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For the past 17 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
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This website includes selected articles from this week's edition of the Filipino Express. Not all the stories published in the printed version appear on this site.
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Opposition says revolt is possible as Arroyo’s inauguration set for June 30
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MANILA, June 24, 2004 — Nearly seven weeks after the May 10 elections, incumbent Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her running mate Sen. Noli de Castro were proclaimed early Thursday as winners by the joint session of Congress.
The proclamation of Arroyo-De Castro tandem became a certainty at 4:00 a.m. after the President’s principal allies in Congress — Sen. Franklin Drilon and Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. — met with the leaders supporting opposition rival Fernando Poe Jr. to discuss the report of the joint canvassing committee.
According to the final tally which ended on Sunday, Arroyo received 12,905,808 votes as against 11,782,232 votes for Poe. De Castro won the vice presidential race with 15,100,431 votes while closest rival, Sen. Loren Legarda, garnered 14,218,709.
From the convening of the Senate and the House as the national board of canvassers in point public session last May 25 up to the proclamation of Arroyo, the entire election process took 31 days — the longest since the 1992 and 1998 presidential elections. Drilon said the proclamation was almost two days ahead of the original target.
But the rancorous confrontation may not be over yet as Poe’s camp continued to fight every step of the way, repeating claims that massive vote fraud stole victory from the action film star. Arroyo’s inauguration is scheduled for June 30, and the opposition has warned that another “people power” revolt is possible.
Administration lawmakers, since the conclusion of the congressional canvass, has urged people to clamor for unity and peace for economic and social progress, and has called on Poe to concede to Arroyo, who has managed to sustain her lead of more than a million votes. Rumors of anti-government plots have spread through mobile phone text messages.
The Philippine presidential palace, however, said that the government is on guard to prevent any destabilization plans. “We will not allow this vital institutional process to be sabotaged, subverted or delayed in any manner by lawless machinations or mob rule,” Arroyo spokesman Ignacio Bunye said earlier in a press report.
National and international political groups speak
Various political groups, meanwhile, have been elated by the proclamation of the President. Ironically even some members of the opposition shared the general feeling that democracy again emerged victorious over attempts to undermine the integrity and sanctity of the ballots.
Pro-administration Rep. Prospero Nograles of Davao City said the country can heave a sigh of relief now that the hotly contested elections are finally over and done with.
Another staunch supporter of the President, outgoing Cebu Gov. Pablo Garcia, sounded cock-sure that Cebu City would be one of the venues of the historic inaugural rites of the President on June 30.
Cebu has a special place in the President’s heart because it gave her a clear mandate in the May 10 political exercise. Arroyo mustered 1.185 million votes in Cebu City and the entire province. She ultimately won the national canvassing by a little more than a million votes over Poe.
Returning to Cebu City after the polls, the President profusely thanked the Cebuanos for their vigorous support to her quest for a full six-year term. She also appealed for unity and reconciliation.
The President’s pledge to put up a Malacañang in Cebu City pleased Cebu City Mayor Tommy Osmeña no end, saying it was a sign that Arroyo was really committed to help in Cebu’s development.
Reacting to the proclamation, Nograles said he was glad it’s all over.
Nograles, a member of the 22-man joint canvass committee, recalled the hardships they have to go through during the count. “It’s been a rough road throughout the canvass. It strained our patience to the limit and has given us sleepless nights and anxieties and great mental anguish,” he said.
He said the proclamation should now provide the opposition the cue to start working with the administration in pushing its national development agenda so that the country can move forward without the destructive effects of too much partisan politics.
“President Arroyo won fair and square. The accusations of cheating are nothing but propaganda by the opposition. There is no evidence of massive fraud, just figments of their fertile imagination and lame excuses,” Nograles stressed.
“We may not like each other’s ways, but we’re all Filipinos. It’s time to unite. A winner has emerged,” Nograles added.
Baguio City councilor-elect Daniel Fariñas was among the initial batch of opposition members to extend a hand of reconciliation to President Macapagal-Arroyo.
“It is in the best interest of the people if we unite and work together,” said Farinas, also a former vice mayor of the city.
Former Baguio tourism officer and councilor Nars Padilla also congratulated Arroyo and De Castro for their victory. Padilla said the entire citizenry must unite and work together for the good of the country.
Arroyo has also received congratulatory messages from political and institutional leaders worldwide, including one from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. --- US Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi will lead the Bush administration’s delegation that will attend President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s inaugural ceremonies on June 30.
“President (George W.) Bush has asked me to lead the presidential delegation to President Arroyo’s inauguration. I look forward to my visit,” Principi confirmed in his e-mail to the Arlington-based American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc. (ACFV).
Pat Ganio, president of the national coalition of leaders of major Filipino American veterans groups and supporters, reacted with pleasant surprise when informed.
“We are glad our leaders’ meeting with Principi and subsequent lobbying with the White House staff finally produced results,” said Ganio, who lives in Jacksonville, Florida.
“We hope and pray Principi will convey to Arroyo a positive reply from President Bush on her Jan. 22 request for $22 million for Filipino veterans pensions,” added Ganio, a Bataan and Corregidor defender in 1942.
ACFV began alerting their allies in Manila such as the Veterans Federation of the Philippines headed by Col. Emmanuel de Ocampo and the American Legion Philippine Department led by William Kelley and Ernesto Golez to prepare a warm welcome for Principi.
The coalition also urged Loida Nicolas-Lewis of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) to convey their congratulations to President Arroyo.
Over the past eight years, ACFV has spearheaded the lobby efforts in Washington that lead to the passage of several laws partially restoring US government’s VA benefits to the 29,000 surviving Filipino WW II veterans.
The coalition is campaigning for monthly VA pension benefits for Filipino veterans in the Philippines and in the United States. (MNS)
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Chicago, ILLINOIS --- Irene Mora, the Filipino-American pilot who was reported preparing for an outer space mission with the Russian cosmonauts in July, had fooled millions of Filipinos as her claims in Philippine newspapers were found to be false.
The result of an investigation said that Mora was and is neither an astronaut nor a cosmonaut as NASA denied that she flown on a space shuttle in 2000, and the Russians’ Space Adventures said that they “don’t know of a Capt. Irene Mora – nor is she a Space Adventures’ orbital client.”
Filipino journalists in the United States came up with an investigation on Mora’s false claims after Bobby M. Reyes, an online community journalist based in Los Angeles, California, alerted this reporter on June 5 to check the veracity of reports from some leading newspapers from Manila that a Filipina is in line to become the next astronaut or cosmonaut.
According to a Philippine Star article written by Joanne Rae Ramirez, published on Feb. 28, 2004, “Irene Mora, the first Filipino likely to conquer outer space, has been to “the edge of the earth” and loves it there. This year, she aims to go beyond it.
“Irene, 31, flew on a space shuttle to the “edge of the earth” in 2000 as part of a research mission sponsored by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and in the darkness beheld “a sparkling diamond.”
Early on Dec. 14, 2003, the Philippine Daily Inquirer came out with an article written by Volt Contreras, which alleged that: “Mora is now studying Russian as she will be heading for the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City next year under a training program offered by Space Adventures of Arlington, Virginia.
“Space Adventures is the company that launched in 2000 the world’s first “space tourist,” Dennis Tito, an American. “
A check with the NASA’s public affairs office yielded an email response on June 14 from Bobbie Ferguson, who said that “I do not have any information that Irene Mora was or is a NASA astronaut. She has not flown on the Space Shuttle in 2000.”
An email message sent on June 6 to the Russian Cultural Centre and the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C., on how to get in touch with the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City. That resulted in a phone call from Centre Director Natalie Batova, directing to get in touch with Space Adventures in Arlington, Virginia.
When the Space Adventures was finally contacted, Stacey Tearne, vice president of Crosby- Volmer International Communications, which handles the publicity of Space Adventures, wrote an email response on June 13 that said: “I do not know of a Capt. Irene Mora – nor is she a Space Adventures’ orbital client.”
A news story published by the Manila Times on April 14, 2003, under the headline, “Filipina is world’s best skydiver,” said “Lt. Commander Irene Mora, a lady pilot from the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary Air Operation Wing, made the Philippines proud by winning the gold in the Friendship Airborne 2003 Skydiving Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.
“In winning the skydiving crown, Mora became the first-ever Filipina to win the prestigious crown in this death-defying event which drew participants from the best skydivers in the United States, Europe and Asia.”
This story, however, gave Mora a break as it appeared that the story had some semblance of truth as a Dr. Frank Osanka, president of Friendship Airborne organization based at Racine, Wisconsin, said in an email response to this reporter as follows: “Thank you for your thoughtfulness in forwarding the piece on Ms. Irene Moro (sic). She is outstanding. Friendship Airborne hopes to be invited to jump again in the Philippines as we were in l998. Best wishes, Doc.”
Then on June 5, retired Admiral Reuben Lista of the Philippine Coast Guard, who was vacationing in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the time was contacted on a tip by Lista’s tour guide and friend, Fernando “Ronnie” M. Estrada of San Jose, California. Lista advised to contact Admiral Joselito Aseniero of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.
An email reply from Capt. Harold Wolf of PCGA on June 7 said: “Your message has been forwarded to Adm. Aseniero.”
As of presstime, Admiral Aseniero has not yet responded to an email casting skepticisms on news reports on Mora’s claims to be an “astronaut or cosmonaut.”
Last Thursday, June 17, a Ms. Mora called up this reporter, saying she was informed by Dr. Osanka that a media representative wanted to talk to her. The voice from the other line identified herself as Ms. Mora. As the voice was breaking, she said she was in “Beijing” and that she said: “I could hardly hear you.” She gave away her email address so she could understand better what information the media outlet wanted from her.
An email was sent to Mora on June 18, seeking comments that US NASA is denying press reports that she flew on NASA’s “Space Shuttle in 2000” and that Space Adventures is also dismissing press reports that she is being sponsored by it to train at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City. As of presstime, Mora has yet to respond to the email inquiry.
In its June 3-9 issue, the weekly Ang Panahon (Time) based in Daly City, California, published and edited by Greg Macabenta, ran a banner headline: “Doubts cast on “First Filipina Cosmonaut.” The paper also contacted Space Adventures and quoted an “Emeline Paat, a Filipina working with the company,” informing Ang Panahon that “Mora never actually trained with them or even visited.”
But Ang Panahon added that “Mora had called up the company several times, from early this year, to inquire about the company’s ‘space tourism’ program.’”
Reyes said that if Mora could not prove that she flew NASA’s “Space Shuttle in 2000” so she can be an astronaut or is she heading to Russia so she can be a cosmonaut, she might as well call herself either “astronut” or “cosmonut.”
Meanwhile, the numerous stories posted on the Internet about Mora’s going to outer space are likely to be entered into the “‘hoax of fame’ or become a famous bum steer (koryente),” according to another journalist.
As to reports that Mora renounced her US citizenship to become a Filipino, it is still a subject of investigation.
For comment, contributing reporter Joseph Lariosa can be reached at lariosajos@netscape.net
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NEW YORK --- Red, blue and yellow — the symbolic colors of the Philippine flag — illuminated Wednesday night the tower of the Empire State building.
At Philippine Center on Fifth Avenue, 12 blocks from the building, Filipino- Americans huddled together, taking photos of New York’s tallest landmark.
The air was festive and nationalistic. Laughter and hugs rang amid the moving traffic and honking of taxicabs.
“This signifies a wonderful Philippine presence, a strong relationship with the U.S. that we have to carry on,” said Foreign Secretary Delia Albert, who flew from Manila to attend the UN Security Council meeting and to witness the lighting of the Empire State building.
Amid a gray sky, the view of the Empire State building was so vivid, as it pulsated with Philippine colors, it made the Filipinos radiated with pride and nostalgia.
Tower lighting has been a cherished tradition that dates back to the 70’s to recognize various Immigrant communities in New York, said Lydia Ruth, director of public relations of the Empire State Building.
The Empire State building was initially lit in 1932 by a searchlight beacon seen for 50 miles that announced the election of Pres. Franklin Roosevelt as president. Few days later, Italian colors of red, white and green shone on the building.
Colors from flags from countries like Germany, England, Scotland, Ireland, Greece, France, other countries, and the U.S. annually light up the building.
Few weeks ago, the building was in black for few days, to mourn the death of former Pres. Ronald Reagan. It will soon be lighted with red, white and blue to represent the colors and celebrations of July 4th American Independence Day.
Ruth said the event would be a start of an annual tradition for Filipinos.
The Empire State building will be lighted with the colors of Philippine flag for two days in a month of June annually. This year, the building was lighted from June 23 to 24.
In her speech, Consul General Cecilia Rebong said that historically, Filipinos came to the U.S. as early as 1763, when Filipinos jumped ships in New Orleans to fulfill a desire for a sweeter life in America. Other immigrants came to Hawaii and California, to work hard and to become farmers and farm workers.
With the turn of the century, Filipinos have worked in various professions in the U.S. From doctors, nurses, to accountants, caregivers, teachers and engineers.
“Filipinos helped build America,” Rebong said.
It is estimated that there are over 3 million Filipinos in the U.S.
Mark Anthony Agbuya, vice chair of Collaborative Opportunities for Raising Empowerment (CORE), the group which spearheaded the project, said the color blue of the Philippine flag represents peace, truth and justice.
The red rightly signifies valor and love for country, he said, and the golden yellow symbolizes the eight rays of the sun and the eight provinces which revolted to win freedom from the oppressive Spanish rule.
The Philippines obtained its independence on June 12, 1898. Manila was declared a free city on June 24, 1898. After the US-Spain war, the Philippines became a colony of the U.S. for more than 45 years.
Friendship with the U.S. flourished with the arrival of the Thomasites, a group of American teachers who educated the early Filipinos.
“We are the legacy our ancestors envisioned,” said Agbuya.
Albert said the occasion was more meaningful as it coincided the proclamation of re-elected Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, for a six-year term. It was indeed a fitting tribute for Filipino Americans who voted (under the government ‘s”absentee-voters) overwhelmingly for Arroyo.
During a party at the Philippine Center, a feeling of oneness pervaded in the air, making Filipinos proud of their heritage as they shared their struggles and victories.
Filipino-Americans and CORE will mix and party Thursday night on a rooftop of a bar-restaurant to see a clearer view of the Empire State and cheer for the recognition of Filipino-Americans.
“It gives us more visibility in the community. It shows that we are a viable member of the community,” said Nanette Wright, one of Fil-Am leaders, and secretary of the Philippine Independence Celebrations Committee (PICC).
“This is a real milestone for Filipino community. We are very much elated as we feel we are now part of New York City,” said Lolita Gillberg, chairperson of PICC.
For Virgil Esguerra, 21, a member of CORE, the lighting of the colors of Philippine flag at the Empire State was a vision that turned into a reality. He was the one who conceptualized the lighting.
Esquerra who resides in Jersey City, but works as a paralegal staff in New York, said he sees the Empire State tower everyday. He used to wonder on its different colors and when he found out it signified diversity, he proposed that CORE asked the Empire State to honor Filipino- Americans by lighting it with the bright colors of Philippine flag.
“It makes me very proud to be a Filipino- American to see the colors of our homeland in the capital of the world to symbolize the accomplishment of Filipinos,” said lawyer Rio Guerrero, legal counsel of CORE.
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