Jake bares
and dares at ‘Philippine Fiesta’ at Meadowlands Expo Center, Secaucus,
NJ
By NESTOR CUARTERO
August 23, 2010
Just a thought: Your
most useful asset is not your knowledgeable head but your loving heart, your
listening ear, and your helping hand.
• • •
Baring
Jake: Still aching from a hangover during the recently held “Bench
Uncut” body show at the Araneta Coliseum where he unveiled his butt,
Jake Cuenca bared his six-pack abs before adoring fans at the Philippine
Fiesta 2010 at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, New Jersey held Aug.
14 and 15.
Mothers tried to cover
the eyes of their children as Jake flashed his sex symbol image and revealed
himself in the middle of a song and dance number, says our correspondent
Richard M. Reyes. Jake was part of a four-man team of artists flown in from
Manila to grace the Philippine Fiesta, which is now on its 12th year.
Angelica Panganiban,
Bugoy Drilon, and Laarni Lozada entertained a huge crowd that flocked the
Convention Center for a weekend of combination trade fair and
cultural-entertainment show. Jake and Angelica connected well with the
predominantly Fil-Am audience, thanks to their latest pairing in the teleserye,
“Rubi,” said to be a big hit on TFC.
It was Bugoy’s second
time to perform at the Philippine Fiesta, prompting him to thank organizers
Fernando and Mila Mendez for bringing him back after only a year.
“I’m very happy
to be back, even if I have to struggle speaking in English,” he said.
• • •
Philippine Fiesta: The
Philippine Fiesta in America 2010, an annual project of Special Edition Press,
Inc., kicked off Aug. 13 at the Sheraton Newark Hotel with a People’s
Ball. The Philippine Fiesta People’s Ball is a community event that
helps raise funds for Best Kids Foundation and the Knowledge Channel for
Philippine Barrio Schools.
Fernando Mendez says
these organizations were selected for their efforts to improve literacy and
promote cultural excellence to underprivileged children and youths of poor
families.
A highlight of the ball
was the naming of the Philippine Fiesta Empowerment Awardees. They included
Emilia Garcia, Veneranda Regencia, Maria Brennan, Maria Angela Vales, Marianne
Zarro, and Dely Po Go.
The five finalists for
the 2010 Miss Philippine Fiesta Beauty Pageant were also announced and presented:
Lauren Maramba, Dawn Recio, Amanda Krausse, Tiffany Janda, and Kristine Austria.
The finalists impressed guests during the talent portion of the pageant,
whose over-all winner was Janda.
Another highlight was
the staging of Rigodon de Honor, featuring 16 young couples as choreographed
by former Manila fashion designer Bobby T. Yalong.
• • •
Trade and culture show:
The Philippine Fiesta, according to Mila Mendez, serves two main purposes.
First, it serves as a trade show presenting international and local businesses
to the public; second, it serves as a cultural event showcasing the best
of the Philippines to Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike.
Teresa Palencia chaired
the Miss Philippine Fiesta 2010 pageant.
Making its debut at the
Philippine Fiesta this year is large supermarket chain Wal-mart, which unveiled
a modern scaled-down home with glass doors enclosing a kitchen, living room,
and office. Wal-mart representative Arthur Vong said, “It is a pleasure
to support the Filipino community at the Philippine Fiesta in New Jersey.”
As in previous years,
the Fiesta was awash with displays of various products and services, including
telecommunications (phone cards & Philippine discount calling plans),
food products, health and personal care items (vitamins, power drinks, soaps,
lotions, and skin whiteners).
The Philippine Fiesta,
described as the definitive celebration for Filipino-Americans in the East
Coast every summer, each year gathers crowds of over 20,000 from far and
wide. They all look forward to enjoying a festive celebration of Filipino
culture highlighted by vibrant music, folk dances, regional cuisines and
products from the Philippines spread out in over 200 booths.
Payag, A
Restaurant Redefining Filipino Cuisine, Opens in Woodside Queens NY
by: Luis Pedron
Payag
Restaurant recently opened with a big bang, located at 51-34 Roosevelt Ave.,
Woodside NY 11377, defined as Casual Dining with High End Ambience. One will
reminisce in how beautiful an experience is: eating at a classy restaurant
ala (like) in Makati City or in Cebu City.
Rena Avendula, CEO and
owner of Payag said that "we created a restaurant that you can be proud of,
I'm trying to change the image of Filipino restaurants: upgrading quality
of food, creating a relaxing and beautiful ambience, showcasing my own design
featuring raw materials from the Philippines like Kawayan (bamboo) and capiz
shell. Our main attraction are the chef created Filipino Menu thanks to our
Executive Chef Raymond Ganados and his team of chefs."
Chef
Raymond Ganados described Payag as "Redefined Filipino Cuisine, meaning Filipino
Kitchen meets American Kitchen. We will put Filipino food to a new higher
level at an affordable price. Try our healthy choices of Pinoy Caesar Salad
and Payag Garden Salad with Mango Tahini dressing, or indulge in our Payag
specialties: Sinuglaw, BBQ Porkbelly and Sisig."
View
Payag menu!
Manager Rogel de Asis,
mentioned that one should come to Payag to "enjoy the fine Filipino Cuisine,
the casual dining in a high end ambience, rave over the unique custom made
furniture and decor from Cebu, Philippines (designed by owner Rena Avendula),
and enjoy the friendly service from the beautiful and ethnically diverse
wait staff. "
The Restaurant had a
very big party with 300 of the who's who in the Filipino Community in NY
and NJ, celebrating Rena Avendula's birthday last July 11, 2010 which doubled
as the Grand Opening of the place. VIP's were there to particate in the ribbon
cutting ceremony including Consul Leadro Lachica and Dr & Mrs Jan Vilcek
of the Vilcek Foundation.
Payag means:
Bahay Kubo or Nipa Hut in Cebuano. Payag is open for lunch and dinner. Payag
is a two story restaurant with a capacity of 100 seats for each floor. The
basement/cellar set up is available for private parties. Payag Retaurant
Directions: 51-34 Roosevelt Ave, Woodside NY 11377 (Take 7 train to 52 st
Station / Q 32 Bus) Contact:
www.payagrestaurant.com
Phone: (718) 476-2257
Lianah Sta.
Ana to sing at US Open; wins big at WCOPA!
Eleven-year-old
New Jersey singer Lianah Sta. Ana, won the coveted title of 2010 Junior Grand
Champion Performer of the World at the World Championships of Performing
Arts (WCOPA) held July 17-25 in Hollywood, CA. Lianah competed with Team
USA.
The title of Senior Grand
Champion Performer of the World also went to a Filipina, Rose Marielle Mamaclay
(a.k.a. Marielle Corpuz), who competed with Team Philippines.
Lianah wowed the judges
with her renditions of such songs as "I'm a Star," "Note to God" and "All
By Myself,' adding several medals and a trophy to her ever-growing
collection.
Lianah has been selected
to sing at the US Tennis Open in Flushing Meadow Park, NY on Tuesday, Sept.
7th for the Women's quarterfinals. She will be singing "America the Beautiful"
at Center Court, Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Lianah sings at 2010
WCOPA - First day of competition
Gerry Balasta's "Mountain Thief"
Wins the Hearts of Asian Americans in NYC
by: Luis Pedron
Gerry Balasta's "Mountain
Thief" wins the hearts of Asian Americans in NYC at the recently concluded
33rd Asian American International Film Festival 2010 last July 19, 2010.
The director was almost teary eyed thanking a fully packed sold out crowd
and said, " This screening was meaningful because this was his hometown crowd.
It was his mother Nina Balasta's (co-producer of the films ) first time to
watch the film with a live audience." It must have been an electrifying
experience for Gerry and his Mom as the crowd lauded the film both by their
thunderous applause and their compliments during the Question and Answer
portion at the end of the screening.
As of now "Mountain Thief"
is in its Festival Circuit travelling to 7 film festivals from Spain to LA,
CA and bagging the Special Jury Award at the San Francisco Asian International
Film Festival. It has been a long journey for Gerry as he started actually
doing acting workshops at the Payatas Dump site to audition his possible
actors in 2004. Three years hence the filmmaking commenced.
He used real scavengers
from the garbage collecting town of Promised Land, Payatas in the Philippines
as actors of the film. This place is a stenchy monstrous mountain of trash
where people await for new trash to be dumped for them to collect scrap metal,
empty cans and bottles to be sold for recycling. Each of them living at the
site and some of them even.... just die there.
The triumph of the film
included: three aspects: the truthful acting, the story telling and direction.
My favorite characters were
the father and son tandem of Julio, the bagong salta (or new comer) and his
son Ingo who inspite of being partially blind and suffering hydrocephalus
was the most positive minded amongst all characters. Ingo enjoyed his partial
view of the Mountain site, he sees it as a playground, where he can play
freely with friends and roam around, in contrast to the war stricken Mindanao
where they came from. Julio, is a hard working chap who eventually everyone
began to love and admire.
The relationship between
the father and son were the symbolism of true faith and hope. I was inspired
with their optimism. I was touched when thinking that these actors are real
and really live this life. The storytelling style and direction was unique
as in each scene in the film was stylistically presented as present, flashback
and forshadowing seeing the situations in different perspectives from the
different charcters experiencing the moment.
It created suspense and
mystery to the non linear format of the film. Balasta captured the faith,
hope and despair of the humanity that lives in a sub human situation. The
most important point of view shown in the film is of the town thief, Simon,
who most of the time is the eye witness to the madness of the community.
He sees life in the haze of drugs and pangs of hunger. This thief at the
end is the only reliable historian who can say the truth. Who will listen
to him?
Why people stay, live and
die at a dumpsite called Promised Land baffles me. But watching the film,
I was reminded that these people exist and it is the truth. The ala Lino
Brocka style of Gerry Balasta's presentation of Social Realism in Filipino
hit a point. Poverty in the Philippines is in existence and no one is doing
much about it.
The film concludes with
Gerry's attempt to help the 20 scavengers employed as actors in the film.
He paid them for their day's work. He sent the children to be medically cured.
He says, the work has just began. After his festival run this year, he hopes
to do a special screening for all actors involved to have their own special
day.
As we enjoyed the film,
cried and lauded the filmmaker, one must think of what we can do for the
people at the dumpsite.
What can we do about poverty
in the Philippines? The film made us think, the film made us ponder, and
I hope the film will make us act - to help. To see how you can help: contact:
Gerry Balasta email:
inspirechanges@yahoo.com
“This
is a party within a show”, says Noel Gamboa. He is, of course, referring
to “Sayawan Na! Interaktib Pinoy Dance Musical”. Mr. Gamboa is
the director and producer of the show that has had successful runs in New
York and New Jersey. He adds, “This show is for you.” Besides Mr.
Gamboa, the cast includes: Jam Duller, Jean Nabong, Marilu Lerma, Luis Pedron,
Violet Trinidad, Gail Banawis, Charisse Trinidad, Miles Gamboa, Katt Ladaga,
and Jillian Sese. The production team includes: Audio and Video by George
Sese; Lights by Jude Tan; and Stage Manager Debbie Nacalaban-Sese.
The New Jersey showing was
on July 2, 2010 at Step by Step in Bergenfield, NJ. Luis Pedron, a cast member,
commented, “Wala ngang stage.” Without a stage, there is no border
between the
performers and the audience. The original and remade
list of Pinoy line dance songs performed include: Sayawan Na, Hala Bira,
Sikat Basta Pinoy, Septiembre, Todotodo, Koriente (Electric Slide), Steph
4 Jesus, and Birthday Girl.
The set Pinoy Dance Musical
consisted of a projector, a screen, wired microphones, wireless headsets,
a spotlight, and the house sound system. The live narration by different
cast members, the slideshow, short acted and choreographed dance scenes,
as well as the integrated line dance scenes proved to be successful in the
continuity of the story and the show. It is far from the typical musical
seen on and off Broadway; it is a refreshing look at what Filipinos contribute
to American Society. In this case, it is entertaining and informative for
the Filpino-American youth. It showcases the essence of the line dance how
entwined it is in the fabric of a Filipino Fiesta (celebration).
GMA Pinoy TV Press Conference
with Mark Herras, Kris Bernal and Rhian Ramos
by Richard M. Reyes
A recent GMA Pinoy TV press
conference hosted by Luis Pedron, featured Mark Herras, Kris Bernal, and
Rhian Ramos. The trio was interviewed by whom Luis Pedron described “local
celebrities”: Bobby Yalong (Fashion Designer), Butch Gata (Photographer),
and Richard M. Reyes (Photojournalist).
Bobby Yalong started by
asking the panel about the success of love teams in the Philippine Television
and Film Industry. Rhian Ramos was the exception since, in her words, “I
do not like to work with the same actor after a project.” She doesn’t
want to be identified with a particular actor and prefers to wait at least
one complete project apart until she works with that actor again. On the
other hand, Kris Bernal and Mark Herras were in agreement that the concept
of a love team greatly forwards one career and the success is symbiotic.
Butch Gata followed up by
asking the trio about the success of Philippine talent in other parts of
Asia. While there was no singular success of an actor in other parts of Asia,
the consensus was that some Philippine Telesdramas have had successes outside
of the Philippines. According to GMA, Korea (Boys Nxt Door) and Mexico (Mga
Mata ni Anghelita) are some of the countries that have succeeded in the Teledrama
export.
The final question was,
”If you had an opportunity to work on any project in the United States
and what would you work on?” Rhian Ramos said she would definitely pick
New York and especially with backdrops of the bridges (Brooklyn Bridge and
Manhattan Bridge). Kris Bernal was humble in her response when she said she
would love to work in the NY, NJ area and would be satisfied with even just
an interview on the streets of Filipino-American neighborhoods.
There was no hesitation
in Mark Herras’ response when I said, “I would like to work on
I Love New York 2.” The original I Love New York (International Name)
or more popularly known in the Philippines as I Luv NY was originally produced
in 2006. The story features Sebastian “Baste” Santos played by
Herras as a contestant winner with a ticket to Los Angeles in hopes of finding
his mom. Instead he ends up in New York City, where his personality opens
the door to friends and their families. Herras adds that during those four
weeks of taping the original series he probably got more intimate with New
York City than most residents because taping required shoots in various
locations.
Philippine-American
Friendship Committee Parade and Festival 2010
By Richard M. Reyes
JERSEY
CITY - Sunday, June 27th, 2010 is the 64th year of Philippine-American Friendship
Day. It is also the 20th year for the Philippine-American Friendship Committee's
Parade and Street Fair. However, it is the 1st year that the parade route
was along West Side Avenue in Jersey City, NJ culminating in a festival and
fair at the Bergen Light Rail Train Station parking lot. In the past the
parade was held in downtown Jersey City with the street fair at Exchange
Place. Normally, Filipinos had to commute to the parade route and the sidewalks
were sparse.
PAFCOM overall chair Bong
Pineda said this year's Philippine-American Friendship
Day celebration was a success; Co-chair Nelsie Parrado
is in agreement. There were definitely more vendors at the BLRT and more
people at the sidewalks watching parade marchers and floats pass by.
This year instead of people
going to the parade, the parade was brought to the people. Filipino-Americans
working on Sunday morning at LBC and Sinugba along the parade route populated
sidewalks and street corners to cheer on the marchers.
The start of the parade
was at the corner of Belmont Avenue at Lincoln Park. The ribbon cutting ceremony
ended with red, white and blue balloons released into the air. The day started
with a few drizzles but the sky cleared up and the sun came
out. Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy met PAFCOM Grand Marshals
husband and wife Tom and Lida Zabala in front of Maganda Hair Salon. Mayor
Healy was donning his hat and matching barong in order to be shielded from
the hot sun.
By the time the parade ended
and the majority of people were at the festival, the temperature had risen
to 97 degrees. This did not stop fans of the annual Filipino Idol for cheering
for their favorite contestants. One elderly woman had to be sent to the hospital
due to extreme heat; there were ambulances on hand ready for any type of
emergencies.
In place of GMA star, Rocco
Nacino, was Filipina-American pop singer Miss Leesah from Georgia. GMA Pinoy
TV emcees asked the crowd if she was ok and they overwhelmingly screamed
yes after they heard her perform "Filipina Girl" from her
new album "Crush" released in March 2010.
The GMA tent was fully populated
when GMA stars were ready for the autograph signing: Rhian Ramos, Kris Bernal,
and Mark "Ultimate Bad Boy of the Dance Floor" Herras. After the meet and
greet, the three stars took the stage. Three single men were selected from
the audience for an opportunity to go on a date with Kris Bernal. The audience
went wild when Mark Herras leaped off the stage and two women had the opportunity
to be swooned and stand next to the star. He then approached the main tent
where fans took the opportunity to get close and get photographs. The efficient
security team kept control of the large but well-behaved crowd of fans.
Many Filipinos send money
to the Philippines because their relatives don't have jobs or don't make
enough income to support themselves. Every month, Filipinos overseas faithfully
send their remittances back home to their families. This ritual goes on for
many years, usually even after the children they have supported already finished
college -- because like we said, there are no jobs. Recently, I wanted to
help out my cousin Jim, so I started sending him a little money because he
has a wife and two young children to support. In doing so, I became curious
about the whole idea of money remittances. I researched the subject and found
out that in 2009, the amount of remittances to the Philippines totaled US$17
billion. In other words -- I told myself -- Filipinos back home had a purchasing
power of at least $17 billion! I never quite looked at it that way. That’s
a nice amount, and doesn't even include the pesos earned by those who remain
working in the Philippines. I always thought of the Philippines as a poor
country, so it never occurred to me to even consider the concept of
“purchasing power.” But it’s true – there is a big enough
market in the Philippines, I thought to myself. Maybe it’s not
“big” on the scale of what we consider big in America or in Europe
or in other parts of Asia. But despite the poverty, there is money flowing
into the Philippines. And, in fact, many always point out the fact that
it’s the remittances that keep the Philippine economy afloat. Without
it, there will be no economy.
Cheap Rent
Purchasing power is a
big deal. This reality made me realize that it would be advantageous for
Filipinos overseas, like myself, to think of investing in a business in the
Philippines, even if it’s small – so that our relatives can work
and not have to depend on remittances forever. We both can benefit from it.
Instead of sending $100 or $60 a month to my cousin Jim, I can instead invest
in a business for him and even for myself – because even $100 is not
really enough to live on. We both can possibly benefit from a small business
investment. I can get the money back that I invested, and also produce an
ongoing source of income on which we both can depend. Jim loves to cook and
has cooked many times for me, and I know he can produce delicious meals.
So we thought that opening a carinderia or turo-turo (small restaurant) would
be the best idea. He said that there was a commercial space being rented
right near where they live in Novaliches/Caloocan City. It was in front of
a factory, so he thought that there would be plenty of workers who will be
their customers. I asked him to inquire and found out that it costs P5,000
($100) a month to rent the space; and that the owner requires that we pay
rent worth five months at the beginning, which would amount to P25,000 or
about $500. It has a kitchen, but you still have to buy the equipment and
furniture. In addition, Jim said that another P5,000 ($100) a month for the
ingredients was good enough. He still has to calculate how much is needed
for the utensils, appliances and furniture. But for many Filipinos overseas,
this seems to be an affordable investment if you consider the amount you
send every month for remittance.
Franchises
I also introduced the
idea of investing to my other cousin, Ann -- just by chance. And it turned
out that she was already working on a business which was quite successful.
Her half-brother was able to invest on a small franchise – selling burgers
in a cart. As I did more research on the internet, I found out that there
were many such franchises available in the Philippines. They are very affordable
like the one Ann had – the burger cart. In my research, I found out
that the prices of franchises range from P15,000 to P50,000. According to
Ann, they were able to get back their initial investment within six months.
And they usually had sales of about P2,000 a day. After expenses, they made
about P1,000 to P1,500 a day. The cart is in business six days a week, so
in a month they make about P24,000 (about $500) or more. So an initial investment
of let’s say $1,000 (P50,000) can get you a nice cart to sell burgers.
In six months you get back your initial investment of $1,000. After that,
the business earns on it’s own about $500 a month. That’s better
than sending $100 a month to my cousin Jim, for the rest of my life. Plus,
I would have contributed one job to the economy, which brings in a good amount
of income. It’s a way of contributing to the growth of the Philippine
economy, and to self-sufficiency instead of dependence. If I invest in a
burger cart that earns $500 a month, and I’m greedy, I can keep $300
for myself and the remaining $200 can be for Jim.
There were many factors
that brought about Ann’s successful venture with the burger cart. Ann
was extremely hard-working and motivated and very trustworthy, and didn’t
mind the work of selling burgers outdoors, six days a week. Also, they found
a good location for the cart where they found a lot of customers willing
to buy their burgers. Like I said, there are many types of franchises for
sale, and some cost only as little as P15,000 or $300. Ann commented to me
that “food” was always a good choice when thinking of a business.
And she also commented on how lucky she was to have a job, since she could
not bear counting the minutes when she was jobless. I really admired her
for her motivation.
So today we learned that
investing on a business in the Philippines is very feasible because of the
purchasing power of Filipinos. But remember – you have to plan it
thoroughly. My investment recommendation today is a cart franchise. Or, you
can find a location for a small restaurant that has cheap rent, like
Novaliches/Caloocan City. And remember, location is key to a successful business,
as well as trustworthy employees or partners who don’t mind the hard
work that running a business requires. To choose a franchise, you can do
a search on the internet and then inquire by telephone or in person. The
following website has a directory of franchises:
http://franchise.philtrademarket.com/minute-burger-franchise/203/
Ten-year-old Lianah won
again at the Amateur Night competition at the Apollo Theater in New York
City on Wednesday, May 5, 2010. She advances to the Top Dog Round which will
be held on Wednesday, September 1st. Watch Liana's winning video here.
Community Alert from
fil-am-attorney-watch.com
Jan. 26, 2010
Attorney
Phillip Abramowitz, who once headed one of the largest immigration law firms
in America and represented many Filipinos, has been disbarred. Please enter
our new website at
http://www.fil-am-attorney-watch.com
for more information and about other lawyers actively involved with the
Filipino-American community in California so you can be protected. Do you
have information about any of the attorneys we have identified? Please share
that information with us. We will post all appropriate information. If you
want to share your information and do not wish to have it posted please let
us know. We want to protect you.
Click here to
send us an email.
Please allow me to introduce
myself; my name is Omri Yigal. My Filipina wife, Dolores Cabunilas-Yigal
was horrifically murdered at the American Civic Association Massacre on April
3, 2009. Sadly, she wanted to come to the U.S. since she was 5 years old;
but she was killed just 10 months after arriving.
Because her life was
and is a shinning example for women everywhere, I will make the home she
and I shared together into a museum in her honor and in celebration of the
beautiful person she was. There are a number of things that I need to do
that will require accurate interpretation of Philippines language, customs,
and Filipina society; therefore I need to work with those who are familiar
with those customs to accomplish that task.
As the museum grows,
exhibits that require these interpretations will present themselves over
time; however, my task, today, is to assemble those kindred spirits who will
be willing to be a Filipino advisor on the Board of Directors for the museum.
If you are willing (and if you know others who are willing) then I ask that
you respond to me; and together we will start presenting to the public the
exemplary life of Dolores Yigal and the presentation of the Dolores Yigal
Ashet Chayel Museum...(Ashet Chayel is Hebrew for Woman of Valor).
I am sending you my report
about Domestic Helpers so that you may be moved to help me in helping them.
After spending half a day with them in Queens, New York, I was told by them
that the money is not enough. Furthermore, I concluded that whatever thousands
of dollars they send to their families back home is not enough to ensure
a bright future and independence for their children and other relatives.
The $20 billion a year that OFWs send back home has not created jobs to stop
the 2,000 Filipinas and Filipinos from leaving the country everyday. The
only available jobs are cashiers and salesladies which require 4 year college
degrees. These jobs, furthermore, are contractual for only up to 6 months,
so jobs are not secure. Most of their husbands don’t work and stay home
to take care of the children they left behind.
I am writing to ask if you
can sponsor our future meetings. We need money for a one-day workshop/conference
I would like to hold in a hotel in New York. I would like to rent a meeting
room and one hotel suite for one day, plus some food. I would probably need
$500-1000. I am contributing $100 of my own money. At this meeting, the following
will be discussed:
1. Return on their investment.
I mean—if they send $1,300 a month to the Philippines, how has it improved
their lives? It seems that spending on tuition for no jobs is not a good
policy, and not wanting to eat fish and vegetables anymore is more costly,
and asking for occasional “gifts” from Mom places more burden on
her aching back. It seems that she is doomed to be a DH in the U.S. until
she is old and gray, bent with hands that cannot be unclasped. The cost of
separation, the long hours, the lack of rest, and the way the money is spent,
does not seem to be worth it if you measure the magnitude of the DH’s
sacrifices. But maybe, having your own home, no matter that you are crowded
like sardines, is still better. The concept of return on investment needs
to be further elaborated. What is the best way to spend $1300 so that you
can insure a good paying job for your kids in the Philippines (not a DH job)?
Maybe starting a micro-business is better?
2. Food Prices. Prices in
the Philippines are comparable to prices in New York. This cannot be, since
capital is cheaper in the Philippines, such as labor. It seems that Filipinos
are being over-charged for food unfairly. If pechay is P80 a kilo, which
is about $2 for 1.5 lbs, it sounds like there’s a big disconnect between
locally produced goods compared to U.S. goods. If it is P45 to $1,
shouldn’t it be a lot cheaper to buy in the Philippines? Who should
pick up the the torch on this subject? Should you pay New York prices in
the Philippines?
3. Emotional and Psychological.
What are the effects of separation from families and relatives and friends?
What are effects of underemployment, since many of them are college graduates
and are extremely intelligent and talented? What are effects of working long
hours and with multiple responsibilities?
4. Are the DHs being exploited?
Are they required to be fluent in English and have college degrees and have
work experience? Are they fully compensated for the talents they bring to
the job -- such as creativity, organization, efficiency?
These are some of the major
concerns I would like to further discuss with the Domestic Helpers. I would
like to invite them to this conference for free, since they are only left
with about $200 for themselves here after they have paid the rent for the
apartments/rooms they need.
Please let me know if you
would like to contribute and if you have any questions or concerns, please
do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for your time,
and I look forward to your reply. If you know others who might want to sponsor
this project, please forward the report to them.
Note: Report is still subject
to review by Kabalikat Group of Domestic Helpers. Nenita, please forward
to Lorena. Thank you kindly for having me at your event and allowing me to
speak to the DH's.
ABOUT DOMESTIC HELPERS IN NEW YORK
KABALIKAT GROUP
Bayanihan Community Center
I recently met with some
DH’s (domestic helpers) at the Bayanihan Community Center in Woodside,
Queens in New York City. The group is called Kabalikat and they were having
a health fair. I volunteered in the food committee so I brought some hot
dogs and puto that I cooked myself. I had my health check (blood pressure
and measurement…I refused the blood test). I filled out the patient
form and was interviewed about my history. The tests were done very carefully
and elegantly, is how I can describe it. So kudos to the DH’s for providing
excellent health check for the day.
Anyway, with that background,
I present to you a mini-report of my discussions with the DH’s. They
agreed to let me interview them because I said I wanted to do a report. There
were about 13 DH’s in the group, and more came in later, so when I left
there were about 20-25 DH’s.
The first issue they pointed
out that was very interesting – that the women leave the country to
work, while the men stay home instead and take of the kids. In essence they
say, the husband’s role becomes twofold…that of a “nanay”
and a “tatay” (a father and a mother). (By the way, there was only
one man DH and only one young woman who was not married.) Anyway, what they
earned before on their jobs was not even enough for transportation. And
surprisingly enough, and a pleasant one at that, is that the women praised
the men… that the men did a great job of raising the kids. Someone pointed
out that children in the Philippines fear their fathers (more than their
mothers), so it’s easier to raise them and actually make them better
children. So that was good. However, the women say that the men often philander
and often find other women for companionship. The other problem they mentioned
was that men weren’t “responsible.” It turns out that women
used to handle the budget, and therefore the men who were left to take care
of the house did not handle the money matters well. In fact, they were
“irresponsible” when it came to the budget.
The number of dependents
the DH’s support always expand from her immediate family (husband and
children) to other relatives and people. The DH and her family feel obligated
to help others, since they are earning dollars. So a niece or nephew or some
other person keeps getting added to the family budget, which makes the resources
even scarcer.
The first question I asked
them was whether they earned enough money. There was a chorus of an emphatic
“No.” Then I asked how much more (amount) money did they need?
They said “lots.” Some said we hope we can win the lotto. It sounded
like they were saying that they needed so much more money, which was counter
to my perception that the DH’s made a whole lot of money.
The DH’s said, at first,
that the money they send to the family or families they support back home
was enough for them. But what’s left for their own needs here in America
is not enough. They don’t have a whole lot for themselves here. Most
DH’s they said make $500 a week or $2,000 a month. However, with an
average of 8 – 10 people to support in the Philippines, they send about
$1,300 of that $2,000 back home. What’s left, about $700 a month is
not enough.
I mentioned that I thought
that Filipino women in the U.S. are known to spend their dollars on expensive
items, like Gucci bags and perfumes. “Not us,” they chimed in.
Those are the nurses, because they make more money. We buy our bags in Chinatown.
A big expense is rent, and they pay about $400-$500 a month. So that sounds
like they’re left with only $200-300 for the rest of the month for expenses.
The DH’s said they
need more money for phone, food, socials, shopping and other personal needs.
We talked about various
expenses that they provide dollars for their families back home.
SHELTER:
RENT: Some of them rented
and it cost about P4,000 a month to rent a one-bedroom apartment. It consists
of one small bedroom and a small living room, sometimes with no separate
room for kitchen. Some have their own bathrooms, some share it with other
tenants.
OWN HOME: Many want to own
their own homes.
One woman owned a small
house and lot in Tondo, Manila which cost her $80,000 (have to double-check).
The way she described it, it was so tiny, maybe the size of a large studio
in Manhattan, or even a small studio. About 8 people whom she supports, will
fit in this house. No one in her household in the Philippines works. But
she mentioned she has a small store in front of the house,which helps them
with expenses. The people who live in her house are her husband, 3 children,
the husband and 4 children of one of her children. There is only one bathroom.
Another woman said she got
a loan through the government agency which handles the Pag-ibig Fund which
assists Filipinos in housing. Through this loan, they can acquire a house
and lot for P1.5 million. It’s a tiny house, and would probably fit
about the same as the other woman’s house. The mortgage is for 25 years,
and in dollars the total amount is about $25-30,000.
Condominiums are not affordable
since they rent or are sold at $1,000 a month.
Overcrowding is a problem
perhaps, since by the way the DHs described the dwellings – up to 10
people occupy a small space with just 1 bathroom. Most houses provided by
the Pag-Ibig fund and others offer only small houses for the money they can
afford.
FOOD:
After discussing food expenses,
we found out that prices in the Philippines are extremely high. They are
almost the same as the price of food in New York, like maybe the borough
of Queens. For example:
Pork $3.00/lb
Beef $3.20/lb
Vegetables $1.50/lb (like pechay or bakchoy)
Rice $1.70/kilo (1.6 lbs) or P1000 per sack (note: good quality rice is usually
sold outside The Philippines, so only low quality rice is avARIALbe for Filipinos
at home)
This finding was very surprising
since labor is cheap in the Philippines, and compared to New York, the standard
of living in the Philippines is far behind.
The DH’s also said
that it was better to live in the province (rural), because you usually have
a backyard where you can plant vegetables and chickens and pigs, so you
don’t have to buy your food.
I asked them what kinds
of food do their families eat? A few said just rice and vegetables, but many
said that their family members did not like that, and they always eat only
meats. There was a discussion later on, privately, about what a healthy diet
consists.
EDUCATION AND TUITION:
One woman told us what her
expenses were in school for her children. She had two children she was sending
to college. She said that she chose moderately priced schools in order to
afford the tuition. Here are her expenses:
Mass Communication Polytechnic
Univ of the Philippines P1,000 per semester (government school) ($225.00)
IT Lyceum University P25,000
per semester ($600.00)
Additional costs for “On
The Job Training” (OJT) P10,000 or $200.00
Additional costs for summer
subjects P10,000 or $200.00
This list does not include
expenses for books, school supplies, transportation, food, extra curricular,
school projects, school trips, etc.
The cost depends on the
course. Majors, such as Hotel & Restaurant Management (HRM) which is
quite popular, are very expensive and the additional costs for supplies and
internships are extremely expensive. Nursing schools also cost a lot..about
$500 a month is already considered cheap tuition. But many don’t pass
the exams after they graduate, which poses a considerable loss for the parents
in the end.
The problem with spending
for education is that the graduates wind up with no jobs, since most Filipinos
leave the country (2,000 per day) to look for jobs as DHs, seamen, construction
workers, nurses, and other jobs not related to their majors. So some found
out that after sending money every month for 4 years for education, they
realized they have no choice but to try to get their daughter in the U.S.
or other countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, and Europe or Russia to work
as DH’s too. So all the hard work and separation from families and dollars
they earned, was for naught.
This begs the question:
What happened to the $20 billion Filipinos overseas send to the Philippines
every year? Who benefits? Where does it go? How is the future guaranteed
for the children they support? I told the DH’s that it seemed that they
were content with just a diploma, even if there are no jobs to apply the
diploma for. And it seemed that they were content with just supporting their
dependents, without demanding anything in return from them?
Some DH’s grieved that
they have no choice, since even the job of a cashier or saleslady in a department
store requires a college degree. So of course, they have no choice but spend
for tuition in college, or if you’re lucky, you can only qualify for
a factory job…and many know how ill treated factory workers are in the
Philippines. Many of the unions are closed by the governments and many of
their leaders are murdered.
JOBS:
We already said that there
are no jobs in the Philippines and that 2,000 Filipinos, mostly women, are
sent to leave the country by the government, everyday.
I was told by a DH that
the jobs that are only available in the Philippines are usually contractual
for only 6 months. It has to be renewed every 6 months based on performance.
Many of the companies are owned by Japanese, Koreans, and Taiwanese, I was
told.
The problem, also, I said
was that at least 40% of nursing students fail the exams and therefore wind
up unemployed or underemployed.
CONCLUSIONS:
So I closed the discussion
with a question: Does your sacrifice here in the U.S. in terms of blood,
sweat ad tears, provide a brighter future for you and your family and other
people you support?
In essence, I wanted to
ask if the $20 billion remittances Filipinos send overseas every year, yield
positive results for Filipinos in the Philippines.
It seems that the $20 billion
OFWs send back home cannot solve the big economic problems, such as the creation
of a thriving businesses that create well paying jobs for Filipinos so that
2,000 Filipinos do not have to leave the country every day.
With the low standard of
education offered by public schools in the Philippines, many OFWs are compelled
to transfer their children to private schools that are expensive, now that
they are earning dollars. This creates an unexpected big increase in the
monthly budget, and is a factor in the never ending quest to find more dollars.
So if you’re budget before you got your job in the U.S. was only $200
a month, now that you have dollars, you’re monthly budget has gone up
to maybe $1,000 a month. It seems unfair that the DH has to bear this unexpected
big cost, since public schools ought to provide a decent basic education
for our children, given that the government’s budget this year along
is worth around P1.3 trillion. Furthermore, college presents a big dilemma
for the DHs because they are concerned that their children will have college
degrees. The dilemma is caused by the fact that most graduates in the Philippines
cannot find jobs, or some say are not qualified. The jobs touted by the
government that are considered well-paying, like those in call centers, are
usually given to graduates from exclusive schools or to extremely bright
graduates, because apparently they have better communication and computer
skills. So many graduates become laborers in ships, constructon workers in
Korea or the Middle East, domestic helpers, nurses and some teachers outside
the country. My point is that if your had let’s say 3 children in college,
that’s 4 years each of tuition down the drain. But many are satisfied
that at least they have diplomas. Saddly though, diplomas that are not put
to use. Teachers becomes baby sitters, doctors become nurses, etc. I feel
that women, like the DH’s and others are being cheated of their hard
earned dollars, since their investment in education which could total maybe
$50,000 for those with maybe 3 children in college, wind up in pockets of
schools that make education a profit center, rather a means to a good livelihood.
Their martyrdom is wasted.
Education is just part of
their expenses. There are other expenses, such as those for food, health,
shelter, socialization, and many more.
It seems that the $20 billion
OFWs send every year cannot yield the positive results we would normally
find in such a big investment in the country.
So where is the investment
going? Is it just being wasted? Who benefits most from the $20 billion? Are
our schools just diploma mills?
In our next meeting, we
hope to find the answers to this and find ways to communicate our grievances
about:
Food prices
Poor housing
Joblessness
Underemployment
Job security
Good salaries
Public Schools
College degree required for all jobs, even cashiers and salesladies
Leaving the country/disruption of families
Dependency on dollars from DHs and other overseas workers
Others
It would be important to
note that, as expressed accurately by the DHs, they came from extreme poverty
or at a great disadvantage before getting their jobs as DHs here in the U.S.
So before, many common items or expenses that may be considered basic, were
lacking. Then, when they got their DH jobs, they felt that they ought to
transfer their children to better schools, buy a telephone, buy better food,
etc. So they came to the U.S. and other countries, just to meet the basic
needs, not for the “extras.” So though, many of them make about
$2,000 a month, there are many mouths to feed and basic things to be met.
It’s not true that they are very well off now In terms of U.S. standards
perhaps.
Quite a few though, voiced
out their objection to DHs who “spoil” their families by sending
their children to exclusive schools like Ateneo and La Salle, while they
are breaking their backs trying to make ends meet here in the U.S. Also,
when interviewed about their families’ diets, many said that their families
won’t eat fish or vegetables, and instead spend their dollars on pork,
beef or chicken. Many also get many requests from the children to send them
certain things they want to be bought in the U.S. or at home.
Please note that there has
not been enough time to flesh out and analyze each issue reported. So there
may be unfair comments on this report. For example, in some cultures, 10
people in a small house may not be considered not good, since family closeness
and sharing with the group is highly valued. They consider this better for
many reasons, such as helping each other, intimacy and bonding, cooperation
and more.
In closing, I would like
to say that I was extremely impressed by the way the DHs communicated their
problems to me. I felt that they were honest and gave intelligent information
that would be useful in charting a course for action to help them get the
value for their dollars that they deserve. Many of them, like I said before,
hardly have enough money for their own personal expenses here in the U.S.,
since they send most of their money to the Philippines, and they still have
to pay rent even if they have a “live in” job. They still need
their own place for the weekends, and for those who are “live out”
need to go home at night to their own apartments or rooms. Though some said
they only work regular hours, I know many who work long hours with multiple
jobs. Some babysitters are expected to clean and cook as well. I know that
a DH in Dubai was expected to start at 5:30 AM and finish at 10PM with no
days off. I know some here in the U.S. who find it difficult to get days
off. Most of them don’t have health benefits. It sounded though that
they were all in good health, and were very cheerful and made a lot of funny
jokes. They health fair was of a high standard and the organizers did a great
job. They were very professional and very thorough at the job. I admire their
resilience but wonder if they hide their loneliness and despair. Hopefully,
it is not as bad.
This report is just the
tip of the iceberg. The stories coming out of the Middle East with one woman
already hanged in 2007, and as far away places as Uzbekistan where you are
so far away from home – you will shudder at their stories. They suffer
in return for what? In return for food, a diploma and roof over their head.
Instead of living in squatter areas, instead of eating only rice or only
twice a day, instead of not sending your child to school. It is not for luxury,
according to the DH’s.
May 24, 2009
Kabalikat Health Fair
Woodside, New York
Report on Meeting of Pauline G. Santos
and Chona J. Veluz
May 28, 2009
Afternoon
Based on dialogue at the
said meeting between Pauline and Chona, the following priorities were agreed
upon:
Business Consultancy and
Business Training and Development:
This will be for Americans
and Filipinos in the United States and in the Philippines. I believe that
in the Philippines, starting a small business is a good alternative for investing
the hard earned dollars of domestic helpers and other Filipinos overseas.
Based on the first report
about domestic helpers, DH’s send about $1300 a month to the Philippines
but do not yield positive results for the Philippines economy as a whole,
and instead creates something like a welfare system for their dependents,
since the DH is usually the only one with a job. Her husband, children and
children’s husbands don’t have jobs and depend solely on the DH’s
income for their sustenance. The DH is forced to work as a DH until she’s
old, and many times her children are also forced to be DH’s as well,
since there are no jobs for them still in the Philippines, despite the money
that the DH invested in their education until college. Therefore, there is
no end to the importation of DH’s from the Philippines, and many Filipina
women are doomed as domestic helpers forever.
Because of this finding,
and we believe that this pattern can be seen with many OFWs (Overseas Filipino
Workers) who work as construction workers, seamen, teachers and maybe those
who are nurses as well – because of this, we will encourage them to
become small time entrepreneurs and decrease their investments in education,
for now. The benefits/reason are twofold. First, businesses will provide
another source of income for her and her family, and it will create jobs
for them and other Filipinos. Second, there are at present no jobs in the
Philippines, so their children’s diplomas are unusable and the money
they paid for tuition is lost investment. So a) no need for expensive
degrees/majors, such as HRM’s or nurses. Many nursing graduates cannot
pass the U.S. or Philippine exam, and so their expensive education has become
a big money loss for their parents or supporter. B) no need for expensive
schools. Choose a cheap school, and two years is enough for now. But note
that even saleslady jobs require a 4-year degree. But assuming your child
will geared to become an entrepreneur, the college education can be minimal.
We will form a prototype
or pilot project that is small in the Philippines and in the United States
that will assist the new entrepreneur in their start-up businesses. As the
business develops, issues will arise and those will be documented and analyzed
so that the problems can be solved. This will insure better chances of success
for the business. In addition, the pilot will incorporate an educational
arm that will create awareness by informing small communities about business
issues. The people will learn important concepts, such as competition, market
saturation, budgeting, and more. This type of awareness will foster cooperation
among the citizens so that a thriving business community can be developed
within their neighborhoods.
An example of existing problem
in the Philippines can be found in the small sari-sari store.
Sari-Sari store: This is
a small convenience store that are found in front of the owner’s house
where he or she sells canned goods, candies, matches, soda, and other small
grocery items. Many people buy here since it’s just a stone’s throw
away from where they live and saves on transportation. This is a good way
of saving money, since they probably cost cheaper here than at the expensive
supermarket downtown. I knew one woman who said she started a sari-sari store
a few years ago. At the beginning, she netted about P13,000 a month, which
I thought was pretty good, since even teachers can’t get that much income
from their jobs. Teachers get paid P6000 to start and with tenure can get
up to P10,000 a month. So I though the sari-sari store woman did very well
and I was pleased. I found out though that this 13,000 pesos in profit is
considered her income and salary. She does not include her work in the store
in the budget to be paid as an employee. But later on she said, more sari-sari
stores opened in her neighborhood, perhaps because they found out about her
success. The problem is that she lost business, and now she only gets about
P6,000 a month. So if we teach communities about market saturation and other
things, this type of problem can be avoided. Cooperation is key.
The other part of the business
goal is to set up a consultancy and training for start-ups as well as existing
businesses that need to improve their sales and manage their investments
and capital. Chona has previous experience in this area since she was a partner
in a management training endeavour in the Philippines where they trained
management in leadership, human relations and other areas of business. The
thrust of their training was based on “psychological” norms.
Lastly, Chona emphasized
that DH’s need to be encouraged, and others as well, that the first
person you need to invest in is “yourself.” So, therefore, the
slogan “pay yourself first.” For example, set aside $50.00 a month
in savings which will provide yourself a cushion for a long long time.
DH INVESTMENT: Return on
Investment for Domestic Helpers (DHs)
So before I forget, regarding
the first report on domestic helpers (DH Report), three areas will be encouraged
or emphasized in Investments for DH’s:
Do not make your family
members and other relatives or friends “dependents.” In other words,
do not create a welfare system that doesn’t develop the individual.
Create a business and create
jobs.
Pay Yourself First
FOOD PRICES
I presented the problem
of high price of food in the Philippines, so much so that it is comparable
to prices in New York in the United States. Since capital in the Philippines
is cheap, such as labor, it cannot be that the prices are as high as in New
York.
Chona theorized that the
“middleman” is the one causing the prices to be high, since they
add (make patong) to the cost of the products that come directly from the
producers/growers. In fact, they decide the PRICE that currently exists in
the market. In order to solve this, Chona suggested to eliminate the middleman,
and that producers must bring their products themselves to the marketplace.
Further evaluation will determine, what disadvantages this new model may
present. I suggested that the middleman becomes salaried and hired by the
producers and market vendors. This way, the middleman has no say in deciding
the price, but merely transports the goods to the marketplace for a monthly
salary.
Talipapa: This is a place
where usually fresh fish and vegetables and other items are sold. It is called
talipapa or wet market. Chona mentioned that buying food items from the
air-conditioned supermarket maybe be “classy” and fancy, but the
food prices are not affordable. In the talipapa, though it’s not
air-conditioned and the floor may be somewhat muddy and wet, the prices are
so much cheaper and the items are much fresher. Chona said that the market
vendors from Divisoria travel all the way to Navotas where they buy the fish
directly from suppliers or fishermen. In a process of bulungan or whispering
into each other’s ears, a deal is struck which results in prices that
are affordable and good for the budget. So in the first DH report, we mentioned
the high price of food as a problem for the DH’s insufficient income.
Sari-Sari store: This is
a small convenience store that is found in front of the owner’s house
where he or she sells canned goods, candies, matches, soda, and other small
grocery items. Many people buy here since it’s just a stone’s throw
away from where they live and saves on transportation. This is a good way
of saving money, since they probably cost cheaper here than at the expensive
supermarket downtown.
Public and Government School:
TO BE DISCUSSED AT NEXT MEETING TO BE HELD ON JUNE 4, 2009, THURSDAY AT 2:30PM.
CHONA WILL INVITE ANOTHER RESOURCE PERSON OR CONSULTANT.
Submitted by: Pauline G.
Santos, Author and Anthropologist
U.S. to pay 'forgotten' Filipino
World War II veterans
by Josh Levs
CNN, Feb. 23, 2009
(CNN) -- More than 60 years after
reneging on a promise to the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos who fought
for the United States during World War II, the U.S. government will soon
be sending out checks -- to the few who are still alive.
Veteran Franco Arcebal says, "we
are loyal to the United States, except that the United States has forgotten
us."
"For a poor
man like me, $15,000 is a lot of money," said 91-year-old Celestino Almeda.
Still, he said, "After what we have
suffered, what we have contributed for the sake of democracy, it's peanuts.
It's a drop in the bucket."
During the war, the Philippines was
a U.S. commonwealth. The U.S. military promised full veterans benefits to
Filipinos who volunteered to fight. More than 250,000 joined.
Then, in 1946, President Truman signed
the Rescission Act, taking that promise away.
Today, only about about 15,000 of
those troops are still alive, according to the American Coalition for Filipino
Veterans. A provision tucked inside the stimulus bill that President Obama
signed calls for releasing $198 million that was appropriated last year for
those veterans. Those who have become U.S. citizens get $15,000 each;
non-citizens get $9,000.
"I'm very thankful," said Patrick
Ganio, 88, the coalition's president. "We Filipinos are a grateful people."
Ganio was among the tens of thousands
of Filipinos at the infamous battle of Bataan, a peninsula on Manila Bay
opposite the Philippine capital. He was captured and beaten by Japanese troops
before ultimately being freed, suffering from malaria and then resuming his
service to the U.S. military.
"The record of the Philippine soldiers
for bravery and loyalty is second to none," Truman wrote to the leaders of
the House and Senate in 1946. "Their assignment was as bloody and difficult
as any in which our American soldiers engaged. Under desperate circumstances
they acquitted themselves nobly."
Though Truman said the Rescission
Act resulted in "discrimination," he signed it.
"There can be no question but that
the Philippine veteran is entitled to benefits bearing a reasonable relation
to those received by the America veteran, with whom he fought side by side,"
he said. "From a practical point of view, however, it must be acknowledged
that certain benefits granted by the GI bill of rights cannot be applied
in the case of the Philippine veteran."
Some historians say financial concerns
were paramount: The cost of funding full veterans benefits to all those
Filipinos, particularly in the wake of the costly war, would have been a
heavy burden.
The National Alliance for Filipino
Veterans Equity offers a different explanation. "In 1946, discrimination
against people of color was the rule of law," the group says in a document
it submitted to the Obama-Biden transition team in November.
"The second-class treatment of Filipino
World War II veterans is another example from this historical period."
For decades, Filipino activists and
their supporters have fought for the full benefits. They've petitioned and
picketed. Almeda, a widower who now lives in Virginia with his daughter,
once chained himself to the fence outside the White House.
"I was fined $50 for civil disobedience
and was arrested," he says now, chuckling. He says he was just looking for
answers.
Despite encouraging words from U.S.
presidents, including George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, the benefits were
never restored.
"Only 70,000 Philippine veterans
remain alive, and they hope to stay alive long enough to see those benefits
reinstated," CNN reported in 1997. "There's a bill, stuck in committee in
Congress, that would do just that."
That effort, just like so many before,
fell apart.
"We were loyal to the United States.
Even up to now, we are loyal to the United States, except that the United
States has forgotten us in many ways," said Franco Arcebal, another leader
of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans. "It's only now, because
of the insistence of Sen. [Daniel] Inouye in the Senate, he was able to act
on this."
Inouye, D-Hawaii, inserted the language
in the stimulus bill, calling it "a matter of honor."
The honor comes too late for the
many Filipino veterans who passed away waiting for this moment. Families
of deceased veterans are not eligible to receive the money.
For those who are alive, the checks
could make a real difference.
"Practically all of us are below
the poverty line now at this age. We have no way of earning a living," Arcebal
said.
But, he emphasized, "it does not
correct the injustice and discrimination done to us 60 years ago. ... We
were not granted school benefits. We were not granted hospital benefits.
... And in the 60 years, several billion dollars were saved by the U.S.
government for not paying 250,000 of us.
"Now we are only 15,000. And the
amount that they're giving us is a small amount. But we appreciate that.
Because it will finally recognize our services ... as active service in the
armed forces of the United States."
U.S. Military
Will Offer Path to Citizenship
by Julia Preston
The New York Times, Feb. 15, 2009
Stretched thin in Afghanistan
and Iraq, the American military will begin recruiting skilled immigrants
who are living in this country with temporary visas, offering them the chance
to become United States citizens in as little as six months.
Immigrants who are permanent
residents, with documents commonly known as green cards, have long been eligible
to enlist. But the new effort, for the first time since the Vietnam War,
will open the armed forces to temporary immigrants if they have lived in
the United States for a minimum of two years, according to military officials
familiar with the plan.
Recruiters expect that
the temporary immigrants will have more education, foreign language skills
and professional expertise than many Americans who enlist, helping the military
to fill shortages in medical care, language interpretation and field intelligence
analysis.
“The American Army
finds itself in a lot of different countries where cultural awareness is
critical,” said Lt. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley, the top recruitment officer
for the Army, which is leading the pilot program. “There will be some
very talented folks in this group.”
The program will begin
small — limited to 1,000 enlistees nationwide in its first year, most
for the Army and some for other branches. If the pilot program succeeds as
Pentagon officials anticipate, it will expand for all branches of the military.
For the Army, it could eventually provide as many as 14,000 volunteers a
year, or about one in six recruits.
About 8,000 permanent
immigrants with green cards join the armed forces annually, the Pentagon
reports, and about 29,000 foreign-born people currently serving are not American
citizens.
Although the Pentagon
has had wartime authority to recruit immigrants since shortly after the Sept.
11 attacks, military officials have moved cautiously to lay the legal groundwork
for the temporary immigrant program to avoid controversy within the ranks
and among veterans over the prospect of large numbers of immigrants in the
armed forces.
A preliminary Pentagon
announcement of the program last year drew a stream of angry comments from
officers and veterans on Military.com, a Web site they frequent.
Marty Justis, executive
director of the national headquarters of the American Legion, the veterans’
organization, said that while the group opposes “any great influx of
immigrants” to the United States, it would not object to recruiting
temporary immigrants as long as they passed tough background checks. But
he said the immigrants’ allegiance to the United States “must take
precedence over and above any ties they may have with their native
country.”
The military does not
allow illegal immigrants to enlist, and that policy would not change, officers
said. Recruiting officials pointed out that volunteers with temporary visas
would have already passed a security screening and would have shown that
they had no criminal record.
“The Army will gain
in its strength in human capital,” General Freakley said, “and
the immigrants will gain their citizenship and get on a ramp to the American
dream.”
In recent years, as American
forces faced combat in two wars and recruiters struggled to meet their goals
for the all-volunteer military, thousands of legal immigrants with temporary
visas who tried to enlist were turned away because they lacked permanent
green cards, recruiting officers said.
Recruiters’ work
became easier in the last few months as unemployment soared and more Americans
sought to join the military. But the Pentagon, facing a new deployment of
30,000 troops to Afghanistan, still has difficulties in attracting doctors,
specialized nurses and language experts.
Several types of temporary
work visas require college or advanced degrees or professional expertise,
and immigrants who are working as doctors and nurses in the United States
have already been certified by American medical boards.
Military figures show
that only 82 percent of about 80,000 Army recruits last year had high school
diplomas. According to new figures, the Army provided waivers to 18 percent
of active-duty recruits in the final four months of last year, allowing them
to enlist despite medical conditions or criminal records.
Military officials want
to attract immigrants who have native knowledge of languages and cultures
that the Pentagon considers strategically vital. The program will also be
open to students and refugees.
The Army’s one-year
pilot program will begin in New York City to recruit about 550 temporary
immigrants who speak one or more of 35 languages. Spanish speakers are not
eligible. The Army’s program will also include about 300 medical
professionals to be recruited nationwide. Recruiting will start after Department
of Homeland Security officials update an immigration rule in coming days.
Pentagon officials expect
that the lure of accelerated citizenship will be powerful. Under a statute
invoked in 2002 by the Bush administration, immigrants who serve in the military
can apply to become citizens on the first day of active service, and they
can take the oath in as little as six months.
For foreigners who come
to work or study in the United States on temporary visas, the path to citizenship
is uncertain and at best agonizingly long, often lasting more than a decade.
The military also waives naturalization fees, which are at least $675.
To enlist, temporary
immigrants will have to prove that they have lived in the United States for
two years and have not been out of the country for longer than 90 days during
that time. They will have to pass an English test.
Language experts will
have to serve four years of active duty, and health care professionals will
serve three years of active duty or six years in the Reserves. If the immigrants
do not complete their service honorably, they could lose their citizenship.
Commenters who vented
their suspicions of the program on Military.com said it could be used by
terrorists to penetrate the armed forces.
At a street corner recruiting
station in Bay Ridge in Brooklyn, Staff Sgt. Alejandro Campos of the Army
said he had already fielded calls from temporary immigrants who heard rumors
about the program.
“We’re going
to give people the opportunity to be part of the United States who are dying
to be part of this country and they weren’t able to before now,”
said Sergeant Campos, who was born in the Dominican Republic and became a
United States citizen after he joined the Army.
Sergeant Campos said
he saw how useful it was to have soldiers who were native Arabic speakers
during two tours in Iraq.
“The first time
around we didn’t have soldier translators,” he said. “But
now that we have soldiers as translators, we are able to trust more, we are
able to accomplish the mission with more accuracy.”
ATTENTION TO ALL CONCERNED: The producers
from Chicago, New York and Maryland are in pursuit of an answer from a certain
MR. MUTCH CARIÑO of Creative Ideas
Productions from California and his partner MR.
ALFRED YUMUL of Las Vegas, to clarify if they intend to settle
and reimburse the deposits that they collected from the above mentioned
producers in lieu of their alleged shows of Pinay Hot
Babes for which in nearing the supposedly scheduled date of the
said show, Mr. Cariño was nowhere to be found and was always coming
up with a different alibi. It ended up with him suggesting that, because
the consent of Viva had not been secured, substitutions be made for some
of the girls in the original line-up and we agreed because we had already
sold tickets to people and paid the venues. We decided to continue with the
show in spite of the different line-up of artists, but when we tried to call
Mr. Cariño back with our decision, he seemingly just disappeared
into thin air. Note that he has been contacted by several calls but he never
returns the calls. We know that there are still frends of Cariño out
there; please advise him to face his responsibility like a man, because the
same thing could happen to you also. If anybody who may have contact with
or know the whereabouts of MR. MUTCH
CARIÑO or MR. ALFRED
YUMUL, we are seeking your help to please contact us immediately
at 201.886.1705. YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CANNOT HIDE!
Baring
Jake: Still aching from a hangover during the recently held “Bench
Uncut” body show at the Araneta Coliseum where he unveiled his butt,
Jake Cuenca bared his six-pack abs before adoring fans at the Philippine
Fiesta 2010 at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, New Jersey held Aug.
14 and 15.
Payag
Restaurant recently opened with a big bang, located at 51-34 Roosevelt Ave.,
Woodside NY 11377, defined as Casual Dining with High End Ambience. One will
reminisce in how beautiful an experience is: eating at a classy restaurant
ala (like) in Makati City or in Cebu City.
Chef
Raymond Ganados described Payag as "Redefined Filipino Cuisine, meaning Filipino
Kitchen meets American Kitchen. We will put Filipino food to a new higher
level at an affordable price. Try our healthy choices of Pinoy Caesar Salad
and Payag Garden Salad with Mango Tahini dressing, or indulge in our Payag
specialties: Sinuglaw, BBQ Porkbelly and Sisig."
Payag means:
Bahay Kubo or Nipa Hut in Cebuano. Payag is open for lunch and dinner. Payag
is a two story restaurant with a capacity of 100 seats for each floor. The
basement/cellar set up is available for private parties. Payag Retaurant
Directions: 51-34 Roosevelt Ave, Woodside NY 11377 (Take 7 train to 52 st
Station / Q 32 Bus) Contact:
Eleven-year-old
New Jersey singer Lianah Sta. Ana, won the coveted title of 2010 Junior Grand
Champion Performer of the World at the World Championships of Performing
Arts (WCOPA) held July 17-25 in Hollywood, CA. Lianah competed with Team
USA.
Gerry Balasta's "Mountain
Thief" wins the hearts of Asian Americans in NYC at the recently concluded
33rd Asian American International Film Festival 2010 last July 19, 2010.
The director was almost teary eyed thanking a fully packed sold out crowd
and said, " This screening was meaningful because this was his hometown crowd.
It was his mother Nina Balasta's (co-producer of the films ) first time to
watch the film with a live audience." It must have been an electrifying
experience for Gerry and his Mom as the crowd lauded the film both by their
thunderous applause and their compliments during the Question and Answer
portion at the end of the screening.
“This
is a party within a show”, says Noel Gamboa. He is, of course, referring
to “Sayawan Na! Interaktib Pinoy Dance Musical”. Mr. Gamboa is
the director and producer of the show that has had successful runs in New
York and New Jersey. He adds, “This show is for you.” Besides Mr.
Gamboa, the cast includes: Jam Duller, Jean Nabong, Marilu Lerma, Luis Pedron,
Violet Trinidad, Gail Banawis, Charisse Trinidad, Miles Gamboa, Katt Ladaga,
and Jillian Sese. The production team includes: Audio and Video by George
Sese; Lights by Jude Tan; and Stage Manager Debbie Nacalaban-Sese.
performers and the audience. The original and remade
list of Pinoy line dance songs performed include: Sayawan Na, Hala Bira,
Sikat Basta Pinoy, Septiembre, Todotodo, Koriente (Electric Slide), Steph
4 Jesus, and Birthday Girl.
JERSEY
CITY - Sunday, June 27th, 2010 is the 64th year of Philippine-American Friendship
Day. It is also the 20th year for the Philippine-American Friendship Committee's
Parade and Street Fair. However, it is the 1st year that the parade route
was along West Side Avenue in Jersey City, NJ culminating in a festival and
fair at the Bergen Light Rail Train Station parking lot. In the past the
parade was held in downtown Jersey City with the street fair at Exchange
Place. Normally, Filipinos had to commute to the parade route and the sidewalks
were sparse.
Day celebration was a success; Co-chair Nelsie Parrado
is in agreement. There were definitely more vendors at the BLRT and more
people at the sidewalks watching parade marchers and floats pass by.
out. Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy met PAFCOM Grand Marshals
husband and wife Tom and Lida Zabala in front of Maganda Hair Salon. Mayor
Healy was donning his hat and matching barong in order to be shielded from
the hot sun.
new album "Crush" released in March 2010.
"For a poor
man like me, $15,000 is a lot of money," said 91-year-old Celestino Almeda.
