Where's Pelosi?

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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.