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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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Proud to be Filipinos, proud to be Americans
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October is Filipino-American Heritage Month — a time to reminisce, a time to give thanks, and a time to celebrate the contributions of Filipinos who came to America long before this new wave of immigrants arrived.
From the time when the first wave of Filipinos came to America by ship in the 1900’s as laborers, pensionados and non-sponsored workers to the states of Hawaii and California up to the influx of students, poets, writers, teachers, accountants, engineers, nurses and doctors that followed in almost every state of the Union, we have assimilated in the American way of life.
But deep in our hearts and drawn by the pull of our culture, we remain what and who we are: Filipinos in mind and spirit.Through the years that Filipino immigrants have embraced this country as their own, we learned of their struggles, their yearnings and their success stories. More importantly, we are proud to know that they have never lost sight of their motherland.
And just as this new generation continues to evolve in American society, we remain tied to the past ever respectful of our folk’s legacy, focused on the present ever mindful of our forebear’s experiences, and a bright hope that in years to come we will continue to preserve our heritage.
Early Filipino immigrants deserve our gratitude and thanksgiving. There are the Filipino farm workers who endured the fields of Hawaii and California; the laborers who, along with the Chinese, worked on railroads and restaurants; the soldiers who fought alongside the Americans in world conflicts; the poets and writers who inspired us of their works; and the professionals whose skills continue to be widely sought in hospitals, schools and the corporate world. They are our heroes.
Wherever these heroes are in America nowadays, we say “thank you” to you. They have surely made Filipinos proud. As ambassadors of goodwill, they have made the Philippines prouder.
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NEW YORK --- The election of a president and 13 members of the board of the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) is scheduled on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2004, at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center.
And neither Nena Kaufman nor Lolit Gillberg, former overall chairs who seemed to be jabbing at each other lately, is running for a position. I understand, however, that the two are supporting certain candidates.
Kaufman, who was rumored to be eyeing the presidency or a directorship but prevailed upon by some people, has decided to concentrate on philanthropy work, establishing her own Philippine Hearts and Hope, Inc. On the other hand, Gillberg, her auditor, has completed her 2003 audit findings and remain determined to push for appropriate action from members of PIDCI board.
At a meeting held on Wednesday, Oct. 6, the PIDCI board passed a resolution to require Kaufman to respond in writing to audit findings. Roger Alama, president, who was said to have attempted to delay action until the records were reviewed by an external auditor, was directed to prepare a letter to Kaufman.
The question is: Will Alama release that letter to Kaufman immediately and will Kaufman respond just as quick as Alama does? If that doesn’t happen, Alama will be perceived as protecting Kaufman; if Kaufman delays or does not respond, what would the public conclude?
It is surprising to know that Nelsie Parrado, corporate secretary, did not include copies of questionable checks in question with the auditor’s report, apparently saying “the documents were too many.” What was Parrado’s motive? Was she afraid of opening a Pandora’s Box that may reveal a lot more that the public is not aware of?
By the way, Parrado is running for another term as director. However, instead of supporting Ludi Hughes as PIDCI president, her own fellow member in the Filipino American Association in Fair Lawn, Inc. (FAAFL), she is for Nimia Lacebal, the other candidate for president. What does that make Parrado of?
Parrado didn’t like Hughes using the name of FAAFL in a publication supporting the Democratic Party that was not approved by their board. And yet, here she was committing FAAFL for Lacebal without her board’s approval.
Parrado was said to have challenged her board members to look for a president if she wasn’t allowed to vote for Lacebal. Knowing that no one in FAAFL was ready to succeed her, should she have made such a threat? I find this behavior unacceptable; that is simply blackmail.
What kind of a leader is she? If she could this to FAAFL, she could do this to any organization. If she can’t support her supposedly friend who belongs to her own community in Fair Lawn, she can do that to others as well. If she can pretend to be your friend, she also can pretend to be your foe.
Remember how she wanted to keep PIDCI deliberations in secret and yet at one point she was all for transparency? In my book, a candidate like Parrado does not deserve to win. She has to earn the public’s trust.
And in the same board meeting of PIDCI, it surprises me to know of a substantial boost in membership. Apparently, 78 new organizations have applied increasing the roster to nearly 200 members. Of the 123 original members in the list, 117 is said to have renewed.
This sudden increase in membership can be attributed to a lot factors. For one, there are 26 candidates for directors and two for the presidency, namely, Nimia Lacebal and Ludi Hughes. Regardless of what anyone says, some candidates may have just been lured into it without a serious commitment to serve.
Lacebal is supported by a group of candidates who have previously served in PIDCI during its earlier years. These are: Sofia Abad, Ronnie Atinaja, Baby Bleza, Tony Bordamonte, Philip Carreon, Lolita Compas, Raul Estrellado, Boy Pangan, Nelsie Parrado, Ave Pimo, Ganie Puertollano, Rexie Tagle and Tambi Wycoco.
On the other hand, Hughes has managed to assemble her team that includes Darlene Borromeo, Angie Cruz, Buddy Deuna, Charley Gonzales, Christine Perez-Connor, Phil Perredo, Rommel Rivera, Arnie Rosario and Gaudencio Soriano.
A supposedly coalition of independents include Ben Ileto, VJ Manuel, Lee Vargas and Wilson Versoza.
Someone has suggested that we come up with a dream team slate in this column. I thought about that but I needed to get the input of the community as well. You see, it is not up to me but the public that should let us know who they think deserve to serve.
I got hold of Dr. Ileto’s campaign material that says “Truth and Sense in PIDCI.” If elected, would he able to carry this out? Would he espouse for truth and work for reforms needed in the organization? Would he be able to instill transparency and accountability from his fellow board members?
With this list of candidates, is the public assured that hope is in the way?
Send comments to rickyxpres@aol.com or visit Website at PinoyOnBoard.com.
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FIL-AM AUTHORS TO GATHER IN DC
TO CELEBRATE HERITAGE MONTH
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Yehey! I’m off to Washington DC to celebrate Filipino American History month (October) with fellow Filipino-American authors, some born here, others like me from the homeland – many of whom I have only met online. So you can imagine the anticipation. I worry that I might even act like too much of a fan-girl when I meet people like Bino Realuyo author of the award winning novel The Umbrella Country or poets like Luisa Igloria, Jon Pineda and Paolo Javier or editor Reme-Antonia Grefalda of Our Own Voice e-zine. The event is dubbed: HERITAGE 2, and is presented by the Philippine Embassy with the assistance of Our Own Voice (www.oovrag.com) Literary Magazine. The program is on its second year and hopes to promote greater awareness of Filipino American contributions to American literature.
I was honored to receive an invitation from Consul Joy Quintana to a reception hosted by Ambassador Albert del Rosario on Friday October 15th but I’m still not sure I can make it in time. The reception will also feature a launch of Pinoy Poetics, Nick Carbo, editor (Meritage Press, 2004), Cadena de Amor and Other Short Stories by Wilfrido Nolledo (Sto. Tomas Publishing House, 2004), and Our Own Voice Literary Arts Journal, Grealda, Sarreal and Arriola, Editors (First Fruits/PWU, 2003). There will however by some thirty established and emerging Filipino and Filipino-American authors from all over the US that will be there to participate in an afternoon series of events including a special tour of the Philippine collections at the Library of Congress.
On Saturday, October 16th, the Philippine Cultural Society of George Washington University in cooperation with the Embassy and Our Own Voice, is hosting a book fair at the Media and Public Affairs Building at the George Washington University located at 805 21st St. NW, Washington DC. The event is free and open to the public. And this is where I get to participate in some panel discussions particularly a Q&A and something called “On Writings in the Disapora.” As I’ve never done this before, it should be quite interesting. The other talks are: Storytelling and Panel: On Writing for Children; Straight Talk: Writer to Writer by Bino Realuyo; “A Humble Magus: Wilfrido D. Nolledo” a power point presentation by Melissa Nolledo-Christoffels; and Copyright Issues by Copyright General Counsel’s Office. There will also be a Philippine martial arts presentation entitled “Prinsesa Urduja: the Warrior Princess” and songs from “Hacienda the Musical.” Philippine Expressions Bookshop of Los Angeles will offer relevant books during the event (yes, including Missing Mangoes!) and what’s fun is you can get the authors to sign the books for you while you’re there.
So for those of you who live around the DC area or who want to support our Fil-Am authors, do drop by. You may also contact the Embassy Cultural Section at wdcpecul@aol.com or Reme Grefalda at our_own_voice@yahoo.com for more details.
END.
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