Two former Philippine Presidents has one common experience. They have shared the experience of what it feels to sleep in incarceration. Former president Joseph Estrada and his successor former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo now know how it is to live in a cell. Even if the use of cell phone was disallowed they enjoyed air-conditioned cells.
It is only in the Philippines that the separation of Church and State is intentionally unnoticed and ignored by the faithful.
The photo of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, in a prayer posture with retired Bishop Oscar Cruz appeared in several Philippine newspapers and posted in the Internet. It reflected the intention of the Corona handlers to get public sympathy from a public of religious tolerance. Perhaps, it is only in the Philippines that public sentiments could be generated with the use of spiritual sympathy. It is inconceivable to some sectors that using the Church symbols might alter the public perception of the meaning of corruption.

Impeachment dislodged former President Joseph Estrada, followed by the charges of fraud levied on former President Gloria Macapagl Arroyo. Even the current Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona is undergoing Impeachment Trial. At the moment, there is no public outcry on how much is being allotted for the impeachment expenses. Some members of the Philippine Senate act as judges. The Impeachment Trial has the trails of what is known as Moro-Moro.
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Rene delos Santos , Philippine tourism director in San Francisco , deserves more than congratulations for the success of the 2nd Kulinarya Finals. One thing: the event has spawned the Filipino American community interest and to be proud of the Philippines capacity for the culinary skills. Pep Talk puts its hats off to Debbie Galano, Gabby Agcaoili and Tess Bautista, the stalwarts of DOT team in San Francisco
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Landscape professional Arlene Nunez bagged the Amateur Division with her vegetarian fresh lumpia for a starter. Her first course of authentic Filipino “kare kare” and the savory adobo Banh Mi for a second course ensured her the amateur championship. But her dessert of Taste of the Philippines Sampler Trio – Brazo de Mercedes Cupcake, Halo-halo Custard Cake and Coconut-Pandan Mini Sans Rival got the judges nod and won for Arlene Nunez the title.
Albert Rivera’s shrimp and vegetable “ukoy” with calamansi ponzu dipping sauce ensured him the Professional Division championship. His deconstructed aritada as the first course entry followed with braised pork belly adobo with butter beans and Gremolata as a second course earned for Albert Rivera the professional level crown. His winning dessert is called deconstructed halo- halo.
Sidelights of the 2nd Kulinarya is the unexpected reunion of old time friends. Bechay Escalona, formerly of Philippine Airlines in San Francisco, had the surprise of her life. It was a plus factor of her visit when she chanced upon Ding Santos, a former PAL colleague. They were together in the Philippine Airlines SF sales office during the era of Lolit Manhit, Rose Pena, Tess Gutierrez and Tito Cuenco. That was the time of a very accommodating generation with different and courteous sales technique.

Alfredo E. Pascual, the 20th President of the University of the Philippines , presented before the UP alumni now based in the West Coast the institution’s 2012 thrust. Pascual is serving a six-year term in the UP system which consists of seven constituent U.P. campuses: Diliman, Los Banos, Manila, Baguio, Visayas, Mindanao and Open University.
Fr. Virgilio Bartolome, popularly known as the Charismatic priest, delivered the invocation and Consul General Marciano A. Paynor welcomed the UP head on his first trip to the U.S.
Just before his appointment as U.P. president, Fred Pascual was the president of the U.P. Alumni Association and a member of the U.P. Board of Regents. He was also the lead convener of the Automated Election System (AES) Watch. It is an independent, broad-based, and multi-sector coalition of citizens’ groups and individuals that sought to monitor the preparation for and conduct of the country’s first ever nationwide poll automation in May 2010.
Gemma Nemenzo moderated the Open Forum. Those who made their presence felt included Consuls Doy Ver and Jaime Ramon T. Ascalon; Susan Po-Rufino; Elena Mangahas; Gabby V. Moraleda, Polly S. Cortez, Ceny Duldulao, Cesar Torres, Araceli Carbonell, Criss Jurado-Bolstad; Norman and Olive Aliga; Dr. Isagani Sarmiento and Rene delos Santos supported by the consulate staff.
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During the Union City Council reorganization meeting in December, Pat D. Gacoscos was chosen by her peers as the new Vice Mayor of the City of Union City for 2012. She was elected as council member in 2010 receiving the highest number of votes among nine candidates.
Previously, she held two elective positions: school board member for the New Haven Unified School District from 1992-2000; and member of board of directors for the Union Sanitary District from 2004-2010. She was a member of the Union City and Alameda County Human Relations Commissions from 1992-2004.
An active community leader, she chairs the Union City Sister City committee, promoting activities for Union City’s seven sister cities. She is a member of several community organizations and received awards and recognitions for her services. Some of these are: Outstanding volunteer, local hero, community spirit, public education and others.
She was recently chosen as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipino Women for 2011.
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Raisa Robles, daughter of a former UP professor on legal ethics, asks if CJ Corona violated Republic Act No. 6713 which imposes a Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards on all public officials and employees. Section 7 in particular states: (d) Solicitation or acceptance of gifts. — Public officials and employees shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office.
Marikina City Congresman Miro Quimbo and Angara also noted that they will also try to find out whether the salary of the chief justice is commensurate to his properties. They said that under the law if your salary is not commensurate with your properties the presumption is that the properties are ill-gotten. “For public officers when you have properties that cannot be justified by your means a presumption arises that it is ill-gotten,” Quimbo said. Corona ’s failure to disclose his SALN to the public is contained in the second of the eight articles of impeachment against the chief justice, according to an article of Benjamin B. Pulta and Gerry Baldo.
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Tess Bautista of the Philippine Department of tourism in SF emailed Pep Talk that the following are in the Food Showcase for the Kulinarya Finals next weekend at the Carnelian in Fisherman’s Wharf. The competing chefs will represent: 1) Auntie Em’s; 2) Coffee Adventure Company; 3) Intramuros Restaurant; 4) Goldilocks; 5) Patio; 6) Tastebuds; 7. Dampa Restaurant; 8.Mama Sita’s; 9. Mega Sardines; 10. Ramar; 11) Heavenly Ice Cream; 12. Sun Tropics. Tess is one good example of efficiency in action for the information of the Filipino American community.
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Send reactions and/or comments to this column to: Pep Talk, 6748 Mission Street, Suite 626 , Daly City , CA 94014 . Tel (415) 516-7733 * Email:mailto: pagusapannatin@aol.com * prvasquez@yahoo.com * prvasquez@aol.com

One hundred years after (1521) Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines, the initial batch of British immigrants landed in Boston , Massachussets in 1621 and the first Thanksgiving feast was initiated on the American soil. Native American Indians joined in the British tradition of gratitude. Much of the credit for the adoption of a later annual national Thanksgiving Day may be attributed to Mrs. Sarah Joseph Hale, the editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book. For thirty years, she promoted the idea of a national Thanksgiving Day, contacting President after President until President Abraham Lincoln responded in 1863 by setting aside the last Thursday of November as a national Day of Thanksgiving. Over the next seventy-five years, Presidents followed Lincoln ’s precedent, annually declaring a national Thanksgiving Day. Then, in 1941, Congress permanently established the fourth Thursday of each November as a national holiday.
For this Thanksgiving week celebrated in the continental USA bigger than the Yuletide holidays, Pep Talk has reasons to express the warmth of felicitations to friends and close relations. First in the roster is the Ubaldo clan whose patriarch Rupert Ubaldo was the original owner of Manila Mail publications. He started the Radyo Patrol Amerika with the late popular broadcaster Duds Rivera and radio-print mediaperson Carmen A. Babasa. It was in the mid-80s when the Manila-based National Press Club expanded in the U.S.A. , particularly in northern California . The San Francisco-based organization was renamed Pilipino American Press Club during the reign of the Dave Baquirin and the Jurado journalists Willie and Lita.
In the socio-political arena, the Filipino American community is grateful for the continued guidance of Dennis Normandy, Rodel Rodis, Ted Laguatan, Alex Escalamado and Alice Bulos. They were the pioneers, representing the presence of our miniscule community until we are respected and regarded by the mainstream community. We have to be thankful for the efforts of Rene Pascual who started and singly fought for the recognition of Filipinos in the U.S. for absentee voting. Rene was at loggerheads with Filipino American carpetbaggers who shunned Rene and laughed behind his back. Currently, Rene is thankful in silence that overseas Filipinos participate in the Philippine political polls.
Philippines Today editorial and marketing staff sends the warmth of thanksgiving gratitude to the Manila-based group of Fred Gabot, Claire True, Jojie Maufit Gabot and Bong Madelo for their year-round involvement in the publication. In the community organization, Juliet Pimentel and Maila Busto Capio had been involved weekly to ensure the continued and relevance of FilCa in the sustenance of their senior associaites.
Lita Mancenido was undoubtedly the indefatigueable head of the 35th Lucban Association in making a galore fun during the organization’s dinner and dance gala at the Holiday Inn in South San Francisco . The U.S.-born generation of Lucban included Keira Mitchon escorted by Noah Coquia; Joli Lenoir escorted by Remy Terciano Lenoir and Alexia Malihan esquired by Ethan Malihan. Mutya ng Lucban 2011 Jenilee Veloso dela Fuente was esorted by Kevin Padama.
The presentation of lovely beauties of Lucban was anchored by Sally Terciano with Jeffrey Tabaco as the master of ceremonies. The spectators and admiring audience included Vee Geneta-Vasquez, Leonerdo and Norma Merluza, Fil Tamayo, Yollie and Tessie Po-Bundukin, Nisa and Benny Santiago; Gustavo Orozco, Alice and Fortune Lapina, Vilma Palaad, Linda Herrera, Mona Eleazar, Babes and Phil Laureola and Leo Villabroza.

Leads-CEGP 6972, with Elso Cabangon as organizing president, requested for specially prayers for the departed souls of the student leaders who surfaced and perished in the battle for reforms before and after Martial Law. The roster of activists who sacrificed their lives in the mantel of democracy included Tony Tagamolila, Babes Calixto, Jessica Sales, Leticia Pascual, Jack Pena, Evelyn Pacheco, Manuel Bautista. The reunion held on 11-11-11 was and that the reunion was emotion-filled that included performances in poetry reading and singing of patriotic songs.
In the late 60’s and early 70’s activism in the Philippines caught like wildfire in almost every academe, demanding for the reforms in the establishment. Student writers has joined the fracas as the indirect support of Kabataang Makabayan. Jose Maria Sison, with Jose David Lapus, both of the Lyceum of the Philippines was the modern Andres Bonifacio and Apolinario Mabini tandem for democratic reforms. From Intramuros, the wranglings was joined by the Far Eastern University and with a bang moved to the University of the Philippines in Diliman.
Those who figured out in the 11-11-11 Leads-CEGP Reunion included Chito Sta. Romana, Diwa Guinigundo (Ateneo and UP) who is now Deputy Governor of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Ricki Arches (UE Dawn) who just retired as Chair/CEO of McCann Erickson here, Vet Vitug (UE Dawn), Nimfa Sano (Mapua) and Leo Santiago (PCC). Jimi Flor Cruz flew in from Beijing, and Marian Norton (PCC) from Canada. Bob Corrales took the best shots of the get-together held in Quezon City, Philippines.

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The political developments of the country have not changed since the time of student activism.
It will be recalled that then UP Student Council President Fernando “Gerry” Barican pronounced “if you are an activist at the age of 20, you are using your heart. If you are still an activist at the age of 30, you are not using your head.” During my CEG term, Gary Olivar was the editor of Philippine Collegian, very vocal and determined. In the following years, he became a New York-based bank executive and then returned to the country and became the government spokesman.
Thirty years ago, Leila de Lima and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo were on parallel careers.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has served as President of the country and Leila De Lima became the Justice Secretary. The Justice department exerted every legal maneuver to prevent the Arroyos from leaving the country to answer the issue against them. The Arroyos twisted their influence, especially the Philippine Supreme Court whose majority members, including the Chief Justice, were appointed Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, now a congresswoman of her native born province of Pampanga.

The political pawns were caught in the crossfire of power play. Employees at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport cannot do anything with the Justice Department proclamation against the Supreme Court promulgation. The Arroyos were going to any of the three countries – Spain, Singapore and Portugal – where the Philippines do not exercise extradition treaty. Delicadeza has been eradicated from the character of the country. The Philippines and the Filipinos has the government they deserved.

“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinion drown out your inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”
Steve Jobs, founding president of the Apple Computer, stressed this to Stanford University graduates sometime before he left for the Great Beyond. His admonition has been retained both in the public and private minds who praised to high heavens Steve Jobs’ technological acumen and altered the future of communications. In socio-educational and socio-political fashion, the Jobs doctrine has been proven applicable in all stages and directions in life.
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Former SF supervisor and incumbent senator Leland Yee has been a leading choice in the ranking elections on Tuesday, November 8. It is unfortunate that the Filipino group is politically divided instead of supporting only one
to ensure the election of the candidate closest to the heart and aspirations of the community. Senator Leland Yee has been the most visible in the affairs and events of the community. The FilAm community will be lucky enough to have the San Francisco City Hall doors open and outstretched for the services to the public. One thing sure, Leland Yee will never be a lap dog of the business and power brokers. Make sure that you get out and vote for the Filipino media-endorsed and supported Leland Yee.
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November 1 and 2 are listed in the Christian calendar of events as All Saints Day and All Souls Day, respectively. These are days that when we remember the important people – friends and relatives alike – who greatly influenced our existence. Most of the time, we don’t even recall their natal days, other events of Christmastime. But then we pause and recollect our relations, friendships and association with them – on November 1st and 2nd.
Pep Talk offers spiritual tribute to Roque Vasquez, Juliana Red Vasquez and Josefa Manrique-Vasquez and their departed siblings Modesta Vasquez-Lumalang, Helena Red Vasquez, Manuel Vasquez, Remedios Vasquez-Conmigo, Justo M. Vasquez, Basilisa Vasquez-Garena, Rosita Vasquez-Espiritu and Francisco M. Vasquez. Soledad V. Labay (in San Jose , California ) and Minda Vasquez-Lagustan (in Canada and Marinduque) are the two remaining children. The surviving siblings are encouraged to pray for the eternal repose of the souls of their relations. In the spirit of the events, special prayers are offered for William and Juanita dela Cruz, Frankie Capilitan, Jose Lota and Tom Calma. Pep Talk includes Domingo and Paz Apostol in prayers.
The media persons who departed from the American soil included Stan Animo, Quezon Mangawang, Dave Baquirin, Willie and Lita Jurado are best remembered for organizing the U.S. extension of National Press Club. During their prime, the group ensured that those who are with the working press, whether in staff box or contributing to the affairs of the Fourth State, are the only ones eligible for regular membership. Others who do not belong to the active print or broadcast media are accepted as associate or members. The press club has been fashioned according to the needs and dedication for information dissemination.

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The Year 2012 is sixty days from today. Still the world governments are finding solutions to the socio-economic directions of their respective country. The course and discourse of the future determine how pockets are lined up according to the needs of the leaders. The United States has been considered the leader of all nations. Years back, China has been adjudged as the sleeping giant. The future of Russia and the direction of China are on the speculative path. We just hope and pray that our own future is pointed to our spiritual path. November 1st and 2nd remind us that the future depends on our respective mission and vision.

“The family that prays together stays together,” has been the spiritual battle cry of Fr. Patrick Peyton when he launched the Family Rosary Crusade right after the Second World War. On May 13, 1945 families all over the country heard a program like no other featuring Cardinal Spellman of New York, President Harry Truman, Bing Crosby and the parents and sister of the Sullivan family of Iowa launched the Rosary. Five brothers from that family had lost their lives when their ship went down in the war. Fr. Patrick Peyton finished the program with an impassioned plea for families to pray the Rosary together for peace. The program garnered the biggest following of any in the Mutual Broadcasting System to date. People wanted more.
A Family Rosary Crusade will be held Saturday, Oct. 15 at the SF Civic Center commemorating the event. The image of the Lady of Fatima will be moved from house-to-house and visit 30 families during the month of October, designated as the Rosary Month in the Catholic calendar of spiritual events. October has been designated as the Rosary Month. The spiritual practice of reciting the rosary has been a showcase of family unity. The Philippines has been known as the only Catholic country in Asia . For the last 60 years, praying the rosary has been part of the Filipino family. The late Philippine President Cory Aquino once said, you can take the Filipino out of his faith, but you cannot take the faith out of a Filipino.” In a fit of disappointment any ordinary Filipino clings to his faith to surmount any unprecedented burden and will not forget to and seek assistance of “Mama Mary.”
The Zamboangenos implore the help of Nuestra Senora Virgen Del Pilar. Marinduquenos entreat the Lady of Biglang Awa and the miraculous Virgin of Caysasay placed Taal , Batangas in the spiritual map. The Redemptorists Order introduced and made Baclaran in the Philippines as the shrine for the devotion to the Mother of Perpetual Help. Fr. Dennis Barlaan, the associate pastor of Daly City ’s OLPH parish, has been assisting newly-designated parochial pastor, Fr. Augusto Villote, to encourage the Wednesday devotion to the Baclaran replica, starting October 26. The Legion of Mary and the Knights of Columbus will lead the spiritual efforts, participating in the Rosary Pledge Campaign. When everything fails, pause and recite the Rosary decades.
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Gemma Nemenzo deserves more than a pat-on-the-back and kudos for bringing to the San Francisco Civic Center close to 20,000 bookworms, authors, writers and professionals. On October 1st and 2nd, the Filipino American community gathered and meet with several authors and writers who came from different States and other parts of the globe, including the Philippines. To cap the many book signings lectures, conversations with authors, and special events, the FilBookFest was graced by three special personas from the Philippines .
The National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario (Rio Alma) for Literature whose pen name is Rio Alma presented his analysis of Rizal’s poem – the least talked about among the works on Rizal. Rio Alma showed that Rizal mastered different Spanish poem structure with illuminating examples.
The National Artist, Benedicto Cabrera (Ben Cab) presented his various paintings and works and discussed his several projects and his Art Museum in Baguio. Filipino American author Luis Francia had a lovely conversation with Ben Cab as the highlight of the Asian Art Museum ’s participation in the FilBookFest.
Another captivating, special highlight of the two-day program was the presentation of historian extraordinaire Dr. Ambeth Ocampo. His topic drew a huge audience, and knowing what a great crowd pleaser Ambeth is, the attendees were impressed and applauded his humor and intelligence. His topic was “Queridas in Rizal: Love and Sex in Philippine History.”
San Francisco’s own Professor Dr. Penélope V. Flores (Emeritus, San Francisco State University) moderated the sessions by Rio Alma (Oct 1st) and Ambeth Ocampo (Oct 2nd). In addition, she surprised everyone when she joined Ben Cab in a private painting session (nude model) on September 30th.
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October celebrants: A toast of Julio Iglesias, “to all the girls I loved before.” Loida T. Ilog (Oct. 6); Angie V. Santiago (Oct. 8); Rose Ong Carrol (Oct. 10); Virgilio Casanada and Ernie Tolentino (Oct. 15).

Wednesday, October 26, 2011 marks the start of the novena of the Filipino faithful to the Our Lady of Perpetual Help devotion in Daly City . The Redemptorist priests brought the Wednesday devotion to Baclaran church in Paranaque , Metro Manila since time immemorial. Since then, every Wednesday thousands of devotees flock to the Baclaran church to attend the novena-mass and prayers. The OLPH Parish in Daly City ’s top of the hill will still have the Saturday prayer-novena. Fr. Augusto E. Villote, the go-getter pastor who was assigned to the OLPH church as successor of Fr. Tony Petilla, adhered to the Baclaran spiritual concept of holding the novena on Wednesdays.

The Daet, Camarines Norte-born young maverick never had the notion of becoming a priest. His ambition was so high that he spent 12 years with Philippine Airlines, after graduating from Patts, the aviation school in Manila . He dreamt of flying the friendly skies of United Airlines or Southwest. But his dreams were diverted. It was May, 1993 when Augusto E. Villote was called directly to enter the priesthood while praying at the St. Isabella church in the San Rafael , Marin County . He was ordained priest in June, 2003 and was immediately assigned at the St. Catherine church in Burlingame where he spent four years as associate pastor. He moved to St. Patrick’s in Larkspur where he stayed for three years.

The Wednesdays OLPH devotion begins at 6:30 a.m. with the novena prayers, followed by the 7:30 mass. From 8:45 in the morning to 6:30 in the afternoon, will be the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The spiritual concept follows the Baclaran practice to provide the faithful the feeling of closeness to the Mother of Perpetual Help. Fr. Augusto Villote has been the parochial pastor since July 2 of this year. He is barely three months and will be officially installed as OLPH Pastor before the end of October.
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The Kapisanan ng Brodkasters at Peryodistang Pilipino sa Amerika (KBPP-USA) has started to lay the ground work for the debate between San Francisco mayoralty aspirants – the appointed mayor Ed Lee and Senator Leland Yee. It has to be clarified that the incumbent mayor has been appointed to the unfinished term of Mayor Gavin Newsom, who is now California Vice Governorand c. Nobody can claim of having been elected the first Chinese American mayor of San Francisco until November this year.

Charito Benipayo, KBPP board chairperson, announced that the interim officers and board members include Francis Espiritu, president; Perry Diaz, vice president and membership director; Atty. Lourdes Santos Tancinco is the interim treasurer and the board is composed of Jacqui Lingad-Ricci, Henni Espinosa and Jun Ilagan. The interim board has agreed during the initial meeting that membership will be by invitation and only regular media practitioners (print and broadcast) can be officers of the association.
Membership are: sustaining, regular, associates and honorary. Pep Talk columnist Pep Red Vasquez, community editor of Philippines Today, is the executive director. Details will be announced by the KBBP chairperson

Thirty nine years ago on September 21, 1972 – Ferdinand E. Marcos was the President of the Philippines . Every Filipino worth his salt – young and old alike – will not forget that early morning when there was not a word of protest heard. No means of communication, no media. Clamped and clubbered, the opposition never had the chance to form an organized dissention. Everything until mid-afternoon news spread in hush-hushed whispers. It was the day when everyone in the country waited for the unknown.
Presidential Proclamation 1081 was read on television by Press Secretary Francisco Tatad – that the Martial Law had been declared in the country. Except for the military establishment, no one was allowed to stay out in the streets after 12:00 a.m. Curfew was strictly imposed. Stay-in became a byword. Some people in the metropolis enjoyed the midnight-to-four in the morning stay in places other than their homes.
The days that followed made people feel how rights are curtailed. Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Senator Jose Diokno and Senator Gerardo Roxas were among the leading figures arrested and incarcerated for their opposition to the ruling clique. Gen. Fidel Ramos and Gen. Fabian Ver along with Juan Ponce Enrile were the imposing political engineers of the regime.
What triggered Martial Law was the ambush of Johnny Ponce Enrile near the corner of Ayala Avenue and Buendia Street in Makati . Enrile, then the defense secretary and now senator, admitted later the ambush was staged as a political drama to justify Proclamation 1081. Gen. Fidel Ramos, Corazon Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo became presidents of the Philippines . The Philippine economy downturn forced millions of Filipinos to seek global greener pastures
Diaspora refers to the movement, migration or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland. According to Kingsley Aikins, “diaspora” means “people living and working away from their home country but still closely connected to their countries of origin, heritage or interest.” The International Organization for Migration (IOM) defines it as “members of ethnic and national communities, who have left, but maintain links with their homeland.” The three-day “Global Summit of Filipinos in the Diaspora” will be held in Manila from Sept. 27-29.
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A full-blooded Filipina, she brings a different soulful sound that lifts you up in the air. With her distinctive strong but angelic voice she has captured the hearts of many audiences of all types of ethnic background or age group. The radio needs a new sound. MC Alfonso is a female R&B/Soul/Pop Artist from the Bay Area. She started performing on stage at the tender age of three. She won various singing competitions in the past and joined her school’s Dance Troupe and Theater Guild where she was not only molded into a good singer but an actor on stage and in front of the camera as well.
She performed in stage plays like Romeo and Juliet (as Juliet), Aladdin (as Princess Jasmine), King and I (as one of the Princesses) and the list goes on. Aside from performing, she was also a ramp model after she attended Modeling Workshops. During the past 2 years, she became an active participant in various Filipino-American Festivals and local shows. She also started covering some popular songs on YouTube that are top-rated hits in the radio. With a larger and stronger crew helping her, MC’s music, which is ready to take the main stream is inspired by multi-awarded singers that made waves in the music industry in the likes of Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, Keyshia Cole, and Beyonce.
Cabuizee and D’Musick Productions proudly presented MC Alfonso’s debut single “MOVING ON.” Now, digitally available to download on Itunes, Napster, Amazon, Zune, etc! Her Official Music Video Directed by: Igoroots Production was released on March 05, 2011 on her Youtube Channel. A Remix/Part 2 of this said Single was also released featuring ApeStar from the local BayArea Rap Group called The Bay-Sicz, Directed by: D’Musick. MC was also featured on the Bay’s R&B duo 2-3-6’s Single called “SUMMER LOVIN,” where was played the part of the Main Girl on the Music Video. Aside from the names above, she is also openly collaborating with other Artists/Producers such as SimpleSoundz, Vocalicity Productions, Flip-D Productions, DopeFiliMusic Fam, and Octen Music.
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Special Note: Grand Knight Rupert Ubaldo of the Pope Pius XII Council 47, announced that the once a year Round Table Meeting with the highest official of the State of California will be hosted by the St. Elizabeth Church Knights of Columbus Council. Sir Knight Charles Clark, Worthy State Deputy, will be attending the round table meet on October 4, 2011 at 7:00 PM. at Cantwell Hall.

By his own admission, appointed San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee told David Chiu, SF board of supervisors president, that Willie Brown and Rose Pak (in a concerted effort) pressured him to run for San Francisco mayor in the November elections. The revelation, aired from the camp of State senator Leland Yee, figured Rose Pak as the political propeller of the Ed Lee campaign. Willie Brown is a former state assemblyman and a former San Francisco mayor. Rose Pak is the Chinese American business and Chinatown political power broker.

Supervisor David Chiu, in a recent debate, recounted a meeting he had with Lee in which the interim mayor said he didn’t want to run for Mayor but was having a hard time saying no to the pressure put on him by Willie Brown and Rose Pak. “Clearly, Ed Lee broke his word to the people of San Francisco, but I think it is more important who made him break that promise and why,” said Yee.

“Knowing who is actually calling the shots in City Hall is an important issue for people of San Francisco . Rose Pak is the power behind the throne. She and the corporate interests she is allied with would love to have a “yes man” in City Hall for the next four years. It’s why she’s been attacking Leland Yee for months, and it’s why we’re now fighting back.”

Senator Leland Yee launched a television advertisement asking Ed Lee to come clean with voters about the influence of Rose Pak on his decision to break his promise and run for political office. The ad uses Lee’s own words to highlight his broken promise to not seek a full term as well as his tight affiliation with the city’s powerbrokers.

As of press time, the San Francisco Labor Council endorsed senator Leland Yee for the SF Mayor. This is far and away the biggest endorsement in the mayor’s race. The Labor Council is made up of well over 100,000 individuals and 150 unions from all over San Francisco . The working men and women of the Labor Council provide Leland Yee the opportunity to knock on thousands of additional doors, make more phone calls, and get the Yee message out to every day San Franciscans from trusted friends and co-workers. The endorsement is a testament to Leland’s track record on the prevailing wage, adequate and affordable healthcare and equal pay for equal work
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At the turn of the century, brothers Exequiel and Simplicio Casayuran left their sleepy town of San Quintin, Pangasinan to face the world challenges and seek their place under the sun. The young and the restless brothers ended up in the plantation of Hawaii . The rest of the siblings Patricio, Segundo, and Flaviano relocated to Umingan, Pangasinan and their sister Engaw married to the Estabillo family in Lupao, Nueva Ecija. From the 1910 generation, family descendants struggled separately, and worked the hard farming ways.

Having tilled the Hawaiian soil, their elders never had the chance to see and know the younger Casayurans. The clan will reach out to their lost generation and will have the Casayuran homecoming. Many of the U.S.-born siblings did not have the chance to meet each other. On January, 2013 they will have the time to embrace and climb trace the family tree for the first grand reunion in Baguio City , Philippines . Canadian Carmencita Casayuran and originally from Lupao, Nueva Ecija, will be missed during the clan’s grand reunion. She passed away in Montreal last week of August.
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Bindlestiff Studio will be opening its doors on Thursday, September 15th, Allan Manalo posted in the Internet. The original opening date was moved due to construction delays. Bindlestiff thank all of those who have waited so patiently and invite you to the Grand Opening celebration and the Opening Night of our show “Stories High XII.” Don’t miss out on the historic evening.

Special Note: Carmen Colet asked for community prayers for the speedy recovery of Jose Pecho. He is in the intensive care in a Los Angeles hospital.

Fr. Ciriaco Casareo Sevilla, Jr., SJ and Trinidad Alvarez, former mayor of Pagbilao, Quezon, were the leading recipients of Special Posthumous Award to the 2011 Quezon Medalya Karangalan. Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III, the special guest speaker and honored the awardees, coinciding with the birthday celebration of the late Manuel L. Quezon, Commonwealth President. Canadian-based Angel Enverga emailed now New Yorker and former Quezon vice governor Roberto Racelis; Hawaiian-based Armando Villamina; Chicago resident Vedasto Diamante; Rick Concepcion and Nanie Capistrano, former radio personality.

The Jesuit priest Fr. Acong Sevilla hugged the spiritual headlines for his tremendous contribution to the Munting Sambayanang Kristiano (MSK). He was a trailblazer in the churches he was assigned and built in the four decades of untiring spirituality. The life and works of Fr. Acong were chronicled in a book in English and Pilipino written by his sister. He belonged to a brood of professionals, mostly in the teaching profession. Personally, I remember Fr. Acong’s sisters Leonor, Milwida, Guadalupe and his only brother Ernesto. We were next door neighbors in Lucena when Fr. Acong began his vocation in the Mount Carmel Seminary in Sariaya, Quezon as a follower of Milchisedek.

Fr. Acong’s now Australia-based sister Milwida aims to continue to raise funds for the projects he left behind. Mil Reyes, 34 Regent St. , Putney New South Wales . The book is available for $20.00. In North America , please mail your order to Isabel Losloso-Rivera, 39148 Logan Dr. , Fremont , CA 94538-1150 . For those in the Philippines , send request to Leonor Sevilla, 41-F Basilio St. , Lucena City for Five Hundred Pesos. It makes a nice gift to family and friends.

The other posthumous awardee Trinidad Alvarez was the longest town mayor of Pagbilao, Quezon. Her strict and stentorian Spanish discipline were revered and respected by the townsfolk, adult and children alike. Dona Trining, as she was reverently addressed by the Daughters of Charity congregation in the Jesus Sacred Heart College of Lucena, never lost the town’s election. The strong-willed but soft hearted Dona Trining had the motherly care for her province mates, regardless of one’s origin. She was the grandaunt of former television and movie actor Leandro Roy Alvarez.

Five awardees and their respective fields of expertise were: Atty. Pilar Almira, Health Administration; Dr. Leonardo Patron, Health-Community Service; Dr. Gerardo Carmelo B.Salazar, Medical Practice; Fernando Sanga, Media and Prosecutor Gen.Claro A.Arellano, Law-Prosecution. As Phian Angel Enverga noted: Congratulations to all the awardees and their families! We might not be aware of their exemplary accomplishments but most of us are aware that they are one of the best breed of Quezon province.

Linggo ng Wika is a weeklong practice, mostly in the elementary and high school institutions of Quezon, if not in the whole country. With 7,100 islands, other parts of the country can claim – Linggo ng Cebuano; Linggo ng Ilocano, Linggo ng Kapampangan, etc. For once, it became a hotly contested debate in the spirit of nationalism. But in the interest of national unity, Pilipino is one educational subject required in all levels. Hence, Pilipino is the national language.
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During their Canadian holiday, six visible ladies of the Filipino-American community held a toast for the formation of what is dubbed as the Golden Girls. One thing sure is that most of them passed their golden ages. Participation in various community events has been portion of their cup of tea. The six ladies, not necessarily in the order of their ages: Anita Sanchez, deputy executive director of San Francisco Civil Service Commission; Linda Byers; Gloria Navarrette, Carmen Hernandez; Linda Galeon and Marissa Robles.
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