.

Where's Pelosi?

2008-08-02T09:41:00.000-07:00

By Johnny M. Pecayo
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, MANILA-U.S. TIMES
Posted by Liza P. Banz, Blog Editor

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Speaker of the House must step up and deal with the plight of the Filipino Veterans of World War II.

For over six decades, the Filipino veterans who were commissioned by the United States Armed Forces of the Far East (USAFFE) to fight for America, now estimated at 18,000 from the original list of about 472,000, have been fighting for a war that they had already won but have yet to reap the benefits of.

It is on record that Filipino soldiers who fought against the Japanese in the Philippines were ordered by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt into service in the U.S. Army. When the war broke out, the Philippines was a colony of the U.S.. Therefore, the Filipino soldiers were American nationals serving the USA. They should have been entitled to full VA benefits had the Rider to PL 79-301, the Rescission Act of 1946, not taken those benefits away.

Where is Speaker Nancy Pelosi? No, we are not asking for the undisclosed location where she can be seen in person. We are asking about something more important than her present location. Where is the authoritative power, leadership and influence she possesses as Speaker of the House?

President Roosevelt once said: "The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men (and women) who can dream of things that never were.....The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts about today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith." And the Valiant World War II heroes responded to this call and put their lives on the line to fight for the freedom that all of us now enjoy.

It is hoped that Speaker Pelosi would follow her instincts and heed what President John F. Kennedy said: "There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction." She must act now before it is too late. For indeed, President Kennedy further stated: "Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction."

Since the passage last April 14 by the U.S. Senate of S. 1315, otherwise known as Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act, by an overwhelming vote of 96-1, the expectation was that Speaker Pelosi would take the lead role in ensuring approval of this Bill in the Lower House, considering that her present leadership commands a "simple majority," or an equivalent of 218 members of Congress favoring its approval. To get S.1315 to pass the House, Speaker Pelosi will need all 230 House Democrats to support it and at least 60 House Republicans to reach the magic number of 290 (two-thirds of the 435 total number of House members) in order to call for a Suspension of the Rules that would avoid killer amendments that would delay, if not kill the bill.

The leadership of Rep. Darryl Issa (R-CA) can gather enough Republicans to join the Democrats in reaching the number of 290. It is believed that Rep. Issa, whose office in the Cannon House Bldg. we visited last week, can get 74 Republicans to vote for S.1315.

Speaker Pelosi is urged to heed what Gen. Douglas MacArthur said: "A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others." There are over four million Filipino Americans in the U.S. who are taxpayers and registered voters, including the unsung heroes now in their mid-eighties to nineties. These World War II veterans could barely walk the halls and long corridors of Congress, and they are badly in need of Speaker Pelosi's undivided support to reap the long overdue benefits due them.

S.1315, provides $250 to $300 million over 10 years for the Filipino World War II veterans. If Speaker Pelosi would apply the resources of her office and crack the whip, to have this bill passed, an allocation of about $50 million for Filipino veterans will be needed in the first year and would steadily decrease over a 10-year period ($46 million in year 2, and $42 million in year 3, based on mortality rate of 10 a day).

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which prepared the estimate, took into consideration the fact that many of the Filipino veterans living in California (4,000 out of the total of 6,000 vets in the US) may elect to keep the Supplemental Security Income that they are currently receiving about $650 a month plus $200 from the state of California rather than the $900 a month they would receive as US Veterans Affairs pension because the veteran and his spouse would receive a higher monthly total SSI benefit of $1,500. They would not be entitled to combine both.

“Compressing” the bill from 10 to 5 would allow Philippine veterans the opportunity to receive $600 a month over a 5-year period rather than $300 a month over 10 years.
These are incredibly difficult times now for the 12,000 veterans in the Philippines who are all eagerly awaiting passage of S.1315 to help them cope with skyrocketing food and fuel costs. While the young activist members of the VEC and the Student Action for Veterans Equity should be admired for sticking to their principles, the veterans in the Philippines know that they cannot eat their principles or fill their gas tanks with them.

Robert Gnaizda, General Counsel of the Greenlining Institute, led a small delegation last July 17 to meet with Speaker Pelosi's senior staff, Melissa Shannon, comprising of Dr. Primo Andres, Chairman, Filipino American Leadership Council (FALCON); Johnny Pecayo, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the MANILA-U.S. TIMES, who is Co-Chair of FALCON Public Relations; Maj. Gen. Delfin Lorenzana, Minister-Counselor and Head, Office of Veterans Affairs, Philippine Embassy; Gines Gallaga, Vice-Consul and 3rd Secretary, Philippine Embassy; Percival Abu, Veterans Service Officer, Philippine Embassy; Eric Lachica, Executive Director,American Coalition for Filipino Veterans; Jorge Corralejo, Chairman Latino Business Chamber of Commerce of the Greater Los Angeles Area; Ben de Guzman, National Campaign Coordinator, National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity (NAFVE); and four Filipino Veterans of World War II -- Guillermo Rumingan, Celestino Almeda, 91, (who rides in a motorized wheel chair); Joaquin Tejada, and Potenciano Dee, who had to beg off as he could not endure walking the long corridors of the Cannon Office Bulding that connects to the U.S. House of Congress.

Gnaizda, spokesman of the group, is a long time friend of the Speaker whom he has known even prior to Nancy Pelosi's becoming involved in politics.

Speaker Pelosi met with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last June 23 at the Willard Hotel, where President Arroyo presented Pelosi with the Order of the Golden Heart award.

After the receiving the award, Speaker Pelosi said: "On June 23, a number of my colleagues and I were deeply honored to accept the Order of the Golden Heart from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for Congress' work to gain recognition for World War II Filipino war veterans in the Veterans Equity Bill. These Filipino vets have waited too long to receive the respect they deserve and I look forward to bringing the legislation to the House floor soon."

Speaker Pelosi added: "We have an obligation to care for and honor America's servicemen and women, their families, and our veterans for their bravery and sacrifice. The Democratic-led Congress is keeping our promises to America's veterans and military -- including the more than 321,000 veterans of AAPI descent and the more than 48,000 AAPI men and women who have served their country in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001."

Readers are requested to call their respective congressmen to urge them to vote and approve S. 1315 before the U.S. Congress goes into recess in august 2008.

Speaker Pelosi accepting the Order of the Golden Heart
from Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
at the Willard Hotel on 23 June 2008

ROBERT GNAIZDA (r), General Counsel, Greenlining Institute, anointed Spokesman for the July 17 delegation , stresses a point to Ms. Melissa Shannon (far end), senior staff member, Office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Attentively listening (from left) are: Percival Abu, Eric Lachica, Celestino Almeda, Filipino Veteran of WWII, and Dr. Primo Andres, Chairman, FALCON. -- MUST PHOTO

MAJ. GEN. DELFIN LORENZANA (ret.), Head of Veterans Affairs, Phil. Embassy; Dr. Primo Andres of FALCON; WWII Veteran Celestino Almeda, Rep. Brad Ellsworth, 8th Dist., Indiana; Bob Gnaizda, Greenlining Institute; WWII Vet. Joaquin Tejada, Johnny Pecayo of FALCON, Mabuhay Alliance and MANILA-U.S. TIMES; and Dr. B. Young of FALCON from New York. -- MUST PHOTO

MELISSA SHANNON (far end) meets with (from left): Ben de Guzman, National Coordinator, NAFVE; Eric Lachica, Exec. Dir., American Coalition for Filipino Veterans; vet. Celestino Almeda, Dr. Primo Andres, Bob Gnaizda, vet. Joaquin Tejada and vet. Guillermo Rumingan. -- MUST PHOTO

MELISSA SHANNON shakes hands with Dr. Primo Andres. With them are Bob Gnaizda and Jaime Lizerraga (far end, right), Director of Member Services, Office of Speaker Pelosi. -- MUST PHOTO

JAIME E. LIZARRAGA (side to camera, left), meets with (from left): Dr. Primo Andres, Bob Gnaizda, vet. Joaquin Tejada, vet. Guillermo Rumingan, Maj. gen. Delfin Lorenzana (ret.), Vice-Consul Gines Gallaga, Phil. Embassy; Dr. B. Young, Jorge Corralejo, Chairman of the Greater Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce; Ben de Guzman, NAFVE; Percy Abu, Veterans Affairs Officer, Phil. Embassy; and Eric Lachica, American Coalition for Filipino Veterans. -- MUST PHOTO

MINISTER CARLOS SORRETA (center, left) of the Philippine Embassy presides over the meeting, on behalf of Ambassador Willy Gaa (who was in Manila for the Annual Ambassador's Tour), prior to the group's meeting at the U.S. Congress' Office of Speaker Pelosi. From left are Filipino WWII Veteran Potenciano Dee, Percy Abu, Dr. Primo Andres, Johnny Pecayo, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the MANILA-U.S. TIMES; and Eric Lachica, Executive Director, American Coalition of Filipino Veterans. -- MUST PHOTO

Where's Pelosi?

2008-08-02T09:40:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Speaker of the House must step up and deal with the plight of the Filipino Veterans of World War II.

For over six decades, the Filipino veterans who were commissioned by the United States Armed Forces of the Far East (USAFFE) to fight for America, now estimated at 18,000 from the original list of about 472,000, have been fighting for a war that they had already won but have yet to reap the benefits of.

It is on record that Filipino soldiers who fought against the Japanese in the Philippines were ordered by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt into service in the U.S. Army. When the war broke out, the Philippines was a colony of the U.S.. Therefore, the Filipino soldiers were American nationals serving the USA. They should have been entitled to full VA benefits had the Rider to PL 79-301, the Rescission Act of 1946, not taken those benefits away.

Where is Speaker Nancy Pelosi? No, we are not asking for the undisclosed location where she can be seen in person. We are asking about something more important than her present location. Where is the authoritative power, leadership and influence she possesses as Speaker of the House?

President Roosevelt once said: "The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men (and women) who can dream of things that never were.....The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts about today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith." And the Valiant World War II heroes responded to this call and put their lives on the line to fight for the freedom that all of us now enjoy.

It is hoped that Speaker Pelosi would follow her instincts and heed what President John F. Kennedy said: "There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction." She must act now before it is too late. For indeed, President Kennedy further stated: "Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction."

Since the passage last April 14 by the U.S. Senate of S. 1315, otherwise known as Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act, by an overwhelming vote of 96-1, the expectation was that Speaker Pelosi would take the lead role in ensuring approval of this Bill in the Lower House, considering that her present leadership commands a "simple majority," or an equivalent of 218 members of Congress favoring its approval. To get S.1315 to pass the House, Speaker Pelosi will need all 230 House Democrats to support it and at least 60 House Republicans to reach the magic number of 290 (two-thirds of the 435 total number of House members) in order to call for a Suspension of the Rules that would avoid killer amendments that would delay, if not kill the bill.

The leadership of Rep. Darryl Issa (R-CA) can gather enough Republicans to join the Democrats in reaching the number of 290. It is believed that Rep. Issa, whose office in the Cannon House Bldg. we visited last week, can get 74 Republicans to vote for S.1315.

Speaker Pelosi is urged to heed what Gen. Douglas MacArthur said: "A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others." There are over four million Filipino Americans in the U.S. who are taxpayers and registered voters, including the unsung heroes now in their mid-eighties to nineties. These World War II veterans could barely walk the halls and long corridors of Congress, and they are badly in need of Speaker Pelosi's undivided support to reap the long overdue benefits due them.

S.1315, provides $250 to $300 million over 10 years for the Filipino World War II veterans. If Speaker Pelosi would apply the resources of her office and crack the whip, to have this bill passed, an allocation of about $50 million for Filipino veterans will be needed in the first year and would steadily decrease over a 10-year period ($46 million in year 2, and $42 million in year 3, based on mortality rate of 10 a day).

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which prepared the estimate, took into consideration the fact that many of the Filipino veterans living in California (4,000 out of the total of 6,000 vets in the US) may elect to keep the Supplemental Security Income that they are currently receiving about $650 a month plus $200 from the state of California rather than the $900 a month they would receive as US Veterans Affairs pension because the veteran and his spouse would receive a higher monthly total SSI benefit of $1,500. They would not be entitled to combine both.

“Compressing” the bill from 10 to 5 would allow Philippine veterans the opportunity to receive $600 a month over a 5-year period rather than $300 a month over 10 years.
These are incredibly difficult times now for the 12,000 veterans in the Philippines who are all eagerly awaiting passage of S.1315 to help them cope with skyrocketing food and fuel costs. While the young activist members of the VEC and the Student Action for Veterans Equity should be admired for sticking to their principles, the veterans in the Philippines know that they cannot eat their principles or fill their gas tanks with them.

Robert Gnaizda, General Counsel of the Greenlining Institute, led a small delegation last July 17 to meet with Speaker Pelosi's senior staff, Melissa Shannon, comprising of Dr. Primo Andres, Chairman, Filipino American Leadership Council (FALCON); Johnny Pecayo, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the MANILA-U.S. TIMES, who is Co-Chair of FALCON Public Relations; Maj. Gen. Delfin Lorenzana, Minister-Counselor and Head, Office of Veterans Affairs, Philippine Embassy; Gines Gallaga, Vice-Consul and 3rd Secretary, Philippine Embassy; Percival Abu, Veterans Service Officer, Philippine Embassy; Eric Lachica, Executive Director,American Coalition for Filipino Veterans; Jorge Corralejo, Chairman Latino Business Chamber of Commerce of the Greater Los Angeles Area; Ben de Guzman, National Campaign Coordinator, National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity (NAFVE); and four Filipino Veterans of World War II -- Guillermo Rumingan, Celestino Almeda, 91, (who rides in a motorized wheel chair); Joaquin Tejada, and Potenciano Dee, who had to beg off as he could not endure walking the long corridors of the Cannon Office Bulding that connects to the U.S. House of Congress.

Gnaizda, spokesman of the group, is a long time friend of the Speaker whom he has known even prior to Nancy Pelosi's becoming involved in politics.

PECAYO RECEIVES A SPECIAL COMMENDATION FROM

2008-07-17T17:21:00.000-07:00

LT. COL. SHIRLEY S. RAGUINDIN, AMBASSADOR GAA

PHOENIX, AZ -- When Johnny Pecayo authored a Petition OnLine over a year ago urging Filipino Americans throughout the United States of America to sign the petition on behalf of the Filipino American Veterans of World War II, he sought the assistance and support of Philippine Ambassador to U.S., H.E. Willy C. Gaa, as well as the different Consuls General in various parts of the United States, so that Filipinos in their respective territorial coverages could be made aware of the importance of this campaign.

The campaign began with two different letters addressed separately to the U.S. Senate, and to the U.S. House of Representatives, calling their attention to the importance of the Veterans Equity Bill.

It will be recalled that Filipino soldiers who fought against the Japanese in the Philippines were ordered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt into service in the U.S. Army. When the war broke out, the Philippines was a colony of the U.S. Therefore, the Filipino soldiers were American nationals serving the USA. They should have been entitled to full VA benefits had the Rider to PL 79-301, The Rescission Act of 1946, not taken those benefits away.

Pecayo went on to emailblast the Petition OnLine to various Filipino American organizations, businessmen, professionals and community leaders.

When Lt. Col. Shirley S. Raguindin of the Arizona Air National Guard (AZNG) received the email, she immediately responded, acknowledged it and, at the same time, wrote individual letters herself to the members of the U.S. Senate and Congress.

Last April 24, the U.S. Senate gave a resounding approval to S. 1315, otherwise known as Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act, with a vote of 96 to 1. Upon learning of this good news, Lt. Col. Raguindin prepared a special letter of commendation for Johnny Pecayo, sought the approval of her Commanding General, Maj. Gen. David O. Rataczak, Adjutant General, AZNG, then sent it to Pecayo.

Commendation from Lt. Col. Raguindin

"Johnny M. Pecayo, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the MANILA-U.S. TIMES, is commended not just in celebrating the successful 18th anniversary of his publication this year, but for his outstanding and influential leadership which made a historic and significant impact to Filipino American Veterans in both the U.S. and in the Philippines.

"He spearheaded an OnLine Petition to generate support from the Filipinos to urge members of both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate for an early passage of the Veterans Equity Bill. I joined the petition, along with my relatives and friends, and even campaigned further to support this noble idea. His united effort will make a significant difference.

"Out of the estimated 472,000 listed by the U.S. Army at the end of World War II, the remaining 15,000 surviving military service veterans will be able to receive the military benefits they rightfully earned. Without Johnny's vision and focused determination, the recent overwhelming Senate approval would not have been a reality today.

"In addition, when a member of the cast of the "Desperate Housewives" made disparaging remarks against Filipino physicians, Johnny initiated an awareness campaign by communicating directly with Philippine Ambassador Willy Gaa in Washington, D.C., the different Consuls General in the U.S. as well as various community organizations. His presence was sought by TV reporter Gigi Gracietti of MY-13 and FOX-11, who caught up with him on his views.

"Johnny, a true champion of equal opportunity, civil rights and diversity, continues to heighten the awareness of the many significant contributions of Filipino Americans now and in the future," Lt. Col. Raguindin of Arizona Air National Guard (AZNG) wrote.

Commendation from Ambassador Willy Gaa

In his letter to Johnny Pecayo, Willy C. Gaa, Philippine Ambassador to Washington, wrote: "I wish to thank you for keeping the Embassy informed and up-to-date with your direct involvement in the Filipino Veterans' cause. Your OnLine Petition certainly drew a lot of attention not only from Filipino Americans, but from members of both Houses of U.S. Congress as well.

"I also wish to thank you for keeping the Embassy informed and up to date with the activities and initiatives of the Filipino American Leadership Council (FALCON), particularly in its continuing advocacy on behalf of the Filipino American community on the "Desperate Housewives" issue. Pecayo is the FALCON Chairman for Public Relations.

"It is both heartening and encouraging to see instances where the Filipino American community come together and find common ground on issues of importance affecting the whole community. It is my belief that the Filipino American community has significant
potential clout and influence in mainstream American society, the exercise of which would enable the community to further common interests and goals, not only for the community, but for the Philippines and the Filipino people as well.

"The efforts of FALCON and similar movements and organizations are steps toward the goal of establishing a higher and more active profile for the Filipino American community in the political and socio-economic fabric of U.S. society. In this regard, I wish FALCON and you the best of luck and success in all your endeavors," Ambassador concluded his commendation letter.

Pecayo, publisher and editor-in-chief of the MANILA-U.S. TIMES, and president and CEO of Jade Management Pacific Ventures, is very active in the Filipino American community. Aside from being the Chairman for FALCON's Public Relations, he is also the Coordinator for the Greater Los Angeles area for Mabuhay Alliance, a San Diego-based non-profit organization dealing with mainstream America. He is a member of the Diplomatic Press Corps, Los Angeles Police Department's Press, Sheriff Department's Press, and Executive Vice President of the Philippine Press Club U.S.A., Inc. His newspaper, the MANILA-U.S. TIMES, is a Media Partner of ABS-CBN International; Gawad Kalinga; Ayala Foundation, U.S.A.; Mabuhay Alliance; Chinese General Hospital Filipino Nurses Association of Southern California; Isabela International; Nueva Vizcaya Association of Southern California; United Batanguenos of Southern California, which Pecayo headed as Governor for two years; and the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles, which co-founded.

An MBA graduate from the Ateneo de Manila Graduate School of Business, Pecayo worked for six years at the Department of Foreign Affairs and with South-East Asia Treaty Organization. He pursued a 20-year career at San Miguel Corporation, the largest food and beverage company in Asia. While on the management staff of San Miguel Corporation, he was elected President of the Philippine Council for Industrial Communications (PCIC) and, at the same time, editor of the following publications, in a concurrent position: Communicate, official publication of PCIC; AMC Newsletter, official publication for Ateneo de Manila Graduate School of Business, which he founded; PMAP Newsletter, official organ for the Personnel Management Association of the Philippines; Buhay Barangay, official publication of Barangay Don Bosco, which he put up; TASSCOR Newsletter, a monthly publication of the Towers Assurance Corporation. Pecayo was the editor-in-chief, for 20 years, of a) BMD Newsletter; b) BMD Marketing Management Digest; and c) Bunga ng Pinagsamahan San Miguel Beer Dealer Magazine. For the same length of time, he was a contributing editor to Kaunlaran Magazine, a monthly corporate magazine of San Miguel Corporation; as well as the SMC journal, the SMC News.

He launched Kalayaan News Magazine as its editor last June 14 at the Marriott Hotel & Convention Center in Burbank, California in commemoration of the 110th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence.

When Pt. Pinatubo erupted several years ago, Pecayo was officially designated by Consul General Victor Garcia III as overall chairman of the fund-raising campaign in Southern California. Upon receipt of a designation letter signed by the Consul General, Pecayo organized a group then arranged with the Management of KSCI TV Channel 18 for a two-hour telethon. It was Marissa Castro who coordinated with Pecayo. After two hours, the telethon was able to raise about $100,000. It was reported that the amount raised was turned over to the American Red Cross that coordinated its transmittal to the Philippine Red Cross.

When news came that Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales would be coming over to Los Angeles, Pecayo began the coordinating task with the Cardinal's Office in Manila, and with Archbishop Oscar Solis in Los Angeles, who appointed Pecayo as Chairman of the Media Group and a member of the Reception Committee. He organized the group, comprising the membership from ABS-CBN Global, Asian Journal, MANILA-U.S. TIMES, Weekend Balita, Tribune USA, and Asian People's Journal. ABS-CBN, through Raffy Lopez and Ging Reyes, assigned Ana Diaz and a cameraman to provide TV coverage of this historic, first visit of Cardinal Rosales. Thousands of Filipino Americans attended the Sunday morning mass at Los Angeles Cathedral where a special lunch was also held in his honor.

Pecayo was also the executive producer and newscaster of the Filipino Variety Show, a weekly TV program aired over Channels 6, 52 and 95, covering the Glendale, Pasadena, Eagle Rock, Burbank, La Crescenta, San Marino, San Gabriel and Irwindale areas. He also did radio broadcasting at KAZN radio and Radio Filipinas and co-hosted a weekly Filipinas.TV with Manny Calpito.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of Healthcare Foundation at Glendale Adventist Medical Center; Glendale Educational Foundation; 80-20; and Divine Mercy Eucharistic Society.

JOHNNY PECAYO (right) is photographed here with Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales at the Phiippine Consulate General in Los Angeles. -- MUST PHOTO by Romeo M. Balboa

JOHNNY PECAYO (left) shakes hands with Philippine Ambassador to Washington, Willy C. Gaa.

JOHNNY M. PECAYO (left), Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the MANILA-U.S. TIMES, is shown here with Congressman Hermilando Mandanas of the 2nd District of Batangas; Congressman Antonio Magsaysay Diaz, Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Philippine House of Representatives; and San Diego-based Businessman Robert Sanchez (whose father was also a World War II Veteran), an avid supporter of the Filipino American veterans. Johnny's father, Alberto N. Pecayo (deceased), a veteran of World War II, belonged to the 41st Infantry, 41st Division, USAFFE (United States Armed Forces in the Far East). They recently had a luncheon meeting at Cheesecake Factory in Redondo Beach, California and discussed the issue at hand -- S. 1315 -- which requires approval by the U.S. House of Representatives.

LT. COL. SHIRLEY S. RAGUINDIN of the Arizona Air National Guard.

KALAYAAN NEWS MAGAZINE LAUNCHED AT KALAYAAN GALA

2008-07-09T13:05:00.000-07:00

At the Marriott Hotel & Convention Center in Burbank, California, about 800 people came to join the celebration of the 110th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence, graced by Honorable Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon, Consul General, Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, guest speaker.

Consul General Aragon commended Noel Omega, Grand Chairman of Kalayaan 2008, and all the organizing Committee Chairs and respective members, for their collective effort in putting together this annual event which turned out to be a highly successful one. She also cited the U.S. Senate's unanimous approval of S. 1315, otherwise known as the Veterans' Enhancement Benefits, and urged everyone to call their respective US congressmen to also give their unanimous approval to S. 1315 to convet the bill into law, to benefit the Filipino Veterans of World War II and their families.

Philippine Ambassador to Washington, Willy C. Gaa, in his July 2 letter to me, expressed his appreciation about the Kalayaan News Magazine "that you have released on the occasion of the 110th Anniversary of Philippine Independence."

"I would also like to congratulate you and the Kalayaan 2008 Committee for a job well done in commemorating the Philippine National Day with a Gala Dinner on 14 June 2008 for the Filipino American community of Los Angeles, one of the largest in the United States.

"I encourage you and members of the Filipino American community of Los Angeles to continue your efforts and good work in preserving and promoting your culture and heritage, and wish you continued success in all your future endeavors," Ambassador Gaa concluded his letter.

*****
Kalayaan Magazine
The 44-page full color magazine from cover to cover, which was launched during the Gala Night, features the 15 former presidents of the Philippine Republic, including the incumber president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, on the cover, designed by elumba.com -- Information Technology and Multimedia Solutions.

Kalayaan News Magazine carries messages from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Chairman and Editor Johnny Pecayo, Speaker Prospero C. Nograles, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, L.A. City Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo, Ambassador Willy C. Gaa, Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon, Consul General Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez of Shanghai, Consul General Cecilia B. Rebong of New York, L.A. County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, Carson City Mayor Jim Dear, Lieutenant Colonel Shirley S. Raguindin of the Arizona Air National Guard, who presented Johnny Pecayo with a Special Commendation; Kalayaan 2008 Grand Chairman Noel SV Omega, Kalayaan 2008 Grand Ball Chairman Thelma P. Calabio, and Kalayaan 2008 Presenting Sponsor Van Gerard Dichoso, President and CEO of Dichoso & Company CPA, Inc.

Featured in the magazine were the History of the Declaration of Philippine Independence, as well as the History of Philippine Revolution, consisting of six pages, complete with historic photographs.

Also featured were Dichoso & Company CPA, Inc.; Belo Medical Group, Inc. at the centerfold of the magazine; History of the MANILA-U.S. TIMES at the inside front cover; History of Barong Tagalog; Fourteen-Year History of ABS-CBN Global and the Filipino Channel (TFC); Twenty-Five Year History of FOREX Cargo (Cal), Inc.; Fifteen-Year History of ATLAS Shippers International; Lt. Col. Shirley Raguindin of the Arizona Air National Guard; and the Philippine Independence celebration in New York.

We acknowledge and express our profound thanks and appreciation to Shirleen Velasquez of Western Union and Candise Cheung of Air Supply Communications; Erica L. Opstad of U.S. Bank; Brenda Ross-Dulan of Wells Fargo; Consul Ma. Hellen Barber of the Department of Foreign Affairs; Raffy Lopez and Nerissa Fernandez of ABS-CBN Global; Wade Guang and Michael Vitug of interTrend Communications, Inc.; Thelma Calabio of Famegate Magazine and Famegate Foundation; Marielou Cordova and Karen Sanchez of ATLAS Shippers International; JP Carino and Jing Carino of FOREX Cargo (CAL), Inc; Van Gerard Dichoso and Dr. Marilou Dichoso of Dichoso & Company CPA, Inc.

*****
New WBC Lightweight Champion

CONGRATULATIONS to Manny Pacquiao for winning the WBC Lightweight Championship Belt, the fourth one in four different categories. He is now the new pound-for-pound king. What was planted indelibly in the minds of those who watched the June 28 fight at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Resort Casino Events Center versus Olympian David Diaz was Manny's manifestation of kind-heartedness when he tried to persuade Referee Vic Drakulich in Round 6 to stop the fight because of the deep cut on the lower edge of the Diaz's right eyebrow which was bleeding profusely. Manny mainfested his kindness twice when he tried to lift Diaz who fell onto the canvas in Round 9 due to the powerful impact of his left-right jabs combination that instantly sent Diaz to the canvas, face first.

At the press conference after the fight, Manny consistently showed his genuine concern to the victims of typhoon Frank (international code name: Fengshen) when he declared: "The first thing I would do when I get home is to visit the families of the victims of the recent devastating typhoon and offer them prayers and some financial assistance.

We salute you, Pacman. Keep it up!

Western Union® Sponsors the 29th PNAA Annual National Convention

2008-07-09T13:01:00.000-07:00

Powering the Passion for Nursing in the Filipino Community

ENGLEWOOD , Colo. -- The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU), a worldwide leader in money transfer services, is proud to be a sponsor of the 29th Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA) Annual National Convention. The event themed “Powering the Passion for Nursing!” will be held at the Radisson Resort Hotel in South Padre Island , Texas from July 16 to July 20, 2008. The five-day convention will feature an array of topics that will enhance leadership, professional development, clinical excellence, continuing education, and achievement of personal goals.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Western Union is sponsoring the PNAA annual convention.

“With Western Union , we constantly try to promote knowledge and professional excellence within the community we serve, and partnering with PNAA allows us to provide further education and leadership within the community of Filipino nurses,” said Shirleen Velasquez, senior marketing manager, US Outbound Philippines. “We are very proud and honored to be supporting the PNAA year after year.”

As in the past, this year’s national convention will include an array of professional seminars, and a new 5K run activity was added. The run is set for Saturday, July 19 at 6 a.m. and promises to bring an outdoor networking and exercising opportunity to all participants. The five-day convention is a forum for nurses to share their views and experiences on clinical excellence, technology commitment, professional education and community involvement to power the passion for nursing. More than 200 Filipino nurses are expected to attend.

“We truly value Western Union 's support each year," said Leo-Felix M. Jurado, president-elect of the PNAA. "Western Union's continuous generosity and dedication to the future of Filipino nurses and the U.S. healthcare industry is very much appreciated."

Established in 1979, PNAA has close to 5,000 members from 37 chapters all over the United States . Most of these nurses are actively working in hospitals, home health care programs, government agencies, long-term care facilities, colleges of nursing and other health care providers.

With a $12 transfer fee for sending up to $800, your choice of payout options --U.S. Dollar* or Philippine Peso, and customer service representatives that can speak Tagalog, Western Union makes sending money home easy and convenient. Customers can also send money with a credit card over the phone by calling 1-877-PERA-ITO, or online at westernunion.com.

In United States and Canada , Western Union has nearly 50,000 Agent locations. And there are more than 7,100 Western Union Agent locations in Philippines where receivers can collect money. Proper identification, such as a personal identification card, is required to receive payout. Effective July 1, 2008, all inbound money transfers to the Philippines from abroad are subject to the 0.15% of principal Documentary Stamp Tax (DST) as required by the Philippines Government Bureau of Internal Revenue regulations.

SHIRLEEN VELASQUEZ, Senior Manager, US Outbound-Philippines, Western Union. -- MUST PHOTO

Balitang America, FASGI team up for FilVote 2008

2008-07-09T12:58:00.000-07:00

Partnership aims to mobilize Fil-Am participation in U.S. elections this year

REDWOOD CITY, CA, -- ABS-CBN International’s Balitang America, the only Filipino news program in the U.S. aired daily on cable and satellite, and the Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI), a non-profit social service agency based in Los Angeles, recently teamed up to form “FilVote 2008”. The project is an election campaign effort designed to mobilize Filipino voter registration and participation in the 2008 U.S. elections.

A Memorandum of Agreement to seal the partnership was signed recently by ABS-CBN International Managing Director Olivia Finina De Jesus, ABS-CBN International News Bureau Chief Regina Reyes, and FASGI Executive Director Susan Espiritu-Dilkes at the Filipino media company’s Redwood Shores office.

“This project is aimed at helping make Filipinos in the U.S. realize that they have a voice and that they should use it collectively to advocate for issues directly affecting them,” said Reyes. “The best way to make public officials listen is through the power of the ballot.”

The project adopted the name, “FilVote” which has been FASGI’s non-partisan voter engagement project whose mission is to unite Filipino Americans across ideological, religious, and class differences toward gaining genuine political power in the U.S.

“Partnering with ABS-CBN International’s Balitang America is the big media push that FilVote needs in spreading the word and keeping Filipino Americans informed about both the election process and issues,” said Espiritu-Dilkes. “We need to be aware that elections do have an impact on our day-to-day lives.”

The project outreach consists of a series of Get-Out-The-Vote campaign videos from ABS-CBN and FASGI that will be aired on TFCDirect! channels (TFC, ANC, Kapamilya Channel, Cinema One Global and Myx) during election period. Balitang America will also run FilVote segments and will create and maintain an interactive FilVote website. FilVote will also be present on the ground in big events that are either sponsored or produced by ABS-CBN. Companies, organizations and individuals will be encouraged by both parties to support the project through sponsorships and volunteer participation.“

ABS-CBN International exists to serve the Filipinos wherever they may be and part of that service is to empower them through media advocacy,” explains De Jesus. “With FilVote 2008, we hope to broaden the civic engagement of Filipinos in the U.S. by educating them and providing them a forum to voice out concerns that are important to them.”

About ABS-CBN International

ABS-CBN International was established in 1994 to be of service to the Filipino worldwide. With the launch of its flagship brand, The Filipino Channel (TFC), the company became the first and most successful Filipino broadcaster in the United States. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, it is the largest business subsidiary of ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ leading broadcasting company.

Historic partnership: Teaming up for “FilVote 2008,” a Filipino voter mobilization campaign in the U.S., are, from left, FASGI Executive Director Susan Espiritu-Dilkes, ABS-CBN International Managing Director Olivia Finina De Jesus; and ABS-CBN International News Bureau Chief Regina Reyes.

Bank of America CEO Ken Lewis Addresses Mortgage Markets

2008-07-09T12:54:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES, CA – Kenneth D. Lewis, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and President of Bank of America, delivered his address “Mending Our Mortgage Markets” at TOWN HALL Los Angeles on last Wednesday July 9, at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

Ken Lewis was at the Hyatt Hotel in La Jolla in San Diego July 7 where he met with Faith Bautista, Executive Director of Mabuhay Alliance, and had a community forum with community leaders. Ms. Bautista met with Mr. Lewis in March 2006 and again yesterday. Ken spoke about a more comprehensive relief in helping homeowners keep their home. "I am cautiously optimistic that Bank of America is going to take the lead in solving foreclosure crises," Lewis told the local homeowners.

On the current housing crisis, Lewis states, "Excesses in financial markets are not new. But when an economic bubble bursts that is based on the one asset that represents much of a family’s life savings – in short, their home – the fallout for families and neighborhoods can be devastating.”

Lewis was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2001. He joined North Carolina National Bank (NCNB, predecessor to NationsBank and Bank of America) in 1969 as a credit analyst. He led the bank’s operations in Florida and Texas in the 1980s and served as President of Consumer and Commercial Banking and Chief Operating Officer in the 1990s.

Bank of America serves more than 59 million consumers and business clients through more than 6,100 retail banking offices, 19,000 ATMs and an online banking and bill-pay service with more than 24 million active users.

Throughout its history, TOWN HALL has hosted speakers on the topics of finance and the economy. This year, TOWN HALL welcomed California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer and CEOs Anne Mulcahy of Xerox and Scott Davis, UPS.

This marks Lewis’ third appearance at TOWN HALL Los Angeles . His last address was "Beyond the Bottom Line: Business on the Cutting Edge," that took place last June.

TOWN HALL Los Angeles is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization comprised of leaders and engaged citizens dedicated to examining important issues facing our society. TOWN HALL’s events, on-air programs, and written communications bring leaders and visionaries together to discuss and interact with our community while educating, generating solutions, and positively affecting our region for generations. To become a part of this tradition, join TOWN HALL.

KEN LEWIS, Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of America, shown here with Faith Bautista, Executive Director of Mabuhay Alliance, came to San Diego to express his unconditional support to help homeowners save their homes. His commitment helped a great deal in alleviating the sufferings of the homeowners in San Diego that generated not only good news, but a great a sigh of relief.

Caregiver's Role Dignified With Sharon's Stellar Performance

2008-07-09T12:42:00.000-07:00

By Johnny M. Pecayo
www.manilaustimes.org

GLENDALE, CA -- Anticipating the huge influx of Sharon Cuneta fans and moviegoers, the premiere showing of 'Caregiver' was scheduled at 3:30 P.M. and 8 P.M., respectively, at the legendary Alex Theatre in Glendale, California. I was privileged to witness the long lines of funs as I arrived at 2 p.m. to be able to watch the first showing. After the first showing, I waited for the next showing at 8 P.M., and saw more people came than the 3:30 P.M. slot.

Megastar Sharon Cuneta, although not feeling well, showed up onstage immediately after the end of the movie by about 5:30 P.M., and got the opportunity to talk to her fans in person. With all sincerity and warmth in her approach, Sharon felt the love of many in the audience. She was almost in tears as she expressed her thanks and appreciation for her fans continued support.

Random interviews were conducted inside the moviehouse, and most of the interviewees were really performing the real role of a caregiver. Those interviewed confirmed the hardships that the caregivers experience in real life, as portrayed by Sharon, but at the same time the movie gave a lift to the morale and dignity of the profession. Questions related to Sharon drew more awareness about the Box Office Queen's shining stars.

Directed by Chito S. Rono, and produced by Star Cinema, Caregiver is definitely the movie to watch.

Sharon finally won the heart of a male resident who was the most difficult to please, and whose adult son eventually became her trusted friend.

While Sharon was able to pass the rigors of being a caregiver, hurdling through the indifferent of attitude of the facility residents, John was becoming irritable as days go by, badly affecting their relationship as husband and wife in the process. When John decided to finally go home, Sharon did not go with him. She decided to stay behind to continue working as Caregiver, until her young son she left behind joined her and eventually met with Makisig whom he befriended.

“Caregiver” is a phenomenon, having been produced by a major mainstream movie studio, Star Cinema.

Ms. Sharon Cuneta successfully embraced the role of a Filipina, a mother, a wife, and an OFW as a caregiver -- performed simultaneously to the delight of the moviegoers. Her performance presented us the reality of life in a foreign land. She showed that in the harshest of conditions, one could survive if she were dedicated with strong determination despite the many unbelievable odds. One of the songs in the movie “Saranggola sa Ulan”, is a perfect picture of how the Filipinos live and survive. The impossible becomes possible because we choose to take the first step and actually strive to do something.

After a long duration of time without doing any movie, Sharon’s comeback movie, “Caregiver,” is a solid proof that, if the featured star, studio and viewers think along the same significant lines, anything is possible under the sun.

Sharon’s portrayal of Susan, the teacher-turned-caregiver in her current hit starrer, proves to be the culmination of her growth as an actress through the decades. She explores new heights and depths that touch many in the industry, especially in the U.S., where Filipino caregivers abound.

The other cast of Caregiver -- Makisig Morales, Mikkie Feriols, Rica Peraleho and John Estrada, just to name a few, gave a moving drama in life that everyone in the audience could relate. The countless attendees in the premier even led our Mega Star in tears. Not knowing how to thank her fans and friends enough for their endless love and support.

In the scene, John Estrada, who arrived in London ahead of Sharon, was feeding his wife a different story until Sharon found out, in a surprise visit to his place of work, that John was performing janitorial job. He took qualifying exams a few times to get promoted, but unfortunately, he failed each time.

The role of Rica Peraleja in Caregiver, though brief, created an impact with her famous line, "Ngayon ka pa ba aatras ay nan'dito ka na...?" (Would you be backing out now that you are already here?)

As the Mega Star, Ms. Sharon Cuneta, gave another heartfelt drama performance in the premier of Star Cinema’s 15th anniversary treat, Caregiver, everyone -- be they her colleagues, co-stars and fans -- took notice of her superb performance, including the impactful delivery of such lines as, "I care not so much about my work, I care about you..." citing the young son she left behind whom she wanted to be somebody someday, with tears almost rolling down her cheeks, donning the uniform of a caregiver, complete with with see through plastic gown.

The Sharonians all over the world witnessed another unforgettable showcase of Sharon Cuneta’s incomparable talent in paying tribute to the unsung Filipino heroes in the guise of caregivers. Everyone found himself/herself crying all throughout the movie and interestingly smiling in tears as they applaud the intensity of Susan’s willingness to survive without losing her dignity. Need I elaborate further?

FACADE OF ALEX THEATRE showing the Caregiver signs.-- MUST PHOTO

RENE L. CORTEZ of Wordstars, with Joyce & Co. photographed here with Sharon Cuneta.-- MUST PHOTO

ANA DIAZ of ABS-CBN conducts random interviews, while Ricky Morales provides on camera coverage. -- MUST PHOTO

MANILA-U.S. TIMES publisher and editor-in-chief, Johnny Pecayo, in a close up shot with Megastar Sharon Cuneta. -- MUST PHOTO

A LONG LINE of people eager to see Sharon in person.

BETH EDRA of the MANILA-U.S. TIMES poses with Ms. Sharon Cuneta. -- MUST PHOTO

Pacman, the “Mexicutioner,” has a big heart

2008-07-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

By Johnny M. Pecayo
Chairman & CEO, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, MANILA-U.S. TIMES
www.manilaustimes.blogspot.com/
MUST Photos by Chief Photographer Romeo M. Balboa

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – In front of 8,362 people, including referee Vic Drakulich and three judges – Gary Merritt, C. J. Ross and Paul Smith -- and millions of televiewers all over the world, Manny Pacquiao showed off June 28 his boxing prowess when he knocked out and dethroned WBC Lightweight champion David Diaz at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Resort Casino Events Center at 2:24 in Round 9, with commanding lead points from Round 1 through Round 9, halting the scheduled 12-round bout in impressive fashion dominating former Olympian Diaz from the opening bell.

Desirous of becoming the first Asian and Filipino to win four World Boxing Championship in different categories, Manny Pacquiao proved to one and all that he is the world’s best boxer having won four world titles at 112, 122, 130 and 135 pounds – convincingly defeating Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, and the very recent one, David Diaz of Chicago. Pacquiao is the first Filipino to win a lightweight belt. His great sense of nationalism, and his desire to help the typhoon victims he manifested in interviews prior to the June 28 fight, became his obsession.

With majority in the audience as Pacquiao’s supporters, everytime they would scream and cheer, chanting the deafening “Manny!” “Manny!” “Manny!” his punches became faster and stronger and, as Diaz tried to cover his face with his hands, Pacquiao’s left and right hand combinations of uppercut, jabs and more jabs would break through and hit the targetted area of Diaz’ face and body to the consternation of Diaz, but to the increasing chanting from the huge crowd, favoring Manny Pacquiao, the challenger.

Dubbed as “Lethal Combination” by the official promoters, it turned out to be a lethal destruction just as soon as the first bell rang until 2:24 of the 9th round when Pacquiao TKO’d Diaz with all his might, as Pacquiao gave his all with a crashing left hook to Diaz’ chin, sending him to lay flat on the canvas, face first.

Pacquiao Dominance

Manny Pacquiao of General Santos, Philippines (47-3-2, 35 knockouts) landed a total of 230 punches and 180 power shots versus 90 and 59, respectively, by Diaz of Chicago, Illinois (34-2-1), clearly showing Pacquiao’s dominance. Pacquiao had 490 power punches and 298 jabs thrown to Diaz’s 319 power punches and 144 jabs.

To a lot of people’s apprehension that Pacquiao’s speed might be affected by suddenly moving up to 135 pounds in less than three months after his fight with Marquez, he proved them wrong by showing them a clear answer in the first round. Moving fluidly and quickly, Pacquiao gave his opponent with a barrage of jabs while working the body and and effectively scoring with the uppercut. His superb hand speed was clearly dominating from start to finish.

Pacquiao Shows Kind-heartedness

By late in the fourth round, Diaz’s face was a bloody mask, and Pacquiao asked referee Vic Drakulich to stop the fight. After consulting with the physician, Drakulich allowed the onslaught to continue.

Diaz took a huge amount of punishment and showed courage as he somehow remained on his feet. But he ultimately reached his limit late in the ninth when Pacquiao dropped him with a right-left combination after landing four bombs seconds before.

“His speed was a big difference,” Diaz said. “He boxed me more than I expected him to. That’s what surprised me. I could see perfectly, but he was too fast. I could not match his speed,” Diaz said, adding, “but there is no excuses.”

Pacquiao consistently showed his kindness to his foe when Diaz fell on the canvas. He went to Diaz’s side immediately to literally carry him with both hands, until Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao’s super alalay pulled him to the corner, carried him with his strong arms to wave to the crowd while at the same time praying and thanking God for his fourth victory in four different WBC categories.

“I feel much stronger and powerful at 135 pounds. But I don’t mind moving to 140,” said Pacquiao during the press conference, held immediately after his highly convincing feat over Diaz. The press conference was presided over by Bob Arum, top honcho of Top Rank Promotions, who chided President George W. Bush for a reduced number of attendees – 8,362 compared to 9,100 three months ago at the same venue – due largely to spiraling cost of gasoline.

Pacquiao, indeed, is a man whose nature invokes real kindness when he told the members of the press that “I dedicate this victory to the victims of Typhoon Frank in the Philippines . The first thing I would do when I get home is to visit the families of the typhoon victims and give them some financial assistance.”

As of this writing, over 622 people, out of 800 passengers of MV Princess of the Stars have been confirmed dead after the passenger ferry capsized Saturday in turbulent seas off Sibuyan Island, 300 kilometers south of Manila.

In the press conference, Bob Arum expressed his disappointment about the decision made by the Nevada Boxing Commission over Humberto Soto-Francisco Lorenzo bout, which declared Lorenzo as the new interim WBC Superfeatherweight Champion, which was prompted by the blows to the back of the head delivered by Soto while Lorenzo was already down.

The World Boxing Council, however, which is the sanctioning body of the Soto-Lorenzo, had ruled that it won’t recognize that Lorenzo won the fight, objecting to the Nevada Commission’s decision and proceeded to declare their match as NO CONTEST. Arum demanded an immediate rematch, with the date to be determined later.

Arum commended and expressed interest in the style of Dennis Laurente (29-3-4, 14 KOs) of Palompon, Southern Leyte, Philippines, who won by TKO in 3rd round over Steve Quinones (29-13-1, 9 KOs) of Palm springs , California .

In the WBO Featherweight championship, Steven Luevano of La Puente , California (36-1, 15 KOs) retined his title, after he and challenger Mario Santiago of Ponce , Puerto Rico (19-1, 14 KOs ) battled to a 12-round draw. Judge Harry Davis had Luevano ahead 117-11, and Duane Ford had Santiago winning, 115-113. Dave Moretti scored it 114-114.

Santiago appeared to have Luevano in trouble several times, particularly in the fifth and 10th rounds, but Luevano stayed on his feet.

In the Heavyweight Division, Monte Barrett of Queens, New York (34-6, 20 KOs) delivered a stunning performance when he knocked out Tony Fields of Las Vegas , Nevada (40-2, 36 KOs ) in less than one minute of the 1st round.

“Pacquiao is my favorite boxer,” says Barrett during the press conference.

David Diaz showed up at the press conference and, with winning personality, he expressed his appreciation for the support of his fans. He likewise thanked Bob Arum who paid him $ 850,000 for the fight.

When Pacquiao showed up, he looked as if he did not come from the fight. There was no bruise at all, and he looked fresh. The new legendary pound-for-pound hero expressed no preference as to who he would fight next. “I am just a fighter. It is up to Bob Arum, my promoter, to choose an opponent to match with me,” said Pacquiao.

The young night was capped with a by-invitation only Knock Out Party at the Mix in Las Vegas Restaurant on the 64th floor of The Hotel at Mandalay Bay . Without one’s name on the list, he won’t be allowed entry. When Pacquiao came with a coterie of press people, photographers and cameramen, he was like a movie superstar, shaking hands with everyone along the way, using his left hand, as his right hand was bandaged due to swelling. “Parating na
po si Gov,” (The Governor is coming), says Pacquiao, referring to former Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, who was very visible in the arena and at the press conference.

MANNY PACQUIAO carries his youngest fan, one-year-old Matthew Sylvestre Idhaw-Villegas, son of Third and Celine Villegas. Matthew is a grand nephew of Paul and Tess Emata.

pacquiao

2008-03-31T15:27:00.000-07:00

GSIS pensioners can ensure uninterrupted receipt of pension via phone

2007-10-26T21:54:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES, CA -- Pensioners of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the agency that provides retirement benefits to Philippine government employees, will now have an easier way to guarantee the uninterrupted receipt of their monthly GSIS pension benefits using only their telephone or cellular phone.

Through a new system called GSIS Voice Activated Processing System or G-V@PS, GSIS pensioners under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles Consular Office just need to go to the Consular Office for a one-time enrollment to this new system. Once enrolled, they can use their landline or cellular phone to call the G-V@PS hotline at 011-632-8590303 and avail of a menu of services including renewal of active status.

The status renewal is an annual GSIS requirement that ensures pensioners of the continuous receipt of their pension.

Prior to the introduction of the G-V@PS, pensioners based here had to go to the Consular Office and use the GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System or G-W@PS kiosk to renew their active status. The kiosk identifies the pensioner’s biometrics through his fingerprints.

The G-V@PS complements the G-W@PS as it records and captures the pensioner’s voice biometrics. Thus, instead of going to the Consular Office for the status renewal, pensioners only need to use their telephone or cellular phone to comply with the said requirement.

Enrolling to the G-V@PS is optional, although GSIS President and General Manager Winston F. Garcia offered a “friendly caveat.”

“While G-V@PS is optional, the benefits it carries should convince our pensioners to enroll,” he said.

On their birth month, pensioners have the option to enroll to the G-V@PS at the Philippine Consular Office wherein they will be assisted by a Consulate Authorized Representative (CAR). Pensioners should bring their eCard Plus during the enrollment.

For those without eCard Plus, pensioners need to enroll first to the eCard thru the G-W@PS installed at the Consular Office. They must call the Consular Office at least one week prior to their preferred schedule of enrollment. Pensioners need to enter their cellular phone number or even the cell number of their relatives or friends, their e-mail address and home address when enrolling to the G-W@PS. A CAR is also available to assist them in this enrollment process. After enrollment, the eCard Plus will be mailed to the pensioner in the address he/she has provided.

Upon receipt of the eCard, pensioners need to set an appointment to activate the eCard Plus in the Consular Office where G-W@PS kiosk are located.

For inquiries on the G-V@PS, pensioners can send their email to pension@gsis.gov.ph or call the GSIS representative at (213) 637-3019.

Wal-Mart Donates $1,000,000 in Support of American Red Cross California Wildfire Relief

2007-10-26T21:51:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON--(U.S. ASIAN WIRE)-- October 26, 2007-- Responding to the devastating aftermath of the wildfires that have blazed across California, Wal-Mart has donated $1,000,000 to American Red Cross disaster relief efforts. In addition, Wal-Mart is also providing its customers with the opportunity to help by initiating a customer donation program in Wal- Mart stores across California.

The Red Cross has nearly 3,000 workers on site in Southern California, including volunteers from all 50 states, and is offering a wide range of support focusing on continued sheltering for those who need it. As of midnight last night, the Red Cross had 24 shelters opened, providing people with a safe place to stay. Additional Red Cross services include providing meals, distribution of clean up supplies and mental health support to provide a shoulder for those in need to lean on.

In addition to the generous $1,000,000 donation, local Wal-Mart stores and Sam's Clubs in California are setting up collection sites so that their customers can conveniently make cash donations to help support ongoing relief efforts.

"We are grateful for the generous support of Wal-Mart and their customers, providing help and hope to our neighbors in California during their time of need," said Mark W. Everson, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. "Wal- Mart's generosity, leadership and timely support of our humanitarian mission is greatly appreciated."

Wal-Mart has a history as a corporate leader in the area of disaster relief. In 2005, Wal-Mart donated more than $32 million in cash to aid Hurricane Katrina emergency relief efforts. This included $2 million in contributions to the Red Cross. Last year, Wal-Mart provided more than $2 million in disaster relief funds to assist in relief efforts across the nation, including floods and tornadoes disaster response.

"Wal-Mart has a long history of increasing our community support during times of disaster," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation. "The wildfires raging across Southern California have impacted customers, communities and our own associates. It was an easy decision to move forward with aiding relief efforts."

Pres. Bush Recognizes Mabuhay Alliance

2007-10-26T21:40:00.000-07:00

By Johnny M. Pecayo
www.manila-ustimes.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President George W. Bush sent a letter to Faith Bautista, Executive Director of San Diego-based non-profit organization, Mabuhay Alliance, recognizing its commitment to promoting and enhancing minority businesses.

FAITH BAUTISTA
Executive Director,
Mabuhay Alliance

"The 4th Annual Economic Conference is a chance for participants to celebrate accomplishments and to further business development through networking and continuing education," the President wrote.

He added: "My administration remains committed to strengthening minority businesses and helping out entrepreneurs and innovators succeed.

"I appreciate the Mabuhay Alliance (MA) for its commitment to promoting and enhancing minority businesses. Your efforts advance prosperity for all our citizens and help make our Nation stronger.

"Laura and I send our best wishes on this special occasion," the President concluded his letter.

California Governor Cites MA

Meanwhile, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sent his own message citing that: "This conference is a wonderful opportunity for small-business owners, families and individuals to gain insights on how to effectively manage business finances.

"Your organization's work with Pacific American Islanders and Filipino Americans expand their knowledge on home-buying and financial planning, improving their abilities to successfully support their children and families.

"I thank Mabuhay Alliance for its tremendous contributions to building a brighter future for the people of the State of Calaifornia. Your continued work helps keep California's economy strong and productive," concluded Gov. Scharzenegger in his message.

Venue, Speakers

The 4th Annual Economic Conference will be held on Saturday, October 20, at the San Diego Marriott Mission Valley, with a line up of powerful speakers comprising of: Janet Lamkin, President, Bank of America; Lisa Barrett, President, Citibank, California; Donna Burke, Vice President, AT&T; and Elva G. Lima, Vice President, Verizon, as announced by Faith Bautista, through her coordinator, Tony Marquez, who is inviting everyone who has been a part of Mabuhay Alliance's journey in the areas of MTA classes and Financial Literacy workshops throughout 2007.

The announcement added that there is no fee to invited guests and individuals in both the conference and gala dinner.

GAMC Achieves Goal of $10 M for Capital Campaign

2007-10-26T21:27:00.000-07:00

GLENDALE, CA, -- The Healthcare Foundation at Glendale Adventist Medical Center is pleased to announce that it has achieved its goal of raising $10 million for the hospital's capital campaign. With current cash and pledges made towards the campaign, the Healthcare Foundation completed the fundraising campaign a few months early. The campaign started in April 2004 and was to end December 2007. The money raised for the campaign is for the hospital's new West Tower. Coincidently, the final pledge came in on opening day of the West Tower.

The West Tower is a 190,000-square foot, seven-story building featuring60 new patient beds, larger patient rooms, a family centered IntensiveCare Unit, a new emergency department and state-of the-art technology.

The Healthcare Foundation supports the work and mission of GlendaleAdventist Medical Center through philanthropy. "Many dedicated peoplehave been working behind the scenes to make this campaign successful,"said David Burghart, President of the Healthcare Foundation. "Ourboard members contributed to its success."

*The Healthcare Foundation could not have completed such a hugeCampaign without the help of our campaign leader, John Merrell," saidBurghart. "We appreciate John's leadership and commitment, not onlywith his time and insight, but also with this incredible demonstrationof financial support."

"I would like to thank all those who recognized the importance of ourcause to our community and supported it with their donations," saidJohn Merrell.

"I would especially like to thank our team of volunteers, board members,physicians, hospital administration, employees and the Foundation staffwho worked so hard to reach this goal. These are special individualswho are dedicated to the hospital and its mission," said JohnMerrell, Capital Campaign Leader.

"I offer my sincere thanks to everyone who has supported thiscampaign. It's amazing how our employees rallied to meet and exceedtheir goal of $500,000. Our physicians gave more than $600,000. LocalFoundations and organizations gave more than $2 million. Our boards gave more than 2 million dollars combined. We appreciate the personal and financial contributions that all have provided to our West Tower building project over the years," said Burghart.

A two-story water feature in the lobby of the West Tower recognizesgenerous donors. Physicians and employee donors are recognized withtheir names listed on a special wall in the new tower.

It's never too late to donate. If you are still interested in supporting the West Tower or any other areas of the hospital, please call the Healthcare Foundation at Glendale Adventist Medical Center (818) 409-8055.

Original Wowowee Mainstay goes Live in Concert

2007-10-26T21:16:00.000-07:00

JANELLE JAMER
Original Wowowee Mainstay

MANILA -- Janelle Jamer, the original co-host of Willie Revillame in the famous Wowowee noontime show on ABS-CBN Channel 2, who resigned recently from the said show, has officially informed the MANILA-U.S. TIMES of her forthcoming concert, to be held next Saturday, October 27, at the BNP Cultural Arts Center in Ontario, California.

The Ontario concert will be followed with another concert on November 2 in Chicago's Gateway Theatre, with the last leg of the concert to be held on Saturday, November 3, at the Chabot College Performing Arts Theatre in San Francisco, California.

With Janelle in this concert are Vhong Navarro and Manny Poo Kiaw.

"Performing before a huge crowd has been my childhood dream, and I am glad that the fulfillment of that dream would soon come to fruition," Janelle reveals to MANILA-U.S. TIMES when interviewed.

"Through your newspaper publication, I would like to invite everyone to come and watch the show on October 27 in Ontario, California," writes Janelle in her email posting.

"It will be a good opportunity to get together and have a photo op with my fans in this part of the United States," she added. -- JP

Philippine President Pardons Estrada

2007-10-26T21:09:00.000-07:00

Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007 By AP/JIM GOMEZ

FORMER PRESIDENT Joseph Estrada waves to the crowd upon hearing of
news report about President Arroyo granting him executive clemency yesterday.

MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo pardoned her ousted predecessor Thursday, paving the way for Joseph Estrada's release a month after he was sentenced to life in prison for corruption.

Acting Executive Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the pardon would restore Estrada's civil and political rights and would take effect upon his acceptance.

There was no immediate reaction from the 70-year-old Estrada, who has been allowed by the anti-graft Sandiganbayan court to be detained in his sprawling villa near Manila while appealing his Sept. 12 conviction for plunder.

Estrada's lawyers withdrew his appeal Monday, removing a key obstacle to the grant of pardon.

Arroyo cited her government's policy of releasing convicts who have reached 70, Estrada's 6 1/2 years' detention and his public pledge not to seek any public office in deciding to pardon her political nemesis.

A court order forfeiting a mansion and more than $15.5 million in bank accounts believed to be owned by Estrada would remain in place, according to Arroyo's decision, which was read by Bunye in a nationally televised announcement.

"Arroyo is fully convinced that this pardon is in order," Bunye told reporters.
A Sandiganbayan court spokesman, Renato Bocar, said it would order Estrada's release after receiving a copy of Arroyo's grant of pardon.

Estrada was ousted by a nonviolent "people power" revolt that was co-led by Arroyo, then his vice president, in 2001 over allegations of massive corruption and misrule. He was arrested and detained a few months later, angering his legions of followers.

Estrada was convicted last September after a landmark six-year trial on charges that he took bribes and kickbacks while in office. He was sentenced to life in prison.
Estrada has denied the charges and accused Arroyo of masterminding his removal in a conspiracy with leaders of the Roman Catholic church and senior military officers.

A former action film star who once pulled off the biggest election victory in Philippine history, Estrada remains popular among impoverished Filipinos who adored his B-movies, where he often portrayed roles as a champion of the poor.

He served as an opposition icon, often criticizing Arroyo from behind bars.

Estrada told The Associated Press earlier this week that he would not seek public office even if that right were restored by presidential pardon. He said, however, he would continue to criticize Arroyo. -- TIME Magazine

******

Erap now free, all rights restored
By Sherwin C. Olaes
10/26/2007

MANILA -- Deposed President Joseph Estrada is now a free man, following President Arroyo’s grant of his full pardon yesterday, restoring his full civil and political rights.
Estrada is expected to leave his detention today, no longer accompanied by his police guards.

Following the grant of executive clemency, Mrs. Arroyo ordered Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno to personally relay the order to Estrada at 9 a.m. today which will formalize his release from detention.

The order of Mrs. Arroyo which was read to the media by Acting Executive Secretary and concurrent Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, used as basis the age of Estrada, who is now 70 years old and his six-and-a-half years in detention.

The order said all the political and civil rights of Estrada are now restored but the forfeitures imposed by the Sandiganbayan on his questioned properties “remain in full force and in full,” except for the bank account(s) he owned before his tenure as president.

Bunye read the statement of Mrs. Arroyo on the Estrada pardon.

“Whereas, this administration has a policy of releasing inmates who have reached the age of 70. Whereas, Joseph Ejercito Estrada has been under detention for six-and-a-half years; Whereas, Joseph Ejercito Estrada has publicly committed to no longer seek any elective position or office; IN VIEW HEREOF, and pursuant to the authority conferred upon me by the Constitution, I hereby grant executive clemency to Joseph Ejercito Estrada, convicted by the Sandiganbayan of plunder and imposed a penalty of reclusion perpetua. He is hereby restored to his civil and political rights,” part of Mrs. Arroyo’s order said.

“Upon acceptance of this pardon by Joseph Ejercito Estrada, this pardon shall take effect,” the order added.

Bunye said they did not wait for the written recommendation of the Department of Justice (DoJ) because its Acting Secretary Agnes Devanadera already verbally participated in the crafting of the order.

Bunye said the President merely exercised her presidential prerogative mandated by the Constitution.

A reliable Palace insider told the Tribune yesterday that Mrs. Arroyo added the “unenforceable” conditions, such as his not running for the presidency again as well as the bank accounts while he was president, were a “face-saving” act for Mrs. Arroyo, and meant also to “appease” some of her allies and anti-Estrada forces, who have been vocal against an Estrada pardon.

Contacted by the Tribune, sources from the Estrada camp said there was never any commitment made by Estrada of his not seeking the presidency, pointing out that when one’s political rights are restored, one can again vote and be voted upon.

They added that even that forfeiture proviso was questionable, since the Sandiganbayan decision was clear that only the so-called Boracay Mansion, along with the Erap Muslim Youth Foundation funds in the bank account were subject to forfeiture.

Estrada has consistently stated that neither properties are his and that the court could have them forfeited.

“Even the legitimacy of (Mrs. Arroyo) has not been established through that pardon,” they pointed out, saying that as she is sitting in Malacañang exercising the power and authority of a president, the grant of executive clemency must come from her. But this does not mean Erap’s recognition of her legitimacy. A de facto President can also grant such pardons.”

Senate President Manuel Villar, in a statement, welcomed the executive clemency extended to the Estrada by the Arroyo government. Despite the Sandiganbayan conviction, saying that “President Estrada remains in the heart of the masses.”

“The executive clemency extended to former President Joseph Estrada is a great step towards reconciliation, which is vital to our country’s unhindered passage to progress. This act emphasizes the value of humane consideration and compassionate justice,” the statement read.

Estrada’s son, Senate President Pro-Tempore, also welcomed the news of his father’s release, but also stressed that like his mother, former First Lady and Sen. Loi Estrada, he remains in the opposition.

Earlier, national leaders threw their support behind the move to grant executive pardon to the former leader in an effort to unite the country and help the government in realizing its dream for economic recovery.

In a letter dated Sept.16 - four days after the Sandiganbayan convicted Estrada of plunder – they pointed out to Mrs. Arroyo how the grant of absolute pardon to Estrada will heal the deep divisions in the country and help the government focus its efforts on pressing national problems.

The letter to Mrs. Arroyo was signed by Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Villar and Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.

The letter states in part: “For too long, since Edsa II which resulted in the relinquishment of the Presidency by former President Estrada, his indictment before the Sandiganbayan, detention without bail, have diverted the attention and efforts of our country from critical problems of poverty, development, terrorism, peace and order, and social tensions.

“The Sandiganbayan decision convicting former President Estrada, and sentencing him to “reclusion perpetua,” could lead to the deepening division among our people, and most disturbing perhaps, between those in the upper echelons of society and those beneath, among the masses of our people.

In their letter, Vidal, Villar and De Venecia noted that despite the humiliation Estrada suffered after his downfall and arrest, he remains as popular as ever.

“What is astounding, and which compounds the problem, is that he continues to enjoy the affection of a great number of people. Strange as it may seem, their belief in his innocence of the offenses he is accused of does not appear to have been diminished by the Sandganbayan’s decision. To add to his tragedy, his mother is critically ill.”

They added: “With the multitude of others of like minds, we appeal and ask the President to extend full, free and absolute pardon to former President Joseph Estrada and that he unconditionally accept this act of clemency from the President.”

There were others who disagreed with the pardon given Estrada.

Not surprisingly, former President Fidel Ramos, prior to the announced grant of pardon, warned Mrs. Arroyo not to be “hasty” with her pending decision to grant Estrada full pardon.
“I warn the president not to be hasty,” Ramos said, adding that Mrs. Arroyo should consider the sacrifices made by many people in pursuing the plunder charge against Estrada. He said this pardon could be her downfall since Estrada can call on his supporters and stage a people power revolt against her, the way they did in 2001.

“This thing is bigger than GMA (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) or Erap. We are stakeholders here, the people of the Philippines,” Ramos said.

Estrada’s defense lawyer, Rene Saguisag, in a television interview, slammed Ramos’ sanctimonious position, bringing up the issue of the many scams under his regime, for which Ramos avoided trial and conviction by plotting, along with then Vice President Arroyo a year before the actual ouster of Estrada.

Saguisag said: “On Mr. Ramos statement that if Malacañang gives Estrada a pardon it would be a terrible calamity, we all have to look and start to investigate all the numerous scandals and corruption that had happened under his (Ramos) administration. Let’s start with Amari, the Centennial scam where billions of government funds were pocketed by corrupt government officials under his (Ramos) term. Let’s look at the corruption under this Arroyo regime, we have the $14 million bribery scandal that Mrs. Arroyo’s justice secretary Hernando “Nani” Perez was linked to (the approval of power contract of an Argentine Impsa), we have the P3 billion fertilizer funds scam of (Mrs. Arroyo’s) campaign fund raiser and former Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Jocjoc Bolante. It’s all graft and corruption in huge magnitude. Why do we always pin all on Erap, why it is always Erap? He had been detained for so many years and on charges of jueteng kickbacks (illegal number games) which do not even involve government funds,” he said.

Puno said the decision of Mrs. Arroyo to issue the pardon to Estrada underwent a grueling two months study.

Once freed from detention, Estrada plans on visiting his ailing 102-year-old mother at a hospital in San Juan Medical Center, with Ramos saying that Estrada had kept quiet about any political plans.

Estrada has said he is innocent of the corruption charges brought against him and that his prosecution was a conspiracy by the powerful elite, the church and President Arroyo.

johnnypecayo wrote:

2007-10-26T00:49:00.000-07:00

To my dear Friends:

Some of our kababayans (countrymen) in the greater San Diego area have been affected by the recent and on-going wildfires, and many of them have been evacuated to safe areas.

Because of this tragedy, it is time once again that we put our acts together, like what we did when the racial slur was committed by ABC-TV's September 30 episode of the highly controversial Desperate Housewives" against the Filipino and the Philippines, to provide assistance -- physically, morally and financially -- to obviate further sufferings of our kababayans from their present precarious situation.

Magtulungan po at sama-sama tayo! (Let's help one another, and let's be together in this endeavor!)

Marami pong salamat (Thank you very much),

JOHNNY M. PECAYO, MBA
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, MANILA-U.S. TIMES; and
Chairman and CEO, Pilipino American Media Center (PAMC)

Update:

As of today, October 25, 444,291 acreage has been burned; 1,609 homes destroyed; 1,839 structures totally damaged; and 64 people (36 firefighters, and 28 civilians) have been injured. About one million residents of San Diego have been evacuated or voluntarily evacuated to safe places. -- PAMC

From the Philippine Consulate General in L.A.

In light of the ongoing fire that has struck seven counties in Southem Califomia, the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles has opened an emergency line for Filipino nationals who are affected and needs assistance. Filipino nationals affected by the "fire storm" may call (213) 268-9990.

A consular team headed by Vice Consul Jim Tito San Agustin will be going toSan Diego tomorrow to visit the evacuation sites thereat and assist the Filipino nationals affected by this disastrous fire. They will also meet with some officials to coordinate evacuation.

Filipino organizations arercencouraged to contribute in any way they can to help alleviate those affected by the ongoing tragedy.

Vice Consul Edward Yulo coordinates the Disaster Relief Response.

*****

Focus on recovery, Bush tells fire victims

The president pledges more federal help to fight the remaining nine blazes, house the evacuees and rebuild communities. 'We're not going to forget you,' he says.
By Tony Perry and Ari B. Bloomekatz, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers October 25, 2007

PRESIDENT BUSH (infront) tours the devastation in Rancho Bernardo in San Diego county. -- L.A. Times photo

SAN DIEGO, CA -- After touring one partially gutted neighborhood in the path of Southern California's firestorms, President Bush noted "a lot of people are suffering," but urged those affected by the catastrophe to begin turning their attention to recovery.

Speaking at an Escondido fire command center, Bush pledged additional federal help to fight the nine blazes still burning across the region, as well as an infusion of funds to help victims and communities rebuild.

"We're not going to forget you in Washington, D.C.," he said.

The newly released federal aid will cover temporary housing, cleanup and other immediate needs. In addition, loans will be offered to qualified residents and businesses to help them rebuild.

Earlier, Bush took a half-hour aerial tour over Rancho Bernardo. The tour offered a sweeping view of fire-ravaged Southern California, including vast blackened hills and a tiled-roof mansion spared on top of a hill.

The president stopped for 10 minutes at the burned home of Jay and Kendra Jeffcoat in Rancho Bernardo. Little remained but a spiral staircase and a piece of wall bearing the turquoise-and-pink tile giving the address. Other nearby homes also had been burned, but across the street a two-story, tile-and-stucco home appeared unscathed.

The president sidestepped questions about comparisons between the wildfires and Hurricane Katrina, which remains a sore point for the administration because of a much-criticized relief effort. "There's all kinds of time for historians to compare," he said.

Tears streamed from the eyes of Kimber Fowler, 20, when she spoke with Bush at a Rancho Bernardo victim service center.

"I was just going to shake his hand, and he gave me a hug, and I just fell apart because it made it real," said Fowler, whose home nearby burned down.

Fran Townsend, assistant to the president for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, said at least 2,205 structures had been counted as lost so far in the fires, about half the total of the 2003 Southern California firestorms that lasted 10 days. The fires this year have consumed far more acreage, however.

Also today, the reward fund reached $150,000 for information leading to the conviction of the arsonist responsible for the Santiago fire in Orange County, which has burned nearly 20,000 acres and destroyed 21 structures, including nine homes. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger each kicked in $50,000.

"The person or people who did this are exceptionally lucky or they have some knowledge of when they can do the most damage when you set a fire," Orange County Fire Authority Chief Chip Prather said at a news conference.

The death toll from the fires appeared to be rising as well.

Two bodies were found in the charred remains of a home in Escondido; authorities had mistakenly reported earlier that the home was in Poway. The victims apparently had been warned to evacuate but refused, said Jan Caldwell, spokeswoman for the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. The bodies were tentatively identified as those of a man and a woman, but no names had been released.

One other death has been officially attributed to the fires; 10 others have been linked to them. Sixty-four people have been injured.

State officials said that as of early today there were still 22,195 people in 51 shelters, with the bulk -- 18,154 -- in San Diego County. The American Red Cross is operating 24 of those shelters, with 6,000 people in them.

The crowd at one of the biggest evacuation centers, San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium, was dwindling today as more evacuation orders were lifted. At dawn, officials estimated that fewer than 1,000 people remained, down from about 12,000.

As the stadium begins to empty out and more people try to figure out what comes next, the service center will be there to help, said center director Debra Fischle Faulk. "People are going to need help finding temporary housing, and we're trying to get a list countywide, and also hotel vacancies."

Laura Montelongo contemplated the uncertainty of her situation as she smoked a cigarette this morning outside the Steele Canyon High School evacuation center in southern San Diego County.

A hill in front of the high school was burned over but also dotted with homes that had somehow survived the onslaught of the 73,000-acre Harris fire.

A FIRETRUCK AND A FIREMAN, with a ball of fire providing as a backdrop. -- L.A. Times photo

BRYAN BRADWAY of San Diego county's Damage Assessment Team inspecting the area. -- L.A. Times' photo

GAWAD KALINGA INVITED TO CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE

2007-10-23T23:32:00.000-07:00

Jose Luis Oquinena

The Clinton Global Initiative has just concluded its third annual conference in New York. The CGI is a non-profit endeavor, launched by President Bill Clinton in 2005, that brings together a highly diverse membership base representing the full spectrum of political, ideological, religious, ethnic, and geographic backgrounds. Included in this are current and former heads of state, top business executives, preeminent scholars, and representatives of key non-governmental organizations, all working together for a common cause.

According to the Initiative website, "Participation is by invitation only, limited to a select and diverse group of heads of state, CEOs, media voices, philanthropists and foundation heads, religious leaders, original thinkers and those who run highly effective non-profit organizations."

The only Filipino organization invited this year was Couples For Christ's Gawad Kalinga, represented by its executive director, Jose Luis Oquinena. The invitation surprised Luis, because the Clinton Global Initiative and Gawad Kalinga had never had any engagement. Queries sent by Gawad Kalinga on why it was invited were simply answered, "We did some checking."

A high-profile international conference attended by the most known and reputable of organizations and special individuals who have become icons in their fields of interest was the last thing that Luis or Gawad Kalinga had expected to attend. But while many in the conference had contributed thousands of dollars each to help the conference attain the status it deserved, the Clinton Global Initiative underwrote the trip and attendance of Gawad Kalinga's young executive director.

Surprises did not stop there for Luis, though. The conference was graced by chosen political leaders who governed nations deeply and aggressively involved in the key concerns of the global body, either as donors, implementers or visionaries. Without knowing personally any of the delegates who were there, Luis sat beside a man who later stood up when introduced to the body as Ted Turner, the owner of CNN.

Other delegates included the Gates Foundation, Bloomberg News, the more known experts in global health, interveners in global poverty, respected global leaders of the environment, and those involved in trend-setting programs of education for the less fortunate.

Engaged in four strategic areas -- health, poverty, environment and education -- the Who's Who of global found themselves together on three momentous days to share insights from work they had done and to form new relationships to further the critical sharing of resources. In the words of the CGI, "...the Initiative attempts to create a composition that matches people who have resources with those who have the most innovative ideas." -- GK News Bureau

#

GK Executive Director Luis Oquinena: Thoughts on the Conference

Impressions

"In the first place, it was a gathering of powerful individuals, and individuals representing powerful groups whose main concern was addressing certain global issues like education, poverty, global health and the environment, basically the climate change, global warming. "

"Personally, it was just an amazing experience to see how many groups there are who are wanting to do good. Looking at it in a perspective, well it's my own personal belief that there is a higher power that is orchestrating all the goodness that was gathered in that conference whether they are conscious of it or not."

"Me, looking in, I felt that God is really inspiring goodness from everyone. And GK being part of it, I believe we were the only Filipino organization that was invited to be there. "

Gawad Kalinga, in this context

It was a powerful experience for me. One, (I saw) how unique GK is compared to many of the initiatives. Many are focusing on issues while GK is using the issues to build the nation. The issues of poverty and hunger, we see that and we want to address that but we want to, in the process, unite our people because we believe that at the heart of our poverty is our being a divided nation. So, that sets GK unique from the many initiatives.

Secondly, majority of the initiatives were centered on micro-finance, wherein they articulated that it's really gender equality to empower the women. But on the other hand, GK is saying that our brand of solution is no, we need to empower the men, that at the heart of our poverty, at least in the Philippines, is the failure of men to provide, to protect and to be a pastor to his own family.

And at the heart of poverty, is how do we empower the men to take responsibility. Again, it sets GK apart.

I am hopeful that in more mature areas, micro-finance can be adopted in the GK way, but looking at the initiative at that conference, that was one unique feature that we have as Gawad Kalinga.

The third one really is being fueled by faith. We had a lot of really intellectual groups there. GK is really fueled by the heart - That now is attracting a lot of science to put systems, order in to what is really driven by heart, that is, passion born out of love for God and country.

These are my personal realizations.

Working Across Faith Boundaries

They were talking about extremism. We need to really look at the whole. Like what Bishop Desmond Tutu said that let us help God fulfill his dream - which is to unite his family. And this family include the Hindus, Muslims, the Christians.

So that is very very affirming for Gk because we really look at our nation as different, unique groups but really loving them equally without discrimination.

The Road Forward

On the practical side, I was able to experience contacts with some powerful groups who we will correspond with after the conference. But the main challenge for us now coming back is are we prepared for the big league? That's the challenge now for GK.

First, we need to raise more (Couples For Christ) Caretaker Teams, and we need to begin to really seriously establish our Regional Centers so that we can decentralize the operations from the national (office), closer to the sites.

And thirdly, yes, we need to capture more good news so that more people will appreciate GK through the fruits of GK, more than the philosophy, more than maybe the Biblical anchors, more than personal opinions like from myself or from Tito Tony (Meloto, former Executive Director and current promoter of GK).

But really more from the fruits, from the ground, from the volunteers, from the poor, capture that and really share it in a more massive way. And the internet has a big role in the future for that - this GK1World direction that we're having, it will really play a big role.

It's the big league now and we need to really scale up. And we know what we have, the potential of GK, the promise of GK. But we need to be prepared to play in that arena of powerful players. The simple fact that we appeared in the radar screen of that powerful gathering, is already a tremendous affirmation for all GK volunteers, for all those who are really working hard in the GK site, for all the full time workers giving their life to this. That we are on the right track. It's not the affirmation but these are signs that will bring us to greater glory. But at the end of the day, our success is our obedience to God more than the results that can be measured.

Goals from the Conference

They wanted a commitment from us. I'm drafting a commitment, in terms of the area of poverty - in shelter and productivity - and in the area of global health, in terms of nutrition and pediatrics. Like raising the health care volunteers which is very, very crucial. I think we need to raise at least 2500 to 3,000 health care volunteers to prepare the massive health program for GK. Filipinos abroad, with Dr. Boy Abay, who's leading the campaign, they have a huge, huge heart for GK and the poor, a very patriotic group. But we need to prepare the ground for them.

For the houses, off-hand, we have about P250 million houses from DSWD (Department of Social and Welfare Development) for the first quarter of next year, so we need to prepare for that. That's 5 million dollars and I haven't heard a commitment during the conference that was even close to five million dollars.

2 MEN & d' LADIES

2007-10-23T23:11:00.000-07:00

Bosam Production puts together "The Man with a Thousand Faces," and "The Total Entertainer"

VALLEJO, CA -- "This November, you’re in for a vibrant, hilarious and pulsating evening," reports Jocel de Castro of Bosam Productions.

"A few weeks from now, or exactly on November 30, 2007 @ 8pm, Friday, at the Mc Cormack Hall, Solano County Fair, 900 Fairground Drive, Vallejo, CA 94589, Bosam Productions will bring to you for the first time, "The Man with a Thousand Faces," Willie Nepomuceno, who will go on-stage side by side with "The Total Entertainer," Rico J Puno -- two legends in the field of Philippine showbiz and entertainment. Together, they will relive hits and characters that have tickled audiences around the world for the past three decades.

To add pizzazz to the show, these gentlemen will be joined by the hottest female performers in Philippine show business today, Andrea Del Rosario, Sheree, Myles Hernandez and Ella V.

This kind of entertainment seldom comes to California, and Bosam Productions requests you not to miss this ultimate entertainment experience -- 2 Men & d’ Ladies.

For more info please call 1-877-66BOSAM (Bosam Productions), (707)-655-7710 (Jocel De Castro), or (707) 853-0437 (Clarice Burgos)

****

The Evolution of Bosam Productions

The name Bosam emanates from the nickname and the last name of the executive producer -- Glenn "Boyet" Samson -- put together and aptly coined "Bosam," (short for Boyet Samson), as his friends and associates fondly call him.

Now in operation for more than a decade, Bosam Productions has been very active and visible in producing Filipino concerts. Their most recent successful show at the Pala Casino Resort Spa in Pala , CA was last July 1, 2007, featuring Basil Valdez, Zsa-Zsa Padilla and Agot Isidro -- proof that the people behind BOSAM Productions will go a long way.

Based in San Francisco, most of Bosam Productions shows shows had been concentrated in San Francisco , Oakland and Vallejo . When opportunity knocks to produce a show at the Pala Casino, they didn’t give it a second thought. As what Glenn Samson, has said, “It has been our pleasure and privilege to bring to you the greatest artists, celebrities and performances from our beloved Philippines . Aside from offering quality entertainment, our productions seek to bridge the geographical divide and give you a little taste of home, by presenting to you the best and latest in Filipino talent and culture.”

Aside from producing shows by Filipino artists from the Philippines , Bosam Productions' mission is to discove local Filipino talents with the hope that this will serve as a stepping stone for their road to success, relates Jocel de Castro, younger sister of Bosam who, along with her sisters, takes care of marketing, advertising, production management, that includes planning, logistics and negotiation with the promoters and talent managers both in the U.S. and in the Philippines.

From their very first show at the Banquet in Vallejo , California where they started, to their recent show at the Pala Casino in Pala , California, they have discovered and helped a lot of talented Filipino singers and dancers to perform in front of hundreds of people and fulfill their dreams.

Olivia Jasmine Hurst who hales from Fairfield , California was one of their regular front act singers until she joined the Star Circle Quest held in San Francisco in 2005 as part of ABS-CBN talent search. She was one of the lucky winners and was sent to the Philippines to compete with thousands of aspiring actors, singers and performers. Her biggest break was when she joined the American Idol last year and made it to the top 15 finalist.

As she was quoted, Tita Clarice Burgos, Bosam Productions Marketing and Advertising Manager, "gave me the opportunity to develop my talent and passion to singing and gave me the confidence to believe in myself."

“Aside from Olivia, we are also proud of the accomplishments of our very own local performers like Angel Bayon, Nieva Toriega, Sarah Jane Gloria and Amie Badua who are already making names for themselves,” Clarice related.

Past Concert Productions

Some of the shows already produced by Bosam Productions were Angela Velez, “Bare It All”, "Aiza Seguera Live," Rica Peralejo 2004 US Concert Tour, "One on One with Carol Banawa," and Dessa in 2005.

In 2006, Bosam Productions was given its biggest break when Lerma dela Cruz Cailles of Berce Enterprises offered them to produce Piolo Pascual, Rica Peralejo and Sam Milby’s first US Tour Concert entitled, "Renditions." This was held at the Scottish Rite Auditorium in Oakland where they performed in front of the unstoppable screeming crowd. This paved the way to the never-ending US and Canada tour of Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby as their fans clamor to see and hear them sing again and again.

Bosam Productions soon produced another show in just a few months later. This features the Undisputed Concert Queen of the Philippines , the always glamorous and ever-beautiful Ms. Pops Fernandez. A multi-talented recording artist, actress, host, and writer, Pops is best known for her incredible and unforgettable performances on the concert stage.

Of course, accompanying a queen should be none other than a king. Joining her was the Concert King himself, the dashing and irrepressible, Martin Nievera. Famed for his sentimental stylings and energetic routines, Martin’s numerous hit albums and sold-out concerts attest to his enduring appeal, as he remains one of the top performers both in the Philippines and abroad.

But that’s not all! For the fans' pleasure, Bosam Productions had also invited another famous celebrity couple, Dingdong Avanzado and Jessa Zaragoza. Mr. Avanzado is a multi-platinum recording artist and dynamic concert performer, adored by male and female romantics for his popular love anthems like "Basta’t Kasama Kita", "Tatlong Biente Singko," and "Walang Kapalit." His better half, singer-actress Jessa Zaragoza, is one of the bestselling female artists in the Philippines for her hit phenomenal " Bakit Pa, " which became a nationwide craze that earned her the title Jukebox Queen.

Bosam Productions started the year 2007 with an unforgettable romantic evening show at the Pala Casino Resort in Pala , California, featuring the Philippines' premier male vocalist, Basil Valdez, whose soulful voice and charming appeal captured the hearts of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) fans for decades with his classics "Ngayon at Kailaman," and "Kastilyong Buhangin." Performing with him were two of the most-enduring voices in the Philippine music industry – Agot Isidro and Zsa Zsa Padilla.

Last July 28, Bosam Productions produced Pinoy Dream Academy, Yeng Constatino, Ronnie Liang, Ryan Jay Jimenez and JR Siaboc with Makisig Morales, Ann Curtis and Luis Manzano at the South San Francisco High School Auditorium in South San Francisco, CA.

Then last August 11, it did the MYMP with Orange and Lemons at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas , Nevada.

Executive Producer Glenn Samson said that, “The success of Bosam Productions would not have been possible without the support of key people who gave their time, passion and expertise to make this venture a success. I would like to thank Lerma Dela Cruz Cailles and Ms. Nancy Young for believing in us. To all the Productions staff, to all our advertisers and sponsors, we truly appreciate your trust in us and we hope your being part of our show is fulfilling and worthwhile. And to all of you who have come to watch our shows, your unwavering support and patronage of our productions challenge us to always aim higher and reach for the stars. Mabuhay kayo at maraling salamat po!”

Staff

Bosam Productions staff is composed of its Executive Producer Glenn Samson; Associate Producer Jocel Samson De Castro, who go together to the Philippines at least twice a year to get talents and bring them to America for concerts; Marketing and Advertising Manager, Clarice Samson Burgos; Carol Samson Ramos and Bebet and Mimi San Felipe, Production Managers.

GLENN "Bosam" SAMSON (3rd from left) with Basil Baldez, Zsa-Zsa Padilla and Agot Isidro

BEBET SAN FELIPE, Associate Producer, with Agot Isidro.

CLARICE BURGOS SAMSON, Associate Producer with Zsa-Zsa Padilla.

JOCEL SAMSON DE CASTRO, Associate Producer with Basil Valdez.

PIOLO PASCUAL and Glenn Samson.

Pacquiao Brings the World Closer Together

2007-10-14T20:08:00.000-07:00

By Johnny M. Pecayo
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, MANILA-U.S. TIMES
www.manila-ustimes.com

THE HUGE CROWD around the Boxing Arena at the Events Center of the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

LAS VEGAS, NV -- For over two hours, last Saturday, October 6, the Philippines' "Pambansang Kamao" (National Fistfighter) Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao brought the world closer together in his remarkable rematch against Marco Antonio Barrera at the Events Center of Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino, witnessed by 10,112 boxing enthusiasts.

In those precious moments, the world stood still to watch the "Will to Win" fight between the Philippines' People Champ and the Mexican legend.

From a vantage view where I was seated, with Olive Calumpad to my right, mother of "Kyla" (Melanie Calumpad in real life) who sang the Philippine National Anthem; Edu Manzano of the "Pilipinas Game Ka Na Ba" fame, infront of me; and Jestoni Alarcon and Lizette behind me, the 12-round fight was truly an exciting one from beginning to end.

Relying on his hand speed and powerful punches, Pacquiao controlled the action, from Round 1 to Round 12, and won the majority of the fighters' entertaining exchanges.

Pacquiao was determined to beat Barrera one more time, as Pacman (Pacquiao's monicker) TKO'd Barrera on Round 11 in their first match in November 2003 in San Antonio, Texas.

Unanimous Decision

Three judges gave Pacquiao a 12-round unanimous decision. Jerry Roth and Glenn Trowbridge each gave Pacman an identical score of 118-109, while Tom Schrek scored it 115-112.

Unnecessary Punch

Barrera had a point deducted for punching Pacquiao on his face on referee Tony Weeks' break in the 11th round. In the earlier rounds, Barrera even elbowed Pacquiao in the course of exchanging punches. In one instance, Barrera hit Pacquiao below the belt.

In the ensuing fight, also in the 11th round, Pacman, hurt by the unnecessary punch earlier, retaliated and had opened a cut under Barrera's right eye with a powerful punch.

Pacquiao, in the early rounds, scored with incessant attacks that showcased his agility and speed, but Barrera, true to his form, fought back, responding with effective counter-punches.

Both Pacquiao and Barrera engaged in excellent slugfests in the fourth and fifth rounds, with Pacquiao's left and right combinations landing on Barrera's face and body.

"It was a good fight, but it was different from the first fight," Pacquiao said. "He's a good, smart boxer. I knew he would have to box me this time around. But I'm satisfied with the win. I thought the people were happy with that fight. I'm trying to make people happy, to give a good fight. I hope that people liked this fight tonight. We did our best," Pacquiao narrated during the interview.

Roach's Comments

"Manny boxed well. He showed good footwork cutting Barrera off and moving him to the right. When he did that, it was beautiful," commented Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer.

"Barrera surprised me that he lasted as long as he did in the fight," Roach said. "He has a lot of heart and guts and he fought a great fight."

Barrera Retiring

With this loss to Pacquiao, Barrera's record dropped to 63-6. "Honestly, this is my last fight in this beautiful sport," Barrera said. "I definitely lost my head in a couple of rounds. I got caught up in the exchanges. I shouldn't have stayed in the exchanges. I should have kept boxing him."

In his storied 18-year professional career, Barrera won world titles at junior featherweight, featherweight and junior lightweight. After past losses, Barrera rebounded with six victories, but he couldn't do it this time around with Manny Pacquiao.

Pacqiao of General Santos, Philippines, with a record of 45-3-2, 35 KOs, was landing a good number of punches, and was doing it again in the 11th round when he knocked Barrera into the ropes.

The victory of Pacquiao set up a possible rematch with Marquez. In their 2003 fight, he knocked Marquez down three times in the first round but Marquez stormed back to gain a draw many believed Pacquiao won.

Bob Arum of Top Rank and Oscar dela Hoya of Golden Boy were there to support their respective fighters, but both of them praised Pacquiao for coming out the best fighter of the two. "He is a world-class fighter," said Arum, referring to Manny Pacquiao.

Businessmen's Comments

Businessman Gay Padiernos was happy that Pacquiao won, but a bit lonely that Pacquiao failed to deliver a TKO of Barrera in any round. "I was expecting Manny to deliver a big blow to knock out Barrera, but it didn't happen. But what's important is Pacquiao won it unanimously, without any controversy," Gay declared.

Paul Emata, President of American Ring, LLC, expressed a different view. "The Filipino nation should celebrate the victory of Pacquiao, as he gave the Philippines an added pride and honor with this victory over Barrera," Emata said.

Businessman Emmanuel Bernabe said, as he was walking toward the Mandalay Bay Hotel, from the Events Center: "Manny Pacquiao's victory tonight proves to the whole world that he is the best fighter in the super featherweight category, and we are proud of him."

Ms. Rose de Ocampo, Manila-based MANILA-U.S. TIMES' Marketing Manager, who is into real estate business, commented: "I watched the fght on TV here. Parang (It's like) everything stopped in Metro Manila during the hours of the fight. Peace, law and order prevailed. Let's have more Manny Paquiao moments, please."

Wilson Y. Tieng, President and CEO of Solar Entertainment Corporation, who has been a solid supporter of Pacquiao for many years, came all the way from the Philippines, along with Luis T. Fuentes, President of Solar Resources, Inc.; and Yolanda S. Pedrina, Vice President, Land Management and Acquisition of Solar to watch the well-publicized fight.

Other dignitaries and showbiz personalities who came from the Philippines to watch the fight were: Vice President Noli de Castro, Congressman Prospero Nograles, Congressman Hermilando Mandanas and his friend, Regina O. Reyes; Department of Energy and Natural Resources Secretary Jose L. Atienza & Mrs. Atienza, and son Ali Atienza (who ran for the mayorship of Manila and lost to Mayor Fred Lim); Edu Manzano of the "Pilipinas, Game Ka Na Ba" fame; Composer and Recording Artist Lito Camo, Eddie Gutierrez, Anabelle Rama and son Richard Gutierrez; former Senator Robert Jaworski, Rudy Fernandez & Lorna Tolentino; Jestoni Alarcon & Lizette, and many more.

Olive Calumpad, mother of Kyla, came to Las Vegas for the first time. "I am so glad that Manny gave my daughter, Kyla, the opportunity to sing the Philippine National Anthem," related Mrs. Calumpad when interviewed. Kyla performed very well in her rendition of "Lupang Hinirang" to the delight of those inside the arena, and millions of televiewers all over the world.

It was alleged that, that special role to sing the Philippine National Anthem, was originally assigned to Ara Mina, but there was a change in assignment two weeks prior, to obviate controversy from further broiling between her and "Pacman." The role was given to Kyla by Manny Pacquiao himself.

Victory Party

Russell Rufino, who handles marketing, events and promotions, issued invitation to everyone present to join the post fight victory party, hosted by Manny Pacquiao, held at Planet Hollywood, a few miles away from Mandalay Bay.

Greetings from President Arroyo, Senate President Villar
Meanwhile, President Gloria Macapagal Aroyo congratulated Manny Pacquiao for scoring a unanimous decision over Mexican boxing legend Marco Antonio Barrera Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila) at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"Our 'Pambansang Kamao' (National Fistfighter) is the Philippines' gift to the world of boxing," she said in a statement. Mrs. Arroyo said Pacquiao's win has again lifted the Filipino spirit."Pacquiao once again buoyed the nation's spirit with his excellent fighting form and indomitable spirit," she said. Senate President Manuel Villar, meanwhile, issued a similar statement in praise of the Filipino boxing icon."We are truly grateful to Pacquiao for once again giving glory to the country and making every Filipino proud of his nationality. He represents Filipinos who have the heart of a fighter," Villar said."His win inspires us all to fight, no matter how mighty the problems besetting the country are today," he added.With the win, Pacquiao retained his WBC international super featherweight crown. -- Las Vegas-based Executive Editor of the MANILA-U.S. TIMES (MUST), Joseph B. Pecayo, contributed to this story. MUST photos by Chief Photographer Romeo M. Balboa. -- Posted by Ma. Liza P. Banz, MUST Website Designer and Editor.

AT THE WEIGH-IN on October 5, Manny Pacquiao weighs 130 lbs. Shown at right is Marco Antonio Barrera.

KYLA, one of the mainstays at GMA-7, renders beautifully the "Lupang Hinirang," Philippine National Anthem, just before the Pacquiao-Barrera fight officially started.

MANNY PACQUIAO (right) hits Barrera's nose with his right fist.

BARRERA (left) tries to cover his face as Pacquiao continues with a rampaging attack on him.

PACQUIAO gives Barrera a powerful left hand punch, as you can guage in this shot.

AFTER WINNING UNANIMOUSLY, Manny Pacquiao stands 10 feet above the crowd at this corner of the Boxing Arena, Events Center, Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel & Casino. At right is Oscar dela Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions, receiving a whisper-message from one of his business associates.

CONGRESSMAN Hermilando "Dodong" Mandanas of the 2nd District of Batangas, along with his friend, Regina O. Reyes, and some friends, after attending the Saturday mass held at the presidential suite of Manny and Jinkee at The Hotel.

Manny Pacquiao with Manila-U.S. Times' Publisher, Johnny M. Pecayo.

BOXING ENTHUSIASTS and Pacquiao supporters proudly display the Philippine flag at the Events Center of Mandalay Bay, from left: Johnny M. Pecayo, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the MANILA-U.S. TIMES (left); Zenny Melencio of Bremerton, Washington; Kathrine Pugeda and Chiarra Levita of Las Vegas, Nevada, with an unidentified gentleman at right.

FILIPINA BOXER Ana Julaton poses with MANILA-U.S. TIMES' Chief Photographer Romeo M. Balboa, who made an exclusive photo coverage of the Pacquiao-Barrera fight for the MANILA-U.S. TIMES.

PACQUIAO's supporters from the Philippines (seated, from left) are: Ali Atienza, Mrs. Atienza, DENR Secretary Jose L. Atienza, Jr., and Congressman Prospero Nograles from Davao. Standing (l-r): Maristel Audrey Santoyo, Maura Salatandre, Gina Durias, Atty. Peter Durias, Atty. Orlando M. Salatandre, Jr. and Jake Joson.

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, together with high government officials, walk with International Super Featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao toward Kalayaan grounds during a courtesy call on the President. In her speech later, the President lauded Pacquiao for making Filipinos proud for his victory over Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera. -- RENY PAMPOLINA/PCPO/ PNS

Bayanihan Sa Amerika In Los Angeles

2007-10-11T21:45:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles, CA, 7 October 2007 – The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles (PCGENLA), conducted the Bayanihan sa Amerika Conference at the New Otani Hotel. The conference was attended by 123 participants representing 89 Filipino-American organizations based in Southern California and Nevada.

Similar conferences will be held in San Francisco, New York, and Chicago this month.

Consul General Mary Jo Aragon welcomed the participants to the first Bayanihan sa Amerika conference, and expressed appreciation for the high turnout of participants. In his message to the participants, which was read by Consul General Aragon, Ambassador Willy C. Gaa encouraged Filipino associations and community centers in the US to continue to strengthen their ties with the motherland.

At the start of the plenary session, Consul General Aragon, Tourism Director Annie Cuevas and Trade Representative Archimedes Gomez briefed the participants on the ongoing projects of the Philippine government and the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, and updated them about the positive economic developments in the Philippines.

Mr. Geminiano Arre talked on the relevance and challenges of Filipino community centers and associations in the United States, and shared how the Filipino Community in Honolulu, Hawaii succeeded in raising funds for the establishment of a community center there. He challenged the Filipino organizations to go beyond organizing beauty pageants and induction balls by initiating socially relevant and civic-oriented programs.

Ms. Linda Nietes exhorted participants to instill Filipino values among second generation Filipinos and strengthen their social and cultural ties with the motherland by, among other interventions, encouraging them to read books about the Philippines. She challenged the audience to demand from US public libraries the regular procurement of Philippine books as part of their international collections.

Mr. Winston Emano of the Association for the Advancement of Fil-Am Arts and Culture presented how his organization bridges the cultural and generation gap among different generations of Filipinos in the United States, and promotes a greater appreciation for Philippine culture and arts among mainstream American audiences. He lamented that although Filipino Americans are increasingly being noticed by mainstream American media, much needs to be done to present an accurate picture of their glowing achievements and positive contributions to American society.

Mr. Joel Jacinto of the Search to Involve Pilipino Americans suggested fundraising strategies and financial planning for Filipino organizations. He presented the art and science of fundraising, including its technical and qualitative aspects, and highlighted some sustainable programs among the community organizations in Los Angeles.

Mr. Rick Munda shared Angkop-Gawad Kalinga’s success in getting wide support from both Filipino and American mainstream organizations for Gawad Kalinga’s livelihood and housing programs and models in the Philippines.

The Keynote speaker for the conference was Congressman Hermilando Mandanas of Batangas, who praised Filipinos overseas for their hard work and dedication, and for being credible agents of change in Philippine society. He promoted the concept of patriotic bonds to spur economic growth and to ensure a more equitable distribution of wealth in the country.

The succeeding workshops provided the participants the opportunity to share their insights on the next steps the Philippine government and the Filipino organizations in the United States should take to address organizational concerns, strengthen the visibility of Filipino Americans in the US, and contribute to the economic and social development of the Philippines. The general consensus reached by the workshop participants was to work towards making the Philippines a developed country. The participants also agreed that the Filipino Community organizations must coordinate regularly and cooperate more closely so that the Filipino Community will finally be recognized as a force to reckon with in American politics. The participants agreed that the gains of the conference should be sustained through follow-up meetings among participants. The role of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas was also clarified, and various recommendations were presented, including focusing on donor cultivation and financial resources that will best impact the programming of Filipino organizations, and the creation of a CFO clearinghouse to find out what resources are available and to provide opportunities to pull resources together. -- Noli Yu

CONSUL GENERAL MARY JO BERNARDO ARAGON welcomes the Kaynote Speaker, Congressman Hermilando I. Mandanas of the 2nd District of Batangas, as well as the guests.

CONGRESSMAN HERMILANDO I. MANDANAS of the 2nd District of Batangas flew from Las Vegas early Sunday morning to fulfill his commitments as Keynote Speaker of the Bayanihan sa Amerika Conference. -- MANILA-U.S. TIMES' photo by Romeo M. Balboa, Chief Photographer

GROUP SHOT of the Philippine Consulate General's key personages along with participants in the Bayanihan sa Amerika held Sunday at the New Otani Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

Pacquiao-Barrera Fight is set for October 6 at Mandalay Bay

2007-08-15T21:39:00.000-07:00

By Johnny M. Pecayo
http://manilaustimes.blogspot.com/

MANNY PACQUIAO autographs a glove for his fans. -- MUST PHOTO

BEVERLY HILLS, CA -- Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who manages the boxing career of Manny Pacquiao; and Golden Boy Promotions President, Oscar dela Hoya, manager for Marc Antonio Barrera, led their respective camps at the Beverly Hills Hotel here, where the press conference was held Friday morning, August 10, to announce the rematch of two famous fighters to be held October 6 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In this forthcoming fight, Pacquiao will defend his Super Featherweight title against Barrera, who lost to "Pacman" in November 2003 in San Antonio, Texas.

Superstars Pacquiao and Barrera will collide in a 12-round super featherweight title fight. It will be broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View.

Tickets are priced at $600, $400, $300, $200 and $100, which can be purchased at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino box office and all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (Smith's Food and Drug Centers, Macy's stores and Ritmo Latino).

The Pacquiao-Barrera fight, dubbed "Will to Win," is a battle between legendary three-division champions. Pacquiao (44-3-2, 35 KOs) of General Santos City, Philippines, defeated Barrera (63-5, 42 KOs) of Mexico City, Mexico, in their first exciting encounter in 2003, claiming the 'Baby Face Assasin's' featherweight title.

"Pacquiao is considered by many as boxing's pound for pound most exciting fighter of the world," as announced by Bob Arum during the press conference.

"Fighting Barrera is a career highlight for me," said Pacquiao. He added: "He has already beaten great world champions like Erik Morales, Naseem Hamed and Johnny Tapia and I know I am going to have to train harder that I ever have been before to beat him. But I am fully prepared to sacrifice and do everything necessary to beat him. And I will. It's going to be another great night for fight fans, especially for the Filipinos all over the world."

'Pacman' left Los Angeles for Cebu and immediately began practising at the Wacky Salud gym. Trainor Freddie Roach would follow soon. Hundreds of fans syrrounded the gym while Manny was doing the routine boxing practice, including shadow boxing.

Sexy Ara Mina Tangled in Pacman's Affair

Reports reaching the editorial offices of the MANILA-U.S. TIMES in Beverly Hills have it that there were rumors spreading rapidly about Ara Mina's alleged love connection with prized champion boxer, Manny Pacquiao. The tall tales ignited even more after Pacquiao left Los Angeles for Manila earlier than planned.

Interviewed by ABS-CBN's TV Patrol, Ara shared that she and Manny are just friends. Ara went on to list the shows she's performing in to back up her claim of not having any type of affair with Pacquiao -- "Los Angeles, Canada, San Diego, Las Vegas and San Francisco." She's hoping the rumors would go away so everyone could move on to concentrate on her upcoming tour, which starts on Friday, August 17, at the Pala Casino & Resort in Pala, California.

Ara Mina will be performing with the legendary Freddie Aguilar during Freddie's first US Concert Tour, accompanied by sexy comedian, Ella V of the Viva Hot Babes.

Ara hopes the rumors will die down since Manny is a happily married man, father, and international Filipino icon.

MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA being interviewed by a local TV newscaster. -- MUST PHOTO

MANNY PACQUIAO (behind the podium) delivers a message, while Bob Arum, Oscar dela Hoya and Marco Antonio Barrera (seated, l-r) listen attentively. -- MUST PHOTO

BOB ARUM, Chairman-CEO of Top Rank, Inc. -- MUST PHOTO

OSCAR DELA HOYA, President of Golden Boy Promotions. -- MUST PHOTO

Fil-Ams in Los Angeles celebrate 5th Historic Filipinotown Festival; QueensCare participates, too

2007-08-07T11:55:00.000-07:00

TERRY BONECUTTER (right), President and CEO of QueensCare Family Clinics, is being interviewed by Joseph Pimentel for ABS-CBN International's Channel 2.

LOS ANGELES, CA -- Celebrating the birth of the historic Filipino district in Los Angeles, California, the Historic Filipinotown Neighborhood Council (HiFiNC) in collaboration with the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) and several other Filipino-American organizations held a two-day celebration on August 4 and 5 at the corners of Temple/Burlington here.

The fifth anniversary celebration of the Historic Filipinotown brought a feast of great performers for all ages, emerging talent from top shows and a vast array of booths for goods, arts, crafts, food and services, in addition to an exciting 5-kilometer Walk/Run Road Race, with support from Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon.

QueensCare Family Clinics participated in the festival through a booth, managed by Elaine Gillituk, Johnny Pecayo, Mario Quilao, Olga Garcia and Maria Garcia, where a number of festival guests dropped by, registered, and were briefed about the medical, dental and vision services, as well as pediatrician services to young children being provided by QueensCare to qualified individuals, in any of its clinic.

QueensCare Family Clinics are located, as follows: Eagle Rock Clinic, 4448 York Boulevard; East Los Angeles Clinic, 133 N. Sunol Drive; Echo Park Clinic, 150 N. Reno Street; Hollywood Clinic, 4618 Fountain Avenue; Wilshire Clinic, 3242 West 8th Street; and Bresee Clinic, located at 184 S. Bimini Place, Los Angeles.

Among the prominent personages in the Filipino American community who came to visit the QueensCare booth, were: Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon of the Philippine
Consulate General; Maria Quiban, TV newscaster, Fox 11 and Channel 13; Lydia Soriano, Chairman, Kalayaan of Southern California; Thelma Calabio, Founding chairman, Mamburao, U.S.A.; a school nurse who expressed interest to inform the parents about what QueensCare does in the community; Alvaro Vanegas of the Latino community, who is very active not only in the Latino community, but in the Fil-Am community as well, and many more.

Terry Bonecutter, President and CEO of QueensCare Family Clinics, was interviewed by Joseph Pimentel, assisted by a Cameraman, for Channel 2 of ABS-CBN International. The TV newscast is broadcast worldwide.

Featured performers included “American Idol 2007” finalist AJ Tabaldo, Joseph Gelito, Lara Avengoza, Ivory Cunanan, Pam Darden of the Marvelettes, Caroline Oguma, Ranella Ferrer, Dubhe Ferrer, Children of Burlington School, USC Troy Philippines, Kapatiran Historical Society, People’s CORE, Catheryn Briones, Sarah Lazatin, Erick Lerma, Josh Lopez, Kiana Lopez, Rocco, and Malou Toler among others.The feast of sister cultures, color and tradition continued with Proyectos Saluda Folklore Coalition of Mexican (Esplendor), Nicaraguan (Nicaraguita), Honduran (HULA), Colombian (Comparsa Fantasía Colombiana) and Guamenian (Kuttura Chamoru) folklore dance groups in two hours of mesmerizing presentations celebrating with Filipinos the joy of one big family, in one big Angeleno neighborhood. This was coordinated by Alvaro Vanegas.Also a highlight of this year’s celebration was the installation of 58 medallions on streetlights along Temple Street. The 5th Historic Filipinotown Festival is also organized by the Filipino American Library (FAL), Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI), People's Community Organization for Reform and Empowerment (People's CORE), Pilipino American Network & Advocacy (PANA), and Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA).Historic Filipinotown was created by a resolution of the Los Angeles City Council on August 2, 2002. It is home to a diverse population, including about 30 Filipino organizations, businesses, and landmarks.

Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, is the highest ranking Filipino in Southern California, Southern Nevada, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico, the Consulate's territorial jurisdiction.

In a huddle (from left) are: Elaine Gillituk, Terry Bonecutter, Olga and Maria of QueensCare East L.A.

MARIA QUIBAN (left), a popular Filipino American TV newscaster at Fox 11 and Channel 13, dropped by the QueensCare booth to meet with (from left): Johnny Pecayo, Elaine Gillituk and Mario Quilao.

MARIA QUIBAN gamely participated in the damp tank contest, conducted by Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA). She is totally wet as she was dropped to the tank full of water when the participants hit the bulls eye.

MARIA QUIBAN, donning a summer shorts, had to put on another T-shirt on top of her white T-shirt as she is totally wet here.

MARIA QUIBAN shakes the hand of Mario Quilao, as Elain, Maria and Olga look on.

With her hands full of QueensCare give-aways, this young lady is being briefed by Olga (left) about the many services available at any of the six branches of QueensCare.

Elaine Gillituk (right) talks to a lady visitor, who is registering in the logbook.

An elderly man, with cap (left), talks to Mario Quilao, while Maria (right) looks on. Partly hidden is Elaine Gillituk.
CAUGHT IN THE ACT of hitting the ball against the "key" of the damp tank is Maria Quiban of Fox 11 and Channel 13.
A couple engages Olga in the discussion about the services available at QueensCare clinic.
During a dull moment, Elaine Gillituk, Maria, Olga and Johnny Pecayo found the time to relax as they were photographed here infront of the QueensCare product display.
PART of the crowd in the Entertainment Section, where various entertainment numbers were presented from early morning to early evening, for two days, August 4 & 5, Saturday & Sunday.
Three visitors are simultaneously registering and discussing the services available at QueensCare clinic with Mario Quilao and Olga.
ELAINE GILLITUK (right) entertains a friend who dropped by the QueensCare booth.
A BUSY QueensCare booth on the morning of August 4, with a number of potential clients milling around the booth.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention's Pre-Teen Vaccine Campaign Meet with Members of the Press at California Endowment

2007-08-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

By Johnny M. Pecayo Publisher and Editor-in-Chief,
MANILA-U.S. TIMES
http://manilaustimes.blogspot.com/

JOHNNY M. PECAYO is shown here with Rear Admiral Anne Schuchat, M.D., Assistant Surgeon General, United States Public Health Service. -- PHOTO COURTESY OF JULIAN DO, Director New America Media

LOS ANGELES, CA -- High-ranking and highly qualified members of the panel comprised the discussants at a press conference held August 3 at the Catalina Room of the California Endowment, coordinated by Julian Do, Director of the New America Media for Southern California, in collaboration with Sandy Close, NAM Executive Director, who flew in from New York the day before, where similar presentation was done.

Let's take a close look at the backgrounders of the panelists in Friday's meeting.

Rear Admiral Anne Schuchat, M.D., is Assistant Surgeon General, United States Public Health Service (USPHS) and Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Rear Admiral Schuchat has spent over 18 years at CDC working in immunization, respiratory, and other infectious diseases. Prior to her current appointment, she served as the director of CDC's National Immunization Program (NIP); acting director of the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID); and Chief of the Respiratory Diseases Branch at NCID.

Dr. Schuchat was named an Assistant Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Service in 2006.

Globally, she has worked in West Africa on meningitis vaccine studies, in South Africa on surveillance and prevention projects, and in China on SARS emergency response, where she headed the Beijing City epidemiology team for the World Health Organization's (WHO) China Office. She continues to serve as a visiting professor for the Beijing Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.

Dr. Anne Schuchat graduated with highest honors from Swarthmore College and with honors from Dartmouth Medical School. She served as resident and chief resident in internal medicine at New York University's Manhattan VA Hospital before beginning her public health career at CDC as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Officer in NCID.

Wibbelsman

The other member of the panel is Dr. Charles J. Wibbelsman, chief of Adolescent Medicine for Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco, California. He has been with The Permanente Medical Group, Inc. for 25 years, and serves as Chair of the Chiefs of Adolescent Medicine for Kaiser Permanente, Northern California. He is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California San Francisco, School of Medicine. Prior to his joining the Permanente Medical Group, Dr. Wibbelsman was the Chief of Venereal Disease Control for the City and County of San Francisco.

As an author for books for adolescents and their parents, Dr. Wibbelsman has authored "The Teenage Body Book," "Growing and Changing," "Life Happens," and "Crisis Proof Your Teenager."

Dr. Wibbelsman is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, is board certified in Pediatrics, and currently serves on The Committee of Adolescence of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Dr. Wibbelsman received his undergraduate degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati and received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati. He was a resident in Pediatrics at Massachusetts General Hospital and Cincinnati Children's Hospital and completed a fellowship in Adolescent Medicine at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.

Sapsis

Karena (Kari) Sapsis, MPH, is the Pre-Teen Vaccine Campaign Manager and has spent over 10 years working in public health communication and social marketing at CDC.

As the Campaign Manager of CDC's national Pre-Teen Vaccine Campaign, she coordinates the formative research, message development, channel selection, materials development, partnership outreach, and media relations for the campaign. Prior to taking on this campaign, Kari coordinated CDC's annual influenza vaccine campaign, which included the development of a bilingual print campaign, radio and TV public service announcements, media outreach, and audience research with racial and ethnic minorities, seniors, people with chronic health conditions, parents, and physicians.

Internationally, Kari has provided training and technical assistance to the government of Indonesia as part of Tubercolosis/HIV clinical trial team on a CDC-funded project in Botswana.

Ms. Sapsis received her MPH in Behavioral Science and Health Education from Emory University. Her campaigns and educational products have won numerous awards, including National Health Information Awards and the Silver Inkwell from the International Association of Business Communicators.

The Importance of Immunization

Having provided the readers with the impressive individual backgrounders and their respective qualifications, we would like to get the readers' attention, particularly the parents of 11-12 year-old pre-teens who must submit themselves for medical check up and immunization.

"Immunizations are not just for babies, but for 11-12-year-old individuals, too," according to Rear Admiral Schuchat. She added: "Vaccine is routinely recommended for 11 and 12-year-old pre-teens because their risk of getting meningitis is high."

The Assistant Surgeon General also explained that whooping cough is a preventable disease, and yet a lot of teenagers get this miserable disease which is contagious.

This press conference served as a launching pad for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) pre-teen vaccine campaign in August 2007 that will coincide with National Immunization Awareness Month.

The campaign is designed to inform parents, teachers, family physicians, and pediatricians about CDC's new vaccination recommendations for 11 and 12 year olds to protect them from serious, sometimes life-threatening diseases such as whooping cough, meningitis, and cervical cancer.

CDC also encourages parents and caregivers of 11 and 12 year olds to schedule a pre-teen medical check-up to make sure their child gets these important vaccines and to catch up on any missed childhood vaccines, such as varicella (chickenpox), measles, mumps, and rubella, and hepatitis B.

Dr. Schuchat also talked about Tdap Vaccine, a different type of vaccine. Tdap is tetanus-diptheria-acellular pertussis (whooping cough). It is an important improvement over the old Td booster because it provides additional protection from pertussis, while still providing protection against tetanus and diptheria. Pertussis is one of the most common vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases in American teens and can be spread through schools.

Pertussis often goes unrecognized by healthcare providers, creating a misperception that it is not a problem. However, teens who get pertussis commonly have a prolonged cough lasting weeks to months and they may occasionally develop pneumonia or need to be hospitalized. The incidence of the disease has been increasing among pre-teens in recent years.

There are two Tdap vaccines available: BOOSTRIX and ADACEL.

Rear Admiral Schuchat also discussed at length the MCV4 Vaccine designed to fight Meningococcal infections which can lead to meningitis and other serious life-threatening infections, and even death.

The MCV4 vaccine protects against meningitis, which is spread by close contact with a person who has the disease. This disease can strike healthy kids without warning, and the risk of getting it increases during adolescence. Meningococcal disease is not common, but in those who get it, symptoms develop and progress rapidly, even leading to death in 24 to 48 hours. About 10 percent of teens who get the disease die from it, and another 15 percent will have long-term disability, such as loss of a limb. The MCV4 vaccine currently available is called Menactra.

The HPV Vaccine fights Human Papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a sexually-transmitted infection which can cause cervical center. It is the most common sexually-transmitted infection.

The HPV vaccine protects against human papillomavirus, which can cause cervical cancer and genital warts. HPV is the most common sexually-transmitted infection in the United States, with about 20 million people currently infected. In 2007, about 11,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and about 3,600 women will die from the disease. The HPV vaccine currently available is called Gardasil and it is recommended for 11 and 12 year old girls.

Normally, the parents' concern is about the cost. Insurance companies pay for the cost of the vaccinations. Also, there is a Federal government program that provides free vaccines for those who are uninsured or under-insured. This program was set up to provide free vaccinations to children.

11-12 year olds

Dr. Charles Wibbelsman, a Member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Adolescence, observed that young children below 10 years old, normally enjoy being held by hands by their parents. But not when they are already 11 or 12 years old.

The parents play a vital role with pre-teens children. They must sit down with them, talk with them about their daily activities, including nutrition, wearing of seat belts, importance of health care and even sex.

Dr. Wibbelsman observed that these 11-12 year olds experience peer pressure, low esteem and therefore, they need a lot of support. The parents must know what they do everyday, what they eat, and what activities they are involved in. His findings is that almost 10 per cent of 12 year olds have gone into sex.

Program Development

Kari Sapsis, MPH, Office of Health Communication, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for over 10 years, explained how CDC developed this campaign. A team from CDC, comprised of 35 focused groups, went out all over the country to talk to parents, gathered information, evaluated them, then came up with this campaign. Questions, like "What do they know about the diseases," "Where to deliver the health information," etc., were part of the survey questionnaire.

The need for a preventive health for 11-12 year olds was developed. Ms. Sapsis emphasized that the HPV vaccine is not for girls only.

She told the members of the press that the baby vaccine can wear off, and 11-12 year olds need to be vaccinated again. Do not wait until the child is 18.

"In the U.S., we are able to prevent this disease. We also do direct mailing to over 1,500 pediatricians all over the country, to impress upon them the importance of vaccinations, and to generate awareness about the campaign.

News You Can Use

Sandy Close even suggested to the members of the press to come up with a "News You Can Use" column, as she facilitated the meeting.

REAR ADMIRAL Anne Schuchat, M.D., Assistant Surgeon General (left) with Dr. Charles J. Wibbelsman, Chief, Adolescent Medicine, Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco, and Member of the AAP Committee on Adolescence; and Karina (Kari) Sapsis, MPH, Health Communications Specialist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). -- MUST PHOTO

DR. CHARLES J. WIBBELSMAN (center) emphasizes the importance of the parents' role in sitting with their pre-teen children and talking with them. - MUST PHOTO

KARI SAPSIS told the members of the press how this campaign for immunization came about. - MUST PHOTO

SANDY CLOSE, Executive Director of New America Media, facilitated the press conference, and encouraged an active participation from the media during the roundtable discussion. - MUST PHOTO

GLADYS, KEEMPEE, TERRI IN LA & SAN DIEGO THIS AUGUST!

2007-07-31T12:12:00.000-07:00

On August 3, 4, and 5, the sky will lack five stars!

Chuchay

These five stars, GMA PINOY TV’s artists’ comedienne extraordinaire Gladys Guevarra, multi-awarded comedian and matinee idol Keempee de Leon, stand up comic, singer, and now vice mayor Teri Onor together with phenomenal chanteuse Dessa and Star for All Genders Joseph Gelito, will give Los Angeles and San Diego the funniest, rib-tickling, side-splitting, and a not-to-be missed comedy concert ever in D’ BARKADS Live!

Gladys Guevarra a.k.a. “CHUCHAY,” is a world-class singer, stand-up comedienne, TV host, and actress.

She has an extraordinary talent and flair for comedy whether on TV, stage, or the movies. Her impeccable timing for comedic antics makes her Philippines' “premier comedienne extraordinaire.”

Gladys has a natural gift to mimic and impersonate controversial celebrities, politicians, and presidents through the different characters she alone can outstandingly personify.

Amongst the character she has created, Gladys is best known for the persona character Chuchay, the funny yet charming character she first debuted on TV’s Eat Bulaga which later was made into a daily TV situational comedy series in Magic Kamison that capitulate her to TV land’s Superstar comedienne.

As host, she was seen regularly in the daily noontime variety show Eat Bulaga and has regular evening shows at Zirkoh in Timog, Zirkoh-Greenhills, and Klownz Comedy Bar and Restaurant in Quezon Avenue and Klownz Angeles where she continuously reign supreme as the “Stand-up Comedy Queen.”

Last May 2007, she was a gargantuan hit in Edison , New Jersey when she graced the two-day festivities of the Phil-US Expo ‘07 at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center at Raritan Center together with actress Ara Mina and actor Dennis Trillo. She was so funny that the audience gave her thunderous standing ovations.

D’BARKADS Live is on Friday, August 3 at the Madonna Hall of St. Genevieve Church in Panorama City , on Saturday, August 4 at the Grand Theater inside the Los Angeles Trade Technical College , and on Sunday, August 5 at the San Diego National Guard Armory.

D’BARKADS Live is brought to you by St. Genevieve Church as part of their fund-raising efforts, Polaris Media & Marketing, GMA Pinoy TV, and Liveline Concepts & Productions in cooperation with the Law Offices of Jemela Nettles, Wilshire Travel Center, M.A.R.C Medical & Skin Care Clinic, Nita’s Restaurant, Neubloom Skin Care, Caring Hands Health Care Staffing and Services, Marissa Entertainment, Simple Elements, and Asian American People’s Journal.

Other sponsors of D’Barkads Live are San Fernando Valley Balita, MANILA-U.S. TIMES, Carousel Pinoy, Mayflower BBQ Seafood Restaurant, Chow Fun, Kalesa Grill, Mike’s Lechon, Balita Media, Asian Journal, Siklab, and Mygringos.com.

For tickets for the Los Angeles shows please call Marissa Entertainment at (818) 219-2009, Rico Hech at (626) 251-5794, Jan Lopez at (661) 400-6606, Jay Inoue at (626) 926-0924, Liza Leoncio at (818) 636-2350 and Art Bernado at (818) 268 8601, Jeff David (909) 282 – 8925.

For tickets for the San Diego show, please call John Morante (858) 603 – 4266, Bong Cura (858) 397 – 3202, Art Ignacio (619) 920 – 3401, Mike Torres (619) 808 – 1909/ (619) 315 – 0045, Nanshi Ignacio (619) 757 – 7433, Stephen Nicolas (619) 823-2522, and Marissa Entertainment (818) 219 - 2009.

For information, please log on to http://www.polarismediamarketing.com/.

Keempee de Leon

Teri Onor

American Heart Association rapid access journal report:

2007-07-26T12:43:00.000-07:00

Diet and regular soft drinks linked to increase in risk factors for heart disease

LOS ANGELES, CA -- Drinking more than one soft drink daily — whether it’s regular or diet — may be associated with an increase in the risk factors for heart disease, Framingham researchers reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

“We were struck by the fact that it didn’t matter whether it was a diet or regular soda that participants consumed, the association with increased risk was present,” said Ramachandran Vasan, M.D., senior author of the Framingham Heart Study and professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine. “In those who drink one or more soft drinks daily, there was an association of an increased risk of developing the metabolic syndrome.”

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk factors including excess waist circumference, high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL “good” cholesterol) and high fasting glucose levels. The presence of three or more of the factors increases a person’s risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Prior studies linked soft drink consumption to multiple risk factors for heart disease. However, this study showed that association not only included drinking regular calorie-laden soft drinks, but artificially sweetened diet sodas as well, researchers said.

“Moderation in anything is the key,” said Ravi Dhingra, M.D., lead author of the study and an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School . “If you are drinking one or more soft drinks a day, you may be increasing your risk of developing metabolic risk factors for heart disease.”

The Framingham study included nearly 9,000 person observations made in middle-aged men and women over four years at three different times.

In a “snapshot in time” at baseline, the researchers found that individuals consuming one or more soft drinks a day had a 48 percent increased prevalence of the metabolic syndrome compared to those consuming less than one soft drink daily.

In a longitudinal study of participants who were free of metabolic syndrome at baseline (6,039 person observations), consumption of one or more soft drinks a day was associated with a 44 percent higher risk of developing new-onset metabolic syndrome during a follow-up period of four years.

The researchers also observed that compared to participants who drank less than one soft drink daily, those who drank one or more soft drinks a day had a:
· 31 percent greater risk of developing new-onset obesity (defined as a body mass index [BMI] of 30 kilograms/meter2 or more);
· 30 percent increased risk of developing increased waist circumference;
· 25 percent increased risk of developing high blood triglycerides or high fasting blood glucose;
· 32 percent higher risk of having low HDL levels.
· A trend towards an increased risk of developing high blood pressure that was not statistically significant.

Researchers then analyzed a smaller sample of participants on whom data on regular and diet soft drink consumption was available from food frequency questionnaires. Participants who consumed one or more drinks of diet or regular soda per day had a 50 to 60 percent increased risk for developing new-onset metabolic syndrome, said Dhingra, who is also an attending physician at Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in New Hampshire . “It didn’t matter whether it was a diet or regular soft drink.”

“Results also don’t appear to be driven by the dietary pattern of soft drink users, i.e, by other food items that are typically consumed along with soft drinks,” Vasan said. “We adjusted in our analyses for saturated fat and trans fat intake, dietary fiber consumption, total caloric intake, smoking and physical activity, and still observed a significant association of soft drink consumption and risk of developing the metabolic syndrome and multiple metabolic risk factors.”

One explanation is that the fructose corn syrup in regular soft drinks causes weight gain, and can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes, Vasan said. “But then you would expect to see an association with regular soft drinks, but not diet soft drinks. Our findings suggest that this is not the case.”

Another possible explanation is that consuming more liquids is associated with a lesser degree of dietary compensation. Usually if you eat a large meal, then you’re inclined to eat a smaller amount at the next meal, Vasan said. But liquids don’t have the same degree of compensation as solids. If you drink a large amount of liquids at a meal, you are more likely to eat a larger amount at the next meal (compared to what you would eat had you consumed more solids at the prior meal).

Other theories are that the high sweetness of diet and regular soft drinks makes a person more prone to eat sweet items, or the caramel content in soft drinks may promote development of advanced glycation end products, complexes of sugars that can result in insulin resistance and can cause inflammation in experimental studies.

“These are all theories, and experts debate their importance,” Dhingra said. “Our study was observational, and so right now all we demonstrate is an association. We have not proven casualty.”

Dhingra and Vasan called for further studies to replicate the results and to understand the mechanisms driving this association before recommendations can be made.

Other researchers included Thomas J. Wang, M.D.; Caroline S. Fox, M.D.; Lisa Sullivan, Ph.D.; Ralph B. D’Agostino, Ph.D.; James B. Meigs, M.D., M.P.H.; J. Michael Gaziano, M.D., M.P.H. and Paul F. Jacques, Ph.D.

American Heart Association statement on Framingham Study on soft drink consumption

PASADENA, CA -- An observational study by Framingham researchers that showed an association with higher risks of developing the metabolic syndrome and multiple metabolic risk factors among people who consumed more than one diet or regular soft drink a day is being published today in the rapid access issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk factors including excess waist circumference, high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL “good” cholesterol) and high fasting glucose levels. The presence of three or more of the factors increases a person’s risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

This study may raise some questions among consumers about health risks associated with drinking soft drinks. Since this is an observational study, it is important to note that the study does not show that soft drinks cause risk factors for heart disease. It does show that the people studied who drank soft drinks were more likely to develop risk factors for heart disease.

However, it is possible that other factors could explain this relationship. Often people who drink soft drinks also eat and drink more calories, saturated fat and trans fat and less fiber and dairy products. Also, these people tend to be less physically active. This was true among the subjects in this study.

While the authors did account for these aforementioned diet and lifestyle factors in the analysis, it is possible that other lifestyle factors still account for the measured increase in risk factors leading to heart disease. As the authors note in the study, more research is needed to understand these associations before any recommendations can be made to the public.

Diet soda can be a good option to replace caloric beverages that do not contain important vitamins and minerals. The American Heart Association supports dietary patterns that include low-calorie beverages like water, diet soft drinks, and fat-free or low-fat milk as better choices than full calorie soft drinks.

Bossi released after 6-week ordeal; ‘I’ve forgiven my captors’

2007-07-22T17:54:00.000-07:00

FR. GIANCARLO BOSSI

LANAO DEL NORTE -- Looking thin and haggard, Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi said Friday that he had forgiven the men who kidnapped him and kept him captive for almost six weeks.

Bossi, 57, seized outside his parish in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay, on June 10, was turned over to a local politician Thursday night in Karumatan, Lanao del Norte, following negotiations with his Islamic rebel captors.

Bossi told a press conference at Camp Edgardo Batenga in Zamboanga City he has not only forgiven his captors but felt no rancor against them.

He said he lost tens of pounds (4.5 kilograms) after surviving on a diet of salted fish and rice.
The priest wiped away tears as he explained that he was forced to hike at gunpoint through jungles as his captors sought to evade the military hunting for them.

“I used to smoke a lot,” Bossi said, running his hand through his grey beard.

“Then one night we were walking . . . climbing a mountain. When we reached the top of the mountain my breathing was very heavy. So I said to myself I have to stop smoking.”
He said he was forced to board a boat which brought him to nearby Lanao del Norte.
“We changed hiding places sometimes, walking up mountains and crossing fields but we never strayed from there.”

“I memorized their faces and said, ‘If I see any of them around I will go to the police and tell them, ‘That is one of my kidnappers,’” he said.

At Camp Batenga Bossi had noodles for breakfast, which the priest said that it was his first “decent” meal for weeks.

“My plan is to go back to Payao. My heart is still in Payao. As a father, I think I have to go back to my children,” Bossi later said in a new conference aired over ANC.

The priest apologized deeply to the family of the 14 Marines that were killed, 10 of whom were beheading while searching for him in Basilan on July 10.

He said in a television interview that he was treated fairly well by his captors.
Bossi said his kidnappers told him they were members of Abu Sayyaf. But police said Friday that the abductors were members of a breakaway faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Bossi said his abductors were taking orders from an unnamed person by mobile telephone and were seeking a P50 million ransom to raise money to prepare for an unspecified rebel operation.

“I was the means to get a ransom. That’s what they told me,” he said.
Police insisted no ransom was paid, and Bossi said he did not see any exchange of money.
Bossi said he was released by his kidnappers on the birthday of his 87-year-old mother who is in Italy.

Despite his ordeal, Bossi said he intended to return to his parish where he has worked for a decade.

“My plan from the beginning was to go back to Payao and tell the people that I’m still alive,” he said, wiping away tears and with his voice breaking. “My heart is still in Payao.”
Bossi also said he would visit families of 14 slain Marines.

Later Friday Bossi met with President Arroyo in Malacañang.

He said the President had congratulated him on his courage during his lengthy ordeal.
The President had earlier issued a statement saying: “We rejoice over the safe release of Father Bossi. We thank our soldiers, police and concerned civilians who valiantly worked for his freedom.”

Administration and opposition congressmen commended the safe release of Bossi.
Zamboanga Rep. Antonio Cerilles said Bossi’s release could help the government identify if his abductors were from the Abu Sayaff, the MILF or some other criminal elements.
“That will facilitate efforts to bring them to justice,” Cerilles said.

“Bossi’s case is pure and simple kidnapping. The brutal murder of 14 of our Marines is a separate matter which has to be resolved between the MILF and the AFP or via the negotiating table. The death of soldiers is a cruel reality in a war but it’s a different matter when they are beheaded and mutilated,” he pointed out.

Opposition Rep. Roilo Golez of Parañaque was impressed with the police and the military for their “excellent, patient handling of the negotiation and safe release of Bossi.” -- AFP, Anthony Vargas, Maricel V. Cruz, Efren L. Danao and PNA

Justin Celebrates 3rd Birthday

2007-07-22T17:46:00.000-07:00

JUSTIN PECAYO

LAS VEGAS, NV -- Justin Tyler Pecayo celebrated his third birthday at their residence here last June 15, one day after the birthday of his Dad, Joseph. It was a double birthday celebration to the satisfaction of all the attendees.

Justin and his younger brother, Brandon, were joined in by their cousins Katelyn and Lauren, daughters of Adam and Liza P. Banz.

from left: Justin, Katelyn, Lauren & Brandon

WELLS FARGO Launches Enhanced REmittance Service; Offers Zero Dollar Transaction Fee

2007-07-18T09:51:00.000-07:00

Zero dollar transaction fee available to Wells Fargo customers making account-based transactions through September 30, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) said today that Wells Fargo ExpressSendSM customers with qualifying accounts now can have transaction fees discounted or waived and have more choices in how they remit money to Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, China, Vietnam, India and the Philippines.

Key features of the new Wells Fargo ExpressSend service are:

* Wells Fargo customers can have the remittance transaction fee discounted or even waived if they send money directly from their eligible Wells Fargo checking or savings account. All customers using the account-based service can have zero dollar transaction fees as part of the new service introduction through September 30, 2007.

* Customers will have greater flexibility in remittance transfer methods, which enables them to remit funds faster, more conveniently and safer to friends and families overseas. The remittance transfer choices now include: account to account, account to cash, cash to cash, and cash to account.

* Those receiving funds in Mexico, El Salvador and Guatemala can now receive their money as soon as the same day it is sent. Recipients in China, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines can now receive their money as soon as the next business day.

* Customers will also receive increased information when they complete a transaction in a Wells Fargo’s banking stores, including details about the remitter, the beneficiary, how and where funds are sent, the fee, how much money the beneficiary will receive, foreign exchange (FX) rate (if applicable) for the transaction and the Foreign Exchange Margin (estimate of the amount of revenue Wells Fargo earns on the foreign currency conversion).

“Most Latin American and Asian countries have significantly large unbanked consumer populations and eliminating the bank account requirement for the receiving country makes it much easier for recipients to get their money,” said Daniel Ayala, head of Wells Fargo’s Global Remittance Services. “Based on our tests and pilots, account-to-cash will be the preferred choice for our customers. This opens the service for use by a large number of remitters whose friends and family overseas (beneficiaries) do not have bank accounts in their home country. ”

"Appleseed commends efforts to provide consumers with more complete pricing and transaction information," said Betsy Cavendish, executive director of Appleseed, a network of public interest law centers in the U.S. and Mexico advocating for improved financial access for consumers. "It's only fair that people sending money know how much their relatives will be able to pick up and when the funds will be available." Wells Fargo is a participant in Appleseed's initiative to create a "Fair Exchange" brand, which would make it easier for consumers to shop for the best remittance deals by providing upfront pricing disclosure.

"Remitters have generally benefited from a sharp reduction in remittance costs in the past few years. Yet, the lack of pricing transparency has remained a cause of frustration among them,” said Gwenn Bézard, Aite Group research director. “By overcoming some of the technical and risk issues related to disclosing the foreign exchange fee upfront, Wells Fargo is making an important contribution to making the remittance industry truly consumer-friendly. By introducing account-to-cash remittances, Wells Fargo is also sharply increasing the relevance of banks to remittance senders."

Wells Fargo offers international remittance services to the top seven (Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, and China.) immigrant remitting segments in the Wells Fargo banking states. It began offering the International ATM Remittance Account for customers sending money to the Philippines in 1994 and launched the InterCuenta Expressâ consumer remittance product to Mexico the following year.
Wells Fargo ExpressSend is a patent pending service.

About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $486 billion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance through more than 6,000 stores and the internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and internationally. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the only bank in the U.S., and one of only two banks worldwide, to have the highest credit rating from both Moody’s Investors Service, "Aaa,” and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, “AAA.”

About Appleseed
Appleseed, a non-profit network of 16 public interest law centers in the United States and Mexico , identifies and addresses social injustices. Appleseed Centers bring together volunteers from the legal, business and academic professions to devise structural solutions to problems in such areas as education, health care and immigrant rights. For more information, visit: http://www.appleseednetwork.org/ <http://www.appleseeds.net/>

About Aite Group
Aite Group is a leading independent research and advisory firm focused on business, technology and regulatory issues and their impact on the financial services industry. It was founded by leading industry experts in Banking and Securities & Investments. Aite Group brings together a team of business strategy, technology and regulatory experts to deliver comprehensive, timely, and actionable advice to financial institutions and technology vendors. It seeks to become a true partner, advisor, and catalyst by exchanging ideas and challenging basic assumptions to ensure that our clients always stay one step ahead of the competition.

GMA to push polls automation at her SoNA

2007-07-17T20:45:00.000-07:00

By GENALYN D. KABILING

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and President George W. Bush nod at each other.

MANILA -- President Arroyo will push for the automation of the country'selectoral system when she delivers her State-of-the- Nation Address(SoNA) at the opening of the 14th Congress on Monday, July 23.

The President has acknowledged that electoral reforms, particularlythe poll computerization, are essential to political stability afterpast elections have been plagued by fraud and violence.

"Our political system is not working well. So in myState-of-the- Nation Address, I will be talking about legislationtowards electoral reforms technology, again, using technology toimprove our electoral system," she said in an interview with Reutersnews agency last Saturday in the Palace.

In her annual speech before the two houses of Congress on July 23, thePresident said she will also promote the allocation of "more money forneutral observers" as well as strengthening political parties in the country.

"The problem with our electoral system is that while our economy isvery well into the new economy, our electoral system is still manual.So we really have to bring that to the 21st century," she said.Mrs. Arroyo said she intends to modernize the polls in time for the2010 elections, admitting that electoral reforms have been long overdue.

"I've wanted to have automated elections since it was one of my10-point programs, when I did my inauguration in 2004. I still want todo that, and we hope we'll be able to do that before the end of myterm," she said.

Early this year, Congress passed a law on automated elections, but theCommission on Elections claimed it was too late to implement it forthe May 14 mid-term polls.

The administration suffered a crushing defeat in the last senatorialrace, but won majority of the seats at the House of Representativesand local governments. The May polls were also marred with highincidence of violence, as well as cases of cheating, mostly in theprovinces.

The President is expected to outline the government's program for theyear in her annual speech at the Batasang Pambansa Complex on Monday.

Aside from poll reforms, Arroyo said she would also discuss hereconomic blueprint as well as additional investments in education andother social services.

She will also tackle the government's initiatives for peace anddevelopment in Mindanao, including the fight against terrorism.

Asia's 10 Biggest Billionaires

2007-07-17T09:20:00.000-07:00

They led Asia's transformation from an impoverished backwater at the end of World War II to the main growth driver in today's global economy. But they're not getting any younger.

1. Li Ka-shing

Age: 78

Citizenship: Hong Kong

Net Worth: $23 billion

A high-school dropout, Li got his start selling plastic flowers in Hong Kong in the 1950s. He is now considered one of the most powerful figures in Asia and is the largest operator of container terminals, a major electricity and cell-phone supplier, a retailer and real-estate developer. Named 'Asia's Most Powerful Man' by Asiaweek in 2001, Li recently announced a plan eventually to donate a third of his wealth to charities.

2. Makesh and Anil Ambani

Ages: 49 and 47, respectively

Citizenship: India

Net Worth: $20.1 billion and $18.2 billion, respectively

The feuding sons of Reliance Industries founder Dhirubhai Ambani, Mukesh and Anil split up the family fortune after the death of their father in 2005. Mukesh took over Reliance Industries and the oil-refining subsidiary, Reliance Petroleum, while Anil heads the family's telecom, finance and power interests.

3. Lee Shau Kee

Age: 79

Citizenship: Hong Kong

Net Worth: $17 billion

The real-estate mogul is the second wealthiest person in Hong Kong and the 22nd richest person in the world, according to Forbes. He made his fortune as the founder of Henderson Land Development.

4. Stanley Ho

Age: 85

Citizenship: Hong Kong

Net Worth: $7 billion

Stanley Ho's casino empire in Macau dominated the local gambling industry for decades. Ever since the market opened to outsiders seven years ago, Ho's interests have faced heavy competition from some of the biggest Las Vegas players. Outsiders now control 54 percent of the market.

5. Robert Kuok

Age: 83

Citizenship: Malaysia

Net Worth: $7 billion

Kuok got his start trading rice, sugar and wheat flour in Malaysia and Singapore in the early 1950s. He now heads the Kuok Group, a multinational conglomerate with interests ranging from shipping and real estate to media. Kuok also owns sugar and oil plantations and controls a hotel empire that includes the famous Shangri-La.

6. Wang Yung-ching

Age: 90

Citizenship: Taiwan

Net Worth: $5.1 billion

With only an elementary-school education, Wang has built Formosa Plastics into one of Asia's biggest petrochemical producers. He's the oldest Asian billionaire on the latest Forbes list.

7. Lim Goh Tong

Age 89

Citizenship: Malaysia

Net Worth: $4.2 billion

The Genting Group founder is a former public-works contractor who turned an idea for a hilltop resort into one of the world's most successful casinos. In 2006, his company won a project to develop a high-end gaming and entertainment resort on the Singaporean island of Sentosa.

8. Nina Wang

Age: Died in April at 69

Citizenship: Hong Kong

Net Worth: $4.2 billion

After winning a long legal battle against her father-in-law for control of her late husband's estate in 2005, Wang's fortune made her Asia's richest woman. When she died in April, she left that fortune to her longtime feng shui master, paving the way for a likely legal battle with her family.

9. Lee Kun Hee

Age: 65

Citizenship: South Korea

Net worth: $2.9 billion

The mastermind of Samsung's emergence as Asia's most valuable listed electronics company, Lee has landed in legal jeopardy for attempting to pass control to his son without fully paying inheritance tax. (The complex transaction, in which 39-year-old Jay Lee paid just $2 million for shares worth a hundred times as much at today’s valuation, is still being litigated.) Even if judges rule in Samsung’s favor, the Lees look certain to lose half their empire when its financial flagship, Samsung Life, eventually goes public, because new regulations bar a single entity from controlling listed companies.

10. Chung Mong-koo

Age: 69

Citizenship: South Korea

Net Worth: $2.2 billion

In 1999, Chung took over Hyundai Motors from his late father, founder Chung Ju-yung, and helped the company triple sales. Now he and the company are caught in scandal: Chung was sentenced in February to three years in prison for embezzling corporate funds. He is appealing that conviction.

* All net-worth figures from Forbes. Newsweek International Editionhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19746875/site/newsweek/

BREAKING NEWS - The Big Scoop

2007-07-15T09:34:00.000-07:00

Issue No. 45 NEWS WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOR

The fight for benefits for Filipino veterans took a surprising turn when Congressman Bob Filner denounced an Arlington, Virginia man for perpetrating what he called a scam. The San Diego lawmaker is finishing up the House version of a bill granting full equity benefits to all Filipino veterans, whether in the US or in the Philippines.

CONGRESSMAN BOB FILNER SPEAKS OUT:

Exposed: Virginia-Based Lobbyist Tagged

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ

REP. BOB FILNER

SAN DIEGO - Congressman Bob Filner (D-51st District) assailed the practice of a Filipino AmericanÂ lobbyist of collecting fees from Filipino veterans for a service his office gives for free, saying it was "a scam" that bilks them of government monetary assistance.

"It's terrible, what he's doing," said the San Diego lawmaker, pointing to the highly-visible Eric Lachica, executive director of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans (ACFV)based in Arlington, Virginia, which boasts of having 4,000 members.

In a rare display of contempt, Filner said Lachica was "the one who sold us out" in congressional deliberations by pruning down veterans' demand for full equity to the detriment of the great majority of veterans in the United States and the Philippines.

"He (Lachica) lives off these vulnerable people," Filner said on Thursday (July 5) during a meeting in his office with Col. Romy Monteyro, adviser of the Filipino World War II Veterans Foundation of San Diego, and Commander Manuel B. Braga, who heads the group.

Filner took the occasion to acknowledge Monteyro, chair of the recently-formed congressional lobby group NAFVE (National Alliance for Veterans Equity), as his "dancing partner" -- his metaphor to describe the significant role he plays in the ongoing campaign to secure full benefits for all Filipino veterans currently in the United States and those in the Philippines.

"Lachica is in some scams," Filner stressed. "He's doing what I do for free; what the Department of Veterans Affairs do for free. It's ridiculous," he added.

Contacted for comment, Lachica said he had been sick and pointed to the ACFV vice president for membership, Franco Arcebal, in Los Angeles to answer the interview questions.

This reporter has held on to the story for almost a week to afford him the chance to clarify the issues. On the deadline set for him to reply, which was Tuesday, July 10, Lachica said: "been down w/ allergies & bronchitis for a few days".

Lachica had been expected in San Diego on Saturday, July 7, for a meeting with his supporters. Those who went to the meeting said Lachica didn't show up.

Nonetheless, the attendees raised some money, as they were apparently told by Lachica, for air fare to Washington, DC supposedly for the signing of the bill approved by the Senate committee.

"Pipirmahan na daw ni President Bush (the president will sign the bill)," one of the veterans said, quoting what they had been told would happen on July 27. But the legislation is not up for signing until the Senate and House versions were reconciled into one.

Lachica's known contacts in San Diego, notably Joann Fields of the local chapter of National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), did not reply to queries. Fields recently led a group of Filipino veterans in a candlelight vigil apparently to seek divine help for the veterans benefits.

Monteyro said he has told Filipino veterans: "Don't pay him (Lachica). The service (he's doing) is free, absolutely free."

Information from veterans who declined to be identified said they were asked to pay $100 for membership plus the occasional costs of his travels and lobbying. They also disclosed that as executive director of ACFV, Lachica receives a salary.

Bobby Reyes, a son of a veteran who lives in Los Angeles, said he was a "victim" of what he calls the "ACFV scam". He recalled an event in San Francisco in March 2002 when he and several others gave $100 each as life-time membership fee in the ACFV.

After that, he said he never heard again from Lachica and his ACFV.

Reyes said he has "personally interviewed some Filipino-American veterans in Los Angeles and they claimed that they had been contributing $10 to $20 per month per head to Mr. Lachica to fund his so-called lobbying activities in the District of Columbia."

"So far," he continued, "Mr. Lachica has produced not even a single financial report about his and the ACFV fundraising activities."

In the many years that Filner has advocated for Filipino veterans, this is the first time that he took a direct swipe at one of the most visible lobbyists for the cause. "It's a scam," he said of Lachica's work."The Filipino veterans don't need Eric Lachica. He lives off these vulnerable people," Filner emphasized. He asked that Lachica makes an accounting of the monies he collected from veterans.

Lachica is perhaps the most-photographed son of a veteran who has taken an active role in the fight for benefits. His success in lobbying is in getting what critics called "bread crumbs" -- paltry doleouts for the short haul and small panacea to ease temporary hardships.

Filner said Lachica's insistence on getting these sets of benefits for the veterans has given other lawmakers a "convenient cover" to diffuse the demands and lower them instead of providing full equity benefits.

"Now we have to compromise with the compromise after he sold us out," Filner stated.

At one point during the meeting, Filner referred to Lachica as "toxic" to the cause, meaning he has poisoned and undermined the efforts of groups bigger than his ACFV, whose president, Patrick Ganio Sr., is considered the nominal head.

Sometime ago, Lachica testified that veterans in the Philippines needed only $200 to survive, a statement that cheapened the veterans themselves and their cause, according to Filner.

Both Lachica and Ganio are being blamed forÂ the failure of the US Senate Veterans Affairs Committed headed by Senator Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) to pass a full equity bill for all the Filipino veterans.

Filner said he is preparing the House version of a bill similar to what the US Senate Veterans Affairs committee under Senator Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) has reported out last week, which provides full equity benefits for US-based veterans.

San Diego veterans commander Manuel B. Braga, meanwhile, said he had apprised NaFFAA chair Alma Q. Kerns about Lachica's activities when she showed up at a veterans meeting in San Diego hosted by the Council of Philippine American Organizations (COPAO), which is itself mired in monetary scandals.

"I told her that Lachica is a fake and he's doing all these dubious things," Braga said in an interview. To which Kerns reportedly replied: "So what I'm hearing is correct," according to Braga. He said they were conversing in the presence of Col. Monteyro.

For its part, NAFVE has launched a nationwide drive to raise $100,000 to cover campaign costs, office expenses and salaries of two legislative consultants to drum up support for the equity bill, according to Jon Melegrito, co-chair of NAFVE's steering committee.

"This is a one-time fundraiser for this year's campaign only," he explains, assuring that names of donors and an income/expense report will be posted as a guarantee of transparency.

Melegrito said NAFVE has so far collected "about one fourth" of its target.

Retired US Colonel Frank B. Quesada, a veteran and staunch advocate for full benefits, ridiculed Lachica and Melegrito, calling them "pretenders."

"What is this clown (referring to Melegrito) talking about?" he asked.

Quesada also claimed that Lachica "has been banned by the Department of Justice from interfering with veteran's affairs here and in the Philippines."

Representatives Filner, (Mike) Honda and (Darrell) Issa, and Senators (Daniel) Akaka and (Daniel) Inouye have distanced themselves from these clowns knowing the truth about them," Quesada said.

Congressman Bob Filner discusses the veterans equity bill with his acknowledged "dancing partner" Col. Romy Monteyro during a meeting at his congressional office in Chula Vista, California on Thursday, July 5. At the same function Filner denounced Eric Lachica of the America Coalition for Filipino Veterans.

Are KIM and GERALD too Good to be True?

2007-07-01T15:37:00.000-07:00

KIM

GERALD

MANILA – They’re PBB Champs, stars of ASAP ’07 and the central point of ABS-CBN’s mind-boggling drama, Sana Maulit Muli.

Teen idols, Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson have been gracing billboards, airwaves and magazines together since they’ve become one of the Philippine’s hottest pairs. Thanks to TFC, their presence has been heavily felt in hundreds of thousands of homes throughout the United States .

They’re currently labeled as “Kimerald,” and have been followed by media as a couple in a fashion slightly similar to Hollywood ’s “Brangelina.” With such a large focus on Kim and Gerald as a couple, some doubt how genuine their relationship may be. A friend of Gerald shared that he’ll be traveling to California next week, the first week of July -- with Kim.

BEA

JOHN

Conservative fans can be rest assured, the teen-idol couple won’t be doing anything outrageous like eloping. Kim and Gerald are simply crossing the Pacific Ocean to reach out to Teleserye fans with friends, Bea Alonzo, John Lloyd Cruz, Shaina Magdayao and Rayver Cruz at the Grove of Anaheim on July 8, 2007.

The special event, “Teleserye
Fever”, was created by All Access Promotions, with fans in mind. Instead of mounting a regular concert where the
audience just watches, this is an actual show where fans are able to interact with the artists and be entertained. “There have been countless concerts. We enjoy concerts very much. But ‘Teleserye Fever’ doesn’t just highlight the performers, it bridges the performers and the audience together.

“This is the first show that was created with you as the central focus in mind,” explains Maricel Flores of All Access. She continues, “there are so many questions fans want to ask about what happened or what will happen in Maging Sino Ka Man, Sana Maulit Muli and Rounin. Televiewers also want to know what is really the score between the love teams. ‘Teleserye Fever’ will help them get answers to those questions, plus more!”

Are Kim and Gerald too good to be true? Only the two of them really know the real score. Maybe they’ll share the truth with us at “Teleserye Fever” on July 8. Maybe we’ll be able we will learn more about them ourselves when we watch the show.

For tickets to the special event made possible by All Access, ABS-CBN Direct, the Law Offices of Johnny Ascano, Forex, Robertson Honda, Inspired Madness Cologne by Martin Nievera and DP Magazine, call 818-395-9941. MANILA-U.S. TIMES, through http://manilaustimes.blogspot.com/ supports the “Teleserye Fever.”

Have any questions for Kim and Gerald? Let All Access know when you call, they might be able help get the answer.

Myrna Keyes: Glowing With Full Contentment In Life; Lives Closer To God

2007-07-01T15:10:00.000-07:00

BOB AND MYRNA KEYES

By Johnny M. Pecayo

COSTA MESA , CA " A devout Catholic, Myrna Keyes is silently making waves in the Filipino American community.

I owe my good life and all the attendant blessings I now possess through the guidance of Jesus. I really worked hard for them, Myrna told the MANILA-U.S. TIMES when interviewed. â€œBut they did not come via a silver platter. I work hard for them and, despite the many struggles and negativities, I was able to hurdle through and ended up having the best, and I am very proud about my personal accomplishments, Keyes added.

Parenthetically, Myrna reveals: Life is not just having all the material comforts provided by the spouse. It's love, respect for each other, togetherness, peace of mind, faithfulness, loyalty, and happiness we share to one another from God. The Joy of Life comes from God and God is Love.

Keyes appreciates little things, including meeting people like you, like Mattie Revolinski, and a few others, she said during the exclusive interview.

Born and grew up in Manila on May 15, 1950 to Eleuterio Rosales Suayan, a U.S. Army who passed away in 1952, who hailed from Lemery, Batangas; and Rufina Miguel Suayan, who hails from Antique, Panay Island, as Myrna Miguel Suayan, she first married Elizalde Morga from Rosario, Cavite and maintains good relationship and respect for each other, even without any communication. The marital union between Elizalde and Myrna was blessed with a son, Christened Jose Jonjie Elizalde Suayan, now a dentist. Jonjie used his Grandfather's family name when he applied for U.S. citizenship.

At a tender age of seven, way back in the Philippines , Myrna learned to give change to our customers in my Mom's retail store, Aling Pinang's Sari-Sari Store. She learned life the hard way. She baby-sat for food for her neighbors. She baby-sat for FAMAS Awardee Boy Actor Sherman Manahan who worked for the deceased Fernando Poe Jr. She ran errands for bookies (neighbors) at the San Lazaro Hippodrome, the reason why she can't be a gambler. I saw how they suffered losing all their monies.

At the age of 12, Myrna was the youngest to graduate and to go up onstage to receive a Certificate from the training conducted by the Philippine Red Cross, to take care of the Tuberculosis victims.

In Olongapo City , Philippines , Myrna did many odd jobs -- from dishwasher, cashier, manager, and Public Relations Officer, trouble-shooting for her American Boss businesses, who was married to the beautiful daughter of one of the Generals in the Philippines , selling stateside goods, handicrafts, and other merchandise.

Olongapo City is very memorable to her. It was in this city where she met Bob Keyes, who would eventually become her second husband. Myrna is happily married to Bob Keyes, with whom she is blessed with two grown-up children -- Joseph Terry Keyes, 30 years old, and Manager / Supervisor at Fry's Electronics. He is a Computer Specialist, (my computer doctor). The youngest is Candice Keyes Lind, holder of a degree in Bachelor of Science in Anthropology which she obtained from the University of California-Irvine. She is an elementary school teacher in Boston Massachusetts , and is married to Mr. Lind who obtained a degree in International Economics from Harvard University .

Dr. Jose Jonjie Elizalde Suayan, Myrna's eldest son, resides in Pismo Beach , and owns two dental clinics -- Oak Park Dental/Orthodontics Clinic At Oak Park, near Arroyo Grande, California ; and Family Dentistry in Santa Maria , California . He is 38 years old, single, and a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of California-Irvine (UCI). He also obtained another degree “ Dental Surgery/Orthodontics “ from the University of San Francisco Medical School (UCSF).

Bob and Myrna visited the Philippines last in January 2002, to bury my youngest brother (from my real dad) who was murdered by a drug addict.

Affiliations, Community Involvement

Myrna S. Keyes is the Charity Director for 2007-2008 with the Pacific Coast Corvette Club; and President of North Star Lion's Club 2007-2008. Before assuming the presidency, she was North Star Lions Club's Second Vice President and Director 2006-2007. She was also a Pre-school Teacher; Orange County Child Care Association's Executive Board as Assistant Director 2004-2005; Active member of the Federation of Filipino Rosary Group, Orange County ; Social Activity Director 2004-2005; Chairperson 1985-1997 of Newport Beach/Costa Mesa Rosary Group; and Adviser, Rosary Group Newport Beach / Costa Mesa 1997.

I am a volunteer to my parish Church , St. John D' Baptist Catholic Church, in Costa Mesa , where I will remain one forever as long as I'm needed, Myrna confided.

Myrna is the owner of a child care provider, Miss Myrna's Child Care.

Bob and Myrna arrived in Costa Mesa on December 13, 1984 from the Philippines . They own two houses. Their son, Joey, resides at the other house also in Costa Mesa .

I always say, "Hey Dude!", as we hang out at Corona del Mar Beach and Newport Beach , with our children Jonjie (the dentist), Joey, Candice and her husband, and Bob. They're boogie boarders/surfers. I used to also, but not anymore, as I do Yoga and water aerobics now at the 24-hour fitness. I love to dance Hawaiian, Tango, Swing, Cha-Cha, etc., and I enjoy listening to the music. I love to sing in the bathroom only. Number One in my life is God, the rest comes after Him. I thank God for everything, and I am very thankful and grateful that I am blessed by Jesus, Myrna confides to the MANILA-U.S. TIMES.
Born with a green thumb, Myrna planted 52 Banana fruit-bearing trees at their backyard while Bob planted Sago and Palm trees. We never run out of fruits which we harvest from time to time from our backyard. I love the garden and green plants. They are pleasant to my eyes, Myrna proudly relates.

MYRNA S. KEYES (3rd from left), in abre-siete with Sen. Francis Kiko Pangilinan, Keynote Speaker at the 109th Anniversary celebration of the Declaration of Philippine Independence June 9 at the Long Beach Convention Center, under the auspices of Kalayaan of Southern California, Inc. Also in photo (from left) are: Consuelo Balagtas and Bob Keyes. "Should Kiko decide to run for President, we will go home and campaign for him, chorused Bob and Myrna. " MUST PHOTO BY BHETH EDRA

CANDICE KEYES' Graduation photo with Mom, Myrna Keyes.

MYRNA KEYES and Friends.

JOHN and MATTIE REVOLONSKI, Myrna's best friends

"Something to Crow About" Premieres at Alex Theatre

2007-06-30T10:38:00.000-07:00

Text by Johnny M. Pecayo
MUST Photos by Romeo M. Balboa

CONSUL GENERAL Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, acknowledges the many talents of Filipinos and congratulates Dr. Alejandro Roces and Cecile Guidote for the splendid performance of the 40-male and female cast. Behind her are Glendale City Commissioner for Arts & Culture Zen Lopez and Councilmember and former Glendale City Mayor Bob Yousefian (partly hidden).

GLENDALE, CA -- "Something to Crow About" marks the very first time a full-length zarzuela in English from the Philippines which was performed Thursday, June 28, at the legendary Alex Theatre here.

Prior to the Glendale City premiere, the cast and crew of the production had performed five shows at the legendary off-Broadway La Mama Theater in New York, June 21-24.

The L.A. production of "Something to Crow About" was executive produced by Susan M. Dilkes and Edward Dilkes and co-produced by Zen Lopez, Arts & Culture Commissioner for the City of Glendale, and was sponsored, in part, by ABS-CBN/The Filipino Channel, with publicity support from the MANILA-U.S. TIMES, which featured its announcement in the June 17 edition, and other local newspaper publications.
This highly successful and professionally executed play was presented by TDRZ Productions, Inc., in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General of Los Angeles, headed by Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon, the Philippine Department of Tourism, headed by its local director Annie Cuevas; and the Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI), chaired by Atty. Eduardo Angeles, with Susan Dilkes as its Executive Director.

Zarzuela comes to America direct from the Cultural Center of the Philippines, based on Philippine National Artist for Literature Dr. Alejandro R. Roces' eponymous prize-winning book of short stories. The musical is about the uniquely "Pinoy" fascination with fighting roosters (or game cocks) and cockfighting.

Executive Director, Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, "Something to Crow About" won the 2006 Aliw Award for Best Musical (category: zarzuela) and Best Musical Direction.

The musical consists of a talented cast of 40 and bears the hallmark of some of the most fascinating scenes from Dr. Roces's book marked with wit, humor and satire that highlights the traditional sport of cockfighting as a vehicle (even metaphor) to unfold the colorful panorama of customs, heritage, values, religions and even relationships in the social, economic and political life of a typical Filipino town.

There were many lessons to learn from this play, including equality of justice for all. - JP

ARTS & CULTURE Commissioner Zen Lopez and Dr. Alejandro Roces, with Susan Dilkes and Ted Benito

DR. ALEJANDRO ROCES, holding a bouquet of roses, receives a CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION from Atty. Eduardo Angeles (back to camera), Counsel, City Council of Los Angeles.

ZARZUELA's Cast.

GLENDALE CITY Councilmember Bob Yousefian presents a Plaque of Recognition to Zarzuela's Executive Director Cecile Guidote.

Washington D.C. PE Hosts Successful

2007-06-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

First Uniglobal Services Outsourcing (USO) IT Mission in the U.S.

AMBASSADOR WILLY C. GAA -- MUST PHOTO

CONSUL GENERAL MARY JO BERNARDO ARAGON -- MUST PHOTO by Jimmy Presto

WASHINGTON, DC -- Ambassador to the United States Willy C. Gaa welcomed the delegation of the 1st Uniglobal Services Outsourcing (USO), Inc. IT Mission to the U.S. at a reception held at the Philippine Embassy on 26 June, attended by key members and representatives of business chambers and organizations in the Metro D.C. Area.
“Trade missions such as this one and the continued confidence of our business partners in the Philippines and abroad will make possible President Arroyo’s prediction that 2007 will be the year when it all comes together,” said Ambassador Gaa before members of the Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce, Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITSA), the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, the U.S. House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, and staffers of U.S. Representatives John Mica (R-FL), Lee Terry (R-NE), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), and Senator John McCain (R-AZ).
The Philippine Delegation, composed of representatives from E-PLDT Ventus (Call Center), Vinzons-Chato Law Office (Legal Transcription) , Cronus Group, Inc. (Software Development) , Electronic Business Services-Asia Pacific (Finance & Accounting), and The Software Factory, Inc. (SAP Applications & Solutions) is led by Dr. Mina T. Gabor, USO President and former Secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT). Newly-elect Representative of the lone district of Camarines Norte, and former Bureau of Internal Revunue (BIR) Commissioner Liwayway Vinzons-Chato, also joined the delegation as Observer.
In the BPO/IT Services market, the Philippines is estimated to have reached US$2.54 billion in 2006. The Call Center industry is expected to attain a revenue level of US$3.5 billion annually by 2008, potentially overtaking India in share of the global outsourcing market for call center services. In 2001, there were only 2,000 employees working in BPO companies in the Philippines. It is expected than a million jobs will be created by the business sector alone in 2010.

Dr. Gabor disclosed that the Philippines, as recently announced by Dr. James Poisant, Secretary-General of the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA), ranks 2nd or 3rd in terms of competitiveness among member countries of WITSA, a consortium of IT industry association from 60 economies around the world representing over 90 percent of the world’s IT market.

The delegation already visited Los Angeles, where they were warmly received by Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon, and Florida before meeting potential partners in Washington, D.C. and Virginia, and is scheduled to visit Delaware and Philadelphia today, then New York, New Jersey (July 2-3), and San Francisco (July 5-6).

Fil-Am is New Mayor of Tabon-Tabon

2007-06-29T19:10:00.000-07:00

By Johnny M. Pecayo

BEVERLY HILLS, CA -- Dr. Rusty Balderian, a Filipino American businessman and philanthropist, has been elected Mayor of Tabon-Tabon, Leyte. He left for Leyte last week, after a brief respite in Palos Verdes, California, where he and his family reside, to take his Oath of Office as the new Mayor of his town on June 30, 2007.

Dr. Balderian created a symbolic victory when he defeated Mayor Priscila Justimbaste, the undefeated Mayor for 27 years. Her father was likewise undefeated for 25 years.

Dr. Balderian garnered 2,692 votes against her opponent's 2,100 votes. "My winning number of votes should have been higher had they not been mysteriously dwindling in some of the pricincts during the canvassing."

Dr. Balderian and family are into healthcare business in California. The family also owns a hospital in Metro Manila, and a nursing school in Tabon-Tabon which, for sometime, was being targetted by the local government to close down.

The newly-elected Mayor fought for his nursing school's retention for very valid reasons: 1) It was put up to help the less privileged students attend a four-year college in nursing; 2) No tuition fee, whatsoever is being charged to any student; 3) Use of school facilities, laboratory, computer room, fire truck, books, library, is FREE; 4) Boarding is also provided free; 5) Quality education, complete with quality and qualified Faculty staff is provided; 6) Employment at U.S. hospitals has been pre-arranged for those who will pass the CSGFNS; and many more fringe benefits which Dr. Balderian shoulders.

"This special arrangement -- to ensure their employment at U.S. hospitals -- is based on the agreement that 80 per cent of their projected income must be remitted to their parents back home in order to help move the economy forward of this 5th class municipality. When there is a steady flow of money remittance, the municipality's economy will go nowhere, but up, which will redound to better economic growth, create employment, and increase in business' revenue generation," Mayor Balderian told the MANILA-U.S. TIMES when interviewed.

Dr. Balderian is a member of the prestigious California-based Tuesday Club, comprising of Filipino American businessmen, led by Emmanuel I. Bernabe, President of Pleasant Care Corporation, the largest Filipino American-owned healthcare facilities in the State of California; Paul Emata, President of American Ring LLC; Jovan Lee, attorney assistant at Susana Ragos Chung Law Offices; Dr. Nick Agpalo, President of Eagle Rock Dental Care; Mike Cucueco, President, Home Health Services of America; Johnny Pecayo, President of Jade Management Pacific Ventures, and Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of MANILA-U.S. TIMES; Errol Santos, businessman and restaurateur; Ross Labadlabad, President of Far East Home Health, who has likewise been elected congressman for Zamboanga del Norte, beating his closes opponent, movie actor Mat Ranillo, by almost 40,000 votes; Jun Alvarez, Marketing Director of Jemini Home Health Services, Inc.; Ram Lopez of Lopez Entertainment; Nestor del Rosario of Del Rosario Radiological Technical Company, and others.

MAYOR RUSTY BALDERIAN of Tabon-Tabon, Leyte (2nd from right), in the company of business associates (from left): Mel Cucueco, Atoy Valencia, Johnny Pecayo Majie Kruse
(standing) and Paul B. Emata. -- MUST PHOTO

Mandanas Arranges for a P50 Million Donation

2007-06-29T18:31:00.001-07:00

MANILA -- P50 Million for Education. Congressman Hermilando I. Mandanas (left), who arranged for a P50-Million donation for educational programs, presents the facsimili of a check drawn in favor of the Philippine Foundation for Cultural and Educational Development that will handle the disbursement for official expenses. Receiving the donation are Ambassador Jose Romero (2nd from left) and Manuel A. De Leon (4th from left). The presentation is being witnessed by Calixto Y. Laureano (2nd from right), Clarita T. Zarraga (3rd from left), and Atty. Leonardo S. Gayao (right). -- Tito Aguirre

Over 45 Asian LPGA Tour Golfers attend Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill

2007-06-29T18:24:00.000-07:00

Photo credit: Michael Cohen, WireImage
Michelob ULTRA Celebrates 5th Anniversary of Asian LPGA Players Reception

Williamsburg, VA. -- Michelob ULTRA hosted a special reception to salute over 45 Asian LPGA Tour golfers participating in the LPGA Tour at the Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill for the fifth year in a row.

Participating LPGA Asian golfers that attended the reception included former Michelob ULTRA Open champions Grace Park (2003) and Se Ri Pak (2004), 2006 champions Seon Hwa Lee, ShopRite LPGA Classic and Jin Joo Hong, KOLON-Hana Bank Championship, 2007 tournament winners Stacey Prammanasudh, Fields Open in Hawaii and Mi Hyun Kim, SemGroup Championship. Forty-seven of the top 50 LPGA Tour players competed in the Michelob ULTRA Open for a share of the $2.2 million purse. The winner, Suzann Pettersen, received $330,000.
Welcoming remarks at the reception were given by Wayne Nooe, Tournament Director, Michelob ULTRA Open. Key guests attending the reception included Chris Higgs, LPGA Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Olympic Medalist Skier Toby Dawson and officers and board members of the Korean American Grocers Association (KAGRO) from Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Arizona and Colorado. LPGA player Mi Hyun Kim, winner of the recent SemGroup Championship, received special recognition from Chris Higgs for donating $100,000 of her winnings to the Kansas tornado victims.

“We are honored to be celebrating the achievements of the Asian LPGA golfers at the Michelob ULTRA Open for the fifth year,” said Jason Pak, Senior Director, Asian Marketing, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. “With each passing year this reception grows in significance as the presence of Asian players within the LPGA becomes evermore prominent. This is apparent in the current LPGA standings with over 20 from the top 50 of the Official Money List players being Asian.”

The tournament took place at the Kingsmill Resort and Spa, owned and operated by Busch Properties, Inc., the real estate subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch Companies. The Michelob Family is one of golf's strongest corporate sponsors with an association that dates back more than 33 years. In addition to the Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill, Anheuser-Busch has sponsored the LPGA since 1994. Michelob ULTRA now serves as the “official beer,” and O'Doul's serves as the “official non-alcohol brew” of the LPGA, PGA TOUR and the Champions Tour.

For more than 15 years, Anheuser-Busch has contributed to Asian Pacific American communities through the development and support of a variety of programs that help meet the needs of these diverse communities. These programs are designed to provide immediate and long-term benefits to the communities through joint efforts with national, regional and local organizations who are developing the next generation of leadership.

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 48.4 percent share of U.S. beer sales. The company brews the world’s largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. Anheuser Busch also owns a 50 percent share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico’s leading brewer and a 27 percent share in China brewer Tsingtao, whose namesake beer brand is the country’s best-selling premium beer. Anheuser-Busch ranked No. 1 among beverage companies in FORTUNE Magazine’s Most Admired U.S. and Global Companies lists in 2007. Anheuser Busch is one of the largest theme park operators in the United States, is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and one of the world’s largest recyclers of aluminum cans. For more information, visit http://www.anheuser-busch.com/ or http://www.asianbud.com/.

Lumanog is Ambassador of Goodwill; Revolinski is Kalayaan Queen USA

2007-06-29T18:15:00.000-07:00

By Johnny M. Pecayo
http://www.manila-ustimes.com/ . http://manilaustimes.blogspot.com/

LONG BEACH, CA -- At the June 8 Coronation Night, held at the huge Long Beach Convention Center here, over 300 people came to witness a bevy of beauties parading onstage -- from Miss Teen Kalayaan to Miss Kalayaan, Mrs. Kalayaan and Mrs. Senior Kalayaan -- including a fashion show conducted by Monet Lu, and the presentation of trophies to the individual winners, as well as group winners, in bowling, tennis and golf tournaments.

Noteworthy was the presence of elected officials and dignitaries, comprising of Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangililan, State Senator Jenny Oropesa, Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo-Aragon, Mayor Jim Dear of the City of Carson, Mayor Rusty Balderian of Tabon-Tabon, Leyte, Consul Hellen Barber, Frank Quiambao, Special Assistant to the Director, Office of Homeland Security, State Capitol, Sacramento, California; and Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal of the City of Long Beach, who officially welcomed the candidates and guests to the City, on behalf of Mayor Bob Foster, who happened to be out of town that week. Senator Pangilinan came straight from LAX and stayed throughout until the event was over.

The program began with the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner by Romy Borje, and the Bayang Magiliw by Bennette Ibanez, co-Host of Noel Omega, whose introduction to start hosting the program was voiced over by this writer.

Bennette and Noel came up onstage, delivered a short spiel, then called on Mylah de Leon, Vice Chair of the Pageant, to lead the Invocation.

After dinner, Ms. Thelma Calabio, KOSCI Board Member and Secretary and Chairman of Kalayaan Beauty Pageant, donning a blue Filipiniana attire, delivered onstage a meaningful remarks, extemporaneously, just before the arrival of Senator Pangilinan.

Ms. Lydia Soriano delivered a brief inspirational message, which was immediately followed by the fashion show, directed by Monet Lu.

Darna Umayam, Honorary Chairman of the Kalayaan Beauty Pageant, directed the presentation of Beauty Queens.

Mrs. Shirley Lumanog won in the popularity contest, and was crowned as Kalayaan Ambassador of Goodwill. She was crowned by Senator Pangilinan and Ms. Thelma Calabio, Chairperson of Kalayaan Beauty Pageant. "This is the first time I am doing this job," quips Kiko Pangilinan. To which Mrs. Lumanog retorted, "this is also my first time to be crowned as Queen." Other presentors of sash, trophy and boquet of flowers were Mayor Jim Dear, State Senator Jenny Oropeza, Frank Quiambao, Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal and Darna Umayam.

Mrs. Matilda Revolinski was crowned Kalayaan Queen USA 2007.

Following Revolinski is Mrs. Elvisa Rafanan, who was crowned Mrs. Senior Kalayaan Philippines 2007, while Estelita Valtiendas was crowned Mrs. Senior Kalayaan California 2007.

Two winners were proclaimed for the Mrs. Kalayaan category -- Mrs. Virginia Vivas, Mrs. Kalayaan U.S.A. 2007; and Mrs. Elena Jovenes Haddix, Mrs. Kalayaan Philippines 2007.

Miss Kalayaan Category

For the Miss Kalayaan category, the following were declared winners: Miss Michelle Calabio, Miss Kalayaan USA 2007; Miss Jacky Skelly, Miss Kalayaan Philippines 2007; Miss Lizette Ducut, Miss Kalayaan California 2007; and Miss Jeselle Dziuk, Miss Kalayaan Los Angeles 2007.

Miss Teen Kalayaan Category

Miss Jessica Clavering, Miss Teen Kalayaan USA 2007; Miss Mariah Ramos, Miss Teen Kalayaan Philppines 2007; Miss Sheila Padre, Miss Teen Kalayaan California 2007; and Miss Monique Tinio, Miss Teen Kalayaan Los Angeles 2007.

Presentors

A short list of presentors includes Senator Kiko Pangilinan who, along with Thelma Calabio, crowned Mrs. Shirley Lumanog, Kalayaan Ambassador of Goodwill 2007.

Other presentors were: State Senator Jenny Oropeza of the 18th District, who is running for a U.S. Congressional seat this month; Mayor Jim Dear of the City of Carson; Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal of the City of Long Beach, who officially welcomed the guests, the candidates and their relatives, as well as the winners in the golf, tennis and bowling tournaments; Lydia F. Soriano, President of KOSCI; Noel Omega, Vice President of KOSCI;
Johnny M. Pecayo, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the MANILA-U.S. TIMES, and Rose de Ocampo, a well known businesswoman from Manila, who both hosted the presentation of crowns, trophies, sahes and boquet of flowers to 15 Kalayaan queens.

Frank Quiambao, currently Special Assistant to the Director of the Governor"s Office of Homeland Security was also one of the presentors. Prior to working for Gov. Schwarzenegger, he served 31 years in higer education as a teacher counselor and administrator. During his career he was president of two colleges, Los Angeles Harbor College and most recently West Los Angeles College.
Art Samontina, Chief Executive Officer of Prime Finance & Realty, one of the sponsors of the Kalayaan Beauty Pageant, was represented by Carlos & Marilou Balao in the Coronation Night.

Dr. Nick Agpalo, President of Eagle Rock Dental Care, who came with Esther Agpalo, RN, whose building on Eagle Rock, housing the dental facility, they own, also joined the list of presentors. He was also one of the sponsors of the event.

Another couple -- Josie Jones and Danny Bautista also sponsored the Kalayaan Beauty Pageant event. Josie is a nursing graduate of the Philippine Women's University. She is a Registered Nurse with a Masters Degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of La Verne. She is the owner and CEO of Admiral Home Health, Admiral Hospice Care, Alpha Hospice Care, and presently involved with real estate investments. She employs and contracts about 100 Nurses, Physical Therapists, Social Workers and other healthcare providers, including physicians to staff more than 200 patients in her health care businesses. Danny Bautista, on the other hand, is an economics degree graduate of the University of the Philippines and an MBA degree holder from UCLA. He has has always been involved with marketing and advertising endeavors both in the Philippines and in America. He is presently a business partner in Admiral Home Health and Admiral Hospice Care and takes care of finance and business development.

Atty, James Beirne, Immigration Lawyer, was represented by Romy Borje, a noted journalist in California.

Val Creus, who holds a double masters degrees in Taxation and Business Administration from USC, and formerly on the Management staff of Deloitte, the largest accounting and management consultancy firm in the world, is the President of the Creus Group of Company.

Joey San Andres, President and CEO of Y.E.S., Inc. (Your Environmental Solutions), and John Henry, Vice President-Marketing of Y.E.S., also participated in the presentation as one of the sponsors of the Pageant.

Beauteous Olivia Quido, Licensed Aesthetician and owner of O'Skin Care, along with Leo Maranan, President of the San Fernando Valley Filipino American Chamber of Commerce, crowned one of the queens. She also donated Gift Certificates redeemable in her skin care company.

Romeo Balboa, owner of Balboa Auto shop, and his wife, Josephine, a registered nurse, pinned the sash, and also presented the trophy.

Edith Knoch, current Mrs. Philippines-Universe, who is into healthcare business, along with businessman Vincent Singh, crowned one of the Queens.

The PPP-USA, headed by Rene Villaroman as president, along with Romeo M. Balboa, Bheth Edra, Gerry Edra, and other freelance photographers provided photo coverage throughout the night.

The organizers made a reservation for 200 people, over 300 people came, thereby running out of food, and they had to buy hamburgers from the neighboring stote outlets to serve to about 40 people more. Mayor Jim Dear of the City of Carson, who arrived after dinner, had to contend himself with a hamburger and a soda for his dinner.

THE MALE AND FEMALE MODELS pose after the fashion show, showcasing Barong Tagalog, directed by Monet Lu, President of Reflections. -- MUST PHOTO BY SID GUERRERO

MARIAH RAMOS, crowned as Miss Teen Kalayaan Philippines 2007 by Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal of Long Beach and Mayor Jim Dear of the City of Carson. Dr. Nick Agpalo, President of Eagle Rock Dental Care, and Josephine Balboa, RN, presented the trophy.

JESSICA CLAVERING, Miss Teen Kalayaan USA 2007, shown here complete with crown, sash, trophy and a bouquet of flowers. -- MUST PHOTO BY JIMMY PRESTO

SEN. KIKO PANGILINAN (4th from left) with (from left): Cesar Calangi of the Carfest Committee; Jessia Liu, Robertson Rubillar and Jacob Rubillar of Western Union. -- MUST PHOTO

KIKO P Visits MANILA-U.S. TIMES' Booth. Sen. Kiko Pangilinan proudly shows off a copy of the MANILA-U.S. TIMES along with (from left): Rose de Ocampo, a businesswoman from Manila; Johnny M. Pecayo, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the MANILA-U.S. TIMES; Thelma Calabio, Managing Editor; and Ma. Hellen Barber, Consul, Philippine Consulate General-Los Angeles, when he visited the booth in his tour of the Expo Trade area. -- MUST PHOTO BY ROMEO M. BALBOA

ELENA JOVENES HADDIX, crowned as Mrs. Kalayaan Philippines 2007 by Josephine Balboa and businessman Vincent Singh. Joey San Andres (2nd from right), President of Y.E.S., Inc. and John Henry, VP-Marketing, Y.E.S., Inc. presented the trophy. Y.E.S. Inc. co-sponsored the Kalayaan Beauty Pageant. -- MUST PHOTO BY ROMEO M. BALBOA

ELVISA RAFANAN, crowned as Mrs. Senior Philippines 2007 by Leo Maranan, President of San Fernando Valley Filipino American Chamber of Commerce; and Olivia Quido, Owner of O'Skin Care, who donated gift certificates. -- MUST PHOTO BY JIMMY PRESTO

THELMA P. CALABIO, Chairman of Kalayaan Beauty Pageant, delivers an extemporaneous speech, welcoming the guests, family members, candidates, winners in the golf, tennis and bowling tournaments, organizers and dignitaries. -- MUST PHOTO BY NIC ARRIOLA

MANILA-U.S. TIMES'

2007-06-26T16:34:00.000-07:00

Executive Profile of the Week

GEL SANTOS RELOS

Balitang America Anchor does it with ease like a real pro

By Johnny M. Pecayo, MBA
Chairman-Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, MANILA-U.S. TIMES
http://www.manila-ustimes.com/

Gel Santos-Relos' name is now a by-word among the Filipino Americans household throughout the United States of America. Her astronomical rise to popularity, worldwide, could easily be attributed to how she professionally carries herself as TV Anchor of Balitang America, over at ABS-CBN Global TV, Channel 2, based in Northern California, the first ever daily newscast produced and presented by Filipinos on news that matter to the Filipino-Americans in North America .

She has just been the Anchorperson for this daily newscast since May 7, 2007, or barely over two months, but her presence on TV and her manner of delivery created an indelible mark that every Filipino in any part of the world is certainly very proud of her, and proud of themselves as well, as a Filipino.

People began noticing her when she became a Co-Host at CITIZEN PINOY with Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel since September 2005. "They offered me this job when my family relocated from Minnesota to California in 2005," relates Gel to the MANILA-U.S. TIMES during the interview.

"Citizen Pinoy is now filming Season 5 and has been touching the lives of Filipinos wherever they may be, bringing information and public service on matters pertaining to US immigration laws, inspired by the mission of bringing families together," Gel pointed out.

Media Work Experience in the Philippines

Performing media task in the U.S. is not foreign to her, having had a wealth of experience in media work in the Philippines prior to migrating to U.S. in 2001.

In the academe, Gel Santos was an Instructor in Broadcast Communication, University of the Philippines' College of Mass Communication from 1984-1991. She hosted for ABS-CBN’s "Tatak Pilipino," a multi-awarded TV magazine on Philippine arts and culture, with Jim Paredes (of the APO Hiking fame) from 1989-1994.

For a year, from 1998 to 1999, Gel was the Producer/Host for ABS-CBN’s ANC “Tatak Pinoy.” Prior to this, she anchored and produced radio public affairs programs for ABS-CBN’s DZMM like “Relos Reports,” a news commentary program; and “Companero y Companera,” a talk program discussing and dramatizing legal problems of Filipinos, with advice portion given by the late Sen. Rene Cayetano, and other lawyers thereafter like Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, UP Professor Atty. Danny Concepcion, lawyers from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and some human interest discussions with psychologists, which she performed with gusto from 1989 to 2001.

She was part of the triumvirate in hosting the Public Affairs programs for ABS-CBN in the Philippines, the highly popular “Hoy!Gising!” with Korina Sanchez and Ted Failon which she did with flying colors from 1993 to1998; followed by “Companero y Companera”1997-1998 with the late Senator Rene Cayetano.

This beauteous TV personality was newscaster for ABS-CBN in the Philippines for Balita Ngayon, TV Patrol, Pulso, and Headlines from 1987 to 2001.

A multi-talented individual, Gel wrote columns about the Filipino culture for Filipino Magazine, and other major publications about the law and how they apply to letter senders’ problems.

Other Work Experience in the Philippines

She was the PR Manager at Century Park Sheraton Hotel, 1993, while at the same time working for three years as Branch Manager, Fil-Estate Marketing Associates, from 1992 to1995.

Educational Attainment

Gel graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines' College of Mass Communication, then took post-graduate units toward a Master’s Degree in Communication.

While in college, she enjoyed stints as radio drama actress for DWWW in Manila , co- hosted variety show “Karnabal Dos” for BBC-2, did supporting roles for drama anthologies for RPN-9, and acted in several community theater presentations.

She participated in the United States Information Agency Multi-regional Course on Public Journalism, and represented the Philippines in 1997.

Other Work Experiences in the US

Prior to moving to California, Gel and her family were based in New Jersey, where she was the Director for Marketing at Merry Heart Health Care Center for a year, 2001 to 2002.

She pursued a career in real estate business, by undergoing a five-week classes in Principles of Real Estate, taking the government real estate examination to obtain a license, and becoming a realtor. Gel is now affiliated with PMZ Real Estate, the biggest and most successful real estate firm in the Central Valley.

"My clients are mostly Filipinos and I am humbled and privileged to have the opportunity to help our kababayans to understand the challenging process of buying, selling and investing in real estate in the US, and more importantly, in helping the Filipino families make their dreams come true," she proudly told the MANILA-U.S. TIMES.

Family

Gel was born in Manila , Philippines to Atty. Jose Santos and Angelita Quintana Concepcion, and was Christened with the full name MARIA ANGELINA CONCEPCION SANTOS.

Since childhood, she has always excelled in the field of performing arts, and has relentlessly dreamed of being on television and films when she grows up. Today, her personal dream as well as her American dream have been realized.

She is married to Dr. Rene P. Relos, a surgeon who graduated Valedictorian and magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines' College of Medicine, with whom she is blessed with four children -- Christopher, 22, a pre-law student; Christine, 19, a Psychology freshman; Katrina, 10; and Lorenzo, 9.

Gel was granted Permanent Resident Status (Green Card) as an Alien with Extraordinary Abilities, "based on all the awards that I got in the exercise of my profession -- Best Magazine Show Host for "Tatak Pilipino," Best Radio Public Affairs Host and Best Radio Commentator for my DZMM anchoring job, Best TV Public Affairs Host for "Hoy!Gising!," Best Radio Drama for "Companero y Companera, The Drama," of which I was the producer and host," she related. These awards were given by Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) Golden Dove Awards, Catholic Mass Media Awards, and Star Awards.

The Relos family presently resides in the Brookside community in Stockton , California after being residents of Pennsylvania , New Jersey and Minnesota.

"I love my work as a broadcast journalist because I have always felt that my calling was to help educate and inspire people and, with radio and television, supplemented by my work as a real estate professional, I am privileged to accomplish this mission to a bigger number of people through the mass media. What an honor for me, really, to be featured in your publication," she told the MANILA-U.S. TIMES in the conclusion of the interview.

GEL SANTOS-RELOS inside the ABS-CBN studio with the familiar signature logo, "Balitang America."

GEL SANTOS-RELOS and Atty. Michael Gurfinkel with the facade of ABS-CBN providi

ng an imposing backdrop.

GEL is shown here with her husband, Dr. Rene P. Relos, and children -- Christopher, Christina, Katrina and Lorenzo.

GEL (left), an unidentified lady participant in Citizen Pinoy in the middle, and Atty. Michael Gurfinkel, Host of CITIZEN PINOY.

ABOUT JOHNNY M. PECAYO

2007-06-22T17:34:00.000-07:00

Click here to read more about Johnny Pecayo
http://johnnypecayo.blogspot.com/

for Manila-U.S. Times' website, click here:

http://manila-ustimes.com/

Manila-U.S. Times

2007-06-22T10:56:00.000-07:00

Executive Profile of the Week
Hon. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan
SEN. KIKO PANGILINAN

The Youngest to become Councilor is also the youngest to become Senator since 1937

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, Senate Majority Leader, is the youngest to assume the post since 1937. He was the Special Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker at the June 8, 9 and 10, 2007 celebration of the 109th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence.

In the early stage of his political career, Pangilinan was elected as the youngest City Councilor in Quezon City in 1988. He became Minority Leader, Quezon City Legislative Council, from 1991-1992.

He holds a masters degree in Public Administration. His Area of Concentration: Strategic Management, which he obtained from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

He earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from College of Law, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

A double-degree holder, Kiko, as he is fondly called, also finished his Bachelor of Arts in English degree, Major in Comparative Literature, College of Arts and Letters, University of the Philippines.

He went to La Salle Greenhills in Mandaluyong City for his secondary and primary education.

Professional Qualifications

He has been a member of the Philippine Senate since 2001, and was recently re-lected with a commanding lead throughout the Philippine archipelago, and all over the world, where there are Filipinos who participated in the May 14 midterm electoral process.

Top 12 Senators

In North America, Pangilinan was the Topnotcher. He garnered the highest votes of 2,453, as contained in the Certificate of Canvass of Votes duly signed by the Special Board of Canvassers -- Domingo Nolasco, Chairman; Consul Gines D. Gallaga, Vice Chairman; and Cynthia D. Tayam, Secretary, which the MANILA-U.S. TIMES obtained from the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Following him closely were: (2) Ralph G. Recto, 2,089; (3) Joker P. Arroyo, 2,083; (4) Manuel B. Villar, Jr., 2,060; (5) Benigno Aquino III, 2,030; (6) Loren B. Legarda, 2,041; (7) Edgardo J. Angara, 1,685; (8) Michael T. Defensor, 1,593; (9) Aquilino L. Pimentel III, 1,461; (10) Vicente P. Magsaysay, 1,457; (11) Panfilo M. Lacson, 1,417; and (12) Sonia M. Roco, 1,388.

It is interesting to note that these votes were cast without any influence from anyone. This was the true pulse of the Filipino-Americans. While Loren Legarda is ranked No. 1 in the Philippines, she is No. 6 in the U.S., and Francis Escudero, No. 2 in the Philippines, did not make it to the Magic 12. He garnered 1,333 votes only.

Responsible Positions in the Senate

Pangilinan occupies other responsible positions in the Philippine Senate, as Chairperson, Committee on Rules, with jurisdiction on all matters relating to the Rules of the Senate; the Calendar as well as Parliamentary Rules and the order and manner of transacting business and the creation of committees.

From August 2001 to present, Kiko has been the Senate Representative to the Judicial and Bar Council, a constitutional body tasked to review and recommend appointments of justices and judges in the Philippine Judiciary.

From February 10, 2003 to January 2004, Kiko was the Chairperson, Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, which managed matters within the Senate jurisdiction relating to the promotion and development of the state education of the country and the preservation, enrichment and evolution of Filipino Arts and Culture.

From August 2001 to January 12, 2004, Kiko was the Chairman, Committee on Justice and Human Rights. He was and is a principal in the struggle for reforms in the Philippines Judicial System and the upholding of Human Rights. He also chaired the Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement, as well as the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, with jurisdiction over matters relating to the conduct, rights, provileges, safety, dignity, integrity and reputation of the Senate and its members.

Senator Pangilinan authored and sponsored a number of important and relevant bills in the Senate, like the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act; Improvement on the salaries and benefits to justices, judges and memberf of the Judiciary; strenghtening and rationalizing the National Prosecution Service; Anti-domestic Violence Bill; curtailing Entertainment and Media Piracy in the Philippines; Anti-Money Laundering; Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty; Human Rights Consciousness; National Service Training Program; Citizenship Retention Act; Filipino Overseas Absentee-Voting; Amending the Philippine Teachers Professionalization; Creation and conversion of various State universities and colleges; Creation of local courts; and Amending the Labor Code of the Philippines, by rationalizing the Composition and Functions of the National Labor Relations Commission.

Affiliation

Pangilinan is the Chairman of the Liberal Party of the Philippines, the second oldest political party in the Philippines.

Mediaman

Prior to getting elected senator, Kiko Pangilinan was Anchorperson, "Barangay Dos TV Show" ABS-CBN Channel 2 (2000-2001); Anchorperson, "Relos Report with Atty. Kiko" over DZMM 630 khz. (1999-2001); Anchorperson, "Batas" over DZMM 630 khz.(1998-2001); Co-anchor, "Hoy Gising" TV Show ABS-CBN (1993-1997); Legal Analyst, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, News and Current Affairs Department (1993-2001); Head, Legal Desk, ABS-CBN (1998-2001); and Anchorperson, DZMM Aksyon Ngayon (1994-1997).

Academe

Senator Pangilinan was a lecturer on Civil Law, Political Law and Labor Law,Department of Management, Ateneo de Manila University (1993-2000).

International Conferences and Delegations

The Senate Majority Leader in the following: -- Law and Justice: The Caseof Parliamentary Scrutiny Association of the Prevention of Torture, theInter-Parliamentary Union and the International Commission Jurist in Geneva,Switzerland, 25-27 September 2006; ASEAN 100 Leadership Forum,Singapore, September 28-29, 2005; Parliamentary Visit to the People's Republic of China, April 6-11, 2004; Asia Pacific Agenda Project Forum 2004, March 19-21, 2004; Tokyo, Japan; 4th ASEF Young Parliamentarians Meeting,October 17-20, 2002, Venice, Italy; Senate Representative to President GloriaMacapagal-Arroyo's State Visit to the People?s Republic of China and Hong Kong, October 28-November 1, 2001; and Financial Underpinnings of Terrorism, August 6-8, 2001, Washington D.C., U.S.A.

Awards and Recognition

Testimonial of Appreciation to Senator Kiko Pangilinan, for institutionalizing CourtAnnexed/Referred Mediation Program in the Philippines and the establishment ofthe Philippine Mediation Center, San Fernando, Pampanga; Supreme Court of thePhilippines/Philippine Judicial Academy/Philippine Mediation Center/USAID &Asia Foundation presented. November 2006;

Most Outstanding Kapampangan Award for Public Service for 2002 -- San Fernando, Pampanga, October 2002;

University Medal of Honor for Exemplary Performance in Public Service --Angeles University Foundation, Angeles City, Pampanga, March 2002.

Certificate of Recognition -- Exemplary Contributions in the Field ofInvestigative Journalism and the Criminal Justice System, Crusade Against Violence (CAV) in 1996.

Pangilinan Family

SENATOR FRANCIS "Kiko" PANGILINAN, shown here with wife, Sharon Cuneta, and daughters Simone Francesca Emmanuelle, Mariel Daniella Sophia and Ma. Kristina Cassandra (right).

Kiko Pangilinan is married to Philippine Megastar Sharon Cuneta, with whom he has two daughters -- Simone Francesca Emmanuelle and Mariel Daniella Sophia. Sharon has a grown-up daughter, Ma. Kristina Cassandra, also a singer, by her estranged husband Gabby Concepcion. But as a doting father, Senator Kiko has adopted KC as his own and showered her with endless love and blessings a biological father would do. KC is now a Pangilinan, although she does still go by her biological father's family name. It was only recently that KC saw her biological father in the US (for the first time in 10 years) which was a surreal experience for her, but for more than half her life, she grew up calling Senator Kiko "dad," and he is the dad she knows.

SENATOR KIKO PANGILINAN (seated at the presidential table, 2nd from left), with from left: Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon of the Philippine Consulate General-Los Angeles; State Senator Jenny Oropeza, and Kalayaan of Southern California, Inc. (KOSCI) President Lydia F. Soriano. Standing (left to right) are: Jush Andowitt, Publicity and Marketing Consultant, Polaris Media & Marketing; Johnny M. Pecayo, Chairman-Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, MANILA-U.S. TIMES, and Chairman PR & Publicity Committee, KOSCI; and Rene Ramos, Director of Operations & Marketing, El Pollo Loco. -- MUST PHOTO BY BHETH EDRA

Sen. Kiko Pangilinan extolls Filipino virtues at Kalayaan celebration

2007-06-22T10:27:00.000-07:00

By Johnny M. Pecayo
Chairman-Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, MANILA-U.S. TIMES

LONG BEACH, CA -- The Kalayaan of Southern California, Inc. (KOSCI), a non-profit organization registered in the State of California under 501 (c)(3), spearheaded this year's celebration of the 109th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence, in collaboration with the Philippine Consulate General, headed by newly promoted Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon.

Businesswoman and real estate broker Lydia F. Soriano, President of KOSCI, was on top of the whole event, being the overall chair of the three-day celebration.

The highly successful event could be attributed to the joint effort of Ms. Soriano, along with the KOSCI Board Members and committee chairs, who spent time and effort in putting together precious resources to ensure the execution of the program plans for the Kalayaan Beauty Pageant, chaired by Thelma Calabio; the Gala Night and Banquet; and the two-day Trade Expo and Carfest, chaired by Noel Omega, held June 8-10 at the Long Beach Convention Center, and co-chaired by Leo Maranan and Cesar Calangi.

Consul General Aragon was given the task to introduce the keynote speaker, but before doing so, she gave her own, then read verbatim the message of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo. Aragon mentioned that among the bills authored and sponsored by Senator Pangilinan was Republic Act 9227, improving the salary and providing benefits to Justices and Judges and other members of the Judiciary.
She also requested, on behalf of the Foreign Service, to also sponsor similar bill that would call for increasing the salaries and fringe benefits to employees and officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Pangilinan is Keynote Speaker

Newly re-elected Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan was the Special Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker at the Independence celebration and Gala Night on June 9. He also attended the June 8 Coronation Night, and crowned Ms. Shirley Lumanog, Kalayaan's Ambassador of Goodwill which, according to him, was his first time to crown a beauty queen.

In his remarks, Sen. Pangilinan told a huge audience of over 1,200 people, who came resplendent in their Barong Tagalog and Filipiniana attire, that the Philippines owes it to its own heroes the freedom and independence that it celebrates annually.

As an elected official, Sen. Pangilinan cannot help but mention the recent midterm election that catapulted him to No. 1 Senator among the Filipino American voters, and ranked No. 1 also in Europe. Overall, Sen. Pangilinan ranked No. 5 in terms of votes garnered in the May 14 midterm elections.

"I ran for a senate seat as an independent based on my principles and conviction and my belief that politics as usual was no longer the road to victory," the Senate Majority Leader told the huge audience, consistent with his earlier statement during breakfast which he shared with this writer during the exclusive interview.

Pundits and my fellow re-electionists for Senator thought it was a political suicide to run as an independent. "They told me it was a political suicide because I do not have the needed political machinery to run as an independent candidate. But I proved them wrong when I garnered one of the highest numbers of votes and was officially proclaimed last Wednesday, along with nine others," he said.

"People are looking for new leaders who can walk the extra mile to sacrifice for our people. Politics as usual is no longer the road to victory," he pointed out, adding that "it was the right thing to do."

"I had asked for Mrs. Arroyo's resignation two years ago," said the Senate Majority Leader. Prior to that I went to EDSA Dos during the time of then President Joseph Ejercito Estrada." Those bold actions precluded him from joining either the Genuine Opposition or Team Unity.

"Our leaders should have a word of honor. They should have principles and conviction," the visiting senator declared.

Moving on, Senator Pangilinan cited economic comparison and statistics during a 20-year period 1981 until 2001, when the per capita income of China grew 400 per cent; Thailand by 100 per cent; Malaysia by 150 per cent. During the same period, the Philippines per capita income grew by a mere 0.75 per cent. "We slept for 20 years. We have been left behind, due to poor governance," he said.

History

"I am relatively still young at 43," he revealed. He told the Kalayaan attendees that the nation is ready for young leaders.

Philippine history had shown young men galvanized great events which brought about changes in Philippine society. "Jose Rizal was 28 when he wrote 'Noli Me Tangere.' Andres Bonifacio was 29 when he led Katipunan movement. Emilio Aguinaldo was was 29 when he declared our independence from Spain and made our country the first democracy in Asia," cited Pangilinan.

"We cannot do it by ourselves (people in the Philippines). Let us come together, do our share and move our country forward together," Kiko Pangilinan urged.

KC Graduates

"We must do whatever we can to contribute to our country's growth so we can leave a legend. In 10 years, my daughter KC (Ma. Kristina Cassandra) who has just graduated from college, could ask me what I did when our country was in crisis and was having many problems. I would like to reply to her something that I could be proud of. [Over lunch, Senator Kiko told this writer that KC obtained a degree in International Communication from the University of Paris and graduated last May 24. The whole family -- Kiko & Sharon Cuneta and daughters, Simone Francesca Emmanuelle and Mariel Daniella Sophia -- along with their housemaid and Fannie Serrano, attended the graduation.]

"Our nation will finally move forward because of our commitment, our stand and our dedication," he said.

Senator Pangilinan said that overseas Filipinos will be able to influence the results of elections in the Philippines because of its increasing number of voters. "In the next 10 years, the number of overseas absentee voters would reach the million mark. By then, you would be a major force in Philippine elections. You are the missing middle class, and you have a role in shaping the future of our country. You are experiencing a better life abroad, and you will not settle for less."

The youthful senator told the audience that his grandfather was an American citizen, the reason why he was able to study here. "I experienced shopping for food at Oriental markets, to miss the country and to miss adobo -- the reason why speaking to you here is always a sentimental experience for me."

"Every time I am invited to speak abroad, I always get two questions -- "Did I bring Sharon (Cuneta, the Mega Star), and do I look better on television or in person?" The answer to that is "No," because Sharon is taking care of our children back home, and I look better in person than on television.

He went on: "I am 43 years old, pero kapag bagong gupit ako ay parang 29 lang. Sabi nga nila hindi daw ako telegenic dahil mas gwapo daw ako sa personal. At d'yan patay na patay sa akin si Sharon. Pero huwag na ninyong ipagsasabi dahil kapag nakarating iyan kay Sharon ako naman ang patay." (I am 43 years old, but with a new haircut, I look like a 29-year-old young man. They say I am not telegenic which means I am more handsome in person. That's why Sharon likes me very much. But keep this to yourselves because once it reaches Sharon, she will kill me). This light banter brought the house down.

The usual photo op took place just after the program, followed by dancing, interspersed with raffling of prizes, with the round-trip ticket, LAX-MNL-LAX, courtesy of Eva Air, won by Clarina Pio Roda, President and CEO of Heritage Home Loans, based in Covina, California.

Other VIPs who joined the celebration were State Senator Jenny Oropeza of the 28th District of California; Mayor Jim Dear of Carson; Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal of the City of Long Beach, representing Mayor Bob Foster, who was out of town that weekend; Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon of the Philippine Consulate General-Los Angeles; Mayor Antonio Cartagena of Walnut, California; Archbishop Oscar Solis of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles; Consul Ma. Hellen Barber, Mayor Pro Tem Elito Santarina of Carson; Mayor Rusty Balderian of Tabon-Tabon, Leyte, Frank Quiambao, Special Assistant to the Director, Office of Homeland Security, State Capitol, Sacramento; Mayor Manuel Lozano of Baldwin Park and other elected officials of surrounding cities.

Invitations have also been extended to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Los Angeles City Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (who sent a beautiful message); Congressman Adam B. Schiff; Mayor Ara James Najarian of Glendale, who also sent a meaningful message; Zoning Administrator Edith Fuentes, highest-ranking Filipino American in the City of Glendale; business owners, business executives, professionals, community leaders and members of the press.

ABS-CBN Global, along with local print media, covered the Gala Night and Banquet. Film clips of the interview with Sen. Pangilinan were aired over Channel 2, the Filipino Channel, based in Northern California, through its Bureau chief, Regina Reyes.

Senator Pangilinan's speech was interrupted more than five times with thundering applause, and was given standing ovation at the end of his speech.

The Gala Night was hosted by Noel Omega, Vice President of KOSCI.

In the early morning of June 9, Senator Pangilinan cut the ribbon to open to public the two-day Trade Expo and Carfest, then spent time visiting every booth and talking to individual exhibitors. The group in charge of the Carfest met with the Senator and showed the Senator around to take a close look at the classic cars on display.

SENATOR FRANCIS "Kiko" PANGILINAN (right), with (from left): Lydia Soriano, Rose de Ocampo and Noel Omega, Gala Night's Master of Ceremonies. -- MUST PHOTO BY ROMEO M. BALBOA

VIPs shown here (from left): Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal of Long Beach; Mayor Jim Dear of the City of Carson; Thelma Calabio, Chairperson of Kalayaan Beauty Pageant; Senator Kiko Pangilinan, Johnny M. Pecayo, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, MANILA-U.S. TIMES; and State Senator Jenny Oropesa. -- MUST PHOTO BY BHETH DELA CRUZ

BENNETTE IBANEZ, Coronation Night Host, Lydia Soriano, Josie de Jesus, Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon, Darna Umayam, and Mrs. Elvisa Rafanan, Mrs. Senior Kalayaan-Philippines 2007. -- MUST PHOTO BY JIMMY PRESTO

KALAYAAN Coronation Night Hosts Johnny Pecayo and Rose de Ocampo from Manila. -- MUST PHOTO BY BHETH EDRA

RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY. Senator Kiko Pangilinan cuts the ribbon to officially open the two-day Trade Expo and Carfest at the Long Beach Convention Center. -- MUST PHOTO BY ROMEO M. BALBOA

SHOWN with Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan (from left) are: Consuelo Balagtas, Myrna Keyes and Bob Keyes. "I really like the speech delivered by Senator Pangilinan, especially when he mentioned about the middle class. If ever Kiko would run for President, we will go back home to give him full support. We will campaign for him," chorused Myrna and Bob. -- MUST PHOTO BY BHETH EDRA

LYDIA F. SORIANO, President of Kalayaan of Southern California, Inc. (KOSCI), and Overall Chairperson of Kalayaan 2007, delivers a message. -- MUST PHOTO BY ROMEO BALBOA

MATILDA REVOLINSKI, resplendent in her Filipinia dress with crown, sash and trophy. -- MUST PHOTO BY JIMMY PRESTO

SENATOR KIKO PANGILINAN gamely poses and displays a copy of the MANILA-U.S. TIMES infront of MUST's booth. He is shown here with (from left): Rose de Ocampo, PRO, Philippines-KOSCI; Johnny M. Pecayo, Chairman-Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, MANILA-U.S. TIMES; Thelma P. Calabio, Managing Editor; and Ma. Hellen Barber, Consul, Philippine Consulate General-Los Angeles. -- MUST PHOTO BY ROMEO M. BALBOA

SHIRLEY LUMANOG emerged victorious to be crowned Kalayaan Ambassador of Goodwill, and is included in the Ambassador's and Consuls General tours to the Philippines on July 12. The group will have the opportunity for the sight-seeing in the local tourist spots, appearance on TV, and meeting with the President at Malacanan Palace. -- MUST PHOTO BY NIC ARRIOLA