May 15, 2013 1

Vol. XXII, No. 13 Online: www. manilamail.us May 15, 2013

Filam doctor in
Time mag P4
4 UN peacekeepers
held P6
Imelda campaigns
again P8
Mayon kills
4 tourists P9
Richmond esta
pictorial P16
WASHINGTON D.C. -
Newly-conrmed U.S. Secretary
of the Interior Sally Jewell on
May 9 underscored the impor-
tance of recognizing Asian
Americans and Pacic Island-
ers contributions to the United
States rich heritage.
Jewell also lauded the
efforts of the Smithsonian which
launched on May 1st the exhibit
I Want the Wide American
Earth to commemorate and
interpret Asian-American and
Pacic Islander (AAPI) culture
and history.
Jewell said that the National
Park Service would also tell a
more complete story of the con-
tribution of Asian Americans to
the United States.
Asian Americans and
Pacic Islanders have long been
leaders in every aspect of our
social fabric, in government,
business, science, medicine, the
arts, education and our armed
forces, Jewell said.
From Angel Island, where
more than 1 million Asian immi-
grants arrived on these shores,
to the Chinese immigrants who
helped build the railroads across
the country, to the Japanese
American internment camps of
World War II, these stories are
PNoys reform program
rests on poll results
MANILA - President
Benigno S. Aquino III is bank-
ing on his partys Senate victory
in the Nov. 13 mid-term election
to transform Philippine society
with deadly violence, corrup-
tion, and nepotism posing famil-
iar threats.
More than 18,000 positions
will be contested in the mid-term
elections -- from the town level
up to the nations Congress --
and Aquino is banking on land-
slide wins for his allies to cement
his reform agenda.
The president needs to be
able to have a strong coalition
in both houses of Congress to
be able to push through critical
measures, Budget Secretary
and ruling Liberal Party power-
broker Florencio Abad told AFP.
The opposition party UNA
led by Vice President Jejomar
Binay is also hoping to win at
least 5 of the 12 Senate slots that
are up for grabs.
ICE probes 2
trafcking
victims
WASHINGTON D.C. -
Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) investigators
are continuing the probe of the
two Filipino women who were
rescued fromalleged victims
of human trafckingrescued
last week from a Virginia home
by United States authorities
are in good condition as they
FilAm bride, 4 others
die in CA Limo re
SAN FRANCISCO - A Fili-
pino American bride going out
on a bachelorette party with
friends died after their limousine
caught re along the San Mateo-
Hayward bridge in Foster city on
the evening of May 4.
The bride, Neriza Fojas, 31,
a nurse from Fresno, and four
other fellow nurses perished
while four others and the driver
were able to scamper out of the
blazing limo.
Fojas was the guest of the
nurses after she had a civil wed-
Continued on page 22
Continued on page 22
Continued on page 21
GOPs use border security
to block immigration bill
WASHINGTON D.C. -
Despite initial bipartisan sup-
port, a number of Republican
senators are using border secu-
rity as an excuse to block further
deliberations on the comprehen-
sive immigration reform bill.
They want to delay imple-
mentation of the provisions of
the bill, called The Border Secu-
rity, Economic Opportunity and
Immigration Modernization
Act of 2013, until the Obama
administration could prove they
had fully secured the southern
border with Mexico against fur-
ther illegal entry.
While the move to link it to
border security was defeated by
Democratic majority during the
rst formal debate in the Senate
judiciary committee last week,
The Republicans warned the
issue would become a sticking
point in the House of Represen-
tatives.
The bill now faces a long,
gruelling ght in committee,
according observers on Capitol
Continued on page 21
President Obama meets with Asian American Pacic Islanders leader in
White House to discuss immigration and other topics.
Photo shows the entrance to the Smithsonian exhibit titled I Want the Wide
American Earth.
Continued on page 22
Michelle Estrera and Neriza Fojas
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally
Jewell
May 15, 2013 22
Despite sequestration, US hikes aid to PH
By Lito Katigbak
WASHINGTON - The US
State Department has allocated
over $178 million in foreign
assistance to the Philippines in its
budget for scal year 2014, some
$32 million more than what was
actually provided in FY 2012.
(This came as reports from
Manila say the US is refusing to
pay $1.4-million as damage to
the Tubbataha reefs when a US
minesweeper ran agrond there
last month. Latest reports said
UNESCO is snding experts to
determine how much it would
cost to repair the damage on the
reef.)
Secretary of State John Kerry
in the budget presented to
Congress said the depart-
ments total request of $47.8 bil-
lion strikes the balance between
scal discipline and sustaining
and advancing Americas global
leadership and is six percent less
than in FY 2012.
From Manila to Bogota
to Nairobi, our diplomats and
development experts are doing
more than ever to keep America
safe and prosperous and doing it
with fewer resources, he said.
We have proposed nec-
essary cuts, where it will not
adversely affect our national
security, and we propose modest
increases, where they are neces-
sary to achieve our highest pri-
orities, Kerry said in his budget
request submitted to Congress
on April 10.
(During his meeting with
Philippine Foreign Secretary
Albert del Rosario in Wash-
ington D.C. April 3, Kerry had
assured him that the US will pay
for the damage. The increase in
foreign aid may include the esti-
mated damage following Manila
reports the US will pay in king.)
FY 2014 is from Oct. 1, 2013
through Sept. 30, 2014.
Increased assistance to
the Philippines comes despite
across-the-board federal spend-
ing cuts to reduce US debt,
known as budget sequestration.
FY 2014 allocations for spe-
cic programs in the Philippines
(FY 2012 actual disbursements in
brackets) are:
Foreign Military Financ-
ing $50M ($27M) International
Military Education and Train-
ing $1.7M ($1.95M); Interna-
tional Narcotics Control and
Law Enforcement $8M ($2.45M);
Development Assistance $87.6M
($81M); Global Health Programs
USAid $31.5M ($33.8). The $8
million INCLE funding will sup-
port police training and infra-
structure development in the
southern Philippines to shore
up internal stability and build
police investigative capacity in
the wake of the Philippine mili-
tarys withdrawal, the budget
notes explained.
The INCLE funding will also
support leadership development
in the judiciary and prosecutors
ofces and add a greater focus
on anti-corruption assistance.
May 15, 2013 3
Anti-Pinoy grafti erupts in Alvarado, CA town
UNION CITY - Police
are investigating the anti-Fil-
ipino hate grafti sprayed on
FilAm establishments in the
old Alvardo neighborshood in
Union City, California.
This grafti emerged during
the rst week of this month
weeks after the local school
board decided on a controver-
sial renaming of the Alvarado
Middle School to honor two Fili-
pino labor leaders Philip Vera
Cruz and Larry Itliong.
Police said it appeared a
single vandal struck the Old
Alvarado neighborhood over
the weekend. Targeted were the
Toppings Too restaurant, the Fil-
ipino Advocates for Justice ofce
and the Filipino Community of
Alvarado and Vicinity building,
which houses various ofces
including the Union City Cham-
ber of Commerce.
The pieces of grafti appear
to be written in the same hand-
writing.
According to the Union City
Police Department, the suspect
painted anti-Filipino messages,
and police are investigating the
case as a hate crime.
Grafti that incenses any
group by race constitutes a hate
crime, said Cmdr. Ben Horner
of the UCPD.
According to Horner, a hate
crime is a felony and could be
punished with civil nes and
prison terms, depending on how
much vandalism occurs.
Though the identity of the
perpetrator is unknown, the
grafti appears to name two
ethnic groups.
On the Filipino Commu-
nity building, located at 3939
Smith St., the vandal crossed
out Filipino and wrote Mex
above the word community,
with f--- Filipinos underneath.
Similarly, the grafti scrawled
on Toppings read Mex and
f---- Filipinos on one side of the
restaurants entrance door with
AMS on the other, suggest-
ing possible tensions after the
renaming of Alvarado Middle
School after Filipino-American
labor leaders Larry Itliong and
Philip Veracruz.
Members of the Filipino-
American community were sad-
dened to see such divisive mes-
sages in the community.
Tracie Noriega, a member of
the New Haven Pilipino Ameri-
can Society for Education, said in
a statement that the acts of van-
dalism are extremely disheart-
ening.
It is also disheartening that
the vandalism is claimed by and
against two ethnic groups that
have roots in very similar expe-
riences, Noriega added. The
formation of the United Farm
Workers Union was grounded
in inter-ethnic solidarity to ght
oppression. It was in the spirit of
unication that the Mexican and
Filipino Farm Workers struck
together for better working con-
ditions. As a Filipino-American
Community, we continue to
stand with all of our neighbors
in peace and unity.
Christopher Cara of the
Filipino Advocates for Justice
echoed similar sentiments. The
best thing we can do is move for-
ward in the spirit of building,
he said.
The Union City Police
Department is urging anyone
with information to come for-
ward.
The campaign to rename the Alvarado Middle School last month has led to
a racial backlash.
May 15, 2013 44
Filam woman among Time mags top 100
NEW YORK - It was not
only Philippine President
Benigno S. Aquiono III who was
selected by Time magazine as the
top 100 Most Inuential People
of 2013. Dr. Katherine Ruiz de
Luzuriaga. a Filipino American
scientist, was also picked by
the magazine (April 29 issue)
for being the leader of a team
responsible for nding a cure for
HIV/AIDS in children, a medical
breakthrough.
A pediatric allergist,
immunologist and professor
at the University of Massachu-
setts, Luzuriaga revealed that
the unidentied girl was born
HIV-positive to a mother who
received no pre-natal care and
was not diagnosed as HIV-
positive herself until just before
delivery.
The baby was immediately
given treatment after birth. Two
years later, the toddler was
found to have no virus in her
blood, even after her mother
stopped giving her treatment for
8 to 10 months.
The nding may help pave
the way to eliminating HIV
infection in children. Luzuriaga
headed a team of laboratory
investigators on the discovery.
Johns Hopkins Childrens Center
virologist Deborah Persaud, MD,
was lead author on the report,
and pediatric HIV specialist
Hannah Gay, MD, associate pro-
fessor of pediatrics at the Uni-
versity of Mississippi Medical
Center, provided treatment for
the baby.
For the astounding work of
effectively curing a child with
HIV/AIDS, Luzuriaga (along
with Drs. Gay and Persaud) was
named among Time Magazines
top 100.
We consider this a great
achievement, Luzuriaga, speak-
ing for her team, told The
FilAm, an online magazine.
Were very honored and actu-
ally very humbled to be among
the ranks of these individuals
that have been chosen.
Now on its 10th year, Times
annual list recognizes the activ-
ism, innovation and achieve-
ment of the worlds most inu-
ential individuals.
The director of the Univer-
sity of Massachusets Center for
Clinical and Translational Sci-
ence, Luzuriaga has been at the
forefront of pediatric HIV/AIDS
research for over 20 years.
Dr. Luzuriaga received her
Bachelor of Science and Mas-
ters of Science degrees from the
Massachusetts Institute of Tech-
nology (MIT) and her medical
degree from the Tufts University
School of Medicine.
A board-certied physi-
cian in General Pediatrics and
Pediatric Infectious Diseases,
Luzuriaga completed her intern-
ship and residency in pediatrics
at the Boston Floating Hospital
for Infants and Children of Tufts-
New England Medical Center
and her post-graduate training
with a research fellowship in
Infectious Disease at the Univer-
sity of Massachusetts Medical
Center,
Dr. Luzuriaga joined the
University of Massachusetts
Medical Center (UMMS) faculty
in 1990, and is currently Profes-
sor of Pediatrics and Molecular
Medicine and Chief of the Divi-
sion of Pediatric Immunology,
Infectious Diseases, and Rheu-
matology.
She has held several lead-
ership positions within the
National Institutes of Health-
sponsored Pediatric AIDS Clini-
cal Trials Group and is a member
of the Ghent Group on HIV in
Women and Children.
Filipinos remains second to Chinese in US
WASHINGTON D.C. -The
Census Bureau says the 3.4-mil-
lion Filipinos remain second to
the 4-million Chinese, excluding
Taiwanese, immigrants in the
United States as of 2011. This is
followed by Asian Indians with
3.2 million, Vietnamese 1.9 mil-
lion, Koreans 1.7 million and
Japanese 1.2 million. About 57
percent of the total population of
Hawaii are Asians.
The Asian population
notched a 46 percent growth
between the 2000 and 2010 cen-
suses which was more than any
other major race.
The median household
income for the Asian along pop-
ulation was $67,885 in 2011. This,
however, differed greatly among
Asian groups. For example,
Asian Indians median income
in 2011 was $92,418 against Ban-
gladeshis $45,185. The poverty
rate for Asians was 12.8 percent
while 15.4 percent of single race
Asians without health insurance
overage in 2011 was 15.4 percent.
On education, 50 percent of
Asian 25 and older had a bach-
elors or higher level of educa-
tion compared to 28.5 percent
for all Americans of the same age
levels.
The percentage of the Asian
alone population 25 and older
who had at least a high school
diploma was 85.1 percent. This
is not statistically different from
the percentage for the total
population or the percentage of
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacic
Islander alone, 86 and 85 per-
cent, respectively. The percent-
age of Asians on the same age
level with a graduate or profes-
sional degree was 20.7 percent
compared to 10.6 percent for all
Americans.
But in voting, there were
only 589,000 additional number
of the Asian alone population
who voted in the 2008 presi-
dential election than in the 2004
election. All in all, 48 percent of
Asians turned out to vote in 2008
- up 4 percentage points from
2004. A total of 3.4 million Asians
voted.
The number of businesses
owned by Asians rose to 1.5 mil-
lion, an increase of 40.4 percent
from 2002. Total receipts also
rose by $506 billion, up 54.9 per-
cent from 2002.
But 44.7 percent of the
Asian-owned businesses were
in repair and maintenance, per-
sonal and laundry services; pro-
fessional, scientic and technical
services; and retail trade in 2007.
Percentage of businesses
in Hawaii owned by people
of Asian descent was 47.2. It
was 14.9 percent in California
and 10.1 percent in New York.
California had the most Asian-
owned rms at 508,969 (32.8 per-
cent of all such rms), followed
by New York with 196,825 (12.7
percent) and Texas with 114,297
(7.4 percent).
There were 264,695 Asian
military veterans in 2011 with
about one in three was 65 and
older.
The proportion of civilian
employed single-race Asians
16 and older who worked in
management, business, science
and arts occupations, such as
nancial managers, engineers,
teachers and registered nurses
in 2011 was 48.5 percent. Addi-
tionally, 17.4 percent worked in
service occupations, 21.1 percent
in sales and ofce occupations,
9.6 percent in production, trans-
portation and material moving
occupations and 3.3 percent in
natural resources, construction
and maintenance occupations.
Percentage of Asians in 2009
living in a household with Inter-
net use was 80 percent, the high-
est rate among race and ethnic
groups.
The median age distribution
of Asians alone or in combina-
tion population in 2011 was 33.5.
The corresponding gure was
37.3 years for the population as
a whole.
Cuisia presses US to heed FilVets plea for benefits
WASHINGTON, D.C.-The
Philippine Embassy on MY 6
urged the White House and the
United States Army to listen
to the appeal of close to 25,000
ageing Filipino veterans who
have been denied recognition for
their service during World War
II.
Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia,
Jr. made the appeal on behalf
of the 24,385 Filipino veterans
in a statement on Monday, the
71st anniversary of the Fall of
Corregidor-the island-fortress
guarding Manila Bay where Fili-
pino and American troops made
a nal stand against invading
Japanese forces.
More than anything else,
let us not forget those Filipino
soldiers who fought under the
US ag, side-by-side, shoulder-
to-shoulder with their American
comrades and who up to this
day continue to ght for the rec-
ognition and benets due them
for their service to America,
Ambassador Cuisia said.
According to Ambassador
Cuisia, those denied recogni-
tion comprise 56 percent of the
43,083 surviving veterans who
led claims under the Filipino
Veterans Compensation Fund
approved by President Barack
Obama in 2009.
The Fund, which was part
of the America Recovery and
Reinvestment Act, grants a one-
time lump sum of $15,000 for
veterans who have become US
citizens and $9,000 for those who
retained their Philippine citizen-
ship.
Today, I call upon the US
Army and the White House to
honor our World War II veter-
ans by according them due rec-
ognition by revisiting the certi-
cation process with the end in
view of including other sources
of records, Ambassador Cuisia
said.
Retired Maj. Gen. Deln
Lorenzana, head of the Embas-
sys Ofce of Veterans Affairs,
said the recognition issue
stemmed from the implementing
guidelines issued by the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs in 2011
requiring veterans to present cer-
tication from the National Per-
sonnel Records Center that their
names appear in both the Roster
of Troops and the Discharge List
prepared by the US Army at the
end of the war.
The claims of many of
our veterans were disapproved
because their names appear
only in one list or the other but
not both, General Lorenzana
explained. What the Embassy
would like the US government to
do is to allow the submission of
other ofcial documents and not
decide the fate of our veterans
based solely on the two lists.
Lorenzana lamented that
an interagency working group
created by the White House last
year to review the certication
process still has not been able to
resolve the issue. He said the US
Government has so far released
a total of $223.7 million to 18,698
Filipino veterans from the
$265-million compensation fund.
Dr. Katherine Ruiz de Luzuriaga.
Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr
May 15, 2013 5
ACFR says PH presents opportunities for US business
WASHINGTON, D.C.- The
American Committee on For-
eign Relations (ACFR) is urging
American businessmen to look
to the Philippines for 21st cen-
tury opportunity.
Jack Bierley, president of
ACFR, made the statement after
hearing Philippine Ambassa-
dor Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. explain
the economic miracle that has
transformed the Philippines
from a basket case into an emerg-
ing tiger during the ACFRs
18th annual conference recently.
ACFR is a nonprot asso-
ciation established in 1938 to
facilitate debate on international
events between Washington and
the American heartland.
ACFR Adviser and Pro-
gram Director Elizabeth Colton
said Cuisias presentation on
the Philippines with all its eco-
nomic energy and dynamism
gave their members a vivid and
positive picture of the country.
Certainly, all who heard him
were inspired to want to visit the
Philippines and also to consider
doing business there, Colton
said.
In his remarks at a recep-
tion hosted by the Embassy,
Cuisia told ACFR members
the economic reform measures
President Benigno Aquino III
instituted since assuming ofce
helped make it possible for the
Philippines to become the second
fastest growing economy in Asia.
The explanation of the
present and projected economic
and political progress of the
Philippines was clear and very
understandable, said Bierley.
ACFR Adviser and Pro-
gram Director Elizabeth Colton
said Cuisias presentation on
the Philippines with all its eco-
nomic energy and dynamism
gave their members a vivid and
positive picture of the country.
Certainly, all who heard him
were inspired to want to visit the
Philippines and also to consider
doing business there, Colton
said.
According to Tim Lyons of
the Alabama Committee on For-
eign Relations, the recent invest-
ment grade rating for the Philip-
pines sovereign debt is impres-
sive. The robust prospects for
economic growth speak well
for the governments economic
management and the Philip-
pines traditional close ties to the
US makes it an important part-
ner for our increasing focus on
the Pacic Rim, he said.
Brian Robertson, Chair of
the Santa Barbara Committee on
Foreign Relations said Ambas-
sador Cuisia eloquently outlined
the dramatic improvement in the
economy and added the positive
direction of the new agreement
with the Muslims in Mindanao.
I was very excited to see a wel-
come return of the promotion of
tourism to the Philippines, said
Robertson, owner of Robertson
International Travel Company.
Houston-based lawyer Reda
Hicks, who frequently travels on
business to the Philippines, said
the rate of growth she has seen
since 2006 has been truly remark-
able.
May 15, 2013 66
Mancao wife asks Aquino to protect her husband
WASHINGTON D.C.
- Maricar Mancao, wife of
former Police Senior Supt Cesar
Mancao who lives in Florida, has
appealed to President Benigno
S. Aquino III to protest her hus-
band whose life is in danger.
Mrs. Mancao issued the
appeal through the familys
DC-based lawyer after Mancao
escaped from his National
Bureau of Investigation deten-
tion cell because he was sched-
uled to be transferred to the
Manila city jail where he said he
would be killed.
Mancao had pointed to Sen.
Panlo Lacson, who was then
chief of the Philippine National
Police as the one who ordered
the killing of public relations
agent Salvador Bubby Dacer
and his driver, Emmanuel Cor-
bito, in 2000.
The government made
him come home to tell the truth.
Now, it has abandoned and
discredited him, said lawyer
Arnedo Valera, quoting Maricar.
The government is duty-bound
to keep him safe.
Valera said Maricar sounded
very distraught when she talked
to him on the phone on May 3.
Maricar, who called Valeras law
ofce in Washington, DC, said
the family feels at a loss on
what to do next.
In Manila, meanwhile, Jus-
tice Secretary Leila de Lima
said Mancao has been deprived
of government protection fol-
lowing his escape from the NBI
detention center.
Dumlao told the media he
left the NBI detention center
because he would be killed if he
was transferred to the Manila
city jail by Lacsons men.
Mancao ed to the United
States in 2001. When Mancao
was extradited, Valera served
as his legal counsel during the
extradition hearings.
Mancao returned to the
Philippines in 2009 and offered
to serve as state witness. Valera,
who is also a family friend,
accompanied Mancao and his
family on their trip back to
Manila.
After the Court of Appeals
found Mancao unt to serve as
state witness because of incon-
sistencies in his testimony,
the Manila court hearing the
case rejected his petition to be
accepted as witness for the state.
(Mancao) came home to
tell the truth and extended an
apology to the Filipino people,
Valera said. Unfortunately, he
was discredited as a witness,
because of inuence peddling by
those in power who had some-
thing to do with the murders.
He claimed there was a
threat to his life and said he
would not surrender as long as
he felt his life was threatened.
Mancao was scheduled to be
transferred to the Manila City Jail
May 2 on orders by the Manila
City Regional Trial Court Branch
18. After his escape, Mancao told
journalists that he had learned
about a plot to move him to the
city jail and kill him there. He
said Lacson was behind the plan.
Valera urged Mancao to
surrender as he appealed to the
Aquino administration to pro-
tect Mancao and prosecute the
masterminds of these heinous
crimes.
In linking Lacson to the
Dacer-Corbito murders, Mancao
claimed that the then chief of
the Philippine National Police
ordered the hit on Dacer because
the PR agent was a erce critic of
then President Joseph Estrada.
The Department of Justice
(DOJ) brought murder charges
against Lacson in 2010, but the
senator ed the country before
the court could order his arrest.
He returned to the country in
2011 after he was cleared by the
Court of Appeals.
Banatao urges PH to put more
money on research
BOSTON-The Philippines
should pour more money into
science and technology to allow
it to improve the research and
development capability it needs
to further boost its standing as
Asias new tiger economy.
This was the gist of the key-
note speech of Filipino American
venture capitalist and technopre-
neur Diosdado Banatao at the
2nd Philippine Investment Semi-
nar which was held in Boston
recently as part of the 2nd Philip-
pine Investment Roadshow orga-
nized by the Philippine Embassy
and the Philippine Consulate
General in New York.
In his speech, Banatao,
managing partner of Tallwood
Venture Capital, argued for an
increase in the budget for science
and technology, particularly in
research and development, to
enhance the countrys capacity
for innovation.
The Philippine Govern-
ment should jumpstart invest-
ments in science and technol-
ogy to improve the countrys
competitiveness in electronics,
biotechnology, among others,
Banatao said, citing gures that
placed government spending on
science and technology at only
0.09% of the countrys GDP.
We have to make science
and technology attractive to the
next-gen of Filipinos by making
the right investments, Bana-
tao said. More students should
get into the math and science
courses.
Banatao acknowledged the
Governments interventions in
terms of scholarships and part-
nerships with the private sector.
He also strongly recommended
that Philippine Science High
Schools should be under the
Department of Education and
not the Department of Science
and Technology in order to fur-
ther strengthen science educa-
tion programs.
According to Banatao, there
is a need to encourage more
Filipino students to take engi-
neering, science and technology
courses and to produce many
doctorate degree holders in these
elds. The Philippines is faring
low compared with its neighbors
in terms of the number of PhD
graduates produced, said Bana-
tao.
To strengthen the coun-
trys competitiveness, industry
experts and analysts recommend
the establishment of science and
technology centers of excellence;
and the implementation of more
focused manpower and institu-
tional development programs,
such as the Engineering and Sci-
ence Education Program.
In addition, they recom-
mend the establishment of
regional centers of research and
development to support specic
industries and closely linked
with the science and technology
centers of excellence; and the
creation of business centers, near
the centers of excellence, which
will assist, advise and incubate
technopreneurship ventures.
Banatao is helping the
Philippines move closer to this
through Phildev, a nonprot
organization that seeks to help
the Philippines attain a sus-
tainable, long-term economic
growth, where he sits as Chair-
man. Phildevs projects in the
Philippines include those that
improve the quality education
and the provision of Internet
access to elementary and high
school students.
As an engineer, Banatao is
credited with developing several
key semiconductor technolo-
gies and is regarded as a Sili-
con Valley visionary. His Tall-
wood Venture Capital invests in
unique and hard-to-do semicon-
ductor technology solutions for
computing, communication, and
consumer platforms.
According to Ambassa-
dor Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., Banatao
took time off his busy sched-
ule to participate in the invest-
ment roadshow in Boston upon
the invitation of fellow Phildev
board member Sheila Lirio Mar-
celo, one of the more successful
Filipino-American entrepre-
neurs in the United States and
the founder of Care.com, one of
the largest and fastest growing
company in the eld of provid-
ing services used by families to
nd care-givers.
Syria rebs seize anew
4 Pinoy peacekeepers
UNITED NATIONS - Syrian
rebels said they seized four Fili-
pino peacekeepers in the Golan
Heights on May 4, the second
time in two months that UN
troops have been abducted in
the tense ceasere zone between
Syria and Israel.
The four were detained
today by the Yarmuk Martyrs
Brigade while they were patrol-
ling near Al Jamlah in the zone
between Israel and Syria, said a
UN peacekeeping spokeswoman
Josephine Guerrero.
The Philippines condemned
in the strongest possible terms
the abduction of the four Filipino
peacekeepers. The Department
of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the
Philippines underscores that the
apprehension and illegal deten-
tion of peacekeepers are gross
violations of international law.
UN ofcials, speaking on
condition of anonymity, said
there has been mounting military
activity by Syrian government
and opposition forces in recent
days in the zone patrolled by the
UN Disengagement Observer
Force (UNDOF).
In a Facebook posting, the
Yarmuk Martyrs Brigade rebel
group said they had taken the
four peacekeepers for their own
safety because of erce ghting
in the area. The rebel group also
staged the abduction in March.
The Yarmuk Martyrs Bri-
gade said it staged an opera-
tion to secure and protect United
Nations forces. The posting
showed a photograph of four
men in blue ak jackets, with
three of them marked UN and
Philippines.
Despite the two cases of
abduction in Golan Heights, the
Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) said it has no plan to with-
draw its troops in the conict-
torn area contested by Syria and
Israel.
Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan,
AFP spokesman, said the deploy-
ment of regular Filipino peace-
keeping forces is an international
commitment that could not just
be thrown away with cases of
abduction and any untoward
incident.
The fugitive Cesar Mancao dees
police and poses for photo with
crowd in fast food restaurant in
Manila.
The four Filipino UN Peacekeepers being held by Syrian rebels pose for
picture.
Diosdado Banatao
May 15, 2013 7
2 Pinays, 13 other AsianAms honored in White House rites
WASHINGTON -- Filipinas
Myrla Baldonado and Catherine
Eusebio are among 15 Asian
American and Pacic Islander
women the White House hon-
ored on Monday, May 6, for their
roles in advancing the wellbeing
of their communities and of the
nation.
These Champions of
Change were recognized in
tting ceremonies for doing
extraordinary things for their
community and the country as
part of the observance of AAPI
Heritage Month, the White
House said in a press statement.
Catherine Eusebio of Fre-
mont is being honored for her
efforts to bring more rights for
immigrant youth, particularly
the undocumented.
Catherine, who admits to
being undocumented in her
online bio, is a Social Justice
Fellow at Asian American/
Pacic Islanders in Philan-
thropy, where she manages API
Dream Summer, a component of
a national internship program
that engages partners in commu-
nity and philanthropy to support
the leadership development of
immigrant youth.
Catherine is also a board
member of the non-prot United
We Dream, which is described as
the largest network of immigrant
youth-led organizations.
In her words, the Bay Area
immigrant rights advocate said
she strives to promote change
that starts with empowering the
most impacted people to lead.
Myrla Baldonado, a house-
hold worker organizer with the
Latino Union of Chicago, is dedi-
cated to improving the work-
ing and living conditions of the
estimated 2.5 million domestic
workers in the United States.
A former caregiver herself,
she co-founded the multiracial
Chicago Coalition of Household
Workers to gain dignity and
respect for caregivers, house-
cleaners, and nannies.
She speaks nationally for
the Caring Across Generations
campaign that seeks to trans-
form care in the U.S. and she is
a worker leader of the National
Domestic Workers Alliance.
Having worked as a former
live-in caregiver for the elderly
and disabled soon after moving
the US in 2007, Myrla knows that
these domestic workers are often
prone to abuse and exploitation.
Myrla is lobbying for leg-
islation to raise the salary stan-
dard and benets for caregiver
or home health aides, includ-
ing overtime pay and vacation
leaves for live-in caregiver
The White House Press
said the May 6 event recognizes
women who are doing extraor-
dinary things to create a more
equal, safe, and prosperous
future for their communities and
the country.
Apart from Eusebio and
Baldonado, the other awardees
are: Nancy Tom from Chicago,
Minh Dang, Mia Mingus, Natalie
Nakade and Van Ton-Quinlivan
from California, Atsuko Toko
Fish and Karen Suyemoto from
Boston, Lusiana Tuga Hansen
from Alaska, Arline Loh from
Delaware, Mary Frances Oneha
from Hawaii, Shireen Zaman
from Washington, DC, Aparna
Bhattacharyya from Atlanta and
Pramila Jayapal from Washing-
ton state.
These fteen women rep-
resent the strength and diversity
of the AAPI community. These
leaders in business, advocacy,
philanthropy, sports, the arts,
and academia are wonder-
ful examples for young women
across the country, said Valerie
Jarrett, senior advisor to the
president and chair of the White
House Council on Women and
Girls.
Jarret said the Champions
of Change program was cre-
ated as an opportunity for the
White House to feature groups
of Americans - individuals, busi-
nesses and organizations - who
are doing extraordinary things to
empower and inspire members
of their communities.
As we celebrate Asian
American and Pacic Islander
Heritage Month this May, we
pay tribute to the many AAPI
women - from Bernice Pauahi
Bishop to Congresswoman Patsy
Mink to Sunita Pandya Williams
- who have shaped the story of
America, added Tina Tchen.
Photo shows 13 of the 15 recipients of the White House awards to Asian Americans.
May 15, 2013 88
SWS picks Senate election winners
MANILA - The prestigious
Social Weather Stations (SWS)
has come out with a proverbial
forecast. It predicted the winners
in the senatorial contest days
before the polls closed on May
13.
SWS said that out of 12 sen-
atorial candidates to be elected,
re-electionist Senator Loren
Legarda held on to number one
position with another reelection-
ist, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as
close second.
Legarda, Cayetano and ve
other Team PNoy candidates
dominate the top nine slots,
but Nancy Binay of the opposi-
tion United Nationalist Alliance
made a surprise showing at third
place and Joseph Victor Ejercito,
also of UNA, was ghting to stay
at 6th or seventh place with Cyn-
thia Villar of Team PNoy.
Six candidates were ghting
to ll the last three slots of the 12
Senate seats, the survey results
showed.
The pre-election survey was
made on May 2-3 with 2,400
respondents. It showed nine
probable winners form Team
PNoy and three from UNA.
Legarda, who has been a
consistent number one, has a
support level of 57 percent as
against Cayetanos 50 percent
at number two. Binay, daughter
of Vice President Jejomar Binay
who has not political experience,
shares the number three slot
with re-electionist Sen. Francis
Escudero at 48 percent support
level.
Grace Poe Llamanzares
(Independent-Team PNoy)
also made a surprise showing
at number ve with 45 percent
support level, ahead of Aqui-
lino Pimentel at number eight
and Paolo Benigno Aquino at
number nine.
The six candidates ght-
ing for the last three slots in the
magic 12 were Juan Angara,
re-electionist Sen. Antonio
Trillanes, re-electionist Sen.
Gregorio Honasan, Juan Ponce
Enrile, Ramon Magsaysay, and
Miguel Zubiri.
Legarda said in a statement
she was grateful she remained
on top despite the black pro-
paganda waged against her in
the media about her undeclared
ownership of a condominium
unit in New York and a mansion
in Forbes Park.
I thank God and I thank the
people for their continuous trust
and support to me. The result
of this latest survey gives me
renewed strength and inspira-
tion. This goes to show that Fili-
pinos will not be swayed by the
dirty tactics deployed by some to
tarnish the good name and track
record I have worked hard on,
she said.
Escudero, who dropped
to number three after being at
number two for some time, said
the result was a mere snapshot
of what people prefer during
a period of time and it could
change.
Vote-buying, violence
mar senatorial polls
MANILA - Incidents of
election-related violence and of
vote-buying continued to rise a
few days before some 50 million
voters go to the polls May 13.
The latest reports increased
to 66 incidents of election-related
violence across the country from
Jan. 13 to May 9 this year, with
shooting being the most preva-
lent. The violence has resulted
in the death of 44 people and the
wounding of 24.
In Tabuk City, Kalinga, two
soldiers were killed and ve
others were wounded after an
undetermined number of com-
munist rebels ambushed an elite
Army team tasked to secure a
team of civilians delivering pre-
cinct optical scan or vote-count-
ing machines.
In Camarines Sur, a militia-
man was killed and two soldiers
were wounded after their group
of seven soldiers and ve mili-
tiamen tasked to guard PCOS
machines were attacked by com-
munist rebels in Ragay town.
According to the National
Citizens Movement for Free
Elections (Namfrel), candidates
are offering up to P3,500 for
a single vote in Ilocos Norte,
P3,000 in neighboring Ilocos Sur,
P2,000 in Zamboanga Sibugay,
and P100 in Tawi-Tawi.
In a letter sent to the Com-
mission on Elections (Comelec)
on Thursday, Namfrel chair
Corazon de la Paz-Bernardo said
reports from the groups volun-
teers showed that vote-buying
either with cash, groceries,
and even farm implements is
expected to intensify as Election
Day nears, with some candidates
even resorting to bidding to
corner votes.
Comelec Chair Sixto Brillan-
tes Jr.s advice to voters: Take the
money and junk the candidates.
The Comelec tried to ght
vote-buying by prohibiting
bank withdrawals in excess
of P100,000 and carrying cash
worth more than P500,000, but
President Benigno Aquino III
and later the Supreme Court
rejected it.
A member of the group
Parish Pastoral Council for
Responsible Voting said they
continued to receive reports of
vote-buying.
Whats happening is that
some people go from house to
house at night asking for sig-
natures and if the household
members are willing to sell their
vote, Ana de Villa-Singson, the
groups media director, said in a
television interview.
The government had ear-
lier identied 15 high-risk areas
for the mid-term elections:
Abra, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur,
La Union, Cagayan, Pampanga,
Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Cavite,
Masbate, Samar, Misamis Occi-
dental, Maguindanao, Lanao del
Sur and Basilan.
In Tacloban City, the Arch-
diocese of Palo on Thursday
issued a pastoral letter calling
on the public to pray and to
actively participate in the May
13 elections and to refuse to sell
their vote.
Imelda campaigns for 2nd term
BATAC, Ilocos Norte -
Associated Press has described
former Philippine First Lady
Imelda Romualdez Marcos as
the Philippines Ultimate Politi-
cal Survivor.
She is back on the campaign
trail last week, dazzling voters
with her bouffant hairstyle, over-
sized jewelry and big talk in a
bid to keep her seat in Congress,
AP said.
The AP story continued:
She is widely expected to
win in Mondays congressional
polls.
Approaching 84, Ferdi-
nand Marcos widow, who
once astounded the world with
a mammoth shoe collection
amassed amid nationwide pov-
erty, is nearing the nal chapter
of her tumultuous political life.
Never showing any remorse
for her past, she has against all
odds succeeded in orchestrating
the rebirth of a political dynasty
tainted by allegations of corrup-
tion and abuse during her hus-
bands rule.
Im running for re-elec-
tion, the puffy-faced Marcos,
clad in her trademark party
gown, diamond and pearls, pro-
claimed before hundreds of vil-
lagers in Paoay town in northern
Ilocos Norte province.
Despite her reputation for
extravagance, including expen-
sive shopping trips and lavish
beautication projects in a nation
where a third of about 94 million
live on $1 a day, Marcos twice
ran unsuccessfully for president
and won seats in the House fol-
lowing her return from exile.
She is currently campaign-
ing for a second of a maximum
three terms to represent Ilocos
Norte, a vote-rich agricultural
region where many are ercely
loyal to the late dictator because
of the money he poured into
development.
After lingering until mid-
night at the town esta, Marcos
barnstormed farming villages
the following morning in the
sweltering summer heat, show-
ing off several mothering cen-
ters she had built to provide
health services and livelihood
training to poor villagers.
She cradled newborn babies
before a tangle of photographers
and cameramen in the centers,
each displaying a painting of a
young Imelda embracing a child
at the entrance. We care and
love you all, reads a sign at the
door.
Although she said she still
brimmed with energy, a crew of
nurses trailed her to check her
blood sugar levels. Bodyguards
stood close by when she alighted
from her van or the stairs. Talks
with journalists strayed into the
legacy she will leave behind,
and she mentioned that she had
decided what her epitaph would
read: Here lies love.
Marcos said she would not
step down as long as she had
energy.
If God will bless me with
good health, as long as Im alive
and Im strong, Im going to give
it all to the Filipino people, she
said.
When she eventually bows
out of politics, her children will
carry on. Her eldest daughter,
Imee, a former member of Con-
gress, is seeking re-election as
governor of Ilocos Norte, her
campaign posters pasted side by
side with her mothers.
The Marcoses are among the
most prominent of at least 250
political dynasties or families
that have monopolized power
across the Philippines. Such
dynasties are prohibited under
the 1987 constitution, but Con-
gress, long controlled by mem-
bers of powerful clans targeted
by the constitutional ban, has
failed to pass the law needed to
dene and enforce the provision.
The current president,
Benigno Aquino III, is part of one
such dynasty.
Former First Lady Imelda Marcos campaigns in Batac, Ilocos Norte while
aide holds parasol to protect her from sun.
Hows the weather up there may well be Vice Presidents greeting to
former NBA Chinese player Yao Ming who paid a courtesy call on him
at the Coconut Palace May 6. Ming was in Manila with the Shanghai
Sharks team for an exhiition game in Manila.
A towering mismatch
May 15, 2013 9
Mayon kills 4 tourists, guide inside danger zone
By Winona Cueva
MANILA - Mayon Vol-
cano claimed ve lives when it
spewed ash and huge rocks early
Tuesday, May 7, in what volca-
nologists described as a phre-
atic or steam-driven eruption
that lasted 73 seconds.
Killed in the avalanche of
car-sized boulders were Spanish
tourist Farah Frances, German
tourists Joanne Edosa, Roland
Pietieze and Furian Stelter, and
their local tour guide, Jerome
Berin.
Rescue and retrieval teams
brought down the victims
remains on foot toward Camp 1
where the body bags were picked
up by Air Force helicopters. The
sealed caskets were own to
Manila Friday afternoon.
Dr. Butch Rivera, medical
director at a Bicol Hospital, said
the ve mountaineers died from
trauma to their bodies caused
by the impact of rocks and suf-
focation from volcanic ash.
The group was only half a
kilometer away from Mayons
crater, way beyond the 6-km Per-
manent Danger Zone, when the
eruption happened.
A female Thai tourist, 2 local
guides and 19 other climbers
who were also on the slopes of
the erupting volcano but taking
a different route to the crater,
sustained injuries but survived.
Of the 27 climbers that scaled
Mayon on Tuesday, only 4 were
known to have coordinated with
local authorities. Visitors intend-
ing to climb the restive volcano
are required to secure a permit
from the Albay Public Safety and
Emergency Management Ofce
and the provincial tourism ofce,
during which they are advised
whether or not it is safe to climb,
what specic hours are safest
and are then given tour guides
who have undergone proper
safety training.
It has become common prac-
tice among tourists, however,
to directly hire local residents
living at the foot of the mountain
to accompany them on a trek.
Others sign up for adven-
ture packages with local tour
companies operating in the area,
condent that these tour opera-
tors would take care of coordi-
nating with authorities.
Some packages include an
ATV Tour beyond the lava front,
or hikes up to 3 kilometers near
the crater and could cost up to
P7,500 (US$187) per person.
One such tour operator
is Bicol Adventures & Tours
owned by Martin Calleja. It
offers a 2-day-1-night trek to
Mayons crater for the Difcult
Trek package.
On inquiry, Manila Mail
learned that all the casualties in
Tuesdays eruption were dis-
patched by Callejas tour com-
pany. They did not have the
necessary permit from the Dept.
of Tourism and the Albay Public
Safety ofce.
The more you tell them it
is risky, the more they want to
go there, said Albay Governor
Joey Salceda when pressed for
answers as to why the hikers
were within the 6-km Permanent
Danger Zone.
Mayon draws thousands of
tourists every year, not so much
for a glimpse of its near-perfect
symmetry but for the seething
spectacle of its fury.
In pictures, it is magnicent.
In person, it is intimate.
It locks you in an intimate
embrace, dissolving any per-
ceived distance, turning it into
what feels like the homely com-
fort of your own backyard, right
upon touching down at the
Legazpi City airport. . How then
can something so homely and
beautiful be so threatening?
Such is the reckless attitude
that repeatedly draws visitors
and residents toward the moun-
tain, whether it is for the thrill of
reaching the peak and gazing at
a part of earth where time seems
frozen in a smoldering wall of
ash and rocks, or for making a
living out of it.
President Benigno Aquino
III had asked Albay ofcials to
dene the parameters of the
6-km Permanent Danger Zone
that has long been in place on
Mayon but invariably breached
by an assortment of human
activity.
What we understand is
that the local government has
restricted activity. Precisely,
what the President wanted to
know is kung ano yung param-
eters, said Deputy Presidential
Spokesperson Abigail Valte at a
news conference following Tues-
days eruption.
In interviews with commu-
nity leaders in Legazpi, Manila
Mail learned that there is no
existing ordinance that regulates
activities on Mayon and sets
penalties for violators, except for
a 2007 directive issued by Gov.
Salceda under his Zero Casu-
alty program, warning people
not to enter the Permanent
Danger Zone.
Wala namang ibang
ginawa ang Provincial Govern-
ment na pamamaraan kung
paano makokontrol ang tao sa
pag-akyat o pagpasok sa mga
peligrosong area maliban sa
paglalagay ng markings, (The
provincial government never
came up with any measures to
prevent people from entering
the danger zones except to put
up markings,) laments Willie
Salazar, Bicol chapter president
of the National Union of Journal-
ists.
A cloud of volcanic ash shoots up as Mayon volcano erupts May 7. (AP
Photo/Allan Imperial)
May 15, 2013 10 10
PH awards Santoli for building peace in Mindanao
WASHINGTON D.C. -
Ambassador Jose Cuisia, Jr. on
May 7, 2013 awarded Albert
Santoli, founder of Asia America
Initiative (AAI) with the presti-
gious Presidential Golden Heart
Award authorized by President
Benigno Aquino for his decade
of ongoing humanitarian pro-
grams affecting countless com-
munities and building peace
between Christians and Muslims
in the conict- and poverty-
plagued Mindanao region.
Since being founded by Mr.
Santoli in 2002, Asia America Ini-
tiative has achieved success as a
community based non-govern-
mental organization with a core
mission to promote peace, dem-
ocratic leadership, justice and
social/economic development.
The Order of the Golden Heart
award was created by Presi-
dent Ramon Magsaysay in 1954
through Executive Order No.
236, s. 2003, the Honors Code
of the Philippines. The award
gives ofcial recognition to Fili-
pino or foreign citizens who have
rendered distinguished services
or given noteworthy monetary
or other material aid, encour-
agement to the campaign for the
amelioration and improvement
of the moral, social and eco-
nomic conditions of the Filipino
masses, and for volunteerism in
the service of the masses.
In introducing Mr. Santoli,
Ambassador Cuisia observed,
After his initial conict media-
tion programs in Jolo, Sulu,
AAIs programs focused on edu-
cation, health, livelihood, and
disaster relief. Firmly believ-
ing that education is the corner-
stone of peace, and continues to
embark on capacity building for
school teachers and administra-
tors, and to channel scholarship
opportunities to children of poor
families, among others. AAI
puts value in interfaith initia-
tives that lessens interreligious
and intercultural divide and
uphold human dignity.
Al never fails to remind us
that peace building is an inter-
generational, intercultural and
interfaith responsibility - inspir-
ing and calling each one of us to
action.
Mr. Santoli and AAI receive
no US government funding but
have been consistent partners
with the Ofce of the Advisor
to the Philippine President for
the Peace Process, the Philippine
national Red Cross, the Armed
Forces of the Philippines, and
the Departments of health and
of Social Welfare and Develop-
ment. AAI was recently recog-
nized as a national peace and
development organization by
the Philippine government.
Their tax-exempt donations
have come from numerous pri-
vate foundations and individu-
als from around the world, and
diverse sources such as the Kath-
erine and Diana Davis Spencer
Foundation, Global Giving, Inc.
and the Norwegian government.
UM holds banquet for Asian American studies program
By Bing Cardenas Branigin
The annual end of the year
Banquet for the Asian American
Studies Program (AAST), and
the University of Maryland pro-
vides students the opportunity
to critically study the experiences
of Asian Americans. Through
the interdisciplinary approach,
students examine the histories,
communities, and cultures of
Asian Americans as both dis-
tinctive from and connected to
the broader themes of diversity,
ethnicity, race, gender, sexual
orientation, and migration in the
Americas..
AAST offers a 15- credit
minor program for students who
wish to develop a specializa-
tion in Asian American Studies
alongside their degree pursuits.
2012-2013, AAST Minor
Graduates: Tyler Babich, Major
in Government and Politics, Tao
Chen, Major in Computer Sci-
ence, Emily Cheng, Major in Psy-
chology and Neurology, Ha Neul
Choi, Major in Psychology, Cath-
erine Tzy-Ching Kau, Major in
family Science, Victoria Meaney,
Major in Communications, Tam
Sanh Nhuyen, Major in Science,
Katherine Nyulassy, Major in
Anthropology, Anna Thuy Anh
Pham, Major in Sociology, Vinay
Kumar Sharma, Major in Cell
& Molecular Biology Genetics,
Angelina She, Double Major in
English Language & Literature
and Physiology & Neurology,
Clair Sutter, Major in Chinese,
Ryan Quan-Cyong Tran, Major
in Kinesiological Sciences, Jas-
mine Tran Vinh, Major in Com-
munity Health, and Lois Jeesun
Yleum, Major in Hearing &
Speech Science, Minor in Korean.
AAST mission is to foster
excellence in research and edu-
cation about Asian Americans in
the United States. Asian Ameri-
can Studies focuses on the lives,
history, and culture of Asians
from a comparative point f view.
Specically, study of persons
who have immigrated and ances-
tral ties to any region of Asia and
the Pacic.
Though there is no single
Asian American identity, com-
munity or experience, the Asian
American Studies provides a
special opportunity for inquiry
based on collaboration across
the elds and disciplines of aca-
demic study.
2013-2014 AAST Scholar-
ship Recipients, Maj. Gen. Anto-
nio M. Taguba Proles in Cour-
age and Leadership Scholarship:
Todd Patrick OBrien, Major
in Aerospace and Engineering,
Jeric Mibale, Major in Aerospace
and Engineering, Ellen Yixin
Yu, Double Major in Marketing
and Economics, Double Minor
in Asian American Studies and
Rhetoric.
The Lin-Thong Huu
Ngyuen Memorial Scholarship:
Ling D. Nguyen, Major in Busi-
ness Management, Minor in
Asian American Studies, David
Tian, Double Major in Account-
ing and Finance, Minor in Asian
American Studies.
Philip Vera Cruz Outstand-
ing Community Service Scholar-
ship: Rachael Lee, Major in Psy-
chology and Neurology, Minor
in Asian American Studies.
Timothy J. Ng Leadership
Scholarship on Asian American
Studies for Academic Strength
and Leadership Potential: Kris-
ten Fishler, Major in general Biol-
ogy, and Sheyla Guevara, Major
in Community Health.
The AAST Scholarship Com-
mittee: Maj. Gen (Ret.) Antonio
M. Taguba, Bing Cardenas Bra-
nigin, Captain Jeana Cho, Stan-
ley Fujii, Robert Gaines, Mencie
Hairston, Ming Ngyuen, Tuan
Nguyen, Andrew Aggabao,
Tyler Babich, and Linda Platt.
Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. awards the Philippine Order of the Golden
Heart Award to Albert Santoli for building peace between Christians and
Muslims in Mindanao.
From left are Maj. Gen.(Ret.) Antonio M. Taguba, Jeric Mibale, recipient
of the Taguba Proles in Courage and Leadership Scholarship, Dr. Janelle
Wong, Director of the Asian American Studies Program (AASAT), and Dr.
Donna Hamilton, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, Dean for the
Undergraduate Studies, University of Maryland, College Park.
L to R: Hank Henderson, US-Philippine Society, Michael Karnow, and Amb. John Maisto, at the SAIS/US-Phil-
ippine Society, Stanley Karnows, Southeast Asia, held at the Kenney Auditorium, Paul Nitze School of Advanced
International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, D.C., last May 1. Attended by journalists, students,
think tanks, and former and current State Department ofcials. Stanley Karnow was an American journalist and
historian. In 1990 Karnow won the Pulitzer Prize for History for his book Our Image: Americas Empire in the
Philippines. Mr. Karnow died last January.
May 15, 2013 11
May 15, 2013 12 12
May 15, 2013 13
Vargas to speak at PAFCs independence gala
Jose Antonio Vargas is a
31-year-old award-winning Fili-
pino American journalist who
stunned the whole nation when
he boldly disclosed his undocu-
mented immigrant status since
arriving from the Philippines
as a 12-year-old boy. He will
address the Filipino American
community on Saturday, June
15, at PAFCs Philippine Inde-
pendence Gala Ball (PAFC) at
the JW Marriott Hotel in Wash-
ington, DC.
His rst-time appearance at
a formal gathering of Filipinos
and Filipino Americans in the
Washington DC metropolitan
area is widely heralded in light
of the current national debate
on immigration reform. Vargas,
who was on the cover of Time
magazine last year, has called
for a national conversation about
this very controversial and mis-
understood issue.
The occasions theme is
Our Families, Our Communi-
ties: Helping Shape America.
It commemorates the declara-
tion of Philippine independence
from Spain on June 12, 1898 - an
historic event observed by Fili-
pino Americans across the coun-
try and by Filipinos all over the
world.
We are delighted that Mr.
Vargas will be joining our cel-
ebration as the guest speaker,
says Ador Carreon, board chair-
man of the Philippine American
Foundation of Charities (PAFC),
the gala balls sponsor. We are
proud of his courage in speaking
on behalf of the rights of immi-
grants everywhere. He took
great risks in coming out. It is
tting that we listen to him and
recognize his bravery.
Vargas deed the advice
of several immigration lawyers
when nearly two years ago he
publicly announced his status
as an undocumented Filipino
immigrant. He wrote about
his coming out in a ground-
breaking essay published by the
New York Times. In this piece,
he recounted how he lived in
constant fear of discovery and
deportation and why he decided
to come clean.
Since his public revelations,
Vargas has been the Filipino face
of immigration reform on what
has normally been perceived as
a Latino issue. With the pace
of immigration reform increas-
ing and becoming one of the
leading issues of the day, having
someone with the prominence of
Mr. Vargas come and speak to
Filipinos will indeed make the
evening special, adds PAFC
President Aylene Mafnas. He
exemplies those values that we
hold so dear: hard work, familial
piety, and the struggle for excel-
lence.
In choosing Mr. Vargas
as guest speaker, PAFC board
members cite his impressive
rsum and credentials. One
need not look farther than his
Pulitzer Prize he garnered as a
journalist with the Washington
Post, points out Sonny Busa,
a former U.S. diplomat and
member of the PAFC board.
He is articulate, intelligent and
passionate. Regardless of where
you stand on the issue of immi-
gration reform--there are many
good arguments either way-- it
will be worthwhile to hear a dis-
tinguished son of the Philippines
speak with passion and convic-
tion.
A lmmaker, storyteller
and founder of the immigration
awareness organization Dene
American, Vargas came to the
United States from the Philip-
pines 19 years ago to join his
grandparents, both naturalized
citizens, in California.
May 15, 2013 14 14
FilAms hold successful esta in central VA
By Boots Felixberto
It was the rst successful
Filipino esta jointly sponsored
by Filipino American organiza-
tions in central Virginia at the
Convention Center in Richmond,
Virginia on April 27, 2013.
More than a celebration of
sights and sounds, rich cultural
heritage, beautiful and elegant
traditional attires and colorful
dances, there is a story behind
the event that needs to be told.
The story unfolded of how a
community leader, thought out-
side the box, anchored his lead-
ership on sound, game-changing
propositions, and pulled every-
one together to come up with the
very successful event of the very
rst Filipino esta in Richmond,
Virginia.
Very impressed with the
organization of the esta, I asked
the chairperson Rumy Mohta if
there were any challenges along
the way. Having been in the
States for decades, I am quite
familiar with the story of bicker-
ing among organizations during
the process of coming up of an
event, and more often than not
the conict lies in money man-
agement.
Rumy Mohta challenged
these situations by accepting
being chair of the event on two
conditions, one that he and the
group will be very inclusive in
getting everyone together and
two, that any prots will go to
charity, no money will be kept.
Mohta was able to have the
whole event funded by solicit-
ing from his connections. And
having an event on such a grand
scale speaks volumes of his rep-
utation and leadership. Have it
not been for Rumy Mohta being
the chair, many people have
doubted if everyone would have
been willing to come together to
organize the event.
Mr. Mohta said from day
one, he insisted on open-book
accounting of the funds they
have received and spent.
I drove about an hour and
a half from Alexandria to Rich-
mond, Virginia. Marj, Rumys
wife, sent me the address of the
convention center and a copy of
the program the night before.
The program was a wide vari-
ety of Filipino cultural songs
and dances, mixed with fashion
shows, a magician, and booth
presentations.
When I arrived, it was quite
a long walk from the entrance
of the Richmond Convention
Center to the exhibit hall where
the event was taking place, and
was expecting some door fee.
I really did not know what to
expect but I thought it might be
something fancy because they
had a very glossy, colorful invi-
tation yer online. I thought,
maybe I could get away with
the usual fees here and there,
by saying I am a guest of Marj
and Rumy Mohta. Very nice, I
thought to myself.
When I came in, I saw a table
by the door and the entrance was
free. I asked for Rumy and Marj,
and meet Rumy who was stand-
ing by the door. Very friendly
gentleman, dressed in a color-
ful yellow barong, I mentioned
I came all the way from Alexan-
dria. He welcomed me, shook
my hand, said that his wife must
be somewhere in the place, and
directed me to the stage and the
people I wanted to meet.
Woohoo!!! Cat calls,
smiles, laughter, taunting,
camera ashes, all character-
ized the relaxed but now excited
captive audience with each per-
formance. I positioned myself
where I can take the best pic-
tures, at the same time mindful
of the human interest glimpses
of people in the audience. The
performers did a very nice ren-
dition of cultural dances such as
the singkil, tinikling, maglalatik,
igorot dance and so many other
colorful array of presentations
like the santacruzan fashion
show, magicians, validated with
a short visit of political gures.
Attorney General Ken
Cucinelli, who is running for
Governor of Virginia gave a
brief speech asking support of
his candidacy from the Filipino
community. US Congressman
Bobby Scott, proudly informed
the crowd that he is part Filipino
and Virginia State Representa-
tive Betsy Carr both too gave a
brief congratulatory speech to
everyone. Rumy Mohta was on
stage with them.
Filipino food, other than
entertainment, was one of the
things that both Filipinos and
their part American families,
enjoyed. There were pretty cre-
ative booths too representing
Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The festival itself, from the pro-
gram, included performers from
the large Filipino congregation
of Virginia Beach, a large town
a number of hours away from
Richmond. I was told that there
were other visitors who drove
hours from Maryland and North-
ern Virginia to witness the event.
It was indeed a esta, but
not just of creativity, delicious
food, feast of sights and sounds.
It was a successful esta brought
about by fresh ideas, inclusive-
ness, accountability, camarade-
rie and support, all pulling in
together, a highly visible and
palpable example of sound lead-
ership that made such a grand
scale event a success. From
Rumy Mohta himself, Everyone
in the community was a star that
day.
Dancers perform on stage while crowd in Filipino attire watch. Photo by
Boots Felixberto.
May 15, 2013 15
If you would like to include
your organizations forthcoming
event, please send the information
to Maurese Owens at mpapoose@
aol.com.
May 16 (Thursday) PAFC
Planning Meeting for Philip-
pine Festival and Asian Festival
Philippine Multicultural Center,
7500 Livingston Rd., Oxon Hill,
MD 20745..Contact: Aylene
Mafnas 703 868 5660
May 18 & 25 (Saturday)
8:00pm-12:00mn Philippine
Multi-Cultural Center Fund-
raiser with Julian Oteyza and
his Tutubi Band, 7500 Livings-
ton Rd, MD. Guest bands and
entertainers are welcome. Visual
artist create artwork to the music
of the band. Help sustain the
Center -- donations encouraged
for its support. Contact: Grace
Villanueva 301-567-2280
May 18 (Saturday) 6:00-
11:30pm, Feed the Hungry, Inc.
Spring Shindig. Fort Myer
Community Center,228 McNair
Road, Fort Myer, VA. $40 per
person; $45 at the door. Contact:
Mila Nazal 301-288-7010
May 18 (Saturday) Mabu-
hay 10th Annual Fundraising
Golf Tournament, Marlton Golf
Club, 9413 Midland Turn, Upper
Marlboro, MD 20772. Regist
ation Fee: $95 per player or $380
foursome. Contact: Jimmy Car-
dano 301-352-5126
May 18 (Saturday) 7:30pm
Filipino Mass at St. Bernadette
Catholic Church, 7600 Old
Keene Mill Road, Springfield,
VA 22152. Sponsored by Filipino
Ministry of St. Bernadette. Con-
tact 703-569-1054.
May 23 (Thursday) 6:30-
8:30pm. PAFC Planning Meet-
ing for Philippine Festival and
Asian Festival. Sweet City Des-
serts, 131-A Maple Avenue W,
Vienna, VA 22180 , tel: 703-938-
8188. Contact: Aylene Mafnas
703 868 5660
May 26 (Sunday) Miss
Teenage Philippines Pageant,
Inc. Annual Coronation and
Ball. Hyatt Regency Crystal
City, 2799 Jefferson Davis High-
way, Arlington, VA 22202. Con-
tact Trini Padama-301-705-8550 .
May 29- 31 PAFC Philip-
pine Festivals Brown Strokes
on White Canvas Art Exhibit.
Opening reception Wednes-
day, May 29 at 6:30pm. Loca-
tion Romulo Hall, Philippine
Embassy. Contact: Julian Oteyza
at julianoteyza@gmail.com or
703.969.5469
May 30 (Wednesday) 6:30-
8:30pm. PAFC Planning Meeting
for Philippine Festival and Asian
Festival. 12700 Fair Lakes Circle,
Suite 120, Fairfax, VA 22033
Contact: Aylene Mafnas 703
868 5660
June 1 (Saturday) Registra-
tion 10:30, Challenge Contest at
12:00 noon. FABA Golf Tourna-
ment, Virginia Oaks Golf Club.
Proceeds to bnefit 2013 FBA-NA
Intercity Basketball Tourna-
ment. $95 per player/$80 12 yrs
and under. 7950 Virginia Oaks
Dr Gainesville, VA 20155. Con-
tact: Bo Asinero 703 853 9129
June 2 (Sunday) Maryland
Philippine Festival. Maryland
State Fairgrounds, Timonium,
MD. Call for performers and
vendor. Interested parties may
contact Luis Florendo at l_flo-
rendo@yahoo.com
June 6 and 13 (Thursdays)
6:30-8:30pm. PAFC Planning
Meeting for Philippine Festival
and Asian Festival.
June 6 at Philippine Multi-
Cultural Center, Oxon Hill, MD
June 13 at 12700 Fair Lakes
Circle, Suite 120, Fairfax, VA
22033
Contact: Aylene Mafnas 703
868 5660
June 15 (Saturday) 6:00pm-
12:00pm. Philippine Indepen-
dence Gala Ball. JW Marriott
Washington, DC. Continues the
tradition of celebrating Inde-
pendence Day with Philippine
Embassy dignitaries, the FilAm
community, special guests. $85;
premier seats $110. Contact:
Nanette Carreon at NSuyat1681@
aol.com.
June 15 (Saturday) 7:30pm
Filipino Mass at St. Bernadette
Catholic Church, 7600 Old
Keene Mill Road, Springfield,
VA 22152. Sponsored by Filipino
Ministry of St. Bernadette. Con-
tact 703-569-1054.
June 15 (Saturday) 7:00am
PAMWE-FtH Joint Benefit Golf
Tournament.
Algonkian Regional Park
Golf Course, 47001 Fairway
Drive, Sterling, VA 20165.
7:00am Registration & Continen-
tal Breakfast; 8:30am Tee Time
or Shotgun. Contact: Pepito Solis
703)979-0838 or.p2solis@gmail.
com
June 30 (Sunday) PAFC
Philippine Festivals Community
Picnic and Sports Fest.
Fun and food, games for
children and sports for grown-
ups plus a cultural show and a
band marathon pull the commu-
nity together. Special Feature:
Parada ng Lechon, Tucker Road
Recreational Park, Fort Washing-
ton, MD Contact: Mya Talavera
at myatalavera@aol.com.
July 20 (Saturday) 7:30pm
Filipino Mass at St. Bernadette
Catholic Church, 7600 Old
Keene Mill Road, Springfield,
VA 22152. Sponsored by Filipino
Ministry of St. Bernadette. Con-
tact 703-569-1054..
August 3, 2013 (Saturday)
9:00am to 8:00pm ... Marin-
duquenos of the Capital Area,
Inc. MCA, Inc. Annual Family
Picnic at Black Hill Regional
Park - Shelter C, 20926 Lake
Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD 20841.
POT LUCK, come one - come
all - bring your favorite food
to share. Contact: Xavier Cugie
Dela Santa 301-728-1684
October 5 (Saturday) 8
pm-2 am. Ateneo Alumni Asso-
ciation of Metro Washington DC
Charity Gala Dinner-Dance and
Auction. Crystal Gateway Mar-
riott Grand Ballroom, 1700 Jef-
ferson Davis HighwayArlington,
VA 22202. Contact: Aimee San
Ramon at aimeesr@yahoo.com
October 19 (Saturday) 6pm-
12mn Bicol Association of Met-
ropolitan Washington DC30th
Sarung Banggi Gala Fundrais-
ing. Bethesda Ballroom, 5521
Landy Lane, Bethesda, Mary-
land 20816. Attire Formal. For all
the charitable causes including
scholarships and the Surgical
Mission.$65 pre-paid; $70 at the
door.
Nov 9 (Saturday) 6:00-
12:00pm Feed the Hungry, Inc.
Handog 2013 at Hilton Markham
Center, Alexandria, VA. Contact
Person: Solita Wakefield (703)
992-4610 or swakefield09@gmail.
com
Nov 16 (Saturday) 2pm
5pm PAFC Dr. Jose Rizal Youth
Awards Romulo Hall, Philip-
pine Embassy, Washington.
Contact: Aylene Mafnas 703 868
5660.
Dec 1 (Sunday) PAFC, Phil-
ippine Embassy and FOCUS,
Paskong Pinoy. Pryzbyla Hall,
Catholic University of America.
May 15, 2013 16 16
Filipino bayanihan spirit at its best by the Filipino American
communities in Northern & Central Virginia
From welcoming the Philippine Barakos in July 2012 to holding the 1st Filipino Fiesta RVA on April 27, 2013
All text/photos by Angelyn Tugado-Marzan
zon, Marty Ranada, Vincent Noprada,
Charles Castillo, Efril Mercado, John
Natanauan, Gabriele Alcaraz, Genesis
Manabat, Christopher Clark and Rovic
Villanueva) pose in front of the posh
LEnfant Plaza Hotel in Washington,
D.C. where they stayed before heading
for Chesterhela, Jirginia as representa-
tives of the Asia-Pacihc region in the
PONY Bronco-11 World Series July 26
to 29, 2012. Said team, their coaches
and chaperones were warmly welcomed
by many Filipinos and Filipino Ameri-
cans, including Northern Virginia-res-
idents Art Asistores (3rd row,4th from
left) and Raul Mercado (3rd row, 2nd
from left), manager at the LEnfant
Plaza Hotel.
Filipino American
families in Central
Virginia warmly
hosted the Philip-
pine Barakos, their
coaches and chap-
erones during their
visit last 2012.
Philippine Tot Baseball Foundation president Rodolfo Boy Tingzon receives, on behalf of
the Philippine Barakos, a plaque of appreciation from barong-clad Gerry Balallo, presi-
dent of the 41-year-old Filipino-American Association of Central Virginia (FAACV), whose
members spontaneously showered the young baseball players with gifts and cash during the
luncheon feted them.
United States Senator Timothy Michael Tim Kaine (D-VA) (2nd row, 4th from left) graces
the 1st Filipino Fiesta in Richmond, Virginia April 27, 2013 at the Greater Richmond Con-
vention Center at 403 N 3ra St., Richmona, Jirginia. With him above are some of the hestas
tireless volunteers. (2na row from left) hesta chair Rumy J. Mohta, FAACJ presiaent Gerry
Balallo, FAACV past presidents Marty Martinez and Marj Mohta (1st row, 4th from left),
Bennie Casupanan, Terry Mercado, Marilou Williams, Armi Reyes, Annie Deza, Mila Aguilar,
Perly Protacio, Lynn Francis, Tom Bonzon.
At the hesta, Kris Fat
(as the Princess), Pete
Berenato (as the Prince)
and other dancers of the
Visayan Association of
Central Virginia perform
the Singkil, a famous
dance of the Maranao
people of Mindanaos
Lake Lanao in southern
Philippines.
Young male danc-
ers of Kultura
Pilipino (Chester-
Midlothian, VA
chapter) perform
with much gusto
and speed the
Maglalatik, an
indigenous Philip-
pine dance
NBC12 television reporter Ashley Monfort (5th from left), hesta program organi:er Monica
Pioquinto (center) and former FAACV president Rudy Bolipata (right) pose with performers
(l-r) Rod & Emily Barreceros, Jane & Reiman Rodis, Aly & Joann Ylarde, and Rita & Raul
Santillana who danced the Pandanggo sa Ilaw, a popular dance from Mindoros Lubang
Island.
Jaiun Ylarde (as
Reyna Elena) is
escorted by Nico
Ylarde, Blue
Balverde and
Rowen Igharas
auring the hestas
Santacruzan, a
popular religious
festival during the
month of May in
the Philippines.
During the hesta,
Willie Salyers, Ron-
nie Salyers, Shane
Daughtry, Lilibeth
Salyers, Jerlita
Daughtry, Nico
Parong, Kaye Abad
and Keilah Daugh-
try play sungka, the
Philippine mancala
game.
Twelve-year-old Fili-
pino American Anjelica
Misyel is all smiles as she
proudly displays the very
hrst parol she maae.
The making of a parol (a
star-shaped Christmas
lantern popular in the
Philippines) was one of
the popular activities dur-
ing the 1st Filipino Fiesta
RVA.
The Philippine Pony Baseball Barakos team
(composed of 11-year-old boys from Batangas
and Muntinlupa: Jhonas Palad, Ezequiel Agojo,
Danillo Mendoza, Andrei Ueda, Calvin Ting-
May 15, 2013 17
Around DC in Pictures
From left are Consul General Ariel Penaranda; Greg Cendana, Executive Director, Asian Pacic American Labor
Alliance (APALA); Naomi Tacuyan, Filipinos for Family Reunication-CIR; Mrs. Vicky Cuisia and Amb. Jose L.
Cuisia; Catherine Eusebio, recipient, White House Women of Change 2013; Jason Tengco, White House Initiative on
Asian Americans and Pacic Islanders; and Jian Zapanta, Capitol Hill expert. (Photo by Bing C. Branigin)
Also at the reception are, from left, front row: Asia America Initiative board members Mitzi Pickard and Bing
Branigin, Flyod Solis, Lorenzo Paglinawan. 2nd row same order: Maj. Gen. Deln Lorenzana, Merylin Huerero,
Al Santoli, president AAI, Nora Dorsey, AAI Virginia Beach; Elvie Melegrito,NaFFAA R-2, and Dr. Laarni Bibay,
president, Ilokano Association, Virginia Beach.
From left are Rozita Lee, Commissioner of White House Initiative, ;Asian
Americans and Pacic Islanders; Cristeta Comerford, White House Execu-
tive Chef; Ms. Rosie, Asian American Womens Forum; Bing Branigin,
NAFFAA Board of Governors.
CAPAC rites at Capitol Hilton May 8
Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, founder of DREAM-
ERS, was the keynote speaker during the gala reception of the Asian Pacic
American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) at the Capitol Hilton
in Washington D.C. on May 8, 2013. Over 500 guests were at the celebra-
tion that coincided with Asian American Pacic Islanders Heritage Month.
(Photo by J. Melegrito)
Leaders of Mabuhay, Inc. ank Ok Park and Alfred Freemont, this years King & Queen of Hearts, an outreach
program to senior citizens residing at the Attick Towers in College Park, Md. Doing the honors are (standing, from
left) Mabuhay President Liezl Argente, Zeny Juanitez, Mely Alcazar, Claro Salvador, College Park Mayor Andrew
Fellows, Marilen Manzo, Lulu Alexander, Tess Valencia, Mencie Hairston, (seated, from left) Moks Laureles, Jimmy
Cardano, Roy Cobo and Manny Lopez. The program, held recently, featured a fashion show, cultural entertainment,
line dancing and a sumptuous lunch that served more than a hundred residents and guests. (Photo by Jon Melegrito)
Manila Mail food columnist Master Chef Evelyn Bunoan, taking Royal Thai
cooking program at the longstanding and prestigious Blue Elephant Cook-
ing School in Bangkok, Thailand. She is shown here in private lessons with
two culinary instructors of the school. Photo by Oscar Bunoan, May 9,
2013.
X-WNF, an organization of a group of nurses who used to work at a nursing
home in Washington D.C., celebrated the 70th birthdays of Mrs. Emma dela
Rosa, RN and Mrs. Rose Pulos, RN of Ft. Washington, MD on April 27, 2013
at Renaissance Capital View Arlington, Arlington VA. Mrs. Dela Rosa and
Mrs. Pulos were both Head nurses at WNF. The Philippine Nurses Associa-
tion Of Washington D.C. joined in the celebration and thanked the two for
being our mentors/mothers/good friends who welcomed and supported us
new nurses when we were petitioned from the Philippines way back in 1991
to 2000s.
May 15, 2013 18 18
Leaders of Mabuhay, Inc. ank Ok Park and Alfred Freemont, this years King & Queen of Hearts, an outreach
program to senior citizens residing at the Attick Towers in College Park, Md. Doing the honors are (standing, from
left) Mabuhay President Liezl Argente, Zeny Juanitez, Mely Alcazar, Claro Salvador, College Park Mayor Andrew
Fellows, Marilen Manzo, Lulu Alexander, Tess Valencia, Mencie Hairston, (seated, from eft) Moks Laureles, Jimmy
Cardano, Roy Cobo and Manny Lopez. The program, held recently, featured a fashion show, cultural entertainment,
line dancing and a sumptuous lunch that served more than a hundred residents and guests. (Photo by Jon Melegrito)
Gigi Bueno (left) and Mya Talavera, over-all chair of this years PFC Family
Picnic & Sportsfest, check out the Pabitin, one of many Filipino childrens
games that will be featured on June 30, an all-day event from 8am to 5pm,
at Tucker Road Recreational Park in Fort Washington, MD. Crowning the
festivity is a Parada ng Lechon (parade of roast pigs), which will award a
$300 cash prize to participating organizations with the best-looking lechon.
For more info, call Mya at 240-441-6941 or e-mail myatalavera@aol.com.
(photo by Jon Melegrito)
Family and friends hosted a double celebration on April 13 at a restaurant in Sterling, Virginia for Fred Embuscado
who recently had a successful heart surgery and marked his birthday. L to R, Seated: Lulu and Tony De Vera, Alma
and Jun Conty, and Cesar Pontanilla. Standing same order: Evelyn Arguenza, Pat and Becky Pagsibigan, Vicky and
Fred Embuscado, Fely Pontanilla, and Buena Rabe. (Photo: Bing Cardenas Branigin)
Cugie de la Santa watches as his wife Terry lights the candles on the cake
that he blew on his 60th birthday held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in
McLean, Virginia in April. He celebrated with family and friends, including
Alice and Marvin Santos, Consul General Ariel Penaranda, Mitzi Pickard,
Froilan Tiglao and many kababayans from his home province of Marin-
duque. (photo by Maurese Owens)
Photo shows ofcers and members of the Asian and Pacic Islanders Catho-
lic Network (APCN) who organized the Asians for Mary Pilgrimage at the
Basilica in Washington D.C. on May 11, 2013.
Dann Villanueva, 89
The family of Danny Castillo Villanueva of Oxon Hill, Maryland gathered to celebrate his life following a funeral
mass at St. Columba Catholic Church on May 6. The retired US Navy Master Sergeant and White House culinary
specialist passed away on April 25. He was 89. A resident of Oxon Hill since the 1970s, Villanueva was an active
member of the Fleet Reserves, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the Ilocano Society of America, CIPAA and
the Philippine American Cultural Arts Society. Devoted to the FilAm Ministry of St. Columba, he also sang in the
church choir. He is the beloved husband of Aurelia Ochave Catbay Villanueva (seated, second from right). Also in
the picture are his sister-in-law Isabella Villaros; his sons, daughters and their spouses, from left: Gloria (Craig
Robinson), Danilo (Judy Padama), Grace, Robert (Gliceria Chavez), Beverly (Ricky Lee), Jane (Carroll Bundy).
Youngest son Ricky is not in the picture. Villanueva had 22 grand children and 13 great grandchildren. He is also
survived by his brother, Mirardo, and sisters, Natalie Vitilicio and Eugenia Villaruz. For more about Danny Vil-
lanueva, see Jon Melegritos Our Town column in this issue. (photo by Jon Melegrito).
Around DC in Pictures
May 15, 2013 19
May 15, 2013 20 20
Cuisia urges China to respect PH claims in Spratlys
WASHINGTON, D.C.-The
Philippines has reiterated its
calls for Beijing to respect its
sovereignty over the Kalayaan
Island Group in the Spratlys and
to avoid actions that would only
raise tensions in disputed areas
of the South China Sea.
We hope China would
respect our sovereignty,
Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr.
told a forum here on May 9 as he
echoed Manilas concern over the
reported departure from Hainan
on Monday of a large eet of
Chinese shing vessels that will
go on a 40-day expedition in the
Spratly archipelago.
We hope that there would
be no more provocative actions
because these do not certainly
contribute to the enhancement
of relations, Cuisia said in
response to a question raised
during a forum on the South
China Sea organized by the
Sasakawa Peace Foundation.
Cuisias statement follows
calls from the Department of For-
eign Affairs for Beijing to steer
clear of Manilas established
maritime boundaries in the West
Philippine Sea as the Philippines
has sovereign rights and juris-
diction to explore its resources in
the exclusive economic zone for
the benet of the Filipino people.
During the same forum,
Ambassador Cuisia expressed
hope that China would follow
the same rules-based approach
adopted by the Philippines in
its bid to resolve and manage
the dispute over the conicting
claims in the South China Sea.
This rules-based approach
involves the conclusion of a
substantive and legally-binding
ASEAN-China Code of Conduct
and third party adjudication by
way of arbitration of the various
maritime disputes in the South
China Sea, the Filipino envoy
said.
While a Code of Conduct is
critical, Ambassador Cuisia said
it still needs to be complemented
by arbitration if the objective is
to ensure a more durable peace
in the region. This, he said, is
the reason why the Philippines
initiated the arbitral proceed-
ings against China on 22 January
2013.
We are pleased that the
United States government sup-
ports the Philippines in its posi-
tion that the Code of Conduct
and the arbitration are two legs
upon which long term peace and
stability in the South China Sea
could be ensured. These two are
complementary processes and
are not mutually exclusive of
each other, Ambassador Cuisia
told forum participants.
According to the ambassa-
dor, the arbitration case led by
Manila does not aim to address
who has sovereignty over the
islands and other features of the
South China Sea.
What it asks, basically,
is for the Arbitral Tribunal to
declare that Chinas maritime
claims in the South China Sea
based on its so-called nine-dash
line are contrary to the United
Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea and are, thus, invalid,
he said.
While some would like to
characterize the issue as a purely
territorial dispute that should
be resolved directly by the par-
ties concerned, the issue clearly
has far reaching implications to
the international community, in
terms of respect for the freedom
of navigation and commerce,
and the peaceful settlement of
disputes, Ambassador Cuisia
said.
We believe all countries
whether directly affected or not,
have an interest and a stake in
protecting these fundamental
tenets of international law. Thus
to support the Philippines in the
path we have chosen to peace-
fully settle the dispute is to sup-
port a rules based international
order, where disputes are settled
not through force nor might, but
through an objective and just
application of international law,
he added.
The discussions on the South
China Sea at the Sasakawa Peace
Foundation came a few days
after a similar forum at the Stim-
son Center also in Washington
where legal experts expressed
disagreement with Beijings
nine-dash line claim.
High Court blocks Alabamas new law
WASHINGTON - The
Supreme Court rebuffed the state
of Alabama on May 3 by decid-
ing not to intervene in a case
where federal judges blocked a
state law that criminalizes the
harboring of illegal immigrants.
By refusing to hear Ala-
bamas appeal of the Obama
administrations lower court vic-
tories, the justices steered clear
of a hot-button debate at a time
when Congress is engaged in
writing legislation to overhaul
immigration laws. Both a fed-
eral judge and an appeals court
agreed with the White House
that federal law trumped a pro-
vision in Alabama state law that
made it illegal to harbor or trans-
port anyone in the state who
had entered the country ille-
gally. The appeals court ruling
remains intact as a result of the
Supreme Courts refusal to inter-
vene. A brief order issued by
the Supreme Court said Justice
Antonin Scalia disagreed with
the decision not to hear the case.
Enacted in 2011, the Ala-
bama law is considered one of
the toughest state immigration
statutes in the country. The law
also made it illegal to encourage
people to either enter or stay in
the state in violation of federal
immigration laws.
Hawaii grants $1.5-M
to FilAm cultural Center
HONOLULU Gov. Neil
Abercrombie recently presented
a $1.5 million check to Kauai
Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr.
and representatives of the non-
prot Kauai Philippine Cultural
Center, signifying the recent
release of a state capital improve-
ment grant to help construct the
new 30,000 square foot facility.
The Kauai Philippine Cultural
Center will benet the entire
community as a central venue for
events and activities, celebrating
the contributions of the Filipino
community on Kauai and across
the islands, said Gov. Aber-
crombie. Recognizing and cel-
ebrating our diversity, the center
will also highlight Hawaiis
many ethnic communities and
bridge Kauais multi-cultural
heritage and history for both
residents and visitors.
RNC salutes Asian
Americans
WASHINGTON- Republi-
can National Committee (RNC)
Chairman Reince Priebusi in
a statement commemorating
Asian American and Pacic
Islander Heritage Month, said:
This month, we honor the
countless contributions Asian
Americans, South Asians, and
Pacic Islanders have made to
our great country, said Prie-
bus. In every eld imaginable-
-from arts and entertainment
and science and technology to
public policy, business, and
military service--Americans of
Asian and Pacic descent have
strengthened the fabric of the
nation.
This is a time to celebrate
our friends and neighbors in
our communities throughout
this nation and to become more
aware of their rich traditions,
culture, and heritage. This is a
chance to recognize the impact
of their work, innovation, and
leadership on our daily lives.
At the same time, we also
recall the challenges this com-
munity has faced in the past
and in the present so that work-
ing together we can build a
better future.
Co-Chair Day said: Gen-
erations of Asian and Pacic
immigrants have come to the
United States in search of the
American Dream. While their
home countries were different
and their languages many, their
common motivation was the
same as that shared by all who
have come to America: a good
life earned from hard work and
a good education.
America is grateful for
that spirit, which has resulted
in a stronger and more diverse
country. So as we honor the
Asian-Pacic community, we
should also recommit ourselves
as a nation to ensuring that
America remains the Land of
Opportunity for all.
May 15, 2013 21
all important threads in the great
American tapestry. Jewell said.
She spoke at a White House
forum that was hosted by the
Interior Department, along
with the White House Ofce
of Public Engagement and the
White House AAPI Initiative.
The forum attracted scholars
and other leaders from the AAPI
community to celebrate Asian
American Pacic Islander Heri-
tage Month, observed in May,
and discuss the National Park
Services new Asian American
Pacic Islander Theme Study.
Under the leadership of
Franklin Odo, former head of
the Smithsonian Asian Pacic
American Center, scholars are
developing a theme study and
other materials over the next 18
months to further the under-
standing of how the National
Park Service might appropri-
ately identify and understand
AAPI heritage and culture.
The Asian American
Pacic Islander Theme Study is
an important rst step in what
must be a longer journey to more
completely document and pre-
serve Asian American Pacic
Islander heritage sites across our
country, said National Park Ser-
vice Director Jonathan B. Jarvis.
The National Park Service
remains committed that our
parks and historic preservation
programs reect the diversity
of the American experience, and
this study will allow us to add to
the growing body of resources
that tell the AAPI story, Jarvis
said.
Jewell said the theme study
is part of an overall effort by the
Obama administration to com-
memorate the contributions of
women and minorities that have
been not been fully recognized in
the past.
This is a pivotal moment for
our community, the National
Park Service AAPI Theme Study
is an invitation for all of us to
share the incredible contribu-
tions we have made to our coun-
trys rich cultural and natural
heritage, said Rhea Suh, Inte-
rior Department assistant sec-
retary for policy, management
and budget. I am proud and
honored to be part of Interiors
efforts to build a department that
reects the needs and diversity
of America and look forward to
continuing this conversation.
Jewell highlighted steps that
have already been taken to rep-
resent a more inclusive story of
the AAPI contributions to U.S.
history. These include the des-
ignation earlier in 2013 of the
Wing Luke Museum of the Asian
Pacic American Experience in
Seattle as an afliated area of the
National Park System, which rec-
ognizes the national signicance
and mission of the museum.
Jewell also recognized the
Interior Departments distinct
responsibility, through the Ofce
of Insular Affairs, to work with
the United States island areas to
empower them and to help nd
solutions to their most pressing
challenges.
The federal government,
under this administration,
through its various initiatives,
is working daily to nd innova-
tive approaches to highlight and
showcase some of our unique
cultural sites and historic arti-
facts that celebrate Americans
in and from the Asia-Pacic
region, said Eileen Sobeck,
acting deputy assistant secretary
for insular affairs.
In many ways our gather-
ing is a reection of our commit-
ment to this initiative, Sobeck
said, but also a demonstration of
our collective duty to holistically
represent and celebrate peoples
from Asian-American Pacic
Islander identities.
Tell complete AsianAm... from page 1
Hill.
Another amendment
proosed by Sen. Leahy also
divided the coalition. It would
allow gay Americans to spon-
sor a foreign partner for a visa,
something that is impossible at
the moment. The Democratic
majority on the committee sup-
ports the idea, but Republi-
cans say that the amendment,
if passed, will doom the bill on
the Senate oor by scaring off
Republicanvotes.
What is also seen as a move
to further delay the debate was
the introduction of numerous
amendments to the bill. Most of
the ood of amendments come
from the Republican side: Sen.
Jeff Sessions has put forward 49
and Charles Grassley, another
opponent of the bill, 77. Even
Republicans who are in favour
would like to see security on the
border made yet more ferocious,
and the path to citizenship nar-
rower and more forbidding.
The Democratic majority on
the committee should be able to
brush these challenges aside and
usher the bill, more or less intact,
to the Senate oor. But it needs
a supermajority of 60 of the 100
senators (which the Democrats
lack) to advance it. The House of
Representatives, with its Repub-
lican majority, will be more hos-
tile territory still.
If we dont have real
border security, in my view this
bill will not pass, said Ted Cruz
of Texas.
But this prompted an angry
response from the bills sponsors
who accused opponents of using
border security as an excuse to
block any immigration reform.
The real reason [he wants
this] is Senator Cruz is opposed
to a path to citizenship, said
New York Democrat Chuck
Schumer. Lets not keep bring-
ing up this false issue of border
security. Our bill is tough as nails
on border security, but what it
does not do is deny 11 million
people a path to citizenship.
At this point, the bipartisan
spirit which has led to hopes that
immigration reform may be the
one big legislative achievement
of President Obamas second
term quickly began to evaporate.
Fellow Texan John Cornyn
leapt to Cruzs defence. We
were doing really well in assum-
ing good faith, but you just
impuned peoples motives, he
told Schumer. This is a funda-
mental issue: the public does not
trust us. This is not some trick;
this is a fundamental precondi-
tion to regaining public con-
dence.
Cruz demanded an apology
from Schumer and invited him
to come down to Texas to meet
landowners who see armed
coyotes coming across their
property on a daily basis.
Committee chairman Pat-
rick Leahy later attempted to
paper over the cracks in the
consensus, pointing out that the
committee had adopted 21 of the
32 amendments offered on May
9, almost all with some degree of
bipartisan agreement, but battle
lines have been drawn.
Earlier, a third of the mem-
bers of the judiciary committee
voted for two amendments that
would delay US immigration
rst hurdle, suggesting the bill
may face a bumpier ride through
Congress than its bipartisan
backers had hoped.
The rst amendment, pro-
posed by the Iowa Republican
Chuck Grassley, would have
required the government to
show it had fully secured
the border with Mexico for six
months before allowing the esti-
mated 11 million undocumented
migrants who are already in the
US to begin applying for legal
status. Currently, the bill pro-
poses allowing the process to
begin as long as the government
comes up with a plan to tighten
border security further.
Though defeated, the
attempt to delay the process was
supported by ve other Republi-
cans on the judiciary committee,
which is considering amend-
ments in the rst stage of a legis-
lative process that is likely to last
until at least July. Only Lindsey
Graham of South Carolina and
Arizonas Jeff Flake, both mem-
bers of the gang of eight who
proposed the bill last month,
voted against their fellow
Republicans.
Although a Democrat
majority on the Senate commit-
tee ensures the mark-up process
should proceed without any
major opposition measure pass-
ing, the initial session under-
mined suggestions that there is
broad bipartisan support for the
immigration reform bill. Some
among the gang of eight had
hoped for a majority of at least
70 in the full Senate as a show of
strength that would give the bill
momentum to pass through the
Republican-controlled House.
Grassley said: The bill
will struggle to pass the House
unless the border security prob-
lem is xed.
He argued that US public
opinion was against anything
that would add millions of new
legal competitors for jobs with-
out rst guaranteeing that no
more illegal immigrants would
arrive.
The committee debate also
heard colourful language from
the Texas Republican John
Cornyn, who said there were
also national security concerns
as some of those coming across
the Mexican. Schumer, one of the
key backers of reform, warned
that any amendment requiring
full border security compliance
could fatally undermine the leg-
islation. It would mean if one
radar is broken then nobody
who is already here could get
legal status, he said. It would
probably delay for ever anything
to bring these people out of the
shadows.
Another Grassley amend-
ment, proposing that Congress
rather than the government
should determine whether
border security was adequate
before implementing the bill,
saw a similar six v 12 rebellion
from Republicans.
WASHINGTON D.C. - Pres-
ident Barack Obama met with a
group of Asian American and
Pacic Islander (AAPI) national
leaders in the White House May
8 to take up his call for a com-
monsense immigration reform
that will strengthen the economy
and grow the middle class.
The President emphasized
that commonsense immigration
reform continues to be his top
legislative priority and that he
looks forward to working with
the AAPI community to achieve
that goal.
The leaders expressed their
support for the principles that
the President and key Senators
working on immigration reform
have laid out and their strong
desire for a bill that provides a
pathway to earned citizenship
and supports family unity.
The leaders also expressed
their commitment to working
with Congress to strengthen
the legislation that is being con-
sidered. The President and the
leaders also discussed a number
of issues of importance to Asian
Americans, Native Hawaiians,
and Pacic Islanders, including
efforts to provide affordable,
accessible
The President thanked par-
ticipants for their leadership and
commitment to ensuring that the
American Dream remains attain-
able for all communities and
families, as well as generations
to come.
GOPs use border security... from page 1
Republican Senators Jeff Sessions, Chuck Grassley and others led the attack.
May 15, 2013 22 22
Binay, meanwhile has
announced his plan to run for
President in the 2016 when the
term of Aquino expires.
Aquino is condent that
big victories in both chambers
on Monday will ensure an even
more productive second half of
his term.
MANILA - Even though
elections come and go here, the
people still think they are impor-
tant. Although skeptical, they
still ock to voting precincts
in droves and cast their ballots
during elections.
Were the May 13 elections
different or were they just a
rehash of similar past exercises,
meaning marked with irregulari-
ties and incidences of violence
and vote-buying? Were they
characterized by the usual guns,
goons and gold for which past
Philippine elections had been
notorious? (More stories on P 8)
In the run-up to the elections,
there had been media reports of
violence in parts of the country
where such incidents had been
commonplace. So-called election
hot spots had been identied by
the Commission on Elections.
These areas were so identied
as potential places where elec-
tion-related violence and other
disruptive activities might occur
and therefore needed particular
watching by the national police.
Overall, the candidates for
the various posts nationwide had
not distinguished themselves in
any stellar way. The usual politi-
cal names all over the country
were elded to contest positions
in their localities. Even among
the senatorial candidates, who
are supposed to be of higher cali-
ber than local candidates, it was
the usual people that ran. It was
a case of musical chairs as sons
and daughters of old politicians
vied for the senate vacancies.
But only a few really
deserved to be in the Senate, the
acknowledged past bastion of
erudition and excellence in polit-
ical rhetoric and intellect.
Names like Enrile, Gordon,
Cayetano, Escudero, Cojuangco,
Aquino, Magsaysay and Angara
were fed to the masses through
television, radio and print adver-
tisements. Scions of past mem-
bers of the senate or the lower
house who had distinguished
themselves in one way or another
in the past.
With very few exceptions,
this new crop of politicians isnt
exactly an honor roll of political
deans listers. Theyre mainly
so-so personalities who are still
around because they possess the
right names.
You read the roster of sena-
tors and you cant be blamed
if you weep and pine for the
old days when senators of the
land possessed good minds and
greater powers of oratory. Alas
those good old days are gone,
permanently it looks like.
But perhaps theres a saving
grace for the May 13 elections.
That is the coming to the fore,
for the rst time, of substantial
issues that have been debated
seriously unlike before when lip
service prevailed in the discus-
sion of issues during the cam-
paign.
A newly passed reproduc-
tive health law that aims at pro-
viding assistance to mothers,
especially young ones, to enable
them to make intelligent choices
during their child-bearing years
continued to be a hot topic of
debate even though its already a
law. Led by the Catholic Church
here, opposition to the RH law
remains adamant and aggres-
sive. Politicians who had sup-
ported the bill had been tagged
by the church as undeserving of
the Catholics votes.
The Catholic Church got
deeply involved in the elec-
tions and yet nobody seemed to
mind that this was violating the
law of separation of Church and
State. Nobody dared question
the Churchs political activities
-- telling people who not to vote
for, sponsoring rallies against
specic candidates, posting
political tarpaulins inveighing
against candidates, etc.
Another issue that received
a lot of attention this time was
the existence of political dynas-
ties in the country. Many fami-
lies here have monopolized elec-
tive positions, at both local and
national levels, making their
respective districts virtual ef-
doms of their families, members
of the same family taking turns
getting themselves elected to
the same position. Members of
the same families have invaded
the senate and congress, getting
themselves entrenched, making
it virtually impossible for other
aspirants for the positions to get
elected.
But this time, many Filipinos
have expressed their objection
to this practice and it seems its
only a matter of time before anti-
dynasty legislation gets passed
(the Constitution forbids politi-
cal dynasties but an enabling
law is needed to give teeth to this
provision). Ordinary citizens
have used the power of the inter-
net and other social media to
give voice to their opposition to
dynasties. Civil society activists
too have rallied against dynasts.
Slowly, the Filipinos, espe-
cially the younger generations,
are waking up to the fact that
Philippine politics is a big mess
and has been the source of many
evils in Philippine life. This time
around, many voices from the
masses rose in a crescendo of
protest against many practices
that in the past were taken for
granted as the right of politi-
cians to use and abuse.
The broad masses of Fili-
ding with her husband, Carlo
Moya. Both planned to have a
big Catholic wedding again in
Camiling, Tarlac in the Philip-
pines next month.
When the re started at the
back of the limo, survivors said
they frantically tapped at the
divider to tell the driver, Orville
Brown, 41, to stop because of the
heavy smoke inside.
When Brown stopped, he
and four other FilAm girls were
able to escape while Neriza and
the four others were trapped
at the back. They were badly
burned and had to be identied
by dental records.
A survivor said the driver
did not do anything to save
Neriza and her other friends.
Moya and the husband of one
of those killed said the rear door
was locked trapping the ve
inside the burning limousine.
The San Mateo County re-
ghters and California Highway
Patrol personnel are investigat-
ing the cause of the re on the
westbound side of the bridge in
Foster City.
They were all in their 30s
and were fellow nurses.
The driver told police he
was initially confused when one
of the women tapped on the par-
tition and mentioned smoke.
It was just after 10 p.m. as
the 1999 Lincoln Town Car rum-
bled
over the San Francisco Bay
bridge. The women knocked on
the partition again, Brown said.
They were shouting,
Smoke, smoke! and Pull over,
pull over! Brown, who began
driving as a chauffeur two
months ago, told
the San Francisco Chronicle.
He pulled to the side of the
span, and as he stepped out of
the white stretch limo, he saw
the cars back engulfed in ames.
Four of the women escaped
by climbing through the parti-
tion and out the front doors.
They said the Limo driver did
not do anything to help save
Neriza and the others.
The San Mateo Fire Depart-
ment was looking into the cause
of the re, while the coroners
ofce was working with the
California Highway Patrol to
determine if anything criminal
occurred.
Brown told investigators he
picked the women up in Oak-
land and was taking them across
the bridge to the Crowne Plaza
Hotel in Foster City.
Aerial video shot after the
incident showed about one-third
of the back half of the limousine
had been scorched by the re. Its
taillights and bumper were gone
and it appeared to be resting on
its rims, but the remainder of the
vehicle didnt appear to be dam-
aged.
Among the survivors, Des-
guia and Loyola were listed in
critical condition, said Joy Alex-
iou, a spokeswoman for Valley
Medical Center. The condition
of Arrellano, who was taken to
another hospital, was not known.
The company that oper-
ated the limo was identied as
Limo Stop, which offers service
through limousines, vans and
SUVs.
The company issued a state-
ment saying it will do every-
thing possible to investigate and
assist authorities in determining
the cause of this re in order to
bring forth answers and provide
closure to (the) victims and their
families.
According to records from
the California Public Utilities
Commission, which regulates
limousine companies, Limo Stop
is licensed and insured.
In an interview with CNN
later, Nelia Arellano tearfully
recalled how she saw smoke
coming from the back of the limo
and asked the driver to stop the
vehicle.
The driver didnt want to
listen. I told him there is smoke
and the re came out. Stop the
car, stop the car, she said.
But when the driver stopped
the car, Arellano said he just got
out of the car and left them to
fend for themselves.
Arellano said she was the
rst to crawl over the divider,
but she got stuck. Once again,
the driver did not do anything to
help her.
PNoys reform program... from page 1 ICE probes 2... from page 1
FilAm bride, 4... from page 1
Consul General Ariel Penaranda and other embassy ofcials interview the
two Filipinas who claim they are victims of human trafcking.
remain in protective custody of
US authorities to provide infor-
mation for the ongoing investi-
gation of the suspected human
trafcking case, the Philippine
mission in the US said Tuesday.
The Philippine Embassy
in Washington D.C. said Tues-
day that its consular ofcials on
Monday visited the two Filipino
women at a government ofce in
Virginia to check on their condi-
tion and provide them with per-
sonal care essentials.
Consul General Ariel
Penaranda and Labor Attache
Luzviminda Padilla spoke for
an hour with the two women to
learn about the circumstances
surrounding their April 30
rescue from the Virginia home
where they worked and alleg-
edly experienced abuse.
Details on the meeting were
not disclosed in deference to the
ongoing investigation.
They (consular ofcials)
went there to nd out their
condition and we were glad to
learn that both of them are well.
Theyre in good physical condi-
tion and they are being treated
well, said Philippine Ambas-
sador to the US Jose Cuisia Jr. in
a video the embassy posted on
online video sharing site You-
Tube.
Theyre under the cus-
tody of US authorities, who are
conducting an investigation to
determine if they are in fact vic-
tims of human trafcking, said
the envoy.
This is an aerial view of the burning
white limo.
pinos are still either apathetic,
complacent or simply ignorant
to realize that their voices and
their votes count. They havent
learned to use their clout as
voters to help make changes in
society.
But these past elections have
shown that that may be chang-
ing. If only for this, the May 13
elections were worth having.
The hope is that the raised voices
will continue to echo in future
elections and even in-between
elections. There is still a lot of
conscientizing, to use an activ-
ist term of the past, to do before
all citizens will fully learn their
rights and demand that they
be given to them as a matter of
course. But progress, albeit too
little this time perhaps, has been
made. Now its just a matter of
consolidating that progress.
May 15, 2013 23
Entertainment
US critics rave over Imelda musicale,
Here Lies Love
NEW YORK - Theater critics
are raving over a new off-Broad-
way musical on the life of former
rst lady Imelda Marcos, which
opened in New York last week.
Here Lies Love, which
began as a concept album made
in collaboration between com-
poser and Talking Heads leader
David Byrne and Fatboy Slim,
is being mounted by The Public
Theater at LuEsther Hall. It stars
an all-Asian cast, with Filipino-
American actor Jose Llana as
Ferdinand Marcos and Imelda
Marcos as Korean-American
actress Ruthie Ann Miles.
The 90-minute musical
focuses on key events in the life
of the former rst lady, includ-
ing her 1949 win in a Tacloban
beauty pageant, the declaration
of martial law, the assassination
of Aquino and the Marcoses
exile to Hawaii.
Here Lies Love, which
was recently extended through
June 2, is a welcome and wholly
singular vision of a monumen-
tal episode in Filipino history,
wrote Peter Santilli of The Asso-
ciated Press.
The musicals creators took
their cue from Imelda Marcos
fondness of disco dancing, and
designed the show in a club with
the audience dancing through-
out the performance - a staging
decision that earned wide praise
from critics, who were also
wowed by the thumping score.
Members of the shows
ensemble will instruct you in the
Manila pop-style steps. You may
also nd yourself on television,
simulcast on the walls, during
political rallies. Youll be asked to
vote for Marcos, too, natch. And
as folks tend to do when caught
up in the fever of a crowd, youll
probably nd yourself smiling
and nodding assent, the New
York Times theater critic Ben
Brantley wrote in his review.
Here Lies Love is rich
with candied melodies that
stick to the inner ear and beats
that act like cattle prods. This is
music created to sweep you into
unthinking acquiescence, as his-
tory is said to do, he added.
Stars clash on set of
Never Say Goodbye
Rita Avila is complaining
about her Never Say Goodbye
co-star Alice Dixson supposedly
doing things beyond what is
called for by the shows script.
In a text message sent to
*Bulletin Entertainment,* Avila
said that Dixson throws things
at her even when she is already
exiting the (camera) frame.
She also related an instance
when Dixson allegedly kicked
soil in her direction and cussed
at her - actions that were both,
Rita claimed, not included in the
script.
According to Avila, Dixson
explained that she simply got
carried awaywith the scenes
given her role in the series. With-
out mentioning names, Avila
revealed that a co-actor suffered
elevated blood pressure and was
even hospitalized for it due to
Dixsons alleged antics.
Dixson is yet to air her side
on the matter. Prior, rumors
about her behavior on the set
of the series made the rounds of
various tabloids.
Another Aunor emerges
as singing sensation
Nora, and Lala, here comes
another Aunor in the show busi-
ness arena. Her name is Marion
and is a niece of the superstar.
Marion won third place in
the 2013 Himig Handog. She is
a contract recording artist with
Star Records. Aunor made her
debut in February this year with
an original song titled
If You Ever Change Your
Mind,which she also wrote.
Her song was one of the 12
nalists selected from among
2,500 that were submitted for
audition.
The song won third in the
2013 Himig Handog P-Pop Love
Songs.
On March 7, Aunor signed
a contract with Star Records. She
released her album in April 2013
with Vehnee Saturno as her man-
ager. She was part of the Middle
East Leg of the World Tour of the
Philippine daytime television
series Be Careful With My Heart.
She celebrated her 21st
birthday recently and distrib-
uted a statement saying, among
other things, that she was alsoan-
nouncing her graduation with a
degree in Communications Tech-
nology Management from the
Ateneo De Manila University
Loyola Schools.
Another reason to celebrate
is my song If You Ever Change
Your Mind, which placed third
in the recent Himig Handog
P-pop Music Awards. A neo-
phyte musician, I consider being
chosen as one of the 12 nalists
already a major accomplishment,
having bested some two thou-
sand other entries. Said award
has opened doors of opportuni-
ties for me like signing up with
Star Records. Guestings at Asap
18 and KrisTV then followed.
My song also became part of the
sound track of Apoy Sa Dagat.
I became a part of the Be
Careful With My Heart World
Tour-Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Indeed, God is good; everything
is coming up roses for me.
My album, coming out this
April, is denitely something to
watch out for since this is truly
a labor of love. All songs in the
album are my original composi-
tions, including, among others,
Sex on Legs and of course, If
You Ever Change Your Mind.
Today, more than ever, I
wish to thank God, my friends,
supporters and especially my
family who have made all these
things possible.
This is no longer a joke, says Ai-Ai
Philippine comedy queen
Ai-Ai delas Alas married her
29-year-old businessman boy-
friend, Jed Salang, in a simple
ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Then she apologized to friends
in the Manila for not letting them
know in advance.
TV Patrol said the couple
tied the knot at the Venetian
Hotel last April 3. The ceremony
was witnessed by the comedi-
ennes children.
Photos of the wedding cer-
emony had earlier surfaced on
the photo sharing application,
Instagram.
Ai-Ai said Jed had proven
his sincerity to her when he ew
to the United States in February
to settle their difference. Jed pro-
posed to Ai-Ai during the said
trip, she said.
Ai-Ai added: I love him
also pero siguro mas maganda
naman yun. Kasi siya yung lalaki
supposed to be siya yung mag-
dadala ng relasyon din, Ai-Ai
said.
She said that their 20-year
age gap does not have any effect
on their relationship as Jed is the
one making the adjustments. I
think 60-40: 60 siya, 40 ako (on
the adjustment level), she said.
Malaki ang adjustment
(time) namin, sa work, sa edad.
Lahat ng unos, may liwanag.
Mahal namin talaga ang isat isa
so I think love is really bigger
than the problem, she added.
Ai-Ai said her family, espe-
cially her three kids -- Sancho,
Nicolo and Sophie -- supports
her relationship and marriage to
Salang.
Ai-Ais ex-partner, Miguel
Vera, was also present during
the wedding.
The couple is eyeing a
December 8 church wedding in
Manila.
Tia Pusit to marry younger boyfriend
Tiya Pusit says she and her
younger boyfriend Nathan Villa
have been together for over a
year now. She said they initially
planned to marry this year, but
postponed it until next year
because her brother is marrying
his girlfriend this year.
Tiya Pusit said their family
believes in the Filipino belief that
it is bad luck for siblings to get
married within the same year.
Despite their 37-year age
gap, Tiya Pusit said she has
already met Villas family and
that they are not against their
relationship.
The actress said her only
problem is how to address Vil-
las parents because she is older
than them. Mas matanda pa ako
sa kanila. Anong itatawag ko sa
kanila? she asked.
Asked if she thinks they are
sexually compatible, Tiya Pusit
gave out a good laugh and said:
Naku, walang sex. Meron kasi
akong hypertension, kaya bawal
akong ma-excite masyado.
Minsan sinubukan namin, ayun,
ospital ang bagsak ko. (No sex. I
have hypertension, I cant be too
excited. We tried sex once, but I
ended up in a hospital.) -Source:
ABS-CBN News
Ai-Ai delas Alas and Jed Salang
Tiya Pusit and Nathan Villa
Marion Aunor
Rita Avila
Alice Dixon
May 15, 2013 24 24
On the poverty of Filipinos
DALY CITY
Someone in the administra-
tion of Ferdinand Marcos was
rumored to have declared that
the Philippine is a rich country
pretending to be poor. It cer-
tainly sounds like something
Imelda Marcos would have said,
but my memory fails me.
At any rate, now comes the
National Statistical Coordination
Board (NSCB) reporting that 27.9
percent of Filipinos may be clas-
sied as poor.
President Noynoy Aquino is
said to have bristled at the sug-
gestion that, in spite of all his
efforts, there has hardly been a
dent in the level of poverty of
the citizenry. From 28.8 percent
in the rst half of 2006 and 28.6
percent in the rst half of 2009
and 2011, the gure is reported
to have only slightly decreased
to 27.9 as of the rst half of 2012.
Naturally, the economic
miracle-makers in the opposi-
tion and in the media have been
quick to pounce on PNoy and
heap all the blame on him, while
blithely suggesting magical
ways to solve the pesky problem
of poverty.
Just listen to what senatorial
candidate JV Ejercito had to say:
The NSCB report should prod
the government to buckle down
to work. The Aquino admin-
istration can start by investing
heavily in quality education and
make it accessible to all.
Yeah, yeah. Of course,
while Ejercito might appear to
be suggesting that educating the
poverty-stricken masses today
will result in the eradication of
poverty tomorrow, he actually
knows that it will take several
years of educating and job-hunt-
ing before the newly-educated
and eventually-employed poor
will nally manage to emerge
from their miserable straits.
However, Ejercitos publi-
cists conveniently forgot to add
on that signicant detail.
But Ejercito is not the only
one who has been remiss in this
respect. The information team of
Aquino also forgot to clarify that
poverty would not be eradicated
the day after or even the year
after their boss announced the
impressive improvement of the
countrys economy.
And by not clarifying, they
inadvertently raised the hopes of
the poverty-stricken masses and
provided ammunition for the
opposition and the media.
Another senatorial hope-
ful, Jack Enrile, had this to say:
We must intensify efforts to
achieve food security, rst by
giving agriculture the priority
it deserves and making enough
food available to all at affordable
prices.
Perhaps the younger Enrile
can suggest to the older Enrile
in the Senate, his dad, that one
possible magical solution to the
problem of poverty is to dis-
tribute among the poor the mil-
lions that the ofce of the Senate
President gave as gifts to mem-
bers of the Senate late last year
and while theyre at it, maybe
the honorable members of both
houses of Congress can reduce
the millions in allowances, per
diems and pork barrel funds that
nd their way into their personal
bank accounts. Hopefully, some
of that could trickle down (in
the words of Senator Alan Peter
Cayetano) to the poor.
The same week that the
announcement was made that
the Philippines credit-worthi-
ness had improved, the naysay-
ers began demanding to know
why people still didnt have jobs.
Of course, the naysayers
know why. But theyre saying
nay anyway, for effect. It
makes them appear knowledge-
able and concerned over the
welfare of the masses. But they
know darn well that an improve-
ment in credit-worthiness is just
one part of the process of creat-
ing jobs and improving the lot
of the poor. One of the require-
ments is more direct investments
that could translate into busi-
nesses and factories that could,
in turn, provide jobs.
What the critics and kibitz-
ers are not saying (and which
they very well know) is that,
putting anti-poverty measures in
place, say, today, is like planting
rice or fruit trees. Harvest time
and fruit picking time will only
come later. Hopefully, sooner,
with efcient and honest gover-
nance.
But it is a fact that there will
be no harvest and no fruits to
pick unless Aquino and his gov-
ernment begin to plant the seeds.
Is Aquino planting those seeds?
Even his most virulent critics
will have to admit that he has.
But Aquino himself has to admit
that even his predecessor, Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo, also began
planting those seeds during her
tenure.
The trouble is, like the New
Testament parable of the farmer
planting good seeds and an
enemy spiking the ground with
bad seeds, Arroyos sensible eco-
nomic programs were spoiled by
the kleptomaniacs in the palace.
In the case of Aquino, he has
had to pull out the weeds while
planting good seeds. But there
continue to be bad seeds sprout-
ing weeds. And it is doubtful
that he will succeed in getting rid
of them in the remaining years of
his administration. But he can
certainly minimize them.
Which brings me to the utter
hypocrisy of those who roar and
rail over the poverty prevailing
in the country while they enjoy
immense wealth, or do very little
to eradicate the blight that they
complain about.
Take those who are opposed
to the implementation of the
RH Law. They are also among
the noisiest in demanding that
Aquino and his government
should do something about
the high incidence of poverty in
the country. But they go through
all kinds of linguistic contortions
to make it appear that a runaway
population and too many chil-
dren in a family do not exacer-
bate poverty.
Hopefully, His Holiness
Pope Francis will untangle the
strangulated logic of some of our
bishops and urge them to meet
the government halfway in its
efforts to minimize poverty.
In truth, minimize is all
that they the Church and the
government and all the well-
meaning sectors can reason-
ably do.
Advance
Medical
Directives
QUESTION: I am a middle-
aged woman residing in Fairfax,
Virginia, and Im suffering from
a potentially debilitating illness.
I would like to be prepared in the
event I succumb to my illness.
What can I do legally to make
my wishes known with respect
to medical assistance and care,
and what can I do to ensure that
they are followed?
ANSWER: You should con-
sider preparing and executing an
advance medical directive, such
as a living will. In some jurisdic-
tions, a living will is also com-
monly referred to as an advance
directive, a health care direc-
tive, or health care declarations.
Regardless of nomenclature,
living wills and other advance
directives describe your prefer-
ences regarding treatment if you
are faced with a serious accident
or illness. In general, advance
medical directives include a
living will, a medical or health
care power of attorney (POA),
and a do-not-resuscitate
(DNR) order. Simply dened,
a living will is a legal document
that a person signs to expressly
communicate his or her desires
regarding life-prolonging medi-
cal treatments or end-of-life
care. For example, it may spell
out the types of life-sustaining
measures you and want and do
not wantsuch as mechanical
breathing (e.g., respiration and
ventilation), tube feeding, or
resuscitation. A POA is a legal
document in which you desig-
nate a personalso called your
health care agent or proxyto
make medical decisions on your
behalf in the event that you are
unable to do so. A DNR is basi-
cally a request that cardiopul-
monary resuscitation (CPR)
not be performed if your heart
stops or if you stop breathing.
Advanced directives do not have
to include a DNR order, and you
do not have to have an advance
directive to have a DNR order.
QUESTION: Please explain
the processes for preparing
advance directives in Virginia.
ANSWER: Written advance
directives in Virginia fall into two
principal categories: (i) living
wills, and (ii) medical powers of
attorney. As I already explained
above, a living will allows an
individual to express his wishes
about all forms of health care
decisions. A medical power
of attorney, on the other hand,
allows an individual to desig-
nate another individual (also
called an agent or proxy) to
speak on his or her behalf in the
event that he or she is unable to
make informed decisions on his
or her own (as determined by
two physicians, one of whom is
not otherwise currently involved
in the individuals medical treat-
ment).
The requirements for
advance directives in Virginia
are simple: (1) an adult puts his/
her health care wishes in writing;
(2) he/she signs it, and (3) the
document is signed by two adult
witnesses. Spouses and blood
relatives may serve as witnesses
to an advance directive. Nurses
and physicians may also serve as
witnesses. Advance directives in
Virginia are not required to be
notarized; they need not be on
any special form; and they do not
need to be drafted by an attor-
ney. In addition, copies, faxes,
and PDFs of advance directives
are all valid in Virginia.
QUESTION: Is an advance
directive revocable?
ANSWER: Yes, any advance
directive may be revoked by
any of the following: (i) signed,
dated writing by the person/
patient; (ii) physical cancellation
or destruction by the person/
patient; (iii) physical cancellation
or destruction by any person at
the patients direction and in the
patients presence; and (iv) oral
expression of intent to revoke by
the person/patient.
QUESTION: I have heard
about the Virginia Health Care
Directive Registry. What is it?
ANSWER: The Common-
wealth of Virginia created a free
online advance directive registry
(see www.VirginaRegistry.org)
that allows Virginia residents to
securely store important health-
care documents, such as advance
health care directives, health care
powers of attorney, declarations
of anatomical gift (i.e., organ
donation), and other documents
so that family members, medical
providers, emergency personnel,
or other persons you designate
will know how to honor your
wishes. The information in the
Virginia Registry is safe and con-
dential. Only health care pro-
viders, you, and people you des-
ignate will have access to your
documents.
QUESTION: Where should
I keep my advance directive and
who should get copies of them?
ANSWER: An advance
directive that no one other than
you knows about or to which
no one other than you has
access (e.g., a lockbox or a safety
deposit box) is as good as non-
existent. You should inform the
people that you trust, such as
family members, that you have a
medical directive and where it is
located. You should also give a
copy to (i) your agent or proxy;
(ii) your physician(s); and (iii)
trusted family and friends. It is
also advisable that you have a
copy with you at all times. You
might also consider submitting
a copy to the Virginia Registry
(described above), but you need
to make sure that your agent or
proxy has access to it. It is also
advisable to keep a copy of your
advance directive in a safe place
where it can be easily found.
A. Enrico C. Soriano, Esq.,
is the managing member of Axxis
Law Group, PLLC (www.axxislaw.
com). The answers and discussions
provided in this column do not con-
stitute legal advice, and no attorney-
client relationship is created hereby.
You should consult a competent
attorney for further assistance.
May 15, 2013 25
Other Desert Cities
D
ysfunctional families
have always made for
great theater and Other
Desert Cities, the Tony Award-
nominated drama by Jon Robin
Baitz is no exception. It is cur-
rently getting an impeccable
staging at Arena Stage. In Act 1,
we meet the Wyeth family. They
are a highly regarded family in
upscale Palm Springs, California
. We meet Lyman, a former movie
star-turned-politician (Larry
Brygmann), Polly, a formidable
socialite(Mary Carey), sardonic
son Trip(Scott Drummond),
acclaimed author Brooke(Emily
Donahoe), and sharp-tongued
recovering alcoholic Aunt Silda(
Martha Hackett). To their ador-
ing public and in their commu-
nity, the Wyeths are well-loved
and revered but we soon learn
that they are a less-than-perfect
family.
When Brooke comes home
for the holidays after a long
absence, she is reunited with her
family with whom she exchanges
some warm moments and witty
barbs. Brookes politically liberal
ideas clashes with her parents
who are staunch Republicans
and very good friends of the
Reagans, Polly just adores Nancy
Reagan. The Wyeths also have a
third son, Henry, a rebellious
leftist who joined a cult and com-
mitted suicide. After is death,
Henry is very rarely mentioned
in the household as he seems to
be a great embarassment to his
parents.
When Brooke announces
that she is writing a memoir
about her family and especially
Henry, her parents are horried.
It threatens to turn their family
upside down and besmirch the
pristine image of the Wyeths that
Polly has carefully cultivated for
many years. But Brooke insists
on publishing her book, she says
writing it was even cathartic for
her when she was recovering
from a serious bout of depres-
sion in the East Coast. In Act
2, Lyman and Polly reveals the
very shocking details surround-
ing Henrys death.
Helen Hayes Award Winner
Kyle Donnelly, who directs this
production with great skill, has
assembled a top-notch cast.
Larry Brygmann, who was well-
known for his longtime iconic
role in As The World Turns,
is brilliant as Lyman Wyeth. He
conveys Lyman with an easy
charm and a warm patrician
demeanor. Scott Drummond is
ne as Trip and Emily Donahoe
is superb and mesmerizing as
Brooke. Donahoe imbues Brooke
with pathos and emotional sen-
sitivity. Mary Carey is masterly
as Polly, beneath her icy resolve,
she reveals vulnerable moments.
Martha Hackett steals every
scene that she is in as Aunt Silda,
Silda punctuates the family ten-
sion with her delightful zingers.
Other Desert Cities is the
last play of Arena Stages stellar
2012-13 season and is running at
The Fichlander Stage till May
26. This wonderful-thought-
provoking play is worth seeing
again and again. The press per-
formance that I
attended recently received a
well-deserved standing ovation.
OTHER DESERT CITIES by
Jon Robin Baitz, Arena Stage
At The Mead Center For Ameri-
can Theater, 1101 Sixth St. NW
Washington D.C., Tickets: $40-
$85
202-488-8300 or arenastage.
org Performance times: Sunday,
Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30
p.m. Thursday, Friday and Sat-
urday at 8:00 p.m. Saturday &
Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Weekday
matinees at noon on Wednesday
5/8 & Tuesday, May 14
A long six-
year wait
T
he housing market is
indeed getting better since
2007. Its truly a long six
years wait. Dont get excited
yet, its still not normal but a lot
better from what we have gone
through. A lot of homeown-
ers are still underwater but the
inventory on short sales and
foreclosures have remarkably
reduced. Thanks to banks coop-
eration on loan modication and
short sales processes. Again, not
perfect but much better as the
years go by.
I remember way back then
when I was searching for homes
for my clients and the ratio is
eight to two. Eight are short
sales and two are regular sales.
I am not even considering fore-
closures and bank owned prop-
erties. When I searched now, its
the other way around and it is
good news.
Now, the question is what
lies ahead for those homeown-
ers who did short sales, foreclo-
sures and even bankruptcies?
Can they purchase a home right
now? I have clients way back in
2008-2010 who were able to get
a loan at this time. They were
much happier with a nice house
even better with what they have
before, reasonable loans and low
monthly mortgage payments. I
get a lot of inquiries on how will
they know if they are qualied?
The basic answer it they have
to contact banks or loan ofcers
and see if they qualify. You may
also use these guidelines below
as most banks and lenders have
the same procedures and guide-
lines. This may change from
time to time so it is much better
to consult them.
FHA LOANS WAITING
GUIDELINES:
Short Sale / Notice of Default
- You may apply for an FHA
insured loan THREE (3) years
after the sale date of your short
sale, if you had mortgage late
payments. FHA treats a short
sale the same as a Foreclosure for
now. If you did not have mort-
gage late payments and did what
is called a non delinquent
short sale, you may be eligible to
purchase again right away with
no waiting period.
Foreclosure - You may apply
for an FHA insured loan THREE
(3) years after the sale/deed
transfer date.
Bankruptcy - You may apply
for an FHA insured loan after
your bankruptcy has been dis-
charged for TWO (2) years with
a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.
You may apply for an FHA
insured loan after your bank-
ruptcy has been discharged for
ONE (1) year with a Chapter 13
Bankruptcy
Short Sale / Notice of Default
- You may apply for an FHA
insured loan THREE (3) years
after the sale date of your short
sale, if you had mortgage late
payments. FHA treats a short
sale the same as a Foreclosure for
now. If you did not have mort-
gage late payments and did what
is called a non delinquent
short sale, you may be eligible to
purchase again right away with
no waiting period.
Credit must be re-established
with a minimum 620 credit score
VA LOANS WAITING
GUIDELINES
Short Sale - There is no wait-
ing period to apply for a VA
loan, assuming credit has been
re-established and you have a
620-640 credit score. (Unless the
short sale was a VA loan then
restrictions may apply)
Foreclosure - There is no wait-
ing period to apply for a VA
loan, assuming credit has been
re-established and you have a
620-640 credit score.
Bankruptcy - There is no wait-
ing period to apply for a VA
loan, assuming credit has been
re-established and you have a
620-640 credit score.
CONVENTIONAL LOANS
WAITING GUIDELINES
(FANNIE MAE)
Short Sale / Deed in Lieu of
Foreclosure -
TWO (2) Years up to Maxi-
mum 80% Loan to Value | 20%
Down Payment
FOUR (4) Years up to Maxi-
mum 90% Loan to Value | 10%
Down Payment - Subject to Pri-
vate Mortgage Insurance under-
writing guidelines.
SEVEN (7) Years above 90%
Loan to Value | with less than
10% Down Payment - Subject
to Private Mortgage Insurance
underwriting guidelines.
Credit must be re-established
with a minimum 660 credit score
Fannie Mae has reduced wait-
ing periods in cases of extenuat-
ing circumstances - For example:
death of a primary wage earner.
Foreclosure - You may apply
for a Conventional, Fannie Mae
loan SEVEN (7) years after the
sale date of your foreclosure.
Additional qualifying require-
ments may apply.
Bankruptcy - You may apply
for a Conventional, Fannie Mae
loan after your bankruptcy has
been discharged for FOUR (4)
years.
Take note, this is something
I learned from one of the under-
writers. If you signed a prom-
issory note after short sale, you
start counting from the date the
promissory note has been fully
paid and not the date when the
deed was transferred or the set-
tlement date. Again, these are
just guidelines and subject to
change anytime. Different lend-
ers may have different guide-
lines so it is better to consult
banks, lenders and loan ofcers
for your specic case. I just want
to let you know, there is always
HOPE after short sales, foreclo-
sures and bankruptcies.
Note: Jocelyn Porteria is
a Realtor(r) licensed in VA. She
earned a designation of ABR, GRN
Accredited Buyers Specialist and
GREEN Designation, CDPE Certi-
fied Distressed Property and Short
Sale Expert, (SFR) Short Sales and
Foreclosure Resource. For more info,
visit her website at www.jprealdeal.
com or call her at 571-432-8335 or
email at realdealconsulting@yahoo.
com for a free confidential evalua-
tion of your individual situation,
property value, and possible options.
Pacquiao mauls Barangay captain in his bailiwick
GENERAL SANTOS CITY
- Rep. Emmanuel Manny
Pacquiao, once regarded as the
worlds best pound-for-pound
boxer, is facing charges of vote
buying and serious physical
injuries for mauling a barangay
chairman who tried to stop him
from distributing rice and cash
to voters in General Santos City
late Saturday night.
Pacquiao is seeking reelec-
tion as representative of the lone
district of Sarangani province.
Alfredo Belgica, the baran-
gay chairman of San Jose, was
beaten almost to a pulp by Pac-
quiao and his bodyguards at
11 p.m. on Saturday. Belgica
claimed that Pacquiao and his
bodyguards ganged up on him
when he confronted them for
going house-to-house and dis-
tributing cash and goods to
families in the barangay. The
lawmaker and his group arrived
in the barangay in a ve-car
convoy. Part of the convoy was a
truck loaded with rice and vari-
ous goods Pacquiao and his men
gave out to families in the com-
munity.
During the melee, Pac-
quiao and his bodyguards were
arrested by police authorities
and brought to the General
Santos City police command
based at Camp Fermin Lira Jr.
for investigation.
May 15, 2013 26 26
THAI FISH CAKE
Greetings from Bangkok,
Thailand! As of this writing,
I have one more day to nish
my schooling at Blue Elephant
Cooking School, the best and
the most prestigious culinary
school in Thailand. Tomorrow,
I will receive my certication of
completion and I am on my way
to a new and exciting culinary
adventure. We know that Thai
food is one of the most popular
foods in the world and for that
reason, I have become very pas-
sionate with Thai cuisine. Proud
to tell, I have learned here a lot
of Royal Thai recipes, (not the
regular Thai food) and the real
authentic ones. Here is one of
a series of recipes that I am so
excited to share with my fans and
readers -- in my own simple and
comprehensive interpretation.
This sh cake recipe is known as
Tod Man Plaa Grai, one of my
favorite starters or appetizers.
Ingredients:
1 cup minced Indian knife
sh (Plaa Grai) or let of cod or
any white sh
2 egg yolks
1 or 2 tablespoons red curry
paste (available at any Asian
store)
2 pieces of coriander roots,
thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, peeled and
thinly sliced
half teaspoon white pepper
powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon sh sauce
2 pieces long beans, thinly
sliced, crosswise
2 pieces of kafr leaves
(rolled and shredded)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
(for hands not to stick for shap-
ing sh cakes)
Vegetable oil for deep frying
Accompaniment: Sweet and
Sour Fresh Cucumber Salad (see
recipe)
Methods:
Keep the minced sh and
egg yolks refrigerated until
needed.
In a mortar, pound corian-
der roots and garlic, together
with white pepper powder until
it turns into a smooth paste. In
a bowl, mix this paste with red
curry paste, sh sauce, sugar and
egg yolks.
Add the minced sh, mix
well and then add the long beans
and kafr lime leaves; continue
mixing until very smooth. This
constitutes your sh mixture.
Dipping one hand into veg-
etable oil, shape the sh mixture
into 2 inches in diameter and
atten them into one-fourth inch
thick.
Deep fry into heated 350
degrees vegetable oil and cook
until they oat and golden
brown. Remove and transfer the
sh cakes to drain in a plate with
paper towel.
Transfer to a serving plat-
ter, garnished with green salad
leaves or lettuce and serve with
Sweet and Sour Cucumber Salad
(see recipe below).
Sweet and Sour Cucumber
Salad (Naam A-Jard)
1 cup water
1 pandan leaf, folded, tied
and crushed
1 nger-sized galangal,
peeled and crushed
1/4 cup vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
Vegetables:
1 or 2 pieces baby cucum-
bers, thinly sliced or cubed
4 pieces shallots, thinly
sliced
2 pieces yellow chilies,
thinly sliced
Garnishing:
2 tablespoons ground
roasted peanuts (optional)
coriander leaves
Methods:
To make sweet and sour sauce:
In a small saucepan on a medium
heat, add water, vinegar, sugar
and salt and stir well to dissolve.
Add pandan leaf and galan-
gal. Simmer for about 8 to 10
minutes; remove from heat and
allow to cool. Discard pandan
leaf and galangal from the sweet
and sour sauce.
Put all prepared vegetables
in a small bowl and add the
sweet and sour sauce on top.
Add some ground roasted pea-
nuts and garnish with coriander
leaves.
Editors Note: Master Chef
Evelyn: 100 Most Inuential Fili-
pina Women in the U.S., 2009, Fili-
pina Womens Network; MHC Most
Outstanding Migrant Award in
Culinary Arts, 2011; PAFC Dakila
Special Achievement Award, 2011;
Owner/Chef, Philippine Oriental
Market & Deli, Arlington, Virginia;
Founder and President of CHEW
(Cancer Help Eat Well) Founda-
tion, a 501 (c) (3) public charity
formed to help and cook pro-bono for
Filipino-Americans who are aficted
with cancer and other serious ill-
nesses; Culinary writer; Member,
Les Dames dEscofer International,
Washington DC Chapter; Member,
International Cake Exploration
Society, Member: Culinary Histo-
rians of Washington, D.C.; Master
Chef, French Cuisine and Patisserie,
Le Cordon Bleu, London.
THE LETTER
Dear Husband:
Im writing you this letter to
tell you that Im leaving you for
good. Ive been a good woman to
you for seven years and I have
nothing to show for it. These last
two weeks have been hell. Your
boss called to tell me that you
had quit your job today and that
was the last straw. Last week,
you came home and didnt even
notice that I had gotten my hair
and nails done, cooked your
favorite meal and even wore a
brand new negligee. You came
home and ate in two minutes,
and went straight to sleep after
watching the game. You dont
tell me you love me anymore,
you dont touch me or anything.
Either youre cheating or you
dont love me anymore, what-
ever the case is, Im gone. P.S. If
youre trying to nd me, dont.
Your brother and I are moving
away to West Virginia together!
Have a great life!
Your Ex-Wife
Dear Ex-Wife
Since you dont want me
to nd you, I am sending this
letter through your sister. Noth-
ing has made my day more than
receiving your letter. Its true
that you and I have been mar-
ried for seven years, although
a good woman is a far cry from
what youve been. I watch sports
so much to try to drown out your
constant nagging. Too bad that
doesnt work. I did notice when
you cut off all of your hair last
week, the rst thing that came
to mind was You look just like
a man! My mother raised me to
not say anything if you cant say
anything nice. When you cooked
my favorite meal, you must have
gotten me confused with my
brother, because I stopped eating
pork seven years ago. I went to
sleep on you when you had on
that new negligee because the
price tag was still on it. I prayed
that it was a coincidence that my
brother had just borrowed fty
dollars from me that morning
and your negligee was $49.99.
After all of this, I still loved you
and felt that we could work it
out. So when I discovered that I
had hit the lotto for 100 million
dollars, I quit my job and bought
us two tickets to Jamaica. But
when I got home you were gone.
Everything happens for a reason
I guess. I hope you have the ful-
lling life you always wanted.
My lawyer said with your letter
that you wrote, you wont get a
dime from me. So take care. P.S.
I dont know if I ever told you
this - but Carl, my brother was
born Carla. I hope thats not a
problem.
Signed: Rich as hell and Free
as a bird!
NYMPHO
The woman seated herself
in the psychiatrists ofce. What
seems to be the problem? the
doctor asked.
Well, I, uh, she stam-
mered. I think I, uh, might be a
nymphomaniac.
I see, he said. I can help
you, but I must advise you that
my fee is $80 an hour.
Thats not bad, she
replied. How much for the
whole night?
MENTAL
After hearing that one of
the patients in a mental hospital
had saved another from a sui-
cide attempt by pulling him out
of a bathtub, the hospital direc-
tor reviewed the rescuers le
and called him into his ofce.
Mr. dela Cruz, your records and
your heroic behavior indicate
that youre ready to go home.
Im only sorry that the man you
saved later killed himself with a
rope around the neck.
Oh, he didnt kill himself,
Mr. dela Cruz replied. I hung
him up to dry.
NAKAKAIYAK
Na-ospital ang ama ni Gil-
bert Sy. Sinamahan siya ng mata-
lik niyang kaibigang si Carlo sa
pagdalaw. Nasa ICU na noon
ang kanyang ama dahil sa stroke.
Naroon din ang ilan sa kanyang
malalapit na kamag-anak. Nag-
uusap sila ng Intsik.... kaya hindi
sila maintindihan ni Carlo. Pag-
katapos ng ilang minutong pag-
uusap-usap, nagkayayaan nang
umuwi. Pinakiusapan ni Gilbert
si Carlo upang bantayan muna
ang kanyang ama habang ini-
hahatid niya ang kanyang mga
kamag-anak palabas ng ospi-
tal. Tumayo si Carlo sa gawing
kaliwa ng kama ni Mr. Sy para
bantayan ito. Maya-maya pa,
biglang nangisay ang matanda
at habol ang kanyang hininga...
at nagsalita sa wikang intsik na
hindi naman maintindihan ni
Carlo. Di ta guae yong khee.....
Di ta guae yong khee... Di
ta guae yong khee paulit-ulit
niya itong binigkas bago siya
malagutan ng hininga. Pagbalik
ni Gilbert ay patay na si Mr. Sy.
Nagulat ito sa biglang pagkama-
tay ng kanyang ama ngunit tang-
gap na rin niya ito. Umiyak na
lamang siya. Nang huminahon
ang kaibigan, nagpaalam muna
si Carlo dahil siguradong magsi-
sidatingan ang mga kamag-anak
nito.
Nang nasa taksi na siya,
tinawagan niya ang kaibigang
si Noel Chua at tinanong ang
Di ta guae yong khee. Sagot
ni Noel: Tang na ka...Huwag
mong apakan ang oxygen.
May 15, 2013 27
Remembering Our Mothers
A
lbeit my four children are
all grown up now and
living independently,
during my quiet moments I still
think about my own mother.
On my birthdays, without fail, I
silently thank her for all the valu-
able wisdom that she impressed
on me, all the memorable experi-
ences that she provided me with
and all the good things that she
did for me. No, she did not spoil
me. We were seven children and
I was somewhere in the middle.
I guess my position in the family
was favorable to me. I had two
older sisters with the second one
six years older than me. After
me was a brother. The other
three came later. I remember my
mother or Mama, would take
me with her to food or depart-
ment store shopping, visit with
her kumadre or all the way to
Antipolo church. I truly enjoyed
those trips with her. They were
fun. When I was already a teen-
ager, she would buy me dress
materials of my choice for prom
or important parties. I would
draw my own design and explain
the details to our dressmaker or
what Mama called costurera. She
would also buy me pairs of shoes
of my choice and oh, lipstick
Revlon! For sure she also did the
same thing with my two older
sisters during their time and like-
wise with my younger siblings. I
was already married and living
in our own house that time.
On Christmas and New
Years Eve, my mother instilled
in us the value of family gather-
ings. As the prime mover in the
family, she took care of many
things - the holiday foods, a
Christmas tree with trimmings,
family gifts, our new dresses
and pairs of shoes for both occa-
sions. She mmthe assistance of
our household help. In short,
my Daddy was the bread winner
and Mama was full time house-
wife, managing the house and
the children.
The Magic Wand
The times when my mother
and I were together, especially
during my teen years, we would
talk casually, but her words
would stick to my head which
I still carry with me now. Those
valuable lessons in life were
her legacy to me that I uncon-
sciously transferred on to my
own children. I dont remember
being demanding when she pro-
vided me with the things that I
needed. With her ways, I learned
how to feel or see things that she
did not like. She denitely knew
how to say No and explained
why. She was strict but not in
an obtrusive way. I had much
respect for her and did not want
her to feel unhappy with me. She
was very fair to us and as far as
I can remember, I was always
level-headed and obeyed her.
We were seven, but each felt the
favorite.She used her magic
wand and now, I also have an
imaginary magic wand with my
children. The magic wand that
my mother used, when waved,
spread over her children the
twinkles called LOVE.
I Miss My Mother
Sadly, she passed away
when she was only fty six years
old. Her death was sudden, a car
accident in Manila many years
ago. My own family was still in
Manila then, with young chil-
dren. How I wished she did not
die that young. How I wished I
had the chance to shower her
with some luxuries tted for
a wonderful mother. How I
wished my children had enjoyed
their grandmother when they
were a little older. How I wished
I had many more times to tell her
I love you.
My Children on Mothers
Day
On May 12, 2013, this years
Mothers Day celebration, I will
be on top of the world again.
Like in the past, my children will
be making this day a happy and
enjoyable one. With the theme,
Mom is on top of the world,
theyll shower me with foods,
gifts (money and in kind) and
Mothers Day card. I love the
cards with their hand written
greetings. They write heart-
warming notes that I keep and
cherish. I already have a boxful.
Seasons will come and go but the
words in these cards shall serve
as the remembrance of the past.
I hope not, but if and when my
memory leaves me, I shall have
these treasured notes to read.
I did not want to be para-
noid, but from time to time and
on eeting moments, I think of
the early passing of my Mom. I
am now way past that age. The
present is important and valu-
able. God willing, my husband
and I try very much to stay
healthy so as we may enjoy our
children longer and likewise,
they may enjoy us, their parents,
possibly for more years to come.
We are lucky to have wonderful,
thoughtful and loving children.
Tributes to Mothers
What is a home without a
mother?
All I am, I owe to my mother.
Mother is the person who,
seeing there are only two pieces
of pie for three people, at once
claims that she never did care for
pie.
A mans work is from sun to
sun, but a mothers work is never
done.
Sons are the anchor of a
Mothers life
A mother understands what
a child does not say.
Most mothers are instinctive
philosophers.
A man never sees all that his
mother has been to him until it
is too late to let her know that he
sees it.
Mothers hold their chil-
drens hands for a little while
and their hearts forever.
You never get over being a
child, long as you have a mother
to go to.
A mother is the only person
on earth who can divide her love
among all her children and each
child still have all her love.
There is no inuence so
powerful as that of the mother.
Lola Juling
M
emories of my Dupax
grandmother are
embarrassingly few.
I felt her gentle presence which
I mostly ignored because Lolo
Gatsing claimed my attention.
He was kinetic energy, vibrant,
and transparent. He had black
moods which incinerated every-
thing and everyone.
Lola Juling was tiny. She
didnt reach ve feet which made
my lolo appear six feet tall. I felt
deated when as an adult I real-
ized he was no taller than 56. I
never saw lolas hair unpinned
and free. She was a quiet woman
who needed an interpreter
because I spoke Tagalog, the
Philippines main dialect, while
she spoke Ilocano, the dialect of
the north.
Ayy, neneng ko. (Oh, my
child!) She would cry out in frus-
tration as she held up her hands
in that universal sign of defeat.
Her forehead creased in concen-
tration, as if willing some Taga-
log words to appear. Thats ok,
lola. I held her hands in mine.
Its ok. I know.
We conversed half in Ilo-
cano, half in English, but mostly
in gestures. I smiled at her, com-
municating as gently as I could
how much I appreciated her.
Deep lines crossed her face;
her eyes squinted behind thick
glasses. One of her sisters said
I looked like her in her youth.
But there was nothing left of the
beautiful young woman I saw
in the old photos. Except when
she smiled. I saw glimpses of her
loveliness then.
I took for granted her forti-
tude and unshakable love for her
husband. She had a ready smile
for lolo. In retrospect I now real-
ize it was a grin perfected from
years of practice. I was his favor-
ite rst apo and I idolized him,
but I wished she called him to
task for the hurt he inicted on
her and their children. He was
the patriarch and the epitome of
the Aquino temperament. It is
what we call our familys inclina-
tion for intense pride bordering
on imperiousness.
He was not to be ques-
tioned. Ever. His word was law.
His children were to be obedient
and respectful; expected to nish
the school year at the top of their
class; and act with proper deco-
rum. His wife had to be an ideal
woman quiet, serene, obedient,
moral, beyond reproach, above
suspicion. Caesars wife. And
Caesar? He was a law unto him-
self. Untouchable.
Lola was content to busy
herself in the kitchen. Her gala-
pong (ground rice soaked in
water and the base for several
recipes) and pakbet, the vegeta-
ble dish closely identied with
the Ilocanos, were excellent. I
followed her to her kitchen one
afternoon. She pointed to the
door and smiled. I shook my
head so she gave up shooing
me away. In a soft halting voice
lola showed me how to stack the
vegetables and simmer them in
bagoong (fermented sh paste).
She used one of her clay pots.
The palayok deepened in color
as it absorbed heat outside and
moisture inside.
The bagoong she pre-
ferred was made from mona-
mon, a small sh variety related
to anchovies. The sh paste
smelled and looked revolting.
The brackish sauce reminded
me of the bottom of the brook
we picnicked at. Pakbet was
denitely an acquired taste but
it has become one of my favor-
ite dishes. In a strange twist of
nostalgia, I now enjoy bagoong
monamon with lime or vinegar
as a dipping sauce.
My Lola Juling showed me
how the hardier vegetables like
the ampalaya (bitter melon) and
the batong (string beans) should
be placed at the bottom, with the
okra and the eggplant stacked
on top. She didnt use tomatoes
or meats. She didnt add any
water. She simmered the dish
over low heat. Pinakbet - or
pakbet - means shriveled. The
salty bagoong drained the water
from the vegetables until they
wrinkled.
I was only half-listening. I
stared at her hands. They were
deformed by rayuma (rheu-
matism) and reminded me of
the petried wood I saw in the
forest. I hated that but I couldnt
shake the image. I looked at my
supple hands and dreaded the
thought of growing old with n-
gers bent like hers and suffered
from extreme guilt for it. She
massaged the kinks when she
thought nobody was looking.
In spite of that, she knit-
ted. I wonder how she persisted
despite the arthritic pain. I kept
the doilies she sent through my
mother even though I have no
use for them. I still have the pea-
green bonnet she made for me. I
hardly wear it (frankly, it itches)
and would have thrown it to the
dustbin but for the memory of
the woman who made it.
I am now a lola to three
grandsons and will welcome
grand-twins in October. I have
an exuberant personality that
at times unsettles those around
me. Unlike my Lola Juling, I will
leave a legacy of quirky anec-
dotes. I hope my apos will be
kind in their re-telling.
May 15, 2013 28 28
Its more fun
A
Caucasian couple, probably cap-
tivated by the Tourism Depart-
ments slogan, Its more fun in
the Philippines, early this month used
the Philippine embassy along Massa-
chussetts Avenue in Washington D.C. to
have their own fun. Because it was past
midnight and the gates were locked, the
couple (a man and a woman) climbed the
fence to have fun on the welcome mat
at the entrance of the embassy building.
They were reportedly caught in a-
grante delicto by the US security service
which patrols foreign embassies. Secret
service agents reportedly arrested them
and told the Philippine embassy about the
incident. They reported told an embassy
personel its no fun to disturb the human
rights of the couple.
***
If many eligible voters in the greater
Washington D.C. area were unable to vote
before the May 13 deadline, blame it on
the dumbells mailers in the Philippine
Commission on Elections. They should be
compelled to take up US Geography-101.
Among the fortunate voters who got
their ballots are the Manila Mails asso-
ciate editor, Lito Katigbak. The Come-
lec envelop had his correct name, house
number, and Fairfax, Virginia 22031. But
the Comelec dumbells included Wash-
ington, United States of America.!
..tupid!
The addition of Washington to the
address naturally confused the US post
ofce, di ba? Confused, USPO promptly
sent the envelop back to the embassy with
the notation return to sender undeliver-
able as addressed. The embassy stuck
the ballot in a new envelope with the cor-
rect address.
The addresses are not the only ones
getting the ire of intelligent overseas
voters, said Katigbak. The instructions
accompanying the ballot paper were
equally confusing.
***
There is a quiet celebration going on
in the Philippine embassy. The reason,
according to a mole, is that Press Atta-
che Elmer Cato (no relation to the Cato
Institute) has passed the ministerial level
exams he took in Manila and is now one of
four ministers at the Philippine Embassy.
But boohoo, one of the examinee in the
consular section has reportedly failed in
the same exam.
For the information of people with
the Comelec postal mailers mind, Cato
will soon be a minister in the diplomatic
service of the Philippines, not El Shaddai
or Iglesia ni Kristo. But he still has to have
the conrmation from the Commission on
Appointments. The other three ministers -
the next step to becoming an ambassador
- are Andrelita Austria, Emil Fernandez
and Ariel Penaranda.
But why four? The mole said they
have to minister to the needs of Ambas-
sador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., who has become
a media celebrity of sorts. In fact, some
of them act as photographer if Cato is not
available, the mole averred.
***
Talking of ministers, the embassy
mole added that three more ministers
who are known to be not in good terms
with each other were also in town early
this month to prepare for a forthcoming
international meeting. The rivalry is so
bad they reportedly take seats on an air-
line far from each other. The mole said
that one time, these intelligent ministers
almost came to blows were it not for the
proverbial cool heads.
The reason they cannot get together
peacefully is over intellect. Each feels he
is more intelligent than the other. Names?
The mole just said one is dark complex-
ioned, the other is darker than Vice Presi-
dent Binay and the other a Mestizo who
used to be the charge de affaires in the
Philippine embassy here.
Its more fun to be in the Philippine
embassy.
***
Continuing his report, this very
active mole said: Our amiable Army and
Defense attache Brig. Gen. Cesar Yano is
retiring. There are no plans at present to
replace him. Taking over as
Defense attache and concurrent Naval
attache is Capt. Elson Aguilar. Assisting
him is Air Force attache Col. Arnel Duco.
So why is the Philippine military down-
grading its presence in Washington? Is it
because of Philippine-style sequestration
or because Washington is not as impor-
tant to us any more?
***
Tsismoso is embarking on a very
risky adventure. I am starting a survey
to nd out if the community supports my
Editorial
A day of decision
More than 50 million Filipinos in the Philippines and abroad have gone
to the mid-term polls May 13 to exercise their right of suffrage. On the
national level, each voter was allowed to vote for up to 12 senatorial candi-
dates and one party-list group. For the local positions in cities and munici-
palities, the voter may choose one representative/congressman, one mayor,
one vice mayor and the allotted number of councilors. For those in the prov-
inces, a voter would also choose a governor, a vice governor and provincial
board members.
For the almost one million oversees absentee voters, the selection is lim-
ited to voting for 12 senators and a party list representatives.
As we go to press, calls for preserving the sanctity of the ballot have
lled the air. And charges of voter fraud and reports of election-related kill-
ings continued to mount. All of these, of course, are nothing new in Philip-
pine elections.
But in the United States there have been reports of disenfranchised over-
seas absentee voters. Hundreds, if not thousands of OAVs may not have
received their Commission on Elections packets which contained the bal-
lots because of wrong addresses. In the Washington D.C. area alone almost
900 packets were returned undelivered to the Philippine embassy by the US
postal service. Because of the concern expressed by the Filipino community
about the undelivered ballots, the embassy had to appeal to voters to claim
their packets at the embassy. Its estimated that thousands of overseas voters
in the United States alone were unable to exercise their right to vote through
no fault of theirs. Similar situations may have also cropped up in the Middle
East and Europe.
In Manila, the Commission on Elections gave assurances that the sanc-
tity of the ballots would be protected and that the automated vote count will
proceed smoothly to ensure a clean and fraud-free election. It even said that
persons with disabilities, senior citizens and illiterate voters will be given
assistance by the Board of Election Inspectors on election day.
But for voters in the US, many have failed to receive their ballots during
the month-long window for voting. The Comelec failed in its duty to make
every registered OAVs cast their vote. Among the other complaints of those
who have received their packets was that the Comelecs instructions for
voting were confusing and difcult to follow. Another complaint was the
lack of information about the senatorial candidates and their track records.
. The Comelec, it seems, had relied only on the TV stations that broadcasts
overseas to disseminate information about the candidates. Not all OAVs are
subscribers to these channels. The Comelec did not utilize the printed media
in the US, Canada and the Middle East to help the voters make intelligent
decisions.
The Comelec has failed in its duty to ensure that overseas Filipinos
would be able to participate in the election process.
Continued on page 31
May 15, 2013 29
Same banana
P
res. Noynoy Aquino of
the Philippines is riding
high. He was just featured
in the cover of Time magazine,
Asia edition, having landed in
the 100 most inuential leaders
in the world. His approval rating
according to a recent survey
by the Social Weather Station
remains over 70%.
He deserves the accolade.
During his rst three years in
ofce, the credit rating of the
Philippines has been upgraded
by Standard and Poor. The
World Bank projects gross
domestic product forecast at
6.2% for 2013, 6.1% for 2014 and
6.2% for 2015. Is one of the fastest
growing economies in Asia.
Pres. Noy has tried to lead by
example in his crusade for clean
government otherwise known in
his vocabulary as daang matu-
wid. So far, there have been no
allegations of the President or
any member of his family taking
advantage of political power to
amass wealth.
It helps that he does not
sleep with somebody who goes
shopping recklessly with the
peoples money. And he feels no
need to build mansions for spe-
cial amusements as he is content
with spending his nights hug-
ging an innocent pillow.
With so much political
capital at his disposal, he has
immersed himself in the politi-
cal campaign to elect members of
the Senate in the hope that he can
ll the upper legislative chamber
with allies. On this score, Aquino
missed a great opportunity to
remake the political landscape.
He wants the people to
believe that he is not a traditional
politician. With his popularity
unmatched by any other politi-
cal leader, he could have really
demonstrated his determination
for a new path of governance
by selecting a team of senatorial
candidates that shuns political
dynasties and recognizes merit
based on individual accomplish-
ments and record of public ser-
vice.
What Aquinos party had
done is to assemble a slate of
senators that will ll the Senate
with two brother and sister Cay-
etanos, an Angara son to succeed
the elder Angara, a Pimentel as a
place holder for a retired Pimen-
tel, an Aquino whose mark to
fame is being a cousin of Pres.
Noy, another Villar to add to
incumbent Villar the husband,
a Magsaysay to perpetuate the
household name, and a Poe to
give homage to a person who
was good at pretending to ght
for the oppressed on the big
screen.
The party of the administra-
tion has almost the same avor
as the opposition UNA. It has an
Ejercito also known as Estrada
to add to an incumbent Estrada,
an Enrile to add or succeed the
incumbent Enrile, a Binay whose
political resume is laced with
her being the daughter of the
popular Vice President, another
Magsaysay name to exploit the
family names magic.
The people are being served
with a false choice. As it has been
said, the more things change, the
more they remain the same.
Dry-run for
2016
T
he elections are over and
by the time you read this,
the frontrunners in the
Philippine midterm polls will
be evident. But who they are,
is not as signicant (most are
either veteran ofce holders or
neophytes from the old political
dynasties) as what their aflia-
tions are this election is actually
a dry-run for 2016.
For President Aquinos Lib-
eral Party this was an oppor-
tunity to vindicate itself from
the mixed results of the 2010
elections when Sen. Mar Roxas,
erstwhile titular head, lost the
vice presidential race to former
Makati City Mayor Jejomar
Binay. This midterm election
was a re-match.
Though neither is in the
ballot, both Roxas and Binay
loom large in last Mondays
electoral exercise. As Secretary
of Interior and Local Govern-
ments (a post previously held by
Binay), Roxas holds sway over
the police and the thousands of
local ofcials many of whom
are either seeking re-election
or backing successors in their
respective constituencies.
Aside from 12 senators
and 229 congressmen whod
be elected to join the 16
th
Con-
gress, there are 80 governors
and vice governors; 766 pro-
vincial lawmakers; 138 mayors
and vice mayors; over 1,600 city
and municipal mayors and vice
mayors; and more than 23,000
city and municipal councilors
vying for positions.
In short, the electorate is
currently building the political
infrastructure for the 2016 elec-
tions, especially for the prized
post as Benigno Noynoy
Aquino III reaches his consti-
tutionally mandated, one-time
6-year term limit as President.
Its widely expected that
the President would backed
Roxas bid if he decides to run
for president in 2016. Binay has
practically declared that he will
this much was clear when had
a chance to talk with his son, the
current Makati Mayor Junjun
Binay during an event in Oxon
Hill, Md. last year. The entire
family, he admitted, was gearing
up for their patriarchs presiden-
tial run.
Binay is president of the
United Nationalist Alliance
(UNA), a hodge podge of old but
tested political parties including
the PDP-Laban which spear-
headed the political struggle to
oust former strongman Ferdi-
nand Marcos, and the Estrada-
led Partido ng Masang Pilipino
(former Pres. Joseph Estrada
is the party chairman and is
running in another interesting
match-up with Manila Mayor
Fred Lim).
The UNA currently counts 3
senators (out of 24), 11 congress-
men (out of 287) and 8 governors
(out of 80). Binay is obviously
eager to buoy those numbers and
hes hoping the latest elections
will do the trick.
The Roxas family practically
holds the franchise to the Lib-
eral Party, ever since then Senate
(and later Philippine) President
Manuel Roxas (the current DILG
Secretarys grandfather) joined
then Senate President Pro-Tem-
pore Elpidio Quirino and Sena-
tor Jose Avelino to break-away
Opinion
Continued on page 31
Danny Villanuevas
Legacy
J
ustin Pierce Robinson was
eight years old when Danny
Villanueva offered a glass of
juice to his grandson who was
thirsting for a drink after helping
out in their Oxon Hill garden one
morning. I put some fresh fruits
in the blender, the old man said
with a straight face. I prepared
it especially for you. The kid
took one gulp and realized it
was not a fruit drink at all, but
ampalaya (bitter melon) juice.
They both laughed. I just want
to see the look in your face, but
dont tell your mom, OK? The
grandfather, widely known as a
practical joker, grinned and gave
the boy a hug.
Now 15, Justin remembers
the incident as he tries to recall
other stories of his 89-year-
old grandpa who passed away
recently. The fourth son of Gloria
Villanueva Robinson (the young-
est of Danny Villanuevas seven
children), Justin describes how
her mom cried when he shared
the story.
Grandpa always made
us laugh, he recalls. He also
taught me never to be afraid of
the dark. When he was growing
up in the Philippines, he told me
he was often scared being left
alone, especially when the lights
are out. One night his father
assured him that no harm will
come and told his son to stay
calm while he got something
from the kitchen. He brought
back a plate of chicken adobo.
Since then, my grandpa said,
the dark never scared him any-
more.
As a young man, Manong
Danny witnessed the atrocities
committed by the Japanese occu-
pation forces during World War
II. After the war, he helped his
father in the farm, doing his part
to support the family despite
back-breaking work.
But he dreamed of a better
life, of having a family of his own
someday. So when he heard of
friends who earned US citizen-
ship by joining the U.S. Navy, he
left his hometown in Alaminos,
Pangasinan for Subic Bay Naval
Base in Olongapo and signed up.
Manong Danny was one of
2,000 Filipinos allowed to join
the service in the 1950s. But when
they entered the Navy, they had
no choice but to either be a stew-
ard or a cook. His deployment
in the next 30 years took him to
places like the Panama Canal
Zone, the Mediterranean Sea,
Spain, Korea and Japan, serving
under big guns like Gen. Doug-
las MacArthur.
During one of his shore
leaves, he returned to his home-
town and fell in love with his
future bride: Aurelia Ochave
Catbay. Told of another rival
courting her, the determined
sailor worked on getting her par-
ents blessings rst, then later
proposed with a Valentines
card. His persistence paid off.
They got married on December
6, 1953. Two years later, they set-
tled in Rhode Island where she
gave birth to Danilo. Six others
followed during his deploy-
ments in Florida and Norfolk:
Robert, Beverly, Jane, Grace,
Ricky and Gloria.
While Manang Auring
was raising the kids by herself,
Manong Danny was aboard a
military ship serving meals to
Navy big shots. As luck would
have it, President Dwight Eisen-
hower paid a special visit to the
ship one day. Impressed with a
gourmet dish Manong Danny
and the kitchen staff prepared
for the visiting president, his
aide ordered the Filipino stew-
ard to work at the White House.
It was an honor Manong Danny
cherished all his life.
After proudly serving ve
presidents (Eisenhower, Ken-
nedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford),
Manong Danny retired in Oxon
Hill, Maryland. He continued
pursuing his passions: cooking
for his family, spoiling his
Continued on page 31
Continued on page 31
Danny Villanuevas widow, Aurelia,
and grandson Justin pose with a pic-
ture of his grandfather.
May 15, 2013 30 30
Will PNoy get his wish?
MANILA
E
very election is crucial to
any nation, considering
that there are many coun-
tries that either dont hold elec-
tions at all or their elections are
notoriously fraudulent. The Phil-
ippines has had its bad record
of rigged elections, violence and
vote-buying.
By the time youre read-
ing this, 47 million Filipinos will
have cast their ballots again, this
time to ll practically all elective
positions of government (the
only posts not at stake are the
presidency and barangay (vil-
lage-level) positions).
How important are the May
13 elections? Just as important as
past elections but probably more
so this time.
The Philippines is a slowly
maturing nation. That is a polite
way of saying that we are a
people whove not mastered the
art or science of good govern-
ment. Various commentators
ascribe this sad reality in Philip-
pine history to the way we have
been manipulated and misedu-
cated by past colonial powers,
mainly Spain and the United
States (thank Almighty the Japa-
nese didnt stay long enough
to inict their own cruelty and
brainwashing on us). Many here
believe that the Spaniards (more
than 300 years) and the Ameri-
cans (half a century) corrupted
the Filipinos and/or bequeathed
ethics and characteristics that
have helped evolve a mongrel
breed of people. Worse, not
knowing who or what we truly
are.
Weve not been able to break
out of the past to create and nur-
ture a truly independent-think-
ing society, able to visualize a
viable and robustly functioning
nation, and chart our own course
and destiny. The bottom line is
that weve remained feudal, still
practicing what we as a people
had witnessed and learned from
the Spaniards and the skin-
deep trappings of a materialistic
modern society from the Ameri-
cans.
Which explains the feudal
habits and practices of our politi-
cal leaders, many of whom know
nothing about how to manage
and administer the various polit-
ical subdivisions of the nation.
Nincompoops from every nook
and cranny of the country delude
themselves into thinking that
they can be head of a town, city,
province or the country without
any preparation for the ofce.
Many still assume that they
are entitled to the ofce by reason
of inheritance (from their grand-
father or father who had held the
ofce before). In truth, practi-
cally all of them are incompetent
and incapable of running even a
junkyard. Indeed, most of them
are unqualied to do anything
else in life and nd running for
ofce the most convenient way of
nding employment, especially
if a member of their family has
already been holding the ofce,
ready to leave it as inheritance
to them. This country has been
run by too many fools who, in a
pinch, cant even tell the Philip-
pines neighboring countries or
what GNP per capita means.
But, to go back to whether
the May 13 elections are crucial.
Yes, they are because the out-
comes will help shape the kind
of government the Filipinos will
have for the next two decades,
but most particularly the next
decade.
President Benigno Aquino
IIIs term will end in 2016 and
there will be a big battle for his
vacant ofce before then. The
results of the May 13 elections
across the nation, but most espe-
cially in the election for sena-
tors, will dictate whether Mr.
Aquino will have the clout and
the actual power to govern as he
has started -- reforming politics,
cleansing government of corrup-
tion, jump-starting the economy,
rebuilding weakened or debased
institutions, and creating an ethic
that attempts to equalize the
treatment of individuals, partic-
ularly the common people. And
they will have a huge bearing on
whether Aquino can make his
chosen presidential candidate
win in 2016 and thus be able to
provide continuity to his pro-
gram of government.
Previous Observer columns
have highlighted the battle for
control of the senate, the breed-
ing ground, as it were, for future
presidents and national states-
men. More importantly, the
senate is a bellwether of where
the nation is moving toward.
Supposed to be the more intelli-
gent and august chamber of the
bicameral legislature, the senate
Continued on page 31
Bottled
Scorpions
MANILA
P
eople never lie so
much as after a hunt,
during a war --- or
before an election. Otto von
BismarckS adage unreels with
a vengeance in the May 13 elec-
tions homestretch.
How many of 52,014,648
voters will turn up May 13?
Theyre to ll 18,022 posts: 12 in
the Senate and 229 in the Lower
House. In 80 provinces, 143 cities
and 1,491 towns, all elective
posts are up for grabs --- plus
slots for party list representa-
tives.
Credit year round listing
by the Commission on Elec-
tions for this unprecedented
number. Comelec also exorcised
ghosts. In Autonomous Region
in Muslim Mindanao, almost a
quarter ot a million (236,489 to
be precise) names were deleted.
Most were either double regis-
trants or were too young to vote.
Comelec scrapped 238,557 over-
seas absentee voters. Most failed
or didnt bother to vote in the
last two elections.
An overload of political
pap and dirty tricks swamp
voters. Posters are plastered
end-to-end on every wall. Some
peddle candidates even their
mothers wouldnt vote for. The
campaign jingles deafen. Hand
outs against Team Patay barge
even into private space to pray.
Scorpions-in-the-bottle
brawls mar both local and
national campaigns.
In Cebu City , Rep. Tomas
Osmena uncorked a condential
psychiatrists report, written for
the family court, on marriage
annulment proceedings lodged
against rival Mayor Mike Rama.
A new low, snapped Sun Star
columnist Bong Wenceslao.
Wait. Theres a plot to
loft a bogus report on his blad-
der cancer, Osmena added. To
pre-empt foes, he released his
2012 Anderson Cancer Center
report.. No metastasis ( or
spread ), since operation-cum-
chemotherapy for stage 3 blad-
der four years back, it states.. Five
years is the medical benchmark
where recurrence is unlikely.
Senator Loren Legara twists
in the wind from a charge that
over four years she didnt
declare, in her Statement of
Assets and Liabilities, a posh 77
Park Avenue condo in New
York. She plastered the gap
before the Senate convened to
impeach Chief Justice Renato
Corona.
Black propaganda
snapped Legarda. Without
naming Sen. Alan Peter Cay-
etano,. she fumed that a fellow
candidate orchestrated this
smear. The $700,000 condo
purchase, paid in cash, was
reected SALN she led in June
2007 and thereafter.
Did you le two SALNs in
2011?, blogger Raissa Robles
asked. Legarda displayed
Thursday a SALN that pegs
Continued on page 31
Immigration Notes
By J.G. Azarcon, Esq.
Provisional
waiver
processing
The Department of Home-
land Security has released on
January 2, 2013 new rules chang-
ing the procedure for obtaining a
waiver for a ground of inadmis-
sibility based on unlawful pres-
ence in the country
Starting on March 4, 2013,
certain aliens who are in the
country without valid status and
who need a waiver of unlawful
presence to qualify for a green
card can now apply for obtain
a waiver decision before exiting
the US for an interview abroad.
Those who could avail
themselves of this rule change
are spouses, children under 21
years and parents of US citizens
who are unlawfully present in
the US because they entered
without having been admitted or
paroled or violated their autho-
rized stay. These are mostly
people who crossed the border
and others who do not qualify
for adjustment of status.
These aliens do not qualify
for adjustment of status in the
US and must exit the country for
a visa interview. Upon depar-
ture however, they are subject
to a three year or ten-year bar
depending on the length of
unlawful presence.
In order avoid the three or
ten-year bar, the alien needs to
obtain a waiver of inadmissibil-
ity from the Department of State.
This requires a showing that the
US citizen relative will suffer
extreme hardship as a result of
the separation from the alien.
Under the old procedure, the
application is led at a foreign
consular ofce after the alien has
exited the US. If disapproved,
the alien would be stranded in
his home country and separated
from his family in the U.S.
The new rule change will
allow the ling and determina-
tion of the merits of the waiver
application in the US without
requiring the alien to exit while
the waiver is in process. It does
not alter or lower the standard of
proof required for a showing of
extreme hardship.
What does this mean to
somebody who walked across
the border without a visa,
VISA PRIORITY DATES FOR THE PHILIPPINES
APRIL 2013
FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES
First: Unmarried sons/daughters
of US citizens Jan. 01, 2000
Second:
A: Spouses/minor children of
permanent residents: Jun. 08, 2011
B: Unmarried sons/daughters 21 years
of age or older of permanent residents Nov. 01, 2002
Third: Married sons/daughters of citizens Nov. 15, 1992
Fourth: Brothers/sisters of citizens Nov. 08, 1989
EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES
First: Priority workers Current
Second: Professionals holding advanced
degrees or persons of exceptional ability Current
Third: Skilled workers, professionals Sep. 22, 2006
Other Workers Sep. 22, 2006
Fourth: Current
Certain Religious Workers Current
Fifth: Employment creation/
(Million or half-million dollar investor) Current
Continued on page 31
May 15, 2013 31
wife with serenades and special
dishes, doting on his grandchil-
dren and great grandchildren,
and raising a lushful garden of
vegetables and owers.
Robert Fune, 35, of Win-
chester, Va. recalls his grandpar-
ents 50th anniversary almost 10
years ago: My grandma said at
their renewing of vows that he
still gave her butteries when she
saw him. He loved her and his
family very much. I know that he
died a proud man, being able to
watch his children, 22 grandchil-
dren and 13 great grandchildren
grow. And he was able to see and
hug them all. I hope that I can be
half the husband to my wife as
he was to my grandmother. He is
a great example on how to treat
a woman. To him, his daughters
are all princesses.
Robert continues: He
didnt have to teach life les-
sons through words because
my grandfather was a man of
action. He had a magnicent
garden and greenhouse. When
my cousins would help him put
the plants in certain areas of the
yard, they could not understand
why. But my grandfather knew
which ones needed the most sun-
light and which ones needed the
most watering. He cared for his
family the same way.
In his eulogy, eldest son
Danilo recounted how his father
took pride in being a culinary
specialist and having been an
active parishioner at St. Columba
Catholic Church, including sing-
ing in the choir. He was a pillar
of the community, having co-
founded the Ilocano Society of
America, CIPAA and the Phil-
ippine American Cultural Arts
Society (PACAS). As the eldest
of seven children, Dad grew up
in near poverty conditions,
Danilo said. He developed a
tremendous sense of responsi-
bility for the well-being of his
family. After marrying and rais-
ing seven children of his own,
this sense of responsibility con-
tinued through to the last days
of his life. Manong Danny and
Manang Auring would have
been married for 60 years in
December.
At a recent congressional
ceremony celebrating Asian
Pacic American History Month,
Steny Hoyer US Rep. for Mary-
lands 5th District said that the
people who come to this country
are risk-takers. They may have
been poor or low-skilled but they
come here to build a better life
for their families and a better life
for all of us. They added greatly
to the vibrancy of this country.
Hoyer may well have been
speaking of Danny Villanueva.
No doubt, he rendered a great
service to this nation, using his
culinary skills to serve dignitar-
ies and heads of states, ambassa-
dors and admirals, congressional
leaders and celebrities. But rais-
ing a family and making sure
his children all got a good edu-
cation may well be his proudest
achievement. They are all proud
professionals in their own right,
contributing greatly as well to
their communities and to this
countrys social, religious, cul-
tural and economic life. Danilo is
a top corporate ofcer of Trigon
Industries in Florida; Robert is
in the IT business and will soon
become a Deacon of the Catholic
Church; Beverly and Grace are
into arts, theatre and stage man-
agement; Jane is a health and
wellness advocate; Ricky works
for IT companies; and Gloria
runs a household and home
schools her own children.
In light of the national
debate about immigration
reform and the threat to family
unity, Manong Dannys story of
hard work and determination is
one that will always move and
inspire. As a community in this
nation of hard-working immi-
grants, we are a little richer today
because of what Manong Danny
taught us about love of family,
love of country and love of God.
Send your comments to jon-
mele@aol.com
Danny Villanuevas Legacy... from page 29
***
Its graduation time again.
The young hopefuls will have
to sort out all the advice from
the commencement speakers
and family and friends. Dont
take everything, hook, line and
sinker. Here are my words of
wisdom
People tell you, aim high.
Dont believe it, or you will
miss your target. Remember the
grade school poem- I shot an
arrow into the air. It fell to earth.
I knew not where. Better yet,
pick a target which is down to
earth and shoot straight.
They will also tell you to
work hard. Dont believe it
either. There is something wrong
if you work really hard. Ef-
ciency makes work effortless.
And they will tell you to
save. Again, dont believe it.
Some economists say that keep-
ing dollars under your pillow
will not stimulate the economy.
Just pay your bills, feed yourself
with a balanced diet and if there
is any money left, send it to your
Mom and Dad.
And then they will tell you
to always listen to your Mom
and Dad. Well, you better believe
it, or you will have to pay back
every cent you got.
And so here you are, ready
to y. Go soar. And if you hit
some turbulence along the way,
take comfort in the thought that
you can always fall back to a
place called home. Thats what
family is all about.
Good luck and welcome to
the real world.
Real Property-USA purchase
at P28.7 million. However,
another SALN was led with
the Senate Secretary July.. This
asserts real property equity at
P7.1 miliion. Which is which?,
Robles persisted.
To tamp down scorpions-
in-the-bottle brawls, President
Benigno Aquino cancelled a
Tacloban sortie. The adminis-
tration team is not bound by
any issue, analyst Ramon Cap-
sile noted. Negotiations are
between families and presi-
dential ambitions for 2016 clash
amidst graft. Issues.
Corruption enduces scle-
rosis, ( or hardening ) of the
heart, says the paper Reec-
tions on
Corruption. Sleaze isnt
one singular act. Rather, it is
state of being, a culture. An
individual or society can get
accustomed to without realizing
it.
(Roughly 13 percent of the
budget, is drained by graft each
year, UNDP estimates. . Corrup-
tion taints Congress, customs,
courts down to the trafc cops
who pull over motorists.)
Bottled Scorpions... from page 30
from the Nacionalista Party in
1945.
Currently, 4 senators, 92
congressmen and 36 governors
are members of the Liberal Party.
With the Presidents popu-
larity, its not surprising the LP
has nurtured the image that it is
the Presidents party; what is
remarkable though is the UNAs
apparent hesitation to offer an
alternative platform.
Amid the traditional two-
party split of Philippine poli-
tics, the Vice President doesnt
appear ready to take the plunge
already, still holding to Presi-
dent Aquinos coat-tails but that
could change depending on the
nal results of this months elec-
tions.
Their biggest challenge, I
suspect, is how to build a politi-
cal landscape that will ensure
Team Binay will not go against
Team P-Noy in 2016.
He was considered a dark
horse during the 2010 campaign,
the candidate who bolted out of
the shadows to nish strong at
the end. Some pundits attributed
it to his intimate knowledge of
the political grassroots and the
machinery that run in its shad-
ows. Only time will tell if he was
simply lucky or hes a political
genius.
Dry-run for 2016... from page 29
habit (acclaimed by many but
detested by a few) of spreading
Tsismis (gossip).
The question is: Should
Tsismiso stop dishing out Tsis-
mis (gossip)
Somebody send me via the
grapevine a Wall Street Journal
article about a growing move-
ment that is pushing to lower
the volume of gossip or to stop it
completely.
Washington Tsismis... from page 28
often leads the way in establish-
ing societys zeitgeist.
Mr. Aquino will need a
senate that is not necessarily
one that toes the ofcial line, but
one that is unequivocally in step
with the presidents line of think-
ing and reform agenda. One that
not only gives him actual votes
on key legislation but one that
provides him moral and vocal
support as he forges ahead with
his desire and mission to make
things right for the people.
But shouldnt there be an
element of opposition in the leg-
islature, especially in the senate,
the nations ofcial agora of ideas
and superior thinking, if there is
one? Yes, the danger of having a
too-powerful chief executive is
there if a separate and key branch
of government -- the legislature
-- is in the presidents pocket. Its
a danger worth watching with
vigilant eyes.
But its also a danger worth
risking. Only because this
president has been honest and
untainted by personal corrup-
tion and has been accepted by
the people as such, as validated
by surveys showing him enjoy-
ing high levels of public trust.
Anything is possible, but there
is no reason at this point to think
that Aquino will suddenly turn
around and become despotic
overnight.
Aquino has been out in the
hustings exhorting the people
to give him a clean sweep of
the senate contest (12 slots in
the 24-member chamber are at
stake). He has been pleading
with the people to shut out the
opposition to enable him to have
the support he needs to pass leg-
islation that he will need to carry
out his mandate to bring about
good governance and lasting
reforms.
The last surveys before the
elections showed an improve-
ment in the showing of his
chosen senatorial candidates to
11 possible winners, compared to
nine previously, with three from
the opposition as likely win-
Will PNoy get his... from page 30 ners. In the homestretch to May
13, Aquino worked overtime to
push his candidates, even falling
ill in the middle of the campaign
due to fatigue and exposure to
the elements.
Overall, Mr. Aquino will
need not only allies in the senate
but leaders from towns/cities
and provinces from all over the
country. He made an effort to
reach voters in many parts of the
country pitching for his party/
coalitions local candidates.
As the Observer surmised
in previous columns, the presi-
dent is not likely to get his wish
of a shut-out of the opposition
in the senatorial derby. But if he
gets nine winners out of 12, he
wouldnt be too unhappy with
that.
We shall know by the next
issue if the fates have been kind
to him and his chosen ones.
***
Pilfered door-to-door ship-
ments. My friend, the universally
liked Del Squire, a regular xture
in the Washington-Maryland-
Virginia Filipino tennis commu-
nity, is not a happy camper these
days. A shipment of her personal
effects has been pilfered, with
some things dear to her getting
lost, on the way from Virginia
to her family home in Sorsogon
City here. She wants answers
from Manila Forwarders (paging
Menchu in Virginia and Ruben
in Manila).
Same banana... from page 29
worked under the shadows for
years and married a US citizen?
Many of them do not risk depart-
ing the US for a visa interview in
their home country for fear that
the waiver will not be granted.
That would mean a long sepa-
ration from their spouse and
children in the US, unless their
immediate family will choose to
join them abroad.
With the procedural change,
the alien will know in advance
if his waiver application is
approved or denied before he
makes a decision to appear for
a visa interview abroad. Those
who could not tolerate a long
separation may just decide to
forego with the visa interview
abroad and continue to live in
limbo status in the U.S. if the
provisional waiver is denied.
This is the main benet that the
rule change brings in addition to
the promised shorter processing
time.
Provisional waiver... from page 30
May 15, 2013 32 32