July 16-31, 2014 1

Vol. XXIII, No. 17 Online: www. manilamail.us July 16-31, 2014

Pinoys fear war with China
WASHINGTON D.C. About
nine out of every 10 Filipinos are
worried that the territorial dis-
pute with China will lead to mili-
tary conict, according to a Pew
Research Center survey released
last July 14.
Even in China itself, polling
showed that 62 percent of the
public worried that territorial
disputes between China and its
neighbors could lead to an armed
conict, the study revealed.
This year in all 11 Asian
nations polled, roughly half or
more say they are concerned
that territorial disputes between
China and its neighbors will lead
to a military conict, the study
found.
At 93 percent, Filipinos were
most concerned, followed by
the Japanese at 85 percent, Viet-
namese at 84 percent and South
Koreans at 83 percent, according
to Pew. The Pew Center survey
Calonge new Chicago
Con-Gen Page 6
Aussie terrorist
nabbed Page 19
US troops leaving
Mindanao Page 18
Fil-Am in steamy
movie Page 22
Piolos son tries US
band Page 22
Noli the opera
goes to DCs
Kennedy Center
By Dino dela Rosa
WASHINGTON D.C. The
opera based on the classic novel
penned by Philippine national
hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, goes to the
Metro DC region when it plays
for two evenings at the John F.
Kennedy Center for the Perform-
ing Arts on Aug. 7 and 8.
Produced by the Mid Atlan-
tic Foundation For Asian Art-
ists Inc.(MAFFAA), a Maryland
based performing and visual arts
organization, the opera Noli
Me Tangere is expected to stir
renewed interest on Rizal and his
work that inspired the establish-
Vargas arrest focus on plight of the undocumented in US
WASHINGTON D.C.
Undocumented Filipino immi-
gration rights activist Jose Anto-
nio Vargas was detained and
later released by the United
States Border Patrol on July 15 in
Texas, sparking an outcry online
and among fellow immigration
activists.
Vargas, an award-winning
former reporter for The Wash-
ington Post and other news orga-
nizations, made news when he
revealed that he was an undocu-
mented immigrant from the Phil-
ippines.
Carrying only his Philippine
passport for identication, he
was stopped by Transportation
Safety Agents at the McAllen-
Miller International Airport as
he was trying to board a plane
back to Los Angeles, where his
documentary Undocumented
was to be screened.
The incident elicited differ-
ent reactions from two Califor-
nia-based Filipino America com-
munity leaders.
I think it would be good for
Vargas to go back to the Philip-
MANILA. Over a dozen
people were killed as a powerful
typhoon called Glenda (interna-
tional name Rammasun) raced
south of the capital on July 16
with 250 kilometer-per-hour
gusts, triggering storm surges
and spreading panic among
traumatized residents of Taclo-
ban hundreds of miles away.
It was the strongest storm
to hit the country this year since
super typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan
killed thousands in the Eastern
Visayas region last November
and where people were still
struggling to re-build and restore
normalcy.
Ofces and schools in Metro
Manila and surrounding prov-
inces closed for the day. More
than 370,000 people, mostly resi-
dents of coastal and riverside
Continued on page 21
Continued on page 20
Continued on page 20
Continued on page 20
P-Noy vows SC ght over
banned budget scheme
MANILA. President
Benigno Aquino III has vowed
to ght the Supreme Court
ruling that voided a controver-
sial budget scheme that crit-
ics claimed usurped Congress
power of the purse and put con-
stitutional safeguards against
autocratic rule in peril.
We did not transgress
the law when we implemented
the Disbursement Accelera-
tion Program, Aquino said in
a 24-minute televised speech on
July 14.
We do not want two equal
branches of government to go
head to head, he added, a mes-
sage that some say was a veiled
warning against the Supreme
Court, which Aquino had tan-
gled with once before early in the
presidency, accusing then Chief
Justice Renato Corona of corrup-
tion and lawyering for former
President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo, herself on hospital arrest
pending her trial for plunder.
Corona was impeached by
the Presidents allies in Congress.
His comments came after
two polls yesterday showed the
presidents popularity fell to
record lows amid an outcry over
the P144 billion ($3.3 billion) pro-
Immigration rights activist Jose
Antonio Vargas is handcuffed at
Texas airport.
President Aquino
Continued on page 21
Powerful typhoon Glenda wrought havoc on a nation still traumatized by last years killer typhoon Yolanda
(Haiyan).
July 16-31, 2014 22
July 16-31, 2014 3
World Bank chief sees PH as next Asian miracle
MANILA. Visiting World
Bank president Jim Yong Kim
was bullish about long-term
prospects for the Philippines,
predicting it would the next
Asian miracle.
He noted that while the
World Bank downgraded its
overall global [economic]
growth forecast from 3.2 percent
to 2.8 percent it maintained its
rosy outlook for the Philippines
where the forecast remained
around 6.4 percent with a lot of
upside going into the future.
So I will just say again
maintain these reforms, continue
on the path that youre on, and I
think the future is very bright for
the Philippines, Kim said.
He was on a two-day visit
to Manila to attend the Daylight
Dialogue in Malacaang, among
other engagements.
Kim also announced that
the World Bank was providing
$119 million for the construc-
tion of new roads, bridges and
irrigation systems in Muslim
Mindanao in support of efforts
to promote peace and economic
development in the region.
Kim later offered a toast
during a luncheon in the Palace,
saying to President Aquino that
each of those things youre
doing are not only the right
thing to do but theyre laying the
foundations for your economic
growth in the future.
Can the Philippines be
the next Asian miracle? [After]
coming here, I think there is no
question that is the case, the
World Bank chief said.
Kim heaped praise on Aqui-
nos anti-graft campaign, noting
that it has led to the impeachment
of Chief Justice and bringing up
corruption charges against three
sitting senators.
Among the most important
things you can do is tackle cor-
ruption and . . . that is one of the
things that the [Aquino] govern-
ment is doing frankly better than
any government in the world,
Kim said.
PMA unveils memorial to PH-US alliance
BAGUIO CITY. The Philip-
pine Military Academy (PMA)
has built a Philippine-American
Memorial inside Fort Del Pilar
to honor Filipino and American
ghters who fought together
during World War II and cel-
ebrate the enduring military ties
between the two allies.
The memorial was put up
partly on the efforts of US Ser-
vice Academy graduates who
rst proposed the memorial.
Former President Fidel V.
Ramos, an alumnus of West
Point, was the guest speaker
during the unveiling. The US
was represented by Capt. John
Cranston of the Joint US Military
Advisory Group (JUSMAG).
The combined experiences
over the years illustrate that
together both countries can over-
come challenges and bring peace
and hope to those in need,
Cranston said.
He added that the ability of
Philippines and US armed forces
to work together to confront any
difcultyis a path through
which we will make a strong
partnership even stronger and a
close relationship even closer.
The US remains a principal
benefactor of the Philippine mili-
tary, providing millions of dol-
lars in defense assistance each
year, including the turn-over
recently of two former US Coast
Guard cutters to the Philippine
Navy.
Also gracing the event were
various alumni of the US Mili-
tary Academy at West Point, the
US Naval Academy at Annapo-
lis, US Air Force Academy in
Colorado and the US Coast
Guard Academy in Connecticut.
WB chief Jim Yong Kim with Pres.
Aquino
Philippine American Memorial at
the PMA.
July 16-31, 2014 44
Pinoy chauffeurs killer still roaming free
NEW YORK. Investiga-
tors have ruled out hate crime
in the random attack that killed
Filipino private chauffeur Robert
Martires last June 24.
Martires would have turned
57 last July 14. The unidentied
man who punched him, whose
face was captured on surveil-
lance video, remains at large.
Chief of Detectives Robert
Boyce said the NYPD doesnt
have any belief that it was a
hate crime at this juncture.
A report by the Filipino
Reporter, said police suspect it
could have been related to ten-
sions surrounding a June 21 tele-
vised World Cup match.
Martires reportedly came
out with a friend from late night
eating at Krystals Cafe when
a man approached them and
asked Martires if he was Filipino.
The friend said the man threw
a punch even before Martires
could answer and hit the victim
in the face.
Martires reportedly fell back
and hit his head on the pave-
ment.
He was brought to Elmhurst
Hospital Center in critical condi-
tion and died in the morning of
June 24.
Another Filipino, multi-
awarded journalist Randy Gener
was attacked while walking
home from a party last January
17. Gener survived after being at
an intensive care for a long time.
His assailant was never pros-
ecuted.
A makeshift memorial was
put up near the site of the attack,
and had grown to include a ag
of the Philippines, owers and
collection baskets to help pay for
Martires wake and funeral.
Assemblyman Francisco
Moya (D-Jackson Heights) has
urged the public to share any
information they may have sur-
rounding the assault.
Queens, the borough of
diversity and community, will
not tolerate such hatred and vio-
lence in our midst. An attack on
an innocent person is an attack
on all of us, Moya said.
The Philippine Consulate
General in New York said it is
conducting its own inquiry in
coordination with law enforce-
ment authorities to ensure a
speedy administration of jus-
tice.
Robert Martires
July 16-31, 2014 5
PH lauds US resolution on South China Sea
WASHINGTON, D.C. The
Philippine government said it
welcomes a United States Senate
resolution urging China and
other parties to the Declaration
of Conduct in the South China
Sea not to undertake new uni-
lateral attempts to change the
status quo prevailing in the dis-
puted areas since 2002.
Philippine Ambassador
Jose L. Cuisia Jr. said Resolu-
tion 412, which was passed by
the Senate last July 10, also reaf-
rmed Washingtons strong sup-
port for freedom of navigation in
the South China Sea and, more
importantly, its Mutual Defense
Treaty with the Philippines.
In his report to Foreign
Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del
Rosario, Cuisia said the reso-
lution was introduced by Sen.
Robert Menendez (Democrat,
New Jersey), Chair of the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations,
and co-sponsored by Senators
Marco Rubio (Republican Flor-
ida), Ben Cardin (Demo-
crat, Maryland), John
McCain (Republican,
Arizona), James Risch
(Republican, Idaho), and
Patrick Leahy (Demo-
crat, Vermont).
We welcome the
passage of Senate Reso-
lution 412 and express
our gratitude to Chair-
man Menendez and his
colleagues in the Senate
Foreign Relations Com-
mittee for their support
of the Philippine posi-
tion, Cuisia said.
The resolution
also urged all parties to
refrain from engaging in
destabilizing activities,
including illegal occupa-
tion or efforts to unlaw-
fully assert adminis-
tration over disputed
claims and ensure that
disputes are managed
without intimidation,
coercion, or force.
In its resolution,
the US Senate said the
Philippines properly
exercised its rights to peaceful
settlement mechanisms in ling
an arbitration case against China
and expressed hope that Beijing
abides by the ruling.
The resolution, which came
a few weeks after Manila pro-
tested the reclamation activities
being undertaken by China in
other disputed areas in the South
China Sea, also reafrmed the
strong support of the US govern-
ment for freedom of navigation
and other internationally lawful
uses of sea and airspace in the
Asia-Pacic region.
Cuisia also noted that said
Senate Resolution 412 reafrmed
the USs long standing policy on
Article 5 of the PH-US Mutual
Defense Treaty.
Sen. Robert Menendez
July 16-31, 2014 66
Cruise liners keen on PH products on voyages
MIAMI. Cruise line passen-
gers could soon savor Filipino
novelties like the malunggay tea,
favorites like the coconut sugar
and even the world-renown
San Miguel beer on their next
voyage, the Philippine Embassy
has revealed.
Philippine Ambassador
Jose L. Cuisia Jr. said ofcials of
Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and
Norwegian Cruise Lines whom
he met during a recent economic
diplomacy mission in Florida
have all expressed serious inter-
est in carrying products from the
Philippines in their cruise ships.
The cruise lines welcomed
our proposals for them to carry
Philippine-made products such
as souvenirs and furniture as
well as other alternatives that
they could offer their health con-
scious guests such as coconut
sugar and malunggay tea, the
envoy said.
Agriculture Attache Josy-
line Javelosa, who accompanied
Cuisia in the mission, said coco-
nut sugar and malunggay tea are
among the products that have
proven to be promising in terms
of consumer reception in United
States-based trade shows such as
the Natural Products Expositions
and Kosherfest participated in
by Filipino food manufacturers
during the past few years.
In addition, Javelosa said
the cruise companies were also
urged to consider San Miguel
products as well as fresh Philip-
pine mangoes and bananas.
Commercial Counselor
Maria Roseni M. Alvero, who
was also accompanied Cuisia,
said that food products offered
to the cruise liners go through a
stringent pre-qualication pro-
cess but she is condent that
Philippine food products have
a very good chance of being car-
ried by the cruise liners.
Alvero said Philippine
mainstreamed products like
dried and processed fruits, sea-
food and beverages will benet
not only cruise guests but also
the large number of crewmem-
bers who favor ethnic foods and
condiments.
Alvero said the Panama
Canal expansion project, which
will be completed next year,
would also be advantageous to
Philippine companies willing to
penetrate not just the cruise ship
market but also South America.
The expansion of the
Panama Canal will also result
in greater trade with the US and
South America as it will take a
shorter time for Philippine food
exports to reach their destina-
tions, she said. This is some-
thing the Philippines should take
advantage of.
According to Eric Olafon,
Port of Miami Cargo Develop-
ment Manager, the Panama
Canal expansion will minimize
travel time of goods from the
Philippines to the Port of Miami
from over 21 days to 18 days.
Calonge is new PH ConGen in Chicago
Ambassador Generoso
Calonge, former Philippine
envoy to Israel, is the new
Consul General in Chicago.
He took over the post last
July 8, replacing Ambassador
Leo Herrera Lim who has been
reassigned to the Philippine
consulate in Los Angeles.
Calonge is a career diplo-
mat whose service spans almost
three decades. He has served in
Philippine diplomatic and con-
sular missions in Washington
DC, Moscow, Abu Dhabi, Dubai
and Saipan.
He also worked in various
capacity with the Department
of Foreign Affairs Ofce of
the Undersecretary for Policy,
Undersecretary for International
Economic Relations, Under-
secretary for Special Concerns,
Ofce of Legal Affairs, Ofce
of Intelligence and Security Ser-
vices, Ofce of Middle East and
African Affairs, and Ofce of
Asia and Pacic Affairs.
He earned his bachelors
degree in Economics from the
University of the Philippines
in Manila 1976; a law degree
from the University of the Phil-
ippines in Diliman in 1985; and
capped this with a Masters of
Laws from Harvard Law School
in 1988.
Calonge also attended the
Ofcer Cadet School at Portsea
of the Australian Army as a Mil-
itary Science scholar from 1978-
1979 under the Philippines-
Australia Defense Cooperation
Program.
The Calonges have three
children, Golda, Nikki and
Joshua Benedict.
Popular Filipino fare could soon become regular offerings aboard cruise
ships.
Ambassador Generoso Calonge
with lawyer-wife Gloria
July 16-31, 2014 7
July 16-31, 2014 88
Dr. Carag leaves legacy
WASHINGTON D.C.
Another pillar of the Filipino
American community has
passed away after a gallant ght
with cancer, leaving behind a
rich legacy of service.
Dr. Ellen Regalado Carag
played many roles throughout
her almost 65 of life (July 17,
1949 July 9, 2014): Loving and
caring wife. Devoted and nur-
turing mother. Savvy business
owner. Health educator. Com-
munity servant.
Upon earning her medi-
cal degree from the Univer-
sity of Santo Tomas in 1974,
Ellen practiced anesthesiology
at Manila Doctors Hospital,
Philippine General Hospital,
and other Metro Manila hospi-
tals, before immigrating to the
United States with her husband
and three children. Settling in
Northern Virginia in 1986, Ellen
devoted her career and volun-
teer work to helping people who
are in need. She persevered to
be involved in the Washing-
ton, D.C. metropolitan commu-
nity to foster the health care of
those with special needs and the
elderly.
Ellen was a fellow of the
Washington, DC Area Geriatric
Education Centers Consortium,
and a Certied Retirement Coun-
selor of the National Association
of Retired Counselors. Nation-
ally, she actively involved herself
in launching the Medicare Part D
prescription program. Locally,
she co-chaired several events for
senior citizens in the Metro DC
region.
Since 2006, Ellen served as
Vice President of the DC Metro-
politan Asian Pacic American
Marrow Network, and spear-
headed efforts to increase aware-
ness and provide education to
the local community about the
need for Asian American bone
marrow donations, and to dispel
myths about the process.
With a passion for educat-
ing the next generation of health
care professionals, Ellen served
as a professor at the Perpetual
Help College of Medicine and at
the University of Saint Anthony
College of Nursing, Philippines,
as well as an instructor at the
Medical Education Campus,
Northern Virginia Community
College, Everest Colleges, and
the Virginia University for Ori-
ental Medicine.
In her nal years, Ellen
founded a non-prot organi-
zation, AACEES, which pro-
vides scientic, educational,
spiritual, social, cultural, and
healthcare services, in order to
make a difference in the lives of
others. Many community mem-
bers received benets through
her non-prot organization, and
it was her vision for AACEES to
continue beyond her earthly life.
B e y o n d
her work in
health care,
Ellen was an
active member
in the local
Catholic com-
munity. She
served, among
others, as Par-
ish-Based Mis-
sion Coordina-
tor for Bukas
Loob sa Diyos
(Open in Spirit
to God) Cov-
enant Commu-
nity, a Catholic
c ha r i s ma t i c
community of
faith seeking to
be living wit-
nesses to the
Word of God, and actively par-
ticipating in the life and mission
of the larger Catholic Church.
With a deep love for her
Filipino roots, Ellen joined the
Movement for a Free Philip-
pines, which sought to restore
democracy to the country after it
had been under Martial Law.
Ellen also served as ofcer of
several local Filipino American
Associations and joined the Phil-
ippine American Foundation for
Charities (PAFC) and National
Federation of Filipino Ameri-
can Associations (NaFFAA) to
sponsor programs for the seniors
wellbeing and mental health..
She was a founding member of
the Philippine American Cham-
ber of Commerce of the Metro
DC.
PAFC President Mya
Grossman remembers her as
an active volunteer, We have
known Dr. Ellen Carag as a
long-time fearless advocate for
the seniors, a courageous soul
and ally to the depressed, and
a consistent giver and receiver
of courage. The Lord used her
to encourage and strengthen
the people she touched.
Dr. Ellen Regalado Carag
July 16-31, 2014 9
July 16-31, 2014 10 10
Grandfather gets jail after pit bulls kill toddler
MARTINEZ, California. A
55-year-old grandfather whose
pit bulls fatally mauled his two-
year-old Filipino step-grandson
was sentenced to a year in prison
and three years of probation, but
will stay free until a pending
appeal is resolved.
Steven Hayashi is married to
a Filipina, Leticia. In 2010, two-
year-old Jacob Bisbee, reportedly
wandered into Hayashis garage
and was mauled to death by
Hayashis pit bulls.
Leticias son, Michael Bisbee
and his two boys, Jacob and
Jeremy, were living with the
Hayashis at the time of Jacobs
death.
Both Jacobs father and
Hayashi reportedly left the
house, leaving the two young
boys home with Leticia, who was
asleep.
Hayashi was convicted of
involuntary manslaughter and
child endangerment in April and
District Attorney Mary Knox
urged Judge Kennedy to hand
down the maximum sentence of
10 years in prison.
During the hearing, Hayashi
was allowed to speak by the
judge and he expressed deep
remorse, saying he would have
done anything to save the tod-
dler.
I dont think justice ever
could have been served in this,
said Knox. It was entirely an
avoidable tragedy. A two-year-
old is dead. So quite frankly, no
sentence, no punishment brings
justice.
Hayashis attorney David
Cohen said, I just think this is
one of those things where there
isnt going to be a satisfactory
solution but as I was arguing in
court this family needs to heal
and it doesnt help this terrible
situation to prolong the matter
and for Steven Hayashi to spend
time in state prison.
Trial for Pinoy murder suspect delayed
FREMONT, Ohio. The start
of trial for an undocumented Fil-
ipino charged with killing three
men, including an off-duty cop,
last March has been postponed
to give his lawyers more time to
gather evidence that may exon-
erate him.
Igmidio Mista, 33, is the
principal suspect in the deaths
of 26-year-old off-duty Elmore
police Ofcer Andy Chavez,
28-year-old Ramiro Sanchez
and 24-year-old Daniel Ramirez
during a shooting spree inside
the Last Call Bar in Fremont,
Ohio last March 9.
Judge Barbara Ansted
granted a motion by Mistas
counsel David Klucas to move
the start of the trial from Aug. 4
to Sept. 8.
Mista is charged with three
counts of murder, one count of
attempted murder, one count of
felonious assault and one count
of possessing a rearm in a bar
which could net him up to 75
years in prison.
The court has imposed extra
security for the trial because of
heightened passions, including
the death of a police ofcer.
After initially allowing
Mista to wear street clothes to
the trial, Ansted decided he
would continue wearing his
prison jumpsuit to pretrial hear-
ings and wear restraints under
his clothing.
His lawyer was worried
about Mistas appearances in
local media, suggesting poten-
tial jurors could see photos of
his client in a jail uniform and
restraints and assume guilt.
Steven Hayashi
Pinoy in triple murder
asks for public defender
SAN DIEGO, California. A
Filipino American murder sus-
pect has been allowed to get a
public defender after dismiss-
ing his previous lawyer, setting
back the long-awaited trial.
Carlo Mercado, 30, has
been indicted for the shooting
deaths of Salvatore Belvedere
and Ilona Flint at a Mission
Valley shopping mall park-
ing lot last Christmas Eve, and
Gianni Belvedere, Salvatores
brother and Flints anc, who
was found dead inside the
trunk of his own car about 100
miles away almost a month
later.
His previous lawyer,
Michael Berg told reporters that
the defense team has not been
given any details or evidence
on what led police to suspect
Mercado is responsible for the
triple homicide.
Investigators found sub-
stantial probable cause link-
ing Mercado to the slayings,
San Diego police homicide
Lt. Mike Hastings said. He
declined to elaborate and pro-
vided few additional details.
Mercado, who is report-
edly a gun acionado, is also
being held on separate gun
charges after two pistols and an
assault rie were recovered in
his car on Jan. 18.
The victims families had
hoped the trial would reveal
the motive for their deaths.
Mercado faces a 25 years to
life prison sentence.
Igmidio Mista
July 16-31, 2014 11
July 16-31, 2014 12 12
Pinoy overseas voters breach 1-M mark
MANILA. The number
of registered overseas Filipino
voters breached the one mil-
lion mark for the rst time this
month, less than two years
before the next presidential elec-
tions in May 2016.
The preparations by the
Department and the Commis-
sion on Elections led to a success-
ful start for the registration pro-
cess, Foreign Affairs Secretary
Albert del Rosario said in a letter.
The number of applicants
increased by 7.5 percent from the
midterm elections last May 2013.
The challenge for OV regis-
tration is to maintain the momen-
tum by keeping the overseas
Filipinos interested and engaged
in this democratic process, Del
Rosario said.
It was the rst time in the
11-year history of the Philippine
overseas voting that it hit the
million-mark.
The OAV registration will
run until October 2015.
DFA Undersecretary Fred
Santos of the Ofce of Consular
Affairs said newly registered
voters will have access to the
Passport Divisions Courtesy
Lane for faster passport renew-
als, among other consular con-
cerns.
If said registrants need to
renew their passports, they no
longer have to set an appoint-
ment to apply for renewal. Their
overseas voter registration stub
issued by the OVRC will allow
them access to the Passport Divi-
sions Courtesy Lane, Santos
said.
Another DFA ofcial Rafael
Seguis predicted that at the
current pace of registration, it
was possible to reach the two
million-mark for the 2016 presi-
dential elections. Attaining this
goal can denitely be a game
changer, he opined.
NAIA asks travelers to
turn on laptops, phones
MANILA. Taking their
cue from security ofcials in
the United States and Europe,
authorities at the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport (NAIA)
have begun requiring all passen-
gers bound for abroad, regard-
less of destination, to switch on
their electronic gadgets before
theyre allowed to board ights.
The Department of Trans-
portation and Communications
(DOTC) issued the verbal order
for departing passengers to turn
on their gadgets after these pass
through x-ray machines.
If the gadget fails to work,
the item will be conscated and
its bearer will be detained for
questioning by security ofcers
at the airport, according to the
order.
Ninoh Buhay, shift super-
visor at NAIAs Terminal 1,
revealed that prior to the new
order, they were inspecting all
electronic devices through x-ray
machines and scanners.
The move comes in the wake
of a new regulation by the US
requiring travelers bound there
from Europe and the Middle East
to submit to closer inspection of
electronic items such as laptops
and smartphones over fears that
militants linked to al-Qaeda are
developing new explosives that
could be slipped onto planes
undetected.
The Philippine Airlines is
the only carrier at NAIA that has
direct ights to the US.
Delta Air, Cathay Pacic
and China Airlines have stop-
overs in other Asian countries
before proceeding to the US.
July 16-31, 2014 13
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Musr provice 23 prolessional relerences
Musr have a work permir or SSN
Interviewing All Day, Mon - Fri
No Appointment Required
Bethesda:
8100 Norfolk Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-654-1525
McLean:
6723 Curran St.
McLean, VA 22101
703-356-4333
Fairfax:
3901-Q Fair Ridge Dr.
Fairfax, VA 22033
703-746-8084
July 16-31, 2014 14 14
US school picks Fil-Am for top journalism post
NEW YORK. Filipino-
American journalist Andrew
DeVigal has been named the rst
Chair of Journalism Innovation
and Civic Engagement by the
University of Oregon.
DeVigal, 45, had previously
worked a multi-media editor of
the New York Times.
Aside from being inaugural
chair, he will also be the rst pro-
fessor of practice in the School of
Journalism and Communication
(SOJC). He will begin his new
duties in September.
Julianne Newton, interim
SOJC dean, said they chose DeV-
igal for his dynamic history of
developing innovative, award-
winning journalistic projects for
national and global communi-
ties.
According to the University
of Oregon, funding for the new
chair position and the Center for
Journalism Innovation and Civic
Engagement was made possible
through a $5 million gift from an
anonymous donor, with $2 mil-
lion given to endow the faculty
chair and $3 million donated
toward the $25 million dollar
endowment goal for the center.
The Center for Journalism
Innovation and Civic Engage-
ment is expected to develop new
models of journalism that engage
citizens and build stronger and
more effective communities.
DeVigal said he was drawn
by the opportunity to col-
laborate with the faculty and
develop journalism education.
Prior to his appointment in the
University of Oregon, DeVigal
was director of content strategy
at Second Story which is known
for interactive storytelling.
DeVigal is a self-described
natural organizer who likes
to divide information into buck-
ets to understand the different
pieces of the story. In doing that,
he will ask himself such ques-
tions as, What is the information
about?, Who does it affect?
and What is at stake here?
The true craft of a journal-
ist, he said, was to make things
clear for the viewers and readers.
Andrew DeVigal
July 16-31, 2014 15
If youd like your organiza-
tions events to be included, please
send your information to Maurese
Oteyza Owens at mpapoose@aol.
com
Jul 19 (Saturday)
7:30pm. Monthly Filipino
Mass. St. Bernadettes Catho-
lic Church, 7600 Old Keene
Mill Road, Springeld, VA
22152. Contact rsaldana at rsal-
dana@gmu.edu
Jul 20 (Sunday) 3:00pm La
Salle Alumni Assn and the
Philippine American Founda-
tion for Charities, Welcome
Reception for the First Fili-
pino Astronaut, Chino Roque
(part of a 22-person contingent
selected from 60 countries, to
y into space next year, aboard
the XCOR Aerospace Lynx Air-
craft). Lucianos Pizza and Res-
taurant. Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax,
VA. $5.00 for pizza an drink.
Contact: Rolly Saldana at rsal-
dana@gmu.edu or Maurese
Owens at mpapoose@aol.com.
Jul 20 (Sunday) Bicol Asso-
ciation of Metro Washington,DC
2014 Penafrancia Nove-
nary. Nativity Catholic Chuch,
6001 13th St. N.W., Wash-
ington D.C. 20011. Novena
at 1:00 oclock pm; Mass at
2:00pm;Fellowship 3:00pm; Pot-
luck 2 liter of soda per family.
Jul 20 (Sunday) 10:00am-
dusk. UP Alumni Assn Annual
Picnic, Rock Creek Park Picnic
Grove #24. Contact: Liza Virata-
Theimer at lizavirata@yahoo.
com
Jul 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
Jul 27 (Sunday) 1:45pm Fili-
pino American Basketball Assn.
Semi-Finals and Finals. South
County High School, Centre
Court, 8501 Silverbrook Rd.
Lorton, VA . Check http://
www.fabametrodc.org for
detailed schedule
Jul 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 8-9 (Fri-Sat) Mid Atlan-
tic Foundation For Asian Art-
ists, Noli Me Tangere (Touch
Me Not) as an opera, based on
Jose Rizals novel of the same
title. Kennedy Center Eisen-
hower Theater. Tickets at $60,
$80, and $100 Proceeds for
MHCs Project Rebuilding
Lives, Building the Future
of typhoon Haiyan victims.
Benefactor: GPARCC. Con-
tact: www.maffaa.org or 443-
240-8734.
Aug 7-10 (Fri-Mon) National
Federation Filipino American
Association National Empow-
erment Conference.Town &
County Resort and Convention
Center, 500 Hotel Circle N, San
Diego, CA 92108. Details, con-
tact: empowerment.naffaa10.org
Aug 9 (Saturday) Philip-
pine Association of Metro-
politan Washington Engineers
(PAMWE) 34th Annual Fun-
drasing Gala Fairview Marriott,
3411 Fairview Park Drive, Falls
Church, VA 22042. Formal. $70.
Contact Hazel Russell 703 628
9925.
Aug 9 (Saturday) All Saints
Filipino-American Ministry
Monthly Rosary and Meet-
ing. 9300 Stonewall Rd., Manas-
sass, VA. Contact: Leila 571-247-
1984
Aug 16 (Saturday)
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 Catholic
Church, 7600 Old Keene Mill
Road, Springeld, VA 22152.
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-
Sunday) Asian Festival, Rose-
croft Raceway, Ft. Washington,
MD. Contact: Bing Branigin at
mcbranigin@aol.com
Sep 13 (Saturday) 6:30 pm La
Salle Philippines Alumni Asso-
ciation Bente Berde (LSPAA
Turns 20) Crystal City Marriott
Hotel, 1999 Jefferson Davis High-
way, Arlington, VA 22202. $75
per person includes dinner-dance
and chance to win a cruise for
two to the Bahamas. Restric-
tions apply. Checks payable to
LSPAA with memo Bente
Berde Gala and mail to: Aurora
Arellano at 6615 Burlington Place,
Springeld, VA 22152
Sep 27 (Sunday)
10:00am Birhen ng Antipolo,
USA, Inc. Devotional Mass. Basil-
ica of the National Shrine, 400
Michigan Ave NE, Washington,
DC 20017 tel (202) 526-8300. Con-
tact: bnantipolo@gmail.com
July 16-31, 2014 16 16
News in Pictures
Philippine Assistant Secretary for
the West Philippine Sea and Consul
General of the San Francisco Con-
sulate Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. (top
left) spoke at the 2-day annual South
China Sea conference of the Center
for Strategic and International Stud-
ies in Washington D.C. on July 10.
Fellow panelists are, from left, Dr.
Vu Hai Dang (Vietnam), US law
expert Jerome Cohen, Dr. Bing Jia
(China) and CSIS senior fellow
Murray Hiebert. In attendance
were government ofcials, mem-
bers of think tanks, and diplomats.
Also in attendance is MGen. Deln
Lorenzana (Ret) of the embassys
Philippine Veterans Ofce (right,
foreground). Bensurto briefed the
meeting about the Philippines arbi-
tration case before the UN Tribunal
at The Hague. (Photo by Angelyn
Tugado Marzan)
Meet the new labor attach in the Philippine embassy in Washington D.C.
He is Angel Bora (right) who replaces Labor Attache Luzviminda Padilla
who returned to the Philippines to assume her work at the Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration. (MC Branigin)
Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri, Commanding General of the Philippine Army,
on June 30 visited Washington DC upon the invitation of US Army Chief of
Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno. He laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery, met with Gen. Odierno at the
Pentagon and paid a courtesy call at the Philippine embassy where he was
received by Deputy Chief of Mission Ariel Penaranda . (Phillippine embassy
photo).
MHCs youngest envoy 2 1/2 year old
Milo Lopez, the only child of Manny
Lopez and Mylene Manawis, proudly
waves US and Philippine aglets at
the Migrant Heritage Commission-
led Fil-Am contingent at the 4th of
July US Independence Day Parade
in Philadelphia, the birthplace of
American Independence . Little Milo
in igorot costume, was the darling of
the crowd, the most photographed
and the most applauded participant
at every block of the parade. This
year, the Thank you America and
the World banner was displayed by
the Migrant Heritage Commission
(MHC) (MHC ) co-Executive Direc-
tors Grace Valera and Jesse A. Gatchalian together with the other MHC Envoys/friends and volunteers including
ISAs 2014 MISS TEEN PHILIPPINES-AMERICA BEAUTY queens Angela Dizon, Chaee Remigio, Isabelle Garcia,
Donna Escorpeso, Susan Hoffman, Jessica Tardencilla and Sunshine Hassell. Photo by Manny Lopez
GOPs go all out to win Fil-Am votes
The following photos, sub-
mitted by Manila Mail national
editor Bing Branigin and Ninio
Fetalvo of the Republican
National Committee in Wash-
ington D.C. , show how active
GOP candidates are wooing the
Filipino American votes nation-
wide.
Cong. Scott Rigell (R-VA
Beach, Virginia) with members
of the Fiil-Am CAG-NaFFAA
during the Fil Am Friendship
Day held last July 5 at the Red
Wing Park, Virginia Beach, Vir-
ginia. The annual event attracts
local and appointed ofcials
of Virginia as well as Filipino
Americans from as far as North
Carolina and Northern Virginia
. Guests were welcomed to the
American-style cookout with
popular Filipino food that local
organizations prepare for the
occasion. At the big tent, local
and Filipino personalities pro-
vided entertainment with tradi-
tional Filipino dances, Polyne-
sian, hip hop, ballads, and many
more. (Photo by Bing Cardenas
Branigin)
Second photo submitted by
the RNC in Washington D.C.
shows Virginia Republican sena-
torial candidate Ed Gillespie par-
taking Filipino food at the July
5th celebration in Virginia Beach.
(GOP photo)
Congressman Mike Coffman poses with Marelyne Chung, president of the
Philippine American Society of Colorado and Nelle Strasheim, president
of Filipino American Community of CO during the recent visit of the UST
singers in the state. (GOP photo)
Mayor Will Sessoms waves at the crowd during the opening ceremonies of
Filipino American Friendship Day in Virginia Beach on July 5th. Driving the
car is Filipino American State Delegate Ron Villanueva. (Photo by Julius
Legara)
July 16-31, 2014 17
Around DC in Pictures
Tourists joined Fil-Am group pushing for the grant of Temporary Protected
Status for undocumented Filipinos in the US in demonstrating in front of
the White House on July 4th. Among those in the group are Jon Melegrito
of NaFFAA, Arnedo Valera of Migrant Heritage Commission, Mr. and Mrs.
Nini Baesa, Pilar Walsh, Steve Hermosisima , Dr. Carolyn D. Castro and
Angelyn and Rico Marzan. (Photo by Eric Lachica.
Jon Melegrito serenades Dr. Mody and Mady Rivera (2nd and 3rd from left) during their joint retirement party
at their home in Maryland last July 5. Also in photo are Dr. Mitch Lopez and Myrna Lopez, Manila Mail columnist.
More than a hundred guests attended the party. (Bing C, Branigin)
Maryland Delegate Kris Valderrama, her father Judge David Valderrama
(seated), husband Abe Lobo and her kids, pose during the Appreciation Day
Party tendered by supporters at the Multicultural Center, near the National
Harbor on July 13, 2014. Shown are Immigration Attorney Miriam B. Ried-
miller (with hat, extreme left) and her mother, Mrs. Avelina Bustamante,
(extreme R) presenting a painting to Kris as a gift to her and to her con-
stituents at the 26th Legislative District of Maryland.
LA-based Filipino American fashion
designer Puey Quinonez was one
of the eight international designers
to present their collection at the J.
Summer Fashion Show at the One
World Trade center in New York City
last June 25. His collection was the
favorite at the show and New York
news broadcast featured him in
their newscast the next day. Photo
shows Quinonez (4th from left,
with glasses) posing with, from left,
Momar Visaya, Bing Branigin and
local Fil Am fashion watchers in the
greater New York City.
More than one hundred Filipino and
Asian Americans attended the day-
long Town Hall meeting of the Asian
American Pacic Islander Associa-
tion (AAPIA) and the White House
Initiative on AAPIA at the Munici-
pal building in Philadelphia last
month. Photo shows, from left, A.
J. Macarma, Brad Baldia, president
of the Filipino American Chamber
of Commerce of PA and southern
New Jersey; Nina Ahmad of the
Presidents Advisory Commission
on Asian Americans and Pacic
Islanders; Susan Lusther, Advisor,
WHIAAPI; Sara Manzano Diaz,
Regional Administrator, US General
Services Adminstration, and Eric
Macalma, Firestarter Group. (Bing
Cardenas Branigin)
Marilou Padilla Gallardo poses with the special awardees of the Marilou
Padilla Gallardo Piano/Organ/Keyboard Studio after the successful Music
Magic piano concert held June 21, 2014 at the John Addison Concert Hall
in Fort Washington, Maryland. In photo are Gabriela Ruhlmann and Laurie
Ruhlmann (Outstanding Piano Studio Awardees, Jonathan Jeter (2014 Stu-
dent of the Year) and Mrs. Gallardo, Studio and Concert Director.
Ilan Fae B. Burgos, daughter of Mr. Rommel and Mrs. Maricel Burgos of
Virginia who recently marked their 25th wedding anniversary, smiles as she
proudly displays her diploma after graduating from Tuscarora High School
on June 16, 2014.
Whats up, coz? This photo of two
2-year old cousins seated on a curb
in Vienna, Virginia has elicited
smiles and praises from those who
saw it on Facebook and elsewhere.
The kids are Eva F. Flores, daugh-
ter of Ian and Vanessa Flores of San
Jose, California and her cousin, Gio
F. Andres, son of Eric and Cindy
Andres of Vienna, Virginia. Gio
laughs as he sits beside Eva who
is sucking her thumb. The Floreses
ew to Virginia last month to cel-
ebrate Evas birthday with cousins
and other relatives. (Photo by Eric
Andres)
July 16-31, 2014 18 18
US military winding down in Mindanao
ZAMBOANGA CITY. The
United States is pulling out of its
facilities inside the Armed Forces
of the Philippines (AFP) Western
Mindanao Command headquar-
ters where most of the US special
operations in Basilan and Sulu
were run for over a decade.
Col. Erik Brown, team under
the Joint Special Operations Task
Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) has
reportedly told local ofcials,
led by Zamboanga City Mayor
Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar,
they were in the process of scal-
ing down and eventually ending
their activities at the Philippine
Army camp.
Since the JSOTF-P was estab-
lished there, about 600 American
military ofcers and servicemen
were rotated every six months.
They improved existing facilities
inside the camp, including new
structures to house troops and
provide for recreation.
The US Embassy in Manila
recently reported that the US
Pacic Command has deacti-
vated the JSOTF-P, which was
established in 2002 to help train
and equip Filipino troops to ght
the Abu Sayyaf and other terror
groups in the country.
Resurrected baby is buried, nally
ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR. A
dead baby that allegedly moved
at her own funeral and became
the subject of a video that went
viral on social media, was nally
buried last July 15 after doctors
noted the corpse had already
started decomposing.
Wena Romarate nally
accepted the fate of her 2-year-
old baby, Sydney, but only after
a quack doctor told the family
the babys spirit would no longer
go back to her body.
The story of the resur-
rected baby made the rounds
online after family members
claimed the little girl had come
back from the dead while a priest
was administering last rites.
A video showing the babys
grandfather lifting the baby out
of the wooden cofn and carry-
ing her out of the church, believ-
ing the girls head moved was
posted on Facebook and quickly
spread on the internet.
Family members then
brought the girl to the hospital
again to conrm her alleged res-
urrection.
Doctors, however, con-
rmed that the little girl was
really dead. Her family buried
the baby at a local cemetery in
Aurora town.
Romarate said she is now
concerned for her two other chil-
dren who are presently conned
at Zamboanga del Sur Medical
Center. She said she does not
know what ails them.
The US is winding down operations
from Zamboanga City headquarters.
Viral video shows grandfather carry-
ing baby.
Pacquiaos next opponent
has Masters degree
MANILA. Boxing promoter
Bob Arum inked the deal for Fili-
pino boxing champion Manny
Pacquiaos next bout, a Novem-
ber clash with Long Islands
Chris Algieri in Macau.
The Top Rank Inc. executive
said Algieri and his promoters
were able to work out the differ-
ences within their camp and has
accepted the terms of agreement
for the November 22 (November
23, Manila time) bout.
We have a deal, Arum
told Dan Rafael for a report on
ESPN.com
The New Yorker will report-
edly earn a career-high $1 million
for the welterweight title clash
with Pacquiao, a huge jump from
the $100,000 he received when he
upset Ruslan Provodnikov last
June.
Algieri said he felt rewarded
by the opportunity to ght one
of boxings biggest stars, adding
that he had no problem climbing
up weight just to square off with
Pacquiao at 147 pounds.
He wants the ght and
has no problem going up in
weight. He wants the welter-
weight championship. He wants
challenges. He loves the idea.
He wanted to ght for another
championship and he loves that
he is ghting Manny Pacquiao
for it, said Joe DeGuardia of
Star Boxing and Banner Promo-
tions.
He looks as Manny as an
elite of the game. He wants to
climb another mountain. If he
wins this ght, you have the start
of another era, he added.
The 35-year-old Pacquiao
(56-5-2, 38 KOs) has won world
titles in a record eight weight
classes. In his last ght last April
12 in Las Vegas, Pacquiao out-
pointed Timothy Bradley Jr. to
regain the welterweight title
he had lost to Bradley in a con-
troversial split decision in June
2012.
Algieri is a former kickboxer
who grew up in a middle class
family, went to college and even-
tually earned a masters degree.
He says he wants to go to medi-
cal school when he is done with
his boxing career. He also works
as a nutritionist.
I think its an interesting
ght between him and Manny,
Arum said.
Manny Pacquiao and Chris Algieri
July 16-31, 2014 19
Australian nabbed in Philippines over alleged Isis links
CEBU. Authorities have
arrested an Australian Islamic
preacher who has allegedly been
calling for jihad and recruiting
Filipino Muslims to ght in Iraq
and Syria.
Police arrested Melbourne-
native Robert Cerantonio, 29,
who goes by the alias of Musa, in
Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu last July
11.
Australian federal police
had been reportedly tracking
Cerantonio for months and is
expected to take him back to
Australia for more thorough
interrogation.
His arrest has been lauded
as a sign of major gains in Philip-
pine-Australia security coopera-
tion. It was the rst known link
between Islamist militants in the
Philippines and foreign jihad-
ists who support conicts in the
Middle East.
Cerantonio is considered by
terrorism experts to be one of the
worlds most inuential inspi-
rations for militants in Syria
and Iraq, according to Australian
media.
He is said to have a huge
online following and is sus-
pected of using social media to
recruit militants and urge Mus-
lims to kill western leaders.
Cerantonio had report-
edly given lectures in support
of the Islamic State of Iraq and
Syria (Isis) in Basilan and Sulu
and is suspected of distributing
an online video showing what
appear to be militant Filipino
prisoners inside a top-security
jail supporting Isis.
Filipino Muslims have a his-
tory of taking part in conict in
the Middle East, with some mili-
tants ghting in Afghanistan in
the 1980s.
Australia recently listed Isis
along with the Islamic State of
Iraq and Levant (Isil) as a terror-
ist organization and warned that
those who have fought with or
nancially support a listed ter-
rorist group can be jailed for up
to 25 years.
16 killed in clash of NPA, Manobo tribesmen
CAGAYAN DE ORO. At
least 16 people were killed in a
battle between tribesmen and
communist rebels in a remote
area of Prosperidad, Agusan del
Sur last July 15.
About 100 New Peoples
Army (NPA) rebels attacked the
home of Manobo chief Calpito
Egua but the tribal leader and his
followers fought back, said mili-
tary spokesman Major Christian
Uy.
The datu (tribal chief) did
not give in to their extortion
demands, he told reporters. The
battle site was just three kilome-
ters away from the provincial
capitol in Prosperidad and the
headquarters of an army combat
battalion.
Thirteen rebels, two tribes-
men and a soldier from a mili-
tary unit that went to help Eguas
men were killed, Uy said.
Egua, the local leader of the
Manobo mountain tribe who
turned to mining, and a soldier
were also slightly wounded in
two hours of ghting, he added.
Just days earlier the NPA
overrun a municipal police sta-
tion in Alegria town in the adja-
cent province of Surigao del
Norte, killing two policemen and
holding 4 others hostage.
NPA guerrillas also killed
two Mindanao mayors in
ambushes over the past two
months.
Small clashes and raids fre-
quently leave small numbers of
people dead, but the recent ght-
ing was among the deadliest of
the past decade.
NPA ghters have hands full against tribesmen.
Australian Islamic preacher Robert Cerantonio after arrest.
July 16-31, 2014 20 20
ment of the rst republic in Asia.
A major sponsor of the
opera here, the Migrant Heritage
Commission and its brain trust,
lawyer Arnedo Valera, Grace
Valera and Jessie Gatchalian
wrote in a combined essay, Few
novels have made a more shat-
tering impact on our society than
these two novels. And no novel-
ist paid a higher price for self-
expression. Rizal was executed
by a ring squad mainly because
of these two books.
Filipinos, inspired by these
novels, initiated the rst nation-
alist revolution in Asia in 1896,
established its rst democratic
republic, which survived until
1901, and in 1946, exactly half a
century after Rizals execution,
became the rst Asians to win
independence from Western
colonialism.
The novel was rst pub-
lished in 1887. Two men, Felipe
de Leon who composed the
music and Guillermo Tolentino,
who wrote the libretto, later
became National Artists of the
Philippines.
MAFFAA exists to propa-
gate, perform and present the
rich and diverse cultural artistic
works associated with the Philip-
pines and Asia.
A compelling novel about
love, betrayal, oppression, ven-
geance and hope, its an ador-
ing love story set against a repul-
sive political backdrop of tyr-
anny, torture and murder.
Noli Me Tangere (Touch
Me Not) depicts the abuses suf-
fered by the native Indios at the
hands of the Spanish tyrants.
Rizal took the collective experi-
ence of oppression and gave that
a face, through the characters in
his Noli Me Tangere.
The story of Noli is one
that Filipinos all too well, from
Crisostomo Ibarras discoveries
after his return to the country,
the sad fate of the unfortunate
Sisa, to the truth about Crisos-
tomo love, Maria Clara.
Rizals novel tells of the
cancer that plagued society, and
what actions can spark a revolu-
tion for change.
Loida Nicolas-Lewis, who
spearheaded the idea of bringing
Noli Me Tangere to the stage,
brought the production last year,
along with executive producer,
costume and set designer Jerry
Sibal and assistant executive
producer Edwin Josue. The New
York production sold out the
three days that it ran and was
even reviewed by New York
Times.
The team will next stage the
production in Washington D.C.s
Kennedy Center. This operatic
rendition breathes new life into
Jose Rizals masterpiece. Its an
opera made in the same spirit of
Verdi, of Puccini, of Bernini.
Grand opera in the Italian style,
Lewis said.
The difference? It is
sung entirely in Filipino.
The MHC observed that,
This opera is not only a retell-
ing of Rizals Noli but also show-
cases the richness of Philippine
culture. This is artfully done
through the melodies and tones
that composer Felipe de Leon
created, as well as the rendering
of period costumes.
Noli Me Tangere enthralls
and enchants as classical operas
do, but also highlights artistic
elements that are distinctly Fili-
pino. The interplay between east
and west is both quaint and bril-
liant. It sets itself apart, aestheti-
cally and culturally, from typical
western operas.
It also intends to show-
case the world-class talent of its
Filipino cast. The saga contin-
ues, be inspired by the novel of
Dr. Jose Rizal that sparked the
Philippines revolution! Daisy
Tucay, president of Global
Advocates on Philippine Retire-
ment and Counsel (GPARCC),
will be the benefactor and host of
this highly anticipated opera. For
tickets, call the Kennedy Center
at 202-467-4600.
drew respondents from 44 coun-
tries.
China has seen tensions rise
with Japan and the Philippines,
both of which claim Beijing has
taken inappropriate steps in
the East and South China Seas,
where claims of several island
chains are under dispute.
According to the report,
Japan, the Philippines and Viet-
nam see China as the greatest
threat, while China as well as
Malaysia and Pakistan list the
United States as the biggest
threat.
Every other Asian nation
surveyed, including Bangladesh,
India, Indonesia and Thailand,
see the United States as their
greatest ally -- although Indone-
sia also sees America as its great-
est threat.
Among citizens of the 44
nations surveyed, 40 percent
said they believe the United
States was the worlds present-
day super power, compared to
49 percent who said so in 2008.
The number who consid-
ered China the leading super
power, meanwhile, rose from 19
percent six years ago to 31 per-
cent today.
Fifty percent of respondents
said China would eventually
replace or has already replaced
the United States in that role,
compared to just 32 percent who
said China would never do so.
Across the nations sur-
veyed, excluding China, 49 per-
cent of people expressed a favor-
able opinion of China, compared
to 32 percent unfavorable.
Pinoys fear war with... from page 1
Noli the opera goes... from page 1
communities, were brought to
evacuation centers.
Manilas power distributor,
Meralco said 5.3 million homes
had lost electricity in the capi-
tal and surrounding provinces
and that it could be days before
services were restored to some
areas.
Commuter train services
in the capital were suspended
because of the lack of power as
were inter-island ferries, includ-
ing to the holiday island of
Boracay where 300 tourists were
stranded.
Public Works and High-
ways Secretary Rogelio Singson
and retired Admiral Alexander
Pama, the executive director
of the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management
Council (NDRRMC) said casual-
ties were relatively light.
I am happily surprised
because of the minimal casual-
ties and damage, Singson said,
adding the typhoon had passed
through the most populated area
of the country, with about 17 mil-
lion people living in its path.
We ed our home just
before dawn when the water
started rising up to our ankles,
said housewife Dayang Ban-
suan whose shanty home along
Manila Bay was completely
destroyed.
I was really frightened,
they (neighbors) were saying
the winds were getting stronger.
They were telling us to evacu-
ate, she recalled.
Still, others ignored the
warnings and almost paid dearly
for it.
I thought I was going to
die. I went out to look for gaso-
line in case we needed to evacu-
ate, but it was a mistake, said
tricycle driver Pedro Rojas, 35,
as he nursed a cut head while
sheltering at a town hall on the
outskirts of Manila.
My tricycle rolled over
twice after I slammed into sheets
of rain. It was like hitting a wall...
huge tin roongs were ying
everywhere.
It was the rst major storm
since Super Typhoon Yolanda
(Haiyan) devastated the eastern
islands of Samar and Leyte in
November last year, killing up to
7,300 people in one of the Philip-
pines worst natural disasters.
Those areas felt only light
rain and winds on Tuesday
and Wednesday, but that was
enough to send panic through
some Yolanda survivors who are
still struggling to rebuild their
communities.
That crisis spawned a mas-
sive relief effort that continues
today. Filipino Americans in the
Metro DC region recently held a
benet concert at the Kennedy
Center in Washington DC for
disaster victims in the Philip-
pines.
They are scared because
their experiences during Haiyan
last year are still fresh, Social
Work Secretary Dinky Soliman
explained.
I feared we were going to
relive our nightmare, when we
had to swim for our lives, said
sherman Alfredo Cojas, 49, who
left his shanty home in Tacloban,
Leyte for an evacuation center.
Tacloban bore the brunt of the
death and destruction from
super typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan.
Soliman said many went
back to the citys Astrodome,
where thousands sought shel-
ter and dozens drowned during
storm surges in the November
disaster.
Singson and Pama said the
government was more prepared
this time, after the devasta-
tion caused by super typhoon
Yolanda/Haiyan, evacuating
people at risk in coastal and land-
slide-prone areas well before the
typhoon made landfall.
The storm brought storm
surges to Manila Bay and
prompted disaster ofcials to
evacuate slum-dwellers on the
capitals outskirts.
The Philippines is hit by
about 20 major storms a year,
many of them deadly. The South-
east Asian archipelago is often
the rst major landmass to be
struck after storms build above
the warm Pacic Ocean waters.
Scores killed in first big... from page 1
July 16-31, 2014 21
pines, said Rudy Asercion in
an interview on Balitang Amer-
ica, but Im happy hes getting
his due, hes getting his day in
court.
I hope that whatever comes
out of these proceedings will be
a precedent so we can have a
comprehensive immigration
reform, he added.
Lawyer Rodel Rodis noted
that the Fil-Am community has
been pressing the White House
to grant Temporary Protected
Status (TPS) for Filipinos in the
US and he said they sensed that
could happen.
He said the grant of TPS
will benet at least 200,000 Fili-
pinos who are in a similar condi-
tion with Vargas. Jose Antonio
Vargas is providing the face for
the thousands of faceless Fili-
pinos as well as non-Filipinos
caught in this vortex of this
broken immigration system.
In a statement, U.S. Customs
& Border Protection said Vargas
was detained after he stated
that he was in the country ille-
gally and that he was released
on his own recognizance.
The incident immediately
turned the spotlight on deporta-
tions of immigrant youths in a
region where tens of thousands
of unaccompanied children are
ooding in from Central Amer-
ica.
Ive been the most privi-
leged undocumented immigrant
in the country, Vargas wrote
in an article posted on politico.
com in which he contemplated
the possibility of being detained
in Texas. The visibility, frankly,
has protected me.
Vargas, 33, was brought to
the US at age 12 to live with his
grandparents and didnt know
he was undocumented until he
tried to get a drivers license four
years later.
He visited the Texas-Mexico
border to help raise awareness
about the plight of undocu-
mented immigrants.
I cannot fully imagine the
treacherous, dangerous, desper-
ate and long trek to safety, free-
dom and some kind of peace
that these children are going
through, Vargas told a crowd in
one gathering earlier.
Like a lot of people in our
country, I have been very angry
and lost and confused watch-
ing television and looking at
whats happening, he said. All
of these politicians are basically
playing political football with
our lives.
The arrest immediately
drew national attention, in
part because Vargas, who once
appeared on the cover of Time
magazine, has so publicly called
for an end to the policy of deport-
ing young undocumented immi-
grants who, like him, grew up in
the US and consider themselves
American, LA Times reporter
Molly Hennessy-Fiske wrote.
US Immigration and Cus-
toms Enforcement (ICE) said
the agency had not previously
encountered Vargas and had
not previously issued an order
for his detention. The agency
said it was focused on promot-
ing border security and remov-
ing criminal individuals who
pose a threat to public safety and
national security.
New York City Mayor Bill
de Blasio also weighed in on
Vargas detention in Texas.
Jose Antonios detain-
ment today at a Texas airport,
close to where he was working
to document the plight of refu-
gees, shows how our immigrant
enforcement agencies are fail-
ing to use their discretion and
detaining long-time immigrants
who do not pose a threat to our
security, he said in a statement.
Jose Antonio has spent
most of his life in the United
States, he was educated by
American schools, went on to
receive a Pulitzer Prize while
working as a journalist at the
Washington Post, and eventu-
ally disclosed his undocumented
status to advocate for a much-
needed debate around citizen-
ship. He exemplies what Amer-
ica is about, the mayor added.
Cristina Jimenez, managing
director of United We Dream,
said Vargas arrest highlighted
the struggles many undocu-
mented immigrants face.
We stand in solidarity with
Jose Antonio and demand for his
immediate release, but we must
remember that there are thou-
sands of people along the border
that live with this same fear every
day, Jimenez said. Once again,
the Border Patrol has proven to
be a rogue agency after arresting
Jose Antonio, a low-priority case
for detention and deportation.
Vargas arrest focus... from page 1
gram, known as DAP. The con-
troversy threatened to tarnish
Aquinos anti-corruption creden-
tials and side-track the countrys
economic growth, expanding 7.2
percent last year.
The Philippine Stock
Exchange Index fell by one per-
cent the same day, the biggest
drop since May 29.
The restorm over the DAP
comes amid the closely-followed
arrest and prosecution of three
prominent senators for their role
in an alleged scam involving P30
billion of the Priority Develop-
ment Assistance Fund (PDAF),
better known as lawmakers
pork barrel.
Aquino pledged to stamp
out pork-barrel budgets last
August after thousands turned
to social media to criticize the
system. Civic groups took to
the streets on June 12 to seek the
removal of politicians embroiled
in the scandal.
The DAP approved in
2011 fast-tracked infrastruc-
ture spending in the three years
through 2013 and gave perks to
some lawmakers.
The Supreme Court on July
1 voided parts of the program,
months after stripping lawmak-
ers of their discretionary budget
power.
DAP follows the law and
adheres to the mandate granted
to the executive branch, Aquino
insisted, arguing that We did
this to properly allocate funds,
and by so doing maximize the
benets that the people may
receive.
He said the program ben-
eted education and electrica-
tion, while helping an economy
that was suffering from public
underspending.
DAP is good, Aquino
stressed.
Our intentions, our pro-
cesses, and the results were cor-
rect, he said, adding that the
funds were used for the benet
of Filipinosand not for later,
not soon, but now.
The president said his gov-
ernment would appeal the deci-
sion so the high court can more
fully and more conscientiously
examine the law. He also said
he would seek a supplemental
budget from Congress to ensure
that all benets are delivered.
Senators Juan Ponce Enrile,
Jinggoy Estrada and Bong
Revilla, now detained while
awaiting the start of their trial
for the pork barrel scam, were
among those who received DAP
funds for various projects in
2012, according to a statement
from Budget Secretary Butch
Abad.
Aquino on July 11 turned
down the resignation of Abad,
one of his top economic ofcials,
after 15 groups led a plunder
complaint against the budget
secretary.
The groups including
Kabataan Partylist and Youth
Act Now alleged that Abad sys-
tematically misappropriated,
converted, misused, and mal-
versed public funds through
the spending program.
The Philippine Daily
Inquirer exposed the so-called
pork barrel scam in July last year,
sparking a government investi-
gation that focused on business-
woman Janet Lim-Napoles as
the alleged mastermind of the
scheme.
Lim-Napoles, who is in
jail for a separate criminal case,
linked at least 120 sitting and
former lawmakers to the scandal
in a May 26 afdavit, including
some of Aquinos allies.
P-Noy vows SC fight... from page 1
Priests words to unwed mom stirs protest
CEBU. A Catholic priest
who berated an unwed teen
mother at her childs baptismal
rites was forced to resign after
the incident spread through
social media, triggering an angry
backlash.
Father Romeo Obach of the
Congregation of the Most Holy
Redeemer said in a statement
that he deeply regretted the
words I said and rude attitude
that I showed before performing
the Catholic baptism on the child
of a 17-year-old single mother at
the Sacred Heart chapel in Jag-
obiao, Mandaue City last July 6.
I am now making a public
apology to the mother of the
child and her immediate family,
the priest said.
I deeply regret that I have
done this, Obach said, adding
he had only belatedly realized
the cruel ways to educate and
impart lessons.
The childs grandmother
Jieve Daitol Frias had caught
him on cellphone camera seem-
ingly humiliating her daughter
in front of friends and family.
How shameful. You come here
to have your child baptized
without a husband, Obach was
heard saying in Cebuano.
You slept with a man who
is not your husband. Do you hear
me, girl? Arent you ashamed,
he appeared to harangue the
young mother.
The priest then went on to
say that while the baby had not
sinned, her mother did, after she
slept with a man who was not
her husband.
Obach also warned the
mother that the consequences of
her actions may be passed on to
her child, as her child was born
due to sin.
The video spread quickly
through social media. The pub-
lics angry reaction prompted
church ofcials here to order
an investigation and assured
that appropriate sanctions on
the part of the involved will be
applied once the investigation is
complete so that justice may pre-
vail.
The publics ire only grew
when it was later reported that
the child was born out of wed-
lock after the young mothers
boyfriend left her for another
girl. The young mother report-
edly attempted to kill herself but
later sought psychological inter-
vention.
As a religious community
we do not condone such an unac-
ceptable act, said leaders of the
Redemptorist order, to which
Obach apparently belonged. Fr.
Alfonso Suico Jr., the groups
media liaison, said in a statement
that they were deeply saddened
by the incident.
I am deeply sorry to the
mother of the child, her relatives,
the sponsors and the witness of
the incident. I am sorry to the
internet viewers, to the media
listeners and the viewers for this
mistake. I personally admit. I am
deeply sorry and I humbly ask
your forgiveness, Obach said in
his statement.
Pope Francis had earlier
told priests to baptize children of
unmarried women to pass on the
Christian faith.
Video grab of controversial baptism by Fr. Romeo Obach.
July 16-31, 2014 22 22
Fil-Am stars in steamy
book adaptation
HOLLYWOOD. Pinoy
movie goers will have another
reason to catch Addicted
which features Filipino-Ameri-
can actress Sharon Leal when it
opens in October.
Based on the steamy novel
by Zane, the story centers on
Zoe (Leal), a woman in a per-
fectly quaint marriage who with
husband (Boris Kodjoe) are busy
raising three children while
devoted to their careers. How-
ever, its not enough to fulll all
of Zoes desires as she soon nds
herself satisfying her addic-
tion to sleeping with other men,
which puts her on a dangerous
path that may cost not only her
relationship but her life as well.
Hollywood is currently on
a roll with movies geared for
adult audiences and Addicted
comes ahead with the highly
publicized Fifty Shades of
Grey lm adaptation.
Leal was born in Tucson,
Arizona to a Filipina mother,
Angelita, and an African-Amer-
ican soldier who broke up with
her mother before she was born.
Angelita later met and married a
sergeant in the US Air Force who
was posted at Clark Air Base,
and legally adopted Leal.
She lived in the Philippines
until she was six years old when
her family moved to Fresno, Cal-
ifornia.
Her big break came in
2006, when she co-starred with
Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson
in the smash hit Dreamgirls.
She was also with Soulmen with
Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jack-
son.
She was also part of the
ensemble Why did I get Mar-
ried and its sequel.
On TV, Leal was in the
cast of the critically acclaimed
Boston Public for four years. She
also joined fellow Fil-Am actor
Reggie Lee in NBCs Grimm for
a recurring role.
But having the starring role
in Addicted is her biggest chal-
lenge so far to make it into Hol-
lywood stardom.
Piolos son auditions
for US boy band
Actor Piolo Pascual has
revealed this his son Inigo has
auditioned to be part of an
American boy band.
International, not bad
right?, the proud dad pro-
claimed.
So theyre going to house
them, teach them so hell get
free lessons for voice, for acting,
for dancing, Piolo said in a TV
interview.
He said he was reluctant to
allow his son to join showbiz but
nally relented after seeing how
much Inigo wanted it. His only
condition, he said was for Iigo
to nish high school.
Piolo also said that he wants
him to be based in the United
States rst.
I was hoping that hell
make a name for himself in the
States rst, so he wont have to
be in my shadow. People wont
have to compare himself to me,
he said.
Aside from auditioning in
the US, Iigo has reportedly n-
ished an indie movie and has
also appeared in a commercial
with his dad.
Iigo has posted on You
Tube his video singing cover
songs such as Michael Jacksons
Beat It with his friend Levi
Mitchell.
Legal Wifes Locsin set to play Darna
MANILA. After playing the
countrys most famous super-
heroine Darna on TV, actress
Angel Locsin is getting ready to
bring the beloved comic charac-
ter to the big screen.
Appearing on Kris TV
Locsin said she is starting her
preparations for the movie by
losing weight and some heavy
duty workout that includes
Muay Thai, although actual
training for the movie wont start
until September.
She revealed that she a
cracked disc. Rather than get
surgery, I need to strengthen
my core so the workout, she
explained.
Fresh from the successful
The Legal Wife drama series,
Locsin said she and co-star Maja
Salvador are still in awe over
how well the show fared, espe-
cially the way how it dominated
social media trends during its
run.
The new Darna movie
will be directed by Famas-win-
ning director Erik Matti.
The movie is based on the
character created by Mars Ravelo
and artist Nestor Redondo.
Darna which rst
appeared in Bulaklak Maga-
zine in 1950, rst made it to the
screen through Darna at ang
Babaing Lawin in 1952, unveil-
ing the red bikini through its star
Rosa del Rosario. The character
has since been portrayed by the
countrys top actresses from Eva
Montes in 1964 to Vilma Santos
in the 1970s to Sharon Cuneta in
1986.
Pinoy group vies for hip-hop
honors in Las Vegas
MANILA. Legit Status, a
hip-hop dance troupe made
up of the countrys best young
dancers has earned the right
to represent the Philippines in
the Varsity Division of the 2014
World Hip-Hop Dance Cham-
pionship in Las Vegas on Aug.
5 to 10.
The group held a fund-rais-
ing concert last July 20 and 27
at Ateneo de Manila University
in Quezon City for the groups
hotel accommodations, cos-
tumes, food and other expenses
while theyre in Las Vegas.
Representing the coun-
try abroad is not new to Legit
Status, which is composed
of Corinne Catibayan, Billie
Lorenzo, Gab Garcia, Justin
Lu, Rock Monreal, Tol Zarcal,
Macky Manlutac and Samantha
Javier.
The group represented
the country in the Varsity and
Megacrew Divisions of the
Hip-Hop International Dance
Competition in Las Vegas 2012.
In 2013, the group again repre-
sented the country in the Var-
sity division of the same inter-
national competition in Las
Vegas.
They will be competing
against top dance crews from
over 30 nations via a two-min-
ute routine choreographed by
original Street Dance Coach
Vimi Rivera.
Sharon Leal
Piolo Pascual with son Inigo on Instagram
Filipino hip-hop group Legit Status
Angel Locsin
Fan Page
July 16-31, 2014 23
Join the army and become US citizens
By Maj. Gen. Antonio
M. Taguba (ret.)
For my father and me, as
for many thousands of Filipi-
nos who have served in the U.S.
armed forces, one of our major
contributions to this country was
our military service.
My father fought in World
War II in the Philippines, as a
private in the Philippine Scouts
in February 1942 under the com-
mand of the United States Army
Force Far East as directed by
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
on July 26, 1941.
He was captured at Bataan
along with 72,000 troops. The
prisoners endured the Bataan
Death March where many died
along the way. In July 1945, he
was repatriated into USAFFE
command. He was offered the
opportunity to become a U.S.
citizen, an opportunity he honor-
ably accepted.
Like many immigrants in the
United States, my father wanted
a better life for his family, and he
happily served the country that
provided those opportunities.
He retired from the Army in June
1962 as a sergeant rst class.
I came to the United States
through Hawaii in 1961, and
became a naturalized citizen in
1962. Following in my fathers
tradition, I joined my high
schools Junior Army ROTC
program for three years, and
continued through college for
another four years. In May 1972,
I was commissioned as a second
lieutenant in the U.S. Army. I
served in the Army for 34 years,
deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in
2003-2004, served at every level
of command and staff positions,
and eventually retired as a two-
star general in January 2007.
A few months ago, Repub-
lican leadership refused to allow
a vote on the ENLIST Act as
an amendment to the National
Defense Authorization Act, and
its unclear whether leadership
will allow it to come to the oor
as a stand-alone bill. For me, this
is a personal issue, not a political
one, and it goes to the core of our
values as a nation patriotism,
honor, courage, integrity and
seless service.
For those of us who have
served this country and continue
to answer the call to duty, those
willing to ght for our freedom
should be allowed to be United
States citizens.
My father and I proudly
served our country with honor
and dignity. The ENLIST Act
would provide a path to citi-
zenship for dreamers young
undocumented immigrants
who are willing to serve and
ght. Like my father and I,
dreamers came to the United
States from another country, and
like us they want to give back
and help protect the country
they call home. We are willing to
serve in uniform, to protect our
way of life at home, and sacrice
our lives for others. Serving our
country in
uniform means guarantee-
ing our mission with our lives.
Its been a year since the
Senate passed a bipartisan
comprehensive immigration
reform bill, and Republicans in
the House remain hell-bent on
blocking any kind of progress on
reform.
Republicans keep saying
they support xing our broken
immigration system, but theyre
more interested in catering to the
far-right Republicans than doing
whats right. Republicans inac-
tion on this issue is outrageous,
and their rhetoric is insulting
and distasteful.
I see immigration reform
as a nonpartisan but important
issue to all Americans whose
immigrant ancestors came to
America looking for a better life
The ENLIST Act is the bare
minimum we can do on this issue
and there is no reason Republi-
cans shouldnt move at the very
least that piece of legislation.
(Reprinted from Army Times)
----
Retired Gen. Taguba is the
chairman of the Pan Pacific Ameri-
can Leaders and Mentors, a non-
profit that fosters professional
development of military and civilian
leaders.
Soldiers take the Oath of Citizenship during their naturalization ceremony at
the United States Embassy in Kuwait. (Photo by Sgt. William White)
July 16-31, 2014 24 24
Key Difference
M
ay asim pa, then-89-
year old Senator Juan
Ponce Enrile said with
a wink . He scoffed at romantic
links to his then chief of staff:
Atty. Jessica Lucila Gigi Reyes.
However, English fails to
capture the nuances of JPEs Pili-
pino wisecrack. Loosely trans-
lated, JPEs remark claims his
libido was still on overdrive,
thank you.
But what a difference a
non-bailable plunder charge
can make. JPEs counsels sub-
mitted three medical certicates
that senator is ailing. He gobbles
daily 23 pills., No. Viagara is not
included. Connement in even
former ofcers room would be
life-threatening.
Philippine National Police,
reserved a room at the PNP
General hospital. It measures
3 meters by 4 meters, has bath-
room and shower, a large glass
window without bars. It .is air
conditioned.
All animals are equal,
George Orwell wrote in his
1945 allegorical novel: Animal
Farm. But some animals are
more equal than others.. The
late Senators Benigno Aquino, Jr
and Jose. Diokno could have told
us as much.
Both were secretly heli-
coptered to Fort Magsaysay in
Laur is a Nueva Ecija. They were
held is solitary connement in
cramped cells, shut from sun-
light with potties for toilet needs.
Eyeglasses were taken, so were
belts in a dictatorship where JPE
was main enforcer.
Whats so special about
Enrile? Other elderly prisoners
rot in regular jails, Michelle
Estor of the Scrap Pork Network
It was Enrile himself who said
that he remains strong after stem
cell treatments Was JPEs state-
ment he was ready to die in jail
drama?
Born in Cagayan as Juan-
ito Furagganan, JPE took on
the name of his father: lawyer
Alfonso Ponce Enrile. He gradu-
ated from UP, then Harvard law
school. His career oscillated from
pillar of the Marcos dictatorship
to one of 1986 People Power
leaders.
President Corazon Aquino
sacked him for plotting coups.
God Save the Queen would
have installed JPE as president.
He slumped into disgrace as the
coups crumbled. He towered
over the impeachment of Chief
Justice Renato Corona. And in
June last year, he was toppled as
Senate president.
JPE turned 90 last Valen-
tines Day. Do intimations of
mortality? haunt him, an editor-
friend asked. He needs to rewrite
memoirs launched in 2012,
before the inevitable curtains
fall. Titled Juan Ponce Enrile,
this 754-page book glowingly
details his relationship with the
past six presidents.
But it smudged key inci-
dents, like shaving votes in 1995
to grab a winning 11th Senate
slot. The Electoral Tribunal con-
rmed, years later, that Sen.
Aquilino Pimentel won. JPE
slumped into the losers club as
No. 15.
That decision was overtaken
by events. Pimentel won the
next elections. And the Court,
seven years later, ruled the case
as moot and academic. How-
ever, Pimentel wedged into the
political vocabulary a new term
for vote shaving: dagdag-bawas.
Can JPE rewrite his awed
memoirs before his term peters
out in 2016? Like all of us, our
friend didnt foresee todays
brawl to stave off arrest. A
rewrite of JPEs memoirs would
call for end-to-end revision
of what Rappler editor Chay
Holea calls a tale of hypoc-
risy and contradictions.
In his book, JPE claims he
was surprised that Marcos used
his alleged Wack-Wack sub-
division ambush as trigger for
martial law imposition. Yet, the
Ofcial Gazette quotes Enrile,
after the People Power I, saying:
it had been staged by Marcos
to justify martial law. So did
Inquirer on Feb. 23, 1986 and the
Age of Australia.
People have different
impressions about me, Enrile
wrote. So let it be. Holea,
however, wonders: Question
is, will the truth-tellers just let it
be?
***
Ferdinand Marcos Jr mean-
while inserted himself into the
media saying hed consider
running in 2016. Imelda Mara-
cos says nothing better could
happen to the country. Do they
think people. engrossed with the
Sandiganbayn trials. forget that
$354-million contempt judg-
ment, slammed by US Court
of Appeals (9th circuit) against
them.
PNoys
Trophies
I
f youve seen pictures of
the trophy room of wealthy
sportsmen with the stuffed
heads of wild game mounted
on the wall, you know what Im
talking about. They are trophies.
Proof of ones hunting skills.
Three senators indicted and
incarcerated for plunder are
major trophies too, along with
minor trophies like Napoles,
Gigi Reyes, etc. Proof of Noynoy
Aquinos Daang Matuwid.
As will likely be announced
in his forthcoming state of the
nation address, the trophies are
intended to show the Filipino
people and the world that he
has delivered on his vow to rid
the government of corruption.
Whatever his detractors might
say, thats much, much more
than past presidents can claim,
going back to Emilio Aguinaldo
and Manuel Quezon.
Of course, Aquino is not
supposed to rest on these lau-
rels. In an ideal world, he and
the entire justice system are sup-
posed pursue every single alle-
gation of plunder and corruption
and see them all the way through
to conviction or acquittal.
But ours is not an ideal
world. You can almost hear
Aquino snapping, Arent you
happy enough with the heads
of three senators, plus a former
president, a Chief Justice and an
Ombudsman. What more do you
want????
Depending on whom you
choose to believe - Napoles, Luy,
De Lima or Lacson - there are
many other senators, congress-
men and assorted civil servants
who deserve to be indicted and
incarcerated, in addition to big
names in the executive ofce.
But dont hold your breath if
youre hoping to see their vir-
tual heads mounted on Aquinos
wall.
In fact, they may not even
be mounted on the wall of the
next president or even the next.
Aquinos trophies are probably
as much as we can expect. And
we may all have to make do with
that.
There are several reason
for this. First of all, in our
country, the wheels of justice
turn veeeerrrrry slowwwww-
wlyyyyy. Secondly, government
prosecutors are not famous for
building airtight cases, whether
because of incompetence or
because of entrepreneurship.
And thirdly, it is doubtful that
Aquino is motivated to go after
ofcials who are close to him or
are political allies.
There is a fourth reason.
Mababaw ang kaligayahan ng
Pinoy. As a people, we are easy
to humor and to satisfy. Half a
loaf for us is better than no loaf
at all. And while this principle
works to the advantage of those
who are diligent enough to go
after the other half of the loaf,
the average Pinoy doesnt care or
cant remember.
Take the classic case (or
cases) of the Marcoses. People
in their mid-30s will likely have
only a vague idea of the People
Power Revolution of 1986. Im
not sure this part of our coun-
trys history is even a required
subject in Philippine schools.
For this reason, it wouldnt
be surprising if most young
people do not realize that over 28
years ago, the Marcoses the late
President Ferdinand Marcos,
Imelda Marcos, now a member
of Congress representing Ilocos
Norte, Bongbong Marcos, now a
senator, Imee Marcos, now Ilocos
Norte governor, and another
daughter, Irene were forced
to go into exile, kicked out of
Malacaang by a Filipino people
that had had enough Tama na!
Sobra na! of their two decades
in power.
They were subsequently
allowed to return to the coun-
try and consequently brought to
court on charges ranging from
dollar salting to graft to human
rights abuses. One would have
thought that these were slam
dunk cases, to use the color-
ful language of Justice Secretary
Leila de Lima, but the facts tell us
otherwise.
According to Wikipedia,
(Imelda Marcos) was acquitted
on March 10, 2008 by the Manila
Regional Trial Court Branch 26
of 32 counts of dollar salting
involving Swiss bank accounts
due to reasonable doubt. Imelda,
in reaction to her acquittal, said:
First of all, I am so happy and I
thank the Lord that the 32 cases
have been dismissed by the
regional court here in Manila.
This will subtract from the 901
cases that were led against the
Marcoses. Imelda still had 10
pending criminal cases remain-
ing before the Sandiganbayan
Courts.
Did you get that? 901 cases,
by Imeldas count! And not a day
in jail for her or for any member
of her family. And, irony of iro-
nies, they are still in power and
are aggressively trying to revise
history.
Another seemingly slam
dunk case was the Hello Garci
electoral cheating allegedly com-
mitted by Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo, former Comelec Chair-
man Benjamin Abalos, former
Comelec Commissioner Virgilio
Garcillano and accomplices.
Guess what. Sixto Brillan-
tes, the current Comelec chair-
man, has announced that his
ofce is no longer pursuing the
case because it may have already
prescribed, with the government
failing to put together enough
evidence to swing a conviction.
How could that have hap-
pened? Well, in our country,
anything is possible. Did I say
the wheels of justice turn very
slowly? In fact, sometimes, they
do not turn at all. Or they turn
in reverse once they reach the
Supreme Court.
At least Gloria Macapa-
gal-Arroyo, accused of several
counts of plunder and electoral
cheating, is languishing in the
ridiculous Philippine equivalent
of a jail. But that hospital
nay, hospitable - incarceration
may not even be for long.
Recent developments have
seen the dismissal of slam dunk
cases (theres that De Lima term
again) led against Arroyo, such
as her alleged involvement in
the P728-million fertilizer fund
scam; the plunder case involv-
ing anomalous projects in Cama-
rines Sur that reportedly cost the
country P700 million; and, soon,
the Hello Garci case that made a
mockery of the presidential elec-
tion. And what about the PCSO
plunder charges?
In dismissing the fertilizer
scam case, the Ombudsman
decided that there was no prob-
able cause to le charges against
Arroyo due to lack of evidence.
Given these precedents,
do we actually believe that the
Aquino government, in its last
two years in ofce, will send
anyone else to jail for involve-
ment in the pork and Malam-
paya scams?
Do we actually believe that
Aquino will have any motivation
to even order a serious investiga-
tion of allegations against Butch
Abad and Proceso Alcala?
Do we actually think that an
afdavit of Janet Lim Napoles
asserting that she personally
gave money to such holier-than-
thou personalities as Alan Peter
Cayetano will ever gain any trac-
tion especially with Cayetano
singing hosannas to Aquino?
And, even assuming that
the improbable will happen, do
we actually believe that gov-
ernment prosecutors are com-
petent enough to build airtight
cases based on allegations of
whistle-blowers and afdavits of
Napoles?
July 16-31, 2014 25
Letters to the Editor...
Error in jump page
Sir:
May I just bring to your
attention the confusing jump
page note on your July 1-15 issue.
The articles on opinion page 22
(I.e. A Tribute to Cora , Mis-
carriage or Justice?, and Whos
on Trial?) are supposedly con-
tinued on Page 30. In no way do
you have page 30 because your
paper only has 24 pages with the
last page featuring an advertise-
ment for a supermarket. Rum-
maging over the pages of your
paper, I realized that the contin-
uation of these aforementioned
articles/opinion page are actu-
ally on page 23.
Please notify your layout
artist and copy editors to proof-
read the paper over and over
again before nal publication.
Typographical accuracy helps
edify the integrity of your well-
esteemed paper.
Please take this feedback as
constructive comment. I am an
avid reader of your paper.
FRANCISCO MACOROL-
RENION, JR.
Prince Georges County, MD
__________
Thank you for calling our
attention to this error. When the
paging error was discovered by
the layout artist of the Manila
Mail, the newspaper was already
printed and distributed.
Our apologies to Mr. Renion
and to others who noted the
error.
THE EDITORS
Factual error
Dear Editor,
The caption of a picture
published in the June 1-15, 2014
issue of the Manila Mail about
Daisy P. Tucay, president of the
Global PH Advocates of Retire-
ment Care Counsel, contains a
factual error.. Mrs. Tucay DOES
NOT provide Medicaid to retir-
ees who plan to retire in the Phil-
ippines.
Mrs. Loida Nicolas-Lewis
is a valued adviser of the Global
PH Advocates of Retirement
Care Counsel.
DINO DELA ROSA
Virginia
--------------
The caption was written by
one of our volunteer photogra-
pher.
THE EDITORS
Funny Wives?
Im writing about your
recent Manila Mail June 16-30,
2014, specically the Joke section
by Mr. Oscar S. Bunoan titled
Stupid Wife. I enjoy a good joke
like the next person but I nd
this to be offensive even in jest.
These women in our lives have
sacriced a lot and should never
be called stupid. Would you call
your mother stupid? If this is
an ongoing title, please correct
this stupid mistake and per-
haps change the title to Funny
Wives.
EMAIL: NICK
------
Although there was a caveat
in the column to proceed at
ones own risk, I still would like
to say Sorry to Nick.
OSCAR BUNOAN
Virginia
Volunteer copyreader
Sir:
I am a retired Filipino Amer-
ican schoolteacher who was for-
tunate enough to get hold of a
copy of your newspaper, the
Manila Mail.
Your newspaper is very
good. Its different from the
scores of Fil-Am newspapers
that are being published in the
United States. Its obvious that
its being run by real journalists.
However, I have noted a few
typographical and grammatical
errors in the issue that I have. I
am willing to volunteer my ser-
vices as your copyreader to fur-
ther improve the already high
quality of the Manila Mail.
Thank you.
A READER IN NORTH
CAROLINA
---
Thank you for your offer.
Unfortunately, because of time
constraints, we are unable to
furnish you with a draft of the
DACA
renewal
T
he Secretary of Home-
land Security Jeh Johnson
announced last month that
USCIS will start accepting appli-
cations for status renewal of indi-
viduals who were granted bene-
t under the Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
This program grants discre-
tionary relief to defer removal
action against certain aliens who
arrived in the US during their
minority for a period of two
years with work authorization.
Individuals who meet the DACA
eligibility requirements and have
not yet led may still apply.
DACA status holders are
advised to le their renewal
application approximately 120
days before the expiration of
their status.
Applicants must establish
that he/she: (a) did not depart
the United States on or after Aug.
15, 2012, without advance parole;
(b) have continuously resided in
the United States since they sub-
mitted their most recent DACA
request that was approved; and
(c) have not been convicted of
a felony, a signicant misde-
meanor or three or more misde-
meanors, and do not otherwise
pose a threat to national security,
or public safety.
The renewal process
involves the ling of Form I-821D
Consideration of Deferred
Action for Childhood Arriv-
als, Form I-765 Application for
Employment Authorization, and
the I-765 Worksheet, accompa-
nied by documentary evidence
to establish eligibility. The ling
fee is $465.00.
DHS has disclosed that as of
April, 2014, 560,000 individuals
were granted DACA benets.
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 31
Hair coloring and cancer
B
ut our genes, no
matter how good their
sources are, will not
protect us if we abuse ourselves
and allow environmental fac-
tors to hurt our body and cause
disease. It is a well known medi-
cal fact that environmental risks
many times outweigh positive
hereditary traits.
What causes pain and ten-
derness in the testicles?
One of the commonest
causes of pain in the testes is
epididymitis, an inammation
and swelling cause by infection.
Trauma can cause the same type
of pain. If the pains persist for
more than 3 days, with or with-
out a lump, medical consulta-
tion should be sought to rule
out more serious conditions like
sexually transmitted venereal
disease, or cancer.
Bacterial infections can
easily be treated with oral anti-
biotics, pain pills and warm
sitz baths. The predisposing or
precipitating factor, if known,
like poor hygiene, etc. should
be eliminated to prevent recur-
rences.
Is egg white safe to eat?
Yes, egg white is, but not
the egg yolk (yellow center). Egg
white has B-complex and ribo-
avin (B-2), and no cholesterol.
It is poor in Vitamin C and cal-
cium. Egg yolk has iron, some
thiamine (B1), riboavin, and
niacin (B-3), vitamins A, D, E, B6
and B-12. However, it contains a
lot of cholesterol, which is bad
for our heart and blood vessels..
A large egg has about 252 mg of
cholesterol and the maximum
recommended cholesterol intake
is (no higher than) 300 mg per
day. That is why if one has to eat
eggs at all, it is best to eat only
the white part of it, and prefer-
ably not fried. Abstinence from
eggs is healthier for us, because
there is already too much choles-
terol in our normal diet.
My father is 64 and had
blindness of one eye for a few
seconds a week ago. What could
be the matter?
Amaurosis Fugax, transient
blindness of one eye because of
blocked carotid (neck) artery
going to the brain, is a possibil-
ity. Tiny clots in the tight area
of the artery could also dislodge
and go to the artery of the eye
or the brain to cause this visual
problem or even a stroke.
Whether it is accompanied
by other symptoms, such as tem-
porary weakness of the opposite
arm/leg, slurred speech, the
onset of blindness, no matter
how transient it was, is a serious
matter. Permanent stroke might
well follow this warning sign. At
least a doppler ultrasound test of
the carotid arteries on both sides
of the neck should be done. The
best is for your father to see his
physician before a catastrophe
occurs.
Will my parents good genes
protect me from diseases?
Your certainly have an
advantage over those with bad
genes. But our genes, no matter
how good their sources are, will
not protect us if we abuse our-
selves and allow environmen-
tal factors to hurt our body and
cause disease. It is a well known
medical fact that environmental
risks many times outweigh posi-
tive hereditary traits. You are
lucky to have parents like yours,
but this does not automatically
guarantee you good health and
longevity. What will eventu-
ally happen to us tomorrow will
mostly be due to what we do to
ourselves today.
Is formula (bottle) feeding
good for the baby?
Bottle-feeding babies is
good and an accepted practice,
especially in the west. However,
breast-feeding is better, and, as
a matter of fact, the best for the
baby and the mother. Breast-
feeding confers on the baby
immunity from certain diseases.
The mother s milk has the
perfect natural proportion of
constituents for better absorp-
tion and digestion and, in 99.999
percent of cases, does not cause
allergy. It is inexpensive, always
available wherever the mother
and the baby are, and does not
entail much time to prepare com-
pared to bottle-feeding. It even
makes maternal-child bonding
stronger. Some modern moth-
ers may feel this is less conve-
nient, but formula-feeding is
severely outweighed by the tre-
mendous advantages of breast-
feeding for the baby. The starting
trend today, even in the United
States, is towards the good old
time natural breast-feeding.
What causes painful heels?
Painful heels are usually due
to plantar fascitis (some precipi-
tated by bony spurs in the heels),
brought on by repeated trauma
of weight-bearing and jarring.
July 16-31, 2014 26 26
PEACH, KIWI, APPLE AND
AVOCADO VERRINES
V
errines means glasses
in French. Whenever
I prepare the verrines
for my guests and family, they
become the center of attraction,
so irresistible and exciting to eat
as they are to look at. Sometimes
when I have more time, I ll my
wine glasses, or even some other
kind of nice glasses, with dif-
ferent fruits arranged in layers,
sprinkled with my favorite nuts,
which may include tiny diced
cucumbers or pickles-- anything
that harmonizes and tastes good
together.
Ingredients:
3 peaches
2 kiwis
2 gala or red apples
1 avocado
1 tablespoon honey
juice and zest of half lemon
Pinch cinnamon
Garnishing: Mint leaves or
parsley
Needed: 4 to 6 wine glasses
Methods:
Wash all the fruits. Peel the
peaches, kiwis, and avocado and
dice about a quarter of an inch
sizes. Do the same for apples but
keep the peels on. Combine all
the ingredients in a large bowl
and mix gently with a spatula
and keep in the refrigerator for at
least half hour or overnight.
Fill the wine glasses halfway
but no more than two-thirds.
Garnish before serving.
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.
FIRST WORDS
O
ne day there were three
nuns standing outside
the gates of heaven wait-
ing to enter. St. Peter approached
them and asked the rst nun,
Do you know who the rst
man was on earth? She said,
Ummm thats tough... Adam?
Bells rang, angels sang, the gates
opened, and she walked in.
Then St. Peter went to the
second nun and asked, Do you
know who the rst woman was
on earth? She said, Ummmm...
Eve? Bells rang, angels sang, the
gates opened, and she walked in.
St. Peter then asked the third
and last nun, What were the
rst words Eve said to Adam?
The third nun said, Hmmmm,
thats a hard one. Bells rang,
angels sang, the gates opened,
and she walked right in.
SNEAKERS
A guy stops by to visit his
sick friend. They talk for a while
and then the friend asks, My
feet are cold. Would you be so
kind as to go upstairs and get
me my sneakers, please? The
guest obliges and goes upstairs.
There he sees his friends daugh-
ters, both very good looking.
Being the adventurous and quick
thinking kind, he says, Hi,
ladies! Your daddy sent me here
to make love to both of you.
They stare at him in disbe-
lief and say, That cannot be!
He replies, Okay, lets
check! He shouts at his friend
down the stairs, Both of them?
The father shouts back,
Yes, both of them!
RANSACKED
Returning home from work,
a blonde was shocked to nd her
house ransacked and burglar-
ized. She telephoned the police
at once and reported the crime.
The police dispatcher broadcast
the call on the radio, and a K-9
unit, patrolling nearby, was the
rst to respond. As the K-9 of-
cer approached the house with
his dog on a leash, the blonde
ran out on the porch, shuddered
at the sight of the cop and his
dog, then sat down on the steps.
Putting her face in her hands, she
moaned, I come home to nd all
my possessions stolen. I call the
police for help, and what do they
do? They send me a blind cop!
THE EMAIL
A Minneapolis couple
decided to go to Florida to thaw
out during a particularly icy
winter. They planned to stay at
the same hotel where they spent
their honeymoon 20 years ear-
lier. Because of hectic sched-
ules, it was difcult to coordi-
nate their travel schedules. So,
the husband left Minnesota and
ew to Florida on Thursday,
with his wife ying down the
following day. The husband
checked into the hotel. There was
a computer in his room, so he
decided to send an email to his
wife. However, he accidentally
left out one letter in her email
address, and without realizing
his error, sent the email. Mean-
while, somewhere in Houston ,
a widow had just returned home
from her husbands funeral. He
was a minister who was called
home to glory following a mas-
sive heart attack. The widow
decided to check her email
expecting messages from rela-
tives and friends. After reading
the rst message, she screamed
and fainted. The widows son
rushed into the room, found his
mother on the oor, and saw the
computer screen which read: To:
My Loving Wife... Subject: Ive
Arrived... Date: July 12, 2014...
I know youre surprised to hear
from me. They have computers
here now and you are allowed to
send emails to your loved ones.
Ive just arrived and have been
checked in. Ive seen that every-
thing has been prepared for your
arrival tomorrow. Looking for-
ward to seeing you then! Hope
your journey is as uneventful as
mine was. P. S. Sure is hot down
here!
LOST
Mister: Kalokohan! Di
ako naniniwala! Walang taong
ganun kataba!
Misis: Saan ang balitang
yan?
Mister: Dito sa dyaryo.
Sabi; British tourist lost 5,000
pounds.
HAYOP
Isang araw, nagtanong ang
anak sa kanyang nanay...
Anak: Nanay, anong klaseng
hayop si tatay?
Nanay: Naku anak, hindi
hayop ang tatay mo. Mabait siya.
Saan mo ba narinig yang salitang
yan?
Anak: Narinig ko po si yaya
at si tatay sa kusina kahapon.
Sabi ni yaya Hayop ka, Raul...
hayop ka talaga!
Nanay: Hayop nga talaga
ang tatay mo... kakatayin ko ang
baboy na yan!
TAPE
Misis: Tuwing naririnig
kitang kumakanta, para bang
gusto kong i-tape.
Mister: Ang sweet naman
ang misis ko!
Misis: Gusto kong i-tape ang
bibig mo!
PAGHIHIGANTI
Isang gabi, naglalakad ang
isang lalaki sa may tulay nang
may makita siyang babaeng nasa
taas ng gilid nito at magtatang-
kang magpatiwakal.
Huwag, sigaw ng lalaki.
Sa kabutihang palad, nakumbinsi
niya ang babae na huwag ituloy
ang binabalak.
Lalaki: Ano bang problema
mo, miss, at gusto mong mag-
pakamatay?
Babae: Kasi, nahuli ko ang
boypren ko na may ibang kina-
huhumalingan.
Lalaki: Ganun din ang
ginawa ng girlfriend ko sa akin
pero hindi ko naisip na magpak-
amatay.
Babae: Ano ngayon ang
dapat nating gawin?
Nag-isip sandali ang lalaki...
Lalaki: Kung gusto mo,
maghiganti tayo sa kanila.
Babae: Paanong paghihi-
ganti?
Lalaki: Alam mo na ang ibig
kong sabihin... (Nagkaintindihan
ang dalawa.)
Maya mayay nasa isang
kuwarto na sila ng motel at
nangyari na nga ang di dapat
mangyari....
Nang makaraos si lalaki,
nagsindi siya ng sigarilyo. Nang
halos lter na lang ang natira ay
biglang nagsabi si babae: Maghi-
ganti ulit tayo.
Medyo pagod, pero pinag-
bigyan ulit niya si babae. Nang
matapos sila, nanigarilyo ulit si
lalaki. Nasa kalahati pa lang ang
yosi nang...
Babae: Maghiganti ulit tayo.
Medyo nangangatog na
ang mga tuhod pero dahil sa
hilig, muling pinagbigyan niya
si babae. Muling nakaraos ang
dalawa.
Nagsindi ulit si lalaki ng
yosi. Unang hitit pa lang niya
ay...
Babae: Ganti ulit tayo.
Talagang lupaypay na si
kaloy pero para huwag mapa-
hiya ay pinagbigyan niya ang
kahilingan ng babae.
Pagkatapos kumuha siya
ng yosi. Sisindihan palang nang
biglang:
Babae: Ganti ulit tayo.
Lalaki: (Pagod na) Puwede
ba... patawarin na lang natin sila!
July 16-31, 2014 27
Open letter to Sen. Enrile
MANILA
T
hree high-prole senators
in the Philippines have
been charged by the Ofce
of the Ombudsman with plun-
der over alleged misuse of their
pork-barrel funds amounting to
hundreds of million pesos. Sens.
Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada
are already detained (plun-
der is a non-bailable offense),
while everybodys waiting if the
90-year-old Juan Ponce Enrile
will likewise be detained pend-
ing trial. Below is an open letter
to Enrile from Manila Observer.
Sir I am not a fan of yours.
But nonetheless I would like
humbly to offer some personal
thoughts of mine to you.
The news tells us that you
are asking government to be
lenient to you with regard to
your looming imprisonment.
This is, as everyone knows, over
the non-bailable plunder charge
the Ombuds(wo)man has lodged
against you in connection with
the pork-barrel scam.
Reportedly you are asking
government to consider your age
and state of health in deciding
whether to incarcerate you. You
would like to be spared the phys-
ical hardship that that would
bring upon you.
This is understandable. And
even humane under normal cir-
cumstances. Indeed the state
may grant your wish under the
prevailing circumstances. You
are 90 years old.
But my concern for you is
that that would not tally with
your macho image. Youve
always been a sort of swashbuck-
ling personality in Philippine
politics and society. Youve been
daring while others are mere
pipsqueaks who couldnt hold a
candle to your aura. Youve been
a maverick in the midst of con-
formists who dont have even a
smidgen of your image of a
ghter (even though I personally
think you fought for the wrong
causes).
For these reasons you have
had your share of admirers,
while others (including this
humble writer) never held you
in high esteem for ideological
and political reasons. Youve
inspired many in the military
and civilian sectors whove then
acted out their fantasies of being
daring men of destiny.
Youve been a poster boy for
those who are guided by ideals
that youve personied. Theyve
idolized you over the years and
have patterned their own careers
and exploits after your style.
Wouldnt they now be so disap-
pointed by your appeal to gov-
ernment to spare you jail time?
Ive written before that one
of the lasting images of political
iconography lodged deeply in
my mind is the photograph of
President Salvador Allende of
Chile when he was besieged by a
coup detat on Sept. 11, 1973 and
was in the throes of imminent
death.
(An aside: what is it with the
date 9/11 that it keeps popping
up in the annals of history?)
There he was at the Palacio
de la Moneda in Santiago, still
attired in a business suit, with a
semi-automatic weapon in hand,
daring death, surely with fear
but also with courage.
I have no doubt sir that you
are familiar with that iconic pho-
tograph of Allende. It could even
be one of your favorite images,
even though you and Allende
are poles apart in your respec-
tive ideologies, he having been a
Marxist.
Sir, this was the image that
injected itself into my mind
when your friend, then President
Joseph Estrada, was in a similar
predicament. When a throng
of militants broke away from
the tumult in 2001 at EDSA 2
on Ortigas Avenue in Quezon
City to bring about a nal con-
frontation with Estrada, in my
mind I was urging Erap to do
an Allende, to bravely face
his accusers as they marched
toward Malacanang to storm the
presidential palace and do him
extreme violence.
I hadnt been an admirer of
Erap then (or now) either. In fact
I had been very critical of him
in my writings. But, as you well
know, we Filipinos are a senti-
mental and romanticist lot and I
had wanted the then president to
ght for not only his political life
but literally his own life.
As Erap faced his dilemma, I
thought of Allende at that point.
Not wishing for Erap to lose his
life the same way Allende had
done but to see him guts his pre-
dicament out with aplomb and
intestinal fortitude. After all, his
On Our Rites
of Passage
(We are reprinting the column
of Mr. Federigan because it was
inadvertently cut in the July 1-15,
2014 issue of the Manila Mail. Our
apologies to the writer. THE EDI-
TORS)
I
f you-yes, you-are my age,
born in the years immedi-
ately 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
of swimming across and back.
For a third grader in the ele-
mentary school like me, swim-
ming 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 prepara-
tion. To me, it sounded like I had
to wait for another two or three
years before he could buy me my
rst pair of long pants to replace
the shorts I had been wearing.
The urge to belong, to be treated
as equal by my playmates was
persistent. It haunted me.
I cannot recall completely
what made me do it at that par-
ticular moment. The day after
the school bells sounded the last
hours of my third year, I went, in
the heat of the afternoon sun, to
the shore of the Pasig River and
without letting anyone know
took off my shirt and shorts
and in my underwear made the
sign of the cross, plunged into
the water, and started the kick-
ing strokes I had learned from
my playmates. The current, as
expected was strong and it was
hard maintaining a parallel line.
After countless minutes (to me
it felt like hours) of arm and leg
strokes I reached the other shore,
but not on the spot I had aimed
for.
After resting to slow down
the beat of my hearts, I walked
back to the spot I had focused
on, mentally adjusting the arms
and leg strokes I had to make to
ward off the strong current pull
in swimming back. Making the
sign of the cross the second time
and plunging again into the salty
water, I started the count of arm
and leg movements I had mea-
sured to check off the strong cur-
rent ow. Midway across, sens-
ing that I was not making the
desired headway, I suddenly felt
an unusual sensation in my right
leg, like a pinprick going into my
veins. I prayed silently for a leg
cramp to disappear, envisioning
myself lying in a cofn with my
playmates paying homage to my
dead body.
It was a frightening moment.
But all of a sudden I could hear
shouts from the shores, loudly
encouraging me to swim on to
the home shore. Without me
knowing it my playmates had
decided as a group to swim in
the river but held off the merri-
ment when they saw me desper-
ately maintaining the intended
parallel line. They all embraced
me after I reached the shore.
Of course, my parents would
later hear about it. I dreaded the
admonitions, the anger from not
heeding their advice, the punish-
ment meted out for my escapade,
risking my life for self-satisfac-
tion. When I was summoned to
their bedroom, I had padded my
bottoms for the spanking I was
expecting. Instead, my father
informed me that coming Sat-
urday, he and I would go to the
towns tailor for measurement
for a bespoke pair of long pants.
I was one of the boys of
summer. Young girls had their
own experiences that needed to
be told later. But for us boys, in
our tender age, the borders, the
limits, or the invisible lines were
there for us to be crossed; only
in doing so that we could feel
counted, to be in, to belong.
Continued on page 31
July 16-31, 2014 28 28
Late Bloomers
A
zaleas go aplomb every-
where with their showy
and bursting colors
in pink (light and dark), red,
orange, lavender, white and
purple, always a delight to look
at, so proud of their splendor in
the month of May. We see them
in gardens and front yards of
houses along the way and even
on sidewalks. The saying April
showers bring May owers
holds true. They bring a lot of
different beautiful owers and
blooms, azaleas included. But I
have a thing about my azaleas.
They are late bloomers. I have
the pink ones lined in front of my
kitchen windows facing the front
yard and stretched to the side of
the front door.
In May, my neighbors are
already enjoying their beautiful
and colorful azaleas, but mine
are still all green with leaves.
They come out in June with
small buds on the rst week and
eventually in full bloom by the
third week. My favorite chair in
the kitchen nook happens to be
that one by the window which
allows me to be at a vantage
point of view. Inside, I could
enjoy and see them very well
and be able to tell how long the
blooms will last. By then, other
azaleas are long gone replaced
by other owers like the hydran-
geas, roses, sunowers, etcetera.
Ive been itching to visit one of
the commercial gardens along
my way to the grocery store to
ask about this variety of azalea
plants that I have. I wonder what
makes said plants different from
the others of their kind in terms
of delayed blooming. Does it
have something to do with the
process of pollination or this spe-
cic variety has been a product
of some oral experimentation to
develop new varieties. I am sure
there are other late bloomers
somewhere, but in the subdivi-
sion where I live, the azaleas are
normal bloomers, unlike mine.
At their peek, my late
bloomers are showy not the
curly double petals variety, but
they produce thick and burst-
ing bunches with protrusive
growth, almost luxurious. It is a
sea of pink owers with not one
green petal showing. Oh sure
they command attention, which
appear wanting to be noticed.
In the summer, this is a family
favorite spot for picture taking.
But as another saying goes, All
good things must come to end,
these prolic and showy ow-
ers are gone in about two weeks.
So, catch its splendor while
it lasts. Now they go back to
having normal green leaves for
one year and in time, come back
to another glorious opportunity
to show-off.
A spur of the moment ash
in my head: There is a similitude
or semblance of characteristics
between ora and humans in
terms of being late bloomers.
It was said that by nature, late
bloomers try to compensate with
what was lacking early on when
opportunity comes at a later
time, by luck or otherwise. Their
acts and activities become a bit
different from what they are nor-
mally perceived to be, thus, odd
behavior. This was what a pro-
fessor in Psychology at a univer-
sity where I worked before told
me. Of course, she was referring
to human behavior. She added
that being depraved of attention,
opportunities or anything that
boost the morale of a person will
surface in later years in form of a
rebound, rebellion or sometimes
disregard for standard behavior.
Some are subtle, but some are
more brazen and acted in impu-
dent manner. In other cases, the
transformations are focused on
more acceptable actions to com-
pensate for the unfortunate lack
in the past. The latter are made
of stronger bers in their bodies.
Going back to my late
bloomer azaleas, based on my
observation, they have mani-
fested a surfeit show of abun-
dance with excessive growth,
probably because they have
waited so long to nally show
what theyve got. Why did they
not bloom early on? Why are
they a little different in repro-
duction from the others of their
kind? These are just a couple of
basic questions I wanted to ask
the ower consultants at the local
commercial gardens. But, dont
take me wrong, I am not com-
plaining about this explosion of
luscious beauty. They denitely
added colors and vibrancy to
our front yard even in short two
weeks in summer.
Recalling my casual conver-
sation with that 501 Psychology
professor after her presentation
on higher psychology, cemented
my claim that there is a simile
in characteristics between ora
and humans, overt or incog-
nito. Our informal conversation
touched on the more basic topic
on why people act as they do.
She said that it is challenging
to really understand the behav-
ior of people in a workplace or
everyday life. It is complicated
and challenging. Each one has a
unique personality, past expe-
riences, upbringing, education
and genes. Psychology has been
fascinating to me. Had I not
taken a Masters degree in Educa-
tion, I could have pursued Psy-
chology.
The professor had cited
examples of odd as well as
normal behaviors of late bloom-
ers. Now they are coming back to
me. I see real persons around and
sure some of them exhibit, true
to what were cited, odd behav-
iors. Lucky are the people who
grew up in normal environment,
receiving proper guidance from
parents, well grounded families,
normal acceptance in school,
with peers, friends and others;
having opportunities to be a part
of groups, gatherings and events,
and getting proper recognition
for given talents, achievements
and successes. Only professional
psychologists, psychiatrists or
even ordinary persons with very
keen sense of observation will be
able to tell who these people are
with recognizable odd behav-
iors. Some are manifested with
pretentious and aggrandize
manners to cover up with the
hidden deciencies and wants
in early life. Others are subtle
and creative in approaches. The
professor also told me of some
others who are just quietly posi-
tioning themselves. Truthfully,
many of us exhibit quirk and
unique behaviors, but they are
different from the real point of
observations here.
My hypothesis on the topic
may be awed, but I will still
consult with a professional hor-
ticulturist about cultivation of
this particular owering plant.
On the other hand, of course,
I dont expect him to give me
some insights on connecting
cultivation with the human psy-
chology regarding late bloom-
ers. My husband, as in the past,
has asked me about the topic I
was writing on. As usual I told
him. He retorted: Why do you
choose topics which are chal-
lenging to write about? Pati ba
naman yung pag-bubulaklak ng
azaleas ay may comparison pa sa
tao? I chose not to answer. I had
enough justication for the day.
Ole Ole Ole Ole A
Soccer Moms Refrain
L
ola, I had ELEVEN
goals! No, you didnt!
YES I DID. You
werent there! My younger
grandson was incensed. I
believed in his claim but his older
brother was skeptical especially
because he could only boast of
one goal that same afternoon.
This exchange between
them brought me back to my
years as a soccer mom. My son
was also an enthusiastic soccer
player when he started playing
futbol two decades ago. At one
game, Monching scored more
than 9 goals. The referee stopped
counting after goal number 10.
One of his early coaches
approached me, pointed at my
son, and said, I am condent
I will see him play long after
this peewee stage. And he was
right. Ramon went on to become
the co-captain of his high school
varsity soccer team at Gonzaga.
But Im getting ahead of my
story.
My three children are
spaced years apart. There is a
nine-year difference between
the oldest and the youngest. My
daughters did ballet and cheer-
leading. I had more than enough
tutus and cheerleading uniforms
to ll several closets. By the time
my son was ready for his after-
school activities, I was ready to
embrace male-oriented sports.
He was a growing boy with
an unbelievable stamina. We
looked for an avenue to channel
that energy. He tried basketball
and handled the ball with ease
but his medium height made
him a bench warmer, asked to
play only when it would have
appeared petty and spiteful not
to. Baseball didnt interest him.
When we introduced him to
soccer we immediately knew
it was going to be a good t for
him.
Our two daughters contin-
ued their ballet lessons. And their
cheerleading. Piano lessons were
added at some point. Sometimes
the practices for the three of them
occurred at the same time and
at opposite ends of the county.
I became an expert logistician,
able to plan a weeks worth of
conicting schedules with an
almost computer-like efciency.
But last minute changes made
me cross-eyed with vexation.
I was logging about 100
miles per day, and had to ll up
the gas tank three times a week
at minimum. Lucky for me gaso-
line prices were way below the
dollar per gallon mark at the
time. Nevertheless, a quarter of
our budget went to the tank.
Monching showed an
uncommon talent for spatial
judgment, able to visualize the
needs on the eld. That spatial
acumen was a source of both
pride and frustration. He des-
perately wanted to be placed
as a center or a striker. Those
players received the most praise
and attention. But he was most
effective as a stopper, the nal
defender before the goalie. He
barked commands which his
teammates followed.
I will never forget the rst
time I learned what offside
meant. It was at a particularly
partisan game between his
Junior Varsity team a nd a peren-
nial opponent. You see I could
not bear to watch his games. I
was too nervous to stay seated
without embarrassing my family
with screams betting a shrew
or worse, a banshee. So at every
game I paced behind a wall of
spectators until the nal whistle.
That day I decided to play
grown-up and vowed to sit
through the entire game. When
I saw Monching step back and
ordered his teammates to do the
same, I was lled with panic. A
boy from the other team raced to
the goalie with purpose. What
are you doing?! I screamed and
was about to rise. Just as quickly
the momentum was halted by a
loud whistle.
I felt a hand tap me from
behind. One of the fathers
walked me through the mechan-
ics of an offside and how my
son used it to our advantage.
Since my husband worked
on Saturdays as well, chauffeur-
ing the kids to their weekend
meets was left to me. Monching
team belonged to the top travel
soccer group. Most of their tour-
naments required driving long
hours along the south-eastern
seaboard. That was before GPS
was invented. I was both driver
and navigator. I planned routes
and wrote them by hand.
Continued on page 31
July 16-31, 2014 29
Editorial
DC 2nd drunkest in US
N
o, this report did not come from
any of the Tsismosos in the Dis-
trict of Columbia. DC, as every-
one knows, is the seat of government, the
hotbed of uncompromising politicians.
This probably explains why DC is ranked
second to New Hampshire as the drunk-
est state of the Union! Perhaps politicians,
unable to reach a compromise, spend
most of their time in bars. As expected,
Utah came out as the state with the least
drunken population. This ranking is list
compiled by a group called The Street
(Kanto Boys?) in New York. It says the list
is based on statistics of the 2010 Bureau of
Census report.
In contrast, people in Maryland came
out not only as the richest and (third)
smartest in the US, they dont imbibe the
agua pataranta as much as other states.
Dumbest is West Virginia , The Street
adds.
As expected, The Street is earning
kudos from states that are painted in a
good light, and condemnation from those
who are way down the list.
Predictably, Pinoys in Maryland are
thumping their chests with their I told
you so remarks while those in Virginia
just keep their silence. Pare, said one
Pinoy to another, mali talaga ang per-
ception ninyo that we in Prince Georges
County are poor and dumb. Remember
that this is the bailiwick of the Valderrama
dynastyoops, just Valderramas Dave
and Kris.
***
The drunkest list is topped by New
Hampshire followed by DC, Nevada,
North Dakota, Wisconsin, Alaska, Mon-
tana, Vermont and South Dakota, in
descending order. Least drunkest state are
Utah as Number One followed by Arkan-
sas, Kentucky, West Virginia, Kansas,
Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio and
North Carolina.
Based on educational attainments,
the research group said the dumbest state
is Arkansas followed by West Virginia,
Mississippi, Kentucky, Louisiana, Kansas,
Alabama, Indiana, Oklahoma and Ten-
nessee in descending order. Topping the
smartest state is Massachusetts, second
is Colorado, followed by Maryland, Con-
necticut, New Jersey, Virginia, Vermont,
New York, New Hampshire and Minne-
sota.
Incidentally, many do not believe
Tsismosos report in the last issue of the
Manila Mail. Incredulous, unbeliev-
able, and hinde totoo, were among
the reactions of Pinoys to the selection of
Maryland as the richest state of the Union.
They also discount the report that Mary-
land is also among the smartest.
***
Quizzes that will determine your age
and dumbness.
Who was the US ambassador to
the Philippines when the United States
restored the independence of the Philip-
pines in 1946?
Who was the President of the United
States at that time?
When did the Japanese bomb Pearl
Harbor in Hawaii?
Who was the US general who led in
the liberation of the Philippines from the
Japanese?
Who was the Philippine president
who changed the independence day of the
Philippines from July 4th to June 12?
Who is the rst Philippine president
to be convicted by the Sandiganbayan of
plunder?
What is the full the name of the dic-
tator of the Philippines?
Who replaced him in 1986?
Who was the rst mayor of Makati
city?
Who is the predecessor of President
Benigno Noynoy Aquino?
If you got 10 correct answers, it
means you are smart even if you are old
to remember everything.
If you got 8 to 9 correct answers , you
are in 60s.
If you got 6 to 7 correct answers , you
are in the 40s.
If you got 5 correct answers, you
must be in the 30s.
If you got less than 5, you are dumb,
tanga.
(Tsismoso composed this testha,
ha, ha)
***
Heres good news for the Balikbayans
who always suffer from jet lag after vis-
iting the Philippines.
Some Filipino Americans claim that
their frequent visits to the Philippines
have turned them into short sleepers. And
they brag about it.
Well, according to researchers, Short
Sleepers need less sleep. You know those
people who claim they can get by on less
than six hours of sleep a night? ABC (no,
not the Virginia liquor stores) says a few
of them might be onto something. And
we mean a few. They never use an alarm
clock, they rarely yawn, dont need caf-
feine, and no naps.
Averting a constitutional crisis
There appears to be another crisis brewing in Manila,
and its not about the states storm response. President
Aquino, catapulted to power behind a platform of honest
government, is challenging a recent Supreme Court ruling
against his pet Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).
The fear of a constitutional crisis does not rise from the
Presidents dissent to the unanimous decision but from
the manner its been done. In a televised monologue from
Malacanang, he hurled what some saw as veiled threats
against the High Tribunal while trying to rationalize the
benets of DAP.
The Philippines borrowed heavily from the American
system of government: three co-equal branches that ensure
a divided government. Its a difcult, often unwieldy way
of running government but Americas founding fathers
correctly surmised its the only way democracy for to sur-
vive.
President Obama has vowed to maximize his executive
powers to go around the opposition-dominated House of
Representatives.
President Aquino has threatened to mobilize his
yellow army against the Supreme Court.
It is one thing for a president to question or even protest
the actions of the other branches of government, but its an
entirely different matter to publicly declare he was usurp-
ing the authority of the others, powers that were vested on
them by the Constitution.
Divided government relies heavily on the mutual
respect of one branch for all of the others. The minute that
melts down is the moment when democracy becomes truly
in peril.

Continued on page 31
July 16-31, 2014 30 30
Duty rst
H
eres a thumbs up for
the Philippine Supreme
Court. In a 13-0 decision,
the highest court declared uncon-
stitutional the Disbursement
Acceleration Program (DAP)
concocted by the administration
of Pres. Noynoy Aquino. DAP
is believed to be the creation of
the Budget Secretary Butch Abad
purportedly to jump start eco-
nomic growth using unallocated
funds from various government
agencies.
The Aquino administration
spent billions of DAP money
for projects not provided for in
congressional appropriations,
including allotments to Senators
for their designated projects. This
practice ignores the constitu-
tional authority to make budget
appropriations that belongs to
Congress.
The decision was a shocker.
After the impeachment of former
Supreme Court Justice Renato
Corona, Pres. Aquino picked the
new Chief Justice and appointed
three others. One would think
that in political cases involving
the administration, it would get
the benet of the doubt from its
appointees to the bench. To their
credit, they have demonstrated
that their independent judgment
have not succumbed to Filipino
moral value of utang na loob.
Integrity trumped loyalty. Ear-
lier, the administration also lost
when the court declared the Pri-
ority Development Assistance
Fund (PDAF) unconstitutional.
Malacanang tried to miti-
gate the political setback by
claiming that at least 91% of DAP
funds were not wasted but spent
for infrastructure and other real
project that beneted the people.
Senator Jinggoy Estrada who is
now facing plunder and graft
and corruption charges claimed
in a privilege speech that the
monies distributed for disburse-
ment to Senators supposedly for
their pet projects were intended
as reward for the impeachment
and removal of former Supreme
Court Justice Renato Corona. Is
this enough smoke to say there
is re?
There are calls for the
impeachment of Pres. Aquino
from the militant sector. The
President has taken an oath to
preserve and defend its consti-
tution and execute its laws. He
is subject to impeachment for
culpable violation of the consti-
tution. This however requires
that the wrongful act be willful or
manifest intentional disregard of
the fundamental law of the land.
Aquino is trying to hide behind
the shield of good faith and it
doesnt look like the people will
spill into the streets as there is
not even a hint that he padded
his pocket. So, Pres. PNoy can
have a sound sleep without the
sword of impeachment hanging
over his head.
My wise barber however
warns that PNoy risks impeach-
ment for in your face insult to
millions of Nora Aunor fans.
He dropped the name of the
singing idol and movie super-
star from being considered for
National Artist Award despite
being nominated by reputable
cultural organizations. This has
Speaking of
Vargas
T
he arrest last July 15 of
arguably Americas most
well-known undocu-
mented immigrant, Filipino jour-
nalist Jose Antonio Vargas, has
re-ignited debate on the urgent
need for immigration reforms.
The incident comes at a time
of mounting political pressure
on both Democrats and Republi-
cans, either to push forward with
immigration reform or try to put
it in the backburner, at least until
after the November elections.
Both groups are under tre-
mendous heat from their respec-
tive constituents, the tug from
both ends creating a situation
where theres a lot of noise but
nothing actually getting done.
Vargas, sometimes accused of
narcissism, has parlayed his pop-
ularity (or notoriety, depending
on who youre talking to) to fuel
a nascent civil rights movement
for millions of immigrants eager
to build a new life in the United
States.
The immigration debate is
undeniably one of the most divi-
sive issues in America today. The
schism is often wide and deep,
cutting through racial, genera-
tional, ideological, economic
divides. Still, it is a debate that
cant be ignored, and if recent
events are an indication, cant be
delayed.
The Republican-led House
of Representatives has report-
edly shelved the immigration
reform bill this year. Congressio-
nal districts are not arrayed in a
way that races can be inuenced
by the Latino or Asian immigrant
communities. Some pundits say
the GOP is eager not to rock their
boat, convinced they only have
to stand together to win back
Capitol Hill; tackling immigra-
tion reform before November
could fuel just enough tension to
disrupt that, they argued.
Now 2016 is an entirely
different game; they will need
to win the immigrant vote just
like what President Obama did
in past elections. The GOP will
have to woo them, mainly by
passing an immigration bill that
will be palatable both for their
conservative constituents as well
as the bulk of the immigrant
community.
Some have asked if Vargas
detention and subsequent
release was not a political stunt
to embarrass the Obama White
House and push Congress to act
on immigration reform sooner
than much later, as in, after the
November polls.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning
journalist claims ignorance about
the realities surrounding undoc-
umented people in Americas
borders. He said he discovered
this only after he had arrived
in McAllen, Texas to help draw
attention to plight of over 50,000
children from Central American
whove poured across the border
in recent months.
Whether by design or by
chance Vargas has truly become
the voice of the millions of
undocumented immigrants in
the US. Hes been elevated from
a simple poster boy to a symbol
of resistance, a rallying point for
the many in America who dont
have papers, dont have a voice
and struggling to earn their place
in this nation of immigrants.
The call for the Obama
Continued on page 31
A Family Gathers
O
n the last weekend
of July, our extended
family on my mothers
side aunts and uncles, siblings,
cousins and their children will
converge here for our biennial
Family Reunion. As hosts, Elvie
and I and cousins Celi and David
of Silver Spring, are expected to
keep about 60 adults and 20 chil-
dren properly housed and fed,
engaged and entertained, and
civil to each other.
Which means, politics and
religion are banned from con-
versations. Thats because, like
most families, we are a diverse
lot thanks to mixed marriages,
multi-cultural predispositions,
varying temperaments and other
orientations.
Family members of the
Dizon Clan - named after my
maternal grandfather, take turns
hosting these family gather-
ings - typically a long weekend
affair of heavy feasting, chatting,
kodakan or just simply fooling
around. And lots of ribbing and
remembering.
We come from all over: Cali-
fornia, Colorado, Florida, Guam,
Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri,
New York, New Jersey, North
Dakota, Ohio and the Philip-
pines.
We are four generations of
teachers, soldiers, politicians,
farmers, lawyers, ministers,
writers, social workers, nurses,
doctors, domestic workers, engi-
neers, secretaries. Aunts and
nieces have won beauty pag-
eants. Uncles endured the Bataan
Death March and served time
behind bars.
Our family history is a story
of guts and grits, glamour and
glitz, scandal and struggle.
My uncle Gil of Guimba,
Nueva Ecija, escaped the Death
March and later led a guerilla
army to ght the Japanese occu-
piers. His courageous and daring
raids of enemy-controlled rice
granaries earned him notorious
fame as the Filipino Robin Hood.
They called him Tapok (dust)
because thats all his enemy
pursuers would nd when they
thought theyve cornered him.
A cloud of dust. My uncle Gil
became mayor of our town for
many years, trading his horse
for a fancy car, always moving
about with heavily-armed body
guards. But he was more of a
warrior than a politician. He
served the last years of his short
life (he died at 45) serving time
in Muntinglupa, the notorious
national jail known for its violent
prisoners. He was charged with
murdering his political oppo-
nent. He remains a legend in our
town.
My great grandmother -
Lola Lelang - was the mistress of
the Spanish Governor-General of
Abra. And so Ive learned from
my aunts who were research-
ing our family history. She was
a burlesque artist entertaining
the elite class of Abra when she
caught the eye of the Spaniard
who apparently admired her
beauty, singing voice and danc-
ing gure. Im imagining all
this now: they had a tempestu-
ous affair, a love child followed
another and another and thats
how the Dizon clan started. I
can see Lola Lelang in my sister
Mimi and in my aunts, uncles,
cousins, nephews and nieces
who are all talented musicians,
dancers and artists. Sometimes
we kid ourselves: we may be
bastard children but thank God
to Lola Lelang for passing on
good genes.
I always look forward to
these reunions for stories about
ancestors -- especially their
secrets, their sins and scandals.
I like to know them as human
beings, not only for their heroic
deeds but for their extraordinary
blunders and fatal aws. My
mother may have been a saint,
in the memory of relatives who
knew this patient, acquiescent
and God-fearing woman. But to
be sure, she was far from perfect.
Her brother may have been a
corrupt cop who was abusive to
his wife, but Im sure there was
some redeeming grace some-
where.
Today, the oldest survivor
is Aunt Adela, who is 98. The
youngest are 6-month-old twins,
grandsons of cousin Linda of
West Orange, NJ. Born to a Cau-
casian-American mother and a
Filipino-American father, the
twins are the typical mixed up
kids among the third and fourth
generation of Dizons - thanks to
inter-racial and inter-ethnic mar-
riages. Were now a family of
Asians, Germans, African Amer-
icans, Hispanics and Caucasians
- in addition to being Ilocanos,
Tagalogs and Cebuanos.
When American missionar-
ies came to the Philippines in the
1920s, the Methodist Denomina-
tion was assigned to evangelize a
Continued on page 31 Continued on page 31
Opinion
July 16-31, 2014 31
ignited a word war in the inter-
net and legions of Noranians are
up in arms. My wise barber fur-
ther warns that Filipinos can tol-
erate energy shortages but will
impeach a President for failure
to solve the garlic shortage that
has deprived Pinoys of their fun-
damental right to cook paksiw.
***
Here a recent report from
Manila of a possible miracle. The
Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the
Port of Clark had in its custody
156 drums of seized diesel fuel.
Sometime ago, it discovered that
some of the drums had their con-
tents substituted with water. The
BOC then changed location of
the storage. Then it was discov-
ered again that more drums were
relled with water. Another
change in storage arrangements
did not stop more drums from
being relled with water. Of the
156 drums, 135 turned diesel into
water.
When somebody turns
water into wine, it must be a
miracle. When somebody turns
diesel fuel into water, it must
be theft. Given ample warning
of the initial pilferage, the BOC
still could not see things hap-
pening under their noses. Thats
what happens when the foxes
are tasked with guarding the hen
house.
***
Golf tidbits: Week 1 Juliets
Romeo rechristened as JR hit
the jackpot with Mr. T play-
ing second ddle. Visiting King
George, King Arthur, Eveready
Freddie, Englebert H and Kilabot
settled for fried wings and
salami. Week 2- Englebert H took
the honors with JR sharing the
bounty. The rest donated to char-
ity, including Don Alex. Week 3-
Mr. T took collected enough with
Englebert H to serve everybody
fried wings. Eveready Fred-
die could have earned bragging
rights but he refused Mr. Ts
offer of one stroke. Henceforth
he will be called The Alamo for
his never say die spirit. The orig-
inal Kilabot blew into town. He
gave and he received.
As for my godfather, he
provided me insurance from
loss in week 1, but then he asked
for refund of the premium next
game. Then he became generous
again but drew even in the last
game.
administration to deport him
back to the Philippines will
surely get louder, just as the
clamor for him to continue the
ght on US soil. Vargas has
stirred up passions that can only
heat up for as long as Congress
continues ignores the urgent
need to x the countrys broken
immigration system.
While I may not agree with
everything he says, there is no
denying the need for reforms.
And you cant help but admire
his passion, zeal and courage.
There is no doubt he will
continue to speak and act force-
fully and probably with great
creativity, in the weeks and
months ahead to press his case.
He has received a summons to
appear before an immigration
judge. Vargas is a man who
never misses a platform for
espousing the rights and vision
for Americas undocumented
immigrants.
Vargas has entered a peril-
ous chapter in the struggle for
immigrant rights. More than
ever, he needs the protection of
all decent, open-minded Ameri-
cans, even those who may dis-
agree with him; to keep his voice
alive and strong because more
than being a nation of immi-
grants, Americas strength has
always been nestled in its free-
doms and its ability to change in
peace.
Speaking of Vargas... from page 30 Duty first... from page 30
portion of Central Luzon, which
included Guimba. With the coun-
trys educational system run by
the Americans, my grandparents
and their children - including
my own parents - were trained
in the precepts of U.S. education
and the spiritual traditions of the
United Methodist (UM) Church.
This explains why my parents,
aunts and uncles all came to the
U.S. to study under UM scholar-
ships. Many of us remain faithful
Methodists to this day.
They rst came as students
in the 1950s. My parents, aunts
and uncles went to religious-
afliated schools in Missouri.
Their children followed. By 1965,
with the passage of the landmark
immigration reform bill, many in
our clan - including myself and
my siblings - all came to the U.S.
to study or to work as teachers
and nurses, later applying for
permanent residency and subse-
quently taking the oath as natu-
ralized American citizens. With
marriages and intermarriages,
families grew, and grew. Today,
all four generations of Dizons
and their relatives number close
to 200.
Like most immigrants,
we came to the U.S. for higher
education, for employment and
for a better life for our families.
Despite the differences in our
political outlook (a majority in
our clan identify themselves as
conservatives and Republicans),
our strong family bond has kept
our relationships alive all these
years.
For this years reunion, we
are going to do something dif-
ferent from previous gatherings.
Well pitch a huge tent in my
cousins backyard and spend
three days in July lling a shared
space with our songs and stories,
enchanted and enlivened by the
spirit of our Lola Lelang.
Send your comments to
jdmelegrito@gmail.com
newspaper before it is printed. If
you are living in the Fairfax, Vir-
ginia area, it would probably be
feasible.
The editorial staff of the
Manila Mail are all volunteers.
Some are working and at the
same time helping write and
edit the newspaper in their spare
time. The rest are retired Filipino
American journalists from the
Philippines.
THE EDITORS
(The Manila Mail has been
bombarded by press releases
from both the White House and
the Republican National Com-
mittee. From time to time we will
published some select releases
from these two entities- The Edi-
tors)
Worst President
Sir:
Good morning, President
Obamas approval ratings con-
tinue to fall. The economy has
not improved under the Obama
Administration, and all of us
deserve better. Asian Americans
and Pacic Islanders (AAPIs)
will not support 2014 Demo-
cratic Senate candidates because
of their support for Obamas
failing policies, such as Obam-
aCare. The Democrats continue
to be in disarray, and AAPIs will
shy away from Democrats in the
upcoming election.
A new Tumblr post by the
RNC Research Department
shows that voters are giving
Obama poor ratings across the
board. Some of the highlights
include:
53 Percent Of Voters Dis-
approve Of Obamas Han-
dling Of His Job As President,
Compared To 40 Percent Who
Approve. (Quinnipiac Poll, 1446
RV, MoE 2.6%, 6/24-30/14)
55 Percent Of Voters Disap-
prove Of Obamas Handling Of
The Economy, Compared To 40
Percent Who Approve. (Quin-
nipiac Poll, 1446 RV, MoE 2.6%,
6/24-30/14)
o 77 Percent Of Voters
Describe The State Of The
Economy As Not So Good Or
Poor, While Just 23 Percent
Describe It As Good Or Excel-
lent. (Quinnipiac Poll, 1446 RV,
MoE 2.6%, 6/24-30/14)
o 74 Percent Of Voters
Think The Economy Is Staying
The Same Or Getting Worse,
While Just 26 Percent Say It Is
Getting Better. (Quinnipiac
Poll, 1446 RV, MoE 2.6%, 6/24-
30/14)
Check out the following
articles:
Politico: Poll: Obama worst
president since WWII
Business Insider: POLL:
Obama Worst Modern-Day Pres-
ident
Quinnipiac University:
Obama Is First As Worst Presi-
dent Since WWII, More Voters
Say Romney Would Have Been
Better
Many Asian Americans and
Pacic Islanders have already
started feeling the negative
effects of ObamaCare.
NINA FETALVO
RNC Communications
Research
Letters to the Editor... from page 25
Some of the tournaments
required overnight stays. Those
were particularly trying. I dis-
liked rooming in with other
people. I insisted on separate
accommodations which was
expensive.
I came to hate penalty kicks
or shoot outs with a passion at
one of those away games. I
saw my son miss as he drove the
ball to the upper right corner and
saw it bounce away as it hit the
bar. The drive home was agoniz-
ing.
When Monching became the
co-captain at Gonzaga, we saw
how he matured. He developed
a condence so endearing to our
heart. He developed a swagger,
a mojo.
It was with deep regret
when we declined an offer from
the coach to have Monching
try out for a soccer scholarship.
Buddy, you go to college to
learn and earn a degree, not to
play.
Reports so-called short
sleepers make up a very small
percentage of the population.
If you think youre one, youre
probably kidding yourself. ...
With just ve or six hours sleep,
theyre more energized than reg-
ular sleepers.
And less sleep isnt hurting
these short sleepers.
All day long they are very
active. They are very optimistic.
They are go-getters.
A husband-and-wife team
of scientists at the University
of California, San Francisco, is
studying the genetics of sleep
and short sleepers.
Dr. Ying-Hui Fu has discov-
ered less than 1 percent of the
population is biologically capa-
ble of comfortably running on
six hours of sleep or less.
And biologically capable
is the catch - its a genetic muta-
tion. Its largely genetic, thats
what researchers are nding.
According to CNN, Fus lab
has only found 20 to 30 people
with the genetic mutation that
allows them to get by on less
sleep. Fu told CNN: Its hard to
tell how frequent this mutation
is.
But with time and research,
there might one day be a drug
that changes the circadian
rhythm, or internal clock, that
controls sleep.
But the most interesting part
of the research which is making
frequent Filiino balikbayans sit
up and take notice is the Circa-
dian rhythms.
Dr. Fu told The Wall Street
Journal he hopes to begin test-
ing drugs that will alter cir-
cadian rhythms. These drugs
might eventually treat jet lag
and enhance chemotherapy
treatments. Fu hopes to nd a
drug thats better than caffeine
at reducing the amount of sleep
needed.
Washington Tisimis... from page 29
A Family Gathers... from page 30
Ole Ole Ole Ole... from page 28
image was that of a macho guy.
But of course we all know how
he chose to handle his situation
then.
And so here we are today.
You are at the same juncture in
your political and actual life, at
a crossroads where life or death
decisions have to be made.
Time in jail is now a cer-
tainty for you. The length of
that stay depends on whether
bail will be granted to you, on
whether your wish to be spared
jail time based on your age will
be granted, or on whether you
will eventually be found guilty
or not. But, initially, it appears
you cannot escape some time
behind bars.
And we come to my humble
thought that I wanted to share
with you.
Salvador Allendes stir-
ring image of guts and glory is
again vivid in ones mind. There
was a real man, one has to say
in admiration. He chose death
over escape, the nal sacrice
over surrender, taking his own
life over living in shame and bur-
dened by public ridicule.
I have no doubt sir that
these images and thoughts have
gnawed at your mind. Im not
wishing you to make the nal
sacrice sir. Im only hoping you
will not beg the government to
spare you jail time. Because if
you do, it would disappoint your
admirers. And even me, a non-
admirer.
Open letter to Sen. Enrile... from page 27
July 16-31, 2014 32 32