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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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NEW JERSEY --- Several New Jersey-based organizations have endorsed a real estate manager who is an able fund-raiser to be the Grand Marshal for the Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. for 2006.
The PIDCI 2006 Grand Marshal is among the highest honor bestowed by the PIDCI within the Filipino community. The Grand Marshall is chosen based on his / her ability to raise substantial funds, his / her philanthropic history, honesty and integrity.
Dan de Guzman, a real estate manager and the founder, owner and president of Starlight Ballroom Dancers Association of Livingston, NJ, has been nominated by various NJ organizations.
De Guzman was able to raise tens and thousands of funds to support past PIDCI projects and other charitable projects of the Red Cross and for the victims of the World Trade Center attacks.
A chemical engineer by profession, he is a member of Pilipino Golf Club and the present president of Federation of Philippine Societies of NJ, one of the biggest Filipino American association in NJ.
“Dan helped me to raise $10,000 when we held a PIDC golf tournament in 2003,” said Fe Caliolio, founder and former president of Federation of Philippine Societies a former Grand Marshal of PIDC. She said De Guzman was able to solicit donations from the GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceutical firm.
Caliolio said that De Guzman and his dancers performed free for other groups to raise funds for charitable activities.
“Mr. De Guzman’s ballroom firm has been in existence for 15 years and he has given unselfish time to create unity among Filipinos,” said Dr. Beth Dimen of the Philippine Medical Association of NJ.
“He has inspired Filipinos in advocacy work. He was able to support the Cabrini Church in Piscataway,” said Dr. Bimen.
Dr. Elma Castillo, a pediatrician, also gave a ringing endorsement for De Guzman. “He has supported projects of the Philippine Pediatric Federation Association of America and supported our medical mission to the Philippines.”
The Philippine Medical Association of America Auxiliary group also backed the nomination of De Guzman to be the Grand Marshal for 2006, said Rudy Lizardo, president of the group.
De Guzman’s ballroom dancers group was also invited to perform at the PIDC ball of 2005 as requested by PIDCI president Nimia Lacebal.
“He is energetic, gracious and dynamic and determined to help greatly “ said Dr. Bert Velez, president of PAMS--NJ Foundation.
“Through dancing sports, medical affiliation nd socio-civic activities, De Guzman has made numerous projects a success,” said Dr. Velez.
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New York City, NEW YORK --- More than 200 Filipino New Yorkers showed up during the annual “Light a Parol” event of the Filipino-American Human Services, Inc.(FAHSI) on December 18.
Over $14,000 was also raised, which according to Venessa Manzano, FAHSI Executive Director, can greatly help in implementing programs and activities slated for next year.
More than a fundraiser, the “Light a Parol” was also an occasion where the youth can show off their cultural dances, like Sakuting, Rigodon, Paypay de Manila, Vinta, and Tinikling.
Special guests included Philippine Consul General Cecilia Rebong, Senator Frank Padavan, Councilman John Liu, and FAHSI Honorary Board Member and Co-Founder Dr. Jean Lobell.
Silent auction items were also made, which included IKEA furniture, a signed Lea Salonga poster, Ralph Lauren gift basket, Rafe Totengco designer bag, artwork created by FAHSI volunteers, a sequin gown and Filipiniana dress.
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New York City, NEW YORK --- The Filipino American Human Services, Inc. (FAHSI) will offer once again its 12-week course on Conversational Tagalog Level II: Mag-Usap Uli Tayo ng Tagalog, Kaibigan (Friend, Let’s Converse Once More in Tagalog).
Beginning on January 31 and ending on April 25, the classes will meet once a week every Tuesday night, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Registration is $450.00/adults and $350.00/students with valid student ID.
Classes will meet at the Philippine Center basement located at 556 Fifth Avenue (between 45th and 46th streets).
This is an intermediate-level conversation course that will provide college students, recent graduates and professionals lessons on some everyday vocabulary. A prerequisite of this course is a basic level of reading and speaking Tagalog.
This course will continue to stress situation-oriented, practical approaches, while at the same time further acquainting the student with the contemporary Philippine scene, whether in the arts or politics.
There will be screening of videotapes of Tagalog films and/or documentaries, as well as listening to some audiotapes (songs, etc.).
This course has been brought back after much requests since its last cycle that ran from September to December of 2005.
The course will be conducted by Luis H. Francia. Luis is the author of the semi-autobiographical Eye of the Fish: A Personal Archipelago (Kaya Press, 2001), and co-editor of Vestiges of War: The Philippine-American War and the Aftermath of an Imperial Dream 1899-1999 (New York University Press, 2002).
His latest poetry collection Museum of Absences was recently released this past October. He teaches Pilipino Language and Culture at New York University’s Asian Pacific American Studies Program.
Required reading material may have to be purchased in advance before classes begin.
For more information or to register, please contact Venessa Manzano at (718) 883-1295 or visit www.fahsi.org
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