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