Center front row), together with
ofcers, staff, and their spouses, posed for a photo before the reception to
commemorate the 116th Anniversary of the Philippine Independence, and
to thank donors who have contributed to the Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts,
held at the Roof Terrace Restaurant of the Kennedy center, last June 15.
Almost four hundred guests attended the reception. members of the House of
representatives, US State Department ofcials, appointed and elected of-
cials, the Diplomatic corps, prominent national leaders from the Filipino
American community, business, showbiz and entertainment personalities,
and the media. Guests enjoyed roast pig (lechon), fresh egg rolls, shrimp
tempura, adobo, pansit, vegetable, and many more. Most popular drink was
the mojito, guava/mango cocktail, calamansi lemonade, wine, beer, and
more at the open bar.
After the Storm concert-Independence reception in photos
All photos by Bing C. Branigin
July 1-15, 2014 14 14
Around DC in Pictures
Meeting of the Mails co-founders
Mr. and Mrs. Mario Sanidad hosted a dinner reception last month at their residence in Fairfax Station, VA on
behalf of Feed The Hungry, Inc. to honor Mayor Alfredo Matugas Coro, Jr. of Del Carmen, Siargao Island, Surigao
Del Norte, Philippines. The mayors town, a world surng destination, is one of the beneciaries of the charitable
projects of Feed The Hungry. Front row, from left, Norma Azarcon, Ethel Sanidad, Mayor Alfredo Matugas Coro,
Aida Peck, Lyta Sese, Celia Donahue, Vangie Ganuelas, Tess Alarcon. Back row, from left, Malcolm Peck, Percy
Solis, Pepito Solis, Pablito Alarcon, Mario Sanidad, Willie Buhain, Ric Sese, Lottie Buhain, Jose Naldo, Juliet Naldo,
Divina Tamayo and Warie Azarcon.
Posing after the benet concert at the Kennedy Center June 15 are, from
left, Bing Branigin, George Billy and his wife, Thelma Anonuevo Billy, and
Elvie Melegrito. Mrs. Billy updated the Manila Mail on her projects in the
damaged areas of Carles, Iloilo. To date, Billy built over 15 homes, provided
seven shing boats, and renovated the community church. Billy also feeds
the homeless of Washington, DC., and Fairfax, Virginia every Wednesday.
Filipino American leaders og KAYA-DC came in full force to support the
After the Storm, Benet Concert at the Kennedy Center, June 15. They are,
from left, Jessica Caloza, Rebecca Apostol, Jason Tengco, Gem Dauz, Jena-
lyn Soto, Bing Branigin, Romeo Ymalay, Marita Etcubanez, Ben de Guzman,
Emil trinidad, Melvin Tabilas, Lauren Laglaron, Greg Cendana, Pailo Pon-
temayor, and Jessica Cendana.
For the rst time in many years,
three of the original co-founders
of the Manila Mail Bert Alfaro,
Joe Burgos and Dani Perico met at
dinner at the Malikaku Japanese
restaurant in Herndon, Virginia
on June 13. They are shown, from
left, Cristina and Joe Burgos, Bert
Alfaro and Dan and Rose Perico.
The occasion also served as des-
pedida for the Burgoses who are
moving to Pensacola, Florida end
of this month. Dan is also going
back to Manila were he works.
World renowned pianist, Dr. Raul
Sunico, expresses his love for Bohol
by giving a free piano concert on
June 22 at the Church of the Later
Day Saints in Kensington, Maryland.
Funds raised from individual dona-
tions will help repair and restore sev-
eral historic churches in Bohol dam-
aged by a devastating earthquake last year. The Bohol Restoration Group,
led by Margaret Lacson Ecarma, is bringing together engineers, preserva-
tion experts and technicians to save these international cultural landmarks.
(Photo by Jon Melegrito)
July 1-15, 2014 15
American people for extending
a helping hand in the immediate
aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan.
In his Independence Day
message at the Kennedy Center
that coincided with the highly
successful After the Storm
concert at the Kennedy Center
on June 15, Ambassador Jose L.
Cuisia, Jr. said the storm took
many lives and left a trail of
incomprehensible destruction
but did not defeat the Filipino
spirit.
Very much like our coura-
geous ancestors who made great
sacrice to witness that day in
1898 when the Philippine ag
was raised, our people have
begun the difcult task of recov-
ery and rehabilitation, he said.
As our government and
people buckle down to this task,
we are uplifted by the support
and generosity of our friends:
from the US government, which
has committed more than $86
million for Haiyan related efforts,
to US businesses and NGOs, who
have pledged approximately $60
million, Cuisia said.
We are particularly
touched by the many American
men, women and even children,
as well as our kababayans in the
US, who have reached out to us
to donate their resources, time
and energies, the Philippine
envoy said.
Two people who donated
their resources and energy
towards recovery in typhoon-
affected areas were honored that
evening--the armless pilot Jessica
Cox and performer Allan Pinedo
Lindo, more popularly known as
apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas.
On behalf of the Philippine
government, Cuisia presented
Cox with a plaque of achieve-
ment for her excellence as a moti-
vational speaker and advocate
for the disabled. Coxs family is
from Guiuan where Typhoon
Haiyan rst made landfall. She
has partnered with Handicap
International to provide support
for those who were disabled as a
result of Typhoon Haiyan.
Apl.de.ap received a plaque
for his achievements and valu-
able service to the Philippines
and US, and for making signi-
cant contributions in building the
image of Filipinos and the Phil-
ippines in the US. Apl.de.ap has
done philanthropic work in the
Eastern Visayas after Typhoon
Haiyan and is set to conduct a
music-and-arts camp for chil-
dren affected by the typhoon in
the near future.
Among the dignitaries who
attended were US Assistant Sec-
retary of State for East Asian and
Pacic Affairs Daniel R. Russel;
Virginia Rep. Bobby Scott, Co-
Chair of the US-Philippines
Friendship Caucus at the House
of Representatives; and Ambas-
sador John Negroponte, Co-
Chairman of the US-Philippine
Society.
In his remarks, Cuisia also
cited President Obamas visit to
the Philippines in April, which,
he said, further manifested the
strength of the Philippine-US
alliance.
We are heartened by Presi-
dent Obamas support for the
Philippines decision to seek
arbitration to address maritime
claims in the South China Sea,
recognizing our contribution to
strengthening international law
and peaceful avenues for the set-
tlement of disputes, Cuisia said.
We will always remember
President Obamas reiteration
of the US ironclad commitment
and his statement that allies
never stand alone.
He said another milestone
of President Obamas visit is the
Enhanced Defense Cooperation
Agreement and economic deliv-
erables that will promote trade
and investment.
We are optimistic that
the visit of Commerce Secre-
tary Penny Pritzker to Manila
opened doors for more business
exchanges, he added.
For his part, Assistant Sec-
retary of State Russel said the
relaxed atmosphere and the rap-
port between Presidents Aquino
and Obama underlined the long-
standing friendship and alliance
between the US and the Philip-
pines.
We have a close relation-
ship, based on democratic values,
shared prosperity, mutual inter-
ests, intertwined history, and
close people-to-people ties, he
said as he cited the more than
3.5 million Filipino-Americans in
the US and the more than 200,000
Americans living in the Philip-
pines.
With the Defense Coopera-
tion Agreement we just agreed
to, our commitment to regional
security and stability is now even
stronger. And this agreement
will improve our ability to work
together to deliver humanitarian
assistance and disaster relief,
Russell said.
PH Embassy extols... from page 1
Pinoy orist Fred Paras, 61
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Noted Filipino oral designer
Godofredo Wy Paras, well-
known as Fred Paras, 61, of Falls
Church, Virginia, passed away
June 23, 2014 at a hospital here
with his family and friends by
his side. He suffered from sub-
arachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)
and cardiac arrest.
Born in Cabiao, Nueva
Ecija, Philippines, Paras had
made metropolitan Washington,
D.C. his home for more than 25
years. It was in the United States
capital that he found pleasure
in delighting his clients with
his aesthetically-pleasing oral
arrangements with their burst of
colors and unique designs meant
for those who seek his creative
talent.
His clients were from all
walks of life from simple folks
celebrating milestones in their
lives to inuential people making
their mark in the nations capital:
among others, lobbyists, think-
tanks, Hollywood celebrities and
ambassadors in various embas-
sies in Washington, D.C., includ-
ing envoys assigned to the Phil-
ippine Embassy from the time
of Philippine Ambassador to the
United States Raul Ch. Rabe.
Attributing his talent to his
deep spirituality, Paras offered
his beautiful oral arrangements
to Our Lady of Victory (OLOV)
Catholic Church in the George-
town area of Washington, D.C.
where he always prepared coffee
and snacks for churchgoers on
Sundays.
Paras was in fact given a
recognition award during
OLOVs 100th year celebra-
tion for his tireless and enthu-
siastic service to the church. He
also graced many events in the
Filipino-American community,
including Manila Mails anni-
versary celebrations and Philip-
pine Independence Day activi-
ties where he displayed his other
graceful skill: ballroom dancing.
To help purchase owers
for his renowned oral arrange-
ments of classy elegance, Paras
was employed for some time by
the Embassy of France in Wash-
ington, D.C. and the Sans Rival
Caterers owned by its chef, Dr.
Paul Bakken who told Manila
Mail, When Fred passed, I lost
my best friend. a sentiment
shared by many who knew Fred
Paras.
Paras leaves his beloved
wife Bella Paras; his son Fred-
erick Freddie Paras with his
wife Gosia of Poland and their
son Daniel. He also leaves his
brothers Perfecto (with his wife
Paz); Zoilo (in the Philippines);
Felino (in Belgium where he is
the Supreme Commander of
the European-wide Knights of
Rizal); Leonardo (with his wife
Irma); and Juanito (with his wife
Amy).
While Fred Paras was con-
ned for a week at the George
Washington University Hospi-
tal in D.C., many offered their
prayers, including visiting Arch-
bishop Ramon Cabrera Arguelles
of the Metropolitan Archdiocese
of Lipa (Batangas, Philippines).
Funeral Mass was held on
June 28, 2014 at the Our Lady of
Victory Church, 4835 MacArthur
Boulevard NW, Washington, DC
2007. Interment followed at the
National Memorial Park in Falls
Church, VA.
Godofredo Wy Paras
Philippine Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr. leads the toast celebrating the
116th anniversary of Philippine Independence with (front row) Rep. Bobby
C. Scott (seated), Vicky Cuisia, US Asst. Secretary of State for East Asia and
the Pacic Daniel Russell, Thryza Navarrete and emcee Margaret Lacson
Ecarma. (Bing Branigin)
July 1-15, 2014 16 16
Our immediate prior-
ity is to get Congress to issue a
national proclamation recogniz-
ing the wartime services of our
veterans and pass a bill awarding
the Congressional Gold Medal as
a way of saying thank you to
them, said Maj. Gen. Antonio
Taguba in his opening remarks.
The Congressional Gold
Medal, along with the Presiden-
tial Medal of Freedom, is the
highest civilian awards in the
US.
This is larger and much
broader than the benets issue
that our veterans fought for in
the last six decades, Taguba
explained, adding, We owe it to
our heroes that they get the rec-
ognition they deserve, now.
A bill pending in Congress,
HR 111, was introduced last year.
It would authorize a Congres-
sional Gold Medal to be perma-
nently displayed at the Smithso-
nian, with bronze replicas given
to veterans and their survivors at
a formal White House ceremony
sometime next year.
To ensure that no veteran
is left out, a master list of survi-
vors and immediate families of
veterans who have died is being
developed.
Tagubas father, Tomas, was
a Philippine Scout who fought in
the Battle of Bataan during World
War II. He was among the over
260,000 members of the Old Phil-
ippine Scouts, Philippine Com-
monwealth Army, Recognized
Guerillas, and New Philippine
Scouts who responded to Presi-
dent Roosevelts call-to-duty and
fought under the American ag
against the Imperial Forces of
Japan during World War II.
Getting the Congressional
Gold Medal is our last chance,
said Taguba. We cannot close
this dark chapter in US his-
tory, when Congress passed the
Rescission Acts of 1946 stripping
Filipino World II veterans of
their benets, until they are for-
mally recognized.
Taguba noted that other
groups have been honored with
the highest civilian award, but
not the Filipinos. They include
the Japanese American Nisei
soldiers, Navajo Code Talkers,
Montford Marines, Tuskegee
Airmen and Women Air Service
Pilots (WASP).
Participating in the day-long
meeting were advocates, acade-
micians, lmmakers, research-
ers and leaders representing the
Bataan Legacy Project, KAYA
Filipinos for Progress, NaFFAA,
the National Alliance for Filipino
Veterans Equity (NAFVE), the
Philippine Embassys Ofce of
Veterans Affairs, the San Fran-
cisco Veterans Equity Center,
University of Maryland Asian
American Studies Department,
Veterans of Foreign Wars chap-
ters in Guam and Hawaii and
veterans organizations from
Houston, TX., Las Vegas, NV.,
Jacksonville, FL., Los Angeles,
CA.
Participants also agreed to
form a steering committee com-
prised of regional representa-
tives to guide the work of the
national coalition, set policies
and ensure implementation of
the projects mission and goals.
In addition to mapping out
a legislative strategy, organizers
are also working with the Uni-
versity of Maryland to develop
an authoritative and scholarly
study about the role Filipino sol-
diers played in the war.
The war in the Pacic was
a signicant campaign, said Jon
Sumida, University of Maryland
professor of military history.
Filipino guerillas saw
themselves not just liberating
the Philippines, but as part of an
international struggle against a
hostile menace. It is exciting for
historians to dig deeper into this
so Americans can have a larger
understanding of World War II,
he added.
After Sumidas presenta-
tion, he introduced his colleague,
Prof. Colleen Woods, who dis-
cussed the work she is doing to
identify sources of research for
students and historians. In addi-
tion to the National Archives,
other locations cited include:
MacArthur Library in Norfolk,
U.S. Army Heritage Center in
Carlisle, Pa., and the Philippine
Archives collection.
Woods also encouraged
anyone in the community to send
personal stories and memoirs to
add texture to these documents.
Woods will be teaching
History 408: War in the Pacic,
a senior level seminar, in the Fall.
Two University of Maryland stu-
dents attended the meeting to
familiarize themselves with the
project. The students will con-
duct their own research about
the war.
Ben de Guzman, national
coordinator of the National Alli-
ance for Filipino Veterans Equity
(NAFVE), described the long
campaign to win veterans ben-
ets, which culminated in 2009.
Fighting for equity was at
the core of Filipino American
advocacy since 1990, he said.
It allowed us to tap into
our communitys resources and
build coalitions with various
civil rights organizations. We
now have a well-spring of sup-
port, particularly from groups
like the National Coalition of
Asian Pacic Americans, the
Asian American Justice Center,
Organization of Chinese Ameri-
cans and the Japanese American
League of Citizens. I am optimis-
tic that we will win the day for
our Lolos, but it will take hard
work and dedication on our
part, De Guzman explained.
The next meeting of the
coalition is on Aug. 23. Plans for
a press conference in Capitol Hill
in September are underway.
If we all do are due
diligence, we can make this
happen, summed up Taguba
at the conclusion of the meeting.
This is a We thing. We need to
do this for our veterans. We have
a story to tell. The face on this
project are the faces of our Fili-
pino World War II heroes. Lets
do it.
Gold Medaleyed... from page 1
Broadway artist Lea Salonga and
Hollywood actor Lou Diamond
Philips provided an hour-long
entertainment featuring broad-
way songs, a ballet performance
by Christine Rocas, an operatic
rendition by tenor Rodell Rosell,
a pop song by Charice, a violin
solo by Joshua Bell, and a couple
of lively hits by rapper Allan
Pineda Lindo but better known
as apl.de.ap of the Grammy
Award-winning group The Black
Eyed Peas. Actor and songwriter
Darren Criss provided musical
assists to Salongas and Lindos
numbers.
Most of the performers are
either Filipino or of Filipino
descent. They all expressed pride
in their strong afnity to the Phil-
ippines. Philips, who hosted the
event, has also been an outspo-
ken advocate for Filipino World
War II veterans, testifying a
number of times in Congress.
Its incredibly heartening in
this day and age when the planet
comes together and joins forces to
do some good, he told the Con-
cert Hall audience. His mother is
from Candelaria, Zambales.
Apl.de.ap, who visited
devastated areas in the Philip-
pines after the typhoon, has been
involved in rebuilding efforts
through a foundation he formed.
The evening program also
included special video appear-
ances by actor James Caan, sing-
ers Gloria and Emilio Estefan,
soprano Renee Fleming and TV
host Suze Ormon.
It was a great show and it
was worth driving a 100 miles
to come out and support ourka-
babayans in Leyte, said Eleanor
Alejandro Macalma, who drove
with her family and friends from
Richmond, Va.
We appreciate all those who
put their time and efforts to make
this a success.
The Kennedy Center Concert
was a joint effort of the Philip-
pine Embassy, the US-Philippine
Friendship Society and the Phil-
ippine Humanitarian Coalition
(PHC), which includes more than
30 Filipino American community
organizations.
This is a clear manifesta-
tion of the bayanihan spirit, said
Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr.
This is the rst time the 33 orga-
nizations here in Washington DC,
Maryland and Virginia worked
together. It is probably about time
that we get all organizations here
to work as one.
The PHC was formed in
December after Amb. Cuisia
called a community meeting to
plan a major fundraiser, with a
goal of $300,000. Stepping up to
the plate to coordinate the coali-
tion are Jun Rasul of the Philip-
pine Medical Association and
Vicky Navarro, National Presi-
dent of the Philippine Nurses
Association, which raised close to
$70,000.
Working hard behind the
scenes are RJ Diokno and the
PHC Communications Team,
Luis Florendo, Gerry Llames,
Thryza Navarette, Malu Araque
and Hilda Leuterio Giglioli.
Preceding the concert was
a reception held at the Kennedy
Center Terrace, hosted by Amb.
& Mrs. Cuisia. Two honorees
were given special awards for
donating their resources and
energy towards typhoon recov-
ery: armless pilot Jessica Cox and
apl.de.ap.
Cox, whose family is from
Guiuan where Typhoon Haiyan
rst made landfall, is an advocate
for the disabled and is providing
support to those who were dis-
abled as a result of the storm. Apl.
de.ap was recognized for making
signicant contributions in build-
ing the image of Filipinos and the
Philippines in the US.
Among the dignitaries who
attended were US Assistant Sec-
retary of State for East Asian and
Pacic Affairs Daniel R. Russel,
Virginia Rep. Bobby Scott, Co-
Chair of the US-Philippines
Friendship Caucus at the House
of Representatives; and Ambassa-
dor John Negroponte, Co-Chair-
man of the US-Philippine Society.
Also present were members of
the diplomatic corps, US ofcials,
businessmen, and the Filipino
Community. (Jon Melegrito)
After the Storm concert... from page 1
still did not fully comply with
the minimum standards for the
elimination of trafcking but
was making signicant efforts
to do so.
Had the Philippines per-
formance in combating human
trafcking slid down to Tier 3,
it would have temporarily lost
the right to the rest of the Mil-
lennium Challenge Corpora-
tion (MCC) development grant.
The grant will resume only if it
reverts to Tier 2, or improve to
Tier 1.
In September 2010, the
Philippines received an MCC
Compact grant of $433,910,000
from MCC, after successfully
complying during the Thresh-
old level in the previous years.
Of this amount, $125,951,932 has
been spent, as of last Decembers
MCC report. The Compact ends
on May 25, 2016.
MCC, created by the U.S.
Congress in 2004, is an inde-
pendent U.S. foreign aid agency
which aims to combat global
poverty. It links continued
development aid with good gov-
ernance (anti-corruption) and
actual, measurable progress in
improved economic conditions
and peoples lives.
The Compact has been sup-
porting: 1) reforms and invest-
ments to modernize the Bureau
of Internal Revenue to reduce
opportunities for corruption in
tax administration; 2) expansion
of a community-driven devel-
opment project; and (3) reha-
bilitation of a secondary national
road linking Samar and Eastern
Samar.
PH stays at Tier... from page 1
Revilla is accused of pock-
eting P242 million in kickbacks
from businesswoman Janet Lim-
Napoles, the alleged mastermind
in the pork barrel scam while
his co-accused Estrada allegedly
took P183 million and Enrile
allegedly got P172.8 million in
kickbacks.
The nancial threshold for
the crime of plunder is at least
P50 million.
But their incarceration
merely signals the start of what
could be a protracted legal battle.
On his rst day in jail, Estrada
has asked the Supreme Court for
a restraining order to stop the
Sandiganbayan from proceeding
with the cases led against him
by the Ofce of the Ombudsman.
He reiterated that his indict-
ment was an administration plot
to undermine the chances of the
opposition in the 2016 presiden-
tial elections.
Estrada complained that he,
Revilla and Enrile, all members
of the opposition, were allegedly
being singled out because the
Commission on Audit, whose
report has been used by the
Ombudsmans ofce had linked
300 lawmakers to the alleged
embezzling of their Priority
Development Assistance Fund
(PDAF).
The fact that there is selec-
tive prosecution is further proven
by the fact that there existed
documents that implicated other
members of the legislature other
than Sen. Estrada, Sen. Revilla
and Sen. Enrile and yet all these
legislators have not been inves-
tigated, Estrada lawyer Sabino
Acut Jr. pointed out.
The two senators are held at
the Custodial Center of the Phil-
ippine National Police in Camp
Crame.
Estrada, Revilla jailed... from page 1
July 1-15, 2014 17
Congress is a rampart of the elite
MANILA
T
he Philippine Congress
is composed of million-
aires. Theyre there either
to make big bucks or to protect
what they already have. And
add to it.
Its no surprise to the people
that many members of both
houses of Congress here are rich
beyond any ordinary man or
womans wildest dreams. Even
though the ethos is changing,
Filipinos are still disturbingly
tolerant of government ofcials
looting the public treasury.
We still have a feudal soci-
ety where people have a patriar-
chal attitude toward their public
ofcials, whom they consider as
their elders, and so grant them
privileges like theyre lords of the
manor with, as the stylish pundit
and writers mentor Raul S. Gon-
zalez liked to say, expanded
droit du seigneur perks. Mean-
ing that public ofcials can take
what they want as long as they
leave the crumbs for the rest of
us serfs to feast on.
(The dictionary limits the
seigneurs privilege to taking a
vassals bride on her wedding
night but the term is a metaphor
for broad abuse.)
Theres nothing new with
the elected branch of govern-
ment consisting of wealthy
people. This kind of setup has
been around for hundreds of
years around the world.
Societys elites have ruled
the world from time immemo-
rial. He who has the gold rules.
Money talks. Money dictates.
Money controls. Money has the
nal say. Money makes things
go. Money makes the world go
round. Money rules.
Things have changed in
many parts of the world. Egali-
tarianism has neutered and neu-
tralized the traditional rulers,
the lords-of-the-manor types,
the old boys who had held sway
over their domains for hundreds
of years. In Europe, monarchical
rulers have given way to more
democratically installed gov-
ernments. In the United States,
democracy has more or less pre-
vailed.
Its only in feudal societies
where the moneyed still have
the peoples cojones in their grip,
their necks in tight nooses, their
lives in virtual hock forever with
only a snowballs chance in hell
of extricating themselves from
dismal poverty.
Its only in feudal setups,
where democracy exists on paper
only, where money is almighty
and the moneyed are gods. That
is why such societies are called
the Third World, dened by the
dictionary as the aggregate of the
underdeveloped countries of the
world.
That is where we are,
lumped in that dubious category
of nations, the Third World.
Because our country is still
ruled by money, raw power and
opportunists. The people at large
have very little say.
The progression goes like
this: power in government is
held by rich people; those on the
outside nd ways to get on the
inside. But before long the ideal-
istic outsiders get corrupted and
learn the ways of their elders
in how to get rich in government.
And so they too become part of
the elite. And become part of the
problem.
Meanwhile, the rest of
society remains outside looking
in, laboring daily to try to make
both ends meet. Some do barely;
others continue to marinate in
poverty. Still others opt out of
traditional society and, with ide-
alism intact but misguided, join
extra-constitutional movements
on either side of the ideological
spectrum through which they
can carry out their advocacies,
often violently.
The traditional rich and the
pretenders to elitism and nou-
veau-riche-ness ght tooth and
nail to preserve their grip on
power and privilege. They keep
anarchists and genuine reform-
ers at bay, either by coopting
them by buying them off, or by
keeping them where they are, on
the outside looking in.
The movements on the
fringes of society that seek to
demolish the elite have not suc-
ceeded over decades, in some
countries centuries. The elite
is simply impregnable because
they have the means to purchase
the resolve of even the most ide-
alistic. The elite is like a wall that
is impervious to penetration.
It cant be defeated because it
yields to no one or nothing. Its
indestructible.
The elite has no other ide-
ology but money. Look at the
greed of people partaking of the
current pork-barrel scam money
here even though theyre already
redundantly wealthy. Theyre
insatiable.
(A grand-scale scam here
currently involves legislators
allegedly misappropriating their
pork-barrel funds and pocketing
portions of it through a syndicate
led by a woman named Janet
Lim Napoles. One of her daugh-
ters used to boast on Facebook
about their riches and ritzy pos-
sessions.)
Money is what keeps the
elite in place. Its what keeps it
in power. Like the ame to the
moth, it entices and seduces even
those who are out to defeat and
demolish it.
There are reformers and
do-gooders here who want to
change and reform society and
the ways things are done. For
the better. But they fail because
theyre up against an impreg-
nable wall. The wall of the elite.
The Philippine Congress is a
rampart of that wall.
July 1-15, 2014 18 18
On Our Rites
of Passage
I
f youyes, youare my
age, born in the years imme-
diately preceding the Second
World War, with the caveat that
you still have the fondness for
remembering, let us, you and
I, tell our childrens children in
this coming sweltering heat of
summer our own days of bygone
youth. Only to our grandchil-
dren, for our own children must
have heard our recollections
hundreds of time.
You must have the courage
and pride to tell them. In the
present climate of technological
wizardry and endless wonders,
recounting how we spent our
years of puberty may sound and
appear too primitive and dark to
their inquiring minds, but to our
generation born in the prover-
bial age of transitions the times
were full of colors, bright shades
of awes, daring, and discoveries.
This was the period of testing
our so-called mettle, our limits,
and what boundaries to cross
in order for us to arrive. What
and where it was, we never both-
ered to know; we just did what-
ever our emotions dictated.
So, what anecdotes can you
tell them, these grandchildren
the bloods of your blood? You, I
am sure, have many, lurking in
the bends of your memories. I
too have one to share.
Living with my parents and
siblings in the almost secluded
hamlet in central Manila con-
jures a pamphlet pages from
which I still have to secure for
posterity. Picture a small village
of about one hundred houses
where families share only one
street for the easy access to shar-
ing each others needs, com-
fort and conviviality, a street
ending to a protrusion of a land
mass around which the Pasig
River ows. Because the place,
viewed from above, looks like a
pan handle it was given the geo-
graphical, postal name of Punta
(point, in English), a parish dis-
trict of Santa Ana.
And yet, because of the easy
access to Pasig River, Punta was,
during my young years, home to
the Philippine Match Company,
Swedish-owned-and-operated in
the manufacture of chemically-
tipped matchsticks; the Atlan-
tic, Gulf and Pacic Company,
owned and managed by a con-
glomerate of Norwegian, British
and American investors engaged
in ship repairs and waterproof-
ing of timbers; and the National
Shipyard and Steel Corporation,
operated by a Japanese company
in ship repairs and dry docking.
Pasig River then sustained Pun-
tas economy.
The river was the lure to
young boys of Punta. The dis-
tance across from Puntas shore
to the edge of Santa Ana town
was about the length, in my pres-
ent age, of a football eld. The
common way of crossing it was
paddling on a banca, an inated
rubber tube of a discarded air-
plane wheel, or on a bamboo
raft. A tributary owing from
Manila Bay, the water was cool
and the current was foreboding
during rainy seasons. During
summer and dry weather, the
water looked greenish and
tasted salty and warm, a happy
time for swimming on the shore,
for grabbing clusters of passing
water-lilies (known as Quiapos),
knowing that underneath, cling-
ing to their roots are edible baby
crabs, and watching older boys
performing their summer rituals
Meaning of
SC age-out
decision
T
he recent US Supreme
Court decision in the case
of Scialabba vs. Cuellar
De Osorio (formerly known as
Mayorkas vs. Cuellar De Osorio
upheld the governments inter-
pretation limiting the application
of the Child Status Protection
Act (CSPA) to a particular class
of child beneciaries.
Before the enactment of
CSPA in 2008, the long immi-
grant visa backlogs caused cer-
tain children who turn 21 years
old or age-out before a visa
becomes available to lose their
rights under the visa category
applied for. Some age-out appli-
cants would become ineligible
while others may qualify for a
conversion to another visa cat-
egory.
To alleviate the harsh con-
sequence for these children,
Congress passed the CSPA. To
determine eligibility for aged-
out children, the childs age at
the time the visa is available for
his/her priority date is reduced
by the period of time it took
the government to approve the
petition. If the result is under
21, then the child is entitled to a
visa. If the result is over 21 years,
then the childs petition shall be
automatically converted to the
appropriate category retaining
the same priority date issued
upon ling of the petition. This
means that visa petitions con-
verted to another category will
be credited for the waiting time
already incurred from the date
of the original ling, instead of
starting all over again in a new
visa petition.
The Immigration Service
interpreted the application of
CSPA only to a limited class
VISA PRIORITY DATES FOR THE PHILIPPINES
JULY 2014
FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES
First: Unmarried sons/daughters
of US citizens Jun. 01, 2003
Second:
A: Spouses/minor children of
permanent residents: May 01, 2012
B: Unmarried sons/daughters 21 years
of age or older of permanent residents Aug. 15, 2003
Third: Married sons/daughters of citizens Mar. 22, 1993
Fourth: Brothers/sisters of citizens Jan. 01, 1991
EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES
First: Priority workers Current
Second: Professionals holding advanced
degrees or persons of exceptional ability Current
Third: Skilled workers, professionals Jan. 01, 2009
Other Workers Jan. 01, 2009
Fourth:
Certain Religious Workers Current
Fifth: Employment creation/
(Million or half-million dollar investor) Current
Continued on page 23
The second time around
T
ita Boots Anson-Roa and
Atty. King Rodrigo was
married last Saturday,
June 14, at the Archbishops
Palace. The ceremony was ofci-
ated by Archbishop Luis Anto-
nio Cardinal Tagle.
It was love the second time
around for both after the passing
of their respective partners. In
fact, Rodrigo, even fondly called
it a dream come true for him
as he promised his new wife
a good life. Not only nancially
but of true love and caring.
Tita Boots and Tito King
had a seven-month engagement
after being in a relationship for
three months. She said in an
interview after the ceremonies
shyly shared that its actually her
rst time to get an engagement
ring and experience a grand
wedding since she just eloped
with late husband
Pete Roa in 1964. Her giant
round-cut diamond sparkled on
her hand as well as her studded
gold wedding ring.
The MOWELFUND presi-
dent glowed in he ecru gown by
designer Eddie Badeo. What fur-
ther accentuated Boots classic
yet youthful ensemble was the
pair of round-cut diamond ear-
rings that matched her engage-
ment ring which she wore. The
groom looked dashing in a sleek
barong. The venue was awash
with violets and hints of pink
as their sophisticated white ve-
tier all-white wedding cake was
enjoyed by the guests.
Among the guests during
that celebrated with the couple
were TV5 Chairman Manny
V. Pangilinan, actors Gloria
Romero, Caridad Sanchez, Bar-
bara Perez, Pilita Corrales, Jose
Mari Chan, Tita Boots radio pro-
gram co-host Willie Nepomu-
ceno, husband and wife Julius
and Tintin Babao, and German
Moreno.
Manila Mayor Joseph
Estrada, Susan Roces, and lm
producer Marichu Perez Maceda
were part of the principal spon-
sors.
We met Tito King for the
rst time when Tita Boots hosted
a dinner for us when we were in
Manila. I found him to be intelli-
gent, very mabait with a delight-
ful sense of humor. We are very
happy for them for nding
love the second time around. We
wish them all the happiness in
the world.
AT THE KENNEDY
CENTER
I enjoyed the press perfor-
mance recently of the premiere of
the Side Show at the Kennedy
Center. This Tony-nominated
musical is based on the real-life
story of the Hilton sisters, Daisy
and Violet(Erin Davie, Emily
Padgett) who were conjoined
twins at birth. From their rise
as circus freaks headliners to
one of the highest paid attrac-
tions in vaudeville in the 30s.
Side Show ran on Broadway
in 1997 for only 91 performances
but this new production at the
Kennedy Center is a new, exten-
sively overhauled production by
Academy Award director Bill
Condon. The result of this new
version is an astounding produc-
tion.
Director Condon has assem-
bled a top-notch cast. Emily
Padgett, as the adventurous
Daisy, and Erin Davie, as the shy
Violet, are both lovely sopranos.
They matched each other note,
belt for belt, especially in the
Act 1 showstopper Who Will
Love Me As I Am, and the 11 o
clock number, the tearjerker I
Will Never Leave You. Padgett
and Davie also has great chem-
istry.
Ryan Silverman, as the
sisters talent manager and
Daisys boyfriend Terry, shows
off a powerful tenor in Very
Well Connected and A Pri-
vate Conversation. Matthew
Hydzik as Violets earnest and
sensitive boyfriend, Buddy,
is in ne voice. Big voiced
David Louis, as Daisy and Vio-
lets close friend, gives pathos
to his role. The circus oddities
here are shown as kind, good-
hearted people and who care for
one another and treat each other
like family.
The score, book and lyrics
by Bill Russell music by Henry
Kreiger, is lled with emotion
and wonderful ballads. With
gems from the showtopping
opening number Come Look
At The Freaks, Like Eveyone
Else, Say Goodbye To The
Sideshow, Coming Apart At
The Seams, among others.
Most of the numbers were
met with whoops and cheers and
at curtain call, a well-deserved
standing ovation. This new
version of Side Show is not
Continued on page 23 Continued on page 23
July 1-15, 2014 19
PAN-GRILLED PRAWNS
(with Chefs Pickled Mango)
O
nce you are served with
prawns or large shrimps
at parties, you should
always give praise to the hosts.
Because preparing fresh prawns
is not a simple matter as it entails
a tremendous amount of labor.
Yes, you can buy them frozen,
headless and ready to cook, only
the taste is less avorful.
I normally prefer not to add
any sodium to the fresh prawns,
because they have inherent good
avor and kind of sweet natural
tang. But at your option, you can
season the prawns with salt and
pepper.
(Note: When we were vaca-
tioning in the Philippines recently,
I noticed there was always an abun-
dance of fresh prawns and shrimps
of all sizes. It is the reason I made
this delicate but delicious recipe. I
also had served this recipe on several
occasions when I had guests.)
Ingredients:
24 fresh prawns or colossal
shrimps
half cup bread crumbs
1 teaspoon freshly chopped
parsley
1 teaspoon freshly chopped
thyme
Needed: 24 fancy knotted
bamboo cocktail sticks
Methods:
Preparing Prawns
Peel off the shell, being care-
ful to keep the prawns head
and tail intact (for this recipe).
Make a shallow cut along the
back of the prawn with a small
knife, to expose the dark vein.
Loosen carefully any overhang-
ing membrane that may bind the
vein to the prawn. Then remove
the dark intestinal vein with the
tip of the knife and pat dry with
paper towel.
Keeping the Prawns Straight
To prevent prawns from
curling during cooking, insert
a long wooden cocktail stick
through the center of each
prawn. You can remove the
sticks before serving; but for this
recipe, keep the sticks for alter-
native presentation.
Pan-grilling and Serving the
Prawns
Combine breadcrumbs
and herbs. Lightly sprinkle
the skewered prawns with sea-
soned bread crumbs. Using a
heavy-gauge skillet, pan-grill the
prawns (in batches) for 2 minutes
on each side or until the esh
turns opaque. (At your option,
sprinkle a little bit of extra light
olive or vegetable oil to avoid the
prawns from sticking to the skil-
let.)
Serve with pickled mango
(see recipe below).
Chefs Pickled Mango
Combine all the following
ingredients, mix and refrigerate
until ready to serve.
2 whole mangoes (yellow
green and rm) peeled and
thinly sliced
2 tablespoons apple cider
vinegar or lemon juice
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly chopped
parsley
few short strips of red bell
pepper
Chefs tip: When buying
prawns or shrimps, look for rm
with shiny grey shells. Avoid
any prawns with black spots - a
sure sign of aging.
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.
HIDE
A
small balding man
storms into a local bar
and demands, Gimme a
double of the strongest whiskey
you got. Im so mad, I cant even
see straight. The bartender,
noticing that the little man is a bit
the worse for wear, pours him a
double of Southern Comfort. The
man swills down the drink and
says, Gimme another one. The
bartender pours the drink, but
says, Now, before I give you
this, why dont you let off a little
steam and tell me why youre so
upset?
So, the man begins his tale.
Well, I was sitting in the bar
next door, when this gorgeous
blonde slinks in and actually sits
beside me at the bar. I thought,
Wow, this has never happened
before. You know, it was kind
of a fantasy come true. Well,
a couple of minutes later, the
blonde leans over and asks if Id
like to come back to her hotel to
have dinner and talk for a while.
I couldnt believe this was hap-
pening, and I hadnt had a good
meal in quite a while. I managed
to nod my head yes, so she grabs
my hand and starts walking out
of the bar. This seemed just too
good to be true.
He continued, She took me
down the street here to a nice
hotel and up to her room. She
said to relax, watch some TV,
and that she would be ready to
go down to the restaurant in a
few minutes. But, as soon as I
put my feet up and reclined my
chair, I heard some keys jingling
and someone starts fumbling
with the door.
The blonde says, Oh my
god, its my boyfriend. He must
have lost his wrestling match
tonight, hes gonna be real mad.
Quick, hide!
So, I opened the closet, but
I gured that was probably the
rst place he would look, so I
didnt hide there. Then I looked
under the bed, but no, I gured
hes bound to look there, too. By
now, I could hear the key in the
lock. I noticed the window was
open, so I climbed out and was
hanging there by my ngers,
praying that the guy wouldnt
see me.
The bartender says Well I
can see how you might be a bit
frustrated at this point.
Well, yeah, but I hear the
guy nally get the door open
and he yells out, Who you been
with now, you witch? The girl
says, Nobody, honey, now calm
down.
Well, the guy starts tearing
up the room. I hear him tear the
door off the closet and throw it
across the room. Im thinking,
Boy, Im glad I didnt hide in
there. Then I hear him lift up
the bed and throw it across the
room. Good thing I didnt hide
under there either. Then I heard
him say, Whats that over there
by the window? I think, Oh
God, Im dead meat now.
But, the blonde by now is
trying real hard to distract him
and convince him to stop look-
ing. Well, I hear the guy go into
the bathroom and I hear water
running for a long time; I gure
maybe hes gonna take a bath or
something, when all of a sudden,
the jerk pours a pitcher of scald-
ing hot water out of the window
right on top of my head. I mean,
look at this, I got second degree
burns all over my scalp and
shoulders!
The bartender says, Oh
man, that would have gotten
me mad for sure. No, that
didnt really bother me. Next,
the guy starts slamming the
window shut over and over on
my hands. I mean, look at my
ngers. Theyre a bloody mess. I
can hardly hold onto this glass.
The bartender looks at the
guys hands and says, Yeah,
buddy, I can understand why
you are so upset.
No, that wasnt what really
got me so angry though.
The bartender then asks in
exasperation, Well, then, what
did nally make you angry?
Well, I was hanging on the
window, and I turned around
and looked down-- I was only a
foot off the ground.
LIFE GUARD
TV Host: Ano ang tawag
sa tao na sumasagip sa iyo pag
ikaw ay nalulunod? Clue : L
ang simula ng pangalan niya.
Contestant: Lifebuoy?
TV Host: Hindi, pero
kahawig nga ng pangalan ng
sabon ang pangalan ng taong ito.
Contestant: Safeguard?
TV Host: Hindi, pagsama-
hin mo yung dalawang sagot
mo.
Contestant: Safe boy?
TV Host: Hindi siya boy
at matipuno nga ang kaniyang
katawan.
Contestant: Ah, alam ko na.
Siya si Mr. Clean!
MAS MASARAP
Ano daw ang mas masarap
pa sa pinaupong manok?
According to 100 women:
Pinakamasarap daw ang pina-
tayong ibon!
SINO?
Inday: Sir, sino ang mas
masarap, ako o si maam? Sir:
Siyempre ikaw.
Inday: Naguguluhan ako,
kasi sabi ng driver natin, mas
masarap daw si maam kaysa sa
akin. (Ayos!)
AWA
Abugado: Habang pina-
panood mo ang asawa mo na
inumin ang kapeng may lason,
hindi ka man lang ba naawa sa
kanya kahit isang beses?
Babae: Naawa naman po.
Abugado: At kailan `yon?
Babae: Noong humingi siya
ng isa pang tasa ng kape.
POLLUTANTS
American: What are the
pollutants in your country?
Pedro: We have lots of pol-
lutants.... we have sisig, kilawin,
chicharon, mani...
Juan: Pare, may nakalimu-
tan ka, Boy Bawang (cornik).
TEKA
Kaloy: Kapag nakasalubong
ang isang leon, anong gagawin
mo?
Inggo: Aakyat ako sa puno.
Kaloy: Paano kung may
ahas sa puno?
Inggo: Bababa ako at tatakbo
papalayo.
Kaloy: Paano kung may
makasalubong kang tigre?
Inggo: Magtatago ako sa
yungib.
Kaloy: Papaano kung may
alakdan (scorpion) doon?
Inggo: Teka, nakakahalata
na ako sa iyo kanina pa. Gusto
mo akong mamatay na ano?
July 1-15, 2014 20 20
Summer
Solstice
O
n June 21st, the summer
solstice occurred for
those of us in the North-
ern hemisphere when the lon-
gest day of the year happened.
To explain it a little bit, the earth
is divided into two hemispheres,
the North and the South. We
are in the Northern hemisphere,
where it is warm and the South-
ern hemisphere, the other half,
which is the cold sphere. It is
good to know that winter solstice
happens around December 22nd
when the sun is farthest from
the South Pole. Unfortunately,
during these solstices, they are
not visible to us unless probably
we are airborne in plane when
they occur. When Consul Joy
Quintana was assigned to the
Philippine Consulate in Ireland
after her tour of duty was over
in Washington, DC, she invited
me to visit with her, specically
during the summer or winter
solstice as they celebrate this
occurrence with colorful fes-
tivities, which I recalled, to give
thanks to the sun and its life-
giving warmth for the people.
Unfortunately, I was not able to
make it. To add, I did not know
much about the solstice. Now I
wished I did visit her.
As the four seasons repre-
sent the stages of life, the bright
summer gives us the opportu-
nity to enjoy the radiance and
warmth of the sun, breathe the
fresh air, smell the verdant green
grass, appreciate the little and
obscure things that surround us
and time to connect with both
simple and enormous beauty of
nature. I have said many times
before that my favorite season
was and still is autumn to suit
my mood after the frenzy hot
summer. I value much that time
of the year when I can quietly
take a stock of myself, the choices
Ive made in the past months
and learn from the experience in
order to move on having the will
to make right choices. However,
we somehow learn something
from bad choices, vowing not to
dwell on them forever. I believe
that to stay balanced, we avoid
or stay away from negative ener-
gies - situations, events, things
or people, a tough move to effect
important changes in life. The
saying, the only permanent
thing in this world is change,
is a true fact and the positive
changes that we do should help
calm our person and spirit, thus,
lead to less stressful life. Smart
and subtle ways are practiced
to effect good change. Well, let
us go back to the more visible
and overt signs of summer as
opposed to my intrinsic views.
The Beauty of Summer
Admittedly, I say that each
season has its own unique and
wonderful characteristics that
people benet from. Absolutely,
summer is one of them. For many
of us, this is the time to do simple
but enjoyable activities like
taking a walk through a garden
or park, riding bicycle, playing
a game outdoors, or simply sit-
ting in the sun. Of course, others
look forward to other summer
breaks like going to the beach
or mountain/lake retreats and
some others are headed to more
expensive trips like cruises and
vacations to tourist places here
and other countries. Have you
tried camping with family and/
or friends? It should be fun to
unplug, unwind and reconnect
with nature in suburban places.
It entails roughing it in the real
world to kindle an appreciation
of nature. This adventure will
not attract everyone, only those
who have the strength and stam-
ina to enjoy the act of camping
per se, a great experience for the
whole family to bond together
in a different setting and envi-
ronment, working together on
common tasks such as prepar-
ing meals, overcoming obstacles
and helping each other succeed.
I have experienced this adven-
ture many years ago remember-
ing the awesome commune with
nature, overlooking the moun-
tainous landscape.
The Other Side of the Coin
It is during this time of the
year when the sunlight awakens
us on summer mornings, bright
and encouraging. As we get up
from bed, its radiance calls us
into a day of abundant possi-
bilities. All things are possible to
happen as we start the day with
pep, vigor, vitality with a lot of
energetic and fullling activities
on top of our head. The down
side is it gets too hot and humid
in the summer months but there
are practical and sensible things
to keep in mind to follow in
order to cope with the common
concerns of the season. What-
ever you do, stay hydrated with
plenty of uids even if you do
not feel thirsty and avoid drinks
with caffeine or alcohol. Wear
loose-tting, lightweight, light-
colored clothing. Avoid extreme
temperature changes - slow
down and stay indoors, likewise
avoid strenuous exercise during
the hottest part of the day. If you
can, postpone outdoor games
and activities especially during
the heat wave which differs from
the ordinary hot and humid tem-
perature. Take frequent breaks
if you must work outdoors. Eat
small meals and eat more often.
Use a buddy system when work-
ing in excessive heat. Never
leave your small children alone
in enclosed vehicles. This goes
true with Fido or Fi, your
loving pets. Check on family and
friends, and if you can, extend
help by checking on your neigh-
bors who do not have air condi-
tioning or who spend much of
their time alone or who are more
likely to be affected by the heat.
What we dont want to
happen is to experience a heat
wave. What is a heat wave? It
is a prolonged period of exces-
sive heat , generally 10 degrees
or more above the average high
temperature for the region, often
combined with excessive humid-
ity that last for a long period of
time. Dangers? Excessive heat
has caused more deaths than all
other weather events including
oods, so be prepared for the
possible occurrence. Listen to
local weather forecasts and stay
aware of upcoming temperature
changes. Prepare for the possibil-
ity of power outages and choose
places where you and your
family could go for relief during
the warmest part of the day.
Crazy Summer
As a precaution, it is good to
remind ourselves not to overdo
the overcrowding or overlap-
ping schedule of activities and
happenings. It is easy to get car-
ried away with exciting invita-
tions, picnics, hangouts, events,
get together, parties, vacations,
etc. The trick is to learn how to
decline or say no to invitations if
they are too much or will greatly
disrupt you normal daily sched-
ule. We can enjoy the stretch
of the summer if the activities
are well planned, well spaced,
affordable and not stressful.
When our schedule becomes
crazy and our daily life becomes
stressful and out of control, we
put the blame on the crazy
summer.
Community Summer
Events
Summer heat wave or not,
the Washington, DC Filipino
American community has not
wavered nor slowed down with
their energetic impulse to get
their events, activities or proj-
ects done, implemented, pre-
sented and held this summer.
Pen Envy
T
his quote by an anony-
mous writer sums me up -
I wake up every day plan-
ning to be productive and then
a voice in my head says, ha-ha,
good one and then we laugh
and laugh and laugh.
So I try and try and try until
I become Sisyphus in a hissy
t. I carry my boulder made up
of words I cant use with ideas
weighed down by banality.
This is not even accurate.
I dont have to wait to wake up
to feel that burden. Even in my
sleep I am disturbed by scenarios
that seem perfect at the time but
their genius vanish along with
my dreams at dawns rst light. I
have tried writing some of them.
Most writing manuals suggest
keeping a tablet and a pencil by
the bedside. But I am too tired or
too senseless in the middle of the
night. And if I do write some pas-
sages, they hardly make sense
and are illegible in the morning
because I wrote them in braille in
the dark.
I am a nurse by profession.
I have not taken a single writing
course. Everything I know about
writing I learned by reading,
borrowing, copying, then editing
till my mind bleeds.
T. S. Eliot once said, Good
writers borrow. Great writers
steal. To some extent that is
true. There is a nite number of
words and phrases. Even ideas
get recycled. One needs to dig
deep into his arsenal of unique
thoughts to be able to put a dif-
ferent spin. But unique is not
necessarily good. Unless of
course your intention is to write
about the weird and the peculiar.
That is not my ambition.
In January 2010 I decided to
re-invent me. Why not become a
writer? I have dreamed of being
a Filipino Jane Austen. Words
excite me. And I have an imagi-
nation that takes me to worlds
beyond the one in which I am
living. I have tales to tell and
verses to write.
I started working on sev-
eral manuscripts and submit-
ted several poems. Two poems
are now included in two sepa-
rate anthologies. I also started
a blog, deliciousgoosebumps,
which received a tepid response.
I decided to submit a manuscript
to a paid editor. It bombed.
Nope, not in this present state
it wont. Go back and revise, re-
write, re-what-ever-it-takes. I
have passion. And I have audac-
ity. But they cannot take the
place of talent and skill.
I became dejected but not
for long.
A writer, even a clumsy but
hopeful one like me, yearns to be
read. I want my ideas validated
by other thinking warm bodies
besides my immediate family
and friends. I continued to edit
and re-write my manuscripts but
I looked for other possibilities.
I started as a guest writer for
Manila Mail in February 2012.
Two months later the Editor In
Chief gave me my own byline
Sa Atin Atin. Just between you
and me. It is a column of human
interest stories written with a
good deal of humor.
It has been more than two
years since my rst article. I
have compiled them and re-read
them. I realized how clumsy and
pedantic those rst articles were.
The lectures gave way to more
conversational essays some of
which received approval from
my children.
My husband who is my best
fan as well as my worst critic
made a comment, It would be
difcult for someone to ghost
write for you. Your personality
is rmly stamped in your work.
How insightful.
I became friends with two
published authors. I admire
them. I envy them. I admitted my
frustration. One of them agreed
to read a sample of ten chapters
from one of my manuscripts.
She gave me hope. I can
write. Ngunit marami pa akong
kakaining bigas. I still have cups
and cups of rice to eat. It is our
Filipino way of saying you are
not there yet.
When she found out I was
to become a regular columnist,
she wasnt particularly encour-
aging. She said churning an
article every two weeks may not
seem much, but it will place my
ambition to publish a book in the
back-burner. And she is right.
My focus has shifted to writing
essays. Where do I go from here?
I admit to pen e nvy. My
head hurts and my heart aches.
Bahala na. Whatever happens
happens. One day I may yet sur-
prise you with a Book of Some-
thing or Other. Until then, keep
on reading. Continued on page 23
July 1-15, 2014 21
Maryland is richest state
H
oy, Pinoys in Virginia. Dont
think Maryland is populated by
poor people. A research group
called The Street recently published a list
of the ten richest states in the US, based
on the household income compiled by the
Bureau of Census in 2012. It said Mary-
land is the richest state while Virginia is
only Number 8!
The research group said the second
richest state is New Jersey, followed by
Alaska, Connecticutt, Hawaii, Massachus-
setts, New Hampshire, Virginia, Minne-
sotta and Delaware, in descending order.
The poorest states is led by Missis-
sippi, followed by Arkansas, West Vir-
ginia, Alabama, Kentucky, New Mexico,
Tennessee, Louisiana, South Carolina and
Oklahoma.
How about the smartest and
dumbest states in the Union? Here is
the Streets list of the 10 smartest and
dumbest states based on percentage of
the population with Bachelors degrees,
etc.
Maryland came out No. 3 as the
smartest state, just below Massachussets
and Colorado which were No. 1 and 2,
respectively. Virginia again came out as
No. 6. The list, from the 1st to the 10th
smartest states are: Massachusetts, Colo-
rado, Maryland, Connecticut, New Jersey,
Virginia, Vermont, New York, New
Hampshire and Minnesota.
The dumbest states is West Virginia,
followed by Arkansas, Mississippi, Ken-
tucky, Louisiana, Kansas, Alabama, Indi-
ana, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
***
Hoy, Pinoy: Discipline
The Virginia Pilot newspaper has
started a blog called common ground,
a visual commentary on life in Hampton
Roads. Every 12 weeks a new Virginian-
Pilot photographer starts a photo series
around a topic of his or her choosing.
Early last month, Fil-Am Photogra-
pher Rich Joseph Facun introduced his
feature titled Hoy, Pinoy:Discipline.
Facun says this was his personal look at
the community he grew up with in Hamp-
ton Roads.
Heres his writeup which was accom-
panied with photos:
I dont know any average students
with a 4.0 GPA, but thats how Alexander
Antonio describes himself.
Maybe hes comfortable with that
assessment because his achievements
dont begin or end with a book. At 13,
Alexander seems to have mastered the art
of discipline.
He is a recent inductee of the National
Junior Honor Society, holds an unde-
feated tennis record for this past season, is
a member of the Bay Youth Orchestras of
Virginia, plays in the band Two Arms of
Flight and is working on starting a second
band.
When I was his age, my father and
I were living, breathing cliches. Dad was
the strict Asian who stressed discipline,
and I was the unruly Filipino-American
teenager. Whatever his reservations about
me, Dad was always supportive.
I didnt accomplish much. Success
was taking out the trash, mowing the
yard and helping keep the house clean
without being asked to do so. My grades?
They were the least of my concerns at 13.
Mostly, I tried to stay out of trouble so I
could go skateboarding.
Not Alexander Antonio. His drive is
an instinct, he says, and something that
shapes his daily routine. The success of
siblings, friends and cousins inspires him.
I want to be like them, he explains,
And still be who I am.
***
In Hong Kong, some news media
described the Philippines as a nation of
domestic helpers. The blog post had elic-
ited strong reactions from Filipinos in the
Philippines. Predictably, the thousands
of Filipino maids in the former British
colony which is now under the control of
China, took it in stride.
Lately, Filipinos in Singapore have
also encountered blogs that tend to
demean Filipinos.
One item that appeared on the
site bloodtsainedsg.blogspot.com also
demeaned Filipinos. The article is about
Filipino Infestation in Singapore. This is
the latest that has gotten the goat of the
online global Filipino community.
Instructional and straightforward,
the article gives a six-point guide to show-
ing displeasure against Filipinos within
the bounds of the law because they have
long overstayed their welcome.
Rejecting a Filipino waiter or cus-
tomer service representative, stepping
on, pushing or shoving them, creating a
mess when dining at Jollibee and other
Filipino restaurants, deliberately not help-
ing when Filipinos are involved in seri-
ous trafc accidents, praying for a ood
of biblical proportions to take place on a
planned gathering on Orchard Road, and
comparing Filipinos to cockroaches to be
exterminated.
Closing a Dark Chapter
in U.S. History
During World War II, up to 400,000 Filipino soldiers fought for the
United States with the promise of full veterans benets. Thousands of
them died in the infamous Death March. Unwilling to accept defeat,
thousands more organized themselves into guerrilla forces, sapping the
strength of the Japanese occupiers, providing valuable intelligence to the
US Command in Australia and paving the way for Gen. Douglas MacAr-
thurs triumphal return.
But what did our brave soldiers get in return? Betrayal and a broken
promise. Soon after the war ended in 1946, Congress reneged and passed
the Rescission Act, stripping Filipino veterans of their honor and dig-
nity. They have been ghting for full equity and justice ever since.
It took more than 60 years for the United States to try to rectify this
grave injustice. Finally, Congress passed a bill in 2009, which estab-
lished the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation (FVEC) Fund, provid-
ing one-time payments of $15,000 and $9,000 to Filipino veterans who
are U.S. citizens and non-citizens respectively. The bill would right a
wrong, said Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye, who championed the veterans
cause. This nation made a solemn promise, and we revoked it. This is
not the America I know and love. This episode is a blight upon the char-
acter of the United States, and it must be cleansed.
Advocates for Filipino World War 11 veterans assert, however, that
the FVEC is not enough. There has never been a formal declaration to
recognize them for their loyal service during the war, says U.S. Army
Mag. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret), who is leading a national campaign
to secure a national proclamation and the Congressional Gold Medal
Award for Filipino veterans (See story on front page). Its about time
the United States honor them with the countrys highest civilian award.
We call on the Filipino American community and all Americans to
strongly support this noble cause. Were it not for the valor and heroism
of Filipino soldiers and the hundreds of thousands who died in the War,
todays generation of Americans would not be enjoying their freedoms
and opportunities for a better life. The best way to honor our heroes is
to celebrate their lives and continue to tell their stories of courage and
sacrice.
A Congressional Gold Medal Award for our veterans will close a
dark chapter in this countrys history. (JM)
Manila Times
Editorial
July 1-15, 2014 22 22
Miscarriage
or justice
I
n Manila, Sen. Bong Revilla
was arrested on charges of
plunder and graft and cor-
ruption. Expected to be arrested
soon for similar charges are Sen.
Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Jing-
goy Estrada. The charges stem
from illegal disbursements and
siphoning of pork barrel funds
allegedly masterminded by a
shrewd businesswoman Janet
Lim Napoles.
Before his arrest, the movie
star turned senator went around
Metro Manila to say farewell to
his fans and supporters. He wore
a T-shirt with religious inscrip-
tions. Somehow, in times of
trouble people look to the heav-
ens for solace. He proclaimed his
innocence and characterized the
criminal case as political perse-
cution. He argues that it is the
responsibility of government
agencies to implement and mon-
itor disbursement of pork barrel
funds to designated benecia-
ries. He is correct, but he also
needs to answer the question-
was kickback money paid to him
after the funds were disbursed
by the implementing govern-
ment agency?
He is presumed innocent
until proven guilty by a court of
law. He knows if he is innocent
or guilty. And so does God. If he
is just making fools of his sup-
porters with his protestations of
innocence, he could nd himself
praying in his cell and the image
nailed to the cross would p___
on his face. Amen.
***
Former First Lady and Sena-
tor Hillary Clinton did a series
of TV interviews to promote
her book Hard Choices. Its
not about the choices she faced
whether to whack the left knee
of Monica or to whack the right
knee of slick Willy. To the pre-
dictable question- Are you run-
ning for President?, she returns
a predictable answer- I have
not made up my mind. But of
course she is running. Anytime
a politician says, Im one of you,
I understand your pain, you can
read between the lines- a vote for
me is a vote for you.
Senator Clinton is trying to
identify with the common folks.
She says that when the Clintons
left the White House, they were
dead broke. Oh yes, she tells us
that just like the rest of America,
they faced the same problems of
trying to make ends meet, keep-
ing up with the mortgage pay-
ments and spending for Chel-
seas college education.
Poor Hillary, she and hus-
band Bill had only a million and
a half dollars worth of real estate
in New York to house them after
vacating the White House. And
the perks that the ex-president
got from the federal government
were only supplemented by the
earning power that could com-
mand $200,000.00 per speech.
Thats dead broke, for people
who live in another world. As for
the rest of us, we can only dream
about being dead broke like the
Clintons.
About her stint at the State
Whos on
trial?
O
ne by one, the mighty
have fallen. Senator Bong
Revilla gave himself up
(accompanied by an entourage,
reportedly over a hundred-
strong) and so did Sen. Jinggoy
Estrada; another prominent law-
maker, former Senate President
Juan Ponce Enrile was expected
to follow shortly (his lawyers
want him detained in a hospi-
tal instead of the Camp Crame
stockade).
The Sandiganbayan (graft
court) was expected to issue war-
rants for several more solons and
former bureaucrats implicated in
the P10 billion pork barrel scam.
Its riveted the nation, albeit for
sometimes inane reasons.
Its become showbiz fodder,
aided in no small measure by the
dramatic skill that Revilla and
Estrada, both former movie stars,
surrounded their surrender to
authorities. They were obvi-
ously appealing to peoples emo-
tions professing their innocence
(Revilla even wore a passage
from Psalm 118:6 on his T-shirt)
and dismissing the charges as
political persecution.
Revilla stands accused of
pocketing P242 million in kick-
backs from Janet Lim-Napoles,
the alleged mastermind behind
the pork barrel scam; Estrada
reportedly got P183 million.
Enrile, whose fortunes
have risen and fell faster than
a Six Flags roller coaster, alleg-
edly received nearly P173 mil-
lion in kickbacks from Napoles
phantom projects funded with
his allocations from the Priority
Development Assistance Fund
(PDAF).
Ending up in the docket
seems an ignominious conclu-
sion for a storied career. From
brilliant lawyer to Martial Law
administrator; from People
Power hero to villain; and until
this latest scandal, a crucial
player in ousting the Chief Jus-
tice of the Philippine Supreme
Court. At 90, hes got precious
little time for another come-back,
assuming he can get past this
case.
While the public applauds
their prosecution, there is linger-
ing skepticism that this might be
a ash in the pan, a zarzuela
to serve some political agenda
or boost President Aquinos ag-
ging popularity. Supporters of
the accused say theyre being
singled out because they would
likely face the Presidents bets
in 2016. After all Revilla and
Estrada were the top two nish-
ers in the 2013 midterm elections.
Theyve asked for mara-
thon hearings so the case can
be decided quicker. In the mean-
time, Revillas wife has asked for
better accommodations for him
at the police jail, a request that
immediately drew ridicule on
social media.
Philippine jails are not
exactly known for comfort or
their amenities except of course
for VIPs (very important prison-
ers) who are able to bribe their
guards for anything from allow-
ing them to use cellphones to
young, beautiful starlets able to
visit them in their cells.
And every Filipino recog-
nizes the countrys speed bagal
justice system where cases can
drag for years and are sometimes
decided by who backs out rst
Continued on page 30
A Tribute to Cora
C
rown Plazas ballroom
in McLean is rocking
with revelry and raucous
energy to the pumping sound
of Celebration Now! as more
than a hundred family and
friends gather in their Sunday
best to honor someone they
fondly call Lola, Mama, Mare,
Mahal, Madame, Chica, Com-
mander and General.
That someone is Cora
Macorol.
Its her 72nd birthday. But
she looks seventeen, spry and
spirited as she savors with gusto
every second of this Saturday
night, preening before ashing
cameras, hugging old friends
and kissing babies, tripping the
light fantastic, singing Usahay
and Dahil sa Iyo, almost
breaking down to tears as she
watches a slide show and sings
along to My Way, shaking her
nimble gure in Hawaiian garb
to Pearly Shells, and strutting
her stuff as all the men line up,
taking turns to take the woman
of the hour for a whirl.
As if thats not enough, shes
directing waiters to make sure
everyone is served promptly,
that every glass is lled with
wine and champagne, even
directing the chorus girls who
serenade her with their own
version of Florantes Handog.
And this ones worth singing
again:
Parang kailan lang Ang mga
pangarap namin kay hirap abutin,
Dahil sa Iyo napunta kami sa nais
naming marating. Nais ka naming
pasalamatan kahit man lamang
isang awitin.
Parang kaiian lang Halos kami
ay magpalimos sa lansangan, Dahil
sa Iyo ang aming tiyan at ang bulsa
nagkalaman, Kayat itong awiting
aming inaawit nais namin ikaw ay
handugan.
Parang kaiian lang Tila ang
America di namin mararating,
Dahil sa iyo, nakarating kami at
nagkaroon ng papel. Dahil ditto
ay gusto ka naming parangalan sa
iyong kaarawan.
Tatanda at lilipas rin kami,
ngunit mayroong awiting iiwanan
sa iyo na alaala, Dahil minsan,
tayoy nagkasama.
Penned by daughters
Imelda, Eleanor and Marivic,
the touching musical rendition
is a tting tribute to a woman
who was instrumental in bring-
ing more than 60 of her relatives,
friends and town mates from
Carigara, Leyte, where she was
born and raised. They fullled
a need here in America for vital
services: cooks, care providers,
drivers, gardeners and house
keepers.
I came to the U.S. in 1981
to work as a domestic for a
German diplomats family, she
recalls, thanking sister-in-law
Josefa Macorol who paved her
coming. In all those years, Ive
served different families in dif-
ferent capacities. She continues
to work in a catering business
because keeping busy serving
people keeps her on her toes.
Friends say Cora gained
a reputation as a hard-work-
ing, trustworthy and capable
worker. In Manila, she earned a
living as a nanny, house keeper,
beautician, insurance agent and
sari-sari store owner, master-
ing all the personal relations
and trouble-shooting skills that
have made her a highly desir-
able person in any household
staff, or even in a board room as
a woman in charge. Employers
were so impressed they relied on
her to nd helpers for families
here with similar needs. This
kept the Philippine Embassys
labor attach busy, she says.
Tonight, those 60 fortu-
nate souls and their families,
who never dreamed of coming
to America, are singing Coras
praises, thanking her for their
papers, and simply express-
ing their affection for a woman
whose name in Spanish means
heart.
To the Filipino American
community, Cora is of course
known as a leader, organizer and
volunteer. She founded Sampa-
guita Club in 1990 as a way of
raising funds for various projects
back home. Shes also a member
of the Mother Butler Guild at St.
Continued on page 30 Continued on page 30
Opinion
Cora Macorol blows her birthday
candles while daughter Imelda
(right) stands poised to stop her
mother from, just in case, catching
re.a
July 1-15, 2014 23
Department as the number one
diplomat, she insinuates to
having elevated the respect for
America in the eyes of the world.
When we came in, America was
at on its back. Did her magic
wand really worked wonders?
In a made for TV event
with the Russian Foreign Minis-
ter, Sen. Clinton exhibited a red
plastic prop to represent a reset
button supposedly marking a
new beginning of U.S.-Russian
relations, for the better. America
unilaterally cancelled the mis-
sile defense shield planned for
Eastern Europe to placate the
Russians. What did America get
in return? Russian President
Vladimir Putin thumbed our
noses when he harbored Ameri-
can fugitive Eric Snowden and
only sneered at Americas threat
of serious consequences for steal-
ing Crimea. Egypt, Libya and
Syria imploded and the events
proved impervious to American
inuence. After giving the world
an overdose of her speeches, you
would hope that her words of
wisdom would soothe the anger
of zealots who view America as
the great Satan. And yet the likes
of Al Qaeda have multiplied
like mushrooms in the Muslim
world.
To borrow the words of
departed Pres. Ronald Reagan,
is America better off after Sen.
Clinton delivered her last speech
as Secretary of State?
***
When news broke out that
the IRS was targeting conserva-
tive groups for extra scrutiny in
their applications for tax exemp-
tion, Pres. Obama described
the practice as outrageous and
if true, then IRS must be held
accountable. The Inspector Gen-
erals Ofce came out with the
nding that appears to be an
abuse of governmental power
for partisan political ends.
Obama promised a full inves-
tigation to ferret out the truth.
But before an exhaustive inves-
tigation could be completed by
Congress, Pres. Obama already
declared that there is no smidgen
of evidence of corruption in this
case. Try as they may, Congress
has been stymied in digging into
the bottom of the story.
Lois Lerner, the IRS ofcial
who is the central gure in the
IRS operation retired and has
pleaded the Fifth Amendment.
With respect to the subpoena
to produce Ms. Lerners emails,
the IRS invoked the dog ate my
homework defense. Now we
are told that Lerners computer
crashed and that her emails are
now irretrievable.
With the able assist of
Obamas minions in Congress,
the investigation will lead to
nowhere. For all we know, the
missing link may be in those
missing emails. The Democrats
have climate change to thank
for. Global warming melted the
computer chips that contained
incriminating emails. Yeah, right.
***
Golf tidbits: Finally Juliets
Romeo got over the hump. He
made Mr. T, El Salvador now
known as Englebert H and Kilabot
bite the dust with a demoralizing
three over par. No more lollipops,
he took home a bucket of ice
cream. Don Alex, Eveready Fred-
die and King Arthur were spared
of the agony as they were galli-
vanting somewhere. The follow-
ing weekend, the rechristened
Englebert H. took the honors with
Mr. T taking honorable mention.
Eveready Freddie, Juliets Romeo
and Kilabot donated to char-
ity but it was King Arthur who
got the shortest end of the stick.
I thank my Godfather for saving
me from perdition. The title of
Collector is still up for grabs.
either because legal costs have
forced them to bankruptcy or
simply surrender out of frustra-
tion. The snails pace of prosecu-
tion fuels the conditions for cor-
ruption and is perhaps the single
biggest reason why many dont
trust Philippine courts, much
less the verdicts they produce.
The Maguindanao Mas-
sacre, the single deadliest day
for journalists anywhere in the
world, is approaching its 5th
year anniversary; the trial of
former Governor Andal Ampat-
uan Sr. and about 200 of his rela-
tives and followers hasnt even
started, prompting Sen. Joker
Arroyo to predict it could take
200 years before the court can
even come close to a decision.
Cavite Congressman Elpido
Barzaga Jr. pointed out that the
Sandiganbayan is not even fully
staffed yet to hear the cases. Last
week Pres. Aquino III appointed
Manila Trial Court Judge Ma.
Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta
to replace Amparo Cabotaje-
Tang in the 5th Division which
will hear Estradas case (the
latter was promoted to Presiding
Justice).
What the public takes from
the trial is a mirror for the nation
and for individual Filipinos. As
they follow the proceedings, shall
they view it from the prism of a
cinema fan, unable or unwilling
to distinguish fact from fantasy?
Or will they invest in the process
so they gain a more thorough
understanding that shall ensure
their vigilance so justice prevails,
nally? Will the outcome make
the Filipino nation stronger or
leave it weaker?
This trial of the mighty
is less about Revilla, Estrada,
Enrile et. al. as it is about Juan
and Juana dela Cruz yearning
for justice, desperate to ring the
death knell for graft and abuses
of the rich and powerful. We too
will be on trial here.
Anns Church in Washington,
D.C., the Bread for Humanity
and Samahang Pinagbuklod.
Three days earlier, I was at a
funeral service for a friend who
worked all her life as a nurse.
She was eulogized as a devoted
wife, a loving sister and faithful
friend. Even as we grieved and
bade her goodbye, we assured
ourselves of beautiful memories
to remember her by.
The scene in a plush hotel
ballroom tonight could have
easily been mistaken as a memo-
rial service with the slide
shows, guests formally dressed
in black, tearful speeches and
moving presentations by all
seven grand children and their
parents taking turns to describe
Lola as cool and out of this
world.
But as Coras friend and
Tacloban neighbor Lilah Daran-
pinao puts it: Most people
pay tribute when the person
is already dead. We are here
tonight because shes still alive.
The room roars with laughter.
Thats me, Cora shouts
out, always having the last word.
Indeed, shes very much
alive and kicking. Everyone
agrees now is the time to say
Thank You, when warm
bloods still running through
her veins, when shes up on the
dance oor feeling the earth
move under her feet and not
lying in a cofn or buried six feet
underneath.
We meet numerous people
in our lives, but only a few have
the power and impact to change
a persons life for the better,
says granddaughter Coline, 18.
Lola is one of those few. All
those times when she would ask
me to mop the oor and cook
rice, I know she was teaching me
about responsibility, about hard
work. I thank God for blessing
all of us by placing Lola in our
lives.
Coras daughter Imelda,
who is running tonights pro-
gram, says it took two months
to pull it all off. We didnt want
to wait until another birthday,
she says. All her seven siblings
are gone. She lost her younger
brother just recently.
So, theres a party going on
tonight, that will last throughout
the year. And everyones having
a good time.
As the evening comes to an
end, everyone gathers around
Cora, smiling, laughing, some
holding back tears, as they all
sing Auld Lang Syne, declar-
ing to one and all that Coras
kindness is something theyll
never forget.
The lines from Florantes
song linger in my head as I head
home. Tatanda at lilipas rin
kami ngunit mayroong awiting
iiwanan sa iyo na alaala, Dahil
minsan tayoy nagkasama.
Well grow and we too
will be gone, but having been
together once, we want to leave
you a song to remember. Well
always treasure your laughter,
your caring smile, and your
enduring love and friendship.
Thank you, Cora, for coming
into our lives. May you have
more birthdays to come.
Send your comments to
jdmelegrito@gmail.com
Miscarriage or... from page 22 Whos on trial?... from page 22
of child beneciaries- the F2A
family preference category or
children of lawful permanent
residents under 21 years of age.
The Scialabba vs. Osorio appel-
lants sought to expand the
coverage of the law to include
derivative beneciaries or chil-
dren of primary beneciaries, i.e.
children of aliens whose parents
were petitioned by US citizens.
The Supreme Court agreed
with the interpretation of the
USCIS. The aged-out child will
only retain his priority date upon
automatic conversion of his visa
category if the child would have
qualied as the beneciary of a
visa petition in his own right, as
opposed to visa aged-out appli-
cants who were merely piggy
backing on their parents quali-
cation for a visa.
For instance, if a perma-
nent resident petitions for his
minor child and the child turns
21 before the visa becomes avail-
able, the child may still be enti-
tled to receive a visa under the
F2A category under the CSPA
formula or may automatically be
converted to F2-B, child over 21
of permanent residents retaining
the original priority date.
As in the Osorio case, reten-
tion of priority date under CSPA
will not apply when a US citizen
petitions for his child who has
children of his own. The grand
children are called derivative
beneciaries. This is a family
preference petition under the F1
category. When the derivative
beneciaries turn 21 before visa
becomes available to the parent,
they will no longer be available
for a visa. If their parent obtains
a green card and later petitions
for them, they will not be cred-
ited with the original priority
date when they were derivative
beneciaries of their parent.
Meaning of SC... from page 18
A Tribute to Cora... from page 22
Winter and spring have come
and gone and now summer, but
the fundraising efforts of spon-
soring organizations are ongo-
ing. No summer vacation breaks
for them: The PAFC with their
Brown Strokes Paintings Exhibi-
tion and the Philippine Indepen-
dence Gala Ball, then the Com-
munity Picnic late June; the Cul-
tural Mass & Fair by the Catholic
Diocese of Arlington; After the
Storm by the Embassy of the
Philippines in cooperation with
the Humanitarian Coalition; the
monthly Filipino Mass at St. Ber-
nadettes Catholic Church by the
Filipino Ministry of Northern
Virginia; ANCOP Sayawan sa
Oxon Hill at St. Columba Catho-
lic Church; the Fathers Day cel-
ebration by the MCA, Inc.; the
Peoples Ball by MHC; Annual
National Pilgrimage to Our Lady
of Antipolo at the Basilica of the
Shrine of the Immaculate Con-
ception; The Fil-AM Friendship
Day by Council of the Filipino
American Day in Virginia Beach;
Summer Disco dance by the
MGF; Annual Picnic by UPAA;
and The Ambassadors, Consuls
General and Tourism Directors
VIP Tours to the Philippines
on July 28- 31 by the Philippine
Department of Foreign Affairs
and Dept. of Tourism led by
Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr.
Summer Solstice... from page 21
Cora Macorol (left), daughter
Marivic, grand daughter Bernadette
and great granddaughter Arianna
celebrate a birthday with joy and
thanksgiving.
be missed. This is a must-see
event!
SIDE SHOW- till JUNE 13 at
the John F. Kennedy Center For
The Performing Arts(Eisenhower
Theatre), Directed by Bill
Condon, Book And Lyrics, Bill
Russell Music by Henry Kreiger.
Showtimes: Tuesday-Thursday-
7:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sun-
days- 1:30 p.m. with additional
performance on July 3 at 1:30
p.m. Tickets: $45-$130 202-
467-4600 or visit http://www.
kennedy-center.org/
The second time... from page 18
of swimming across and back.
For a third grader in the ele-
mentary school like me, swimming
across the length of Pasig River
was a feat I had yet to accomplish.
I had been warned by my father,
himself a good swimmer, that
swimming across and back, alone
and warding off the strong current
ow, would take a few more years
of preparation.
On Our Rites of... from page 18
July 1-15, 2014 24 24