Fil-Am Ako

New York: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Ends a Legacy of Discrimination

Fil-Am Ako — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:26:39 +0000

On Tuesday, August 31st, housekeepers, nannies and caregivers celebrated the historic Domestic Workers Bill of Rights (A.1470B/S.2311E) bill signing in New York. This landmark legislation, the first of its kind in the nation, guarantees privately-employed nannies, housekeepers, and elderly caregivers in New York benefits such as paid leave, overtime and protection from discrimination. Bay Area domestic workers support the New York billand advocate for similar legislation in California.

Juana Flores, a former domestic worker who is now Director of a Bay Area immigrant women’s center Mujeres Unidas y Activas which runs the Caring Hands Workers Association said that the legislation sets a new standard for protecting vulnerable workers. “This is a historic moment. The time has come for domestic work to be valued and respected,” she said. A resolution recognizing the contributions of domestic workers (ACR 163) just passed the California legislature last week.

Providing testimony on behalf of Filipina caregivers at the celebration, Patricia Aceberos said, “I care about my patient, but caring for my patient shouldn’t mean I can’t care about my own family. I’m fighting for the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights because our work is hard work that feeds people, keeps their homes clean and keeps them alive. Many of us caregivers are people that had to leave our homeland to support our families. We are people that make many sacrifices to serve the elderly and mentally disabled. We deserve the same rights as any other worker.”

Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, co-author of the resolution in California expressed support for the Bill in New York and hopes California will be next. “Equality is at the heart of our American values but we are long overdue in treating domestic workers as equals. They are the mothers and daughters that provide vital assistance to our families, to our seniors and who take care of our children yet they lack the basic protections under the law that many of us take for granted. This resolution is the first step in California towards improving the rights of the people who provide so much to our society and yet get so little reward.”

To learn more, visit the National Domestic Worker Alliance or contact Katie Joaquin.

My Travel Philippines iPhone App

Fil-Am Ako — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:04:08 +0000

Just heard from Caloy Libosada from My Travel Philippines just released their iPhone application on the Philippines on travel. It showcases the destinations in all the provinces of the country. This can be a good way for everyone to know more about the country through their mobile devices. The best thing is that it’s a free application.

FEATURES:

Virtual Location – Tap and Drag the marker to set your virtual location. Afterwards click on the Nearby button to show you the closest attractions near the virtual location.
Nearby – see the attractions, sites or hotels near you.
Recent – provides recently updated travel information about an attraction or accommodation.
Search – find your attraction or accommodation
Destinations – gives a list of popular cities or provinces in the Philippines.
Map and List Views – switch between these views by flipping the screen
Sliding Main Menu
Road, Satellite Maps

As a background info, the developer of the app consists of two-man team of Pinoys (Caloy and Rupert) based in the Philippines and Australia. For more info, you can see the web contents in www.mytravelphilippines.com.

On The Nightstand: Leaving Yesler by Peter Bacho

Fil-Am Ako — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 07:28:27 +0000

Leaving Yesler is Peter Bacho’s first coming-of-age novel. The plot follows the tumultuous life of Bobby Vicente, who in 1968 is almost eighteen. Bobby is hoping for a better future beyond Seattle’s Yesler Terrace housing project. He dreams of going to college. However, in aquick order, he has to confront a tragic trifecta – the deaths of his beloved Creole mother and his protective older brother Paulie (killed in Vietnam) – and the looming death of his Filipino father. In his journey to adulthood, Bobby faces the questions about his ethnic and sexual identities, a body-hungry draft board eager to snatch up boys from the underclass, and a relationship with a beautiful young woman by the name of Deena.

I’ve been reminiscing my youth after seeing all these back to school ads and overachieving Asian teenagers flocking to the nearest Barnes & Noble to get a head start on their school work. To add on to that, reading Peter Bacho’s Leaving Yesler made me realize how much I wanted to read a book like this back in high school or junior high. Although the main protagonist’s ethnicity is up for questions as the story progresses, Leaving Yesler is about being a Fil-Am at the heart of its story. What I really enjoy about Leaving Yesler is the relationships between the main characters and the Filipino-American men in his life. It’s a breath of fresh air to actually see Asian-American male characters depicted in a positive light in American novels (please refer to YOMYOMF’s post on this topic). Among my favorite characters in the novel is Paulie Vicente, the deceased older brother of the main character who appears again in spirit. I knew I was hooked into the story after his appearance in the story, especially his relationship with his younger brother Bobby. Also, did I mention that there is tons of fighting and sexual situations in the story? As Bacho stated in one of his interviews, the young adult genre is getting edgier and more interesting.

The Filipino-American author’s first young adult novel is among the many books on my nightstand, which includes W.P. Kinsella’s Shoeless Joe and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Everyone can relate to some of the problems the main protagonist faces throughout the novel. For some of us it means that the experiences we faced growing up sucked, but we are better people for surviving through our adolescence. This is not a review, but more of a book recommendation as I got a lot going on my end at the moment. The following is a list of book reviews (beware of spoilers) for Peter Bacho’s Leaving Yesler and you can check out my interview with the Fil-Am author in Maryland here.

Pleasure Boat Studio -Peter Bacho
BookDragon – Leaving Yesler by Peter Bacho + Author Interview
Philippine American Writers and Artist, Inc.

Unrest, An AFI Thesis Film

Fil-Am Ako — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 08:16:31 +0000

Unrest is a short thesis film made by a group of graduate student filmmakers pursuing their Master of Fine Arts degree from the American Film Institute Conservatory in Los Angeles. It is a coming of age family drama that follows a 10 year old girl’s experience amidst a chaotic revolution in the streets of the Philippines, shaking up not only the nation but also her own family.

It is important for everyone to spread the word on this film. Also, August is an important month, which includes Ninoy Aquino day. August 21st was the death anniversary of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, who was instrumental in the People Power Revolution and the election of his wife Cory Aquino as the first female president in Asia. This time in Philippine history is one that future generations need to learn and it’s great that American filmmakers are investing their time on a story centered around Filipinos. The film’s core themes of family, love, and sacrifice will be identifiable to viewers not just from the Philippines where the story is set, but also to the rest of the world.

Unrest Film Synopsis
In 1986 Manila, the Philippine Revolution is raging, and the citizens are forced tochoose sides amidst the chaos. Nine-year-old Minnie (Pia Portiz) is the daughter of servantparents who support the revolution but work for a wealthy loyalist of the tyrantregime. Tensions are rising in the city, and it has become too dangerous toremain in Manila. Minnie’s mother, Rosa (Myra Cris Ocenar), works as a maid for Tessa (Giselle Tongi), the wealthy loyalist, and has made arrangements for the family to flee the country with herthe next day. However, Minnie’s father, Tomas, carries out clandestine missionsfor the revolution from the family’s servant quarters. When Tessa’s military ally,Colonel Canencia, visits the house to deliver the passports for their departure,Minnie inadvertently disrupts the delicate balance that precariously hangs aroundher by exposing a deadly secret. This sets off a chain of events that destroys thefamily’s plans for escape, and forces Rosa to make the ultimate sacrifice for herfamily. Minnie’s life is changed forever, as she becomes one of the many victims of Unrest.

Unrest has already won numerous awards including BAFTA/LA Student Film Awards and the Jury Award Stony Brook Film Festival 2010.

For more info on the film, please visit unrest unrest-movie.com, where you can also preview the trailer.

(Salamat, Eric)

Open Doors: Monument in Israel Honoring Filipinos

Fil-Am Ako — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 07:21:23 +0000

Here’s a little known fact that you won’t get from Hollywood or a Steven Spielberg flick. Did you know that the Philippines played a role in saving hundreds of Jews from the gas chambers and mass graves of the Holocaust? In 1939, two years before World War II reached the Pacific, the Commonwealth government under President Manuel L. Quezon allotted 10,000 visas and safe haven to Jews fleeing Nazi Europe. Some 1,200 Jews made it to Manila before the city itself fell to Japanese invaders.

70 years later, the first ever monument honoring Quezon and the Filipino nation for this “open door policy” was inaugurated on Israeli soil. The monument—a geometric, seven-meter-high sculpture titled “Open Doors”—was designed by Filipino artist Junyee (Luis Lee Jr.). Junyee won a competition held by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in February 2007 for the monument project. He won a P300,000 cash prize for his design over seven other entries, including one submitted by a National Artist, according to the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv.

Rendered mainly in steel and set on a base of marble tiles shipped from Romblon, the monument depicts three doors of ascending heights (three, five and seven meters). Viewed from above, Junyee’s work joins together “three triangles”—one representing the triangle of the Philippine flag, and the others signifying the two triangles that form the Star of David in the Israeli flag. Etched on the marble floor are three sets of “footprints” approaching the doors. The prints are said to be those of Weissler, fellow Jewish refugee George Loewenstein, and Doryliz Goffer, a young Filipino-Israeli born in the Philippines and a granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor.

This is something that every Filipino should be proud of, especially for anyone who has ever visited a concentration camp in Germany. In 2006, I had the opportunity to visit Dachau, the very first concentration camp to open in Germany. Like many of my American companions, I was petrified at the images and tour facts during my time on the grounds at Munich. For these reasons, I am very proud to have learned that Philippines played an important role in saving the lives many Jewish refugees.

For more on on the monument please refer to the article from Inquirer.net.

(Salamat, Danielle Polen)

Get A Free Vincent Who? DVD With Your APAP Membership at Blacklava

Fil-Am Ako — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 06:13:30 +0000

Do you know who Vincent Chin is?

This is a question that is often asked to Asian American students in universities across America. Surprisingly, the majority of Asian Americans don’t know who Vincent Chin is and what his death meant to the community. I first found out about Vincent Chin in 2004 after seeing a flyer for the documentary Who Killed Vincent Chin? Learning about his story changed the way I viewed myself as an Asian American student in the Midwest. Curtis Chin, founder of Asian Pacific Americans for Progress (APAP) recently released a statement on the Vincent Who? on dvd and how you can get your free copy along with a one year membership at APAP.

It all started with a simple goal: to remember Vincent Chin.

In 2007, on the 25th anniversary of his death, APAP organized a series of fourteen townhalls around the country to discuss the impact of his life and legacy. We gathered many of the leading civil rights leaders in our community to ask how far had we come and how far we had yet to go. From those discussions came our award-winning documentary, “Vincent Who?”, which has now toured to over 130 colleges, libraries and law firms around the country.

Now you have a chance to help support our work and own your own copy of the film.

To join APAP and receive your FREE DVD, simply click here.

For the past five years, APAP’s national network has been on the forefront of advancing progressive issues in our community. We have organized activist training sessions, countless phone banks, canvasses and townhalls. In addition, through our PAC, we have placed six paid fellows on various campaigns across the country.

To continue our work, we need your help. A one-year membership is just $30.

And as a special offer to new members, you can order additional copies of our film for just $15. That’s half off and you’ll get free shipping, too. Order a copy and donate it to your friend, your family or your local school, library or non-profit.

Please help us continue our work.

GET YOUR FREE COPY OF VINCENT WHO? TODAY

Sincerely,

The Board of Asian Pacific Americans for Progress.

For institutions, please order copies of the film here:

Please note: Vincent Who? does not have an official film site and any other sites not including the Asian Pacific Americans for Progress logo have not been officially approved. Please be aware that purchases made on those other sites do not benefit the work of our organization.

Vincent Chin’s legacy should mean something to the Filipino community because for the first time in American history, Asian Americans were united in the fight for civil rights in the U.S. I have my copy of Vincent Who? and it was worth every penny. A part of the documentary that caught my attention was when an elderly Filipino activist was quoted on why he was at a rally for Vincent Chin. He stated that he was there because if Asian Americans don’t stand together then we will be always divided. Learning about Lily Chin (Vincent Chin’s mother) has taught me that one person can make a difference and even though the Asian American community doesn’t have a Jesse Jackson, there are a handful of Lily Chin’s out there. After the Vincent Chin, the murder of Filipino American postal worker Joseph Ileto is arguably the most high-profile hate crime committed against an Asian American. August 10th was Ileto’s eleven year death anniversary. The death of Vincent Chin and Joseph Ileto is a part of American history. Their stories should never be forgotten and future generations need to be educated on the their legacy. For more information, please visit apaforprogress.org and support the national network.

Obama names Fil-Am as Associate Judge of DC

Fil-Am Ako — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 06:39:53 +0000

President Barack Obama has nominated Fil-Am Maria Elizabeth (Maribeth) Raffinan to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

“Throughout her career Maribeth Raffinan has shown a commitment to justice and public service,” said President Obama in a statement released last month. “I am proud to nominate her to serve on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.”

Raffinan is currently a supervising attorney in the DC Public Defender Services Trial Division. She bested two other candidates for the position. Her appointment is currently awaiting confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Once affirmed, she will serve a 15-year term and will replace retiring Associate Justice Odessa Vincent.Raffinan has been a supervising attorney in the Trial Division of the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia since 1999.

According to her bio, as a public defender she has represented numerous indigent defendants facing criminal charges. Prior to joining the Public Defender Service, Raffinan worked in the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Columbia.She has co-chaired the 2007 Deborah T. Creek Criminal Practice Institute, an annual training program for criminal defense practitioners in the District of Columbia, and she has served as a member of the Superior Court’s Drug Court Committee. She has also served as an adjunct professor at the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America.

Raffinan earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from Boston College and law degree from Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law.

This news comes as a great way to end the summer, which also included the announcement of Judge Tani Cantil-Sakauye as Governor Schwarzenegger’s choice for chief justice of the California Supreme Court.

Venus Raj Takes on Miss Universe 2010 and then Falls Short

Fil-Am Ako — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:16:53 +0000

Maria Venus Bayonito Raj (born July 7, 1988) is one of the three reigning 2010 Binibining Pilipinas winners. Upon separation of her parents, Maria Venus Raj was taken to Bato, Camarines Sur in Bicol, Philippines as an infant and was registered by an aunt as Philippine-born to Roman Catholic parents—a Filipino mother and an Indian father. It was her mother, a former tenant farmer and dressmaker who brought Maria Venus Raj up as a child. Maria Venus Raj lived in a nipa hut made of wood, bamboo and anahaw leaves with no electricity in the middle of a sprawling rice field in the rural Bato town for more than twenty years. She allegedly used rice paddy dikes for her early training where she eventually developed her distinct catwalk.

The youngest among five children, Maria Venus Raj started joining local beauty pageants at 17 years old. She also joined oratorical contests at San Vicente High School where her english teacher served as her coach. With her victories in major contests, Venus Raj had started to buy land on installment basis for her mother as a means of improving their livelihood. She was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Universe on March 06, 2010 during the pageant’s Grand Coronation Night at the Araneta Coliseum. She represents the Republic of the Philippines as a candidate for the Miss Universe 2010 beauty pageant. Currently, Raj is in the Top Ten in the Miss Universe 2010 pageant. So, show your support and watch the beautiful Venus Raj take on Miss Universe on NBC!

Update: The favorite to win Miss Universe, Venus Raj ends up in fifth place after a disappointing response to the Q&A portion of the pageant. Judge William Baldwin (brother of that guy who made the infamous Philippine mail order bride comment) asked her if she had made any mistakes in her life and what did she do to correct. Surprisingly, Raj stated that she did not make any major major mistakes in her 22 years of existence. Everyone there knew that was a load of crap as Raj was previously dethroned by the pageant’s organizers (BPCI) citing alleged inconsistencies between her birth certificate and the personal account of her birth. I expected more from a contestant who graduated with honors from college, maybe it was her overconfidence that made her lose the crown. Anyways, Raj did the best she could in representing the Philippines and everyone should be proud that she made it that far.

Congratulation Miss Mexico Jimena Navarrete on winning Miss Universe 2010 and for being hot!

Philippine SWAT: “Sorry, We Aren’t Trained”

Fil-Am Ako — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:05:28 +0000

According to Philippine authorities, they found nine bodies: eight Hong Kong tourists and the ex-policeman who had seized the bus to demand his job back.

It was 10:15 a.m. Monday in Manila when Rolando Mendoza, 55 and married with three children, hitched a ride with the tourists as they visited historic sites in the city. He wore a camouflage uniform and carried an M16 rifle but didn’t seem unusual in the heavily policed capital.

Then he announced that he was taking the travelers hostage to win back his job. According to newspaper reports, the former senior inspector was among five officers who had been charged with robbery, extortion and grave threats after a Manila hotel chef filed a complaint alleging they falsely accused him of using drugs to extort money. Mendoza was fired last year but claimed he was innocent.

Nine hostages were freed — three women, three children and two men — leaving 15 tourists on board. Police sealed the area and brought food for the hostages, along with fuel to keep the bus’ air conditioning running in the 32-degree-Celsius (90 F) heat. Then negotiations began to go awry. Mendoza demanded a signed promise that his case would be reviewed, but its delivery was delayed for hours, in part by Manila’s notorious traffic, and when it finally arrived he rejected it as insufficient.

Yabut, the assault commander, said that “when he started shooting the hostages, that’s the time I gave the signal to my sniper to shoot when there is a clear view.” He said Mendoza died of a single shot to the head.

Shortly before 9 p.m., police lobbed tear gas into the bus and commandos approached the vehicle, crouching beside it and ready to storm it. They smashed windows and the back door with sledgehammers. Once aside, they found only the dead, one of them slumped on the bus steps. The Hong Kong government did not hide its displeasure at the handling of the incident. It issued a warning against travel to the Philippines, canceled planned tour groups to the islands and asked Hong Kong tourists still in the country to leave. The bloodbath happened in front of a grandstand where Aquino had been sworn in as president on June 30. After midnight he was back there, staring at the bloodstained, bullet-riddled bus.

The country witnessed live on TV, rattled people who are already accustomed to a history of kidnappings (especially in the Chinese-Filipino community) and violence blamed on Muslim rebels. It provoked demands from the Hong Kong government for an explanation, and an acknowledgment from Philippine President Benigno Aquino III that his police need more training and equipment. For more on this story click here.

Warning: This video contains graphic, raw footage of what will most likely be used in every SWAT training facility around the world of how NOT to screw up a hostage rescue attempt.

S-Cube Entertainment Presents Umamiya’s Hot Sour Spicy and Sweet

Fil-Am Ako — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 04:05:48 +0000

Never heard of the Pan-Asian girl group Umamiya? Then I guess you’ve been living under a rock. Umamiya is comprised of five women from different Asian Pacific Islander ethnicities. Each female member of Umamiya is a talented, triple-threatening singer, songwriter and dancer. Breaking new ground with singers representing Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan and the Philippines. Umamiya is poised to be the first truly Pan-Asian R&B/Pop group to break through the global entertainment market. Get to know all the members Cathedral Leung, mari.kris.am.i, Winnie Wu (a.k.a. WWII), Kitty Karaoke, and Kim Min Jung in their interviews on Channel APA: Broadcasting Asian America.

Umamiya was formed by the unlikely pairing of Los Angeles-based record company, S-Cube Entertainment and COLD TOFU. S-Cube just released the official music video to Umamiya’s Hot Sour Spicy and Sweet. So don’t forget to view the music video and taste it!

About S-Cube Entertainment

Headquartered in Los Angeles, S-Cube Entertainment’s mission is to develop and share music influenced by a developing Pan-Asian urban movement. In a rapidly changing environment of digital media and multiculturalism, S-Cube Entertainment stands poised to become the bridge between Asia and the rest of the world.

About S-Cube

International Music Mogul and Impressario, Sang Sung Song (“S-Cube”), made the international Asian Hip Hop charts in 2007 with his underground dance hit, “Noraebang Means Noraebang.”. Born in Los Angeles, California and partially raised in South Korea, S-Cube was awarded, “Game-Changer of the Month” by KAHASA Webzine.

About Cold Tofu

Based in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo, Cold Tofu is the nation’s premier Asian American comedy improv group. It is dedicated to promoting diverse images of Asian Pacific Americans through comedy and to developing multiethnic talent through education and performance. A nonprofit organization, Cold Tofu was founded in 1981, and is under the leadership of its current Artistic Director Helen H. Ota.

Special shout-out to S-Cube’s President and CEO, Sang Sung Song and Corinne Chooey! Don’t forget to support Umamiya and download Hot Sour Spicy and Sweet at iTunes, Amazon, and CD BABY

“Umamiya” is a new media project by Cold Tofu Improv, a Los Angeles based, non-profit Asian-American improv comedy group. For more information on Cold Tofu,visit coldtofu.com.

J.J. Racaza’s Last Shot

Fil-Am Ako — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 03:40:59 +0000

Simon "J.J." Racaza's Last Shot History.com

Did any of you catch the last episode of Top Shot on Sunday August 15th? If you did, you know that Fil-Am contestant J.J. was one of the final three contestants on the History Channel reality show. Although, the show didn’t end with the results I wanted, J.J. proved to be a worthy contestant and Filipino-American that everyone should know.

As many of you know from last month’s post on J.J Racaza Dominates on Top Shot, where I stated that this Fil-Am contestant is a badass. Well, that hasn’t changed. Watching Top Shot only made me a bigger fan of Racaza and hopefully an inspiration to many viewers out there. Racaza lasted through all ten episodes dominating in the majority of the challenges on the History Channel show. For those unfamiliar with Top Shot, The show consists of 16 contestants, split into two teams of eight, competing in various types of shooting challenges. One by one, the contestants are eliminated until only one remains. That contestant will receive the $100,000 grand prize and the title of “Top Shot.”

The show’s Filipino-American contestant, Simon “J.J.” Racaza is a Department of Homeland Security Agent, double grandmaster in the USPSA/IPSC, winning the World Speed Shooting title in both the open and limited divisions. He is also the world record holder in the Steel Challenge and consistently ranked in the USPSA top five. In the season finale, Racaza started out strong winning the elimination challenge consisting of Beretta 92F 9x19mm pistol. You can see what happens to Team J.J. in the season finale of Top Shot at History.com.

If you can’t get enough of J.J. Racaza, he’ll be in Valencia, CA shooting the World Speed Shooting Championship on August 19th-22nd. Support J.J. Racaza as he’ll be defending his Iron Sight World Title as well as his chance to go for the Open Title against the World’s Fastest shooters!

FYI: TOP SHOT is now casting for their second season! Producers are currently reviewing all candidates submitted before the deadline and will contact semi-finalists by the end of August. For more info visit TOP SHOT at History.com.

Airport Workers Resolve Age Bias Case

Fil-Am Ako — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 05:02:40 +0000

Manong Hector Arcangel (taken from FAA/FAJ email blast)

Filipino Advocates for Justice just released an update on Oakland Airport Workers’ campaign against Delta Air Lines Global Services for discrimination and harassment of older workers.A year from the launching of the “Justice for Manong” campaign, Hector Arcangel and Alex Lugtu’s age discrimination case against Delta Airlines Global Services (DGS) has been resolved!

Hector and Alex filed the case against DGS, subsidiary of airline giant Delta Airlines, for age discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Their resolve to stand up for their rights is a reminder that together workers can fight to improve their situation.

“In filing their complaint, Hector and Alex forced DGS management to face up to the hostility senior workers felt in their workplace,” said Organizer, Katie Joaquin. “Their action represents a victory for all seniors struggling to work with dignity, free from discrimination.”

“Since the filing of their case, workers have seen progress in DGS management’s attention to worker complaints, including one senior worker who was successfully reinstated into her position, asserted Katie. “When workers fight, we make gains.”

“APALA first took up the airport worker fight in 2002 when hundreds of Filipino screeners were displaced because they were not U.S. citizens and it’s a shame that we are still fighting for their very basic rights to a fair workplace. It’s critical for us to be steadfast in supporting their long-time struggle for fair working conditions and a union contract.”
– Luisa Blue, SEIU 521 & APALA 1st Vice-President

“Discrimination against older workers only exacerbates the increasing challenges we face to survive with dignity. We have been and continue to be a critical foundation for this economy. Yet, after decades of service in our work, we find ourselves with little to no economic security, difficulty accessing basic public benefits and no respect. This must change.”
- Hector Arcangel, DAL Global Services Worker and PAWIS Vice-Chair

This report from Balitang America in 2009 focuses on Oakland Airport Workers’ campaign against Delta Air Lines Global Services for discrimination and harassment of older workers. Under the management of Delta Air Lines Global Services, a company subcontracted by airlines at Oakland International to provide passenger service workers, Alex Lugtu and Hector Arcangel faced discrimination and harassment. This included ageist comments about the need to retire, and retaliation for complaining about discrimination, including close scrutiny looking for any minor infraction that could lead to termination. The company also tried to force them out. You can read the full press release here.

For more information, visit filipinos4justice.org and contact Katie Joaquin at (510) 465-9876×301 or email her at Kjoaquin@filipinos4justice.org.

CCCI Presents Once Upon a Full Moon: An Evening with Beauty and Melody

Fil-Am Ako — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:30:40 +0000

Here is an upcoming event from my good friend Z.J. Tong, the founder of Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute (CCCI) and a Chinese culture expert. He has made presentations at various universities, corporations and organizations and has been quoted mulitple times by publications such as Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Time, Crain’s Chicago Business, Gazette, and a recent live interview on WTTW. Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute presents Once Upon a Full Moon, an Evening with Beauty and Melody for their annual Moon Festival celebration. Direct from Sichuan, China, the breathtaking performance by Beauty and Melody Performing Troupe, an all-women traditional instrument ensemble will take you on a musical Journey from China’s ancient melodies to the contemporary rhythms of today.

If you’re in Chicago, you don’t want to miss this event. I was involved behind the scenes at last year’s Moon Festival Concert at the Chicago Cultural Center and I’ll be back in town for the event again this year.

To purchase tickets, please visit harristheaterchicago.org. For questions or to purchase VIP tickets, please visit: chicagocci.com or contact 312-842-1988 and info@chicagocci.com.

When: 7:30p.m., Friday, Sept. 17
Where: Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Street, Chicago
Cost: $15, $25, $35 and $75

Be a Backer to CCCI’s Moon Festival Concert

To be able to properly present Once Upon a Full Moon, an Evening with Beauty and Melody concert, Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute is asking for your support. Even if you are not attending the concert, you can consider supporting the project with your generous donation as small as $10 and the chance to be awarded with some wonderful “thank-you” prizes. Please visit the following website to make your pledge: www.kickstarter.com. If this project is successfully presented through this concert, CCCI would be able to bring more high-quality Chinese arts and cultural programs to you.

DECKTECHS: A Science Fiction Dramatic Comedy

Fil-Am Ako — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 09:10:31 +0000

DECKTECHS is a show to look out for in the near future and find out how you can even help produce the pilot for this show. DECKTECHS is a Dramatic Comedy television pilot set in the not-too-distant future. It is the story of a young man named Don who wants to work in outer space, but his eagerness exceeds his skill. After disregarding the advice of a mentor and exaggerating on his resume, he finds himself stuck on the maintenance team of a poorly managed corporate space station. Dissatisfied with his job and the isolation of space, he struggles to adjust to life while earning enough money to make the expensive trip back to Earth. Though Don’s situation seems bleak, it allows him the opportunity to discover his strengths and ultimately become a man.

DECKTECHS has been described as Firefly meets Top Gun meets Dilbert, in a sense that the main character is working for an incompetent corporation. The science fiction dramatic comedy will be fully realized through previsualization before going into production. Rough animation can be cut to voice tracks featuring the actors, CG sets will be constructed and extensive collaboration can take place to figure out camera angles, lighting and screen direction.

According to the show’s creators, the pilot for DECKTECHS will be produced with help from their investors, donors and you! As previously stated, DECKTECHS is visual effects-heavy, employing digital sets and extensive previsualization to help with the planning. With a list of SCAD films under his belt, Reese Thomas steps into his first Television role as the main character Don. Lindsay Nance ventures into the realm of Sci-Fi in the role of Ana, Don’s main romantic interest and childhood friend. Darwin Harris, who began his professional acting career in Chicago, steps into the role James, Don’s mentor. Michelle Milne is thrilled to be adding the world of sci-fi to her performing adventures as she takes on the role of Supervisor McCrae. Fil-Am actor Erick Esteban rounds up the cast as Albert, Don’s comic sidekick and poorly trained co-pilot. In his interview, Esteban describes as “sexy laziness” and has a feeling that Albert’s relationship with Don becomes a sort of Han Solo-Chewbacca kind of thing. The cast is made up of committed and seasoned actors from L.A., Chicago, and Georgia. Kendall Pictures promises that DECKTECHS will be an energetic and high quality production.

HELP PRODUCE THE PILOT OF DECKTECHS

Although a dramatic comedy, DECKTECHS is a serious production. Kendall Pictures has booked MEDDIN STUDIOS, the new state of the art facility in Savannah, Georgia for greenscreen photography, followed by another week of location shoots. Money raised through Kickstarter will help pay for studio space and equipment rental. This project is a labor of love, and everyone from the creative team, the cast, and the crew are committed to making this great story spring to life. For more information on DECKTECHS and how you can help support this science fiction dramatic comedy, visit www.decktechs-series.com.

The Peace Corps Alumni Foundation for Philippines Development (PCAFPD)

Guest Writer — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:12:07 +0000

by Sylvia

The Peace Corps Alumni Foundation for Philippines Development (PCAFPD) is preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps in 2011 by collecting stories from Filipinos about Peace Corps Voluneers who served in the Philippines. If you have memories of a Peace Corps Volunteer who was your friend, colleague or neighbor when you or your parents or grandparents were living in the Philippines, we’d like to hear from you. Please send your submissions by email to (if you want to be the point person on this you can enter yours –or use board1@rpcvphilippines.org. Also, for those who do not use email, submissions can be sent to PCAFPD, P.O. Box 100114, Arlington VA 22210.

ABOUT PCAFPD:

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE FOUNDATION?
The Foundation supports Philippine development by creating educational opportunities for young Filipinos who indicate a willingness to contribute to the development of their country. The Foundation grants scholarships to deserving students with demonstrated financial need who otherwise could not pursue their education. The Foundation has contributed to other development projects over the years, including the Peace Corps Partnership Program.

HOW IS THE FOUNDATION MANAGED?
The Foundation is administered by an elected Board of Directors, who serve without compensation. The Board meets regularly in Washington, D.C. (Visitors are always welcome) Advances in technology have enabled us to operate the Foundation with board members located in other parts of the U.S. and in the Philippines. Our Vice President in Manila, Mr. Roland de Jesus, monitors all scholarships, deals with school administrations, and provides guidance and support to the scholars. Join the PCAFPD email discussion group or email us for more information.

In 2005, PCAFPD President Maureen Carroll and VP Carol Radomski made a field visit to the Philippines. Click here for highlights of the field visit.

HOW DOES THE FOUNDATION RAISE FUNDS?
The Foundation raises funds through direct contributions from former Peace Corps Volunteers, staff, Filipinos, and friends of the Philippines. Many Filipino-Americans choose the Foundation as a way to support students in their home country. There is no formal office in Washington or the Philippines, and care is taken to keep overhead costs low so that most of the funds are devoted to scholarships.

For more details on The Peace Corps Alumni Foundation for Philippines Development (PCAFPD), please visit rpcvphilippines.org.

17th Annual Pistahan Parade and Festival

Fil-Am Ako — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 07:53:11 +0000

17TH ANNUAL PISTAHAN PARADE AND FESTIVAL AT THE YERBA BUENA GARDENS – August 14 and 15, 11am-5pm. (FREE) Experience the Philippines in San Francisco.

The largest celebration of Filipino Americans in San Francisco is back! Over 50,000 attended last year. The Pistahan begins with the Grand Parade at 11am on Saturday, August 14 on Market Street (beginning at Beale) and ending at Yerba Buena Gardens (3rd & Mission).

PARTICIPATE! The two-day festival is FREE and open to the public.

Be there for the return of the popular Adobo Cook-off and “balut” eating contests, delectable Filipino cuisine and yummy desserts.

Both days will feature an impressive roster of entertainers featuring Filipino jazz, Broadway, and Popular music – Hip Hop, Modern and Folk dance – martial arts – “Balagtasan” rap and poetry – and the best of Filipino art, indigenous crafts, books, games, and interactive cultural pavilions.

This is a once-a-year opportunity to create • educate • celebrate with the Filipino American community!

Pistahan Parade: will take place Saturday August 14 and features beautiful themed floats and approximately 50 contingents. It will be a colorful display of Filipino pride and a celebration of our dynamic community with festive floats, marching contingents and musical groups along Market Street from the Embarcadero to the Yerba Buena Gardens.

Pistahan & Bayanihan Stages: will take place Saturday and Sunday (Aug 14-15) between 11am-4:30pm in Yerba Buena Gardens esplanade. Enjoy world-class performances showcasing Filipino and Filipino American performing artists from Manila, Hollywood, Broadway, the San Francisco Bay Area and around the country. Pistahan presents a wide variety of entertainment for the entire family, including folk dance, modern dance, hip-hop, R&B, rap, jazz, Broadway, spoken word, and more! Just a partial list of Artists this year includes: TFC’s Toni Gonzaga, DJs Rocky Rock & Know-Madik, Project Runway’s Jay Sario, American Idol’s Jose “Sway” Penala, Gloria Papin, Michelle Martinez, Brian Dublin, Charito, Balut Eating Contest, Tribute to Al Robles, Balagtasan, the CCMT’s cast of RENT, Eye Eighty, My Peoples (formerly Kapakahi), Boondocks, Kulintronica, Parangal Dance Company featuring Kawayan Folk Arts, Likha, Aftermath, OK!DK, and Steps Styles & Spotlight.

Art Pavilion: Visual art exhibits will showcase an eclectic genre and styles of Filipino artists from local areas and abroad through the cooperation of gallery owners, community centers and art groups. Meet the artists and discover the rich artistic heritage of the Philippines. [ In partnership with KULarts and Filipino Community Center ]

Dance Pavilion: Festival attendees can catch the rhythm and participate in folk dance demonstrations and workshops. This interactive pavilion will teach traditional folk dances, hip-hop, ballroom and zuma for a memorable and immersive cultural experience. [ In partnership with the SOMA Filipino Senior Center ]

Creativity Pavilion: A creative space where the youth and young at heart can get hands-on experience learning Mangyan poetry and Baybayin, the ancient Filipino script. Hear Philippine folklores and folktales and take part in the creation of a community mural. [ In partnership with PinoyTattoos and Malaya Designs ]

Culinary Pavilion: Celebrating the many flavors of Philippine cuisine, professional and amateur chefs are invited to feature their special recipe and participate in the annual Adobo Cook-off. Don’t miss the ever popular Mama Sita’s Balut Eating Contest and the Beard Papa Cream Puffs Eating Contest! [ Sponsored by Mama Sita’s and Beard Papa ]

Health Pavilion: Various community organizations will provide useful information, provide awareness, and address the health care issues of our community. Free hepatitis B screenings will also be available. [ Sponsored by Kaiser Permanente ]

“Pinay Tunay” Heritage Pavilion: Spearheaded by the Filipina’s Network (FWN), the pavilion will focus on the role of Filipina women of the past and of today to remember and commemorate the accomplishments and traditions of Filipino culture. The pavilion will offer educational seminars every hour for about 30 minutes each. From Bayanihan Tradition to Art, to SHEroes & Legends and Textiles and Babaylan, the seminars will feature lessons about each of these distinct, defining heritage topics about Filipino culture. In addition to educating the public, each seminar will seek public opinion and input for each of the theme. [ Sponsored by Wells Fargo ]

Play Pavilion: On Saturday, kids can learn traditional street games played by their counterparts back in the Philippines, like sipa, patintero, sungkaan and more! This highly interactive pavilion will also host arnis escrima and kali workshops, as well as a Tae Kwon Do showcase. [ In partnership with Planet Infinity ]

Filipino American Jazz: Music lovers can discover Filipino influences and enjoy a taste of Filipino Jazz at the Pistahan Stage on both days of the Festival, with Nerio DeGracia Mambo Jazz Sextet and Jonathan Bautista Quartet and . Support the mission of the San Francisco Filipino American Jazz Festival to promote, preserve and celebrate the history and legacy of jazz in the San Francisco Bay Area as performed by Filipino American artists.

For more details, go to Pistahan’s blog at blog.pistahan.net

Pistahan online at:

twitter.com/pistahan

facebook.com/Pistahan

youtube.com/pistahansf

pistahan.net

or call 415-325-EXPO

Guestworker Teachers Fight Back

Fil-Am Ako — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 07:06:53 +0000

Mairi Nunag-Tañedo is one of hundreds of teachers recruited from the Philippines to teach in Louisiana public schools.

Hundreds of Filipino guestworkers lured to teach in Louisiana public schools were cheated out of tens of thousands of dollars and forced into exploitative contracts by an international trafficking ring run by labor contractors, according to a class action lawsuit filed on August 5th by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and Covington & Burling LLP. The sad part about this story is that it shows another case that involves Filipinos taking advantage of their kababayans’ rights and well being through fraudulent acts.

The federal lawsuit was filed on behalf of more than 350 Filipino teachers working in Louisiana under the federal H-1B guestworker program. For those unfamiliar with immigration law terms, H-1B is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations, which in this case is education. The lawsuit accuses Universal Placement International, based in Los Angeles, and its sister organization, Manila-based PARS International Placement Agency – of human trafficking, racketeering and fraud. The suit also names the East Baton Rouge Public School System, several school district officials and a California lawyer, Robert Silverman, based on their roles in the fraudulent trafficking scheme.

“The outrageous conduct by the companies that recruited these teachers and those who assisted them in carrying out their scheme is part of a larger pattern of exploitation that we’ve documented in guestworker programs,” said SPLC Legal Director Mary Bauer, author of the 2007 report Close to Slavery: Guestworker Programs in the United States. “It’s clear that the very structure of the program lends itself to pervasive worker abuse. Guestworker programs should not be the model for immigration reform.”

The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the home state of Universal. Included as defendants are Lourdes “Lulu” Navarro, owner and president of Universal; Hothello “Jack” Navarro, a director at Universal; and Emilio V. Villarba, a representative of PARS. In 2000, Lourdes Navarro was convicted of defrauding California’s MediCal program of more than $1 million and served a year in Orange County Jail. Villarba, Navarro’s brother, was also charged in the scheme but was never apprehended and is now in the Philippines. In 2003, Lourdes Navarro also pleaded guilty in New Jersey to money laundering.

Apparently, public schools across America have been filling their teaching positions with teachers from the H-1B guestworker program. According to a recent report by the AFT, the number of overseas teachers brought to the United States increased by nearly 30 percent between 2002 and 2006, from 14,943 to 19,393. The five states with the most overseas teachers are Texas, New York, California, Maryland and Louisiana, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. These teachers began arriving in the United States in 2007 after each paid about $16,000, several times the average household income in the Philippines to obtain these positions. The H-1B guestworker program permits foreign nationals with special skills to work in the United States for a period of up to six years. For more on this story, click here.

Meet Stephen Dypiangco, Director of Home Unknown

Fil-Am Ako — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 02:21:18 +0000

Last month I featured an upcoming documentary entitled, Home Unknown. This personal documentary is about filmmaker Stephen Dypiangco’s attempts to reconnect with his roots by traveling with his parents to their homeland, the Philippines. Through a series of surprising encounters, he realizes that he knows far less about his quiet father, outspoken mother, and himself than he ever imagined. In this interview Stephen tells us more about his experiences as a Filipino-American and why you should support Home Unknown.

Please tell us who you are.

I’m Stephen Dypiangco. I was born and raised in Montebello, a suburb east of Los Angeles, California. My parents, Oscar and Lucila, emigrated from the Philippines in 1969, ten years before I was born. Originally from the province of Pampanga, my mom spent most of her life as a high school English teacher, both in Metropolitan Manila and in the Los Angeles Unified School district. My dad, who was born in Laguna, was an auditor for the California worker’s compensation insurance company. Growing up, my schoolmates were mostly Chinese and Mexican, with just a few Filipinos. Until I went to NYU for graduate film school, my education had exclusively been at Catholic schools (St. Stephen School for elementary, Loyola High School, Georgetown University).

After college I spent a year as a volunteer with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, which had a huge impact on my life. While living in the poverty-stricken city of Camden, NJ, with its share of violence and danger, I worked with a nonprofit organization that promoted the wellbeing of farmworkers. My experiences there opened my eyes to harsh realities I had never fully understood. They also made me appreciate the great lengths to which my parents had gone to provide my three older brothers and me so many opportunities.

Interested in fusing my passion for social justice with the art of filmmaking, I was fortunate enough to gain admittance into NYU’s prestigious graduate film program. At NYU, I wrote, directed and produced several short films and worked alongside incredibly talented classmates.

What is Home Unknown?

Home Unknown is a feature-length personal documentary about my family, which I began work on in 2006, during my final year at NYU. After a lengthy conversation with an older cousin, I started to realize how little I knew about our family’s history. Since I was born in the U.S., I didn’t really know my relatives in the Philippines nor what that country meant to me. Although I had been there a couple of times as a child, I hadn’t gone back as an adult.

Since my parents are now retired, they return to their homeland every year around Christmas time. With this in mind, I decided to make a film about going back to the Philippines with them to find out about my relatives and Filipino identity. But when I came back to NY from shooting in the Philippines in early 2007, I got sidetracked. I finished up my NYU coursework, moved back home to LA, got married in Montana, produced a low budget film, directed several music videos, wrote a screenplay, wrote tons of synopses for Netflix and much more.

Last December, I was finally became ready to start editing my documentary and to bring it to completion. Since then, I’ve been actively trying to connect with other Fil-Ams , hoping to find others like me who might be interested in lending their talents to this project. Momentum is slowly starting to pick up. I can now see my film reaching a much larger audience than I ever expected, which is very exciting. What started out as a project for just my family, and possibly a few film festivals, seems to be growing into something much bigger.

Where can people view Home Unknown?

Although I am still editing the feature-length version of Home Unknown, people can already check out the trailer and various related webisodes through these websites:

HomeUnknown.com

facebook.com/HomeUnknown

vimeo.com/channels/HomeUnknown

My goal is to keep releasing new videos, pictures and updates that relate to the movie’s progress, my parents and what it’s like to be the child of Filipino immigrants.

What made you decide to go into film?

During my senior year in high school, when all of the cool kids were going to parties and getting in trouble, I spent my weekends checking out movies all across LA. That year I watched The Godfather, The Graduate and other amazing films that opened my eyes to quality cinema.

But it was actually the low budget indie comedy Swingers that made me realize that I wanted to be a filmmaker. It was so funny, and as I watched it, I kept debating whether I should try and watch the very next screening once it was over. That had never happened to me before, and I began to realize I wanted to make movies. In my family history, nobody had worked in the arts, so I didn’t know how to move forward in this direction. But every step of the way, both of my parents supported and encouraged me to follow my dreams.

Do you have any advice for Filipinos and Asian-Americans who want to get into filmmaking?

I think filmmaking, like anything else difficult, takes time and practice. With the exception of a few geniuses, like Orson Welles, you really need to just go out and watch movies, write movies and direct movies. That’s really the only way you’ll learn. You can be doing this out on your own or in film school. Either way, you have to be a self-starter and just do it. Plan a film project with friends, no matter how small, and go shoot it. The stuff I shot with my friends in college was awful, but it was fun and taught me so much. Definitely work with people you like and respect, and together you’ll go a long way. I’m sure of that.

What does being Filipino-American mean to you?

Being Filipino-American means conflict, complexity and family all wrapped into one.

I think that being Filipino and being American are two different things. Trying to combine them, can often lead to confrontation, challenges and confusion.

My experience growing up Filipino-American involved my parents’ speaking to each other in Tagalog but to me and my brothers in English. So while I always knew that I was Filipino, it wasn’t something that we really discussed much at home. Until I hit my late 20’s, I just wasn’t ready to start caring about being Filipino or the Filipino-American community.

But as I’ve worked on Home Unknown, I’ve started to understand new things about being Filipino-American. I think that it has a lot to do with two things — family and community. If you focus on your family, support your community and acknowledge your identity, you’re then accepting the best values that define our people.

What do you feel needs to change with Filipinos and how the world views us?

I know that whenever I hear about the Philippines in the news, it is usually about a terrible catastrophe, such as a flood, mud slide, earthquake or crash. Instead of tragedies, I’d like to see the achievements and successes the Philippines has attained through its many outstanding leaders in the arts, sciences, sports and other fields.

I’ve had several people tell me about Filipinos’ crab mentality, but I have yet to experience that personally. All of the Filipinos I’ve met have been nothing but supportive and encouraging. I hope that this spirit of cooperation continues to grow and spread out all across the globe.

What are your favorite films and are any Filipino movies on that list?

Unfortunately, I’ve only seen a handful of Filipinos films, and none of them had really stood out in my mind. I know that there is a rich tradition of Filipino films, and I look forward to exploring it further.

Here are some of my all-time favorites: The Godfather, Annie Hall, Stripes, Swingers, The Graduate

Recent Favorites: United 93, The Beat That My Heart Skipped, Talladega Nights, The Garden, 500 Days of Summer

Do you look up to any Filipinos as role models?

Cory Aquino was a big role model. I was only a kid when the People Power revolution was taking place in the Philippines, but I vividly remember watching her very closely on the news. When she was named by Time Magazine as the Person of the Year, I remember being very proud of her. I respect her courage. It takes guts to stand up and do what she did after her husband’s brutal death.

What are your favorite Filipino dishes?

Adobo, chicken/pork barbecue, beef calderetta, garlic fried rice.

Is there any additional information you would like to share with us?

I am looking for collaborators such as filmmakers, visual artists, web designers, graphic designers, musicians, photographers, writers and interns. By pooling our talents together, I know we can create a truly meaningful film that will resonate with Filipinos all over the world.

Because this independent film is self-funded, progress has been slow. I’m hoping to raise several thousand dollars to hire a professional editor and finish the film by the spring of next year. But in order to do that, I really need to build support. If anyone is interested in talking to me about sponsoring the film, they can contact me at my email address: dypiangs@yahoo.com

It is also great for people to show their support to the film online. If people start telling their friends about the film now, by the time it comes out it will be more likely to succeed and reach a larger audience. That’s my goal, to connect with Filipinos all over the world by telling OUR STORY.

Become a fan on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/HomeUnknown

Follow on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/HomeUnknown

IBU to Sing National Anthem at White Sox Game August 15th

Fil-Am Ako — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:26:49 +0000

It doesn’t get any better than this for Chicagoans like myself who are fans of IBU and the Chicago White Sox (sorry Cubs fans). IBU (Inspired By U), Chicago’s multi-awarded R&B/Pop group will return to U.S. Cellular Field on Sunday, August 15, 2010. This will be the group’s fourteenth time to perform the National Anthem and the second time to sing “God Bless America” for the White Sox.

The group performed at eight games in 2005 including one game against the Boston Red Sox during League Division Series. The White Sox won the World Series in 2005. Consequently, IBU performed at three more games in 2006, one in 2007, and one in 2009, with the White Sox winning every game they sang for except for one game on June 8, 2007 when the Sox lost to Houston Astros. IBU was absent from the field in 2008 when they took a self-imposed hiatus to record their 2nd album which was released in November 2009 and distributed by Koch/E1 Entertainment.

IBU is glad to be back on the field this year. Not only will they sing the National Anthem, they will also sing “God Bless America” for the second time, which will take place at the middle of the 7th Inning. The first time they sang “God Bless America” at the field was on August 27, 2006.

So what is it like for IBU? “It’s always exciting to perform in front of a crowd as big as the US Cellular field (which has a capacity of 40,615). At one time, they had a jet fly over as we finished the National Anthem, and another time the Navy Seals carrying flags including the American flag parachuted into the field while we were singing. At our second performance in 2005, right after we sang the National Anthem, a UPS truck drove around the field and stopped where we were and delivered a package. In it was a baseball. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen approached us and signed the ball. We still have it. We even have a legacy brick bearing our name at the Diamond Plaza, in the main entrance (Gate 4). We were thrilled when we were asked to sing the anthem the first time. It’s a great honor to be asked for the fourteenth time. ”

IBU has indeed become a White Sox favorite. But is IBU the White Sox lucky charm too? Let’s see what happens on August 15.

IBU White Sox performances :

April 16, 2005 White Sox vs Seattle Mariners
May 03, 2005 White Sox vs Kansas City Royals
May 13, 2005 White Sox vx Baltimore Orioles
June 18, 2005 White Sox vs Los Angeles Dodgers
July 22, 2005 White Sox vs Boston Red Sox
August 21, 2005 White Sox vs New York Yankees
September 23, 2005 White Sox vs Minnesota Twins
October 5, 2005 White Sox vs Boston Red Sox ( League Division Series )
May 20, 2006 White Sox vs Chicago Cubs
July 6, 2006 White Sox vs Baltimore Orioles
August 27, 2006 White Sox vs Minnesota Twins
June 08, 2007 White Sox vs Houston Astros
August 08, 2009 White Sox vs Cleveland Indians
August 15, 2010 White Sox vs Detroit Tigers

Don’t forget to reserve your seats at ticketmaster.com and for more of IBU visit ibumusic.com.

Ang Pag-Ibig Mo: A Philippine Love Cycle

Fil-Am Ako — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:40:45 +0000

Ang Pag-Ibig Mo: A Philippine Love Cycle is a concert featuring a collection of well-loved Filipino songs written by some of the most prolific Filipino composers. It will be making its debut at the Nichols Concert Hall of the Music Institute of Chicago this coming August 21, 2010. This concert is more akin to a musical that tells a diptych of two people’s love stories. It explores love’s different nuances and meanings with an ending that is refreshingly different. The concert repertoire blends both the timeless kundimans (Filipino serenade) of Abelardo and Santiago, and contemporary classics by Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, Jesse Lucas, and Louie Ocampo, among others- all arranged in a unique combination of musical styles. The goal for this concert is not just to reach Filipinos longing to hear familiar sounds from back home, but to advocate for social change through the arts. It will benefit two of the most proactive charitable organizations in the Philippines- BANTAY BATA 163 and GAWAD KALINGA.

The concert features Mezzo Soprano Clarissa Ocampo and Baritone Andrew Fernando with special guest, CCP Artistic Director Raul Sunico on piano. The original script is written by award-winning director and playwright Floy Quintos.

Tickets are $75 (VIP with reception), $50, $25.

For more information, contact:

Patti Encarnacion (630) 400 6871 pattile@att.net
Glenda Terrado (815) 212 1299 glenda@redinkonline.com
Donna Reyes (773) 562 4282 donna@redinkonline.com