Manila Mail - Sept. 1, 2014

September 1-15, 2014 1
Vol. XXIII, No. 20 Online: www. manilamail.us September 1-15, 2014

Vargas les for DACA
Page 3
PH-US train for riots
Page 10
Reid apologizes
Page 5
UN peacekeepers
Page 19
Roldan gets life term
Page 20
Priests, nuns back
in streets vs pork
MANILA. The inuential
Roman Catholic Church appears
to be back on the streets, spear-
heading a nationwide campaign
to collect 10 million signatures
for a bill to abolish the pork
barrel, using a yet untested peo-
ples initiative provision in the
countrys Constitution.
The Association of Major
Religious Superiors of the Phil-
ippines (AMRSP) kicked off the
campaign at the Rizal Park on
National Heroes Day last Aug.
25. A Peoples Congress of more
than 1,000 participants from
church, political and civil society
groups formally launched the
bill in Cebu City last Aug. 23.
The campaign is part of
an effort needed to enact a law
drafted through peoples ini-
tiative that would prohibit all
forms of pork-barrel budgeting,
New primate found in
Dinagat island
MANILA. An international
team of biologists announced
recently the discovery of a new
genetic primate type theyve
named the Dinagat-Caraga tar-
sier thats helped expand scien-
tic knowledge of the furry crea-
tures.
The tarsier (big-eyed noctur-
nal animal about the size of an
adult mans hand) is known to
live only on Dinagat Island and
parts of the adjacent northeast
MANILA. The Presidents
allies in the House of Represen-
tatives have started oor debates
to push constitutional amend-
ments, ostensibly to change the
charters economic provisions
but administration critics warn
it could be a ploy to extend term
limits of incumbents, including
that of President Aquino.
The measure, principally
authored by House Speaker Feli-
ciano Belmonte Jr., was intro-
duced last May but deliberations
were started only last Aug. 25.
Even then, Akbayan Rep.
Walden Bello questioned the
move. Contrary to the initial
claim of the proponents, a con-
stitutional ban on ownership
of foreigners but also individu-
als and Chinese nationals the
state is the owner and the state
may give leases and other types
of arrangements to various own-
ership, he said.
Majority Leader Neptali
Gonzales said this is the rst
time the House will tackle on the
oor actual amendments to the
Constitution.
Previous Cha-cha attempts
in Congress were either bills call-
ing for a constitutional conven-
tion or a constituent assembly
(con-ass).
In 2009, then Speaker Pros-
pero Nograles led the approval
of HR 1109 to convene a constit-
uent assembly but this was shot
down in the Senate.
This comes amid fears by
many of the Presidents crit-
ics that the Belmonte initiative,
Continued on page 22
Pacquiao helps sell Algieri ght
MANILA. Manny Pacquiao
and Chris Algieri are on globe-
trotting tour to promote their
Nov. 23 ght in Macau.
The unbeaten American
pulled off a major upset in his
last ght, outpointing Ruslan
Provodnikov last June to earn
a shot at Pacquiao for the WBO
welterweight title. Algieri over-
came two early knockdowns and
fought with a badly swollen eye
for much of the ght.
I saw his ght with
Ruslan, Pacquiao said. He took
a lot of bad punches from Ruslan
Dinagat tarsier
Manny Pacquiao back to back with upcoming foe Chris Algieri.
A Catholic nun helps gather signatures for a peoples initiative to outlaw the pork barrel system after politicians fail
or refuse to do it. (Photo courtesy of Roy Lagarde/National Catholic Reporter)
Kababayans shaken
but unhurt in Ca. quake
SAN FRANCISCO. No Fili-
pinos were reported hurt in the
Magnitude 6 earthquake that
struck the Napa Valley north of
this city last Aug. 24.
According to our Consul-
ate General in San Francisco,
they have not received any
report of Filipinos affected by the
earthquake in California, Phil-
ippine Foreign Affairs spokes-
man Charles Jose said in Manila.
The quake, the biggest in
California in 25 years, was cen-
tered 6 miles (10 km) south of the
city of Napa. California is home
to one of the biggest concentra-
tions of Filipinos in the US, espe-
cially in the Bay Area that also
felt the earthquake.
The San Francisco consulate
has activated a 24-hour emer-
gency hotline.
We encouraged every-
one to practice extreme caution
during an earthquake or its ensu-
ing aftershocks in order to reduce
the risk of injury or death, the
consulate said.
At least 33 buildings in
Napa, a city of 77,000, had been
red-tagged as unsafe to enter,
said Napa Community Devel-
opment Director Rick Tooker.
About 200 people were injured
from the quake.
California Governor Jerry
Brown declared a state of emer-
September 1-15, 2014 22
Vargas asks US govt for protection vs deportation
WASHINGTON D.C.
Undocumented Filipino immi-
grant Jose Antonio Vargas sub-
mitted last Aug. 20 his papers
for President Obamas deferred
action that could shield him from
immediate deportation.
Vargas is hoping the
Department of Homeland Secu-
rity (DHS) will grant him and the
10 other undocumented immi-
grants who now form the center
of a nationwide 1 of 11 Million
campaign, to a 4-year deferral on
deportation by exercising pros-
ecutorial discretion.
In the past, immigration
ofcials have deferred the depor-
tation of undocumented immi-
grants who do not pose imme-
diate risk to Americas national
security.
Deferred action is a tem-
porary solution, so I wouldnt
be deported
for four years.
I can get a
work permit,
said Vargas. I
have caused
my grand-
mother a lot
of stress, more
stress than
she deserves,
so this will be
some sort of
peace of mind.
V a r g a s
helped launch
the 1 of 11 Mil-
lion campaign
at the National
Press Club in
Washington to
highlight the
stories of the 11 undocumented
last Aug. 20.
Dene American and the
National Immigration Law
Center hope this would push
people to keep talking about
immigration.
We want to humanize the
debate on immigration, said
Eduardo Samaniego, of the 1
of 11 Million campaign. We
speak about why were here,
what our families are going
through, why it is necessary to
be relieved from deportation.
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Immigration reforms advocate Jose Antonio Vargas launches in 1 of 11 Mil-
lion campaign in DC.
September 1-15, 2014 44
China dismisses PH, US protests
MANILA. China has dis-
missed Philippine complaints
about the presence of Chinese
survey ships in the country
mineral-rich exclusive economic
zone as tensions ared anew fol-
lowing a dangerous encounter
between a United States patrol
plane and a Chinese ghter jet
last month.
Pentagon spokesman Lt.
Col. Jeff Pool said the incident
took place 135 miles east of
Hainan Island when a Chinese
J-11, a version of the Russian
Su-27, came within 20 feet of a
U.S. Navy P-8 anti-submarine
warfare aircraft.
The intercept was aggres-
sive and demonstrated a lack
of due regard for the safety and
well-being of the U.S. and Chi-
nese aircrews and aircraft, Pool
said in a statement, noting it was
one of the most dangerous aerial
encounters with the Chinese
since the April 2001 EP-3 mid-air
collision with a Chinese J-8.
According to the Pentagon,
the latest encounter is part of a
rising trend of nonstandard,
unprofessional and unsafe inter-
cepts of US aircraft that began
in late 2013.
One expert said the incident
should convince the Pentagon
to start deploying aircraft in
the Philippines which recently
signed an enhanced military
access agreement with the US.
Meanwhile, President
Benigno Aquino III said two
Chinese survey vessels had been
sighted in part of the disputed
South China Sea also claimed
by the Philippines called Reed
Bank.
In a statement faxed to the
Reuters news agency, Chinas
Foreign Ministry said that Reed
Bank was Chinese territory.
Survey activities being
carried out by Chinese survey
ships are appropriate, legal, and
beyond reproach, the ministry
said.
Tensions between the Phil-
ippines and China began in
2011 when Chinese patrol boats
harassed a survey ship hired by
Anglo-Filipino Forum Energy
PLC which won a contact to
explore the Reed Bank.
Another two to three Chi-
nese ships have been seen regu-
larly on patrol around Scarbor-
ough Shoal, another part of the
disputed South China Sea.
Defense ofcials said the
latest encounter highlights Chi-
nas continued aggressiveness in
the region.
The P-8, a new, militarized
Boeing-737 anti-submarine war-
fare aircraft, was conducting
routine surveillance of the Chi-
nese coast over the South China
Sea.
Chinese military ofcials
have said they oppose all US
electronic surveillance ights
and described ship-based moni-
toring of their facilities and ter-
ritory an encroachment of sover-
eignty.
US military ofcials have
said the monitoring is carried
within international airspace
and thus does not violate inter-
national or Chinese law.
The P-8 that was intercepted
by the Su-27 is part of the Navys
rst squadron of new submarine
hunters deployed to Asia.
Six P-8s, that can re both
missiles and torpedoes, are
under the command Navys Sev-
enth Fleet and are based at Oki-
nawas Kadena Air Base. They
support the eets maritime sur-
veillance operations as part of
the U.S. pivot to Asia.
The Navy has described the
P-8 as the most advanced long
range anti-submarine and anti-
surface warfare aircraft in the
world. The jet also conducts
maritime intelligence, surveil-
lance, and reconnaissance (ISR)
missions.
Pinoy lesbian couple weds, nally
SAN FRANCISCO. Filipino
lesbian couple Jay Mercado and
Shirley Tan tied the knot on
August 19 after years of ght-
ing deportation and testimony
on Capitol Hill, until the United
States Supreme Court recog-
nized same sex marriage.
The ceremony was ofci-
ated by California Congress-
woman Jackie Speier and wit-
nessed by the couples 18-year-
old twin sons, Jashley and Jori-
ene.
Its truly an amazing day
to nally see our parents get
recognized for their marriage,
Joriene said in an ABS-CBN Bal-
itang America report.
Over ve years ago, the
US Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) placed Tan
under house arrest after the
government denied her request
for asylum and faced deporta-
tion back to the Philippines.
She was allowed to stay
with Mercado and her sons
through a special humanitarian
legislation, with aid from Speier
and California Senators Dianne
Feinstein and Barbara Boxer.
The Supreme Courts
repeal of the Defense of Mar-
riage Act (DOMA) last year
paved the way for the wedding.
The United States govern-
ment has now said that there
is a pathway to getting a green
card, remaining in this country,
and actually become a citizen
if you want, Speier said in an
Asian Journal report.
For 28 years our dreams
came to its nal fruition; we
thought it would never happen.
So thank God for everything,
that we were allowed to marry
the person we love, Tan said.
I hope someday to be at
the swearing in ceremonies
when Shirley becomes a US citi-
zen, Speier declared.
Jay Mercado and Shirley Tan
PH consulate seeks aid for
stranded mariners
NEW YORK. The Philippine
Consulate General here is negoti-
ating with authorities to allow 17
Filipino seafarers to disembark
from their Greek-agged cargo
ship that has been stranded on
the Delaware River near Phila-
delphia for the past four months.
Ofcials from the consulate
said in a statement Aug. 20 that
the Filipinos were in good spir-
its and receiving pay despite not
being allowed off the vessel.
The 700-foot-cargo ship,
Nikol H, unloaded its cargo
of cocoa beans in Philadelphia
in April. But it reported some
mechanical problems.
The United States Coast
Guard ordered it to make repairs
before sailing.
But court documents
revealed the vessels owner,
Derma Carriers, hasnt paid for
the repairs or wharf fees since
docking which now amounts to
$1.2 million, prompting vendors
and others to sue to recover costs
for providing fuel, food and sup-
plies while the ship has been
here.
On May 23, federal authori-
ties detained the ship, including
its Egyptian captain and two
Ukranian crew members.
US customs ofcials wont
allow seafarers to go ashore
without proper visas.
But one report claimed
some Filipino crew members
have returned home and been
replaced.
An ABS-CBN News report
said the Filipino seamen, whose
ages ranged from 23 to 54, are
asking US Customs and Border
Patrol (CBP) for humanitarian
parole to leave the ship for even
for a few hours.
The Seamans Church Insti-
tute, which is also reportedly
assisting the seamen to obtain
humanitarian parole, has pro-
vided the Filipino crews with a
cell phone and Internet connec-
tion to communicate with their
families.
Reid apologizes
for Wong joke
WASHINGTON D.C.
Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid has apologized for a joke
that didnt go too well with
Asian Americans.
The apology was prompted
by remarks he made at the
Asian Chamber of Commerce
in Las Vegas and after video
was posted by conservative
trackers.
The Asian population
is so productive. I dont think
youre smarter than anybody
else, but youve convinced a
lot of us you are, Reid said to
applause, according to the Las
Vegas Review-Journal.
After a man was intro-
duced to the podium, Reid said:
One problem Ive had today is
keeping my Wongs straight.
Reid offered a mea culpa
the next day: My comments
were in extremely poor taste
and I apologize. Sometimes I
say the wrong thing.
Its not the rst time Reid
felt compelled to apologize for
something he said about race;
most notably he was quoted
in Game Change describ-
ing President Barack Obama
as having no Negro dialect,
unless he wanted to have one.
He later said he deeply
regretted using such a poor
choice of words.
Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid
The Nikol H on the Delaware River.
September 1-15, 2014 66
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PH honors US Marine
squadron after 23 years
CHICAGO. A Marine Corps helicop-
ter squadron that swung into action when
Mt. Pinatubo erupted in June 1991 nally
got a formal thank you from the country
they risked their lives for.
Consul General Generoso Calonge
led Philippine ofcials in giving a long-
overdue recognition to Marine Reserve
Squadron HML-776, a unit that was once
posted at nearby Glenview Naval Air Sta-
tion, at the Philippine Consulate here.
Its a job that needs recognition,
its a recognition that must be put on the
record, Calonge stressed.
I think in our hearts we all know
what we did, but its always nice to
receive a nice Atta boy or Atta girl, said
then squadron commander Lt. Col. Robert
Monfort.
Calonge gave the Marines the Philip-
pine Military Civic Action Medal.
I remember having a few beers with
my ofcers, singing, Where will you go
when the volcano blows, by Jimmy Buffet,
and just having a blast, never once realiz-
ing we were about to embark on an eight-
week nightmare, Monfort reminisced in a
report on ABCs WLS-TV in Chicago.
HML-776 was initially deployed to
Okinawa to ll the gap for other combat
forces that were moved to the Middle East
for Operation Desert Storm in 1990.
The rocks were coming down and
they started getting bigger and bigger,
and I came in and I said, Theres going to
be some people who die today, lets all get
prepared, said then-Maj. Tom Hayhurst,
HML-776 Operations Ofcer, in the same
TV report.
The squadrons 104 ofcers and men,
ying six Huey helicopters, swooped
down on ash-buried Central Luzon, air-
dropping badly needed supplies to people
isolated by the 2nd most powerful volca-
nic eruption of the 20th century.
We went out, grabbed some shov-
els, started digging out the town, because
at least we had our equipment, the towns
folks had no equipment, former Marines
Cpl. James Villa said in the WLS-TV inter-
view.
More than 800 people died from the
eruption, damaging 200,000 acres of farm-
land and displacing over 2 million people.
Severe ash and lahar ows forced the US
Air Force to close down Clark Air Base as
well as a major Philippine Air Force base
nearby.
Video grab from ABC News-Chicago report on
US Marines during Pinatubo volcano erup-
tion.
September 1-15, 2014 88
COA orders Enrile, Reyes to return P345-M pork
MANILA. The Commission
on Audit (COA) has ordered
detained Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile
and his former chief of staff Gigi
Reyes to return the P345 million
of his pork barrel funds that went
to Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged
brains behind the P10-billion
pork barrel scam.
In testimony at the Sandi-
ganbayan (graft court) Aug. 22,
COA Assistant Commissioner
Susan Garcia, who also heads
the special audits ofce, revealed
that a notice of disallowance was
sent to Enrile last January.
Asked by state prosecutor
Anne Cabelis to explain what
the notices meant and why they
were issued, Garcia said the
personalities to whom the docu-
ments were addressed were
ordered to return the amounts to
the state treasury.
She said notices were sent
to these personalities because
based on our special audit,
there was no project implemen-
tation at all because of the spu-
rious documents which covered
the projects.
The Department of Budget
and Management (DBM)
issued several special allotment
release orders (SAROs) to Enrile
between January 2007 and June
2009 amounting to P375 million
to nance the livelihood projects
that were supposed to have been
carried out by the foundations
identied with Napoles.
Garcia also noted that P30
million of the P375 million went
to a non-government orga-
nization (NGO) that was not
included in the plunder charges
against Enrile, Reyes and their
co-accused.
Garcia revealed the COA
sent out separate notices to
former Budget Secretary Rolando
Andaya, current Budget Under-
secretary Mario Relampagos and
Director Carmencita Delantar,
the head of the DBM budget and
management section.
Enrile, 90, has been on hos-
pital arrest in a private room at
the Philippine National Police
General Hospital at Camp Crame
since his arrest last July 4. He
is accused of pocketing almost
P173 million in alleged kickbacks
from Napoles.
Meanwhile, the Sandi-
ganbayans Third Division has
junked Enriles appeal to reverse
a July 24 order placing him on
preventive suspensing while he
is being tried for plunder. Its
now up to the Senate to imple-
ment the courts decision.
Senator Juan Ponce Enrile is ordered to return P345 million pork funds.
September 1-15, 2014 10 10
US Marines, Pinoy troops train riot control
FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig.
Filipino soldiers and policemen
got a chance to trade riot con-
trol skills with the United States
Marines civil disturbance unit
as part of a Non-lethal Weapons
Executive Seminar (NOLES) last
Aug.6.
Members from the Philip-
pine National Police (PNP) and
the Armed Forces of the Philip-
pines (AFP) taught US Marines
how to use batons and shields
to effectively control unruly
crowds and the martial arts
called Pekiti Tirsia Kali.
The main purpose of CDM
(civil disturbance management)
is crowd control, explained
Rafael Muchuelas, an instructor
of the PNPs National Capital
Region Police Ofce (NCRPO)
that has jurisdiction over Metro
Manila.
Rallies, demonstrations, or
anywhere here in the Philippines
where crowd control might be
needed, this is perfect to use in
those instances, he added.
The Pekiti Tirsia Kali is
indigenous to the Philippines
as it is the martial arts adopted
by Philippine armed forces, and
police. It is a strictly combat-
oriented system that has been
around since 1897.
I spoke to the instructors
and they say its similar to the
Marine Corps Martial Arts Pro-
gram (MCMAP), but theirs is
more based on the Taekwondo,
instead of mixed martial arts like
ours, said Sgt. Timothy Brown,
platoon sergeant with the 3rd
Law Enforcement Battalion
(LEB), III Marine Expeditionary
Force.
During the martial-arts ses-
sion, Marines trained with mock
daggers and kalis, a Filipino
double-edged sword that plays a
large role in the martial art.
The Marines in turn taught
the Filipino soldiers and police-
men on how to use the X26 Taser
as part of Non-lethal Weapons
(NLW) training.
The NOLES exercise pro-
motes awareness and effective
use of non-lethal weapons to
maintain order in low-intensity
conicts or civil unrest.
The effective use of non-
lethal weapons can be extremely
valuable during rescue missions,
for force protection in civil dis-
turbances, while controlling
rioting and prisoners of war,
for checkpoint or convoy opera-
tions, or in situations in which
civilians are used to mask a mili-
tary attack.
Taser training is very
important. If you nd yourself in
a situation where youre needing
to use this weapon, you need to
know how it feels, how it func-
tions, the good, the bad, the dos
and the donts. That way you can
employ it safely, said Sgt. Timo-
thy Brown, a NLW instructor
with the 3rd LEB.
As part of the training, some
participants were shot by the
Taser, receiving a drive stun.
Both are pain compliance tech-
niques causing bodies to seize
up, and comply with the orders
given by their instructors.
Its my rst time Ive had
pain like that, said Police Of-
cer 1st Class Francis N. Javellana.
The Filipinos are extremely
motivated, and now know what
it feels like to be hit by a Taser,
Brown said. If I had to rate the
way our day went on a scale
from one to ten, this is an 11.
Police probes Pinay housewifes death in home
JERSEY CITY, New Jersey.
A 34-year-old Filipina housewife
was found dead inside her coun-
try village home last Aug. 18
and her husband was taken into
custody as authorities ferret out
what happened.
Monica Garcia-Montones
death, which has been ruled sus-
picious, is still being investigated
by the medical examiner.
Her husband Kevin Mon-
tone was taken away by police
after her corpse was found in
their home and charged with
possession of heroin with intent
to distribute within 1,000 feet of
school property. Montone has
not been charged in connection
with his wifes death.
The couples 3-year-old son
was taken from the crime scene
and is now being cared for by
relatives.
The Jersey Journal reported
that a neighbor saw Montone
placed in a police car without
handcuffs but was laughing
uncontrollably.
Montone was a former city
employee who worked as a
civilian police dispatcher until
he was terminated for cause
a year earlier, according to city
spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill.
In a separate report, Mon-
tones aunt Nierva del Rosario
Casten said she believed it was a
crime of passion.
In the end, I believe that
Monicas downfall was her
intense need to keep her young
family intact, she said.
Montone, the son of a retired
Jersey City police ofcer, faces
separate charges for possession
of a prescription drug that was
obtained without a valid pre-
scription. Bail for his temporary
liberty was set at $35,000.
Filipino and US Marines practice
subduing rioters (Photo by Lance
Cpl. Alexandra Gwin, USMC)
Slain housewife Monica Garcia-
Montone with husband Kevin Mon-
tone.
September 1-15, 2014 11
September 1-15, 2014 12 12
Solon urges Pinoy nurses to look beyond US
MANILA. One ranking
congressional leader is urging
Filipino nurses to nd jobs in
the Middle East or other coun-
tries that need foreign healthcare
workers aside from the United
States.
House Assistant Majority
Leader and Cebu Rep. Gerald
Anthony Gullas Jr. suggested
that foreign-bound Filipino
nurses continue to concentrate
on the US despite dimming pros-
pects.
A total of 1,951 Philippine-
graduate nurses took the US
National Licensure Examination
(NCLEX) between January and
June this year, he revealed.
The number is little
changed when compared to the
1,944 Filipino nurses who took
the NCLEX for the rst time,
excluding repeaters, over the
same six-month period in 2013,
Gullas said.
The test is by the US
National Council of State Boards
of Nursing Inc. (USNCSBN).
Gullas said about 7,000 US
hospital workers were laid off in
July, based on the latest report of
the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
We remain positive that
the situation will eventually
improve as the US economy
starts to recover. But right now,
a number of US hospitals and
nursing homes are still laying off
workers, Gullas said.
He pointed out that this was
clear indicator of the number still
trying to practice the profession
in outside their native Philip-
pines.
Line-dancing championship
at Asian Festival
FAIRFAX, Va. With
summer swiftly passing, one
activity that could draw the
Pinoy crowd at the upcoming
Asian Festival in Fort Washing-
ton, Md. will be the line-danc-
ing competition.
The Migrant Heritage
Commission (MHC) is organiz-
ing the line-dancing contest on
Sept. 13 & 14 at the Rosecroft
raceway in Fort Washington.
Line-dancing has become
as much a regular fare in Fili-
pino gatherings here as the Vid-
eoke sing-off. This years event
is expected to be the biggest
line-dancing contest yet.
According to the MHCs
Grace Valera, the competition
is open to any group (minimum
of ve persons per group with-
out a maximum limit), orga-
nizations, institutions, family
members or even barkadas
irrespective of age.
These groups will be
required to perform at least
two types of line-dancing for no
more than four minutes.
Theres a $20 registration
fee per group but Valera said
theyll waive that requirement
for their partner organizations
or for anyone whos been to one
of the MHCs events.
Would-be participants can
email migrantheritage@gmail.
com or call 202-247-0117, 202-
631-8856, 703-273-1196 for more
information. Its going to be
fun, fun and fun! Valera prom-
ised.
September 1-15, 2014 13
September 1-15, 2014 14 14
If you would like to include
your organizations event, send
information to Maurese Oteyza
Owens at mpapoose@aol.com.
Sept 5- 14 ASEAN WOM-
ENS CIRCLE sponsored
by ASEAN Film Fesitval.Philip-
pine entry is I Do Bidoo Bidoo:
Heto nAPO Sila! on Friday,
Sept. 5 at 5:00pm at CSIS Build-
ing ADDRESS. Free event but
registration required online to
get tickets at http://aff. usase-
ancreativeproject.org/ lms/
index.html. Other ASEAN coun-
tries participating are Cambo-
dia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myan-
mar, Singapore, Thailand, Viet-
nam,
Sep 6 (Saturday) Philippine
Nurses Association of MDC:
8:00 a.m. 3-K Family Fun/Run/
Walk Tucker Road Community
Center Park, Tucker Rd, Fort
Washington, MD. $30. To benet
PNAMDCs Wellness Initiatives.
11:00am-3:00pm Picnic and Gen-
eral Assembly. Mrs. Philippines
Home. Mrs. Philippines Home
for the Seniors, 6482 Buck Road,
Oxon Hill, MD 20745. Contact:
Nora Mendoza at norrad72@
verizon.net
Sept 7 (Sunday) 10:30-
4:00 Migrant Heritage Commis-
sion Kainan, Sayawan, Basket-
ball, Atbp , Marcey Park And
Potomac Overlook Regional
Park, 2800 N Marcey Rd, Arling-
ton, VA 22207. RSVP to 202-247-
0117or migrantheritage@gmail.
com
Sept 13 (Saturday) 11:00 a.m.
until dusk. Marinduqueno Asso-
cation of the Capital Area, Inc.
(MACA) Annual Picnic, Black
Hills Regional Park, Shelter
C, 20930 Lake Ridge Drive,
Boyds, MD 20841. Free. Contact
macasecretary@gmail.com for
further details.
Sept 13-14 (Saturday) 11:00
a.m. 9:00 p.m.- (Sunday)
10:00 a.m-4:00pm: Asian Fes-
tival, Rosecroft Raceway, Ft.
Washington, MD. All-day Asian
concerts and shows, as well as
Asian crafts and cuisine, sports
competitions, games and con-
tests, A Childrens CArnival,
and rafes with major prizes.
Participating countries include
the Philippines, Thailand, China,
India, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
Contact: Bing C. Branigin email:
bing@asianfestivaldc.com
Sept 13 (Saturday) 6:30
pm La Salle Philippines
Alumni Association Bente
Berde (LSPAA Turns 20) Crys-
tal City Marriott Hotel, 1999 Jef-
ferson Davis Highway, Arling-
ton, VA 22202. $75 per person
includes dinner-dance and
chance to win a cruise for two to
the Bahamas.Restrictions apply.
Checks payable to LSPAA
with memo Bente Berde Gala
and mail to: Aurora Arellano at
6615 Burlington Place, Spring-
eld, VA 22152
Sept 13 (Saturday) All Saints
Filipino-American Ministry
Monthly Rosary and Meeting.
9300 Stonnewall Rd. Manassas,
VA 20110. Contact: Conrad 703-
909-6454.
Sept 20 (Saturday)
7:30pm. Monthly Filipino
Mass. St. Bernadettes Catholic
Church, 7600 Old Keene Mill
Road, Springeld, VA 22152.
Mass Sponsor:. Sponsored
by Filipino Ministry of Northern
Virginia in cooperation w/ the
Diocese of Arlington, Ofce of
Multicultural Ministries
Sept 27 (Saturday)
10:00am Birhen ng Anti-
polo, USA, Inc. Devotional
Mass. Basilica of the National
Shrine, 400 Michigan Ave NE,
Washington, DC 20017 tel (202)
526-8300. Contact: bnantipolo@
gmail.com
Sept 27 (Saturday) Philip-
pine American Chamber of Com-
merce withFilipino Young Pro-
fessionals. A Night in Manila
Its More Fun in the Philip-
pines, Tysons Corner Marriott.
Details to follow.
Sept 27 (Saturday) Filipino
Young Professionals 2nd Annual
Fil-Am Community Fair, George
Washington University. Event
will focus onconnecting the
local college Fil-Am student
organizations and professionals
with local Fil-Am, Asian Pacic
Islander (API), and community
partner organizations with
the goal of building a stronger
Fil-Am community. See http://
fyp-dc.org/2014 -l-am-commu-
nity-fair/
Oct 3 (Friday) 4:00pm
-10:00pm Bicol Association
of Metropolitan Washington
DCs Summer Hawaiian Luau
Tiki Jam Session. Lincolnia
Recreation Center. Donation
$25.00. 4710 N.Chambliss St,
Alexandria VA 22312. Tel 703-
914-0223. Hawiian costumes,
Dancing, Food and Fellow-
ship, Fun for the whole family.
Free parking. Childrens rate
available. Contact: Pam Belmes
at 240-401-8020 or p_belmes@
yahoo.com. Write check
to BAMWDC and mail to
BAMWDC-17 Shipwright Ct.
Gaithersburg MD 20877
Oct 4 (Sat) Philippine
Nurses Assn of MDC Educa-
tional ConferenceLight the
Fire Within Part 2: Empower-
ment and Engagement through
Policy, Collaboration and Prac-
tice. Springhill Suite, Alexan-
dria, VA. Contact:Joy Arellano
- mjarellano19@yahoo.com
Oct 5 (Sunday) PAFC Dakila
Achievement Awards: Recog-
nition of outstanding Filipino
Americans based on nomina-
tions and selected by a panel
of judges. Marriott Key Bridge,
Arlington, VA. Contact: Mitzi
Pickard atmitzip888@gmail.com
Oct 18 (Satur-
day) UP Alumni Association
DCMDVA 40th (Ruby) Gala
Ball, Tysons Corner Marriott,
8028 Leesburg Pike, Tysons
Corner, VA. Contact: Liza
Virata-Theimer at lizavirata@
yahoo.com
September 1-15, 2014 15
September 1-15, 2014 16 16
News in Pictures
Mia Padro, 16, a Filipino Ameri-
can Puerto Rican lass is the
ofcial state nalist for the 2015
Miss New Jersey Teen USA Pag-
eant whch will be held Oct. 17, 18
and 19, 2014 at the Hilton Hotel
in Parsippany, New Jersey. Miss
Padro, as junior high school stu-
dent at the Egg Harbor Township
High School., is the daughter of
Luisa R. Alfaro and Jose Padro of
New Jersey.
The Filam online magazine featured
the opening of Josie Natoris rst-ever
U.S. store with a pajama party Aug. 5.
Sleepwear will remain the core busi-
ness of The Natori Company. The
store is located on Elizabeth Street in
Nolita in Lower Manhattan. (Photo
by Elton Lugay)
Mark Bustos,30, a Filipino-Amer-
ican hairstylist at celebrated New
York City salon Three Square
Studio, cuts a homeless persons
hair in Long Beach, California.
He does it every Sunday, the day of
the week when hes not styling the
hair of athletes, fashion designers,
models and the well-to-do, when he
roams New Yorks streets wanting to
make a homeless persons day. He
was recently the subject of a Huff-
ington Post story after he started
posting Intagram photos of his little,
weekly project doing free haircuts
for the poor. Bustos movement
started in 2012 during a visit to the
Philippines, where his family mem-
bers live.
Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. (7th from left) joins Filipinos and Filipino Americans August 22, 2014 at the Philippine Embassy to mark the 31st Anniversary of the death of former Senator Benigno
Ninoy S. Aquino, Jr., father of current Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III. Monsignor Mariano Balbago celebrated Mass at the embassys Romulo Hall. Others in photo are (l-r) Michael
Reyes, Anya Plana-Hutt, Regie Plana-Alcuaz, Vi Baluyut, Filipino Family Fund (FFF) founder Eileen Cosby (with husband Joseph G. Cosby, Esq. and their son Thomas Cosby), Joyce Saito, Thryza
Navarrete, Pablito Alarcon, Gigi & Timothy Gopiao, & Tessie Sison. Second photo shows guests who gathered around Ninoys memorabilia. They are Thryza Navarrete, Eric Lachica , Ador and
Nanneth Carreon, Angelita Boots Felixberto. (Photos by Angelyn Tugado-Marzan)
September 1-15, 2014 17
Around DC in Pictures
Philippine Amb. Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. attended the 9th annual Filipino Fesstival at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in
Richmond last month and possed for picture with festival performers. The ambassador and his wife also met with
some government ofcials, Filipino American community leaders of Central Virginia and urged them to help promote
the Philippines. He also briefed them about the economic growth of the country and other topics. Before returning
to Washington D.C., Cuisia took a tour of the church, met with volunteers and festival attendees and chatted with
students.
Meet the staff of the consular section of the Philippine embassy in Washing-
ton D.C. They are, from left, Larry Sumando, Eden Regalario, Lyra Ocampo,
Louie Remulla, and Joey Macatula.
(Photo: Bing Cardenas Branigin)
Maj. General Antonio M. Taguba (Ret-Army), was the keynote speaker
during the fourth Annual Multinational Forum for Filipino Young Profes-
sionals, students and youth at the Pilipino American Unity for Progress
(UniPro) meeting held at the Fashion Institute of technology, New York City
last May 31. (Photo by Bing Branigin)
The Filipino American World War ll Soldiers Recognition and Education Project Executive Committee held a national
meeting at the Philippine Embassy last August 23. Attendees includes: Maj. Gen. (Ret) Antonio M. Taguba, Maj. Gen
(Ret) Deln Lorenzana, Jon Melegrito, Erick Soriano, Eric Macalma, Jude Saunders, Erwin De Leon, Hector Vargas,
Bing Branigin, Dr. Colleen Woods, Gem Daus, Ron Sagudan, and on the phone various Filipino Aerican leaders
across the US.
Volunteer members of the Asian Festival slated at the Raceway at Rosecroft, Maryland are shown during their weekly
meetings. They are, from left Charles Caburian, Michael Rogers, Galen Tobias Dawson, Herman Ayayo, and Eric
Macalma. Featured artist for the Saturday concert is Filipina international performer Lani Misalucha, The Speaks
Band, Kirby Asunto, Tata Kay Habana, and many more.
From left are Bing Branigin, Christopher Wycoco, John Eda, and Justin
Alvarez, at the Northstar Restaurant and Catering at its new location near
the Philippine Cultural Center, Oxon Hill, Maryland.
Nikki Bo turned eleven years old last
August 23, at their home in Alexan-
dria, Virginia Also in the photo are
her parents, Jun and Eda, sister
Nikki and brother Ryan.
Ramon Talusan (far left), and Yambi Yambao (2nd from left), were joined by
friends during their joint birthday celebrations at the Talusan residence in
Silver Spring, Maryland last August 25.
September 1-15, 2014 18 18
Cuisia urges young Fil-Ams to pursue roots
By Kimberly Hayes
RICHMOND, Va. Going
back to ones roots needs com-
mitment and engagement,
Philippine Ambassador Jose L.
Cuisia Jr. told young Filipino
Americans at last months 9th
annual Filipino Festival here.
It was the Ambassadors
rst time to visit the festival at
Our Ladies of Lord church.
There was a message that
everyone involved with the
festivals success was in agree-
ment with and that was to bring
awareness of the Filipino culture
and help the people of the Rich-
mond area understand more
about Filipino Americans.
It doesnt matter how young
or old you are, awareness is
awareness. Ambasador Cuisia
had a special memo for the 2nd
and 3rd Filipino generations
because its always important to
learn and remember ones roots.
To understand their roots
and culture; I want young Filipi-
nos to be involved and engaged
in their parents and grandpar-
ents motherland, he said.
I want to encourage them
to become dual citizens these
young Filipino Americans are
smart and maybe they could
help Filipinos with choosing to
elect the right ofcials, Cuisia
added.
Maria Cielo, one of festival
organizers, said it was important
to share the Filipino culture with
the Richmond communities and
thus help promote the Filipino
heritage to the younger genera-
tion.
My favorite part is seeing
volunteers coming from all cul-
tural backgrounds appreciate the
Filipino culture, she said.
Its amazing to hear how
much hard work actually went
into the whole process of making
sure the Festival was perfect.
The food was good, the
entertainment was great,
Ambassador Cuisia said, but
most importantly it was a chance
to meet warm people.
ABOUT THE WRITER. Kim-
berly Hayes is an up and coming
writer currently studying at the
University of Virginia (UVA).
As a multi-ethnic student with a
passion for writing from a multi-
cultural perspective she hopes to
pursue a career in journalism.
Slain Fil-Am girls parents ght of
custody of their children
SEATTLE, Washington.
The parents of six-year-old Fili-
pino American Jenise Wright
are ghting to regain custody of
their other children who were
taken by the state after she went
missing and later found dead.
The victims mother Fil-Am
Denise Wright and her hus-
band James are headed to court
in October to get their 8, 12,
and 16-year-old children back
after a suspect was arrested for
the rape and murder of young
Jenise last month.
A 17-year-old family friend,
Gabriel Gaeta has been arrested
and is undergoing mental eval-
uation at the Western State Hos-
pital to determine whether hes
t to be tried.
Child protective services
removed the Wright children
from their home when police
began searching for 6-year-old
Jenise after she was reported
missing Aug. 2.
The other Wright children
are currently staying with their
maternal grandparents.
Thank God theyre with
family. If they were in a strange
home, I would be even more
concerned than I am now,
James said in an interview with
a local TV station after attend-
ing a family court hearing last
Aug. 18.
Manila Mail volunteer reporter Kimberly Hayes interviews Amb. Jose L.
Cuisia Jr.
Fil-Am Denise Wright with husband James and at right, their murdered
daughter, 6-year-old Jenise Wright.
September 1-15, 2014 19
Pinoy UN peacekeepers ordered home
MANILA. The Philippines
has pulled back hundreds of
peacekeepers operating under
the umbrella of the United
Nations in the Golan Heights
and Liberia because of mounting
risks, the Department of National
Defense (DND) announced Aug.
23.
There are 331 Filipino peace-
keepers manning the UN buffer
zone between Israel and Syria in
the Golan Heights, and 115 more
who help preserve peace and
order in strife-torn Liberia that is
now being ravaged by the Ebola
epidemic.
Amidst the volatile secu-
rity environment in the Middle
East and North African region,
the Philippines prioritizes the
safety and security of its troops,
but remains committed to the
peacekeeping missions of the
United Nations, DND spokes-
man Peter Paul Galvez said in a
statement.
The Philippines deployed
troops and policemen to the
Golan Heights and Liberia as
part of its commitment to help
the UN maintain global peace.
Galvez said the pullout
order does not cover the 156
Filipino peacekeepers currently
deployed in Haiti.
He said peacekeepers in
Liberia would be quarantined
for 21 days before they will be
own back to the Philippines
and an additional 21 days after
they get home.
The Filipino UN troops in
the Golan Heights will be sent
home after their tour of duty
ends in October while those in
Liberia will be repatriated as
soon as possible.
In March 2013, Syrian rebels
seized 21 Filipino peacekeepers
and abducted four others two
months later. They were all sub-
sequently released. The govern-
ment threatened to pull out the
Filipino troops at the time but
relented after the UN promised
to provide them more protective
equipment.
The Philippines has been
sending peacekeeping contin-
gents to the Golan Heights since
2009 and to Liberia since 2003.
FilVet Conrado Damasco, 96
WASHINGTON D.C. Fili-
pino American World War II
veteran Conrado Andamit
Damasco, a longtime resident
in the nations capital, passed
away from natural causes on
August 22, 2014, a few days
after his 96th birthday.
Damasco was a retired
grade school teacher from
Malaybalay, Bukidnon province
in Mindanao, Philippines.
Since the 1990s, he regu-
larly sang in his church choir
and during veterans protest ral-
lies and community events.
In 1997, Damasco was
arrested by the Capitol Police
in the Cannon House Build-
ing when he refused to remove
the masking tape covering his
mouth to protest the decision
of House Veterans Affairs Com-
mittee chairman to block hear-
ings on Filipino Veterans Equity
bill.
The bill would have fully
recognized the U.S. military
service of the Philippine Com-
monwealth Army in WWII for
the purposes of benets.
Wearing his khaki uniform,
Damasco frequently joined his
Washington comrades during
lobby visits in Congress and in
demonstrations at the White
House waving American and
Philippine ags with banners
demanding honor, recognition
and VA benets for his aging
comrades.
Damasco received partial
benets: VA healthcare in 2003
and a $15,000 one-time lump
sum in Filipino Equity Compen-
sation in 2010. He also received
Supplemental Security Income
because of his low income and
age.
Damascos nal wish is for
him to be buried at the Quan-
tico National Cemetery with his
long-time Washington DC com-
rades and housemates, Joaquin
Tejada and Tomas Culanag,
who were also arrested at the
White House demonstrations.
Conrado, a life long bach-
elor, is survived by his younger
brother, Gelacio Damasco and
nieces Norma Prejan and Wilma
Sambas, in his hometown in
Mindanao.
In recent years, Damasco
was taken-in and cared for by
Noel Lisay, a good Samaritan
and fellow church member in
Greenbelt, Maryland.
According to Lisay, a
memorial is scheduled at 5 PM
on Saturday, September 6 at
the Filipino American Capital
Seventh Day Adventist Church
at 4216 Powder Mill Road in
Greenbelt, Maryland.
PH imposes checks vs
Ebola spread
MANILA. Health ofcials
in the Philippines assured there
were enough safeguards to pre-
vent the spread of Ebola in the
country after a Filipino seafarer
in Togo came up negative for the
virus after showing its symp-
toms.
Dr. Rose Capeding of the
Research Institute for Tropical
Medicine (RITM) said authori-
ties are prepared to detect, iso-
late and manage possible cases
of Ebola coming from affected
countries.
The unnamed Filipino in
Togo, West Africa turned up neg-
ative, according to the Depart-
ment of Foreign Affairs. The
seaman was diagnosed instead
as suffering from the common
u, reports said.
Ebola has killed 1,350 people
this year, with most deaths
in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra
Leone. Nigeria is the fourth
country with known cases.
The DFA hoisted crisis alert
level 2 last month in Guinea,
Liberia, and Sierra Leone
because of the Ebola outbreak.
Filipinos there have been told to
avoid non-essential movements,
public places, and take extra pre-
cautions.
Conrado Damasco
Filipino United Nations peacekeepers have been ordered home due to mount-
ing security and health risks.
September 1-15, 2014 20 20
Roldan gets life without parole for boys kidnap
MANILA. Former bas-
ketball star and Congressman
Dennis Roldan has been sen-
tenced to life imprisonment with
no chance for parole for the 2005
kidnapping for ransom of a then
three-year-old son of a wealthy
Filipino-Chinese businessman.
The verdict by Pasig Trial
Court Judge Rolando Mislang
was immediately hailed by the
Fil-Chinese community as well
as crime watchdogs that consid-
ered Roldans case as a litmus
test for the prosecution of kid-
nappings in the country.
Roldan, Mitchell Gumabao
in real life, was convicted with
accomplices Rowena San Andres
and Adrian Domingo. The judge
sentenced them to reclusion
perpetua with no parole recom-
mended. They were also ordered
to pay P300,000 ($7,400) in dam-
ages to the family of the kidnap
victim.
They were ordered to be
delivered immediately to the
New Bilibid Prison in Muntin-
lupa even while they appeal the
verdict.
Roldan, a former basketball
player, entered show business
before venturing into politics.
He was elected congressman
of Quezon Citys 3rd District in
1992.
He later became a pastor of
Jesus Christ the Life Giver Minis-
try based in Quezon City.
This is our benchmark,
said Teresita Ang-See of the
Movement for the Restoration
of Peace and Order (MRPO),
Dennis Roldan is a powerful
gure with connections.
It was important to show
the Fil-Chinese community that
it pays to ght back and it
doesnt pay to keep quiet, Ang-
See explained, noting the reluc-
tance of the community to report
kidnappings because of percep-
tions that nothing will happen to
bring the perpetrators to justice.
Fan Page
Dawn claries ties
to Bamboo
MANILA. Actress Dawn
Zulueta took to social media to
deny rumors that she and The
Voice judge Bamboo Maalac
are siblings.
Zulueta denied that
Maalac is her brother, but she
was quick to add that she has
high respect for the singer.
The actress said she and her
brother, George, are the only
children of her parents, Jose Fazil
Tahanlangit-Taleon and Maria
Cleofe Soleta-Salman.
Her father remarried and
she only has two half-brothers,
Jed and Josiah.
Apart from all of us, both
my parents can attest to no other
offsprings, she said.
In the end, Zulueta urged
the public to help her in putting
an end to the said issue. She also
requested Maalac to release his
own statement as a courtesy.
But he has remained silent
on the issue.
DC stages Asean
lm festival
WASHINGTON D.C. The
Asean lm festival kicks off next
month showcasing movies that
features some of the top stars
from Southeast Asia and offers a
glimpse of representative coun-
tries.
The lmfest is presented
by the Asean Women Circle
and will be held Sept. 5-6, and
on Sept. 11 and 12. Ten lms
from the Asean region are fea-
tured in this years festival. The
event is free of charge and open
to the public (tickets have to be
reserved online).
Asean (Association of South-
east Asian Nations) groups the
Philippines, Indonesia, Malay-
sia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei,
Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and
Vietnam.
The Philippines entry is
I Do Bidoo Bidoo: Heto nAPO
Sila!, a 2012 musical comedy
that stars Sam Concepcion, Ogie
Alcasid, Gary Valenciano, Zsa
Zsa Padilla, comedienne Eugene
Domingo and introducing Tippy
Dos Santos. The scheduled 6 PM
screening on Sept. 5 is sold out;
another screening is scheduled
for 8 AM Sept. 14.
Rock Polotan (Concepcion)
and Tracy Fuentebella (Dos
Santos) are teenage sweethearts
and both nursing students in a
university in Manila are in love
and full of dreams. A youthful
indiscretion leads them to early
parenthood, a situation they face
squarely, and quite maturely, by
planning to get married.
They shortly realize, how-
ever, that the problem behind
their wedding plans has less to
do with themselves than with
their own parents. (Sept. 5 & 14);
Center for Strategic and Interna-
tional Studies, 1616 Rhode Island
Ave. NW - M.R. Greenberg Con-
ference Suite.
Noli wins raves, opera to open in Manila
MANILA. Noli Me Tan-
gere: The Opera, the rst Filipino
opera to be staged in Washing-
ton D.C. owed with passages
reminiscent of Mozart, Rossini,
Puccini and Wagner under con-
ductor Benjamin Dias baton, a
Washington Post critic said.
It was staged for two his-
toric nights at the prestigious
Kennedy Center in Washington
last August 8 and 9, 2014.
The production was able to
bring together a cast that per-
formed proudly and conveyed
a love for libretto and music,
said reporter Grace Jean in the
August 10 issue of the Washing-
ton Post.
Directed by Anna Etsuko
Tsuri, produced by Jerry Sibal
and Edwin Josue and presented
by the Mid-Atlantic Foundation
for Asian Artists, Noli Me Tan-
gere: The Opera tells the story of
a nations suffering and ght for
freedom.
Sal Malaki, one of the most
seasoned artists of the Los Ange-
les Opera Company, reprised his
role as Crisostomo Ibarra and
according to The Post, anchored
the opera and sent it soaring with
his golden tenor and expressive
singing.
Meanwhile, Brittany Palmer,
who played Ibarras beloved
Maria Clara, performed with
vocal clarity and fragile stage
presence betting a tragic hero-
ine, Jean said.
The rest of the main cast,
Roberto Perlas Gomez as Elias,
Antoni Mendezona as Sisa were
likewise praised for their perfor-
mances.
Baritone Roberto Perlas
Gomezs Elias embodied brav-
ery and righteousness, while
Antoni Mendezona turned in a
captivating performance as Sisa,
the mother of Basilio and Crispin
who disappear, prompting her
derangement.
In September 2014, Philip-
pine audiences will have the
chance to witness rst-hand,
the beauty and splendor of Jose
Rizals 19th Century novel as a
grand opera production to be
directed by acclaimed theater
director Freddie Santos.
The Manila production of
Noli Me Tangere: The Opera will
be headlined by two world-class
talents: Sal Malaki, as Crisos-
tomo Ibarra, the liberal-minded,
outspoken and idealistic youth
whose eyes were opened to the
harsh reality of revolution, and
Rachelle Gerodias, as Maria
Clara, Ibarras sweetheart whose
birth is a crucial part of the nar-
rative.
Gerodias received her Mas-
ters Degree in Vocal Perfor-
mance and Vocal Literature from
the famed Eastman School of
Music, in New York and gradu-
ated Cum Laude from the Uni-
versity of Santo Tomas Conser-
vatory of Music. She is also an
awardee of The Outstanding
Women in the Nations Service.
Malaki is one of the most sea-
soned artists of the Los Angeles
Opera Company, housed under
the general direction of world-
renowned tenor and conduc-
tor Maestro Placido Domingo.
He has performed in more than
105 Los Angeles Opera produc-
tions since joining the company
in 1995.
Spearheaded by Fil-Am phi-
lanthropist Loida Nicolas Lewis
and supported by Jerry Sibal
(Executive Producer), Edwin
Josue (Assistant Executive Pro-
ducer) and, Mark and Christine
Manalang (Ultimate Shows,
Inc.), Noli Me Tangere: The
Opera will run for a limited time
from September 12 to September
28 (September 11 Gala Night)
at the Newport Performing Arts
Theater, Resorts World Manila.
I truly encourage our
fellow Filipinos to see the Opera
not just for themselves, but also
to sponsor shows and subsidize
students. Seeing the opera will
enhance their love for the art,
literature and country, Lewis
said.
This is truly once in a life-
time because they may not see
Felipe de Leons Noli Opera
again since the last time it was
presented was 27 years ago, in
1987. In addition, they would be
exposed to Opera akin to what
they would experience in New
Yorks Metropolitan Opera, she
added.
Lewis said audiences will see
an aspect of our past in a beauti-
ful art form of opera, reminding
them of the Filipino adage, Ang
hindi maraming lumingon sa
pinangalingan, hindi makakarat-
ing sa paroroonan.
Tickets are available at
www.ticketworld.com.ph. For
group ticket sales, contact Mark
Manalang at 0917-825-3489, or
Dennis Villaluz at 788-9108 or
0916-857-1553.
For more information,
please visit www.facebook.com/
nolioperamanila and @NoliOp-
eraManila on Twitter and Ins-
tagram, email nolimetangere@
gmail.com or call 899-7938 to 39.
Dennis Roldan
Dawn Zulueta
Scene from Noli Me Tangere: The Opera.
The Philippines entry in DC lm
fest is sold out.
September 1-15, 2014 21
while enjoying support from
various sectors including the
inuential American Chamber of
Commerce in Manila, might be
used to prolong the stay of cur-
rent elective ofcials.
President Aquinos failure
to come out categorically to deny
this has fueled speculations.
One congressman identi-
ed with the Presidents Liberal
Party has vowed to le a resolu-
tion to lift the six-year cap on the
presidency.
Members of the LP in the
Senate and at the House of Rep-
resentatives will support moves
to extend the term of President
Aquino, predicted Congress-
man Edgar Erice.
Congressman Ben Evardone
has promised to campaign for
Aquinos re-election once the
resolution is approved. Six
years is too short for a good pres-
ident. He should remain in ofce
to sustain the momentum of our
economic growth that we have
achieved, he said.
One of the authors of the
1987 Constitution and staunch
supporter of the Presidents
mother, former President and
Philippine democracy icon Cora-
zon Aquino, warned the younger
Aquino against toying around
with term limits.
Pahinga ka na (take a rest),
Fr. Joaquin Bernas exhorted the
President. There are other good
people.
In a statement, the Inte-
grated Bar of the Philippines
(IBP) described as implausible
and ridiculous President Aqui-
nos basis for saying the Consti-
tution needed revisiting because
the Supreme Court over-exer-
cised its powers.
The group added he risked
repudiating the legacy of his
mother, under whose watch the
1987 Charter was framed, hence
its tag, the Cory Constitution.
The IBP reminded the Presi-
dent his mother had resisted
Charter change that is meant to
serve vested interests. Before
her term ended in 1992, allies of
Mrs. Aquino tried to persuade
her to sanction Charter change
but she rejected this, the lawyers
reminded the son.
But President Aquino
sounded deant. When I took
this ofce, I recall that it was only
for one term of six years. Now,
after having said that, of course,
I have to listen to my bosses [the
people] he said in to one audi-
ence, adding, It does not mean I
would automatically go after an
additional term.
Gonzales said their charter
change measure may have to be
passed quickly to avoid inser-
tions on political amendments.
MANILA. An apparent
gaffe by the chief spokesman for
President Benigno Aquino III
in an Aug. 23 press brieng has
fueled speculations the 2016 elec-
tions may be scrapped or post-
poned, prompting the Palace to
later issue a categorical denial.
Presidential spokesman
Edwin Lacierda urged TV
reporters to wait for the presi-
dents anointed candidate but
inserted a puzzling qualier
kung sakaling itutuloy ang 2016
elections (if the 2016 elections
pushes through).
The remark came in the
wake of allegations President
Aquinos inner circle was craft-
ing an alleged No-El (no-elec-
tion) plot to extend his tenure.
The Philippine Constitution bars
the president from re-election
after nishing his six-year term.
The President himself has
given credence to the specula-
tions by declaring he was open
to extending his term and clip-
ping the powers of the judiciary
through a constitutional amend-
ment.
Later in the afternoon, Laci-
erda issued a clarication: The
President has neither decided on
term extension nor endorsing a
candidate. In both instances, 2016
elections will push through.
Lacierdas made the con-
troversial comment after a ques-
tion on what bearing the support
of the Presidents siblings and
uncles will have on Vice Presi-
dent Jejomar Binay, who has
declared his intention to run for
president in the 2016 elections.
Former Sen. Agapito Aquino, the
presidents uncle, has publicly
expressed support for Binay.
Lacierda said the Presi-
dents endorsement will have
a signicant effect on whoever
he endorses in 2016, despite a
public approval rating that has
steadily plummeted from a peak
77 percent trust ratings to just 56
percent today.
Lacierda noted that the Pres-
ident is chairman of the Liberal
Party (LP) and the party has a
process in choosing their can-
didate. Binay, who belongs to a
different wing of the Presidents
political coalition, will most
likely be pitted against Interior
and Local Governments Secre-
tary Manuel Roxas II, an LP stal-
wart.
But while Binay is a family
friend of the Aquinos, the Presi-
dent already dropped hints and
has indirectly taken a swipe at
the Vice President over what
he observed as premature cam-
paigning despite the numerous
problems the country is facing.
Cha-cha moves on... from page 1
corner of Mindanao according to
the National Geographic Com-
mittee for Research and Explora-
tion which funded the search.
With its giant eyes, fuzzy
face, and prominent ears, the
discovery will no doubt attract
attention as an adorably cute new
ecotourism focal point much like
its furry cousin on Bohol Island,
said a statement from the Biodi-
versity Institute of the University
of Kansas.
The ndings will restruc-
ture conservation targets in
Philippine tarsiers, placing
much greater urgency on the
populations of Dinagat Island,
and nearby Mindanao Islands
Caraga Region, in addition to the
already protected populations in
other parts of the species range,
predicted Rafe Brown, National
Geographic grantee and project
leader from the University of
Kansas.
Discovering and docu-
menting Philippine biodiversity
has become an exercise in inte-
grative, multidisciplinary studies
that take advantage of multiple
sources of data, like genetic and
acoustic information, in addition
to traditional studies of animals
physical characteristics, added
Cameron Siler of the University
of Oklahoma.
University of the Philip-
pines biology professor Perry S.
Ong noted that in the past tarsi-
ers from the Philippines tended
to be lumped as a single species
wherever they were found and
thus received the same conserva-
tion attention.
With the results of this
study, the survival of the three
genetically distinct variants of
the tarsier needs to be ensured
through targeted conservation
programs, including the estab-
lishment of critical habitats, he
explained.
Tarsiers generally are under
pressure from degraded habitat.
There have also been reports of
tarsiers being hunted for bush
meat.
but hes tough. Some ring pun-
dits predicts that Algieri will be
hard pressed to keep up with the
worlds only eight-weight class
champion atop the ring.
He can box. Im not saying
hes really good but hes not bad.
Hes okay, Pacquiao said.
A media event in Macau last
Aug. 25 kicked off a two-week
promotional tour that would take
them to Shanghai, San Francisco,
Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New
York.
It is a real honor to ght a
future Hall of Famer like Manny
Pacquiao and I am looking for-
ward to being introduced to a
whole new market and fan base in
the Far East, said Algieri
I underestimated Algieri
when he faced Ruslan Provod-
nikov in June but I wont make
that mistake again, said Hall of
Fame trainer Freddie Roach.
Algieri has a Bachelor of Sci-
ence degree in Health Care Man-
agement, a Masters Degree in
Clinical Nutrition and a Ph.D.
But theres something else
on Pacquiaos minds these days
other than the elusive Floyd May-
weather Jr.
At the Aug. 24 Philippine
Basketball Association (PBA)
rookie draft, expansion team
Kia Motors formally selected its
player-coach. The plan all along
was for Pacquiao to take the dual
role but needed to go through the
draft to make it all happen.
Kia Motors also selected the
coachs cousin Rene Pacquiao in
the 3rd round. He played at South-
western University of Cebu and
spent time in the minor leagues.
Pacquiao didnt actually
make the selection because he was
traveling to promote his ght with
Algieri.
The Filipino champion also
recently bought into mixed mar-
tial arts after purchasing an undis-
closed number of shares in the
Asian-based One Fighting Cham-
pionship, CEO Victor Cui revealed
in an interview with Yahoo Sports.
There are a ton of reasons
why Im pretty excited about this.
Obviously, Manny Pacquiao is a
global sports icon and having him
as a part of our organization as a
shareholder and promoting One
FC and promoting the sport is
huge for the sport in the region.
It promotes awareness and
growth, he explained.
Cui described Pacquiao as
a relatively new MMA fan.
Pacquiao has a series of gyms he
owns in Asia and all of them offer
MMA classes.
Awareness in MMA in the
Philippines has been steadily
increasing, aided by the recent
signings of ex-UFC contender
Brandon Vera and womens
boxing star Ana Julaton, both
Filipino-Americans, to One FC
contracts.
New primate found... from page 1
Pacquiao helps sell... from page 1
PH has lowest direct investments in region
MANILA. Despite the
Aquino administration rosy
reports on the Philippine econ-
omy, the country still has the
lowest Foreign Direct Invest-
ment (FDI) among the countries
in Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (Asean), according to
2014 United Nations Human
Development Report released
Aug. 20.
Only 1.12 percent of the Phil-
ippines gross domestic product
(GDP) came from FDI compared
to 2.26 percent in Indonesia, 2.35
percent in Thailand, 3.66 percent
in Laos, 4.17 percent in Malaysia,
6 percent in Vietnam, 7.03 per-
cent in Cambodia, 7.39 percent
in Brunei, and 20.62 percent in
Singapore.
But Socio-economic Plan-
ning Secretary Arsenio Bali-
sacan said it is not surprising
for the Philippines to have
low FDI compared to neigh-
bor Asean countries.
If you look at our neigh-
bors in Asean through the last
30 years, these countries have
consistently been growing at a
rate of 6 to 8 percent annually,
he argued, adding the Philippine
economy was growing consis-
tently only in the last three years.
Balisacan said that busi-
nessmen would tend to go to
countries which have achieved
sustained growth. The chal-
lenge for us is to make sure that
our growth is sustainable, he
averred.
Aside from FDIs, the Philip-
pines also ranked as 2nd lowest
in international trade with 64.79
percent of GDP.
The lowest ranked is Indo-
nesia with 50.07 percent, then
Philippines, followed by Laos
with 82.27 percent.
If a country is known for
corruption, power shortages,
lousy infrastructure, these will
reduce the productivity of capi-
tal and therefore the protabil-
ity and earnings of businesses,
Balisacan explained.
However, the Philippines
continued to rank highest
in Asean in foreign remittance
inows with 10.25 percent of
GDP.
emergency, putting all state
resources at the disposal of his
Ofce of Emergency Services.
Its very devastatingIm
just glad that no major build-
ings had fallen down. It looks
like (the damage) is structural.
But it looks like everybody will
be able to rebuild again, said
Fil-Am Mary Payomo Barna-
chea in a Balitang America
interview.
Im still thankful that
nothing happened to me, that
Im still alive. Im still in shock,
said another kababayan, Hazel
Bell.
They have prepared for the
predicted aftershocks by stock-
ing up on emergency kits and
supplies. Experts said some
aftershocks could hit Magni-
tude 5.
Kababayans shaken ... from page 1
September 1-15, 2014 22 22
explained Sr. Mary John Manan-
zan, co-convener of Abolish Pork
Movement.
Article XVII of the 1987 Con-
stitution and an implementing
law passed in 1989 provide that
constitutional amendments and
laws, that could apply at both
local and national level, can be
enacted directly by the people
through a petition by at least 12
percent of the total number of
registered voters and by at least
three percent of each legislative
district across the country.
Even when the
court declared that legislators
Priority Development Assis-
tance Fund (PDAF) or President
Benigno Aquinos Disbursement
Acceleration Program (DAP)
unconstitutional, the ofcials
can put in the budget millions
of pesos of discretionary funds
by other names, Mananzan
explained.
We dene pork barrel as
any undesignated lump sum
amount that would be placed
under the discretion of one to
three persons, she added. We
do not like this because this is the
source of corruption and irregu-
larities, political patronage and
other problems.
The campaign has report-
edly been endorsed by the
Catholic Bishops Conference of
the Philippines (CBCP). More
than 70 members of the CBCP
voted to promote the movement,
Mananzan revealed.
She pointed out that
AMRSP has access to convents,
schools and institutions around
the country, so they can mount
a truly grassroots campaign to
gather the signatures they need.
We try to hold activities in
schools for students to appreci-
ate and learn that this pork barrel
system causes corruption that is
not acceptable for us Catholics
who value honesty and sincer-
ity, explained Sr. Cecilia Espe-
nilla.
But Fr. Ranhilio Aquino,
Dean of San Beda Law Graduate
School, cautioned groups push-
ing for the peoples initiative not
to include language that would
put them in a collision course
with Malacanang and the Con-
gress.
Section 10 of the draft legis-
lation provides that the act can
only be repealed, modied or
amended by a law that has been
approved by the people under
the system of initiative and ref-
erendum enshrined in the 1987
Constitution.
Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Col-
menares pointed out that the
Constitution specically states
that legislative power shall be
vested in the Congress except to
the extent reserved to the people
by the provisions on initiative
and referendum.
Colmenares said that with
such constitutional provision,
Congress cannot touch the anti-
pork barrel act.
But Aquino said nowhere
do I read in this provision any
entitlement on the part of the
people to limit the legislative
power of Congress, and the
legislative power of Congress
includes the power to repeal or
to amend law, whether the law
be passed by Congress itself or
introduced through initiative.
The petition asks the Com-
mission on Elections to conduct
a referendum on the proposed
Peoples Initiative Bill titled An
Act Abolishing the Pork Barrel
System.
The last time the Catholic
Church was at the forefront of
a nationwide movement was
the failed bid to stop the Repro-
ductive Health bill in Congress.
That campaign strained its rela-
tions with President Aquino, a
stark contrast to the close ties his
mother, the late former President
Corazon Aquino enjoyed with
the nuns.
Priests, nuns back... from page 1
PH brass mull dyipmobile for Pope visit
MANILA. When Pope
Francis visits the Philippines
next year, he may be riding in a
special vehicle that has come to
symbolize the common peoples
favorite mode of mass transit.
Organizers of the much-
anticipated papal visit next year
are seriously thinking of offer-
ing the countrys original King
of the Road as a mode of trans-
portation for the Pope who,
during his recent trip to South
Korea, had opted to ride com-
pact, locally made cars instead of
luxurious vehicles betting his
station.
The jeepney is just a sug-
gestion since in Korea, the Pope
rode small, Korean-made cars.
So maybe its good to let him use
the jeepney here as well, said
former Philippine Ambassador
to the Vatican Henrietta de Villa
De Villa.
The jeepney was introduced
after World War II after a Filipino
entrepreneur converted surplus
American jeeps into what would
be the most popular public trans-
portation for Filipinos.
Pope Francis ditched the
luxury vehicles offered to him
during his 5-day visit to Seoul
earlier this month, riding instead
on the compact Kia Soul and
Hyundai Santa Fe during his
ve-day trip to South Korea last
week.
The Pope is scheduled to
arrive in the Philippines on Jan.
15 and y to Leyte province on
Jan. 17 to visit survivors of super
typhoon Yolanda.
He will hold an open-air
Mass at the Tacloban airport and
later dine with the poor at the
archbishops residence. After-
ward, the Pontiff will bless the
Pope Francis Center for the Poor,
a project nanced by the Vatican
for the care of the elderly, the
orphans and the less privileged.
After the blessing, Pope
Francis will go to Palo Metro-
politan Cathedral to address the
clergy and the religious congre-
gations. He will also bless the
newly refurbished Palo Metro-
politan Cathedral of Our Lords
Transguration, which was
ruined by Yolanda.
The rest of his visit will be
spent in Manila.
Among the organizers for
the papal visit are the Archdio-
cese of Manila, led by Manila
Archbishop Luis Antonio Car-
dinal Tagle, and the Catholic
Bishops Conference of the Phil-
ippines (CBCP), under the helm
of CBCP president Lingayen-
Dagupan Archbishop Socrates
Villegas.
Maid stopped for bringing gun to Malacanang Palace
MANILA. A 36-year-old
domestic helper was stopped at
the gates of Malacanang Palace
after she tried to enter the presi-
dential complex with a 45-caliber
pistol.
The Presidential Security
Group (PSG) said Flora Pineda
tried to enter the presidential
palace through the Arias Gate on
Jose Laurel Street before she was
disarmed last Aug. 21.
The Arias Gate is usually
used by visitors going to the
New Executive Building. The
building houses the ofces of the
Presidential Communications
Operations Ofce, the Presi-
dential News Desk, the Media
Affairs Relations Ofce and the
Press Center.
Pineda said she had no
intention of harming anyone.
Upon interrogation, she said
she carried a gun only to scare
President Aquino into stepping
down to end poverty in the Phil-
ippines.
Reports showed that Pineda
was a domestic helper in a home
in Signal Village, Taguig City.
She reportedly became hysteri-
cal after being detained but later
calmed down.
The pistol taken from her
was traced to her brother who
is an active-duty Marine. Police said the gun was fully loaded
when it was conscated by
palace guards.
Pineda said she wanted to
tell the President, So many are
sleeping on the streets but you
are sleeping on a soft bed.
I am poor, too, and I want
all, not only the President, to
know that I want change, she
added.
The PSG assured the Presi-
dent was never in any danger.
Pineda was rst taken to the
Ospital ng Maynila for a mental
evaluation and later detained at
the Manila Police District head-
quarters jail.
Pope Francis aboard the specially built Kia Popemobile during visit to South Korea.
Manila policemen escort suspect after arrest in Malacanang Palace.
September 1-15, 2014 23
Ninoys undelivered speech
Sen. Benigno Ninoy
Aquino Jr.
(Upon his return from the
United States of America on Aug.
21, 1983)
I have returned on my free
will to join the ranks of those
struggling to restore our rights
and freedoms through nonvio-
lence.
I seek no confrontation. I
only pray and will strive for a
genuine national reconciliation
founded on justice.
I am prepared for the worst,
and have decided against the
advice of my mother, my spiri-
tual adviser, many of my tested
friends and a few of my most
valued political mentors.
A death sentence awaits me.
Two more subversion charges,
both calling for death penalties,
have been led since I left three
years ago and are now pending
with the courts.
I could have opted to seek
political asylum in America, but
I feel it is my duty, as it is the
duty of every Filipino, to suffer
with his people especially in
time of crisis.
I never sought nor have I
been given assurances or prom-
ise of leniency by the regime. I
return voluntarily armed only
with a clear conscience and for-
tied in the faith that in the end
justice will emerge triumphant.
According to Gandhi, the
willing sacrice of the innocent
is the most powerful answer to
insolent tyranny that has yet
been conceived by God and man.
Three years ago when I left
for an emergency heart bypass
operation, I hoped and prayed
that the rights and freedoms
of our people would soon be
restored, that living conditions
would improve and that blood-
letting would stop.
Rather than move forward,
we have moved backward. The
killings have increased, the
economy has taken a turn for the
worse and the human rights situ-
ation has deteriorated.
During the martial law
period, the Supreme Court heard
petitions for Habeas Corpus. It
is most ironic, after martial law
has allegedly been lifted, that the
Supreme Court last April ruled
it can no longer entertain peti-
tions for Habeas Corpus for per-
sons detained under a Presiden-
tial Commitment Order, which
covers all so-called national
security cases and which under
present circumstances can cover
almost anything.
The country is far advanced
in her times of trouble. Economic,
social and political problems
bedevil the Filipino. These prob-
lems may be surmounted if we
are united. But we can be united
only if all the rights and free-
doms enjoyed before September
21, 1972 are fully restored.
The Filipino asks for noth-
ing more, but will surely accept
nothing less, than all the rights
and freedoms guaranteed by
the 1935 Constitution, the most
sacred legacies from the Found-
ing Fathers.
Yes, the Filipino is patient,
but there is a limit to his patience.
Must we wait until that patience
snaps?
The nation-wide rebellion
is escalating and threatens to
explode into a bloody revolu-
tion. There is a growing cadre
of young Filipinos who have
nally come to realize that free-
dom is never granted, it is taken.
Must we relive the agonies and
the blood-letting of the past that
brought forth our Republic or
can we sit down as brothers and
sisters and discuss our differ-
ences with reason and goodwill?
I have often wondered how
many disputes could have been
settled easily had the disputants
only dared to dene their terms.
So as to leave no room for
misunderstanding, I shall dene
my terms:
1. Six years ago, I was sen-
tenced to die before a ring
squad by a Military Tribunal
whose jurisdiction I steadfastly
refused to recognize. It is now
time for the regime to decide.
Order my IMMEDIATE EXECU-
TION OR SET ME FREE.
I was sentenced to die for
allegedly being the leading com-
munist leader. I am not a com-
munist, never was and never
will be.
2. National reconciliation
and unity can be achieved but
only with justice, including jus-
tice for our Muslim and Ifugao
brothers. There ca be no deal
with a Dictator. No compromise
with Dictatorship.
3. In a revolution there can
really be no victors, only victims.
We do not have to destroy in
order to build.
4. Subversion stems from
economic, social and political
causes and will not be solved by
purely military solutions; it can
be curbed not with ever increas-
ing repression but with a more
equitable distribution of wealth,
more democracy and more free-
dom, and
5. For the economy to get
going once again, the working-
man must be given his just and
rightful share of his labor, and to
the owners and managers must
be restored the hope where there
is so much uncertainty if not
despair.
On one of the long corridors
of Harvard University are carved
in granite the words of Archibald
Macleish:
How shall freedom be
defended? By arms when it is
attacked by arms; by truth when
it is attacked by lies; by demo-
cratic faith when it is attacked by
authoritarian dogma. Always,
and in the nal act, by determi-
nation and faith.
I return from exile and to an
uncertain future with only deter-
mination and faith to offer faith
in our people and faith in God.
Why Ninoy risked his life to go home to PH
By Alberto Alfaro
One of the principal rea-
sons Sen. Benigno Ninoy S.
Aquino, Jr. decided to risk his
life by going home to the Phil-
ippines in 1983 was his fear of
a bloodbath if President Ferdi-
nand Marcos died and Imelda
Marcos assumed power. He
believed that by going home, he
might be able to seek a meeting
with his University of the Philip-
pines brod (Marcos) who was
seriously ill from the incurable
lupus ailment. He said he will
try to convince Marcos to leave a
lasting legacy to the country by
calling for a clean election and
restoring democracy.
During his frequent calls
to me in Virginia and in New
York, Ninoy expressed his
growing concern over the pos-
sibility of a bloody revolution
if Imelda grabbed power. He
said Imelda, with the support of
Gen. Fabian Ver, were prepar-
ing to take over if Marcos died.
There will be a bloody revolu-
tion, he said. This was among
the scenario he expressed when
I talked to him at the National
Press Club in Washington D.C.
in the summer of 1980, a few
months after his successful heart
surgery in Texas. He then said
that he no longer had any politi-
cal ambitions after the sufferings
he endured in prison. Through-
out his three-year stay in the
US, Ninoy vowed to devote his
time into convincing Marcos to
restore democracy by holding an
honest election.
When he was in Boston, he
frequently called me at home in
Virginia where I had my Philip-
pine News Agency ofce and
later in New York at the Philip-
pine consulate or my apartment
in Queens. Whenever he was in
Washington to deliver a speech,
he would invite me to be present.
Ninoys concern about
the situation in the Philippines
intensied when Marcos secretly
began receiving blood transfu-
sion because of his incurable ail-
ment- lupus.
During the state visit
of Marcos to the US in 1982,
Ninoy cornered the journalists
accompanying him to get more
information about his ailment.
Despite attempts by Ambassa-
dor Kokoy Romualdez to stop
the media from seeing him,
Ninoy managed to meet them,
including then top columnist
Doroy Valencia.
Early in 1983, Imelda met
with Ninoy at the Philippine
consulate in New York. The
consulate was then led by Amb.
Ernesto Pineda and his assistant,
Minister Willy Gaa. Ninoy a few
days after the meeting told me
that Imelda warned him against
going home saying that there
were elements who wanted to
kill him. There were also reports,
unconrmed, that Imelda also
offered to give him money so he
could remain in the US.
Starting in January, 1983,
Ninoy kept telling me that the
end of Marcos was near and
that he was getting information
directly from former Rep. Car-
melo Barbero, a friend of Marcos.
Padre, Nino said in one of his
calls, Marcos is dying. If Imelda
with the help of Gen. Fabian Ver
will assume power, the Philip-
pines will explode in a blood-
bath. The urgency in his voice
increased following reports that
Marcos was very sick in July,
1983 and underwent a secret
transplant operation in Mala-
canang.
He called me later at home
to say that he had decided to go
home and try to convince Marcos
to restore democracy before he
dies.
When I told him of the dan-
gers he faced, Ninoy said he was
certain his University brod
would not have him killed. The
most that he could do would
be to send me back to prison.
In July he sounded more fran-
tic because he said Marcos was
in and out of consciousness. He
said he was getting this informa-
tion directly from Malacanang.
Padre, I have decided to go
home without any visa, The con-
sulate does not want to give me
any papers. When I said this
was practically impossible, he
said he would assemble a group
of American and other reporters
to accompany him on the plane.
This will be my protection, he
added.
On the afternoon of Aug. 13,
Ninoy called me at the Philippine
consulate in New York. Padre,
I did not tell the operator who I
am. I just called to say goodbye.
I will be leaving tonight from
Boston.
Aware that my phone was
tapped, the only words I could
blurt out were Good Luck,
Padre. After I hanged up I told
myself I would call him in Boston
when I returned to my apart-
ment in Queens. But that night
some colleagues invited me for
dinner and drinks and I did not
return to my apartment until 1
a.m. and was unable to call him.
Eight days later, the shock-
ing news came about his assas-
sination as he arrived with a
group of journalist aboard China
Airlines on August 21 at the
Manila International Airport.
But his death was not in vain.
Three years later, the election
that Marcos called resulted in
the People Power revolution that
made his widow, Cory Aquino
become the President who lost
no time in restoring democracy
in the country without blood-
shed.
p23NINOY PHOTOS.tif
September 1-15, 2014 24 24
No to a second
Aquino term
MANILA
A
second six-year term
for President Benigno
Aquino III is currently
the talk of the town here even
though the Philippine Consti-
tution allows only one term.
In any case, a second term for
Mr. Aquino, or any president,
wouldnt work.
Manila Observer has been
supportive of Mr. Aquinos
reform agenda. No other Presi-
dent has embarked on a sweep-
ing effort to make things better
for the Filipino people.
The economy has been
growing and has attracted posi-
tive reviews from foreign gov-
ernments and global observers
(although the growth needs
to fully reach the poor). Social
services have been upgraded,
including the cash transfer pro-
gram looking after the very
poors health and childrens edu-
cation. The reproductive health
law is meant to help child-bear-
ing women and check unwanted
births.
The bureaucracy has
received attention, includ-
ing support for the police and
the military. After a slow start
because of an effort to scruti-
nize ongoing projects for corrupt
practices, infrastructure projects,
particularly key roads, have been
going full-blast lately.
Mr. Aquino initiated a cul-
ture that frowns upon abuse of
authority among public ofcials
with his no wang-wang policy
(sirens used even by private vehi-
cles) which, if the metaphor is
interpreted broadly, is an injunc-
tion against those who throw
their weight around because of
their positions. No one before
him acted to moderate the arro-
gance of the privileged.
The proposed peace agree-
ment for Muslim Mindanao is
potentially a major breakthrough
for a large region that hasnt fully
exploited its vast resources.
Overall, the Presidents Cab-
inet is capable and upright. And
Mr. Aquino himself cannot by
any means be accused of being
personally corrupt. That, in itself,
is Aquinos most commendable
contribution to Philippine poli-
tics. (Manila Observer thinks the
countrys luck in having a chief
executive whos personally not
corrupt may be a one-time occur-
rence for the nation.)
There have been missteps
and miscalculations, but more
on being not up to the tasks
involved than on intentional
inaction or wrongful intent. Gov-
erning the Philippines is a hercu-
lean task. The President and his
men and women arent superhu-
man after all.
Mr. Aquino should survey
whats hes done for the country
and be happy with the thought
that hes done well and, while
many Filipinos arent fully sat-
ised, that hes done more than
the others who held the ofce
before him.
And then walk quietly into
the sunset. Going for another
term would be a major mistake.
First of all, theres no time
for a plebiscite for the people to
approve a Constitutional amend-
ment to allow the President to
seek another term. It would just
mess up all of the Commission
on Elections preparations for the
2016 elections.
Second, the President must
keep his word to step down from
ofce the moment his term ends.
Otherwise, all the talk and praise
about being a man of his word
would go up in smoke and ruin
his reputation forever. He would
smash into smithereens the good
name that hes cultivated all his
life.
But for all the reasons why a
second term wouldnt be a good
idea and benecial, this is the
most important: fatigue.
Second terms are notori-
ously ineffective because every-
body in the executive depart-
ment by then already suffers
from fatigue, both physically and
intellectually. Its very difcult
to maintain a level of stamina,
perseverance and concentration
over a long period of time.
Two six-year terms can sap
all the physical energy and intel-
lectual stamina of key players in
the government, including and
especially the President.
Mental and physical las-
situde will set in. No more new
ideas will come from tired minds,
it would be like coaxing blood
from stone. Ennui will turn once-
On Laughing with Our Humor
I
ts September, summer is
ending, the crystalline joys of
sun and heat begin to show
cracks for sputtering rains and
falling leaves, the time when
mens souls supposedly begin
to turn gray. It is on the coming
days, from September to Novem-
ber, occurring year after year,
that memories of my deceased
father would haunt me like a
prick on the skin. Fall here in
the United States and my father
there then in Manila, Philippines
will always provide the link of
my remembrances of how the
remaining months of the year
would give way to my fathers
passion for the performing arts.
My father would spend the
weekends with my mother going
either to a movie or to a stage
play of drama, sometimes a Fili-
pino version of a musical, the
zarzuela. In my young tender
age of six, when consciousness
of my surroundings was taking
shape and unravelling meanings,
he took me with him to a movie
house to see Romeo and Juliet,
my very rst introduction to a
lm version, in black and white,
of Shakespeare tragic play, Law-
rence Olivier in the lead role.
This was followed by other lms,
in other movie houses, memora-
ble by the swashbuckling per-
formances, in some, of Douglas
Fairbanks, Jr. Some weekends,
breaking his routine, he would
take me to stage plays.
There is one stage play, we
saw at the then Metropolitan
Theater in Manila, which will
always pose a challenge to my
recollection skills. The play was
Ang Prinsiping Hinding Tuma-
tawa (The Prince Who Never
Laughs). I remember the faade
of the theater; it was then under-
going renovation from damages
caused by mortar shellings of
the area during the liberation of
Manila by the US military forces
at the latter year of World War II.
But my memory of the play fails
me. I cant recall how it begun
or ended, bits and momentary
glimpses of scenes, but never the
whole.
However, the title of the
play is intriguing. How could a
man, in his position as a prince,
not afford the luxury of a laugh?
Laughter caused by any action
or spoken word is a commodity
readily-available for the taking.
One doesnt need to be titled
to enjoy an embarrassing act
or a word which to us look or
sound funny. Either one tickles
us to show mirth because we are
humans, the only animals that
laugh. Hyenas, in spite of their
reputation, do not laugh; they
growl in high-pitched sounds.
Laughter, in general, ema-
nates from what is funny. It may
be in comedy, burlesque, satire,
parody, sarcasm, joke, pun, a
remark by a wit, or in a wise-
cracking comeback. In most situ-
ations, laughter is the laughter of
the group. Our humanness tends
us to associate with a group,
sometimes with the attendant
result of being laughed at, the
butts of a joke.
Renowned psychologists
have long concluded that laugh-
ter covers emotion, the absence
of feeling which usually accom-
panies the mirth. The appeal is
to our intelligence. Laughters
greatest foe is emotion. We
cannot laugh at a person who is
grieving for the loss of a loved
one; we feel for him or her.
Laughters natural environment
is indifference. A mirthful act fol-
lows from a sudden perception
of an incongruity between an
idea or concept and a real object,
the inability to distinguish which
is which. Hence, observing and
knowing this, we laugh because
we feel superior.
The Greek philosopher
Plato, in his The Republic,
made the observation in 400
BC that the feeling of superior-
ity was abhorrent. To him, it
was an inhuman act to laugh at
the misfortune of others; laugh-
ing heartily at an unfortunate
situation involved a loss of con-
trol that made the butts of joke
appear to be less than human.
Clowns and comedians made the
audience then laugh by showing
their sense of superiority over
those who appeared to them to
be fat, deformed, physically-
handicapped, or plain stupid.
In the Philippines, laughter
is evoked from shades of sense of
superiority, puns, racism, double
intender, put downs, dialects,
and religious attitudes. The dis-
parity between the wealthy and
the poor, the exclusion from a
well-known family lineage, a
dened relationship between
employer and employee, or
agreement between landlord and
tenant is a mine for comic mate-
rials used by Filipino comedians.
The comic duo of Dolphy and
Panchito, during my younger
years living with my parents
then in Manila, would elicit
laughter from a sense of supe-
riority of one over the other in
any of the situational portraiture
to the delight of the listeners to
their weekly radio program.
The use of puns as parts
of a joke is funnier when they
are read in a written dialogue
than when they are verbalized
in humorous bantering. Listen
to these: A prisoner with ber
has escaped. A cereal killer is on
the loose! Most limericks carry
punny words with multiple
meanings.
There was a time before
a disparaging act of, or refer-
ence to, race became unlawful,
Chinese, Indian, and Pakistani
immigrants and workers in the
Philippines were the butts of
joke, a lmost paranoia, when-
ever any one of them was seen in
the neighborhood. Hardwork-
ing that they were and are, they
were the fodders for comedians
hungry for materials. The epi-
thets expressed about them were
used as comic references to their
facial appearance and behav-
ior. Thank God, perception and
behavior changed in early 1960s.
Double intender, or use of
word or words with multiple
meanings, evokes measured
snickering or laughter because
its use has shades of sexual over-
tones and oblique references
to mens and womens private
parts. Such word or words are
not supposed to be spoken in
public conversation but when
used in groups of listeners the
resulting laughter erases all
doubts of vulgarity. A sense of
propriety is restored.
Putdowns is the age-old
scrimmages between men and
women. The scenario is always
a spiky conversation between a
husband and his wife, sometimes
casual, oftentimes intimate. The
repartee will have the husband
the edge, but at the punchline,
the wife gives him the last word
devaluing his worth. Only a
seasoned comic will tread the
treacherous path to the subjects
of religion and native dialects.
The Philippines may not
have NBCs Saturday Night
Live, Las Vegas standup
comics, the now-retired Jay
Leno, or the late incomparable
Robin Williams, but the Filipinos
living in the Philippines create
their own venues for expressing
life-long joy, exchanging humor-
ous repartees with friends and
acquaintances, and shoulder
the burdens of displacements of
location, housing or work with
happy smiles on their faces, the
passed on cultural traits.
September 1-15, 2014 25
Approval of petitions after death of relative
I
n the past, if the petitioner
dies while the visa petition
is pending, the beneciary
would not be entitled to seek
approval of the petition. The law
changed with the amendment
of Sec. 204(l) of the Immigration
Act in 2009.
Under current law, an alien
seeking immigration benet
through a deceased qualifying
relative may obtain approval
of a visa petition or adjustment
application and refugee/asylee
relative petition if the alien meets
the following illegibility require-
ments:
Resided in the United States
when the qualifying relative
died;
Continues to reside in the
United States on the date of the
decision on the pending petition
or application;
Is at least one of the follow-
ing:
the beneciary of a pending
or approved immediate relative
visa petition;
the beneciary of a pending or
approved family-based visa peti-
tion, including beneciary and
any derivative beneciaries;
any derivative beneciary of
a pending or approved employ-
ment-based visa-petition;
the beneciary of appending
or approved Form I-730, Refu-
gee/Asylee Relative Petition;
an alien admitted as a deriva-
tive T or U nonimmigrant;
or
a derivative asylee.
The Immigration Service
denes qualifying relative as
an individual who immediately
before death, was:
VISA PRIORITY DATES FOR THE PHILIPPINES
SEPTEMBER 2014
FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES
First: Unmarried sons/daughters
of US citizens Aug. 01, 2004
Second:
A: Spouses/minor children of
permanent residents: Jan 01, 2013
B: Unmarried sons/daughters 21 years
of age or older of permanent residents Dec. 01, 2003
Third: Married sons/daughters of citizens May. 22, 1993
Fourth: Brothers/sisters of citizens Mar. 15, 1991
EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES
First: Priority workers Current
Second: Professionals holding advanced
degrees or persons of exceptional ability Current
Third: Skilled workers, professionals Apr. 01, 2011
Other Workers Apr. 01, 2011
Fourth:
Certain Religious Workers Current
Fifth: Employment creation/
(Million or half-million dollar investor) Current
Amnesia Antidote
N
ational amnesia
causes us to forget
who and what we
are. Is that the x were in
when the country marks, this
Thursday, the 31st anniversary
of Senator Benigno Aquino Jrs
airport tarmac murder?
The most concise summary
of that assassination is perhaps
found in the tape recorder of
then Time magazines Sandra
Burton. She propped it against a
window of China Airlines Flight
811 jet , when it parked at what
is todays Ninoy Aquino Inter-
national Airport..
Three soldiers escort Aquino
out. The tape catches the gang-
way exchange. . Eto na, eto na!
Ako na, ako na! Pusila, pusila
( This is it, this is it! Let me,
let me! Shoot, shoot! ) Gunre
erupts and . Ninoys bloodied
body crumples on the tarmac.
What happened? a
woman passenger screams,
Burtons tape continues.. More
gunshots. The wailing becomes
louder. Inside, inside, inside!,
several men scream.
The soldiers shot Ninoy.
Hes dead out there, the woman
cries out. They shot Ninoy?
asks a passenger. Burton:
Yeah. Man: Where?
Burton: Right at the bottom of
the stairs. Man: When Ninoy
was still on it or when? Burton:
No, when he got off. Im sure
hes dead.
Man: What did you see?
Who did it? Burton: Soldiers.
Man: How many of them?
Burton: I dont know. I think
wed better wait. Man: Did
you recognize Aquino? Burton:
Yeah.
Man: Whats your
name? Burton: No, Im not
gonna this is not the place to
talk. We had just seen two assas-
sinations take place right outside
our window.
As Time bureau chief,
Burton ew with those covering
Ninoy Aquino. She was later
called to testify at the Agrava
Fact-Finding Board and she
turned her tape over to prosecu-
tors. Then-Justice Manuel Pama-
ran. acquitted all respondents,
including Marcos ally : AFP
Chief of Staff Gen. Fabian Ver.
After People Power, the the
Supreme Court ordered a retrial.
Constable Moreno who shot
Aquino and 15 others were con-
victed. But the mastermind(s)
were never held to account until
now.
Burton was 62 when she died
in Bali in May 2004. She was a
female rarity in in the sometimes
aggressively gung-ho masculine
world of foreign correspondents:
courteous, fair-minded and intel-
lectually honest., Philip Bow-
ring wrote then in South China
Morning Post.
These traits stood Burton in
good stead when she led Times
Beijing bureau during the drama
of Tiannamen Square and hor-
rors of the June 4 killing. She
was never a combat journalist,
but when ring began around
Tiananmen she showed resolve
to stay and nd the facts.
The juournalist-to-the-bone
is also seen in the work she did,
as Time bureau chief in Hong
Kong, from 1990 through the
wrenching handover of the Brit-
ish colony in March 1997.
In the Philippines, every-
one got a little carried away
by the euphoria of the People
Power revolution against Ferdi-
nand Marcos But she did not let
it divert her from covering Phil-
ippine events as dispassionately
as circumstances allowed.
Her search for hard facts
anchored sources for her 483-
pqge book The Impossible
Dream. Published by Warner
Books, it is one of the more most
accurate -- and spellbinding --
account of the Philippines tur-
moil of the 1980s.
Burtons had intimate access
to the Aquinos and Marcoses,
during the crucial four years
when their roles reversed to
recast society, wrote journalist
Stanley Karnow in his book In
Our Image ( Random House).
Her insights do not portray the
Marcoses as unredeemable vil-
lains or the Aquinos as sinless
saints.
``For the rst time, I could
imagine what the Filipino voters,
who had elected him twice and
then tolerated his takeover, must
have seen in him,``she writes of
her rst meeting with Marcos in
September, 1983 at Malacanang..
``He was was the kind of lawyer
you would hire to get you off if
you were really in trouble --par-
ticularly if you were guilty. He
was the kind of maverick you
would elect president when you
deemed the system to be beyond
the power of conventional lead-
ers and remedies to repair.``
Imelda is trounced in the
Sunday at
the Park
T
he venerable Signa-
ture Theatre is celebrat-
ing its 25th anniversary
season with its excellent stag-
ing of Sunday in the Park
with George, one of Stephen
Sondheims best and most well-
loved works.
With a book by James
Lapine (his rst collaboration
with Sondheim), this musical is a
ctionalized account of the well-
known French painter Georges
Seurat and his struggle in creat-
ing his complex masterpiece A
Sunday Afternoon on the Island
of Le Grande Jatte and those
characters depicted in the paint-
ing. The press performance I
attended Sunday night received
a rousing standing ovation.
Act 1 is about Georges
Seurat who is determined on
nishing his masterpiece paint-
ing A Sunday Afternoon on the
Island of Le Grande Jatte. He is
surrounded by his lover Dot, the
subject of his painting, and the
characters depicted in the paint-
ing.
But he is so obsessed with
completing his painting that he
isolates himself from everyone.
Seurat developed the ingenious
technique of pointillism, which
consists of layering thousands
of tiny dots in only a few pure
colors and allowing the human
eye and mind to optically com-
bine them into a multitude of
shades.
In one of the musicals tell-
ing numbers, Finishing The
Hat, he sings about his artistic
struggles and detachment.
Sondheim was inspired by
La Grande Jatte and led him to
compose the beautiful and richly
emotional score, an achievement
capped by Sunday, on of the
most powerful Act 1 nales in
musical theater history.
In Act 2, the setting takes
place in 1980s New York
and Georges great-grandson,
also named George, is a digital
sculptor who is also struggling
with nishing his latest project.
This he conveys in the show-
stopping Putting It Together
Like his great-grandfa-
ther, George is also isolated and
his wise, 98-year-old grand-
mother, Marie, Dots daughter,
who convinces him to come
to terms with his struggles
and bring back his passion with
his work. This she success-
fully points out in the poignant
Move On.
The very talented direc-
tor Matthew Gardiner has
assembled a top-notch cast.
Claybourne Elder and Brynn
OMalley are both brilliant in the
roles of, Georges/George and
Dot/Marie, respectively.
Erin Driscoll and Susan
Derry are both funny as the
ighty Celestes, and so is Maria
Egler as the wisecracking nurse
and an American tourist; Paul
Scanlan as an odd boatman and
Gregory Maheu as a soldier
and an art patron; and Mitchell
Hebert and Valerie Leonard who
play Parisian aristocrats. This
show is also a showcase for the
one and only Donna Miglaccio
who is superb as Georges wise
mother and an acerbic art critic.
Sunday in the Park With
George is a must-see musical
and it is running at Signature
Theatre till September 21. Music
and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim,
Book by James Lapine; Directed
by Matthew Gardiner; Signature
Theatre- 4200 Campbell Ave.
Arlington, Va.; Tickets: $40-$100;
703-820-9771 or http://www.
signature-theatre.org/
Signature Theatre has a
Continued on page 30 Continued on page 30
September 1-15, 2014 26 26
LEMON GINGER SHRIMP
With Shitake Mushrooms
F
or shrimp lovers, here is
one innovative way of
cooking shrimp for any day
of the week. It is a mildly spiced
and mildly sour soup dish but it
can be served with other main
dishes. The shitake mushrooms
give that captivating taste to the
shrimp when combined with
lemon, ginger and dried red chili
peppers.
Shrimp, as some of us are
not aware of, are the most pop-
ular varieties of seafood in the
world and they are high in pro-
tein, rich in nutrients and low on
calories.
Ingredients:
10 pieces fresh large shrimp
10 pieces shitake mush-
rooms (shitake gomba, pre-
ferred)
4 cups water
2 thumb-size ginger, peeled,
thinly sliced
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon dried crushed
red pepper
1 rm green mango, peeled,
esh sliced in large dices
1/2 cup kale (chiffonade)
salt and white pepper to
taste
Methods:
Remove the sharp head
sword and the long antenna
from the shrimp. Remove the
mature stem from the shitake
mushrooms. Roll together the
kale and then slice crosswise into
strips (chiffonade). Set aside the
shrimp, mushrooms and kale
until needed.
In a sauce pan, bring the
water to a boil. Add the ginger,
lemon juice and crushed red
pepper. Lower heat and let the
stock simmer (do not boil) for
10 minutes. Season the stock
with salt and pepper before
adding the mango. Then bring
the stock to a boil again and add
the shrimp this time. Cook the
shrimp briey (about 2-3 min-
utes) and add the kale at the last
minute.
Serve hot.
Editors Note about Master
Chef Evelyn: 100 Most Influential
Filipina Women in the U.S., 2009,
Filipina Womens Network; MHC
Most Outstanding Migrant Award
in Culinary Arts, 2011; PAFC
Dakila Special Achievement Award,
2011; Owner/Chef, Philippine Ori-
ental Market & Deli, Arlington,
Virginia; Founder and President of
CHEW (Cancer Help Eat Well)
Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) public
charity formed to help and cook pro-
bono for Filipino-Americans who
are afflicted with cancer and other
serious illnesses; Culinary writer;
Member, Les Dames dEscoffier
International, Washington DC
Chapter; Member, International
Cake Exploration Society, Member,
Culinary Historians of Washington,
D.C.; Master Chef, French Cuisine and Patisserie, Le Cordon Bleu, London.
KILLER DOG
T
he Israelis and Arabs real-
ized that, if they contin-
ued ghting, they would
someday end up destroying the
whole world. So, they decided
to settle their dispute with an
ancient practice: A duel of two,
like David and Goliath. This duel
would be a dog ght.
The negotiators agreed
each side would take 5 years to
develop the best ghting dog
they could. The dog that won the
ght would earn its people the
right to rule the disputed areas.
The losing side would have to
lay down its arms for good.
The Arabs found the big-
gest, meanest Dobermans and
Rottweilers in the world. They
bred them together and then
crossed their offsprings with the
meanest Siberian wolves.
They selected only the big-
gest, strongest puppy of each
litter, fed it the best food and
killed all the other puppies. They
used steroids and trainers in
their quest for the perfect killing
machine. And after the 5 years
were up, they had a dog that
needed steel prison bars on its
cage. Only expert trainers could
handle this incredibly nasty and
ferocious beast.
When the day of the big
dog-ght nally arrived, the
Israelis showed up with a very
strange-looking animal, a Dachs-
hund that was 10 feet long!
Everyone at the dog-ght
arena felt sorry for the Israelis.
No one there seriously thought
this weird, odd-looking animal
stood any chance against the
growling beast over in the Arab
camp. All the bookies took a look
and predicted that the Arab dog
would win in less than a minute.
As the cages were opened,
the Dachshund very slowly
waddled towards the center of
the ring.
The Arab dog leaped from
its cage and charged the giant
wiener-dog. As he got to
within an inch of the Israeli dog,
the Dachshund opened its jaws
and swallowed the Arab beast
whole in one bite. There was
nothing left but a small puff of
fur from the Arab killer dogs tail
oating to the ground.
The stunned crowd of inter-
national observers, bookies and
media personnel let out a col-
lective gasp of disbelief and sur-
prise.
The Arabs approached the
Israelis, muttering and shak-
ing their heads in disbelief. We
do not understand, said their
leader, Our top scientists and
breeders worked for 5 long years
with the meanest, biggest Dober-
mans, Rottweilers and Siberian
wolves, and they developed an
incredible killing machine of a
dog!
The Israelis replied. Well,
for 5 years, we have had a team
of Filipino plastic surgeons
working to make an alligator
look like a Dachshund.
THE PRESENT
A woman goes to Italy to
attend a 2-week company train-
ing session. Her husband drives
her to the airport and wishes her
to have a good trip.
The wife answers : Thank
you honey, what would you like
me to bring for you?
The husband laughs and
says jokingly: An Italian girl.
The wife kept quiet and left.
Two weeks later he picks
her up at the airport and asks:
So, honey, how was the trip?
Very good, thank you, she
replied.
And, what happened to
my present? The husband won-
dered.
Which present?, she
asked.
The one I asked for - an
Italian girl, he replied.
Oh, that she said. Well, I
did what I could to please you.
Now we just have to wait for
nine months to see if it is a girl.
MAHAL
Misis: Darling, akala ko ba,
mahal mo ako...
Mister: Oo nga! Handa
akong mamatay alang-alang sa
yo.
Misis: Sus! Puro ka lang
satsat, hindi mo naman tino-
totoo!
DNA
Reporter: Sir, kung wala po
kayong evidence, witness or sus-
pect, ano na po ang next step na
gagawin ninyo?
Police: DNA na
Reporter: Sir, ano po yung
DNA?
Police: Di Namin Alam
TUKSO
Anak: Nay, tinutukso po
ako ng mga kalaro ko na anak
daw po ako sa labas!
Nanay: Hindi totoo yan,
anak. Ang sabihin mo sa kanila,
ampon ka!
SANDALI LANG
Pare: Mare, ikaw ba ang
nasa CR? Kukunin ko lang ang
suklay ko...
Mare: Sandali, naka-panty
lang ako.
Pari: Ok, maghihintay ako.
Mare: Pasok na, wala na
akong panty!
PAGMUMURA
Sexy girl nangumpisal:
Pari: Iha, ano ang iyong iku-
kumpisal?
Sexy: Father, pag nakakar-
inig po ako ng lalaking nagmu-
mura, di ko mapigilan ang sarili
ko na halikan siya!
Pari: Putang ina! Totoo nga
ba?
UTOS NG BOSS
Wife: Himala! Ang aga
mong umuwi ngayon.
Husband: Sinunod ko lang
ang utos ng boss ko. Sabi niya
Go to hell!. Kaya eto, umuwi
agad ako.
UBO
Doc: Umubo ka!
Pedro: Ho! Ho! Ho!
Doc: Ubo pa!
Pedro: Ho! Ho! Ho!
Doc: Okay na.
Pedro: Ano po ba ang sakit
ko, doc?
Doc: May ubo ka.
September 1-15, 2014 27
On
Retirement
N
ormally, we retire from
work when we reach
the senior age or what
we commonly call the retire-
ment age. This notion had been
built into our heads for so long,
deeply rooted into our brain cells
as it was a government man-
dated law. We worked very hard
to earn enough to meet our needs
for daily sustenance and to pre-
pare for our retirement. Subse-
quently, people retire from work
upon reaching age sixty two or so
because of the perception that at
that age they have to stop work-
ing already to take the much
needed rest till the last phase of
their life. In the previous gen-
erations, people appeared old at
age 60 and it followed to feel and
act old. As a consequence, they
adhered to the norm of dressing
up according to their age, slow-
ing down on the usual activities
and diminishing attendance to
social events, saying, matanda
na tayo. But, of course here in
the U.S. one can elect to work
longer than the commonsense
retirement age.
Well, time has changed. It
seems that life is not that simple
anymore. We wind up with a lot
of pressures, anxieties, stresses at
home and place of work. Things
have become complicated now
with the emergence of the new
and advanced technology, modi-
ed work/ofce requirement,
the demands of social media
and the transformed mindset
and behavior of people. Things
have changed and for some,
even the well-guarded values
were shifted from the long-term
to abated values. As an outcome,
a great force is felt to decide for
an early retirement, as if saying,
I am tired. To put it in plain
and honest words- I am men-
tally drained, emotionally spent,
psychologically challenged and
physically exhausted. These are
the right stuffs needed for an
early retirement. Forget about
the age related requirement.
Mary and Michael
In the recent gatherings I
have attended, surprisingly the
topic of early retirement had
surfaced. The people were of
mixed age levels. I got interested
in hearing the younger persons
perspectives on retirement.
Mary, age fty, said that she and
her husband decided that they
wont wait until retirement to
start living worry-free. They have
accompanied a couple friends,
rst to visit a senior citizens
community and then, a continu-
ing care retirement communities.
Mary and Michael liked what
they saw and later talked about
it often which led to making a
serious decision. The individual
units were well-appointed, with
a nice golf-course view, a man-
made lake, an English garden,
computer room, swimming pool,
quiet library, work-out/recre-
ation room, a casual restaurant
and a dining room. The commu-
nity had also a shuttle bus to take
them to the nearest shopping
mall with theaters. The husband
and wife were in unison agree-
ing to move into a senior citi-
zens apartment and start taking
advantage of enjoying this great
lifestyle at an earlier age. Though
working full time and not retired,
yet, they were now qualied age-
wise to live in that nice housing
complex. Michael said it was an
easy decision to make because
they were now empty nesters
and their adult children were
comfortably living on their own.
Mary evidently is now
savvy on giving friendly advises
to her captive audience. She said
that sooner or a little later, they
will retire fully from work to
continue with what they have
started to do. Michael articu-
lated that when they were in
their original house, there was
always something to take care of.
Now why would he spend all his
free time worrying about doing
stuff around the house? He was
now talking about getting into
a full retirement. According to
him, having access to good med-
ical care, tness facilities and
social opportunities is really the
key to successful aging.
Jane and Harry
Heres another couple I have
encountered with while social-
izing, still on the topic of retire-
ment. Harry has retired a year
ago and Jane will soon retire
in a year. They denitely had a
plan to downsize after consid-
erably making an assessment
of their nances now and upon
retirement. They are open to all
options in regards to where to
retire, their lifestyle, and impor-
tantly, their nances which focus
on an income that should lasts a
lifetime. They have considered
moving to a place where their
needs on living expenses, health
cost, taxes, activities or hobbies
that may require dipping into
their savings could be met con-
veniently.
When Do You Retire?
Simple answer: When you
are ready. The options are: Wait
till you reach your legal retire-
ment age, work beyond your
retirement age (hanggang kaya
pa), or retire early.
If you choose the legal retire-
ment age, it is normal, ergo, you
can very well make plans for a
sequential movement of calculat-
ing your nances to choose your
lifestyle and deciding where to
stay the rest of your life. If retir-
ing beyond your retirement age,
you are lucky you have acquired
a healthy body and mental alert-
ness that could withstand the
rigors and hassles of the work-
ing environment, and if retiring
early, you must have already
known early enough that you
have saved a big chunk of money
to be able afford the luxury of
enjoying life earlier than other
ordinary people. Congratula-
tions.
Finding Your Shangri-La
If moving to a place or a
state other than your current
place is in consideration, there
are numerous decisions to make.
But, rst and foremost, selling
your house and buying a new
one entails a formidable big pro-
cess by itself. A couple of weeks
ago, I had a lunch with a former
neighbor friend in the subdivi-
sion where I live, who is now a
realtor. She was excited to share
with me a lot of valuable infor-
mation about her newly found
career. Of course, I was a will-
ing and enthusiastic listener
thinking of my own near-future
plans of downsizing. She prom-
ised me that she would be my
mentor/adviser on this under-
taking- from sale to settlement
and what to expect when selling
and buying homes, even getting
a professional who would orga-
nize and manage the sale of the
contents of the house.
Melissa gave me al list of
requirements that I should con-
sider as essential for successful
retirement relocation. The list
may be used to measure com-
munities against my standards,
she said. What to look for: Price
of the house, safety of place,
hospital, pharmacy, availabil-
ity of health/medical insur-
ance, supermarkets, affordabil-
ity of goods and services (cost
of living), tax burdens, climate,
church, choices for favorite past
times, interests and hobbies, and
social compatibility (friends and
support). On relocating: The
decision on where and when to
relocate rests entirely on you and
your spouse. Of course, the chil-
dren are also in the picture and
The Art of Finding
My Balance
A
friend told me I have Shi-
kishin Funi oneness of
body and mind. I seem to
remain unrufed through adver-
sities. If he only knew the emo-
tional contortions I go through to
earn that peace, he may change
his opinion.
He went on to explain that in
Buddhism the physical and the
spiritual parts of life are insepa-
rable and equally important.
This is expressed in the
Japanese expression shikishin
funi. Shiki refers to all matter and
physical phenomena, including
the human body. Shin refers to
all spiritual, unseen phenomena,
including reason, emotion and
volition. Funi literally means two
but not two.
What a compliment. I made
a quick introspective survey and
agreed that I had attained some
kind of equilibrium between my
thoughts and my actions.
It had not always been so. I
was a prickly girl who responded
to challenges thrown my way.
Insinuations worked just as well.
It didnt even matter whether
they were intentional or not.
One dare sent me to the Fer-
nando Air Base Hospital in Lipa,
Batangas after jumping from a
swing as it arched upward. My
outstretched right wrist landed
on a piece of broken glass. The
worst thing was getting that
wound stitched without the ben-
et of an anesthetic. I have no
idea why but I thought the sur-
geon must have been a sadist.
Since then I have been unable to
snap my ngers in my right hand
because my right thumb is half
an inch shorter than the left.
Another led to a humiliat-
ing confrontation at the princi-
pals ofce. A boy challenged
me to a boxing match beside
the circa WWII Japanese-built
tunnel behind our grade school
grounds. We each brought our
seconds. It was quite dramatic.
I wrote about the encounter in
an earlier column I titled, Sugar
and Spice in September 2012.
I am years removed from
that pugnacious, pugilistic girl. I
have mellowed in my advancing
years. Somewhat.
That sense of balance, of
oneness, is not constant. It goes
through ebbs and ows, needing
adjustments and practice.
After years of working at the
Lopez Sweatshop (what we lov-
ingly call my husbands medi-
cal ofce); and after years as the
chief logistician of the Lopez war
room (making sense of compet-
ing schedules between my three
childrens activities, the needs
of the ofce, and complications
stemming from various volun-
teer work) I am able to mentally
shut my eyes and ears from the
din of chatter.
It is out of necessity. Hunker
down or lose control. I am able
to close imaginary doors and
bar them shut. I seek refuge in
solitude and in the silence of
my unuttered thoughts. Mitch
understands my need to rest
and replenish. Three decades of
medical practice have given him
insight into a womans psyche, a
womans contradictions.
But solitude and introspec-
tion ll my mind with imaginings
and words that need expression.
They need their own escape. So I
write to empty my brain.
Before I learned to use the
computer, I wrote words and
essays that never saw the light of
day. Most were poorly crafted.
They lled the trash bin. Some
anecdotes and verses were writ-
ten in notebooks and quickly
forgotten. (I found notes I had
written decades ago while I was
cleaning our Clifton house in
preparation for our move. I was
pleasantly surprised that some
were actually good and usable.)
In this current environ-
ment of instant food and instant
relationships, we are lled with
angst and anxiety beyond belief.
I watched an episode of a TV
reality show called Marriage
at First Sight where couples
choose to get married after rst
meeting their future spouse at
the altar. That is my denition of
instant self- inicted insanity!
I leave you with this verse I
wrote. I hope it gives you com-
fort as it does me.
Rest your broken wings
and nd solace here. In silence.
In solitude. In peace. Thoughts
await the pleasure of ight when
the burden of pain is no more.
Set them free. Continued on page 30
September 1-15, 2014 28 28 Editorial
The elusive TPS
T
he Manila Mail headline (Aug.
15-31) said Fil-Am leaders press for
TPS (Temporary Protected Status)
decision. After months of intensive cam-
paign, the Fil-Am leaders met with top
ofcials of the Department of Homeland
Security who would decide on whether
or not to grant the TPS request. They met
at the Philippine embassy in Washington
D.C. last month.
While many felt that the meeting
would result in the grant of TPS status
for Filipino nationals in the US, others are
not so sure. The TPS request was made
by Fil-Am leaders and Philippine of-
cials last November after central Philip-
pines was devastated by super Typhoon
Haiyan.
Among the arguments advanced by
Fil-Am leaders were that the some 230,000
(gure supplied by DHS) undocumented
Filipinos in the US would be given permits
to work so they could send money to rela-
tives back home; give some of them parole
visas if they want to go home to help their
affected families and come back; and be
exempted from deportation.
No decision was made by the DHS
ofcials led by DHS Assistant Secretary
Alan Berson and Director of lUS Customs
and Immigration Service Leon Rodriguez.
While the Fil-Am leaders led by Loida
Nicolas Lewis, NaFFAA national chair
JT Mallonga and Philippine Ambassador
Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. were optimistic that their
request would be granted, some were not
so sure.
For one thing, the US ofcials noted
that despite the devastation, the Philip-
pines has made spectacular economic
progress. They also noted that the US
granted TPS to nationals of countries
like Haiti, Honduras, El Salvador and
others because the tragedies that hit them
affected their economies.
The biggest stumbling block, accord-
ing to my fellow Tsismosos and Tsismo-
sas, is the number of persons who would
benet from TPS. The highest number of
undocument immigrants granted TPS by
the US in the past was about 30,000 from a
Latin American country.
My fellow Tsismosos feel it would
be better for Fil-Am leaders to rechannel
their efforts by joining other groups in
pressing for the passage of a comprehen-
sive immigration reform law.
***
Eating dog food
Some immigrants, particularly the
old folk who cant read English signs,
often buy canned goods that are later
identied by other family members as dog
food. The goods are either retained, given
to their pets or thrown away.
For many Pinoys, eating pet foods are
taboo.
Thus, they are often shocked to learn
that some people do eat pet food. They
are shocked when they read a true story
about an owner of a pet shop in Washing-
ton state who ate nothing for dog food.
Heres the story published in the
Hufngton Post:
Chew on this: A woman in Richland,
Washington, is on a 30-day mission to eat
nothing but pet food.
Dorothy Hunter embarked on the
bizarre diet June 19 while stocking shelves
at her business, Paws Natural Pet Empo-
rium.
I didnt have time to go get a snack,
so I grabbed a bag of treats off the counter,
and I was like, wow, you know, these read
better than normal people treats, she told
KNDO TV. So I started eating the treats
and I was like, you know, I could do this
for 30 days.
So far, she doesnt have a bone to pick
with the foods shes eating --to a point.
Ive also been doing our oven baked
blueberry treats, as well as freeze dried
green beans, carrots, she told the sta-
tion. Im even doing some canned cat
food, one is a succulent chicken, and it
actually tastes really good. So Im really
happy with that one. I dont do raw bones
or meat products like that, or the frozen
because Im just not into raw.
Hunter has lost at least two pounds
eating pet food, and gained a dining part-
ner in employee Amanda Kempf, who has
been feeding the pet food to her kids as
well.
My kids love the dog treats as
well, and I dont mind them eating those
because they are nutritious, Kempf told
the Tri-City Herald. They even told their
teachers, who then asked me if it was true.
Everything is labeled here so you know
what youre buying, and youre buying
nutrition.
Like human food, pet food is required
to be compliant with food additive regula-
tions and be free of pathogens. Still, con-
suming kibble comes at a risk, according
to nutrition expert Madelyn Fernstrom.
Choosing to experiment with pet
food as a long term option is a nutritional
Remembering the sacrices
The horrifying video of journalist James Foleys beheading
seems to have stirred latent fears of terror on Americas door-
steps, just weeks away from the nations commemoration of the
worst attack on continental USA.
Reports from Manila that as many as a hundred Filipinos
could have joined the Islamic State in Syria merely underline
the global dimensions and shared threats from Islamic extrem-
ists.
Many Filipinos died in the collapse of the World Trade
Center in New York and aboard the planes that were used as
missiles against the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. They were
among thousands of Americans and other foreign nationals
who perished on Sept. 11, 2001.
The world changed on 9-11. It ushered an age of relentless
insecurity. Only recently have stringent airport security been
relaxed. In the Philippines, the US Special Operations forces
in Mindanao are starting to unwind their activities as President
Obamas pivot to Asia policy presupposes a different threat.
If 9-11 provided any lesson to America, it is that armed threats
from Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), even
separatists in Ukraine or overzealous ghter pilots from China
should never be underestimated. They should be pushed back
and coalitions are the best way to put toughies and bullies in
their place.
Filipinos and Americans have often come out for each other
in their times of need, sometimes paying the ultimate sacrice.
Thousands of Filipinos have served or still don the uniform of
the United States Armed Forces.
In the solemn remembrance of lives lost in the ght against
the tyranny of the vicious few, there is the stark realization that
we are one, determined never to let its shadow cast its darkness
on this nation again. (RJJ)

September 1-15, 2014 29
Disconnect?
W
hen President Barack
Obama is on vacation,
his aides explain that
he is not really on vacation. He
is always in touch with what is
going on in nation and in the
world. Credit that to the high
tech gadgets that are always in
tow wherever the President goes.
The only minor problem is that
none are installed in the golf cart
because that would violate golf
etiquette- do not disturb. Bad
news can wait after the President
holes in his last putt.
So when news broke out that
an American journalist James
Foley who was held hostage for
two years by the new kids on the
block jihadists known as ISIS was
beheaded, the President was able
to squeeze in time between golf
games to commiserate with the
victims family and the nation
over the barbaric act of terror
that dwarfs Osamas Al Qaeda.
After mouthing the predictable
words of sorrow, on to the golf
course he went to ruminate the
bad news with a foursome that
included former Georgetown
and NBA basketball star Alonzo
Mourning.
Obama was criticized from
the left and the right as being
insensitive and disconnected for
not understanding the optics
of continuing with a luxurious
vacation while an American was
just dismembered in full view
of the world. Across the ocean,
British Prime Minister Byron
Cameron cut short his vacation
to address the potential security
nightmare that could be trig-
gered by British born terrorists.
I think his golng had a pur-
pose. But what words of wisdom
can basketball player Alonzo
Mourning dispense to the Presi-
dent? With Obamas poll num-
bers sinking as the world spins
out of control, he desperately
needs someone to help him
reverse the negative slope. Want
a rebound in the polls? Bring
someone who made a living in
rebounds, Alonzo Mourning to
the rescue. Thats Barack, think-
ing outside the box.
***
When Mitt Romney ran for
president in 2012 against incum-
bent Barack Obama, the GOP
candidate was portrayed by the
left as being out of touch with
mainstream Americans because
of his wealth. Never mind if he
renounced his multimillion dol-
lars of inheritance and donated it
to his church.
Mindful of the wealth issue,
Hilary Clinton in her book tour
tried to downplay her opulent
life claiming that the former rst
family were broke when they left
the White House, avoiding any
mention of their market power
in the speaking circuit.
Here is a glimpse of her
simple lifestyle as reported by
Las Vegas Review Journal. When
he spoke at the University of Las
Vegas Foundation, her speak-
ing fee was $225,000.00. Her
contract required travel perks
including a presidential suite for
her and up to three contiguous
three single rooms for her staff,
a chartered airplane specied as
Gulfstream 450 or larger jet, all
Peril for
journalists
I
f theres a common thread
that ties Ferguson, Missouri
and the brutal murder of
American journalist James Foley
in the Middle East, that would be
the risks many journalists face
doing their jobs.
Front-line journalist is
important, Foley wrote in his
blog that without these photos
and videos and rst-hand expe-
rience, we cant really tell the
world how bad it might be.
Several journalists have
been arrested in Ferguson while
doing their jobs. Reporters from
the Washington Post, Getty
Images, Hufngton Post, The
Telegraph, Sports Illustrated
and the Financial Times, among
others have been detained by
authorities.
Its precisely when jour-
nalists tell the world how bad
it might be that they seem to
draw the special ire of the rich
and powerful and sometimes,
the deranged and delusional.
Journalism is easily one of
the worlds most dangerous pro-
fessions, perhaps next only to
soldiering.
Quite often and in many
corners of the world, its simply
become too easy to shoot the
messenger.
Perhaps nowhere is this
more evident than in the Philip-
pines where the massacre of 34
journalists by a Mindanao war-
lord in 2009 still ranks as one of
journalisms deadliest ever.
The trial of 198 suspects,
including the clans aging patri-
arch and his son who allegedly
masterminded the so-called
Maguindanao Massacre, is pro-
ceeding at the usual snails pace
which sounds just about right for
justice in the Philippines.
The Committee to Project
Journalists (CPJ) listed 76 news-
men killed in the Philippines
since 1992. More than half (62
percent) were doing stories about
politics when they met their end;
42 percent were reporting about
corruption. Nearly 90 percent of
those murders are unresolved.
The arrest and harassment
of journalists in Ferguson helped
catalyze the issue of police
excesses aka brutality.
In Foleys murder, the world
came face to face with the sav-
agery of a nascent terror group
that has managed to erase bor-
ders, and spread fear and revul-
sion even from some of their
comrades in Al-Qaeda.
On the plane home before
Benigno Ninoy Aquino Jr. was
assassinated three decades ago
last Aug. 21, he acknowledged
that his only protection was the
small group of newsmen who
covered his fatal homecoming.
The sound, images and
ensuing fury from that fate-
ful day, fueled in large part by
plenty of front line reporting
galvanized a nation, leading to
a popular uprising that nally
deposed a powerful despot.
In Ferguson, it wasnt until
the police made such a stink
of gassing and later arresting
reporters that leaders in Wash-
ington D.C. felt compelled to
act and in the case of President
Obama, take a break from his
vacation to talk about it.
And as of this writing, Presi-
dent Obama is reportedly weigh-
ing intensied attacks against the
Islamic State, the terror group
The Fires in Ferguson
T
he tragedy in Ferguson is
not an isolated incident.
The history of people of
color in this country include
racial violence and discrimina-
tory treatment, often by law
enforcement.
Michael Browns shooting
death is just the latest in a string
of killings of black men by white
policemen. As the Washington
Post noted, the outrage against
the police that were seeing
in Ferguson has appeared in
roughly 10-year intervals, spark-
ing protest, rioting and unrest.
Racial suspicion of black men
by the police has become an epi-
demic in this country.
Interestingly, because of the
images we see and hear on TV,
our collective mind becomes a
battleeld, and biases are land
mines waiting to explode, says
Columbia Universitys Freder-
ick Harris. In the case of Brown,
the black victim is reduced to a
symbol and becomes thuggi-
ed. Meaning, that Brown was
scary and maybe did something
to deserve it. These images,
Harris maintains, thrive on
Americas empathy gap the
way some people struggle to see
any kinship or shared humanity
with strangers who dont look
like them.
Flashback to the 1920s and
1930s. In his book, America is in
the Heart, Carlos Bulosan wrote
unsparingly about the racial vio-
lence encountered and endured
by Filipinos in their adopted
home. While working at a pool
hall in Los Angeles, Bulosan saw
two policemen gun down a Fili-
pino. In another instance, police-
men instead of protecting Fili-
pino workers looked the other
way when their bunkhouse was
set on re by a group of white
men. In California, it was ille-
gal for Filipinos to marry white
women, and cars with Filipino
men were routinely stopped and
searched by police.
Theirs was a hard life.
They labored in the elds pick-
ing grapes or asparagus. They
worked as dishwashers, wait-
ers and bus boys in restaurants
and hotels. Paid low wages,
they were blamed for taking jobs
away from white Americans and
for bringing down their standard
of living. For this reason, many
public establishments had signs
that read, Positively No Filipi-
nos Allowed, or No Dogs and
Filipinos Allowed.
Fred Cordovas book,
Filipinos: Forgotten Asian
Americans, documents several
accounts of how Filipinos became
the focus of blatant discrimina-
tion and open hatred, how they
were made to feel increasingly
unwelcome, and how they were
insulted with shouts of Hey
Monkey! Go Home! as they
walked Americas streets:
Even educated individu-
als who should have known
better were caught up in the
frenzy of discrimination. Judge
D. W. Rohrback of Monterey
County referred to Filipinos as
little brown men about 10 years
removed from a bolo and breach
cloth...strutting about like pea-
cocks, endeavoring to attract
the eyes of young American and
Mexican girls.
On the evening of October
24, 1929, a knife ght broke out
in Exeter when several white
men claimed that Filipinos were
corrupting white women. The
accusers were a group of white
farm workers who had lost their
jobs harvesting gs and grapes
to Filipinos. An estimated 300
white men attacked a Filipino
labor camp, injuring residents
and ultimately burning the camp
to the ground. As a result, all Fili-
pinos were driven out of Exeter
by the chief of police.
Police ofcers stood idly by
as an angry white mob attacked
the Manongs. Only after a young
Filipino named Fermin Tobera
was killed did the police nally
disperse the mob. After the riots,
residents of Watsonville justied
their actions claiming Filipinos
spent money on ashy clothes
and new cars in order to attract
white women.
Other accounts include
how Filipinos were viewed
with alarm both from a moral
and sanitary standpoint while
constituting a menace to white
labor; and how police ofcers
in San Francisco described the
Filipino as bad; by nature he is
a criminal. Their crimes are of a
violent nature. And in addition
they associate with white girls.
The Filipino is our great menace.
They are all criminally minded.
They are great chasers of white
women.
These were the prejudicial
images depicted in the media
that shaped public opinion
and perception about Filipinos.
Insidiously, they inuenced the
way law enforcement mistreated
Continued on page 30 Continued on page 30
Opinion
September 1-15, 2014 30 30
terric line-up of productions
for its 25th anniversary season:
Elmer Gantry (Oct. 7-Nov.
9, 2014); Diner (Dec. 9-Jan.
25, 2015); Simply Sondheim
(April2-9, 2015). Whether youd
like to race Into The Woods
with Sweeney Todd, enjoy A
Little Night Music at the Fol-
lies on a Saturday Night, or
simply relish A Sunday in the
Park with George, youll be in
good Company when six Sig-
nature favorites and a gorgeous
16-piece orchestra take the stage
to honor the genius himself, Ste-
phen Sondheim. For tickets, call
703-820-9771 or http://www.
signature-theatre.org/
suggestions from them are wel-
come. However, others should
not get into pushing or coercing
you to arrive at a decision. They
can offer you advices but at the
end of the day, your decision
shall prevail. Relocating is a big
move and it could be that expen-
sive to reverse it once things
were already done with.
A Post Mortem Thing on
Retirement
Recalling back, my mother
seemed to be more relaxed and
not hurried up managing our
home, bringing up seven chil-
dren. My parents roles were
well dened- my father was the
breadwinner and my stay-home
mother was the household orga-
nizer and manager. Of course,
they went out with friends to
socialize and my father took
us, his family, out for dinner on
Friday evenings. I never heard
them having heated discussions
in front of us, but for sure they
did it in the connes of their
bedroom. My father was hard-
headed, but my mother was
not too softie either, in a subtle
way. Having a simpler and
well-balanced family life, my
father waited and retired from
work at age sixty-two, I guess
the legal retirement age then in
the Philippines. My parents were
looking forward to their plans to
travel. But sadly, not long after
his retirement, my mother met a
road accident and died instantly.
She was not sick at all. Daddy
was so devastated and we,
the children, could not believe
Mama was gone in an instant.
The clich, time heals was
true. It took us some time before
we all nally accepted the real-
ity of our loss and had recovered
from disbelief. I am just won-
dering now that if my father had
thought of retiring earlier and
my mother had shown excite-
ment and strong conformity
with the idea, the pathway could
have turned to a different pas-
sage. But on the second thought,
my transcendental belief of, If
its your time, its your time,
comes to view. It was Gods will.
My father had met his mortality
years ago. My parents had both
travelled since then, having
their permanent retirement.
ground transportation, all phone
charges/cell phones and meals
during their stay. For all the
aforementioned largesse, Clin-
tons agency restricts press access
to her events and prohibits video
recordings of her speech.
Thats broke? The Pope will
beg to differ. He has shunned
the trappings of wealth riding
in a tiny Kia Soul vehicle. But
being successful and wealthy
should not be a sin. Except that
the left made it an issue against
Mitt Romney. Now Hilary has to
work hard pretending that she
understands the pain of someone
who is just getting by eating noo-
dles to extend he family budget.
***
Former Vice President Al
Gore is boiling mad. Its not
because the earths surface tem-
perature has been relatively
stable in the last fteen years
contrary to the predictions of
computer models relied upon
by climate change advocates, but
because the Qatari oil moguls
who bought his cable channel
Current Media is withholding
nal payment of the balance
purportedly in the sum of $65
million. He has led a collection
suit.
Al Gore is an environmen-
tal champion of green energy.
If it were up to him, he would
likely shut-off every oil well
in the world as oil producers
are the scum of the earth. But
Al, where did your TV channel
buyers get their dollars to fatten
your wallet? Arent you com-
pelling them again to produce
more pollutants so you can get
paid? Judas sold his principles
for thirty pieces of silver. As for
Al Gore, well $500 million is a lot
more.
***
Golf tidbits:
Week 1 Eveready Freddie
picked the pockets of Don Alex
and Kilabot, with Juliets Romeo
winning lollipops. Week 2 Mr.
T was at his bad habit again
exacting taxes from Don Alex, El
Salvador, King Arthur, Eveready
Freddie, Kilabot and Romeos
Juliet. RJs low gross did not
translate to collections. I lost my
godfather, he passed on the title
to me.
responsible for murdering Foley
and threatening to execute other
American hostages. The same
group that he had previously
dismissed as junior varsity
and after he steadfastly refused
air strikes in Syria.
Despite the mortal dangers,
poor pay and endless pursuit of
the deadline, many still ock to
journalism and more surpris-
ingly, stick to it.
I remember the pep talk I
like to give cub reporters when
I was still at ABS-CBN. Jour-
nalism, I like to tell the girls,
isnt a profession, its a vocation.
Somebody as to tell the world
how bad it might be, or good.
Peril for journalists... from page 29 Disconnect?... from page 29
them. Consequently, they were
viewed with suspicion and, in
the public mind, deserved to be
treated like dogs, to be hunted,
hounded and, in some cases,
shot to death.
[Note: in 1955, 14-year-old
Emmett Till, an African Ameri-
can from Chicago, is brutally
murdered for irting with a
white woman. The white wom-
ans husband and her brother
beat the black man nearly to
death, gouged out his eye, shot
him in the head, and then threw
his body, into the river.]
Bulosan later wrote in his
autobiography these searing
words: I came to know after-
ward that in many ways it was
a crime to be a Filipino in Amer-
ica. I came to know that the
public streets were not free to my
people. This was the nightmare
our manongs lived through.
And its the same nightmare
that blacks and people of color in
this country continue to endure.
It hasnt gotten any better it
seems as many of us continue
to wrestle with sadness, anger,
shock at the police killing of an
unarmed 18-year-old Michael
Brown.
The res in Ferguson will
continue to burn and ignite other
restorms elsewhere unless all
communities of color remem-
ber their history in this coun-
try, stand together as one voice
and call for justice for Michael
Brown, and for all the victims
of racial violence and discrimi-
natory treatment based on race,
national origin, and religion.
Send your comments to
jdmelegrito@gmail.com
the petitioner or principal
beneciary in a family-based
petition;
the principal beneciary in an
employment-based visa petition;
the petitioner in a refugee/
asylee relative petition;
the principal alien admitted as
a T or U nonimmigrant;
the principal asylee who was
granted asylum.
On Retirement... from page 27
Approval of petitions... from page 25
The Fires in Ferguson... from page 29
fertile brains into fallow heads.
More of the same will bury key
government ofcials -- the Cabi-
net, heads of departments, and
so on -- in malaise.
The President might say, Ill
put new people in the Cabinet
and recruit a new set of bright
people to run the government.
But the same President would
still be presiding and by then
he will be so tired and spent, he
wont be able to absorb all the
new peoples ideas and recom-
mendations.
There arent many success-
ful second terms anywhere in the
world. Check global political his-
tory: the longer the leader stayed,
the worse the government. Think
Ferdinand Marcos; think Gloria
Arroyo. Think Barack Obama.
So, an appeal to Mr.
Aquino: please think deeply
about the possible consequences.
You may be entering no-win ter-
ritory if you go ahead and seek
another term. If your second
term gets embroiled in contro-
versy and failure, you will reap
a harvest of blame, unpopularity
and even hate.
Its understandable that
youre worried about your suc-
cessor, as all of us Filipinos are.
But, with due respect Sir, trust
your 100 million bosses, give
them the benet of the doubt,
theyll nd someone worthy to
ll your shoes and sit in your
chair. And, even if they dont,
you shouldnt be to blame for it.
No to a second... from page 24
Burton reports as an insatiably
grasping woman who fabricated
her family history, then scram-
bled to make it reality.
`She recalls a night-long
interview with Imelda: `People
said awful things...But they were
describing a rational woman,
full of malice aforethought. The
woman I was listening to could
not be judged by normal stan-
dards. She was manic. Mad, per-
haps. Touches of brilliance and
insight here and there. but how
was one to judge them in this
tidal wave, this glut of diagrams,
equations and pop geostrategy?.
Burton reports the trans-
formation of Corazon Aquino
from a self-effacing housewife to
the quiet the determined presi-
dent. Her friendship with the
bereaved widow enabled her to
witness the change and to hear
from Cory herself how it came
abouShe takes readers, from
the moment Cory returns to the
Philippines and overseeing her
husband`s funeral to the day she
spends 10 hours in a Carmelite
convent, meditating whether to
run for president.
The courage of Cory Aquino
comes through, And so do her
weaknesses. Burton describes a
world leader who takes time out
to watch ``Dallas`` and ``Falcon
Crest,`` who never makes impor-
tant decisions-no matter how
urgent-without pausing to pray
Journalists are often
regarded as abrasive. Skepti-
cism is a necessary tool of a
good journalist, Bowring wrote..
Like idealism, it can easily turn
into cynicism in seeing, up-close,
dishonesty, avarice and vacuous-
ness of celebrities.
The 17-year old Manila
Times correspondent who
covered the Korean war
Benigno Aquino Jr would have
agreed. The the 31st anniversary
of Ninoys murderalso shows
Journalism 101 can also provide
an antidote to national amnesia.
Amnesia Antidote... from page 25
Sunday at the Park... from page 25
negative and might make you
sick, she told Today.com.
Hunters 30-day pet food
gorge mission just happens to
coincide with the expansion of
her store, but Mike Rylander of
WTFark.com hopes it coincides
with something that makes more
sense.
Please tell me this has
something to do with the legal-
ization of weed in Washington
and not that she was just hungry
and lazy, he said.
Washington Tsismis... from page 28
September 1-15, 2014 31
September 1-15, 2014 32 32

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Vol. XXIII, No. 20 Online: www. manilamail.us September 1-15, 2014

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