Celebrating Chinese New Year 2014

A pictorial blog in Los Angeles China town during the Chinese New Year celebration of the wooden horse.

Since it was our first time to celebrate the Chinese New Year in China Town, we did not expect a celebration this big complete with a parade participated by different groups coming from different parts of Los Angeles County.

What is noticeable is that the event seems to have become a mainstream celebration with some children and adults wearing Chinese Pajamas, hehe. Anyway, they seem to have blended well at least in terms of brilliant colors matching the colorful parade.

The dragon dance it appears is not solely for the Chinese anymore with members of the Lomita Shaolin Temple Kung Fu disciples.

Of course like in any other celebration you finish it off with food and as usual tend to order more than what is humanly possible to consume so a "kari" out is necessary. Wait was that to catch our attention or what, a "kari" out instead of carry out? LOL. Anyway, gung hay fat choy!

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Global Filipinos: A Sleeping Giant Our Appointment with Destiny

The origin and formation of the Filipino people dates back at least 50,000 years ago, long before the development of the Austronesian languages.      
                    
Fast forward to March 16, 1521, when the Philippines was discovered by Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan.

Filipinos, in general, have always excelled wherever they were. 

One such Filipino was our national hero, Jose Protacio Rizal, an FMG, yes, a foreign medical graduate, who obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree in Madrid, Spain, in 1885, 128 years ago.

He was a European-trained ophthalmologist, one of very few specialists at the time, when specialization was not even popular.

Rizal, believing in the brilliance of his people, exhorted the Filipinos to regain the pride in themselves and in their race.

Some say the history of the Filipinos in the United States dates back to 1763, when the Manilamen, as Filipinos were called then, all sailors on the Manila Spanish Galleons, jumped ship and settled in the bayous and villages at St. Malo and Barrataria Bay, Louisiana, just outside New Orleans. 

That popular historical version puts it at 250 years ago, but actually records show that Filipinos, then known as “Luzonians,” first set foot  in 1587 on Morro Bay San Obispo, now known as California --- 13 years before  the considered first settlers, who were from the Great Britain, arrived in the 1600 in what we now call the USA.

So, to set the record straight, they were Filipinos, and not British or American Indians who first set foot in America, some 426 years ago.

We, Filipino, are therefore technically not foreigners in the United States!

Today, there are more than 3 million of us in America and about 11 million overseas, comprising about 14% of the total population of the Philippines, which is almost 99 million.

Remittances from all us this year is expected to be 22.5 Billion,  US dollars. Without this infusion of money to the  Philippine economy, the government would literally shut down.

If all of us stop these remittances even for a few months, the country would go bankrupt.
   
The global Filipinos are indeed a vital and powerful lifeline for the Philippines, its government and its people.

Filipinos have a literacy rate of 96-98% and majority of us are fluent in English. No less than 47.9 % of us in the United States have at least a Bachelor’s Degree.

Twenty percent of the world’s seafarers are Filipinos. There are 1.2 million sailor and cruise employees around the world.

In the USA alone, there are 22,000 physicians and more than 50,000 Registered Nurses and caregivers,  thousands in businesses, electronics, media, law, art and sciences…the rest in stores, restaurants, casinos, and in almost every facet of the economic and social infrastructure of the nations they live in, serving their communities.

Indeed, the more the world knows about Filipinos, the more they’ll love us….except, of course, our corrupt politicians and some snakes in our won forest.

So, imagine a world without Filipinos!

In the United States alone, most hospitals and clinics, factories, casinos would be handicapped severely, if not paralyzed and close, without Filipinos.
   
We, Filipinos, are indeed a Sleeping Giant, and we have every reason to be proud as Filipinos.

All we, global Filipinos, need today is to wake up from our slumber, unite, and claim the glory of a people long victimized and dominated, no longer by past foreign powers and conquerors, but by our fellow Filipinos themselves, our very own elected officials in the government, whose plunder of our nation, through pork barrel and other means of robbing our national treasury, has disenfranchised, marginalized and neglected our people, more than 30% of them now languishing in the gutter of poverty, robbed not only of clothing, food, and shelter, but of their dignity, honor, pride, and a future.

As these corrupt leaders fill up their pockets and bank accounts, the poorest of  the poor Filipinos go to bed at night hungry, not only with empty stomach but with empty hope and empty dreams.

Fortunately, in 2010, the Filipinos at home and abroad have elected by an impressive landslide a man of integrity and honor.

While the progress of fighting the deeply-rooted culture of corruption is slower than we all would like to see, there are many encouraging signs of the change we all dream and hope for, like the arrest of former president Gloria Arroyo, who is facing several criminal charges, the impeachment and forceful removal from office of former Chief of the Supreme Court, Renato Corona, who is also facing charges for unexplained wealth and tax evasion, and about 4 weeks ago….the incarceration of Janet Lim Napoles, apparently the mastermind behind the ten billion-peso pork barrel (Priority Development Assistance Fund) scam.

She is expected to turn state witness against 37 others implicated in this scam, including Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, Senators “Jinggoy” Estrada,  Bong Revilla, Gringo Honasan, and Ferdianad Marcos, Jr.

More than 400,000 vigilant Filipinos marched and rallied against the Pork Barrel scam near EDSA, which has led to the surrender of Janet Napoles and the ongoing investigation today.

I am sure more heads will fall.

There are several other investigations on corruption going on the Philippines…courtesy of the Aquino administration.

All these could NOT, would NOT, have happened if we had a president who was corrupt.

The impressive economic boon in the Philippines and the excellent  international credit rating of the country today are the impact and fruits of an honest and transparent leadership from the top.

I only hope and pray that the one who succeeds Noynoy Aquino in 2016 is equally a leader of integrity, honesty, and transparency.

Otherwise, we shall be back to square one and waste all the changes and progress achieved so far.

Filipinos around the world, must come together, even in our diversity, even without unanimity, and unite for a common cause, and inspire our people towards responsible citizenship, and our nation, towards good governance and ethical leadership.

When united, this sleeping giant could harness super power and clout. 

Just think about it: If each of the 14 million of us outside the Philippines contributes just one single dollar, we shall easily and painlessly have $14 million as our war chest overnight…….for the humanitarian programs  of many organizations like the PMAC and their medical missions, the Gawad Kalinga, and several others.

What we need is a revolution…… not a revolution of arms where blood shall be shed, but a revolution of principles, priorities, attitude, and discipline, where sweat and tears INSTEAD shall be shed to bathe our nation clean.

All the little miracles and providential omens developing in our country and among Filipinos around the world today are a manifestation of positive things to come.    

You, who are here today, leaders of our people in your own right, embolden my sustained faith in the Filipino people.

You represent what is best in humankind, and your nobility and compassion towards our fellowmen ensure the Filipino a rightful place in history.

You are not only the source of hope for our people but the foundation of dignity and pride for the Philippines.

I have an abiding faith that the Filipinos are destined for greatness.

    
Leaving this world after this life is not a tragedy. Dying without making a difference, without significance, without leaving an inspiring legacy behind, is.

I am, therefore, making this clarion call to all of you within the reach of my voice, and to all within the reach of yours tomorrow, to unite and join the crusade, the revolution, and come together for a noble cause, to serve our poor, to renounce corruption, to reclaim our lost glory of the 1950s and ‘60s, and recapture our dignity, honor, and pride as a people and as a nation. 

 
Ladies and gentlemen, with all these signs and symptoms and heartaches of our suffering fellowmen back home, let us not wait for SURGERY to open our heart. 

Let us come together now as our brothers’ keepers, as our nation’s loving patriots, to serve a cause nobler and greater than our individual selves, and, someday soon make OUR appointment …..with destiny. *********************************************************************************

*Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana, USA, trained at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston, is Chairman of Filipino United Network (FUN-USA), Vice Chairman of Filipino American Leadership Council (FALCONadvocacy) and Vice President for Far East of Cardiovascular Hospitals of America, Wichita, Kansas. He is a columnist for five newspapers and one magazine in the United States and five newspapers and one magazine in the Philippines.

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Hate

Never been fond of rap but this one by Ruby Ibarra of BOW (Bars of Wisdom) changes the way I see rap.

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Politics Filipinos   Human Rights 

Gloria "Rumamona" Arroyo is in "Good Company"

Update: 4/13/12
Ruben Ecleo, Jr. convicted of parricide for for the brutal murder of his wife  Alona Bacolod-Ecleo. RTC Branch 10 judge Soliver Peras handed down reclusion perpetua or imprisonment of 20 years and one day to 40 years plus more than P25M in damages to the victims family.Judge Soliver Peras of RTC Branch 10 meted on Ecleo the penalty of reclusion perpetua or imprisonment of 20 years and one day to 40 years. 
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Will you leave this guy alone with your sister, daughter or any female member of your family much less in the halls of congress?

If you asked the gullible ignorant voters of Ruben "Hannibal" Ecleo, Jr. and Congress particularly his kulig errr colleague under hospital arrest Gloria "Rumamona" Arroyo it probably will be a resounding yes.

Perhaps it was Ruben "Hannibal" Ecleo Jr., who gave Gloria Arroyo the inspiration to display her Hannibal Lecter look alike contraption in her pity me pics, unfortunately her arrogance and unimaginable impunity dwarfed (pun intended) their desperate attempt at portraying a delicately sick politician with a life-threatening illness.

If her spin doctors are as smart as her medical doctors, (oh I take that back it seems there's more to that than meets the eye) they probably would have come out with something more believable gimmick in their great escape attempt. Her doctors & the St. Luke's Hospital may be in trouble with PMA, as it turns out there are 100 medical practioners who can treat Gloria Arroyo's not so life-threatening disease. But then again was there really a certification coming from St. Luke's Hospital or was that another one of those Comelec Back door operation like documents? There goes the Medical Tourism once touted by Gloria Arroyo when she was the unelected but definitely Garcified presidential term when she insist that not a single doctor can adequately treat her in the Philippines

Arrogance and huge ego has always been a problem why criminals fail to escape the long arm of justice. Just like Saif Kaddhafi who thought he is in a position to negotiate the terms of his surrender with the International Criminal Court found himself in the custody of the Transitional Government Forces, something he dread about but ended up with them anyway.

A criminal who rises up to the rank of the "Honorables" and an "Honorable" who may end up as a hard core criminal if the electoral saboteur charges sticks. The irony of ironies is that somehow our political institutions seems to attract criminals and law abiding citizen turned politicians are not just attracting criminals but turning into criminals themselves. 

The sad part is this maniac is just one person with fanatical followers willing to die for him. It appears that the police are afraid to arrest Ecleo even though he is already convicted. Below is an old post that I feel needed to be brought up to show where our politics is going (unfortunately I seemed to have lost the original posting in the process, LOL).

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Philippine Congress Elevates Criminals Even Cult Leader Ruben "Hannibal" Ecleo Jr. Accused of Parricide & Convicted of Graft & Corruption to Honorable Status

In civilized society even a small scandal is enough reason for politicians to resign their position and bow their head in shame as they fade away from the limelight. Decent civilized people are outraged and scandalized signaling the end of a promising political career. In the Philippines especially in far flung areas, political warlords of different persuasion are having a heyday lording it over their fiefdom. Politician involved in killing as grave as parricide even manage to get themselves elected and while people are indignant their protestations are muffled by the endemic corruption and endless scandals that rocks the nation.

Alona Bacolod a 4th year medical student died of strangulation on January 5, 2002 at age 27 in her residence in Barangay Banawa, Cebu City, whose remains was stuffed in a plastic bag found three days later dumped in a ravine in Dalaguete, a town in southern Cebu.

The accused principal suspect in the killing is Philippine Benevolent Missioner’s Association (PBMA) heir to the title of Supreme Master Ruben “Hannibal” Ecleo Jr. the late faith healer founders’ namesake son who claims to have the ability to “manifest his physical presence in different places at the same time.” How Ruben Ecleo Sr. was able to pull that one off is a mystery in itself or simply a case of people’s ignorance and gullibility. The accused killer is also a rocker although we have no clue if he is good or a bad musician but definitely at par with his counterpart when it comes to drug use being a shabu user. He is also former Dinagat Island Mayor and now elected representative of the lone district of the same island, this time inheriting the position from her mother Glenda Ecleo after maximizing the three term limit running unopposed as governor.

Dinagat Island is an idyllic paradise characterized by its scenic pristine rock formation but beyond its tranquility exist an aberration that defies its peaceful façade. The principle of separation of church and state is a big joke in a place of beauty and serenity spoiled not just by the presence, but usurped over as a fiefdom by cultist numb nuts morphing into political overlords complete with private armies armed to the teeth. The Ecleos has ruled Dinagat Island dating back to the time of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos considering them as an important ally that he even pays a visit because the Ecleos are able to deliver command votes similar to te Ampatuans of Maguinadanao.

Ruben “Hannibal” Ecleo Jr. was granted bail because his parricide case according to reports if accurate was downgraded to homicide which is really bizarre considering  that  Alona the victim is his wife and mother to their children. It is most likely this fixation on respect for the accused rights has more weight in our pathetic justice system in disregarding the circumstance of the crime. The BS coupled with the drama on the allege heart ailment according to doctors who examined him, alleging he may drop dead anytime enabling him to post bail. A ticking walking bomb they claim but to date has not had his heart bypass operation despite his allege delicate medical condition was able to campaign and win a congressional seat. One of the most outrageous "medical" claim was the heat in his jail cell may supposedly trigger a fatal heart attack. Are these quack doctors errr physician serious? It is not like the moron errr Ruben “Hannibal” Ecleo Jr. was not used to this climate, fer cryin out loud he was born in the tropics. HUDAS errr who does he think he is some balikyabang big shot who complains about the heat when they visit the Philippines? Well, have they not considered that Ruben Ecleo is treated like a queen inside his cell? His harem errr cellmates are reported to be so “awed” at his presence that they fan him to sleep and place themselves at his beck and call. Of course its a symbiotic relations which he seems to reciprocate and enjoys the "good times" with his harem errr fellow inmates, to quote:

Ecleo likened his condition in jail as being like that of a newlywed--adjustments have to be made.

He said he slept well because his inmates fanned him until he fell asleep.

"They are nice. Most of the time they are OK. They assist me. I enjoy being with them because we talk a lot. We're having such a good time," he said.

Although we can’t tell if the reason for such subservient slave wife like behavior of his paramours errrr cell buddies can be attributed to his being a "fun loving" cultist supreme master or the violent nature of  his fanatical followers having no qualms at committing dastardly act of murdering Ruben Ecleo’s known or perceived enemies.

Why he was allowed to post bail is beyond comprehension? The very reason for denying bail is when the accused posed a grave risk and danger to society far outweighs granting the person’s rights to liberty. You would think that if it took a combined police, swat teams, and an army backed with helicopter gunship operation just to serve an arrest warrant holed up in his mansion surrounded by fully armed elite bodyguards with 2,000 fanatical followers, some of whom were armed engaging the authorities in a deadly firefight, leaving 17 people dead in the carnage before Ecleo finally surrendered is compelling enough to throw away the keys. Unfortunately, justice in the Philippines is one unfathomable aberration that even fools in a mental institution will be hard put to comprehend or think that this is not crazy. How a case that has so far changed hands to seven different judges tells you something amiss is going on because the violence that follows this case such as the cold blooded murder of the head private prosecutor Atty. Arbet Sta. Ana-Yongco in her home office, Alona's  family murdered in their home taking along another  fatality their neighbor hit by stray bullet lead to the Ecleo's PBMA fanatic if not crazed followers.

This is the recalcitrant accused killer taunting the authorities in a radio broadcast before the raid in his mansion that if the authorities wants war it is war they will get. Was that someone the court is confident in releasing to the public? On the other hand this rambling Rambo full of machismo was as pale as a ghost in fear when one of the newly sentenced convict tried to stick in his ass an improvised shank of a sharpened toothbrush.  It seems that when this Rambo trying hard impersonator was unable to appease the desolate convict, his remark unduly exposed his true character, may have triggered the attack when he said he wants to call his mommy now. While we will not know for sure if that was what triggered the attack it definitely exposed this macho Rambo impersonator bravado as nothing but a puny balding mama’s boy. He may be a coward and a mama's boy when on a one on one situation but it does not follow that he is harmless when he is surrounded by his well armed bodyguards having no qualm at murdering his perceived enemies.

Do they really think this psycho deserves to be back in society to even deserve to be called honorable is truly amazing? Of course, if we go by the rogues gallery errrr, criminals league oooops, I meant Congress he is in good company considering they have a member incarcerated in Hong Kong accused of drug trafficking, Gloria Arroyo a former president demoting herself to the office perceived as the biggest crook and electoral cheat, Romeo Jalosjos a former member who would have been with him had his Arroyo granted him an executive pardon for his pedophile conviction and so many more criminals elevated to honorable status.

The world is full of the odd and the most bizarre psycho characters but Ruben “Hannibal” Ecleo Jr, is surely one that defies classification in this observation and warning coming from Fr. Leonardo Mercado:

……… Fr.Leonardo Mercado, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines ( CBCP ) Episcopal Commission on Interreligious Dialogue, said Bishop Miguel Cinches, a retired member of the CBCP assigned at Surigao del Norte, has warned parishioners not to join the cult of Ecleo because its teachings were against the Catholic church. Cinches was bishop of Surigao del Norte from March 1973 to July 2001.

Mercado said he learned from Ciches that one of the conditions for PBMA membership is that Ecleo would take advantage of young women members or their female children by having sex with them and forcing them to bear his child.

Cult members would allow Ecleo to have sex with their daughters because they consider Ecleo's child as a "blessing to the family," it was claimed.

The cult also believed that Dinagat island is a "Noah's Ark," where all chosen members residing in the island would survive the "end of the world in the year 2015," Mercado said.

Heck, now what kind of mentally deranged parents will offer their daughters as sexual sacrifice to a pervert psycho is just beyond me. Geez, I will definitely not even dare walk a fierce Pit Bull on the same street where I might come across someone like Ruben “Hannibal” Ecleo Jr for fear she might get eaten alive by the psycho maniac. Or worse he might think I am just like one his fanatic follower offering my bitch errr Pit Bull for impregnation which is really sad for the dog. This psycho has no place in Congress, much more in society at large. On the other hand it makes me wonder if he really is the Supreme Master of the "divine"  will the members of Congress offer their daughters too so they will be blessed with his offspring?

It is bad enough that the authorities allowed a clear danger to society out on the streets again and worse when Ruben “Hannibal” Ecleo Jr. has already been convicted of Graft and Corruption with his conviction affirmed by Sandiganbayan but pending appeal of his conviction to the Supreme Court is allowed to run for office and eventually winning.

In Cagdianao, Dinagat Island Mayor Bernardo F. Alcaria Jr. was sentenced to a jail term of ten years and perpetually banned from holding public office by the Sandigambayan for failing to liquidate and pay cash advances and over payments he received from the municipality totaling just P26,913. In contrast Ruben “Hannibal” Ecleo Jr. was sentenced to 31 years imprisonment for wanton fraud of overpayment amounting to hundreds of thousands and even defrauded the municipality in funding the building of a guest house owned by his organization PBMA, and yet unlike Alcaria who was banned from holding public office the conviction did not stop him from getting elected in congress. It was clearly a conspiracy to defraud the government with his co-accused, former municipal planning and development coordinator Anadelia Navarra, and private contractor Ricardo Santillano of PBMA Builders, each receiving 21 years jail terms.

One is presumed innocent until proven, a legal principle to ensure that everyone is given the opportunity and the right to defend themselves in a fair and balanced court system. The laws are interpreted by judges and justices with lawyers on contending sides arguing for their clients and that is how the justice system works, no way is the law interpreted according to the voters’ perception of innocence or guilt. It is therefore stupid to allow those convicted of graft and corrupt practice act a crime of moral turpitude unworthy of a public servants basic requirement of having a high degree of integrity to run for public office ,with his appeal dismissed by Sandiganbayan the same court that convicted him while pending appeal of conviction with the Supreme Court. Should they not clear their name first since their integrity is in question? Now it is equally irresponsible and unthinkable for the Comelec to allow those accused of serious crimes of violence resulting in death. It is the height of travesty and disrespect to the very office they purportedly represent as the peoples servant when they are involve in not just one killing but multiple deaths as in the case of Ruben “Hannibal” Ecleo Jr

Article source:

• Faith, Hope and Politics
•  Ruben Ecleo Jr's Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association compiled by The Rick A. Ross Institute

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Politics corruption scandals Filipinos Filipino-Americans Philippine Politics

15th October Occupy Wall Sreet Protest in Los Angeles

Thousands of occupiers march from LA City Hall to Pershing Square meeting up with another group of occupiers and from there Filipino-Americans belonging to Bayan, Anakbayan, & ILPS were on hand to show their support with the 99% marched to the financial district and back to City Hall.

Filipino Americans are not just marching they also set-up tents to not just show their solidarity but become part of the struggle of the 99%.

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Can I bring your signature to the Colbert Report?

Three weeks ago, I published an exposé in the New York Times. It was my life story: I came to this country as a boy, learned English, embraced America, and thrived. But at age 16 I found out that I am an undocumented immigrant. And I have been hiding that fact ever since.

I left my job as a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and came out about my immigration status because it's long past time to strike up a more civil, inclusive debate about immigration in America. It was a risk, but I was tired of staying silent.

More than 6,000 Change.org members from all over the country have joined me in calling for a new national conversation on immigration -- and I'm bringing all of their voices with me when I go on the Colbert Report on Thursday night.

Would you add your name now, so I have a huge number to announce on the show?

We may not all agree on how to fix it, but one thing we can all agree on is that our immigration debate is out of control and our immigration system is badly broken. I believe not only that we can do better but that we must.

Will you sign the pledge to stand with me, Jose Antonio Vargas, in calling for a new national conversation on immigration?

Some would say my story is the tale of a hard-working immigrant who defines the American dream: achieving success against great odds, working hard, and even earning a Pulitzer Prize for my reporting. Still, despite everything I've achieved, the law still says I am not technically an American. I am undocumented.

I want to ask my fellow Americans: What would you do if you found out at age 16 that you didn't have the right papers? As a journalist, my job is to ask questions that spark conversation. Now I am asking you to join in that conversation.

Sign the call for a new conversation on immigration in America, then share it with everyone you know.

I can't wait to tell Stephen how the conversation is spreading.

All the best,

- Jose

Government neglect, disservice to OFWs

The ongoing hullabaloo about the 11 Filipino victims of illegal recruitment/human smuggling who sought refuge in Los Angeles after fleeing from their recruiters in Mississippi focuses once again on this nefarious malady in our society. It brings to mind past headlines about the more than 300 Filipino teachers recruited in Louisiana; of others enticed with fake jobs and scholarships to the United Kingdom using student visas; still others recruited with promises of job placements only to be left abandoned in Bangkok; the 67 female caregivers who had no days off and were made to work for 12 hours or more daily in Saudi Arabia; of workers made to work in Singapore for long hours, not enough food, and not paid their salaries for six months; the case of 137 sent to non-existing driver positions in Dubai, and so on and so forth. All of them were treated badly by illegal recruiters and made to pay exorbitant placement and other fees

My encounter with the group of alleged victims now in LA that has been a hot issue in online discussion boards was instructive of the human capacity to endure and adopting to adverse circumstances. Understandably sulking and sad, they nevertheless exuded the appearance of a people betrayed but have decided to make the most of the situation. Needless to state, we should be concerned with the plight of our kababayans in distress because without friends, kin and financial support they are more vulnerable and easily intimidated here. Being scammed by illegal recruiters is one of the worst scenario imaginable considering that not only the job seekers are victimized; their families left behind have no more breadwinners to depend on and then there are the usurers demanding payment for money lent so the workers can leave for their foreign destinations.

For decades now the Philippine government has depended on the export of labor as an important part of its development strategy and a way of reducing unemployment as well as boosting foreign currency reserves. The fact that OFW remittances have helped much in propping up the homeland economy battered incessantly by government corruption and inefficiency earn for the former the tag "Modern Heroes." But not all things are rosy and the adverse effects include family ties and lives destroyed.

The Labor Code of the Philippines provides penalties for offenses committed in connection with the foreign labor market and there are agencies like the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and a medical care program to safeguard and protect the best interests of OFWs. But OFWs continue to suffer, illegal recruiters proliferate and rules and prohibitions circumvented with schemes of ghost loans, cash advances, double contracts, and who knows what else. Why?

The case of a single OWWA officer, Alberto Adonis Duero, posted in Los Angeles could provide a glimpse of what ills Philippine bureacracy. With no resources and no fund at hand, Duero supposedly has jurisdiction in more than 20 countries including the entire United States. Among the problems that currently occupy him are the case of distressed OFWs in Haiti and Cuba, and the 300 teachers and victims from Mississippi mentioned above.

His request for funding to cover the food and accommodation requirements of the latter while their case and immigration status are being threshed out by US authorities has been denied. In addition he is now in hot water reportedly because higher-ups didn't want the story of the victims to be known to the community. He also had the gumption to write to his superior, Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz of DOLE, reiterating his "request for an immediate investigation of the illegal recruitment activities by several agencies and individuals in the Philippines and to revisit the direct hire policy of POEA."

The scrapping of direct hiring is one of the demands that HongKong OFWs and the Migrante advocacy group are urging President Noynoy to do. Duero said that the direct hire policy is the root cause of all these problems pertaining to illegal recruitment and alleged human trafficking of Filipino workers. Suddenly Duero's LA posting is cut short and he may be sent back to the Philippines before the year ends. This turn of events, as well as the arrogant and rude manner Pinas News columnist Pex Aves was treated in the consulate while following up the victims' story, gave rise to the intriguing questions: What is it that some in the Philippine officialdom is trying to hide? Are some of them involved in the multi-million illegal recruitment syndicates? -- Dionesio C. Grava

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Dionesio C. Grava - Part-time community journalist based in Los Angeles and editorial writer at Forum Asia.









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Filipinos Filipino-Americans

P-Noy’s First 99 Days

Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS
Chairman, Filipino United Network – USA

Last Thursday, October 7, 2010, on his first 99 days in office, President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III reported the impressive initial accomplishments of his administration and the fundamental changes he has instituted in the government so far, in his battle against corruption in the government and for the eradication of poverty in the nation.

The supposed report on his first 100 days, held a day earlier, before a standing-room only crowd at the La Consolacion College Auditorium adjacent to the Malacanang Palace ground, was symbolic of the extreme eagerness and anticipation of the people in their anxious quest for good governance under P-Noy.

Dubbed “Report Kay Boss,” addressing the Filipinos as his Boss when he was inaugurated June 30th and during this Town Hall Meeting that followed his official report, P-Noy masterfully answered queries from the panel and the audience in his usual casual tone, with honesty, sincerity, and humility. Even the rude, loud, and embarrassing distraction staged by some radical student protestors did not faze the President, who proceeded with equanimity to help clarify the budget issue. These students could have simply raised their hand and made the comment, just like all the others who asked questions. Obviously, these insensitive women were simply trying to get attention and hug the limelight, sacrificing proper decorum and decency.

Among those present at this historical event were members of P-Noy’s cabinet, Vice President Binay and other government officials, Tony Meloto of GK, representatives from the various sectors of the country, students from different colleges and universities, and Filipino-American leaders from the Filipino United Network-USA and We Are One Filipino.

“Isang Daang Araw, Isang Daang Matuwid” (One Hundred Days, One Straight/Honest Path,” says the invitation to this event, highlighting the basic policy, the hallmark of P-Noy’s administration: honesty, transparency, accountability, social justice and compassion for all, especially for the poor and the marginalized. Most noteworthy policy changes instituted so far, which are saving the nation billions, include abolition of duplicate and unnecessary offices/positions, curtailment of excessive salary and termination of bonuses, implementation of strict public bidding for government contracts and procurements, expense trimming and elimination of cost padding, no sacred cows, no padrino, reduction in foreign trips and expensive meals, no wang-wang.

P-Noy came home from his recent US trip bringing home at least 43,600 jobs for the Filipinos and $2.7 billion in fresh foreign investments for the Philippines, with the business process outsourcing industry (BPO) also signifying “that they will double again the number of people they have.” The bulk of the money “will fund programs for the poor, such as hospitals, cutting the cost of medicines and improving public services.”

The President “cited positive developments on the economic front, like the swelling of the gross international reserves to a record high of $52.3 billion as well as the stock market’s sterling performance.”

The $430 million Millennium Challenge Corporation Grant, which the Arroyo applied for twice for 9 years during her term, which were both rejected, was expeditiously handed to P-Noy, 3 months after his assumption into office. What a feat! Clearly, crime does not pay and honesty does.

“So, we are pleased that the things we were expecting in the first quarter of next year are already starting to happen now.” the President stated.

The Social Weather Survey showed P-Noy to have a 71% overall approval rating (+66% net), compared to the +24% starting score which Arroyo got in March 2001. This is indeed a healthy sign for the country, something we, Filipinos, can be proud of.

However, in spite of the good things President Aquino has accomplished and is trying to do to rebuild the nation’s integrity and country’s devastated condition resulting from the massive culture of corruption in the government, his political detractors, mostly amoral leaders who despise change and want to continue to plunder the nation, create every stumbling block possible to derail the President’s administration.

I guess this is not surprising and should actually be expected. Criminals will always be against anyone putting them out of business. While the past administration of Gloria Arroyo was immersed in corruption and was the problem, the present administration of P-Noy, which exudes with honesty and transparency, is trying in earnest to be the solution. And the crooks don’t like it.

The geniuses in our society who, term after term, continued to elect into office unscrupulous politicians and plunderers, are evidently equally corrupt themselves and deserving of the greatest brunt of the blame. Hopefully, the New Filipino, who catapulted P-Noy to Malacanang with a massive and historical landslide victory, will inspire and teach the rest of the electorate.

“Following the straight path is no joke. All of you involved in wrong governance and have caused troubles to the people, I guarantee you, your days are numbered,” President Aquino emphatically stated.

From where I sat at the Town Hall Meeting (right behind the President’s uncle, Peping Cojuangco), I could not help but wonder if the corrupt government officials feel any guilt and humiliation at all whenever they hear the stern warnings of P-Noy directed at them and see how the people thunderously applaud the president’s attack on them. If they still have any conscience at, these plunderers must be feeling like the lowest form of scavengers and bottom-feeding scum of the earth.

Then there are those who are impatient and without even an ounce of common sense. This unthinking bunch wants the massive problems of the Philippines solved overnight. The culture of corruption in our government has been with us for more than 3 decades. It is so entrenched in our system that it has even spilt over to the streets.

When I told him in 1981 that I thought he could be the answer to our nation’s woes, the President’s father, Ninoy, replied, “Primo, getting rid of the dictator is the first step, but that’s far from solving our national problems, because the vestiges of corruption and abuse will continue to plague our country.”

Indeed, no one President can magically make corruption and poverty disappear instantly. The gargantuan task might even take a generation or two. But like a journey of a thousand miles that begins with the first step,“We, the People,” have already taken that most essential initial step: we have elected an honest and compassionate man, who is the most reliable to lead our nation and our people to our great destiny. As a colleague said after P-Noy’s election, “we worked hard to help P-Noy win; now it is our responsibility to help him succeed.”

Let us be fair and realistic. Let us be patient. Let us give P-Noy a chance. Let us give him time to at least allow him to complete the changes we all want for our people and our country. Six years will certainly not be enough for any president to successfully treat the critical social and political cancers killing our country. At least, we now have an honest president, one with moral ascendancy and an honorable legacy to protect, a president who has broken the cycle of corruption at the top, and one who has taken the first bold and courageous step to battle corruption head-on, to rebuild our country, to regain our dignity, honor, and pride, as Filipinos and as a nation, with justice and equality for all. More importantly, let us stop whining and nit-picking while doing nothing. Let us step up to the plate and help our President carry the heavy cross on his shoulders as we watch him like a hawk. These are our obligations as good citizens and the least we can do to save our country and our people.

President Aquino has accomplished the first fundamental change in governance in his first 99 days. The day after, and the days that will follow, will not be perfect or smooth sailing all the way, but I bet you, the wonderful miracle for our nation we are all hoping for could yet be achieved sooner than we think, IF “We, the People,” all chip in and do our share in nation-building in the next 6 years and beyond.

P-Noy alone cannot do it. He knows it and has said so himself. So, let us roll up our sleeves and give him a hand. After all, together, we have a miracle to perform.

Please visit www.FUN8888.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

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Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana, USA, trained at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston, is Chairman of Filipino United Network (FUN-USA), Vice Chairman of Filipino American Leadership Council (FALCONadvocacy) and Vice President for Far East of Cardiovascular Hospitals of America, Wichita, Kansas. He is a columnist for five newspapers and one magazine in the United States and five newspapers and one magazine in the Philippines.



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