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(Continued on page 11)
 Integrating Cultural Roots
 
(Continued on page 2)(Continued on page 18)(Continued on page 17)
Sidewalk vendors on Carriedo Street in Quiapo. Photo by John Brian Silverio.
The afternoonshe spent in1962 with Ted-dy and Chicomay be hisclosest ventureinto the realmof the under-world. Thesememories became part of his formativeyears that haveenabled him tosee how thingsare done byforce, if notillegally.
Quiapo Memories
Into the realm ofthe underworld
By
Simeon G. Silverio, Jr.
 Publisher & Editor 
The San Diego Asian JournalSee page 5
 HINDSIGHT 
 By Josena T. Lichauco
 Philstar 
I dreamed recently thatI was again in the CenturyClub in New York wear-ing an unusual white dinner  jacket, fancy frills in front,with large silver buttons.Who would walk in butWashington SyCip wear-ing the same fancy jacket!
I ngered it — it was ne
alpaca wool like mine exceptthat it seemed too tight for him while mine was a bit toolarge.The next morning, Icalled him up, told him aboutmy dream. We had lunch in
his Makati ofce; amongother things, he said his rst
lunch at the Century Clubwas with David Rockefeller.Washington, or Wash tomost of us who know him,is the visionary tyro who set
up SGV — the outstanding
conglomerate with a globalreach. SGV stands for SyCipand his two partners, Gorres
 A conversation withWashington SyCip
Washington SyCip
and Velayo.Fictionists like me are notknown for their astutenessin matters economic. Butthe little I know of econom-ics I got from the experts.As a neophyte journalist inthe old Manila Times in the
early Fifties, my rst tutors
on banking were no less
than the rst governor of the
Central Bank, Miguel
 By Ronilo Ladrido Pamonag 
 Philstar 
ILOILO CITY – Playersfrom Barotac Nuevo townhave broken the world recordfor marathon soccer by play-ing for over 35 hours.
Organizers and ofcials of 
the World Football Marathon
Ilonggos break soccer marathonrecord
By
WilliamAlzona
OFW JournalismConsortium
THERE wasn’ta “Keep silent”sign inside the in-terview room, butyou could hear a pin drop inside theBelgian Embassyin Makati City.
 Filipino Migration in Europe
Schengen Diaries
Everyone lining up for aSchengen visa could hear awhisper, even of those get-ting interviewed.It was my sixth time inthe Embassy and things were
as they were since the rsttime I set foot inside—the
colorful lives stayed colorful.There was this elderlywoman who said she wantedto visit her sister in the Netherlands. When the con-sul asked her why she wentto the Belgian embassy andnot to the Dutch embassy,she replied that she wasalready denied on suspicionthat she was not returning.Still, the poker-faced consul,a Filipina, advised her to
Children wearing bright yellow silk tunics and pants presented their elderswith a gift and received a lucky red envelope containing money in return.
January 30 - February 02, 2009
Msgr. Gutierrez
Entertainment
Why Michael isquitting showbiz The FilipinoWorld of Spirits
Riz A. Oades
 Saving the Butaka
-Municipal workers in Ilagan, Isabela restorethe town’s ve-year-old giant butaka (armchair), touted as theworld’s biggest at 11.6 feet high, 20.8 feet long and 9.8 feet wide.Charlie Lagasca
 By Katherine Adraneda Philstar 
The National Anti-PovertyCommission (NAPC) warnedyesterday that the number of  poor Filipinos might increasein the coming months after thelabor department reported thatup to 300,000 workers mightlose their jobs in the nextsix months due to the global
nancial crisis.
 NAPC Secretary DomingoPanganiban said “it is cer-tain” that the poverty level inthe country will increase inthe face of massive layoffs,especially in export-orientedcompanies.The commission urged lo-cal government units (LGUs)and non-government organi-zations (NGOs) to participatein the nationwide effort to boost livelihood and employ-ment opportunities for poor 
 Anti-poverty chief sees more Pinoys going poor
By
Ashley Silverio
 Assistant Editor 
The San DiegoAsian Journal
With the Lunar NewYear, it’s the beginning thatcounts. The multi-day fes-tival, which fell this year onJanuary 26
th
-29
th
, can set thetone for the rest of the year, be it good or bad. Observedin both Vietnamese and Chi-nese cultures, the holidayis a time to gather together with family and look opti-mistically toward the future.The many customs as-sociated with the Lunar  New Year requires somemaneuvering. Rose Hina-
Lunar New Year observed in HongKong Boutique in National City
By
Ashley Silverio
 Assistant Editor 
The San DiegoAsian Journal
The Kaibigang Pilipino’s18th annual High SchoolConference on January 24thdrew more than 560 student participants from San Diegoand Temecula county highschools. Held at UCSD’sPrice Center, the event pro-duced a record turnout thisyear as attendance numbers jumped from previous years’averages by over 250 at-tendees. Kaibigang Pilipino,a UCSD-sponsored studentassociated that serves theFilipino community, orga-nized the event.Student participants,
 Kaibigang Pilipino’s 18
th
annual High School Conference
Filipino student group’s confabat UCSD draws record turn out
(Continued on page 2)
Students socializing outside of the Price Center at UCSD
(Continued on page 4)
 
Page 2January 30 - February 5, 2009 Asian Journal - (619) 474-0588 Visit our website at http://www.asianjournalusa.com
Father Francisco Truong BuuDiego, a martyred priest fromVietnam, has been gaining a lot of devotees because of the miraclesattributed to him. Many peopleclaim that their petitions have beengranted when they prayed for him tointercede in their behalf in seekingGod’s favors. These devotees arenow telling people about Father Francisco’s miracles and martyr-dom. They hope that more miracles by him may occur that would resultto his eventual sainthood. If youwant to seek God’s favor, please pray the following. If your favor has been granted, please let us know.Thank you.
Prayer
Dear Lord, Dear Father 
You are the greatest saint within.The all-powerful savior. Pleasehear my prayers and help meovercome the hardships that I nowendure.(Please say hardships or peti-tions)Thank you, Lord.
Biography of FatherFrancisco Truong Buu Diep
Father Francisco Truong BuuDiep was born on January 1, 1897and was baptized on February 2,1897 at Con-Phuoc Parish, An Gi-ang Province in Vietnam. In 1904,when he was seven years old, hismother passed away. He followedhis father to Bactantang, Cambodia.In 1909, he entered Cu Lao GiengSeminary then the PhnompenSeminary in Cambodia. In 1924,he was ordained into priesthood inPhonmpen, Cambodia. From 1924to 1927, he was a reverend of Ho-Tru Parish, a Vietnamese missionin Kandal, Cambodia. He taught atthe seminary in Cu-Lao-Gieng from1927 to 1929. In March 1930, he became the pastor of Sac-Tay- Par-ish. Father Diep helped establishother parishes including Ba-Doc,Cam-Do, An-Hai, Chi-Chi, KhucTreo, Ding-Go and Rach-Ran.Between 1945 and 1946, the war years, havoc and disarray forced people to evacuate to safer areas.Father Diep’s superior had orderedhim to evacuate and only returnwhen thing settled. But he refused
and said: “I will live with the ock 
and if necessary will die with them.I shall not abandon them.”On March 12, 1946, he was cap-tured along with 70 parishioners of Tac-Say and imprisoned. He foughtand died in place for the peoplethat were imprisoned together withhim.He was buried in a catacomb of the Khuc-Treo Church. In 1969,his remains were moved to the Tao-Sau Church. He served 16 yeas as pastor.
“A good Shepherd sacriced hislife for the ock,” Father Francisco
Truong Buu Diep had indeed fol-lowed the word of the Lord, He had
offered his life to God and sacricedfor his ock.
When his tormentors were aboutto kill all of them, he offered hislife and asked his captors to let his
ock go. He was beheaded and his
 body was thrown away in an undis-closed area.Some of the miracles people be-lieve he had performed are:1) He was believed to have led people to the discovery of his body.2) When people did not have theconstruction materials to build a proper shrine for him, constructionsmaterials were delivered, allegedlyordered and paid for a person bear-ing Father Francisco’s image.Thousands of people troop to hisshrine on March 12 to pray for andask him to intercede in their behalf in seeking God’s favors.If you want more informationor help spread the word on Father Francisco, please call Rose Hina-hon of Hongkong Boutique besideSeafood City in National City attelephone number (619) 336-2456.
Send your petitions to God throughFather Francisco Truong Buu Diep
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“20+ Years Experience” 
 Been living in San Diego since 1977 
 Attorney is available daily on regular business days at the San Diego Office
*Member, California State Bar Licensed to practice before the US Federal District CourtSouthern California and California Supreme Court*Author,”How to Apply for the US Tourist Visa” as listed byworldwide bookseller Amazon.com Bookstores*Former San Diego Regional Coordinator for U.S. ImmigrationAmnesty for Catholic Community Services, Catholic Diocese of San Diego*Legal Advisor, Los Chabacanos of Cavite CityAssociation, Inc., San Diego, California*Juris Doctor law degree, University of San Diego (1985),Diploma; Oxford Institute on International andComparative Law (USD), Oxford, England (1984);Bachelor Degree, University of Southern California (1983);Montgomery High School, San Diego (1979)*Born in the Philippines (Cavite)
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hon, born in Vietnam and mar-ried to Filipino Ben Hinahon,celebrates the Lunar New Year (Tet Nguyen Dan in Vietnam-ese) with her large family. Thisyear, over thirty guests came tothe Hinahon’s store, Hong KongBoutique in National City, for aspecial celebration to learn about
 beautied Vietnamese priest
Lunar New Year observed in HongKong Boutique in National City
(Continued from page 1)
Father Francisco and to possiblyget a hint of their fortune.Following morning prayersled by Father Dennis Macalintalfrom St. Mary’s Parish in Na-tional City, the guests ate Filipi-no food and heard from a retirednurse who claimed to have her  physical ailments cured after sheoffered prayers to Father Fran-cisco.The guests lingered after theceremony to consult Rose abouttheir luck for the new year, ac-cording to the lunar calendar.One-by-one, guests stood beforean altar in the back room andshared their wishes and troubleswith Rose.Then, Rose would tap the sideof a glass bowl with a wooden baton, emitting a low soundthat reverberated throughout theroom. Next, Rose handed the
guest a bamboo canister lled
with one-hundred and two long,thin sticks, each marked with anumber in red. She instructedthe visitor to shake the con-tainer while holding it at a slightupward angle until a single stick 
fell to the oor. The number 
on the stick was recorded alongwith the individual’s name.The numbers indicated one of the three levels of luck: Truongtruong (high luck), Trang Binh(middle luck), and Ha ha (lowluck). Rose explained that even
these levels of fortune ucturated
throughout the year. As a result,even those individuals having a‘lucky’ year had to watch their actions.Rose offered to walk methrough examples of the intri-cate lunar calendar. Besides thetwelve popular animal zodiacsymbols of the calendar, thecycle also takes into account
the ve elements of wood, re,
earth, metal, and water. Thelunar calendar assigns zodiacsymbols to months, weeks, andhours, with the interpretationsvarying when paired with theelements or one’s zodiac sign.January 28
th
is the day of therooster and according to thelunar cycle, it is a good day tomarry, open a business, or signa contract. However, it is notadvisable to visit friends or tillthe earth on this day.The Chinese and Vietnamesecalendars vary slightly, but onlyrarely does the Lunar New Year fall on different days. Somezodiac symbols from the twosystems also bear subtle differ-ences.Rose saw dozens of visitorsover the Lunar New Year, somecoming from as far as Fresno.As each guest departed, they re-ceived a parting gift in commem-oration of the New Year. Sometook blessed oil from Father Francisco’s church in Vietnam.Children wearing bright yel-low silk tunics and pants playedin the store, among tables anddesks stocked with goods. Theywere the grandchildren andgodchildren of the family, payinga visit to their elders as traditiondictated. The children presentedtheir elders with a gift and theyreceived a lucky red envelopecontaining money in return.Although the Lunar New Year celebrations are drawing to aclose, the Hinahons will con-tinue to offer their assistance toanyone wishing to learn aboutFather Francisco or the lunar calendar. Individuals may not be able to change their luck, butthe Hinahons hope they can bet-ter understand it. Rose and BenHinahon can be reached at their store, Hong Kong Boutique withBusiness Tel. No. (619) 336-2456 or Cellphone No. (619)565-7828.
and middle-class Filipino workerswho will be affected by the crisis.“It is certain that the povertylevel will further increase becausemore people will lose their jobs,”Panganiban said at the Forum onHunger Mitigation, PopulationManagement and Poverty Reduc-tion held at the UP Institute of Small Scale Industries in Diliman,Quezon City.He said President Arroyo lastmonth directed them to assemblethe framework for a Comprehen-
 Anti-povertychief seesmore Pinoysgoing poor
(Continued from page 1)
sive Livelihood and EmergencyEmployment Program (CLEEP)to provide jobs and equip the people to survive the crisis.Panganiban said the program isdesigned to achieve two crucialobjectives that include buildingthe capabilities of Filipino work-ers and giving them the skills theyneed to compete in tougher jobmarkets.Panganiban explained that theinitiative was created particularlyfor the so-called priority prov-inces.He also said that the programwould involve creation of jobsthrough the construction of roads,maintenance of irrigation facili-ties, establishment of competitiveagricultural enterprises, and ex-
 pansion of micro-nance services
for poor people nationwide.Panganiban said the govern-ment allocated P18 billion for theemergency employment program,to be taken from the savings of government agencies last year.He said that although the program has no time frame andis expected to carry on until the
global nancial crisis is over, the
government initially aims to assistmore than 200,000 Filipinos.Panganiban said CLEEP has
already identied 81,216 job op
- portunities in the priority prov-inces and has provided jobs to63,672 workers.Priority 1 provinces are: Na-tional Capital Region, Agusan delSur, Camarines Norte, Lanao del Norte, Maguindanao, Masbate,Mountain Province, Sarangani,Surigao del Norte, Zamboangadel Norte and Zamboanga Sibu-gay.Priority 2 provinces are: Abra,Antique, Biliran, Bukidnon,Camarines Sur, Davao Oriental,Lanao del Sur, Kalinga, Marin-duque, Misamis Occidental, Negros Oriental, Occidental Min-doro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan,Romblon, Samar, Sultan Kudarat,Sulu, Surigao del Sur, and Tawi-Tawi.Priority 3 provinces are: Agusandel Norte, Aklan, Albay, Apayao,Basilan, Bohol, Camiguin, Capiz,Catanduanes, Cotabato, Davaodel Norte, Davao del Sur, EasternSamar, Ifugao, Iloilo, Leyte, LaUnion, Negros Occidental, North-ern Samar, Quezon, Sorsogon,Southern Leyte, South Cotabato,and Zamboanga del Sur.The Department of Labor andEmployment (DOLE) said some15,000 workers have already beenlaid off while 19,000 others hadtheir workdays cut to four days or less in the past two months.
 
Page 3 Asian Journal - (619) 474-0588 Visit our website at http://www.asianjournalusa.comJanuary 30 - February 5, 2009
 Former President Joseph Estrada welcomes former Ilocos Sur governor  Luis ‘Chavit’ Singson, who paid his last respects to Estrada’s mother, Mary Ejercito, at the Pinaglabanan Church in San Juan . Estrada and Singsonwere close friends who became estranged when Singson turned state witnessin Estrada’s plunder trial. PhilStar photo by BOY SANTOS 
 By Doreen G. Yu Philstar 
BOHOL is emerging as one of the country’s top tourist destina-tions. And with good reason.Bohol was believed to have beensettled in the 1200s by Lutaos of northern Mindanao, who built acommunity of stilts between main-land Bohol and Panglao island.The settlement was subsequentlyabandoned because of raids byPortuguese marauders.Fast forward to 1565, whenMiguel Lopez de Legazpi camefrom Mexico – in the name of Spain – with four ships and about400 men. With the help of hisMalay pilot, Legazpi met withtwo local kings, Datu Sikatuna of Bool and Datu Sigala of Loboc.He assured them that he was notPortuguese, and that he camein peace. Whatever he said andhowever he said it, Legazpi con-vinced the kings of his peaceful
intentions, and conrmed this withthe famous blood compact – rst
with Sikatuna on March 16 – or 25, there is some confusion – 1565, and three days later withSigala. There is also some issueon the site of the compact; there is
B is for...Bohol
monument along the coastal high-way, but some locals told us theritual actually took place on boardLegazpi’s ship.At any rate, Boholanos com-memorate the event with theSandugo Festival, held in June andnot March, for practical reasons – there are more visitors, especially balikbayans, in June, since it issummer in the Western hemi-sphere, and it is, after all, a bigtourist draw.Also a big tourist draw are theenigmatic Chocolate Hills – 1,268of them, uniform in shape andsize, now in the running as oneof the New Seven Wonders of thenatural World (you can still voteonline until Dec. 31 at www.new-7wonders.com). Geologists have
not quite gured out how these
hills – green in the rainy season, brown or chocolate in the dry – came to be, but locals will gladlyoblige with the legend (two giants
ghting threw stones at each
other) or the romance (a giant fellin love with a mortal maiden, whodied, and the hills are his tears).The hills are outcroppings of limestone, since about half of the province is covered with it andother non-metallic minerals likesilica and clay. It is an industrythat the provincial government isencouraging investments in.Agriculture is another major invetsment area, since 60 per-cent (or 256,000 hectares) of the province’s total land area is arable.Major crops are rice, coconut,corn, mango and the signaturelocal product, ube kinampay, a purple yam.Brandied about very liberallythese days – sometimes inappro- priately – eco-tourism truly canapply to Bohol, to include alsocultural and heritage tourism.
BEA JR. rst came to Bohol in
2002, after moving back to Manilafrom Spain following the deathof her husband in a plane acci-dent. She was working with theMetropolitan Museum of Manila,and visited the ancestral housesof Baclayon, the province’s oldesttown located next to the capitalTagbilaran.“I was amazed at how well thehouses were kept. But as I inter-acted with the people of Baclayonand I saw their way of life, their arts and crafts, I realized thatnot only the ancestral houses of Baclayon were intact – it was theentire culture,” she says.“And then I learned that therewas a plan to demolish thosehouses to give way to the widen-ing of a highway,” she continues.“I learned that the highway was being widened to encourage tour-ism in the province. But I thoughtthat demolishing the houses waslike getting rid of important touristattractions. So I started talking tothe residents and to the provincialgovernment, convincing them notto demolish the ancestral houses.Talking to them worked; so thehouses stayed, and a highway was built in a different location.”Thus began an amazing partner-ship. Bea Jr., together with JoelUichico and the Ayala Foundation,has embarked on community de-velopment projects in two towns – Baclayon the mainland, and Dauison Panglao island.The conversion of some of Baclayon’s ancestral homes intotransient homestays, cafes and bed-and-breakfasts for tourists hasfurther enabled the communityto preserve their heritage struc-tures and simultaneously generateincome from tourism.Furthermore, the introduction of diving and adventure tours as an
alternative to unsustainable shinghas benetted not only local sh
-ermen but also the environment.The boats of Pamilacan island’s
sherfolk have been converted
into tour and diving boats, boost-ing tourism and providing alterna-tive livelihood to the community.
The shermen have also been
trained as guides – and spotters,some of the best – for dolphinand whale watching tours. Mi-
cronance loans are available toconvert shing boats to tour and
diving boats. A multi-purposecooperative in Pamilacan providesassistance to micro-entrepreneursto go into tourism-related ventureslike catering and massage services,and souvenir making.The municipality of Dauis inPanglao island boasts of histori-cal sites and white sand beaches.The colonial church of Dauiswas the center of Marian pilgrim-ages in Bohol and now doublesas tourist center with a heritagethemed banquet hall, a museum,a modern heritage-inspired cafe,and a souvenir shop that proudlyshowcases the crafts and artistryof the locals of Dauis and neigh- boring towns. The municipality’s jewelry tradition is being revived.Exquisite tamborins, peinetas andother jewelry based on traditional
designs show ne craftsmanship
and detailing.“The province has everything,”Bea Jr. enthuses. “Natural beauty,rich culture, and a resilient and joyful people. There is so muchto be proud of in the Boholanoculture and way of life, which also
(Continued on page 19)
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