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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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The struggle for Philippine independence dates back more than a century ago. It happened at a time when our great forefathers, driven by their quest to be free from the yoke of colonizers, assembled in a place called Pugadlawin. They tore up their cedulas, declared “Long live the Philippines” and vowed to fight “to the end.”
Out of the many battles they fought, the 1898 revolution claimed many heroes whose courage and patriotism we honor today. At a balcony window from where the first Philippine flag was raised and independence declared, we are reminded of a nation, our homeland we call the Philippines, celebrating its freedom.
But freedom, we have learned time and again, is not a gift from our forefathers to be put on a ledge like a medal and admired. It requires work in our own time, work each of us can do and all of us must do.
Our history is no different from the circumstances of other nations who endured the same bitter and long struggle to be free from their colonizers and oppressors. Lives of many men and women have been lost in the name of freedom and many more are willing to die to preserve and defend it.
Even today we see a continuing struggle by some nations to be free – to have democracy reign. And for us now, there is no other mark of greatness than the legacy left behind by the heroes of the 1898 revolution. It is for us, the living that should preserve the momentous events of the past that gave us freedom.
President Abraham Lincoln, who was not at the Pugadlawin but had talked about the future in his Gettysburg address, aptly reminds us: “It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom.”
This is the spirit of freedom we all can talk about as we celebrate the independence of our nation. (RJR)
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NEW YORK --- The news about Consul General Cecilia B. Rebong renting a $10,000 a month condominium at the posh Trump World Tower near the United Nations in Manhattan is out in the open. Now more can be said and there's no holding back.
And it's a story that started in this page almost a year ago when I wrote "Strange Bedfellows in Looking for William" which mentioned "a government official renting a $10,000 apartment on 48th street in Manhattan"
I don't anticipate seeing an early conclusion of this story without the consul general taking more flak from people who are enraged by her high-class living. And despite the Department of Foreign Affairs coming out publicly to defend her use of the high-priced apartment, it may have also something to say to her in private.
We'll know the results later when the rupture subsides and if changes, no matter how subtle, happen either in the corridors of power on the third floor of the Philippine Center or when the Trump Tower unit is vacated.
If nothing happens, it is possible that street-power and the power of the Internet will ultimately put pressure on where the buck stops in Malacanang Palace. Just like what happened to the former Los Angeles Consul General Edwin Bael in 2002.
But even with that thought, people wonder if a change would occur as they consider Rebong's ability to exercise some form of high level power-play. When Rebong left New York for Manila as a result of her mandatory end-of-tour duty abroad, she eventually became chief of protocol at the office of the president.
Rebong's predecessor, Consul General Linglingay Lacanlale, took over her (Rebong) post when she returned to Manila. Whether or not that was a coincidence, like others, I could only guess. Or was it a case of quid pro quo?
Awhile back in Los Angeles, I interviewed Bael about the possibility of Rebong replacing Lacanlale when her tour of duty ended. Bael said: "I don't think that's possible. She's junior to anyone I know in the ministry."
Well, Bael was wrong. Rebong got her promotion and was sent back to New York, a plum diplomatic post.
As if by a twist of fate, he resigned from his post amid community clamor for his re-assignment or recall to Manila due to circumstances that are similar to Rebong's renting a luxurious residence in addition to other allegations of abuse of authority.
Bael rented a mansion in Beverly Hills instead of renewing the lease at LA's Hankok Park, a local version of the so-called Diplomatic Row.
Instead of going back to Manila, however, he was reportedly sponsored by an immigration lawyer and was assigned to the law firm's branch in San Diego.
Even while assigned in Manila, Rebong's family continued to live in their Staten Island residential house, which is a 45-minute drive from Manhattan. When she comes home for regular family visits, Staten Island was her place to stay.
Upon her return in late 2003, she could have opted to remain there but she went on apartment hunting. As it turned out, Trump World Tower was her final choice after reportedly rejecting a condo across the Lincoln Center, which cost about half the amount that Trump Tower charges. Apparently, the size of the apartment was small for her needs.
The question is: What's wrong with Staten Island? If she and her family stayed there for a number of years, why did she have to move to Manhattan?
Was the allure of luxurious living more appealing to her than the amount of money that can be saved to improve the conditions of the less fortunate and the poor in our homeland?
What's wrong with Queens where rent is cheap? Or in Jersey City where rent is cheaper? Will she consider going back to Staten Island where she is welcomed as a homeowner?
When Willy Gaa was consul general here (who is supposedly the new LA consul general), he lived in a modest apartment. Even the Philippines' Permanent Representative to the United Nations lives in a townhouse in Manhattan owned by the Philippine government. The place pales in comparison to Rebong's choice.
There are places that maintain the dignity due to a dignitary like herself; however, it becomes a personal choice when the option is like the Trump World Tower. It leads to having a lifestyle that is paid for by taxpayer's money.
The $10,000 rent the government pays for her apartment could be translated into hundreds of pesos that can pay for 30 classrooms for the government's "Adopt-A-Classroom" project or build 120 Gawad Kalinga houses.
Ironically, these two projects, which she proudly promotes and endorses to the community, were not in her mind when she chose to live at the Trump World Tower.
That's the $10,000 question.
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“Good Day , Compliments of the day to you and your family. First accept my apologies for intruding into your privacy as this is not my intention.” (The opening lines in an e-mail from Mrs. Jewel Taylor wife to ex-president of Liberia Charles Taylor, as well as from a million other spammers with nothing better to do.)
I hope you haven’t forgotten me. I’ve been on hiatus. I could offer you any of these excuses to explain the absence of this column– maternity, burn-out, writer’s block – all of which I had to deal with over the last two months. But just the same it would all be Palusot! I have been away for too long and I am sorry. The truth is: I was a little disappointed by the lack of feedback for my recent columns on books. You see, earlier this year, I launched a crusade to promote Philippine books. But who am I kidding, right? My book crusade has fallen on deaf ears or should that be, blind eyes?
When few letters and e-mails came when I wrote about books, I started to wonder if I lost my audience. Could it be that nobody reads this space anymore? Or could it be that no one is interested? Pregnant and frustrated, I shied away from writing and had to think hard about what to do next. I gave birth to a healthy baby boy, my second son and soon my daily life took over. My older boy, the Kuya, is a great helper. Somehow I think instilling the “Kuya” principle has made him more responsible. He proudly tells people who congratulate him on the new baby, “You know what big brother is in Filipino? It’s Kuya. And I’m the KUYA.” My darling “Asawa” is also very helpful.
Although my writing time has been reduced, reading has become my solace – it is my link to other worlds. I read when I nurse, I read when the kids are napping, I read when I can. And so through the books sent to me by talented Pinoy authors like Eileen Tabios and Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, I have found inspiration!
And so here I am. Like Mariah Carey on her new album, or the new Darna on Philippine TV, I am BACK -- and what better time to make a comeback than on this month celebrating Philippine Independence.
I won’t be in any parades or parties but I’ll be cheering on the Motherland in my own way, through this column. I will continue to read books by Filipino authors and continue to write about them. I have this grand idea that at the end of the year, I will donate my Filipiniana collection to a library in the Philippines, with hopes that it will inspire Filipinos in the Philippines to READ FILIPINO.
Your Manila Girl lives again.
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