P3 Justice for Pinay P4 Azkals is top dog P10 Daisy Award for RN P19 Virginia vote P9 Vol. XXII, No. 24 Online: www. manilamail.us October 31, 2013 Imelda aide on trial for Monet sale NEW YORK. The former personal secretary of former Phil- ippine First Lady Imelda Marcos insisted she was authorized to sell a famous Monet painting for $32 million in 2010 at the start of a trial for conspiracy at the Man- hattan Supreme Court on Oct. 7. The ex-secretary, Vilma Bautista, 74, presented to the court a document showing she was appointed by Marcos, now an Ilocos Norte congresswoman, Fil-Ams defend Cuisia record WASHINGTON D.C. Philippine Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr. got wide support from various groups here after a widely-read columnist in Manila accused him of spending more time on business meetings back home than doing his job in Washington. Ambassador Cuisia does not have me on his coffee break list or private address book. He does not know me, offered Yolanda Stern, founding presi- dent of the Federation of Phil- ippine American Chambers of Pinoy deer hunter survives wilderness ordeal SAN FRANCISCO. A 72-year-old Filipino hunter proved he had the skills to sur- vive a harrowing 19-day ordeal at the Mendocino National Forest in Northern California. Gene Penaor, a resident of San Francisco, was rescued Oct. 12 after he fell unconscious when he hit his head and was sepa- rated from two a hunting buddy Continued on page 21 Fil-Am inks $35M, 2-year deal By Jun Medina SAN FRANCISCO. San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum signed a $35-million contract to play two more years for the Major League Baseball team he helped win World Series championships in 2010 and 2012. The Filipino American star pitcher will earn $17 million in 2014 and $18 million in 2015, making him the highest-paid Pinoy ballplayer not only in the US but in the world. The new contract includes no signing bonus or options but provides the two-time CY Young Award winner for best pitcher with full no-trade protection. The 29-year-old Lincecum, who struggled in much of the last two seasons, actually took $5.5 million less compared to his $40.5 million contract for 2012 and 2013. Lincecums deal preserves the SF Giants pitching core com- prised by Madison Bumgarner and Matt Cain and him. Despites Lincecums strug- gles on the mound, Giants Continued on page 22 Continued on page 21 Remains of murdered Pinay shipped to PH By Jun Medina WASHINGTON. The cre- mated remains of Filipina immi- grant Karen Santillan Tait, who disappeared in 2002 and was later found to have been mur- dered by her husband, have been shipped to her family in Legazpi City, Albay. Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Cuisia Jr. thanked the Waynesboro, Virginia Police Department solving the case and putting Thomas Neal Tait, Kar- Continued on page 21 Continued on page 22 Imelda Marcos ex-secretary Vilma Bautista leaves Manhattan court. Gene Penaor recovering after ordeal. Karen Santillan Tait Tim Lincecum becomes highest paid Fil-Am ballplayer. WASHINGTON D.C. With a little more than a dozen days left in the legislative calendar this year, it is becoming less likely the House of Representatives will pass its version of a compre- hensive immigration reform bill. Perhaps to entice congress- men, President Obama softened his tone on immigration reform at a speech last Oct. 24 that he might now be ready to embrace a Republican proposal to tackle the bill in smaller, more manage- able chunks so long as they even- tually open a path to citizenship for undocumented aliens. Obama hinted that he was no longer tied to the Senate bill, the elaborate product of months Continued on page 21 Rodney Garcia, Mail columnist, writes 30 The Renaissance Man, some people called him. For indeed, his talents spanned a wide yard: from lawyer, writer, musician, com- poser, playwright, producer, educator. He is known in the Filipino Continued on page 22 Rodney Garcia October 31, 2013 22 October 31, 2013 3 Bohol quake kills 200, govt races to re-build homes MANILA. The death toll for the Oct. 14 earthquake that dev- astated large sections of Central Philippines reached nearly 200 people even as disaster ofcials struggled to help thousands dis- placed by the powerful once-in- a-lifetime tremor. About 64,000 families across Bohol Island have been forced to live in crowded evacuation centers or rice elds over two weeks after the Intensity 7.2 quake struck. The government was only able to distribute less than 200 tents for them while a makeshift eld hospital tried to fend off diseases amid the rains. Experts from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology & Seis- mology (PHIVOLCS) have also discovered a miles-long wall resulting from ground rupture that pushed a stretch of earth up by as much as 10 feet around the quakes epicenter. PHIVOLCS chief Renato Solidum said the ground ssure was among the largest since they began keeping such records in 1987. Most of our other quake records show a lateral (sideways) tearing of the earth, though weve also had coral reefs rising from the sea, he said, citing a 6.7-magnitude earthquake that hit thr adjacent Negros Island last year. Fil-Ams are gearing to pro- vide help to quake victims in Cebu and Bohol. The Philippine Embassy in Washington DC has put out guidelines for safely donating to victims. The Migrant Heritage Com- mission (MHC) has vowed to give part of proceeds from a Hal- loween ball to quake victims. The Philippine Embassy said Fil-Ams can course their donations either through government agencies such as the Dept. of Social Wel- fare & Development (DSWD) or the Philippine National Red Cross. The participating banks are listed in the Embassys web- site. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center (NDRRMC) reported the tremor destroyed or damaged nearly 46,000 homes in Bohol, Cebu, Negros Island, the prov- ince of Iloilo and Siquijor and Guimaras islands. LIVE-IN NANNY Korean family a size of 4 looking for a LIVE IN nanny for a newborn. Communication in English preferred. Driving NOT required. 5 minutes from the Vienna metro by the City Bus. 703-472-2676 or email me at danielshin1973@yahoo.com. Now hiring! Senior Companions, CNAs, PCAs, and Home Health Aides. All shifts available (live-in, full/part time). 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Please email your resume to jobs@paragonhomecare.com or call (703) 688-2792. Ground rupture alters Bohol ter- rain. October 31, 2013 44 Pinays employer gets jail under new trafcking law VANCOUVER, Canada. The employer who subjected Filipina Leticia Sarmiento to slave-like working conditions was sentenced to 18 months in jail in Canadas rst-ever convic- tion under a tough new human trafcking law. Franco Orr was found guilty on all three counts of human trafcking, employment of a for- eign national without the proper papers and misleading immigra- tion ofcials. Weng Papasin, who reported the Oct. 19 sentenc- ing for ABS-CBNs Balitang America, said the courts order left Orrs lawyers in shock. Orrs wife Nicole was acquitted. Sarmiento said she was forced to work 18-hour days and was manhandled when she com- mitted mistakes. She worked as a live-in nanny for the Orrs three children since 2008. By 2010 the abuse got so bad that Sarmiento called the police and was nally rescued. It was only after she was brought to a shelter that she learned she was undocumented, police said, after Orr brought her to Canada from Hongkong on a tourist visa. A member of the Legislative Assembly Mable Elmore, who came to the sentencing, noted the signicance of the ruling. It sets a precedent in Canada, the rst nding of guilt of human trafcking under the Immigration and Refugee Pro- tection Act. Its also the rst sentencing so I think it sends a strong message of deterrence that no one should be excused for violating the law, said Elmore. Sarmiento expressed the hope her experience will encour- age other abused workers to speak out and ght for their rights. Sarmiento is now ready to move on and looks forward to the day when she can nally bring her three children to Canada. Remittance scam busted MANILA. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested two suspects Oct. 7 accused in a scam to bilk thou- sands of pesos in remittances from overseas Filipinos. Arlene Galvan and Joshua Aron Estrellado were nabbed in separate sting operations in Quezon City and Caloocan City. The scam operations alleged mastermind Jackilyn de Vera, who reportedly uses different names with complete identication documents, is still at large. De Vera is said to have launched the scheme only last month while still employed by a legitimate remittance rm and having access to remittance transactions. A company ofcial who sought anonymity said De Vera sent out email notices to pay-out agents on the change of beneciary and instructed her accomplices to claim the money under ctitious names. The pay-out rm became suspicious because they noticed that De Vera was using a per- sonal or private email address, and not the one that we issue our employees, the ofcial added. Galvan, who cashed the diverted funds, used such bogus names as Annaliza Bautista, Rogielyn Cabinian and Caroline Quizon. De Vera and Estrellado attempted to run off with P80,000 in various remittances from Fili- pinos in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Northridge, Cali- fornia. Pope tells Pinoys: Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Pope Francis on Sunday urged pilgrims to pray for the people of the Philippines after a series of natural disasters hit the Asian nation in recent months. In his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Francis spoke about the need to pray always, without growing weary. He also expressed his close- ness to the people of the Philip- pines, especially the victims of the recent earthquake. I want to express my close- ness to the people of the Philip- pines who have been struck by a strong earthquake, and I invite you to pray for that dear Nation, which in recent days has suffered different calamities, he said. Aside from last weeks earthquake, the country has also been hit by two destructive typhoons. Filipino pilgrims visiting the Vatican were touched by the Popes message. Last Friday, Pope Francis also encouraged Catholics in the Philippines and the rest of Asia to love the Church more and that you would share the Gospel to all people with humility and joy. He ended his message with the words: Mabuhay ang Pilip- nas! Mabuhay ang Asia! Pagpa- lin kay ng Dios! The Pope issued the mes- sage during the three-day Phil- ippine Conference on the New Evangelization held at Univer- sity of Santo Tomas. MANILA. Pope Francis sent a video message to a Catholic Church conference, declaring his best wishes for the largest Catho- lic country in Asia, specically addressing the clergy and faith- ful in the Philippines. The message was sent Oct. 18 to the rst-ever Philippine Conference on the New Evange- lization organized by the Arch- diocese of Manila. It was the rst time the Pope specically addressed the Philippines and also his rst address in English since being elected Prince of the Church. He urged Catholics in the Philippines and the rest of Asia to love the Church more and that you would share the Gospel to all people with humility and joy. The conference drew about 5,000 delegates from across Southeast Asia to the University of Santo Tomas campus where the conference was held. Do not get tired of bring- ing the mercy of the Father to the poor, the sick, the abandoned, the young people and families. Let Jesus be known in the world of politics, business, arts, science, technology and social media, he said in the message posted on Vatican Radio. Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Manila Archbishop, asked for forgiveness for the sins of the Church. We want to say how sorry we are for the sins, the hurts, that we have inicted on non-Catholics and non-Chris- tians, at the conclusion of the Philippine conference. We want to say, we want to ask forgiveness to the poor that have been neglected, the hungry, the thirsty, that we did not see or hear. We want to ask forgive- ness from the women who have been degraded, dehumanized, he said. Please pray for me, Pope Francis asked, I promise to pray for you, especially to Our Mother the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the New Evangelization. He ended with a familiar cheer for Filipinos, Mabuhay ang Pilipnas! Mabuhay ang Asia! Pagpalain kayo ng Dios (Long live Philippines! Love live Asia! God bless you). Leticia Sarmiento Pope Francis Members of the Filipino American Republicans of Virginia attended a recent fundraiser for GOP gubernato- rial candidate Ken Cuccinelli at the residence of former US Senator and Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham in McLean, VA. L-R: Lyn Francis, Atty. Gen. Ken Cuccinelli, Inday Alvir and Col. Glen Logan. October 31, 2013 5 October 31, 2013 66 October 31, 2013 7 October 31, 2013 88 Sulu Sultan dies, prods followers on Sabah MANILA. Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, whose followers tried to re-stake the familys claim on Sabah last February that trig- gered a bloodbath, succumbed to kidney disease but not before calling on followers to keep ghting. Kiram, 75, died Oct. 20 at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City, spending his nal years as a ward of the state because he was too poor to pay his medical bills. He was buried in a cemetery reserved for Sulu royalty in Maimbung, Sulu, the seat of the 15th century Tausug empire. Hundreds of armed follow- ers occupied several coastal vil- lages in Sabah last February to enforce the Sultanates claim. The sultans of Sulu once ruled over Sabah (now a Malaysian province), Palawan and the Sulu islands. The Sultanate leased Sabah to the British North Borneo Com- pany in 1878, an agreement that Malaysia views as a cession of sovereignty. The state fell under British control after World War II and joined Malaysia in 1963, shortly after the Sultanate ceded its sovereignty to the Philippines. More than 60 people, most of them Kiram followers, were killed in the Sabah clashes earlier this year. But before he died, he called on followers to continue pursu- ing their claim on Sabah, a tim- ber-rich region thats believed to have huge oil resources. His last words to all his brothers and followers were, It has already begun. Let us continue it for the good of our people. Do not abandon our people, his widow Fatima Kiram said. President Aquinos ofce offered its condolences to the Kiram family. They blamed the Sabah intrusion to the Philippine governments failure to press the familys claim to Sabah. Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abi- gail Valte acknowledged Kirams passing does not mean the end of the Philippine claim on Sabah. Asian American evangelicals score churchs racial divide WASHINGTON D.C. Hun- dreds of Asian American evan- gelicals have protested their alleged offensive racial stereo- typing in the North Ameri- can evangelical church that has forced at least one leading pastor to issue an apology. The Asian American evan- gelicals wrote about their sen- timents in a four-page letter entitled On cultural Insensi- tivity and Reconciliation in the Church written under the aegis of the Asian American Christian United coalition last Oct. 18. We the undersigned are distressed about the continuing divide that persists in the North American evangelical church in the area of racial harmony, they wrote. The letter was apparently sparked by a Facebook comment from Rick Warren, pastor of the Orange County-based Saddle- back Church, described as the crown jewel of the American evangelical movement. After returning from open- ing the churchs Hong Kong campus last month, he report- edly posted a photo of a Red Guard, the young Communist cadres that policed their com- munities during Mao Zedongs Cultural Revolution. The typical attitude of Sad- dleback Staff as they start work each day, he wrote on the post that has been deleted. Weeks later he spoke at a conference that featured a video where a white pastor appeared to mock Asians. Although he insisted it was meant to be a joke many Asian- American evangelicals were not amused, especially from Chi- nese immigrant families, some of which suffered greatly during Maos rule. The letter signed by about 700 Asian American evangelicals complained that they continue to be misunderstood, misrepre- sented and misjudged. PH to use gains for new jobs, ghting poverty WASHINGTON D.C. Reaping the fruits of robust economic growth, Finance Sec- retary Cesar Purisima said the Philippines will concentrate on job creation and poverty alle- viation to cement recent gains. Growth is a means to achieve a virtuous cycle to accelerate a comprehensive reform agenda to trigger more investments, broaden access to nance and strengthen labor force through education and health services to maximize their contribution, he said at remarks before the World Bank earlier this month. The Philippines has been outperforming Asias biggest economies, including China. The Asian Development Bank released its latest forecasts this month, predicting the Philip- pine economy would grow 6.1 percent in 2014, up from ear- lier projections of 5.9 percent. The Philippine Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded 6.8 percent last year. But 3 million Filipinos remained jobless and 7.3 mil- lion dont have enough work, the ADB report showed. Experts say the Philippines will need to generate a million new jobs a year to make a dent on chronic unemployment. On behalf of the Philip- pines, I welcome the gesture of support from the World Bank Group towards a more mean- ingful development partner- ship to address constraints to growth and provide more gain- ful job creation. The Philippines has gone a long way in surmounting major development challenges and we are steadfast in our commitment to continually improve economic conditions and the welfare of our people, particularly the poor and disad- vantaged, Purisima said. On the economic front, the country has nally laid strong foundations needed for sustained macroeconomic sta- bility, healthy scal position and a robust external sector, he added, pointing out that its enabled it to grow at one of the highest levels in East Asia. These have also made the economy resilient to external shocks. The World Bank Group, he said, could help Philippine efforts to build-up resistance against natural disturbances and the other ill effects of cli- mate change which endanger the lives of our people, poten- tially reverse economic gains and threatens poverty allevia- tion initiatives. For the Philippines, as for many middle income econo- mies confronting new and more complex challenges, the rel- evance and value of the World Bank Group become increas- ingly distinguished in its ability to provide knowledge-based and innovative nancing solu- tions, Purisima said. He called on the World Bank to maintain a vigorous implementation of strategies that will help it better respond to emerging development chal- lenges. Sulu Sultan Kiram Malaysian army troops re mortars on Kiram followers. Philippine Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Budget Secretary Floren- cio Butch Abad and NEDA Director General Arsenio Balicasan with World Bank President Dr. Jim Kim at the Fall WB-IMF meetings in Wash- ington D.C. earlier this month. Maj. Gen (Ret) Deln Lorenzana, Head, Veterans Affairs Ofce, Philippine Embassy, presented the Philip- pine ag to the family of Angelesio Tugado who passed away last October 2. The viewing was held at the Fort Lincoln Funeral Home, Bladenseld Road, Brentwood, Maryland, last October 25, 2013. Receiving the ag is Ms. Angelyn Tugado Marzan, also in picture are surviving daughters, son in-law Rico Marzan and grand- children Enrico and Angel. October 31, 2013 9 Virginians go to polls Nov. 5 ALEXANDRIA, VA. Guber- natorial candidates Terry McAu- liffe, Ken Cuccinelli and Robert Sarvis waged a nal battle for votes ahead of the Nov. 5 elec- tions, capping months of often bitter and negative campaigning. Both the Democratic and Republican parties have rolled out their big guns in the nal weeks of the campaign. Former President Bill Clinton as well as his wife, former State Secretary Hillary Clinton, has come out to stand with McAuliffe in cam- paign sorties. Cuccinelli has received backing from GOP stalwarts like Rick Santorum, Sen. Rand Paul and Congressman Paul Ryan, who is leading talks for a budget deal that would avoid another debt ceiling crisis early next year. Paul and Cuccinelli appeared together at a rally at the Filipino Cultural Center in Virginia Beach on Oct. 28. Meanwhile, the Virginia Board of Elections has purged more than 38,000 names from its voter rolls despite concerns from local election administrators that many of those voters are still eli- gible to cast a ballot. The purge comes a few months after the board said it would use several databases to nd voters who were now ineli- gible to vote, either because they had been convicted of a felony or moved out of state. The Democratic Party led for an injunction on Oct. 3 to halt the purge. But the Board of Elec- tions said it had already removed 38,870 names from voter rolls after county registrars reviewed the initial lists. Another 11,138 eligible voters will remain active on the rolls after county registrars reviewed the state lists. And almost 7,300 will be designated inactive, meaning they must sign a form declaring their eligi- bility to vote. The Virginia elections will be the rst after a last-minute deal ended a 16-day govern- ment shutdown and averted a possible default on the countrys debts. Various surveys indicate that the GOP absorbed much of the fall-out from the crisis that originated from the GOPs insistence to connect a debt and budget agreement on defunding or delaying the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare. Pundits say the Virginia elections could serve as a lith- mus test whether the GOP brand has been truly damaged among voters. However, the disastrous Obamacare roll-out last Oct. 1 could also convince voters the GOP was right all along insisting its delay. Both McAuliffe and Cuc- cinelli have launched stinging character attacks against each other. Some have complained they have spent too little time telling voters what they would do if elected to Richmond. That has been further mud- dled by the entry of a group backed by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg calling for improved gun legislation. The National Rie Association has mounted its own counter-cam- paign over the airwaves. The NRAs Political Vic- tory Fund PAC have targeted the Democrats candidate for attorney general, Sen. Mark R. Herring (D-Loudoun) in his race against Sen. Mark D. Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg). October 31, 2013 10 10 Posh QC villages in quake danger zone QUEZON CITY. Residents in exclusive subdivisions have been urged by city safety ofcials to move because their houses are sitting on active seismic fault line that experts say is due for a major shifting. The plush communities of White Plains, Green Meadows and Blue Ridge lie along the West Valley Fault Line, warned city public order and safety head Elmo San Diego. As many as 700 houses could be affected, he added. According to Perla delos Reyes, geologist and supervis- ing science research specialist at Phivolcs, a major earthquake for Manila is long overdue. She pointed out that a typi- cal fault line experiences a major quake around once every 200 to 400 years. And since it has been approximately 200 years since the last major movement of the Quezon City Fault, she said, It can move anytime. These villages are home to inuential people who may ght relocation efforts so San Diego said they are considering having residents sign waivers to absolve government from liability if they do not move to safer ground and a quake hits. 20 die in road pile-up LUCENA, Quezon. At least 20 people were killed and 57 injured in an Oct. 18 road acci- dent along Quezon provinces notorious death highway in Atimonan town. Most of the casualties were passengers of three buses that gured in a deadly pile-up that also involved three trucks and a tractor trailer. According to Atimonan police Chief Inspector Jomar Yupio the collision occurred after a 10-wheeler truck bumped the back portion of one of the passenger buses which caused it to cross the opposite lane, hitting an oncoming bus. The accident was aggravated by the rains that made the road slippery, authori- ties said. Nineteen of the fatalities were killed on the spot, while another victim succumbed at the hospital. The impact dismem- bered some victims but reports say it took rescuers a long time to extract some victims trapped in the wreck because of lack of equipment. P500K bronze sculpture in Luneta stolen MANILA A bronze sculp- ture in Rizal Park worth about P500,000 was stolen, an ofcial said. Fidel Sarmiento, president of the Art Association of the Philippines, said a bronze crown sculpture made by renowned artist Juan Sajid Imao was dis- covered missing inside the Kan- lungan ng Sining. Imao was also the sculptor of the 40-foot bronze statue of Lapu-Lapu in Luneta. Sarmiento said the theft occurred as the Kanlungan ng Sining was undergoing renova- tion works. Sarmiento said one of the suspects is an employee of a private contractor tasked to do the renovation works inside the Kanlungan ng Sining. He said a plant was used to conceal the pedestal where the stolen sculpture was originally placed. US-bound jet stopped MANILA. Authorities stopped a US-bound Delta Air- lines jet from leaving the Ninoy Aquino International Airport because of a bomb threat on Oct. 10. The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) alerted security personnel of the NAIA Terminal 1 after receiv- ing a call from a prankster at 3 a.m. According to MIAA Gen- eral Manager Jose Honrado, the caller said a bomb was placed inside the Delta Airlines ight 172. It turned out to be a prank, Honrado said, adding that the plane was still able to leave on schedule. Zambo suspects to Manila MANILA. The Supreme Court has agreed to move the trial of suspects in last months deadly Zamboanga City siege to Manila for security reasons. The Justice Department has led rebellion charges and viola- tions of international humanitar- ian laws against Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misauri, his trusted lieuten- ant Habier Malik, and 63 others. The nearly month-long siege killed over 200 people, mostly MNLF guerillas, and dis- placed more than 100,000 resi- dents whose homes were either deliberately torched by rebels or destroyed in the ghting. Justice Secretary Leila De Lima sought the transfer of the trials venue, partly to remove the possibility the MNLF might try to free their imprisoned com- rades had they continue to be detained in Zamboanga City. Hundreds homeless by clash COTABATO CITY. Over 200 families were forced to ee after a reght erupted Oct. 16 between two warring groups in the boundary of Barangay Tali- tay, North Cotabato and Paga- lungan, Maguindanao. Capt. Antonio Bulao, the Armys 602nd Infantry Bri- gade spokesman, said armed men believed to be under Com- mander Buto Sanday of the 108th base command of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) harassed followers of Kamad Andoy, a mayoral candidate in next years May elections. The clash forced around 281 families to ee their homes and sought shelter in local schools that have been turned as evacu- ation centers. The 5th Special Forces Battalion was deployed to serve as a buffer between the warring factions but no arrests were reported. The government and MILF are currently nishing nego- tiations for a permanent peace accord. Masskara Festival BACOLOD CITY. The color- ful Masskara Festival was held Oct. 19-20 that was made special because it also marked Bacolod Citys 75th anniversary as a char- tered city. The festival, rst held in 1980, runs three weeks and draws thousands of visitors from various parts of the country and abroad. The Masskara Festival was introduced to help Negrenses to cope with the string of calami- ties, including record-low sugar prices which is the provinces principal source of income and a sea collision that killed about 700 people. It features sports exhibitions, beauty pageants, street parties and the charter day parade. Ronda Pilipinas Azkals is soccer top dog in Southeast Asia By Jocelyn Porteria BACOLOD CITY. The Philippine national soccer team Azkals, bucked an early loss, food poisoning and a deadly earthquake on the way to captur- ing the Peace Cup held here Oct. 11-15 via a 3-1 trumping of pow- erhouse Pakistan. The Azkals now hold the best standing in the International Football Federation (FIFA) world ranking occupying the 137th spot and emerging as the new no. 1 football nation in Southeast Asia. This is the result of the hard work and sacrice of those involved with the national team, particularly the players and the support of the Philippine Foot- ball Federation, Azkals man- ager Dan Palami told this writer. Getting the top ranking in Southeast Asia has been our goal since we started with the national team. Im glad that our efforts have been rewarded, he enthused. Leading the Azkals squad is German coach Hans Michael Weiss and players: goal keep- ers Neil Etheridge and Bago City-born Edward Sacapano; Rob Gier, Paul Mulders, Pat- rick Reichelt, Marwin Angeles, Misagh Bahadoran, Jerry Bar- baso, Jeffrey Christiaens, Jason de Jong, Chris Greatwich, Mark Hartmann, OJ Porteria, Chieffy Caligdong, siblings Phil and James Younghusband. Also with the team are: Bundesliga Club Eintracht Frankfurts Stephan Schrock, Jerry Lucena from Esbjerg fB, Juani Guirado and Patrick Deyto. On unfortunate situation: First they were mowed down by Chinese Taipei 2-1 on the rst game. Next came a somewhat unexpected opponent: the food at their hotel. Several Azkals suf- fered food poisoning over sev- eral days. Some of the players were more badly affected than the others. Mark Hartmann, Jason DeJong, OJ Porteria and Phil Younghusband were on bed rest at the hotel. Porteria was so ill that he was placed on an IV drip. Then the earthquake shook the Visayan region. On the Championship game: There was good news and bad news in the starting line-up for the Azkals as Juani Guirado was t enough to partner with Rob Gier at the back, but Paul Mulders was still nursing a knock so Chris Greatwich came in to replace him. Both Phil Younghusband and OJ Porteria werent t enough, leaving no recognized striker up front. Pakistan took the lead early in the game but Philippine Team did not give up and kept shoot- ing on target. James Younghus- band found the net on the 33rd minute followed by Chris Great- wich who popped his sixth inter- national goal. Turning his marker and driving at goal again, Schrock was the best threat on the pitch, but playing as striker he had no outlet in front of him, and was tackled after getting past the second defender. OJ Porteria came in for Bahadoran next, but rather than playing as a striker he played the wing. The Philippines almost extended their lead further after the restart, as OJ Porteria shot over from 10 yards out. Schrock and Reichelt com- bined well to lay the chance off for the Kaya forward. Stretch- ing out to take a touch with his left, Shrock slotted home with his second touch to produce the result ensuring the Peace Cup was ours at the 88th minute, the score 3-1. The Philippine Azkals dedi- cated their stirring win in the Peace Cup Football Invitational to the victims of the destructive earthquake. Ironically, despite being the top dog in SEA in terms of world rankings, the Philippines will not be competing in the SEA Games in Myanmar, the regions premier competition for U-23 football because it couldnt get the blessings of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). This feat, meanwhile, should provide a huge condence boost for the Azkals as they gear up for the 2014 Asian Football Con- federation Challenge Cup. We want to win the Challenge Cup and represent the country in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, said Palami. Masskara reveler Virginia native and Azkals striker OJ Porteria October 31, 2013 11 October 31, 2013 12 12 Ca. schools to teach Fil-Ams contributions LOS ANGELES. California Governor Brown Jerry Brown signed into law on Oct. 2 a bill that made it mandatory for state schools to teach about the contri- butions of Filipino Americans in the farm movement there. Introduced by Fil-Am Assemblyman Rob Bonta, the signing of Assembly Bill 123 rec- ognizes the untold histories of Filipino and Mexican farm work- ers such as Philip Vera Cruz and Larry Itliong. Cruz and Itliong were farm workers who helped lead the Delano grape strike in 1965 to demand for federal-standard wages and later helped organize and lead the United Farm Work- ers, a pioneering labor move- ment in the West Coast. This will give young Pinoys and Pinays something to be proud of, some sense of stat- ure. We will not just be some Asian minority anymore, said Roger Gadiano, a Filipino farm worker who worked alongside Itliong and Cruz. The Samahang Pilipino at UCLA together with the Filipino Migrant Center and Anakbayan Los Angeles formed the AB 123 Southern California Coalition to push for passage of Bontas bill. Learning our history is a right. Not only does AB123 give Filipino-Americans a sense of belongingits an opportunity for youth and students to take what they learn in the classroom, and begin creating their own his- tory by getting involved in their community, said Jewelle Dela Cruz of the AB123 Coalition. Defending tness SACRAMENTO, CA. A Fil- ipina-American mother of three defended a photo she posted on her Facebook page thats sparked a controversy about her possible motives. Maria Kang, who says she half Filipina, half Malaysian- Chinese and 100 percent Ameri- can posed in a workout bra and matching micro shorts with her three young sons, 1, 3 and 4 years old, revealing washboard abs. On top she asked, Whats your excuse? The picture went viral with more than 16 million views and thousands of comments, some supportive and others angry on Facebook. Some have accused her of faking the picture. But Kang says she didnt post the picture to make other women feel bad about them- selves. I wanted to inspire people, she explained. I wanted to say, I know you think you dont have time if you have kids. But if I can do it, you can do it, too. Kang is a former beauty queen and tness competitor who founded the nonprot Fit- ness Without Borders in 2007. Fil-Am weds gay partner JERSEY CITY. Filipino- American stand-up comic Rich Kiamco and his partner David Gibson were among the rst to tie the knot Oct. 21 as New Jersey ofcially began to recognize same-sex marriages. Kiamco and Gibson have been a couple for the past 10 years. Last year, Republican Gov- ernor Chris Christie vetoed a bill that would have allowed same- sex marriage in New Jersey. But a judge ruled in September that same-sex couples can marry legally in New Jersey beginning October 21. Christie is appealing that decision. They were among the rst gay couple to declare their legal vows at the chambers of Jersey City Hall at the stroke of mid- night on October 21, with no less than Mayor Steve Fulop ofciat- ing the wedding himself. Its a statement, an asser- tion of the civil rights that we gays and lesbians have, Gibson said. Immigration ght lives PASADENA, CA. Immi- grant rights activists and faith leaders gathered for a vigil out- side Pasadena city hall Oct. 17 to pray for the passage of a compre- hensive immigration reform bill with a pathway to citizenship. We never got off track with the immigration reform bill and the work were trying to do to push that reform, Pastor Jolo Buktaw of United Methodist Church and the Filipino Migrant Center said in a TFC interview. They lauded President Obamas vow to make the immi- gration reform bill one his priori- ties in the months ahead. Around America Fil-Am mother Maria Kang with her three sons. October 31, 2013 13 October 31, 2013 14 14 Love affair drives Manila gossip mill on overdrive MANILA. Sixty-year-old Filipino folk music icon Fred- die Aguilars relationship with a 16-year-old girl has pushed many in Manila in a moral tur- moil. Aguilar, whose biggest hit Anak made him an interna- tional celebrity in the late 1970s, was forced to acknowledge the relationship after his pictures with the girl began circulating online. Most media outlets con- cealed the girls face and identity because she is a minor, a practice often done to protect young vic- tims. According to Aguilar, he didnt know the girls age when he started courting her. When I found out, it was too late. What could I do? I cant back out because I was already in love, Aguilar said in one inter- view. He said he would marry her when she reaches legal age (18). The Social Welfare Depart- ment has launched an investi- gation to determine if Aguilars paramour, a minor under Philip- pine laws, is in any danger. They have already interviewed the girls parents whove reportedly given their consent to the rela- tionship. According to Aguilar, the girls parents were more worried about his womanizing than their vas age gap. The singer has been married several times before. Under existing laws, Agui- lar could be liable for a whole slew of laws, from statutory rape to child abuse. He doesnt mind the criti- cisms and ridiculing that he was a cradle snatcher or ages backwards. In the meantime, the singer has gotten the support of daughter Meagan, also a suc- cessful singer, whos waged war against her fathers detractors on social media. As for building a new family with his 16-year-old partner, Aguilar, said, Were talking about having a baby. I told her I thought she was too young to have a baby but she said, she wanted to have one. So, were talking about it. Richard, Dawn to reunite for new telenobela MANILA. One of the coun- trys most enduring love teams actor Richard Gomez will reunite with former girlfriend Dawn Zulueta in an upcoming TV soap on ABS-CBN. They were also paired in last years top-rating soap Walang Hanggan. the upcoming series Youre My Home. The new series will be a family drama. This time we start off as a married couple and what a married couple goes through -- conicts (and) differ- ences, Zulueta said. Then along the way kung ano yung mga romantic, yung mga sweet moments doon na lang papasok. Ang importante ay makita nila yung value nung soap. Its really about family, how they cope up with strug- gles, Gomez added. Zulueta is married to Davao del Norte Rep. Anton Lagdameo; and Gomez to former model and now Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres. Pinoys steal show LOS ANGELES. Filipino reality contestants Andre Sori- ano and Cecilia Aragon put on the De Lux Punk show wowing the audience at Rhiannas Styled to Rock that airs on the Bravo channel. Contestants will show off their styles and dress as well as impress a panel of celebrity judges, mentors, and guests. Both Aragon and Soriano are based in the Bay Area and San Diego, California respec- tively. The two impressed Los Angeles Fashion Week crowd with their scantily clad futuristic Crime and Punishment inspired designs. Earlier this year, the two reality show contestants also col- laborated for San Diego Fashion Week. Saying goodbye MANILA. Actress Angel- ica Panganiban called her boy- friend John Lloyd to say good- bye thinking she would die in the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck Bohol on Oct. 14. We were really being thrown off by the shaking inside the bus, she related in a TV interview. Panganiban was in Bohol to tape an episode of the TV comedy show Banana Split. She sent her mom and Cruz text messages about the quake. When she saw people running and shouting in panic, Pangani- ban said she bid farewell to her boyfriend. Comedian Pooh said she saw the walls of their hotel cracking. TV host Alex Gonzaga said she prayed to keep calm. They stayed briey in an open area near the Capitol building until they could catch a ight back to Manila. Ilo Ilo bags London prize LONDON. A lm about a Filipina nanny in Singapore won the top prize for the best rst feature lm competition at the prestigious London Film Festival earlier this month. The Singaporean lm Ilo Ilo was awarded with The Sutherland Award, which is pre- sented to the director of the most original and imaginative feature debut in the festival. The lm has been gathering momentum in the past few months, gaining positive feedback from Toronto to Cannes. Its also Singapores entry for this years Oscars award. The lm stars Filipino actress Angeli Bayani. Written and directed by Anthony Chen, the lm is set at the beginning of the Asian nancial crisis in 1997 and follows the relationships of an afuent family in Singa- pore as they hire a new maid, played by Bayani, who forms a friendship with her young ward, played by Koh Jia Ler. Fan Page Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. is back in the United States after his completing his tour of duty as Americas envoy to the Philippines. Thomas was described as winning the hearts and minds of Filipinos, a feat that appeared to have done literally. Perhaps his biggest victory is winning one special Filipino heart in particular. Thomas is a divorcee and met and fell in-love with a smart and beautiful Filipina, Mithi Aquino. Mithi is a career woman and single-mother-of-two. She was born and spent her childhood in Jolo, Sulu. She is a Christian. Her father recently retired as a Major in the Philippine Army, and her mother is a physician from Batangas province. Mithi and Thomas met at an ofcial function where the American envoy was the guest of honor. Thomas proposed to his lady- love during their private trip in Bohol and she accepted. They are now both in the US where Thomas will take a college post. The couple is plan- ning a wedding soon. Mithi was in Washington DC last Oct. 21. (Photo by Bing Branigin) Singer Freddie Aguilar faces seduction charges for relationship with 16-year-old. October 31, 2013 15 If you would like to include your organizations forthcoming event, please send the information to mpapoose@aol.com. Continuing through Nov 5 Nilo Santiago Exhibit, South- west Series Exhibit Columbia Pike Public Library, 816 S Walter Reed Drive, Arlington VA Continuing through Nov 30 Nilo Santiago Dream Series Exhibit Aurora Hills Public Library, 735 S 18th St, Arlington VA Continuing through Nov 30 DAY of the DEAD Show (Rec- yled Art) includes Nilo San- tiiago piece, Arlington Cen- tral Library,1015 N Quincy St. Arlington VA Continuing through Jan 23, 2014 (Monday-Thursday) 9am - 10pm, (Friday) 9 am - 6:30 pm. Durant Art Center 27th Anniversary Art Exhibi- tion Young at Art. Includes Filipino artist Nilo Santiago. Durant Art Center ,1605 Cam- eron St, Alexandria , VA. Continuing through Dec 29 Paul Tanedo Photogra- phy, Greenspring Gardens Horticultural Center,4603 Green Spring Rd. Alexandria, VA 703.642.5173. Meet theArt- ist/Reception on November 3 at 1-3pm. Contact Paul Tanedo. com or 703.915-4556 Nov 8 (8pm) NaFFAA Region 2 and Philppine Nurses Assoc of Metro DC You and the Night and the Music Con- cert. Featuring Allan Palacios Chan, Tenor; Xi Wang, Soprano; Christopher L. Koon, Pia- nist. Immanuel Church on the Hill, Alexandria, VA. Proceeds will fund the PNA medical mis- sion. Contact: Bing Branigin 703- 715-8879 Nov 9 (Saturday) 6pm- 12:00m APODCAA 7th Annual Dinner Dance, Fort Myer Community Center, Arlington, VA. $40. Contact: Romy Valle 240-751-3356 or rgvalle1952@ yahoo.com Nov 12 (Tuesday) 6:30 pm Philippine Arts Letters and Media Council (PALM ) with Philippine American Foun- dation for Charities (PAFC) Book Launch of Emelina Galangs Angel de Luna and the Fifth Glorious Mystery. Young adult ction. Philippine Embassy. Contact: Bing Branigin at 703- 715-8879 Nov 16 (Satur- day) 2pm 5pm PAFC Dr. Jos e Rizal Youth Awards, Romulo Hall, PhilippineEmbassy, Wash- ington, DC. Contact: Aylene Mafnas 703 868 5660. Nov 16 ( Saturday) 6:00- 12:00 midnight Feed the Hungry, Inc. Handog 2013. Hilton Alexandria Mark Center Hotel, 5000 Seminary Rd., Alexandria, VA. $75. Music by Swinging DJ. Formal attire. Contact: Lottie Buhain 703.978.2709 or lot197@ aol.com Nov 16 (Saturday) 7:30pm. Filipino Community Mass, St. Bernadette Catho- lic Church, 7600 Old Keene Mill Road, Springeld, VA 22152, Priest Celebrant: Fr. Art Mallari, Mass Sponsor: The De La Rosa Family, Choir: Buklod Kaibigan, Coordinator: Ed Tiong (703) 403-5624 Nov 23 (Saturday) 6:00pm- 11:00pm PNAMWDC Medical Mission Dinner Dance Fund- raising. St. Columba Parish Hall - 7804 Livingston Rd. Oxon Hill, MD 20745. $30. Contact: Alice Andam - (703)216-0671 or pre- sandam@aol.com Nov 23 (Saturday) 5:30 USTAAA 4th Anniversary Gala &Thanksgiving Masquer- ade Ball.Fairfview Marriott, VA. Prepaid $65, at door $70. Free parking. Contact: Amy Quinto atamysdesign@hotmail. com Dec 1 (Sunday) PAFC, Phil- ippine Embassy and FOCUS, Paskong Pinoy. Pryzbyla Hall, Catholic University of America. Contact: Ador Carreon at ador. carreon@aol.com Dec 7 (Saturday) 6:00 pm to 12:00 midnight. Marinduque- nos of the Capital Area, Inc. (MCA, Inc.) PASKO NATIN 2013 Dinner Dance @ New For- tune Chinese Restaurant, 16515 Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. $50 adults, $40 teens. Contacts: Ruby Solomon (703) 501-0112 Dec.7 (Saturday) 7pm to 12pm. CHSNAF-MWDC Christ- mas Party and Induction of ofcers will be held on from Our Lady of Good Counsel, Vienna,Virginia. Contact - Ruby deLeon 703-307-3198 Dec 7 (Saturday) 5:30pm- 12:00mn Mabuhay, Inc. Pasko 2013: Ang Paskoy Pag-ibig.Sher- aton Washington North Hotel, 4095 Powder Mill Road, Belts- ville, MD 20705 Contact Person: Manny Lopez (301)452-7305 Dec. 7 (Saturday) 12:00- 5:00pm PAFC Pasasalamat/ Christmas Party and Election of Board Members & Ofcers. Free. Lincolnia Seniors Center, 4710 N Chambliss St, Alexandria, VA 22312. Elections for members only. Inquiries regarding PAFC elections may be sent to Elvie Melegrito at elviemele@aol. com. For holiday party, Contact: Aylene Mafnas at aylene@mris. com October 31, 2013 16 16 Paid foi by the Republican National Committee. Authoiized by Ken Cuccinelli, candidate foi Goveinoi. www.Cuccinelli.com Vote Ken Cuccinelli for Governor @KenCuccinelli /KenCuccinelli m Cut taxes on small businesses and middle class families Cive small business a fair slot by closin, looploles tlat benent tle alreaJy powerful anJ well-connecteJ Create a Small Lusiness /Jvocate ofnce to lelp people wlo want to start tleir own small business Lets make it easier to own a small business. m r to ss. or "I have spent my ||fe work|ng to put V|rg|n|ans f|rst. As Governor, you can trust me to be on your s|de and I ask for your support." October 31, 2013 17 October 31, 2013 18 18 Photos by Bing Branigin Around DC in Pictures L to R: Rene Calandria, Carmen Stull, PACC President, 2003-2005, Peter Theiman, PACC President 2001-2003, Mitzi Pickard, PACC President 2005-2007 and John Cabrera,PACC President 2011-2013, at the 20th anniversary of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Metro-DC, held last October 18, at the Marriott Hotel, Tysons Corner, McLean, Virginia. Edward Anthony Tecson and Leah Suzanne Salvador were married last October 12, at the St. Josephs Church in Herndon, VA. A wedding reception was held later that day at the Westeld Marriott in Chantilly, VA. Over 300 family friends from the Philippines and other far-away places came to celebrate with the newly weds. Good food, free- owing drinks, dancing, and emotional speeches capped the evening. Edward and Leah met while attending college in Virginia Tech. They were both very active in the Filipino American Society Association (FASA). Edward is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sabino Tecson of Virginia Beach, VA. and Leah is the daughter of Leonardo and Melly Salvador of Loudon County, VA. A second reception was held at the Philippine Cultural Center, in Virginia Beach last October 19. The Tecson/Salvador family and friends entertained more friends and relatives at the 2nd venue and enjoyed Filipino food catered by the Susan Kitchenette, and more music and dancing for the more than two hundred guests. Right to left: Stuart Goodman, Dan Jimenez, AAA, Sonny Busa, Board of Director, PAFC, Emil Fernandez, Richie Vicente, PNC Bank, Christian Rizal Regan, a midshipman at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Mary- land. Photo was taken during the 20th anniversary of the Philippine Ameri- can Chamber if Commerce of Metropolitan DC area, last October 18, at the Marriott Hotel, Tysons Corner, McLean, Virginia. L to R: James Dullas, Gaby Riego de Dios, Percy Abu, and Harold Ochoco, got together recently at a restaurant in Virginia. All four men are from the PMA class 1981, now separated from the Philippine military and living in the US. Thelma Anunuevo Billy, (3rd from right), hosted a fund raising and cultural event at the St. Leo Parish Church, Virginia last October 12. Also in photo with Billy are Marvin Santos, Rudy Regala, Ruby Regala, Alice Santos, Bing Branigin and other volunteers. Monies raised at the event nance Thelmas various feeding programs for home- less shelters in Washington, DC and Fairfax, Virginia. Thelma and a small army of loyal volunteers provide three hot-meals served in those facilities annually. Almost a thousand residents are served on a single mission by Thelma and volunteers from the church, schools located near her home, and a handful of Fil Am community members. Her number one supporter is husband George who is always working behind the scenes. Mia Alfaro Padro (left) poses with Camden, New Jersey Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan DD and her aunt, Mrs Molly Alfaro Amatulli of Omaha Nebraska after her conrmation rites at the Saint Katharine Drexel church on Oct. 6, 2013. Mia, 15, is the daughter of Joe Padro and Maria Luisa Alfaro of New Jersey. A party for Mias close friends was held after the church rites at the Padro residence. (Photo by Padro family) The Ilocano Society of America (ISA), Inc. celebrated its 30th founding anni- versary last Oct. 13 at the Fairview Park Marriott Hotel in Falls Church , Va. Here, ISA president Grace Valera is escorted to the stage for her wel- come remarks by the 2013 Ms. Teen Philippines-America Chastity Centina (1st Filipino African-American to win the title in 27 years) and 2013 Miss Teen Philippines-Washington D.C. & 1st runner-up Hannah Cristine Del- gado (Mom is a Filipina while Dad, who is now deceased, was Peruvian- American) . The milestone event, attended by many guests, recognized all the distinguished leaders/community members who formed ISA three decades ago. (Photo courtesy of ISA). Six months old Nico Alexander was christened last October 20, at the Methodist Church in Herndon, Vir- ginia. L to R: Rico Jiao, Jr., Ciela Basilio, Aaron Jiao, Maj.(U.S. Air Force) Lee Alexander, father of Nico, and Jean Alexander mother of the baby. October 31, 2013 19 Pinay nurse cops coveted award MCLEAN, Va. A Filipina nurse based here has won the DAISY Award, a rare honor bestowed on outstanding nurses in the United States and about a dozen other countries. Bulacan native Carol Manilay-Robles was nominated by the Arleigh Burke Pavilion (ABP) Family Council which said theyve been receiving pos- itive light about her in nearly all their meetings since 2012. Robles is Resident Assess- ment Manager (RAM) of the ABP Health Center. As RAM, Carol has a unique position of coordinating the care plan for all residents and it is from this per- spective that she begins to know residents, their needs and special requests of family members, her citation read. Carol takes the volumi- nous content of a three ring binder at a quarterly meeting and turns it into a plan for staff to follow. It becomes the guidepost for making sure that someones personal and clinical needs are known, noted and followed. If and when a problem does arise, a quick call to Carol will ensure that the matter is resolved. It doesnt take a lot of explanation, because Carol knows the resi- dent, and knows what you are talking about. Beyond the normal scope of her duties, Carol observes a situation and sees that it is taken care of, regardless of whether or not it is in her job descrip- tion. She is one who rolls up her sleeves and takes action. She has been seen clipping a residents nails, responding to a call bell, comforting a family member with a cup of tea, the citation went on. She always has a smile on her face, greets residents and family members by name, knows how to make the system work, and is always ready to respond to a request. She has set the bar high for showing what being a nurse means. She always puts the resident rst, respects their rights, and leads by her example. If we could clone a nurse, the model would be Carol Robles. We are grateful to and for Carol and all that she does to bring a high level of quality care to our loved ones. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses was estab- lished in 1999 in honor of Pat- rick Barnes who succumbed to ITP, an auto-immune disease. His family, particularly his wife Tena, were impressed with the quality of care and compassion he received from nurses who saved his life more than once that they decided to form the DAISY (which stands for dis- eases attacking the immune system). As we discussed what to do in Patricks memory, we knew that rst and foremost, we needed to say Thank You for the gifts nurses give their patients and families every day, just as we had experienced, the Barnes family said. DAISY is a 501 (c) 3 non-prot organization. The DAISY Award has since become a coveted prize for all nurses here. Carols family hails from Baliwag, Bulacan. She arrived in the US on an H-1B visa in 1991 and is married to IT consultant Rey Robles with whom she has a teenage son, Ryan. She is active with the Phil- ippine Nurses Association of Metropolitan DC where she is treasurer; and the Miss Teenage Philippines Pageant where she serves as assistant director. The Manilay-Robles are perennial volunteers at the Mrs. Philip- pines Home for Senior Citizens in Oxon Hill, Md. and has been in charge of decorating the Presi- dents Hall for the Christmas season since 2011. Carol Manilay-Robles Celestino Almeda, 96, spokesman, and Maj. Jesse Baltazar, 93, a wounded Bataan defender & POW, presented Sen. Ted Cruz (in blue) their written demand of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans for his public apology and to sup- port their bills in the Senate. Daughter of veteran, Ange- lyn Tugado-Marzan, joined them. Retired military chap- lain Georgette Beltran, and Eric Lachica, coalition exec- utive director, assisted during their 30-minute meeting in the senators Washington DC ofce on Sept. 30, 2013. October 31, 2013 20 20 October 31, 2013 21 General Manager Brian Sabean always wanted to keep the right- hander from Bellevue, Washing- ton the son of a Filipina mother, Rebecca Asis, and an American father, Chris Lincecum. Brian (Sabean) said up front that it was a priority to solidify our starting pitching, and Tim is a big part of that, Assistant General Manager Bobby Evans told the San Francisco Chronicle. We see the difference that your starting pitching can make in a make-or-break September or postseason. Tim bounced back from the pitching woes he experienced for most of 2012 and the rst part of 2013, winning four out of his ve last starts. His highlights included a sub-four earned run average, pitched his rst career no-hitter, and reached the 1,500 strikeout milestone. He was an All-Star for four consecutive years from 2008 to 2011 and won the Babe Ruth Award in 2010 as the most valu- able award of the MLB postsea- son. Fil-Am is highest paid... from page 1 as her agent to prove that she was authorized to sell the paint- ing to the Marlborough Fine Arts gallery. Bautista allegedly conspired to sell the artwork part of the French Impressionists famed Water Lilies series and trying to peddle other valuable paint- ings that prosecutors say she had no right to sell. She has been charged with illegally conspiring with two nephews to four paintings bought by Marcos and for failing to pay taxes on millions of dol- lars she reaped from the sale of one painting. Assistant District Attor- ney Garret Lynch told the jury the case was a simple story of greed, opportunism and fraud. Bautistas lawyer Susan Hofnger portrayed her client as a simple intermediary who got caught up in a decades-long dispute between the Philippine government and the Marcos estate. The painting vanished after the dictator Ferdinand Marcos was ousted in 1986 and forced to ee to Hawaii. It resurfaced with Bautista and is part of a multibil- lion-dollar roster of property the Philippines claims was ill-gotten Marcos wealth. The Philippines Presiden- tial Commission on Good Gov- ernment (PCGG) is believed to have recovered only a fraction of the estimated $5 to $10 billion of alleged Marcos loot. Bautisa said Marcos bought the painting with government money in the 1970s when Presi- dent Marcos ruled the Philip- pines under martial law. That battle doesnt belong here in a Manhattan criminal courtroom, Hofnger said in her opening. The London gallery, Marl- borough Fine Art eventually agreed to handle the sale, and a Swiss collector agreed to pay $32 million for the masterpiece, Claude Monets well-known water lily painting, Le Bassin aux Nymph (1899). These were the valuable paintings that had disappeared from the townhouse used by Mrs. Marcos in the Upper East Side up to 1986 when Marcos was toppled from power. The other paintings were another Monet work and the paintings of Alfred Sisley and Albert Marquet. Prosecutors say Bautista had taken the paintings and hidden them for two decades, even though she was aware the Phil- ippine government was looking for them. Bautista reportedly tried to sell the paintings unsuccessfully through her two nephews in the black market in Bangkok after she ran out of money in 2009. He said selling Monets famous painting was easier because it was not placed in the Philippine goverments list of missing paintings. Imelda aide on trial... from page 1 last Sept. 24. His family called it a miracle. He was reported missing a day after his forest mishap after he failed to show up at a pre- arranged rendezvous. After his friend led a missing persons report, the Lake County Sheriffs Department began searching for him. An initial search ended with bad weather and no trace of the missing man. Penaor said he woke up disoriented in heavy fog. That night he built a re and set up a makeshift shelter of leaves underneath and above him for warmth. He woke to more fog and zero visibility again the next morning. Twice he saw helicopters ying above him and he tried to send smoke signals but they didnt see him. During the 19 days he was lost in the wilder- ness, authorities said it snowed many times with temperatures ranging between 25 and 70 degrees at times. According to a police detec- tive who spoke with Penaor after he was rescued, the Pinoy deer hunter feared he was going to die but would try to survive for as long as he could. He relied on jungle sur- vival skills he probably devel- oped back in the Philippines but honed in the American forest, living to tell a tale many survival reality show hosts might envy. Penaor survived by con- serving what food he could kill and cook, mostly squirrel and other small game, keeping his nighttime res embers hot under leaves during the day, conserving bullets and staying hydrated until he saw what he described as an army of hunt- ers and caught their attention with smoke from his re. Penaors nephew Julius Bura said He was in survival mode. He stayed focused. He had a rie with him, a lighter and two garbage bags. To keep himself warm, he burned leaves, and he would use the garbage to wrap his upper body, Bura said in an interview with The Filipino Channel, adding his uncle ate a snake, squirrels and lizards, and drank from a creek which con- tained algae. He was carried to safety on a makeshift stretcher made from tree branches and the rescuers coats, the police said. The Mendocino County Sheriffs Ofce said fellow hunt- ers found Penaor, who was in a hard-to-reach area just north of Lake Pillsbury. He was located more than three miles from the point where he was last seen by his hunting partner. I had faith that my dad was still alive, his son Jeremy said. Penaor is now back with his family in San Francisco. We prayed every day that the Heav- enly Father would bring him home safely to us. And a miracle happened, Bura said. Pinoy deer hunter... from page 1 of intense bipartisan nego- tiations, to achieve what he has called a major priority for his second term. The President prodded the GOP, suggesting it could con- sider immigration as a way to improve their popularity with moderate voters. However, time constraints and the anger from the bruis- ing showdown over the debt ceiling and 16-day government shutdown show House Republi- cans are in no mood to take up another controversial issue. There will denitely have to be a cooling off period, said Marshall Fitz, the director of immigration policy for the pro- gressive Center for American Progress in one interview. In Pasadena, CA. Fil-Am immigrant rights activists and religious leaders held a vigil Oct. 20 to push for an immigration bill with a pathway to citizen- ship. We are continuously pro- moting and ghting for a more comprehensive and just immi- gration reform, Jewel dela Cruz of the Filipino Migrant Center said. We never got off track with the immigration reform bill and the work were trying to do to push that reform. Unfortunately it comes at a time when there are a lot of other issues with the gov- ernment, Pastor Jolo Buktaw of United Methodist Church and the Filipino Migrant Center said. The immigration bill is one of the three issues he wants to push forward and move prior to the end of this year, he added. After the US Senate passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill during the summer but stalled in the House because leaders said they wanted to tackle immigration through a series of smaller bills. House Speaker John Boehners ofce said Oct. 24 the House would not consider mas- sive, Obamacare-style legislation that no one understands, refer- ring to the Senate bill. Instead, the House is com- mitted to a common-sense, step- by-step approach that gives Americans condence that reform is done the right way, they added. Still, some GOP leaders have been quietly working behind the scenes to craft legislative pro- posals that might pass muster with rank-and-le Republicans that if joined with a legalization program, could draw the White House in. Many Democratic lawmak- ers believe that if Speaker John Boehner puts the Senate-passed immigration reform bill on the House oor, it would pass with a bipartisan majority, similar to the votes over the debt limit bill and the continuing budget reso- lution. Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia and other House Republicans have met in small groups to write bills that would change parts of the immigration system. Immigration bill... from page 1 October 31, 2013 22 22 Commerce (FPACC). She said she was appalled to read the writings of Manila Times columnist Bobby Tiglao, himself a former ambassador. Stern said she saw nothing in the countrys anti-graft and business divestment laws that prevent Cuisia from doing his job law- fully. Is a professional rival out to cut down Ambassador Cuisia? she asked. Tiglao, a veteran journalist, worked as head of former Presi- dent Gloria Macapagal Arroyos Presidential Management Staff in 2004-06 and was later appointed as Philippine Ambassador to Greece and Cyprus. Tiglao was part of the Arroyo appointees recalled to Manila after President Aquino, now the frequent target of his scathing commentaries, took ofce but not before he too was hounded by allegations he wasnt spending enough time on the job and living lavishly in Athens. In his Oct. 21 column, Tiglao questioned Cuisias involve- ment with several large com- panies such as SM Prime Hold- ings, Phinma and Manila Water, among others, suggesting there is conict of interest because these rms have major dealings in the US. For 2012 Cuisia was reported in the annual reports to be present in board meetings of the two companies in February 17, March 22, April 24, May 14, June 11, July 27 and 30, October 29, November 13, and December 12. Thats nine of the 12 months last year, Tiglao complained. I am quite sure Cuisia also attends the board meetings of the seven other rms he is a director of, especially in Chevrolets Phil- ippine distributor where he is the chairman. I assumed the two rms annual reports were accurate, he added. By no stretch of logic can he claim that his involvement in these nine corporations doesnt distract him from his work at such an important post as the US. Taxpayers are paying diplo- mats to be full time at their work, and not as part-time ambassa- dors, Tiglao wrote. Fil-Ams in Washington as well as foreign affairs depart- ment ofcials, he claimed, are worried that Cuisia seems to be relying too much on the deputy chief of mission in his past three years. The Foreign Affairs home ofce quickly issued a statement backing Cuisia, insisting there was nothing unlawful or irregu- lar in the envoys activities His directorship in the boards of private companies does not interfere in the effec- tive performance of his duties, Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said. But the reactions were even stronger from the worried Washington community. It is my hope, that many will come to support and defend your position. Clearly, you have demonstrated above and beyond your passion for the Philip- pines and ensuring Fil-Ams are updated and educated (about) the Philippines and how we can continue to partner resources between both countries, wrote Virginia Beach business owner and community leader Naomi Estaris. She red off a lengthy letter outlining Cuisias work for Fili- pinos in Virginias Tidewater region. It is ironic that as I have gotten to know the Philippines much better in this non-political and non-prot work assisting the Filipino people of many cul- tures, that you have gotten to know the United States and our diverse cultures as a well-liked and trusted representative of your country, wrote Al Santoli, president of the Asia America Initiative, a DC-based non-prot devoted to helping conict areas in Southeast Asia, including strife-prone Sulu and Basilan. Our health, education, emergency relief, livelihood building and peace mediation programs have assisted more than one million persons during your time as ambassador to the United States, he pointed out. Your timely calls on AAIs behalf to government ofcials in Manila have assured that our donated medicines, school books, seeds and water purica- tion materials could reach com- munities in all major regions of the Philippines that been in seri- ous need, Santoli added. Amb. Cuisia is one of the most effective, efcient and ener- getic Filipino public servants Ive worked with. His com- mitment towards the advance- ment of Philippine-US relations is evident through his efforts in working tirelessly with the Obama Administration/White House, Congress/Hill, State Dept., Defense Dept., USAID, Millennium Challenge Corpora- tion, etc. on integral issues re: Philippines-US relations, wrote Fil-Am DC community activist Mitzi Pickard. She said Cuisia understood the pivotal part that the Fili- pino American community and younger generations can play in bridging ties between the two nationsas well as assist with the development, progress and sta- bility of the Philippines. As Chairman Emeritus of the FPACC, Stern said, I am compelled to keep track of the Philippine Ambassadors actions because the FPACC has a bi- national mission. I keep notes but I have no complaints about his work output and appreci- ate the amount of time spent on the complex geopolitics he is ensnared in. I have to say that what- ever his salary, the Philippines is getting a three-in-one bar- gain (in Cuisia) as ambassador, banker and nancial expert, she stressed. I do not condemn whistle- blowers who report crimes they witness. But of late the campaign against corruption has turned into a free for all and the crime is not precise, and this one does not t well, Stern rued. It is beginning to look like Get all the Presidents men! We must pull ourselves together to ght corruption and dynasties, inequality, negative habituation but not by the death of the coun- try, Stern said. American community as a legal counsel for associations includ- ing the Philippine American Foundation for Charities (PAFC); Feed the Hungry; Philippine Nurses Association of Metro Washington, DC; and Marin- duqueneos of the Capital Region. But his law experience began in 1982 as Associate County Attor- ney for Prince Georges County. Later he would join publish- ing rms where he used his legal expertise at the Thompson Pub- lishing Group (as senior editor); Warren Gorhman & Lamont (as project manager) and the Research Institute of American (as attorney-editor). He also engaged in private practice from 1985-1991focusing on immigra- tion issues. Most recently, he was Of Counsel to the Collins Firm in McLean, Virginia and was a frequent writer and speaker on estate planning and taxation issues. He was a member of the Bars of Maryland, Virginia, California and the U.S. Tax Court and other federal courts. He earned his J.D. at George Washington Unity and his B.A. Philosophy at George Mason University. As a writer, he penned a column in Manila Mail called Play it by Ear, containing vignettes drawn from his life and from members of the FilAm Community. They were always very entertaining stories written with humor, interesting twists, or endearing conclusions show- ing his in-depth understanding of people, culture and society. He published a book in 2004 The Right Place, a collection of stories of his and other peo- ples experiences in the United States as they grapple with the challenges of a new country. He is a gifted and master- ful storyteller with a remarkable range of style, wrote Herminia Smith of the Library of Congress. Another masterful milestone that combined music and play- writing is a musical Hacienda, a story depicting the peoples revolution of 1986 and the down- fall of Ferdinand Marcos. It was staged twice in Washington, DC in the 1990s. And then there are his songs, recorded forever in a CD Im Like You. These songs with light melodies and deep thoughts like Sana, Summer Song, Thank You, Lord, and many, many more. Words to these songs appear in www.rod- shacienda.com. But through all these, he is most proud of, and he will often tell you, his three children, who have obviously inherited pre- cious talent from their father. Karla, the eldest is an accom- plished dancer and now appears in Broadway musicals; Jitter, the middle child works with Wall Street Journal putting together the companys events; and Rocky, the youngest and only son, is an incredible saxophonist. A Renaissance Man Rod was. And he surely will be missed around town. Fil-Ams defend Cuisia... from page 1 Rodney Garcia. Mail... from page 1 ens husband, to prison. If not for their efforts, our kababayan would most likely remain nameless and her killer would still be on the loose, Cuisia, citing in particular the efforts of Waynesboro detective Alyssa Campbell who doggedly pursued the case and Prosecut- ing Attorney James L. Camblos III of the Ofce of the Common- wealth Attorney. We thank them and the good people of Waynesboro for going out of their way to make sure that Karen get a decent burial and for her family in the Philippine to somehow nd clo- sure and solace that justice was served, Cuisia added. The Waynesboro Police Foundation and the citizens of the city raised enough funds to cover the cremation and ship- ping of Karens remains and donated the rest to a foundation intended to support her daugh- ter, who now lives with relatives in the U.S. Consul General Ariel Pearanda said the embassy had been coordinating with Waynes- boro authorities since October last year after they identied the remains that have been in the custody of the West Virginia Medical Examiners Ofce since 2002 as Karens. Authorities stumbled upon Karens disappearance only last year after her husband failed to account for her whereabouts while he was being investigated over unrelated charges of child sexual abuse. Authorities then ofcially declared Karen a missing person until a few months later when DNA samples collected from her parents in the Philippines and daughter here in the United States matched those of the remains of an Asian woman that were recovered at the Greenbrier State Forest in September 2002. Through meticulous police work by Waynesboro and West Virginia authorities, Thomas Tait on Feb. 11 pleaded guilty of kill- ing Karen and was immediately sentenced by a judge to a 30-year prison term in West Virginia. Child pornography Tait also awaits sentencing after a Waynesboro court found him guilty of 20 counts of child pornography, an offense that could carry as much as 100 years in jail. Members of the closely-knit Filipino community in Virginia observed that the authorities success in cracking the riddle of the killing of Karen Tait after such a long time is nothing short of divine intervention. I think we nd here the just hand of God at work, said Benny Villarivera, a retired nurse of Chantilly, Virginia. But it took Cpl. Alyssa Campbell, a veteran detective, nearly two years of exhaustive investigative work to build the case against Thomas Tait, includ- ing trips to the Philippines to interview Karens family. It all started in March 2011, when Waynesboro police were investigating reports of unre- lated alleged child sexual abuse against 52-year-old Thomas Tait when they discovered more than 80,000 images of child pornogra- phy on his personal computer. Tait was charged -- and con- victed -- with 20 counts of pos- session of child pornography materials. He has not yet been charged with child abuse, but that original case remains active. This has been the most complex case, Campbell told the News Virginian about the extent of their their investiga- tion, noting that they worked with authorities in West Vir- ginia, with the US Department of State, with numerous other federal agencies, medical exam- iners, and the FBI. In the course of their inves- tigation, Campbell said they became concerned about the whereabouts and welfare of Karen after Thomas Taits alibis did not seem to add up. Remains of murdered... from page 1 October 31, 2013 23 21 Tips to maximize sleep M OST Ameri- can adults sleep poorly, accord- ing to a study of the National Sleep Foundation on 1,506 adults which was reported in Washing- ton by the Associated Press. The ndings are obviously applica- ble to most of us in general. Statistics reveal that over 100 million people in the United States do not regularly get a good nights sleep, and that about another 33 million have occasional sleepless nights. Sleep is very important for a healthy body and mind. Lack of sleep translates to lesser mental acuity and concen- tration, poorer health, greater driving hazards, reduced pro- ductivity, and diminished sex drive. Sleep experts recommend a minimum of seven to nine hours of sleep in 24 hours, especially for young children and teenag- ers. The survey showed that adults sleep an average of 6.9 hours a night. The few minutes to three hours of sleep depriva- tion is enough to cause problems. Seventy-ve percent of adults reported they frequently have difculty in sleeping, like problem in initiating sleep, waking up often during the night, and/or snoring, waking up too early, and feeling unre- freshed and tired. Many also stated that they ignored the problem, and some do not even think they actually have any sleep decit. Only about 50 per- cent of those surveyed stated they were able to sleep well most of the time. Twenty-ve percent thought their sleep problem had adverse effects on their daily routines. Richard Gelula, the Chief Executive Ofcer of the Sleep Foundation, said theres a link between sleep and quality of life. People who sleep well, in gen- eral, are happier and healthier, said Gelula. But when sleep is poor or inadequate, people feel tired or fatigued, their social and intimate relationship suffers, work productivity is negatively affected, and they make our roads more dangerous by driv- ing while sleepy and less alert. Obviously, the quality of sleep, besides the number of hours, is very important. Chris Drake, senior scientist at the Henry Ford Sleep Center in Detroit and co-chair of the 2005 poll task force, stated that some of the nations sleep habits can be attributed to an always-on-the- go society. The commercial world of today stretches business to 24 hours a day, with 24-hour pharmacy, restaurants, casinos, supermarkets, etc., so people tend to stay up late, watch late night shows on television, surf- ing the web on the internet, etc. All these reduce peoples time to sleep. And some people even need more than nine hours of sleep to feel refreshed and rested. This study also showed (1) Sixty percent of adult stated they have driven a vehicle while drowsy from lack of sleep the past year; and four in 10 reported they have had an acci- dent or near accident because of tiredness or falling asleep at the wheel. (2) Seventy- ve per- cent claims their partner has a sleep problem, snoring as the most common complaint. (3) Four out of ten of those surveyed reported lack of sleep adversely affected their sexual relation- ship, having lost interest in sex, having poorer performance or having sex less often. (4) Seventy percent claimed that their phy- sician never asked them about their sleep. The recommendations of the National Sleep Foundation and experts in the eld are absti- nence from any stimulant, coffee and alcohol before bedtime, and to seek medical help if they think they are having sleep problem and/or snoring, or not getting enough rest at night. Lack of sleep reduces the normal recharging time of our body battery, our energy source causing a chain of reactions in our physiology and body chem- istry. This low-battery condi- tion leads to physical and mental stresses to our system. All these alter the normal homeostasis (internal balance) within us, weakening our immune system, and increasing our risk of devel- oping metabolic diseases, hyper- tension (high blood pressure), stroke and heart attack, among others, or aggravating existing illnesses. The prescription for a healthy lifestyle, for maximal maintenance of good health and disease prevention, besides reg- ular medical check-up, includes the following ingredients: Ade- quate sleep, rest and relaxation, total abstinence from tobacco, strict moderation in alcohol intake; daily exercises (like brisk walking), low-fat, low-choles- terol, low-carb, high-ber diet (vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, etc), and, equally important, having a happy and positive atti- tude in life. So, how can one maximize sleep? Here are some helpful tips, which I have found useful myself: (1) Stick to a schedule; dont sleep late on weekends; (2) Dont eat or drink four hours before bedtime; (3) Avoid nico- tine and caffeine; (4) Exercise in the late afternoon; (5) Slightly cool room (68-72 degrees F) is ideal for sleep; (6) Sleep only at night; dont take afternoon naps, at least not more than 20 minutes; (7) Eat light at night, and if you enjoy wine, a glass of red wine will help you sleep more restfully, more than one could impair sleep; (8) Keep pets off your bed for less distraction and for hygiene;(9) Free your mind, leave problems outside of the bedroom, have a calm wind- ing down period by listening to soft music or by reading a book, and or praying; (10) Keep the bedroom dark (no blue lights, or lights from cell phones, PDA, etc) and quiet, since darkness and silence are conducive to sleep; use ear plugs, if needed, place black tape over electronic lights; (11) Make your bed comfort- able (12) For a healthier mindset, the bedroom is only for sleep and sex, not for TV or eating; (13) No TV four hours before bedtime, Rumors, Innuendos, Accusations Q UESTION: In a recent column, you briey mentioned that one can be sued in court if he or she says or writes something that is untrue about someone. Can you expound on this? ANSWER: Yes. The issue of reputational harm is quite com- plex and covers a wide range of legal topics. In this column, I will focus on what is commonly referred to as defamation. Defamation laws protect the rep- utations of individuals and other entities, including corporations, from untrue and damaging state- ments. A statement may be con- sidered defamatory if it tends to harm the reputation of another as to lower him in the estima- tion of the community or to deter third persons from associating with him. Defamation may be written or oral. Written defama- tion is commonly referred to as libel, whereas oral defamation is generally known as slander. The law of defamation varies from state to state, but the legal elements are substantially the same. To have a legitimate claim for defamation, the plain- tiff must generally prove the fol- lowing: (a) the statement must be about another person, and it must be false; (b) the statement must have been published to a third party, who cannot also be the person who was defamed (in this context, publishing does not mean that the state- ment must be printed; rather, the statement must have been made available to someone other than the person about whom the false statement was made); (c) the person about whom the defamatory statement was made must have been damaged or injured by the statement; and (d) if the plaintiff is a public gure (for example, the mayor of the District of Columbia), he or she also must prove that the defen- dant acted with actual malice by publishing the defamatory statement or at the very least had a total disregard for whether the statement was true or not. QUESTION: Can you give a few examples of defamatory statements? ANSWER: Typically, defamatory statements include communication that suggests that the plaintiff was involved in in a serious crime involv- ing moral turpitude or a felony; communication that reects negatively on the plaintiffs char- acter, morality or integrity; and communication that suggests that the plaintiff suffers from a physical or mental defect that would cause other people to stop associating with that person. Recent examples include charg- ing someone with being a com- munist; calling an attorney a crook; describing a woman as a call girl; and the list goes on. On the other hand, calling some- one a bitch or son of a bitch does not rise to the level of defa- mation. In any event, since defa- mation is considered in context, there are no hard-and-fast rules about particular statements or phrases, although hyperbole or opinions are generally viewed as not defamatory. In Virginia, for example, a person cannot be held liable for making a state- ment about another person if it is true (i.e., truth is an absolute defense to a defamation claim); nor can a person be held liable for statements expressing an opinion. Note, however, that merely labeling a statement as your opinion does not make it so. In other words, you cannot say, It is my opinion that John Doe embezzled money from Cor- poration X and bought a $10M house in Manhattan in 2012 with his fraudulently obtained money, and assume that your statement will be protected as an opinion if the statement is later proven to be false. QUESTION: Are there defamatory statements that are considered so egregiously harm- ful that they are treated differ- ently under the law? ANSWER: Yes, you are referring to defamation per se. Defamation per se means defamation that is so intrinsi- cally damaging such that there is no requirement that the plaintiff establish damage or injury. In other words, the plaintiff only has to show that the defama- tory statement was made. This is because in defamation per se cases, both malice and dam- ages are presumed. There are states that are considered per se statesmeaning that these states provide special protec- tion for plaintiffs claiming defa- mation per se. For example, Maryland allows plaintiffs to le defamation lawsuits without proving actual damage for state- ments that maliciously attack the chastity of a single or married woman. QUESTION: What types of compensation are available in defamation cases? ANSWER: If you prevail in a defamation case, you may be entitled to actual, punitive and other damages that the court may deem appropriate. Actual damages, also known as com- pensatory damages, are dam- ages that are paid to compen- sate the plaintiff for loss, injury, or harm suffered as a result of defamation (for example, loss of earnings, pain and suffering, etc.). Punitive damages, also known as exemplary damages, are damages that are intended to deter the defendant and others from engaging in conduct at issue in the lawsuit. Punitive damages are awarded only in special cases, and usually only Continued on page 30 Continued on page 30 October 31, 2013 24 24 On Dying, Death, and Remembrances I t is mostly the grammar that concerns us most, at this time of the year, when we con- front or are confronted by the souls of the dead, of our faithful departed. The nality of death itself is uncontested. It is the memory that lingers and always brings us to a point of choosing whether to talk of them in the present or past tense. And our expressions or acts of remem- brance are what anthropolo- gists or sociologists call part of a systematic pattern of behav- ior handed down by parents to offspring, deeply rooted in a nations culture but is evolving over time. I, for one, am not spared by the memories. The dying moments of my fathers father had the semblance of a family reunion. My parents and I, my siblings, my uncles and aunts, my cousins, the towns doctor and parish priest, were all sum- moned in haste to witness my grandfather lying on his back on his bed, his mouth open and making these gurgling sounds, gasping for air. We were all gathered there, not making any sounds, just watching. Finally, the gurgling stopped, like the last toll of a church bell. The last image of him I have taken with me was the doctors stethoscope on my grandfathers chest and the doctors nod to the parish priest for the nal rites to begin. Dying or at the instance of death, depending on ones reli- gious faith and beliefs, is a rite of passage, to another life or to immortality; to a Christian, to heaven or to hell, or to the Res- urrection; to a Hindu, to another form of life, a mammal, a fowl or a bird; or to an Australian aborig- ine, to entering the land of his or her mythological ancestors. Before the arrival of Magel- lan in 1521 and the subsequent Spanish expeditions to evange- lize the Philippines, death to an Igorot, in the Mountain Prov- ince, was not a cessation to his way of living but simply of his being called by some anitos to another good or better way of life. There was a rite followed by an old or an inrm to induce a certain anito to whisk him away from his painful condi- tion. In the Visayan provinces, in the case of a datu or a barangay chieftain, some of his slaves were sacriced in the hope that they would be accepted in his stead by an ancestor spirit who was calling him away. Before the commercializa- tion of death brought about by technological changes occurring in the 18th and 19th Centuries, before the emergence of funeral parlors, funeral directors, the morticians, and the so-called doctors of grief, the rite of passage associated with dying had occurred in the privacy of a bedroom. Immediately upon death, prayers performed by the mourners, following the Chris- tian traditions, had two main parts, the acknowledgment of the sins committed and the rec- ommendation that these sins be forgiven. These were followed by an absolution. Nowadays, the site of death is displaced. More often than not, a person no longer dies at home in the company of loved ones but in a hospital, alone. Death in a hospital takes away the ritual ceremony over which the dying person expresses his nal messages to his family and friends, including the distribu- tion of properties. Dying in a hospital is simply a cessation of care, a decision made by an attending physician and the hos- pital team. Sometimes, they even have a say on the disposal of the dead body. His wills, too, have been reduced to a legal, written and notarized, document. The disposal of the dead takes many forms because of a deep-rooted refusal to link the physical body with physical decay. Memories play an active part; those who are left behind perpetuate the dead persons way of life by choosing a resting place that reects the deceaseds beliefs, motives, and aspirations. His tomb or mausoleum is an extension of family property, protected from commerce and held in perpetuity, a variant of homeownership. Mourners who go to this tomb or mausoleum are akin to visiting a relatives house, a dwelling full of memo- ries. Cremation, the other choice, excludes the appearance of a pil- grimage. The manner and sites of internment of dead bodies per- formed by the early Filipinos, centuries ago, have become tour- ists attractions. The Tinongchol Burial Rock, near Kabayan, which is about four-hour drive from Baguio City, in the Moun- tain Province, displays a rock that is as tall as a three-story building, housing the mum- mied remains of the Ibaloi ancestors. The cofns are stuffed in holes bored into solid rock. Nearby, on Mount Timboc, more burial caves have been discov- ered revealing mummies deter- mined to be at least 500 years old; these mummies, unlike the Egyptians, are not wrapped. The tombs or mausoleums serve as a sign to us the living of the presence after death of the loved ones. The presence is not derived from a concept of immortality central to a religion of salvation but to our unwilling- ness to accept their departures. We hold on to our memories. This is why the Manila North Cemetery, established in 1890, now has at least one million mausoleums and graves, includ- ing those housing the remains of Ramon Magsaysay, Sergio Osmena, Manuel L. Quezon, and Manuel A. Roxas, all former presidents of the Philippines. On All Souls Day, in the Philippines, a day reserved for the dead, there hovers always an air of family duty, almost a national compulsion, to go and visit the graves of the loved ones. You and I go to be in their presence, to get acquainted once again with the memories of how it was when we all shared moments of mirth and grief. It is the only time, in our life, that the past merges with the present, the dividing line disappearing. We do this because it is our duty, the living, to conjure up the future with them. It is what we owe to the dead. The insane logic of terrorists MANILA. T heres something that dees logic in the modus of todays terrorists, whether they sow their destruction in Zamboanga City, Philippines or in Nairobi, Kenya; whether they take their orders from Nur Misu- ari or from the al-Shabaab. The recent outbreaks of terror and mayhem in the Philip- pine south and in the expatriate hub of Nairobi have some things in common. They took place in a ash, as acts of carnage must if they are to succeed. They were results of sieges, naked force, and blinding displays of re- power. What ensued in both acts of terrorism was chaos and destruc- tion. And a loss of many lives. Which leads to the puz- zling nature of the attacks: the sacrice of civilian lives, which often include those of children of tender ages. The driving force behind the movements of the sort that sud- denly made their presence felt recently in both Zamboanga City and Nairobi is a desire to achieve something, whether its indepen- dence or lost territory. Or a cry for justice, equality or simply space to freely exist. Whatever it may be, the cause must include acceptance, not only by the authority or the challenged gov- ernment, but also of the people at large. No movement will win and ourish without a mass of people behind it. An idea may be nurtured by the blood of its ini- tial protagonists, but it will never germinate nor grow without the acceptance and support of the masses. A cause will never take off without universal support. Even if its armed component will win the initial battle, it will never grow into a widespread move- ment. It will never have a popu- lar mandate. Those who led mass move- ments in history knew this, that they needed the masses to be the backbone of their agitations. Mao and Fidel Castro knew it. Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. knew it. And thats why they rallied and inspired and cajoled the masses in order for them to have the multitude behind them. No movement succeeds without the people. And thats why the great leaders of the past hectored and harangued their fellow citizens to their cause. Thats why they took pains to get the people on their side. Because they knew that without the people, they were nothing. So why, therefore, did Nur Misuaris Moro National Libera- tion Front here in the Philippines and the al-Shabaab in Kenya wreak their destruction on civil- ians, innocent people who had nothing to do with their strug- gles, who had no quarrel with them, who were there by pure accident? Why did the MNLF use the cowardly tactic of herd- ing innocent civilians as human shields? And why did the al- Shabaab go on a brutal rampage in that shopping mall in Nairobi, murdering people without pity? If their respective causes are just and deserving of popular support, why did they sacrice the lives of so many innocent people just to get public atten- tion? It doesnt make any sense, it doesnt stand to logic. No just cause kills people, especially innocent ones. No movement will ever thrive when innocent lives are sacriced on the altar of an unjust cause. Is it therefore the template of modern movements to dis- regard popular sentiment and blaze their way through via brute force? Is this the new way? No more winning the hearts and minds of people? Ho Chi Minh, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Ramon Magsaysay of the Philippines took pains to get on the side, not only of Almighty, but more importantly, of the people. Even the insane Adolf Hitler sought the support of the German people to rally behind his ultimately awed and fatal vision. The suicide ights of 9/11 didnt bother to rally any one, they just carried out their deadly attacks. The murderous ram- pages of sick individuals that periodically shatter the tranquil- ity of US campuses and neigh- borhoods dont bother with hearts and minds. The Boston Marathon bombers were of the Continued on page 30 October 31, 2013 25 Names A llah means God -- unless youre a Chris- tian in Malaysia, read Time magazines headline. Or Sikh, Hindu or athiest for that matter. A new Kuala Lumpur court decision stipulates only Muslims can invoke the name of Allah. And that triggered con- cern beyond Association of Southeast Asian countries. Four years back, KL courts ruled that the term Allah tran- scended different faiths. Why then the ipop? Islam (is) vulnerable to conversion efforts by other faiths, the decision asserts. Anyway, Allah was not an integral part...in Christian- ity. No? Herald editor, Fr. Lawrence Andrew, said hell appeal. Non-Muslim Malaysians reacted with anger. Appalling, snapped Jagir Singh who heads the Consultative Council of Bud- dhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism. Bahasa Malaysiaspeaking Christians used Allah even before forma- tion of Malaysia,. recalled Rev. Eu Hong Seng, Sabah and Sarawak churches, where Christians are a majority, protested. As they have done for years, theyd invoke Allah in worship and in the Al-Kitab --- the Bahasa Malay- sian version of the bible. Malay- sias Parliament, in 2011, allowed circulation of Al-Kitab. Todays ruling fractured the 10-point solution by KL. This rekindled 2007s uproar when government claimed a franchise on Allah. It cons- cated 15,100 bibles, printed in Indonesia, which used the word Allah. After the High Court shredded that ban, in December 2009, non-Muslim places of wor- ship, including Sikh temples, were ransacked. Islam is the religion of the federation but other religions may be practiced in peace and harmony. says the Malaysian Constitution. Malaysia signed up to the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Article 18 undergirds freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. Those principles apply to ethnic Malays who form two- thirds of Malaysias 28 million people. Chinese and Indians number 22 percent and 7 percent respectively. About 9 percent of Malaysians are Christian. See the issue in the context of next door Philippines, Singa- pore and Indonesia. Muslims here form 5 percent of population. Catholics consti- tute 83 percent, Iglesia Ni Kristo Immigration Notes By J.G. Azarcon, Esq. Tourist visa V isitors for business or for pleasure are covered by the B nonimmigrant visa category. For a B visa to be issued, the applicant must demonstrate the following: (a) that he intends to stay in the US for a limited duration; (b) that he intends to depart the U.S. at the expiration of his authorized stay; (c) that he intends to maintain his foreign residence which he has no inten- tion of abandoning; (d) that he has sufcient funds or nancial arrangement to cover his travel expenses; and (e) he will engage solely in activities relating to business or pleasure. Presenting proof of ade- quate nances or afdavit of support does not by itself entitle the applicant to the issuance of the visa. This has caused a lot of frustration on the part of many relatives of US citizens in the Philippines. The US consul must be convinced that the applicant will return to the home country after a brief visit. Because there is a lot of discretion involved in the evaluation of proof, there is never an assurance that a visa will be issued even if you load your application with documen- tation. Since most applicants can easily present an adequate af- davit of support, the US consul will likely pay more attention to the applicants ties to his home country and any ties to the United States. Extensive property hold- ings, ownership of a business generating substantial revenue, or very lucrative and stable employment would likely be perceived as indicators that the alien will return to his home country. Close family ties in the home country would also be a positive factor. Close family ties in the U.S. however would be a negative factor, just as the exis- tence of a pending immigrant petition for the alien. The applicant need to submit documentation not only with respect to the nancial abil- ity issue, but also those that will show attachment and incentives for the alien to return to his home country after a brief visit. Copies of real estate deeds, bank state- ments, stock certicates, owner- ship of business, and certicate of employment may indicate that the alien has no immedi- ate reason to abandon his home base. Close family ties to the home country can be demon- strated by afdavit. The above documentation will not guarantee approval of the application. But at least it will improve ones chances if the application is reviewed by a rea- sonable consular ofcer. VISA PRIORITY DATES FOR THE PHILIPPINES NOVEMBER 2013 FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES First: Unmarried sons/daughters of US citizens Jul 01, 2001 Second: A: Spouses/minor children of permanent residents: Sep. 08, 2013 B: Unmarried sons/daughters 21 years of age or older of permanent residents Mar. 01, 2003 Third: Married sons/daughters of citizens Jan. 08, 1993 Fourth: Brothers/sisters of citizens Apr. 22, 1990 EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES First: Priority workers Current Second: Professionals holding advanced degrees or persons of exceptional ability Current Third: Skilled workers, professionals Dec. 15, 2006 Other Workers Dec. 15, 2006 Fourth: Certain Religious Workers Current Fifth: Employment creation/ (Million or half-million dollar investor) Current The joys of home ownership O h my God, Im so teary eyed; I want to cry!! These are the exact words and emotions my client burst out after stepping in their new home after our closing on that day. She is not alone and Im used to these mixed emo- tions given the same situations with my clients. I always share the same emotions and some- times my client/s and I both scream and jump for joy. Even if you have not own a home ever, you kind of know what I mean. Buyers for the last ve to six months are out there jump- ing over the fence and ready to buy. These are combinations of low interest rates of all times, school about to end and start, they have been procrastinating due to unsure real estate market and the promising trend of home selling and buying. Even sellers who were afraid to sell started to do repairs and renovations to get the top dollar on their home. Truly, the sun is shining bright like a diamond in the skyI mean real estate. It has been long overdue. Home buying and sell- ing is not an easy process but very rewarding as the old Fili- pino clich mas masarap ang tagumpay pag pinaghihirapan. I cannot imagine a seller and/ or a buyer without a Realtor. The process is so complicated, legal binding and risky if you do not have proper professional representation; unless you were a real estate agent before or in that kind of industry. I always love to see buyers and sellers on the settlement table anxious and so excited for the closing to end so they can turn over and get the key ready for their new phase of life and experience. (Short sale is an entirely different story). Whenever I do buyers pre- sentations, I highlight the bene- ts of home ownership and those who have been renting for so long were surprisingly unaware or just afraid that they cannot fulll the big responsibility of home ownership. Words and emotions cannot express how I feel whenever I received interesting feedback from my clients whether they are buyers or sellers, short sales or standard sales. I want to share with you the latest message I received from one of my clients who recently bought their home last week. He even posted this on his Facebook. These are the reasons why we Realtors are working hard and these are also the reasons why we put our cli- ents on top of our professional priorities. This is the true Joy of Home Ownership. Do I need to say more? Buying a house was a spur of the moment for me and my wife. Weve been renters throughout our married life, back in Quezon City and after we immigrated to Virginia in 2003. We always found a reason not to do it -- we didnt have enough money, we knew so little about buying a home, too many hurdles to jump over. But renting has its disadvantages and the worst of them struck us recently. We decided to nally buy a home but the rst chal- lenge was where to start? After asking around, we knew wed be coming in with a handicap -- the markets picking up, com- petition for decent, affordable housing was heating up, and we had an extremely tight budget. Weve always suspected this was going to be a long shot but God answered our prayers and led us to the right people, and one of them was Jocelyn Porteria. From the start, we felt comfort- able with Jocelyn anyone will see right away, is very skilled, expe- rienced and hard-working; and she also made us laugh which melted all our anxieties. For a couple of weeks, she made her- self our best friend, available night and day, over coffee meet- ings or phone calls. She set up an internet show room tailored to our specications which made nding the right house easier. She volunteered her observa- tions (and criticisms) which helped us decide. When we nally found our dream home Jocelyn moved with lightning speed to get an offer to the seller. I was truly amazed she was able to give us a contract to sign in 24 hours. She worked the deal to clos- ing, always ready to advise us on what we needed to do and getting the papers in promptly so the sale never fell off-track (we even got some money back from the closing costs). Were moving to our new home at the end of October. If theres anything I learned about home Continued on page 30 Continued on page 30 October 31, 2013 26 26 GARLIC SWEET POTATO T his is an excellent pairing for any holiday dish, and also as a snack or a meal by itself. According to our ances- tors, backed up with my own research, sweet potato is one of the most powerful foods on the face of earth - it has properties which, when eaten moderately, can reduce the risk of some ill- nesses, including cancer. Ingredients: 3 large sweet potatoes 4 to 6 cloves garlic, peeled and minced 6 to 8 pieces button mush- rooms salt (optional) and white ground pepper to taste pinch turmeric 1 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 1 teaspoon milled axseed (optional) Methods: Peel the sweet potatoes and dice to about 1 squares; cover the peeled and diced ones with cold water in a bowl to prevent from browning. Strain thor- oughly and discard water and steam the sweet potatoes in a steamer or bake for 20-30 min- utes until tender. (Check for doneness during cooking for preferred tenderness.) Set aside. In a non-stick skillet, cook the garlic in medium low heat with small amount of oil until light golden. Then remove the garlic from heat and transfer to a small plate. In the same skillet, cook briey the mushrooms and sweet potatoes and toss until hot to the touch. Add the garlic and season very lightly with salt and white pepper. Before serving, add the turmeric, parsley and axseed. Serve hot or cold. Editors Note: Master Chef Evelyn: 100 Most Influential Fili- pina Women in the U.S., 2009, Fili- pina Womens Network; MHC Most Outstanding Migrant Award in Culinary Arts, 2011; PAFC Dakila Special Achievement Award, 2011; Owner/Chef, Philippine Oriental Market & Deli, Arlington, Virginia; Founder and President of CHEW (Cancer Help Eat Well) Founda- tion, a 501 (c) (3) public charity formed to help and cook pro-bono for Filipino-Americans who are afflicted with cancer and other serious ill- nesses; Culinary writer; Member, Les Dames dEscoffier International, Washington DC Chapter; Member, International Cake Exploration Society, Member, Culinary Histo- rians of Washington, D.C.; Master Chef, French Cuisine and Patisserie, Le Cordon Bleu, London. PICTURE After a long night of making love, he notices a photo of another man on her nightstand by the bed. He begins to worry. Is this your husband? he nervously asks. No, silly, she replies, snug- gling up to him. Your boyfriend, then? he continues. No, not at all, she says, nibbling away at his ear. Is it your dad or your brother? he inquires, hoping to be reassured. No, no, no!!! she answers. Well, who in the hell is he?, he demands. And she responds, Thats me before the surgery. MEDICINES The lady teacher asks the pupils what kind of medicines they know and what they are used for. The rst pupil said: Tyle- nol. Very good! And what is it used for? It is used for headache. The second pupil said: Nytol. Excellent. And what it is used for? To help you sleep. Now it is Johnnys turn and he said: Viagra. Johnny, what is it used for? I think it is used for diar- rhea. Who told you this? Nobody, but every evening Aunt Susan tells Uncle Dave, Take a Viagra, maybe that little shit will get harder. BRA A man walked into the ladies department of Macys and shyly walked up to the woman behind the counter and said, Id like to buy a bra for my wife. What type of bra? asked the clerk. Type? inquires the man, Theres more than one type? Look around, said the saleslady, as she showed him a sea of bras in every shape, size, and color. Actually, even with all of this variety, there are really only four types of bras to choose from. Relieved, the man asked about the types. The saleslady replied: There are the Catholic, the Sal- vation Army, the Presbyterian, and the Baptist types. Which one would you prefer? Now totally befuddled, the man asked about the differences between them. The saleslady responded, It is all really quite simple... The Catholic type supports the masses. The Salvation Army type lifts the fallen, the Presbyterian type keeps them staunch and upright, and the Baptist makes mountains out of mole hills. FINALLY For centuries, Hindu women have worn a red spot on their foreheads. We have always naively thought that it had some- thing to do with their religion. The truth has recently been revealed by the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. When one of these women gets married, she brings with her a dowry. On their wedding night, the husband scratches off the red spot to see if he has won a convenience store, a gas station, a donut shop or a motel in the United States. AY NAKU! Inday: Sir, karamihan pala ng nakalibing sa sementeryo ginahasa. Sir: Paano mo nalaman? Inday: Kasi nakalagay sa lapida nila RIP! GMA Dumalaw si GMA sa mental hospital... Dok: Lets welcome Presi- dent Arroyo! Pumalakpak lahat ng pasi- yente maliban sa isa na nasa sulok... GMA: O, dok, bakit yung isa, hindi pumalakpak? Dok: Maam, magaling na po siya! Q & A Sa isang beauty contest... Emcee: Whats the big prob- lem facing the country today? Contestant: Drugs Emcee: Very good, why do you say that? Contestant: Ang mahal kasi eh! MAG-SWIMMING Dumalaw si Andoy sa kum- pare, pero si misis ang inabutan. Andoy: Wala ba si pare, mare? Misis: Nandun sa swim- ming pool... tinuturuang luman- goy ang baboy. Andoy: Bakit baboy pa? Misis: Sabi kasi ng doktor niya, lahat daw ang lumalangoy ay puwede niyang kainin. CONDOM Mam: Inday, sa susunod, ayokong pinakikialaman mo ang condom namin ng sir mo! Inday: Mam, huwag kayong magbibintang! Di kami sanay ni sir gumamit niyan! Sobra kayo! TRANSLATIONS Tamang translation ng mga kanta: Sometimes When We Touch - Minsan Kapag Tayoy Naghi- hipuan Touch Me In The Morning - Hipuan Mo Ako Sa Umaga Stairway To Heaven - Mula Paa Hanggang Singit Hurt So Good - Array, ang Sarap! Cant Be With You Tonight - Meron Ako Ngayon October 31, 2013 27 At The Onset of Ber T he fall season has just begun but Ive been hear- ing Christmas carols and seeing Christmas TV movies already, not in the Philippines, but here. Back home, the Christmas spirit is in the air the moment the August calendar page is replaced with September. On cue, Christmas songs are played in most radio stations that create excitement and spark the cel- ebratory mood of people. This practice is still true today. Joy to the World, Jingle Bells, Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem, Hark the Herald, Ang Pasko ay Sumapit, at marami pang iba, are heard during the ber months of September, October, November and December, four months of nostalgic Christmas music. Currently, the songs are being played. To add, Christmas festivities are extended till after January 9 to celebrate the feast of Santo Nino. It is only then that the Parols (lanterns) and Christ- mas light decors are taken down from the windows of houses. I am not sure when and how this peculiar custom has started in the Philippines, but I am quite convinced that the United States have caught up with this practice. A couple of years now, while in the car, Ive heard over the radio this seemingly out-of- the-ordinary Christmas music in July, I repeat, July. Moreover, Ive already seen Christmas TV movies shown at the Hall- mark Channel of Verizon. Some friends told me that the pre- season showing of the movies long before the Christmas season starts were just amusing to them. Since autumn is my favorite season, I would like to fully enjoy its air, sights and sounds. I would like to witness the com- plete cycle and beauty of the fall- ing leaves of gold, yellow and red as I am still in the fall season mode. Personal Zone Who has time for down time? Like most busy women, we always thought that once our children grew up and left home, once we got a little closer to retirement age, wed have more free time than we knew what to do with. Wrong. I wish! I say now. My days are so full now that I have challenges that com- pete for my time. As the saying goes, the only permanent thing in this world is change, is true. Our priorities keep on changing, in a minute, in an hour, in a day, a week, a month, a year, etc., as they happen a lot of adjustments had to be made. All too often, to make room for these tasks, the rst thing we give up is our per- sonal time those moments in the day, large or small that used to give us pleasure. In doing so, were dismissing a valuable and vital part of our lives. My primary doctor, during one of my physical check-ups, said that personal time is not a luxury it is a necessity. Having a free time, even just a few moments of peace and quiet everyday would help for my well-being. I see her point and am fully in agreement with her. Setting aside a me time in my schedule would help combat stress which can cause sleep problems. She continued that it can suppress the immune system and increase the risk for heart disease and high blood pressure. Moreover, Ill develop some kind of calmness to be able to deal with the demands of the challenges at home and with the family. We should really under- stand the need for personal time and the importance of actually extracting that time out of our busy schedule. Forget about excuses. The few minutes a day of free own personal me zone would certainly give us great values that we need and deserve. What Works for Me Learn to take a break. We are too focused on others and forget to focus on ourselves. Overcome the idea that were too busy to have free time. Per my primary doctor, it is vital to our mental and physical health - so, take a break a few minutes every day, a few hours every week, a get- away or vacation once or twice a year. (After lunch every day, I go to my bedroom to watch the TV or do a crossword puzzle or just close my eyes. A few hours every week, I go to the book store or to my favorite mall to browse around and this year, I went to Florida to visit with my youngest daughter). Make a list of activities that Id like to spend free time on, healthy activities that will make me feel better and give pleasure, things that I used to do but no longer seem to have time for, and things Id like to do even if Ive never done them before. (I truly enjoy full body massage, din- ners and ballroom dancing with my husband. I shall start to have facials on a regular basis and get a few more orchid plants (I wish I had a green house) and a toy size puppy, a Bichon like my daughters to take care of. May be next year, Ill try to start put- ting at a miniature golf course). Set Firm Dates. This remain- ing months of the year, I I look forward to having a little adven- ture with a friend or my daugh- ter to see the Rockettes in New York or the Russian Ballet at the Kennedy Center, also plan to visit my sister in San Francisco- well stay at the Ritz and enjoy the spa service. Create a Space for Myself. At home, my rst line of defense is the kitchen nook and computer room where I can just watch the TV or read with my feet up and sip very cold fruit juice, but when I really want peace and quiet without any interruptions, I hide in our vacant cozy guest room. My husbands sanctuary is the family room. Focus on Quality, not quantity. I want to put off personal time for some doable and more practical activi- ties, focusing on getting just a few minutes of personal time every day little breaks which can add up to big results. A few minutes like going out on our deck every morning to have my tea or making plans for the day or just enjoy the quiet and hear the chirping birds would make my day. When it is drizzling outside, curling up on a warm bed in a cozy room with a book or some magazines waiting to be read would be conducive to taking a blissful nap. Rearranging activities so things get progressively quieter as bedtime approaches is deeply satisfying; also setting the ther- mostat a few degrees cooler will help anyone get a good sleep. Whichever activity that will give ease, rest, and fulll- ment would be a good therapy. However, waiting for the perfect time to do a gigantic activity may never come. Sometimes, doing nothing is a luxury to an absolute busy bee. The Circle of Life T he past month gave me exuberant joys and excru- ciating sorrows. Anticipa- tion of a wonderful week spent with family was high leading up to my birthday. Getting older has not dimmed the pleasure I get every mid-October. I cant help it. I turn into a giddy schoolgirl. And with our sons sched- uled visit from California, it was doubly festive. Our young- est child makes it his mission to make family and friends happy, a positive force in our energetic circle. His trips back to Virginia therefore are always a cause for celebration. But the week that followed was lled with sad news. News of friends who have passed on and of friends who have suffered health setbacks trickled in from all directions. In physics, opposites cancel out each other and create equi- librium. Life aint so generous or rational. It is easy to get buried under the weight of melancholy. I had to dig deep to nd that mental swagger that has saved me from giving in to wretchedness. The reminders of mortal- ity had prompted discussions about death and dying between Mitch and me before. Many times, what starts off as a serious and somber discussion would end up in hilarity and laughter. The other night, I brought up an unresolved topic. I was caught off-guard by the absurdity of his answer. Well, we both will be cre- mated, right? I looked at Mitch for agreement. But I will not be able to breathe inside that chamber. And I cant stand the heat. The ames will burn me He said in all seriousness. Then broke into ts of laughter. I pressed on and got a de- nite yes. I made a mental note to revisit this discussion armed with more information. We should make our choices nal and irrevocable. That means written on legal documents. Many of us have heard of verbal agreements that were shrugged off because of sentimentality and loss. And that has ignited bitter- ness among the living. But the gloom and doom have given way to some great news. Our grand-twins who were born two months ahead of schedule are thriving. They are blessed with all they require both in and out of the hospital. They may soon go home to enjoy their beautiful nursery. The other three grandsons are healthy and happy. As rambunctious and mischievous as normal boys can be. The cycle of that life circle is on the upswing. A good friend reminded me of a favorite verse: Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and what- ever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Yes, from Max Ehrmans Desiderata. And this from a cousin who has weathered personal heart- aches: the cycle of life - death, birth, living, dying - can be so confusing and painful and beau- tiful. The circle of life spins inexo- rably with a purpose all its own. So lets celebrate LIFE in all its glory, agonies, and exasperating detours. Visit us online: www.manilamail.us October 31, 2013 28 28 Winter is coming U gh.brrrrrrr. winter is coming. Like bears, many of us Pinoys will wrap up ourselves in winter clothes and sit shivering in front of our replaces. For many, itis time to reminisce. A Tsismoso forwarded this compel- ling piece which she says has to be read slowly so you can digest every word. READ SLOWLY! AND THEN IT IS WINTER Time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams. But, here it is... The winter of my life and it catches me by surprise....How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go? I remem- ber well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like. But, here it is...my friends are retired and getting grey...they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me... but, I see the great change...Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant...but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought wed be. Each day now, I nd that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat any- more... its mandatory! Cause if I dont on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit! And so...now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!! But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and Im not sure how long it will last...this I know, that when its over on this earth... its over. A new adventure will begin! Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadnt done...things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things Im happy to have done. Its all in a life- time. So, if youre not in your winter yet... let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Dont put things off too long!! Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not! You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life...so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember...and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!! Life is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one. LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY! HAVE A GREAT DAY And I Love each and everyone of you, some as my children, or grand & great grandchildren, some as old friends or relatives, and one special one just because I want to. Remember It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver. LIVE HAPPY IN 2013! LASTLY, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING: TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOUVE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOULL EVER BESO - ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS. Your kids are becoming you......but your grandchildren are perfect! Going out is goodComing home is better! You forget names.... But its OK because other people forgot they even know you. You realize youre never going to be really good at anything.... especially golf! The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you dont care to do them anymore. You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. Its called pre-sleep. You miss the days when everything worked with just an ON and OFF switch. You tend to use more four-letter words..what..when Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, its not safe to wear it anywhere. You notice everything they sell in stores is sleeveless! What used to be freckles are now liver spots. Everybody whispers!! You have 3 sizes of clothes in your Editorial Go out and vote The Nov. 5 elections in the Commonwealth of Virginia will ask voters to choose a new governor, lieutenant governor, attor- ney general and nine other posts in the state legislature that will become vacant by retiring representatives. The campaign, especially for the top posts, has been deeply partisan, with a lot of mud-slinging that will probably turn off many voters. Majority of Filipinos have a habit of sitting on the fence until the nal moment, and theres no reason to think the coming elections is any different. But they have become a signicant voting bloc in Virginia. In areas like the Tidewater region, their support has become imperative. Candidates, especially gubernatorial bets Terry McAuliffe (D) and Ken Cuccinelli (R), have made sure theyre seen at Filipino community events in the Commonwealth. They have actively engaged the Fil-Am community and promised them a larger role if they get to Richmond. The Fil-Am community is now the 2nd biggest block of Asian Americans. Yet their number is not evident in the nations political representation. Elections should be seen as opportunities to make the Fil-Am presence felt. They are vehicles for expanding the communitys clout, pushing projects and promoting values that are important to Filipinos. The coming electoral exercise in Virginia is a chal- lenge for Fil-Ams to improve their lot and help shape the future of the Commonwealth. Whether youre a Republican or Democrat, be part of the change. On Nov. 5, go out and vote. Continued on page 30 Manila Times October 31, 2013 29 Cuccinelli vs. McAuliffe O n November 5, 2013, Vir- ginians will decide who will be their next gover- nor. Republican Ken Cuccinelli versus Democrat Terry McAu- liffe. Cuccinelli is the incumbent Attorney-General of the Com- monwealth. He started his public service career as a Senator in the state legislature before getting elected as Virginias Attorney General. He is an engineer and a lawyer. McAuliffe has no record of public service. He built his career in politics, not as an elected of- cial, but as the money maker. He built his reputation as the most prolic fund raiser during the Bill Clinton years and the failed presidential candidacy of Hillary Clinton. He is a lawyer. The fund-raising prow- ess of McAuliffe is giving him advantage in this campaign. If you watch television regularly, you will notice that Cuccinelli is badly outgunned in the battle of TV ads. The relentless nega- tive TV ads that McAuliffe has unloaded on Cuccinelli have taken its toll. Based on polling results, McAuliffe has taken a healthy lead among women although he is very competitive among men. One of McAuliffes TV ads claims that Cuccinelli in the past has introduced legislation that will in effect ban womens right to use contraceptives. A woman or even a man would likely con- sider that as extreme. The prob- lem with this TV ad is that it is absolutely untrue. Cuccinelli can only scratch his head in disbe- lief at such audacity to lie and hope that there are enough sen- sible people who will care to go behind the ad and nail down the truth. Cuccinelli has never intro- duced legislation with language specically banning the use of contraceptives. What McAul- life and his liberal allies in the media have done was to twist and stretch the Republican can- didates stand on the concept of personhood and inject blatant lies to shock women. McAuliffe has another TV ad relating to Cuccinellis past proposal to tinker with no fault divorce. According to the Demo- cratic candidate, Cuccinelli will prevent women from getting out of a bad marriage. Again, this is a gross mis- representation. The reality is that in divorces, it is more likely than not that women and children get the short end of the stick. The rationale for limiting no-fault divorce is to encourage preserva- tion of marriage for the benet of all members of the family. No- fault divorce is tantamount to marriage-at-will which enables the economically superior spouse to walk away leaving the other not only emotionally but nancially in tatters. McAuliffe would like to make abortion a wedge issue in this election. The right to abor- tion is not going to change who- ever is elected governor. Unless My adventure T his time of the month, this writer always struggles to nd a subject to write about. Its not that there arent enough here or back home in the Philippines. Natural and man-made calamities are worthy topics to wrestle with. The Bohol killer quake that evokes memories of another dark reaper in July 1990 that killed over 1,600 people and isolated large parts of Cen- tral Luzon and the Cordilleras, prompting one of the largest air- lift operations ever mounted by the Philippines and US together. Or the botched roll-out of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrolment that proved an embar- rassing debacle for President Obama. It was a self-inicted wound that raises the prospect Republicans could get the delay they wanted; and show how unnecessary the GOP-instigated tactic of forcing a government shutdown and debt crisis. There is, however, the jour- nalists principle of proximity. And there was an event thats preoccupied this writer during the last few weeks. We nally bought our rst home. I have fought off buying a house, whether here or n Manila. For some reason, weve been afraid to take the plunge, pre- ferring instead the exibility of being renters. Sometimes, I think if that didnt have some psycho- logical, subliminal roots having had experienced foreclosure of the family home. We so dreaded it that my daughter had to pinch and save here for 5 years to pay for a condo in Cainta, a Metro Manila suburb, as a birthday gift for her mom. But now that weve decided to nally buy a house in our adopted home, we saw it as our biggest adventure together. You may view an adventure differently, preferring to enjoy the uncertainty and a certain risk. I go into it like a battle, with planning and resolve. Boring. But I enjoy boring. Because we knew more than zero about home buying, we searched for people who could guide us through the process. I invited Ramon Llamas for coffee. I got to know Mon through Attorney Arnedo Valera of the Migrant Heritage Commission, and after a couple of interviews for The Filipino Channel and Manila Mail at Fil-Am nancial literacy seminars. As a mort- gage ofcer, he obviously knew his business. But what drew me even closer to Mon was his unheralded philanthropy. A former seminarian whos fed Manilas large army of street urchins during the Christmas holidays for many years. Ive offered to write about it but hes rejected it; I only learn about his latest charities after the fact. When I told him that I called Jocelyn Porteria to ask her to be our realtor, Mon lighted up. Theyve worked together for countless clients, he revealed. Joceyln, who I call Jo, also writes a column in this paper and was the closest real estate practitioner we could nd. It turned to be a fortuitous choice; that became evident after I arranged for her to meet my wife and daughter. Theyre not exactly the easiest people to win over especially just after one meeting but Joceyln quickly pulled them to her side with an excellent lecture (she was a Opinion Continued on page 30 Rodney Garcia: A Remembrance H is guitar stuck to his lean body like an extension of himself. This 1997 char- coal rendition by Mya Talavera Grossman captures it best the music and the man. For the longest time, Rodney and his acoustic instrument made music, songs he wrote himself and sang at benet con- certs to feed the hungry. In later years, hed accompany daughter Jitter on vocals and son Rocky on the sax. Music was his passion and pride. But after his third stroke months ago, his ngers could no longer pluck the strings. Thats 70 percent of what he does, says eldest daughter Karla. It sucked the life out of him. No longer able to play the guitar, he sold all seven of his prized possessions. Losing the use of his ngers to bring life to the strings was devastating. There were still songs to write, concerts to organize and causes to serve. Thats why it was hard for many in the community to accept the fatal turn of events when Jitter put out the word that Daddy is not doing well and we are asking those that would like to say their nal goodbyes to come. He was on life sup- port at Inova Hospital in Fairfax. The suddenness was shocking because everyone thought he was on the mend. Days earlier, he was having fun laughing during a comedy show, dining with his buddies, celebrating his 59th birthday with family and close friends, regaling new acquaintances with his stories and bonding with his own children who came from far away to be with him. He hoped for a game changer, something that will dramatically turn things around and spur him to unleash his creative talents once more. He was also desperately lonely. He ached for companion- ship, for human touch, for face to face interaction. He needed a listening ear, a comforting pres- ence at the table. He looked for- ward to spending evenings with kindred spirits, bantering over beers, jamming with other musi- cians even if all he could do is watch and gently move his frail body to the pulsating beat of the Tutubi Band. Its heartbreaking to hear the music and not be able to jump on stage and be part of the revelry. Thankfully, old and new friends in the community responded in a way they could, with compassion and under- standing and love. They took him to dinner and arranged for rides to his doctors appoint- ments and other places he needed to go. PAFC sponsored a yard sale. Feed the Hungry, the Philippine Nurses Association and other groups and individu- als pitched in. Friends opened their homes and Rodney spent his last days in relative comfort, until that fatal evening when his brain and body couldnt take any more shocks to the system. My memories of Rodney date back to GWU in the 1970s. He was a law student. I was working at Gelman Library. Along with Froilan Tiglao, then a library worker, wed hang out at the Red Lion, a favorite watering hole, bantering over beers about Continued on page 30 October 31, 2013 30 30 the U.S. Supreme Court reverses itself, abortion will continue to be available. As a parent, would you not want to be informed that your minor child is about to undergo a major medical pro- cedure that could impact on her health? McAuliffe says no while Cuccinelli says yes. It is untrue that limiting no- fault divorce will trap a woman in a bad marriage as the TV ad claims because a woman who is a victim of abuse, cruelty or aban- donment can still seek divorce. So who has the best interest of women on this issue? I wonder if McAuliffe would like to see a marriage end just because one spouse has bad breath. TV ads aside, what can Vir- ginians expect from Cuccinelli and McAuliffe? Cuccinelli has a solid record in public service. As a senator, he worked to limit the power of eminent domain to prevent state and local government from expropriating private homes and businesses for private develop- ment instead of public use. He championed lower taxes and less regulation pro-business policies. As Attorney-General, he demonstrated his adherence to real blind justice when he led the ght to exonerate a African- American Thomas Haynesworth who languished in jail for years after he was erroneously con- victed of rape. In addition to Haynesworth, three other falsely accused gained freedom because of Cuccinellis work. In the ght to stop Obamacare, he joined Attorneys General of other states to stop what most Americans view as bad legislation according to polls. McAuliffe on the other hand brags about his private sector experience. He claims to be an entrepreneur. The Washington Post however characterizes his business investment pattern as one that relies on government programs, political connections and access to wealthy investors in pursuit of big prots from himself. A review of McAu- liffes business history by the Post shows him often coming out ahead personally, even if some investments fail or become embroiled in controversy. While he is good at sourcing capital, his record says nothing much about executive or management acumen which is material to the ofce that he is now seeking. McAuliffe promises jobs, jobs, jobs. Ask the investors and former employees of Global Crossing, a telecommunications rm that went insolvent in the 1990s costing billions of dollars to investors while McAuliffe walked away with $8 million. Ask the investors of Greentech. To attract investors, the company projected 25,000 employees in the U.S. that could produce 1 million electric cars in 2015-17. In 2012, McAuliffe boasted to report- ers that 900 jobs will be created before the years end. To date, the company has approximately 80 full time employees and pro- duced only a few test cars. After Greentech became the subject of investigations by the Securities and Exchange Com- mission and the Department of Homeland Security for its invest- ment for greencard solicitations targeting rich Chinese nation- als, McAuliffe distanced himself from the company. Virginians are faced with a choice between a social and scal conservative who believes in a lean and efcient government that encourages entrepreneur- ship and a liberal who is propos- ing more government expendi- ture the cost of which he refuses to quantify when confronted by a debate moderator. We have someone with a solid tract record in public service and given a stamp of approval by voters in previous elections and some- body who wants to jump in from the private sector whose claim to fame is soliciting dollars. McAu- liffe could solicit money from all of us to fund whatever promises he made in the name of govern- ment. Its called more taxes. Forget the TV ads. Pick your candidate and vote. Ill go for my man, Ken. teacher back home) on home buying interspersed with folksy, funny tales (Jocelyn and my wife found a common thread, Cavite). I sat back and just relished the banter between them, realizing Ive already won half the battle. When they nally found the right house Jocelyn later inti- mated that they shared a dance. Then she got to work. She gave the seller an offer the same day, and gave me a contract to sign within 24 hours. This was shortly followed by Mons email that my housing loan has been pre- approved, catching an interest rate before it continued rising. Mon and Jocelyn worked together to work the contract through the underwriters. I kept sending them nervous emails only because I was anxious and didnt realize they already had my back. When I needed to buy homeowners insurance, Mon suggested another friend, John Cabrera. John has always been some- one ready to help despite his tight schedule (aside from his insurance business, hes also president of the Philippine American Chamber of Com- merce of Metro DC). Hes helped me once before on behalf of my brother who brought some busi- ness from Manila. During the closing, when I was asked to sign a tall pile of papers (the nal stage where the new owner gets the keys to the house), the closing ofcer remarked with seeming amaze- ment at the excellent deal I got from my insurance agent. I was tempted to tell him that I got the best people to work for me. If theres a lesson I learned from this adventure, its that the biggest challenge is not so much as nding the most skilled or experienced, rather in nding the most trust-worthy. Even as we prayed fervently for the success of this endeavor, we soon realized God heeded our petitions by pointing us to Mon, Jocelyn and John. My adventure... from page 29 Cuccinelli vs. McAuliffe... from page 29 anything that spiced our fancy. In the succeeding years, com- munity service was our common sphere. Both sons of Filipino World War II veterans, we also fought the good ght in Con- gress for veterans benets. He was proudest of his chil- dren Karla, Jitter and Rocky. He and wife Ella, long before their separation and eventual divorce, raised them well. I know Ella, a loving and devoted mother, con- tinues to be very much a part of their childrens lives. Thank you, Rod, for the memories. Well never ever say goodbye. Send your comments to jdmelegrito@gmail.com same bent. Its because theirs were lost, senseless causes whose only purpose was to inict carnage, to sow terror and to destabilize order. Its because the perpetra- tors know that the public will never support nor acquiesce to their mad plans. Instinctively, the people know which ones are the just causes to rally behind. Nur Misuaris men and those of al- Shabaab didnt bother to set the stage for their agitations because they probably knew the people wouldnt give them support. Thus, they didnt bother to win hearts and minds. And thats their fatal aw. The insane logic... from page 24 buying, 90 percent of it involves trusting your realtor. Beyond the nancial requirements, I consider nding an able, trust- worthy realtor like Jocelyn just as important. We will always be indebted to Jocelyn. Note: Jocelyn Porteria is a Realtor licensed in VA. She earned a designation of ASP, Accredited Staging Professional; ABR, Accred- ited Buyers Specialist; CDPE Cer- tified Distressed Property and Short Sale Expert, (SFR) Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource. For more info, visit her website at www.jprealdeal. com or call her at 571-432-8335 or email at realdealconsulting@yahoo. com for a free confidential evalu- ation of your property, individual situation, property value, and pos- sible options. The joys of home... from page 25 closet..2 of which you will never wear. But OLD is good in some things: Old Songs, Old Movies, and best of all, Old Friends!! Stay well, Old Friend. Send this on to other Old Friends and let them laugh in agreement. *Its not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.* Washington Tsismis... from page 28 where the defendants conduct was egregiously insidious. QUESTION: Do criminal statutes for defamation exist in the U.S.? ANSWER: Yes, approxi- mately 17 states, including Vir- ginia, have criminal defamation statutes. However, these states rarely bring criminal charges defamation. For example, Sec- tion 18.2-417 (Slander and Libel) of the Virginia Code makes it a Class 3 misdemeanor for a person to falsely accuse a female of being unchaste. QUESTION: Is there a time limit within which one must sue for defamation? ANSWER: Yes, and its called statute of limitations. A statute of limitations is a law which places a time limit on pursing a legal remedy for wrongful conduct. A statute of limitations generally starts to run at the time a claim accrues. Ordinarily, that is the time at which an injury is suffered. In Virginia, for example, Section 8.01-247.1 (Limitation on Action for Defamation, etc.) of the Vir- ginia Code requires that actions for defamation be brought within one year after the cause of action accrues. Similarly, Sec- tion 5-105 of the Maryland Code (Title 5, Courts and Judicial Pro- ceedings) of the Maryland Code states that an action for libel or slander must be led within one year from the date it accrues. Rumors, Innuendos,... from page 23 Rodney Garcia:... from page 29 especially for children; (14) Take a hot shower or bath before going to bed; and, (15) Do NOT rely on sleeping pills or sedatives, they could be dangerous, especially for the elderly; (16) Do not glance at the clock in the wee hours; (17) Pillow must be comfortable and just right to support the neck in neutral position; stomach sleep- ing is discouraged; (18) Use a pillow between your legs for better alignment of the hips and to reduce back pains; (19) Seal the mattress with air-tight plastic wrap to prevent inhaling mold and dust-mite droppings, which cause allergy and a restless night; (20) When you wake up in the morning expose yourself right away to bright sunlight through your window or outside, since light is a most powerful regu- lator of our biologic clock; (21) Live a healthy lifestyle and try to enjoy life. 2.3 percent. No one dictates how anyone addresses a God Of A Hundred Names as Barbara Greene and Victor Gollancz title their book on prayers of various faiths. Banning titles of divinity would constitute prior restraint. And thatd fracture the Philip- pine constitutions shield for lib- erty of expression Religious intolerance can trigger strife, Singapores Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong cau- tioned Public debate cannot be on whose religion is right and whose is wrong, but on ratio- nal considerations of public interest Indonesia is home to the worlds largest Muslim popula- tion ( 205 million). They account for 13 percent of the worlds Mus- lims. But no one who believes in the power of one supreme God can claim exclusivity, warned. Endy M. Bayuni, Jakarta Post senior editor a founding member of the International Association of Religion Journalists There is no such thing as the God for Catholics..,or Allah for Mus- lims.... Indonesia and Malaysia may rightfully claim to have developed a more moderate strand of Islam. But there is only a thin line dividing tolerance and intolerance, So we should not take this moderation for granted... 21 Tips to maximize... from page 23 Names... from page25 October 31, 2013 31 October 31, 2013 32 32