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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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Fil-Ams back Bush; join RNC
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"GO REPUBLICANS!" Alfredo Diaz, Elena Brady, Dolly Deleon, Sonny Carlota,
Jose Genito and R. Sonny Sampayan observe the thousands of delegates
at the Republican Convention in NYC, Aug. 30. Diaz and Genito are leaders
of NJ-based Filipino veteran's organization.
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NEW YORK, Sept. 2, 2004 --- Buoyed by optimism that the American economy will be better and the nation will be more secured, a score of Filipino-Americans joined the five-day Republican National Convention here to support Pres. George W. Bush and back his platform in the coming elections.
Some of them are members of Filipino-American organizations, private individuals, and Filipino World War II veterans, but inspired by one goal: promote the Republican political party.
For Joe Genito, an 82-year-old Filipino veteran, he knew how to pay his loyalty.
“It was former President George Bush who allowed World War ll veterans to apply for citizenship in 1990. Without his help, we -- Filipino veterans -- won’t be able to come to America. We will vote for President Bush,” said Genito, of Jersey City, and a member of the Republican party.
He said the older Bush gave his family a chance to have a brighter future in America.
Against the backdrop of red and white banner, Filipinos and other Asian American Republicans, who call themselves the “bright light of the Pacific, “ understand that the Republican party could be more sensitive to ethnic and immigrant issues.
“We celebrate President Bush concerns for the advancement of the quality of life of Asian Americans, including the Filipinos,” said Dr. Lupo Carlota, chairman of the National Asian American Republican Coalition (NAARC)
Carlota, a Filipino-American was appointed as chairman of the subcommittee on health by Pres. Bush from 2001 to 2003.
To help Asian Americans, Carlota said Bush formed the subcommittee to determine the health problems of Asian Americans and make resolutions and proposals to improve the quality of life of immigrants.
With passion and commitment, he said, more Asian Americans were appointed in government contributing to the diversity and growth.
“President Bush’s appointment of Asian Americans to cabinet, sub-cabinet and senior levels stands out the most. He makes sure that we are represented. He really empowers our community,” said Clayton Fong, who was appointed by Bush as deputy director of the department of health and human services.
Bush appointed two Asian American cabinet secretaries – Labor secretary Elaine Chao and Transportation secretary Norman Mineta. Over 200 Asian Americans have been appointed to policy-making positions at the Bush administration.
For Fong, Bush’s strong leadership and charisma are very important.
“He’s a compassionate conservative versus the vacillating decision of John Kerry,” said Fong.
NAARC said that under the Bush administration, home ownership among minorities have reached an all-time high or a spike of 60 percent. There are now over 2.7 million homeowners among Hispanic and Asian American groups.
During the convention, NAARC passed a resolution in support of equal benefits for Filipino veterans who fought side by side with American troops during World War ll.
Alfred Genito, a World War ll veteran based in Jersey City said that President Bush signed a law last year that granted health care for Filipino veterans.
Energized by the Republican ideals, many Asian Americans are running in elections to give voice to this once-invisible community.
Jun Policarpio who is running for U.S. Congress in Queens, New York spoke on the need for immigration reforms to give equal opportunity to immigrants. He said he supports in making tax cuts permanent to give incentives to small enterprises.
“President Bush is full of determination and very brave to fight terrorist so that America and the world would be safe and secure,” Policarpio said.
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Some Filipinos call it hypocrisy
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NEW YORK, Sept. 2, 2004 — Basking in the loud applause and roar from the crowd, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzennegger mentioned the Philippines in his address, which described by many as “electrifying,” to the delegates of the Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.
 Schwarzennegger, looking confident and apparently adding a diversity-flavor to his speech, said that there are many Republican immigrants of different ethnic backgrounds, including Filipinos, who believe in the American dream and in the administration of Pres. George W. Bush.
“Now, many of you out there tonight are “Republican” like me in your hearts and in your beliefs...Maybe you’re from the Philippines...And maybe, just maybe, you don’t agree with this party on every single issue,” he said. “I say to you tonight I believe that’s not only okay, that’s what’s great about this country. Here we can respectfully disagree and still be patriotic still be American and still be good Republicans.”
A bodybuilder turned actor turned politician touted for his successs as an immigrant from Austria who made it in America without knowing how to speak well a word of English until into his 20s, Schwarzennegger said that “there is no place, no country, more compassionate more generous more accepting and more welcoming” than the U.S.
“As a kid I saw the socialist country that Austria became after the Soviets left. I love Austria and I love the Austrian people - but I always knew America was the place for me. In school, when the teacher would talk about America, I would daydream about coming here. I would sit for hours watching American movies transfixed by my heroes like John Wayne. Everything about America seemed so big to me so open, so possible.”
Then the governor, who came to the U.S. in 1968, showed a “muscular package” on the party message, though the theme of the night was “people of compassion.” He called Sen. John F. Kerry a “girlie man.”
“Speaking of acting, one of my movies was called True Lies,” he said, smiling. “That’s what the Democrats should have called their convention.”
The crowd cheered and chanted, “Four more years! Four more years!”
But at the end of his speech, many Filipinos were not pleased with the message of the “Terminator.”
“His words sounded good, and I’m sure even inspiring to some. Those who don’t follow politics too closely may even believe that the California governor meant what he said. However, I was personally outraged by the hypocrisy,” Charmaine Manansala said in her e-mail sent to friends and members of a Filipino-American media group.
She said that Schwarzenneger does not only push for anti-immigration in California but also works to take away from them some of the basic benefits, like driver’s licenses and equal health care program for Filipino veterans.
“See the distinct difference between the other political party and Mr. Schwarzennegger’s record,” Manansala said.
Early this year, the governor proposed to eliminate cash benefits program for current year savings of $1.4 million in general funds. The program provides grants to about 1,700 Filipino World War II veterans.
“There’s no doubt that Arnold is a celebrity with political credentials. But the irony is that he is an immigrant who gives other immigrants a hard time,” said Reynaldo Solis, 53, who plans not to vote this coming elections after watching the Republican speakers on television. “He still thinks he is the action star, and the U.S. is just a silver screen. For the meantime, let’s just enjoy his show.”
In addition, it was also Schwarzennegger who repealed the bill signed by former Gov. Gray Davis to grant driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants residing in California.
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MANILA, Aug. 29, 2004 --- Filipino-Australian Sef Gonzales, who was convicted for the murder of his parents and sister in July 2001, is expected to get a triple life sentence.
Reports said Gonzales was escorted to the New South Wales Courthouse in Sydney, Australia where the Supreme Court will read his sentence. Gonzales was found guilty by the courts last May, but his supporters contended he was only framed by police and his own lawyers.
Two priests, including a Filipino and some friends of his late mother, vowed to file an appeal after six or eight months.
Gonzales, 23, was offered the opportunity to admit the crime in exchange for only 30 years of imprisonment, but he refused.
Gonzales was accused of killing his parents Teddy and Mary Loiva, and 18-year-old sister Clodine in July 2001. He professed innocence of the charges, but in May 21, a jury in Sydney found him guilty of murder.
Prosecutors were said to have clearly established his motive in committing the crime.
Prosecutors alleged Gonzales resented his parents’ strict discipline and their disapproval of his girlfriend, fearing he would be disinherited from their $1.03-million estate.
He reportedly tried to poison his family two weeks before the murders with lethal plant seeds ordered over the Internet. When this failed, Gonzales allegedly stabbed his mother, father and sister to death.
He told the police he saw an intruder fleeing the scene of the crime.
Gonzales, a law student, also tried to make the murder appear as a hate crime by vandalizing the kitchen walls with anti-Asian racist graffiti.
But forensic search of the crime scene showed there was no trace of an escape trail by the alleged assailant. A search of his computers also revealed visits he made to sites on how to kill. There was also a container of poison in his bedroom.
Gonzales gave the alibi he was at a brothel at the time of the murders. Investigators, however, discovered the prostitute he claimed to be with was not working on the day of the crime. (MNS)
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Corrales takes oath as honorary deputy mayor of Jersey City
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Ludy Corrales swears in as the honorary deputy mayor of Jersey City
as Acting Mayor L. Harvey Smith (center) reads the proclamation and
Jose Genito holds the Bible. (Photo by Leo Belarmino)
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JERSEY CITY, Sept. 2, 2004 --- These days the voice of Filipinos may be louder at the City Hall as an active Filipino-American leader has officially assumed her post as honorary deputy mayor of Jersey City.
Ludy Corrales, who is believed to be the first to be given such appointment and to serve as a representative of the Filipino community, was sworn in by Acting Mayor L. Harvey Smith on Thursday morning.
“My appointment would serve as a conduit between the mayor and the Filipino-Americans in Jersey City,” she said in earlier interviews. “This will open the line of communication and provide direct access to the mayor.”
Corrales is presently the overall chairperson of the Philippine American Friendship Committee, Inc. (PAFCOM).
“I’m honored by this appointment, but I will only do a good job if the Jersey City government will address the needs of the Fil-Am community,” she added in the interview. “Rest assured that the welfare of the Fil-Ams is always in my mind and was the deciding factor in my acceptance of this position.”
In the proclamation statement, Smith touted Corrales for being a role model for Filipino-Americans in Jersey City and other communities throughout the country.
“She is a dynamic community leader, a successful entrepreneur, and a loving wife to her husband, Roy, and a proud mother to two daughters, Christine and Carol,” the mayor said.
From 1998 to 2000, Corrales serves as president of the Federation of Philippine Societies in NJ. She later became the Eastern Region Vice-chair for the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA).
Corrales was also the former commissioner to the Jersey City Employment and Training Program.
“I hereby salute and honor Ludy Corrales for her tireless dedication to our City through her work in the Asian American community,” Smith said. “Her laudable contributions and endeavors in the service of our community are highly commendable.”
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