Overseas Filipinos Come Home

by Momar Visaya/Asianjournal.com

MAKATI CITY – Overseas Filipinos from around the world gathered at the First Global Filipino Nation International Conference, which opened at the University of Makati on Thursday, May 8. The three-day event was touted as the biggest gathering of overseas Filipinos.

Convenors said that one of their goals is to get migrants to join the campaign for effective governance in the Philippines. They also hope that the conference participants would be able to review, refine and adopt detailed action agenda called logical frameworks (logframes) which can be implemented and actualized.

“We have been working on this for the past six years and in my travels here and abroad, I have found out that there is a convergence of thought among Filipinos wherever they are. We are hoping that through this conference, we will be able to come up with ideas on how to empower the global Filipino,” Victor Barrios, lead convenor of the conference said, as he welcomed the participants.

Barrios also explained that the theme, “Building the Global Filipino Nation for Effective Governance,” is anchored on three aspirations: grassroots economic empowerment, resolution of issues facing migrant workers and their families, and raised consciousness of a nation ready to march as one.

Makati City 2nd District Rep. Marlen Abigail Binay led the ribbon-cutting ceremony that opened the art exhibit which featured works of upcoming Filipino artists.  The first day of activities also included a job and trade fair.

Different sessions and workshops that tackled issues concerning the global Filipino were held on the second and third day of the conference.

The three main modules focused on the economic, social and political aspects of migrant life, and the media as a tool to empower global Filipinos.

The social module focused on the most urgent problems encountered by migrant workers and their families and what the Global Filipino Nation as a group can do about them.

The economic module highlighted the possibility of converting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to become world-class players and encouraging entrepreneurship on a nation-wide scale, while the political module focused on the goal of empowering global Filipinos, their families and onshore Filipinos with a global mindset as a force for governance change.

Greg Macabenta, publisher of Filipinas Magazine led the discussion on “Media as a Change Agent” as he presented those who joined the group with copies of various Filipino publications from the US to Europe to Asia and the Middle East.

The group agreed that there should be a Global Filipino Media Organization, and as such, a framework was prepared to establish a Philippine-based coordinative body to pursue this objective.

On a much larger scale, Barrios said that the convenors are in the process of coordinating with the University of Makati for the creation of a Global Filipino Institute for Policy Research.

If this comes to fruition, the almost 10 million global Filipinos will be more empowered as they will have an infrastructure which can document the situation of migrants from all over the world, specially Overseas Filipino workers who are abused by their employers, and create policies that will help the migrant workers.

Another way is through the internet and the convenors believe that they can leverage Information Technology and Communications (ITC) as a tool through the creation of a dynamic web portal.

The portal dubbed “The Filipino Global Village” will help organize, educate and connect Filipinos in all parts of the world was introduced during one of the workshops.

The aim is to leverage the efficient use of technology to connect overseas Filipinos. The portal will encourage members to facilitate communication and interaction among members and increase computer literacy to those who are not too tech-savvy. It will include social networking services to interact with fellow members. It will also provide a platform to unify and present a single voice and raised awareness of various social, political and economic issues across the world.

(www.asianjournal.com)

Immigrant Group Reaches Deal with Remittance Company

by Joseph Pimentel/Asianjournal.com

LOS ANGELES – The Transnational Institute for Grassroots Research and Action (TIGRA), an immigrant advocacy group protesting the high transaction fees placed on migrant workers’ remittances has made an agreement with a money transfer company and asking for others to follow suit.

TIGRA has set forth a deal with Texas-based Virtual Money Inc. whose leaders hope, will lead to new business standards for the billion dollar remittance industry.

Among the agreements arrived at were that Virtual Money and its authorized Master Agents ICE Holdings Limited (IHL) would provide fair prices of at least 20 percent lower than the industry standard; commit to socially-responsible investing; abide by customer service standards based on transparency and non-discrimination; and adhere to a community reinvestment strategy which allocates up to 10 percent of revenues to projects that assist transnational communities, according to details of the deal announced last Tuesday in Los Angeles,

“This is the standard we want for the whole [remittance] industry,” said Francis Calpotura, executive director of TIGRA. “It has to have a community redevelopment standard that says, ‘we are committed to the communities that we benefit from and that part of our profit has to go back to those communities.’ Virtual Money is the first one to step up.”

Virtual Money uses the digital infrastructure to transact money. Rather than building branches in strategic locations, the company uses their own ATM cards for clients to access, transfer or check their funds. The low overhead costs can afford the company to lower its transaction fee.

“Because of the new technology, there is no reason why people have to pay such outrageous prices. We can do it cheaper, get it to the hands of people faster, and let the consumer know every cost involved in the process,” said Virtual Money Founder, President and CEO Robert Hodgins,

Remittance Market

Many foreign countries’ economies like Mexico, the Dominican Republic and the Philippines rely heavily on the amount of money remitted by overseas workers.

The World Bank estimated that overseas Filipino workers (OFW’s) sent home more than $12.4 billion in 2006. There are more than three million OFW’s working in countries like the US, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Europe.

The Philippines ranks fifth globally in terms of remittances received from its overseas workers,” said Amando M Tetangco, Jr, Governor of the Central Bank of the Philippines (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) in a statement at the 13th Meeting of the World Savings Bank Institute Asia-Pacific Regional Group.

The World Bank revealed that migrant worker remittances reached $260 billion globally in 2006.

Remittance companies’ transaction price ranges from $2.95 up to $12  depending on the amount of money being sent. With billions of dollars being sent home, remittance companies have been cashing in.

(www.asianjournal.com)

UK Men Charged with Racist Abuse

by Cynthia De Castro/Asianjournal.com

LOS ANGELES – In a report by The WhiteHaven News, Michael Korwin-Granford and his Filipina wife of 20 years, Lilia, were on their way home on Cambridge Road, Hensingham, England when two men and a woman  began to shout, calling Lilia a “Chinese Bitch” and making lewd remarks about their personal lives. As soon as they got home, the Korwin-Granfords reported the matter to the police.

A few days ago, the two men responsible for the attack - Victor Davidson, 19, of Ehen Road, Cleator Moor, and Renwick Nathan Dockwray, 20, of The Oval, Mirehouse  - were found guilty of making insulting and racially-aggravated comments following a trial at Whitehaven Magistrates Court. They will be sentenced by a judge at Carlisle Crown Court on May 30.

Lilia broke down in tears at the witness stand when she recalled the incident. She added that the type of racial abuse she and her family had to endure was common in the Hensingham area, according to Whitehaven News.

In an article which appeared at a local newspaper in Cumbria, News and Star, Mr. Korwin-Granford says it is time to take a stand against society’s decline.

“I feel my case is not a one-off – there are many elderly people living in fear in this area, but also in the UK. It’s a yob society. (Yob is an English slang referring to the uncouth and thugs- AJ) Why should people have to live in fear? I’m hoping I can give people courage to stand up to these people. Teenagers – and even kids as young at nine – are out until 2am, but where are their parents? What’s happened to the responsibility of parents and where are the traditional family values?” added Korwin-Granford.

Lilia, who works for Cumbria Care, has been married to Korwin-Granford for more than two decades and yet still suffers from racial discrimination. Her husband admitted that he had his third heart attack last week as a result of the anxiety over the court case.

“Believe it or not a mixed marriage in this day and age is considered unacceptable. I’m an outcast. Some people don’t seem to comprehend that we don’t look at nationality. We look at people. We’ve been married 20 years and I don’t think of my wife as anything other than my wife,” said Lilia’s 62-year old husband.

Korwin-Granford revealed that Davidson and Dockwray were given the chance to apologize so that the case would not have to go to court but they denied the offence.

“When it came to being genuinely sorry they couldn’t find it in themselves. Sorry is not part of their make-up,” he told the News and Star.

(www.asianjournal.com)

Americana at Brand Opens

by Rene Villaroman/Asianjournal.com

GLENDALE – Americana at Brand, a luxury shopping, dining and entertainment center and residential development opened here on Friday, May 2. The commercial center sits on a prime 25-acre property and gives the downtown area a whole new look and ambiance.

It has attracted an unprecedented number of visitors, increased foot traffic and benefited other establishments arrayed along Brand Boulevard and the adjacent Glendale Galleria, its giant neighbor to the west of it.

The Americana is a project of Caruso Affiliated, which developed The Grove, a similarly-themed commercial and residential center adjacent to Farmer’s Market in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles. This welcoming oasis of commerce is dominated by a large circular pond and waterfall that feature dancing fountains spouting plumes of water skyward to the beat of familiar songs from an earlier era. The biggest draw, however, is the two-car trolley that circles the mall. However, the wait to get a seat takes a reported thirty minutes due to the huge influx of visitors since its opening last Friday.

FilAm Gary Novilunio, a surgical technician, his wife Joanne and their 2 daughters, sat on the grass and watched the dancing fountains on Sunday. The girls got drenched watching the dancing fountains when a Tom Jones song, It’s Not Unusual, played and the fountain spewed water over the concrete bank of the pond.

Eduardo Arca, 66, and his younger brother, Rolando, also came to Americana on Sunday because they had to. They worked there. The Arcas are parking directors, and they looked good in their smart brown uniforms. “The parking structure has been full all the time since we opened three days ago,” said Eduardo, a retired employee of the Philippine Department of Agriculture who immigrated to the US in December. He said he met a few Filipino employees at Americana as well.

Glendale Galleria, Americana’s larger and older neighbor to the west, was not to be outdone by the nearby hoopla. Weeks before its plushier neighbor opened, some of its larger tenants, like Macy’s, Apple Computers, Michael Kors, Williams – Sonoma, Bebe, Nordstrom, Banana Republic, Coach, Hugo Boss, MAC and Victoria’s Secret had hung huge banners on the east side of the Galleria, the side that is highly visible from Americana. Not because visitors would miss it. In fact, shoppers and other visitors to the Americana have been observed to head into the larger mall after spending some shopping, promenading and dining time at the new mall.

As you approach this landmark, one would appreciate the architecture of the residential and retail structures; the pastel colors, and the inviting landscape. Rows of palm and maple trees had been planted around the property, a block bounded by Brand Blvd. to the east, Broadway Ave. to the north, Central Ave. to the West and Colorado St. to the south. There are blooming hedges along the sidewalks, and the bright red trolley that circles the property on authentic rails add a touch of nostalgia to the center.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers, which moved here from its haunts about a mile away on Glendale Ave., now occupies a Colonial-inspired three-storey brown building that faces the plaza from the Colorado St. end. The new store has more books, a bigger coffee shop, and a balcony that looks out to the plaza three floors below.

The center has an array of retail stores from Anthropologie to XXI that sell everything from women’s apparel to beauty and personal care items to footwear. There are 18 movie theaters and seven restaurants, including The Cheesecake Factory and a 50s-style diner called Jewel City that sits in front of a multi-storey H & M clothing store. There is a Jody Maroni’s, a Pinkberry, a Jamba Juice, a Starbucks and more.

(www.asianjournal.com)

It’s in the Bag

by Cynthia De Castro/Asianjournal.com

GINA Alexander. Her name is popular among Hollywood celebrities like Beyonce, Penelope Cruz, Elizabeth Taylor, Jennifer Lopez, Sharon Stone, and Oprah. Even male celebs Ben Affleck, Kobe Bryant, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger patronize her trade. Who is Gina Alexander and what is her claim to fame?

The lovely Gina Alexander, a FilAm designer, is famous for her unique line of high-end photo handbags. Gina’s handbags have appeared on the Dr. Phil Show and mainstream magazines as Elle, People and US. Gina has also been interviewed several times by Oprah.

With husband Richard Bryan Alexander, Gina started her business in their garage. Her business has expanded since then into a sizable office and number of employees in Burbank including a warehouse and a showroom to boot.

A former beauty queen (Miss Philippines Los Angeles 1985; Miss Gardena, California 1987), Gina Lopez Alexander was born in Torrance, California.

She studied at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising after high school and began to work for different fashion designers.

“I’ve always loved accessories,” Gina told the Asian Journal. “I designed jewelry first and then worked at Fragments Showroom and sold Rafe bags [and] Isabella Fiore bags.  I worked for Sue Wong, Rampage, and Isabella Fiore.  That’s where I gained my experience in sales and design.  My work with high-end designers kept me always working with quality.  I also studied fashion in Europe and went to Christian Lacroix’s Couture house and Chanel’s Couture house in Paris. I went backstage before a fashion show and gravitated towards all the accessories.  Also, visiting fabric mills in Italy sparked my love for printing fabric,”she further added.

She credits her entrepreneurial skills to the training she got from her parents, especially her dad. Her father, Cesar Lopez, instilled in Gina and her siblings the idea of working for one’s self and not for anyone.

“I had no money. I borrowed from a friend and he gave me 10K in cash as a gift. We started out in our garage and then we opened a kiosk at the Hollywood & Highland Retail complex followed by another one at The Grove. Now, we are [being] sold at Nordstrom, Macy’s, ICE Accessories and Saks Inc. department stores, ebags.com, 40+ boutiques nationwide and over 600 professional photography studios worldwide,” said Gina.

“My father immigrated to Los Angeles in the 1950’s from Laoag, Ilocos Norte with just $50 in his pocket. He was a visionary and everything he wished for he got, because he has an unwavering faith and confidence stronger than a lion. He was resourceful and financially creative. He was an entrepreneur at heart. He and my mom, Imelda - also from Ilocos - were the first Filipino couple to own a Denny’s franchise in the US in California. Their business grew so much we owned hotels, restaurants, a limo service and a lot of property. I watched him play cash flow buying a lot of apartments.  He told me once ‘why get one pay check when you can have 300?’ (he had a hotel with 300 units in it). I think that’s where I learned about leveraging at age 10 years old.  He made me and my siblings work so much. He never paid us, he would just say that “this is better than going to an Ivy League University. The best education is [working] hands on’,” Gina said.

“After my father’s death about 12 years ago, I learned about him more and more, especially his philanthropic deeds and humanitarian efforts - like the time he helped those Filipinos who were abandoned in the ocean on a boat and were left to die. He took action and rescued them.  My father was always giving to the Filipino community - it didn’t matter what province you were from, he supported everyone who loved Filipinos -that’s what I loved about him the most,” said Gina.

Cesar’s philanthropic legacy lives on. Gina who donates a percentage from every bag sold to Hope for Children, an orphanage in the Philippines. She has received enthusiastic assistance from loyal customers, family and friends. Her recent celebrity fund-raiser garnered over $148,000.

After a series of heart-wrenching trials in trying to conceive a child (she almost died from an ectopic pregnancy), Gina and her husband Richard were able to adopt now four-year old daughter Katelyn thru the international  adoption agency HOPE FOR Children Worldwide. Through her generosity in donating a portion of sales from “one bag at a time,” to the Hope for Children orphanage, Gina is helping kids find adoptive parents.

Gina’s story has inspired best-selling author Jack Canfield (The Secret, Chicken Soup For The Soul) to feature her in an infomercial. The infomercial will be broadcast around the world to promote his book, The Key to the Law of Attraction.

“I shared about how I had failed businesses and [how] implementing the Secret and positive thinking changed my life.  After reading The Secret and The Key to the Law of Attraction, I started attracting positive things around me. Our business became a multi-million dollar company, I adopted my daughter Katelyn, and my marriage changed because my husband and I started looking at the positive things about each other vs. the negative. One of my biggest dreams was to have my own philanthropy. I shared about losing several children, invitro, surrogacy, adoption where the mother took the baby back at the hospital.  And now, (thru the HOPE orphanage) I have 50 kids in the Philippines who I want to take care of.  So I have 51 children,” Gina said.

“After filming, the executive producer was in tears and said I was on the high frequency of bigger and greater things to happen.  She wants to do a documentary on my life and a book,” Gina added.

Gina tries to visit the Philippines once a year,  but said that she would like to go more often to see the kids that she helps at the Hope Village. She may just do that soon since she has been approached by several people from the Philippines to expand her business there.  Gina revealed that a meeting with Rustan’s is in the works.

Aside from visiting orphans, Gina’s other favorites from the Philippines include “the massages at the Mandarin Oriental which is to die for, Cebu,and Ilocos Norte. Puerto Azul, Boracay and Palawan are on the list to visit.  And of course, the Shangri-La hotel buffet — that’s incredible. There, she gets to enjoy her favorite food: halo-halo, kare-kare, beef bulalo, and “always adobo.”

“I love my life and what I do. I’m living the life [that] I love!” said this one-of-a-kind lady like her one-of-a-kind bags.

(www.asianjournal.com)

Golden Boy Wins

by Joseph Pimentel/Asianjournal.com

CARSON – The “Homecoming” festivities at the Home Depot Center last weekend did not disappoint Oscar De La Hoya’s fans.

In front of 27,000 people and millions of viewers at home,  the Golden Boy out-boxed, and out-hustled underdog Steve Forbes of the Contender series. De La Hoya used his comparative size advantage to win a near unanimous decision against Forbes.

Judge Max DeLuca and Marty Sammon scored the bout 119-109 and Marcos Rosales scored the bout 120-108.

The match sets up De La Hoya’s fight against the “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather Jr. and another big payday for both fighters. Their last match hit a record 2.15 million pay-per-views buys and $120 million in revenue.

The question still lies — who will the Golden Boy be contending with after Mayweather Jr.? De La Hoya and the rest of Golden Boy, including CEO Richard Schaeffer are adamant that this is De La Hoya’s last year in boxing.

Negotiations are already underway for the Mayweather Jr. match, slated possibly sometime in September.

There have been rumors since late last year, that Manny Pacquiao could be De La Hoya’s last foe at a possible December date. Top Rank President Bob Arum, in an interview with Inquirer.net last year, said that it would be a “dream fight.”

Golden Boy off to the Philippines?

Fresh from co-promoting the Gerry Penalosa title defense fight last April, Golden Boy Promotions Vice President Eric Gomez said they look forward to coming back to the Philippines.

“We had such a good time there,” said Gomez to the Asian Journal before the start of the De La Hoya vs. Forbes match.

The recent trip to the Philippines was Golden Boy’s first co-promoting venture in the country. Golden Boy co-promoted “Invasion: Philippines vs. The World” at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City event with ABS-CBN. Gomez said the box office ticket sales were great. He estimated that about 5,000 people packed the arena.

“We were happy with the outcome, considering that it was a Sunday,” he said. “We had incredible ratings, the people came out, and more people watched online from around the world.”

Rising star

Gomez said that he was impressed with the three main Pinoy fighters in the undercard, specifically AJ “Bazooka” Banal.

Banal (17-0-1 13 KO’s) defeated Caril Herrera of Uruguay by TKO in Round 4. Banal threw a wicked right and left hook combination to the head of Herrera causing the latter to stagger to the ropes. The referee stepped in to stop the fight.

“It’s hard to gauge where AJ’s at because he just defeated the No. 1 guy in his division,” said Gomez. “We’re not going to rush him and make the same mistake we did with [Rey] Bautista. He’s only 19-years-old. He’s so young and so good. We want to be very, very careful. The plan is to take it slow with him.”

Gomez said that FilAm fight fans would have a chance to see Banal in action in the undercard of the De La Hoya vs. Mayweather matchup in September.

“Boom Boom” Bautista

Gomez also spoke highly of Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista’s most recent win also during the Invasion: Philippines undercard. Bautista defeated Genaro Camargo of Mexico and displayed a lot of punching power. He knocked down Genaro twice in the first round before finishing him off in the second round.

“He’s boxing more.He’s not as aggressive he was before… I still think he needs a couple more tune-up fights before another match with [WBO Champion Daniel] Ponce De Leon,” said Gomez.

Golden Boy, disappointed

Gomez expressed disappointment that the Top Rank President Bob Arum decided to forego an immediate Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez III re-match, opting instead to put  Pacquiao on a fight against another Mexican, WBC Lightweight Champion David Diaz of Chicago, Il.

“I mean obviously we would have liked the re-match to be with Marquez because we think that’s what the boxing public wants,” said Gomez. “Marquez received a warm reception when he was in the Philippines. And many people approached him and said that he won the fight over Pacquiao,” he further added.

(www.asianjournal.com)

First Filipino Heritage Night at SF Giants Game

By Malou Liwanag-Aguilar/Asianjournal.com

SAN FRANCISCO — Thousands of Filipinos are expected to fill up sections of the AT&T Park on Wednesday, May 14 as the San Francisco Giants take on the Houston Astros.

A game dedicated to Filipinos, the Giants event will feature the first Filipino Heritage Night.

Although the club has hosted other “heritage nights,” this is the first time that it has included an event that is solely Filipino.

The event is also a part of the Asian Heritage Week, an annual celebration of Asian cultures and communities that will culminate from May 12 to 17.

“We (Asians) are an important force in the United States,” said Asian community leader Florence Fang, during a ballpark tour for members of the Asian media last May 1. “We should not be exclusive to own community, but this is to encourage us to join the mainstream.

A milestone for Filipinos

Just as there’s hardly any Filipino ballplayer in any Major League team since Bobby Balcena stint with the Cincinnati Reds in 1956 and outfielder Benny Agbayani of the Mets, the number of Filipinos in the Bay Area has increased rapidly in the past years. Filipinos are now an integral part of the city that it wouldn’t come as a surprise to meet one in every place one goes.

As of last week, more than 2,000 tickets have been sold, a huge turnout considering that they started with a conservative sales forecast of 500. Tickets are at $20 each.

There will be performances by Bay Area-based cultural groups including the Barangay Dance Company of San Francisco, the Hiyas Philippine Folk Dance Company and the LIKHA Pilipino Folk Ensemble.

“This event bodes well for the Filipino community,” said Manilatown Heritage Foundation Executive Director Ron Muriera. “This will expand the awareness and connections to the mainstream groups and help cultivate the community’s relationship with the SF Giants organization.” Manilatown Heritage Foundation is one of the community partners in the event.

Be free of Hep B

Another goal of the Asian Heritage Week is the campaign against Hepatitis B. The San Francisco

Hep B Free Campaign will be present at each game to educate fans about the importance of testing and vaccinating for hepatitis B.

“Our simple goal is to make San Francisco the first city in the US to screen, vaccinate and treat anyone with hepatitis B,” said Dr. Albert Yu, Director of the Community Health Network of San Francisco.

Hepatitis B is a silent illness affecting the API communities. According to Dr. Yu, one out of 10 APIs have the disease, which is a hundred percent more than Caucasians. People who have Hepatitis B are also four times more susceptible to liver cancer, especially if they are chronically infected. Hepatitis A, though seen more likely to cause outbreaks and epidemics, is still a lot different from hepatitis B. Hepatitis A infections are caused by oral and fecal contamination, while hepatitis B is acquired from blood and IV transfusions, sexual contact and mothers.

“People should know that it is not a stigma and that they should seek care,” said Dr. Yu. “Don’t think that you should live silently and in isolation.”

The good news is that there are five, six or several more treatments for the virus activity said Dr. Yu, and all you need are three shots.

He also sees the campaign as a reflection of the true value of the SF Giants—teamwork. “We need the entire community to make this prominent as HIV, breast cancer and other important illnesses,” he said. “This is an opportunity to tell all APIs in San Francisco to get yourself screened, to get vaccinated to protect you and your offsprings.”

The Asian Heritage Week celebration will also feature the Chinese Heritage Night (May 12), Korean Heritage Night (May 13), Japanese Heritage Night (May 16) and the SF Hep B Free Night (May 17). Tickets may be purchased by calling (415) 972–2298 or by logging online at www.sfgiants.com/specialevents.

(www.asianjournal.com)

DREAM COME TRUE: Charice Set to Conquer Oprah on May 12

by Momar Visaya/Asianjournal.com

MAKATI CITY – Mark your calendars.

On May 12, young diva Charice Pempengco’s quest for international stardom gets a much-needed boost as her dream of being a guest at The Oprah Winfrey Show becomes a reality.

After traveling thousands of miles from Manila, Charice joined some of the world’s most talented, amazing kids take the Oprah stage. The Oprah Winfrey Show is the longest-running and highest-rated daytime television talk show in America today.

The young diva blew the audience away with her performance of Whitney Houston’s song I Have Nothing. After her fantastic performance, an emotional Charice told Oprah, “I’m always dreaming that someday I can be a part of your show. I can’t believe I’m here standing with you. This is my dream come true.”

Asian Journal sat down with Charice and her mom Raquel in Manila a day before they flew to Honolulu to ask her about her Oprah experience, how they have been trailblazing and jetsetting.

“Nung una po, parang hindi ako makapaniwala. Kasi Oprah yan eh, napapanood ko lang sa TV. Tita Millie (Gurfinkel) called my mom and sabi niya na mag ge-guest ako sa Oprah Winfrey Show. Si mommy, parang walang reaction, parang okay lang. Tapos after nilang mag-usap, sinabi ni mommy sa akin na gusto akong mai-guest sa Oprah so napasigaw ako sa tuwa,”

Charice said as she recalled the day when she found out about the guesting.

Indeed, it was a dream come true, considering that only weeks earlier, she and her mom have been talking about the good breaks she has been getting.

“Nagulat lang kami kasi napagkuwentuhan lang namin ni Mommy. Nasabi ko na after Ellen, tapos yung sa London, parang nag-wish lang ako na sana next time Oprah na. Kaya nagulat ako nung tumawag na si Tita Millie,” Charice shared.

It was a whirlwind from there. Mother and daughter flew to Chicago to come face to face with one of the most powerful women in media, Oprah Winfrey herself.

“Parang ang bilis ng mga nangyari. Pagdating namin dun, nag rest kami kasi kinabukasan rehearsal na. Dinala kami ng staff sa studio. Hindi ako makapaniwalang nakatayo na ako dun sa stage ng Oprah. Napapanood ko lang ito sa TV. Sabi nila, iyan yung stage mo bukas.

“Ito yung show na talagang pinakakinabahan ako, kasi siyempre Oprah ito. Tapos kinabukasan nakita ko yung mga kasama ko sa show, ang gagaling din nila,” Charice recalled.

“Iba ang talent ng Pinoy, kailangan kong ipakita yun. Matindi yung kaba ko nun talaga. Nung ako na, sabi ko, “This is it”. Kinanta ko yung “I Have Nothing” ni Whitney. Nag start siya chorus na kaya mabigat. Idinedicate ko yung performance kay Oprah,” she added.

After her performance, Charice recalled Oprah joining her on centerstage, asking her so many things.

“Saan daw galing yung boses ko, sino daw ako. Na-shock daw siya sa talent ko. Tapos niyakap na niya ako at napaiyak na siya. Napaiyak na din ako nun, tapos si mommy nakita ko umiiyak na din. Sinabi nila ako yung first Filipina sa show. I felt very, very proud,” Charice said.

It was a memorable scene that she kept on playing in her mind days, even weeks after the performance.

She felt happy after her song. She felt proud. She was ecstatic. A lot of things were going through her mind. “Na impress ko kaya siya? Nagustuhan kaya ng audience? Tama ba yung pagkakanta ko? Ang daming tumatakbo sa utak ko pagkatapos nun,” she related.

She didn’t have to worry. Oprah Winfrey loved her performance.

“Na-feel ko na special ako sa kanila. Ipinaramdam nila sa akin na special ako. Dun sa closing ng show, kasama na lahat, hindi napansin ni Oprah na ksama na ako sa group. Hinanap pa niya talaga ako. “Where’s Charice?” sabi niya.

“Nung umpisa, after ng Little Big Star, naisip ko lang na okay siguro kung magkaroon ako ng exposure sa Philippine TV. Tapos nag-start na yung sa Korea, then napanood ni Ellen. Nag tuloy-tuloy na,” she said.

Charice admitted that all these would not have been possible without the help of her fan known as the False Voice. Most of all, Charice thanks her US immigration lawyer, Atty. Michael Gurfinkel, who facilitated the issuance of Charice’s proper work visa that allowed her to appear on TV, to meet the show’s deadlines.

Also, Charice and mother’s passports were stolen recently and Atty. Gurfinkel helped with the re-issuance of their US visas that normally takes months – Gurfinkel did it 3 days.

“Kung wala si Atty. Gurfinkel, kahit may invitation ang Oprah show, di pwedeng mag perform si Charice dahil sa konting panahon na ibinigay para sa visa applications. Di siya makikita sa US television at all, kung di nakuha ni Atty. Gurfinkel ang kanilang mga visas,”

Charice’s mom revealed.

Ellen de Generes saw her videos and invited Charice to be a guest on her show. Last December, Charice performed And I Am Telling You (I’m Not Going) on The Ellen de Generes Show and got a standing ovation from the audience. Then came London’s Paul O’Grady.

And now, it’s Oprah.

“Nangarap po ako ng malaki. Pero hindi maiiwasan yung mga challenges, mga problema. Kailangan lang ng tiyaga. Pagsisikap lang talaga. Ito yung gusto kong marating. Kahit anong challenge, go lang ng go. Di ba nga may kasabihan tayong mga Pilipino na kapag may tiyaga, may nilaga?”

Charice said.

Other kids featured in the program include; seven-year-old ballroom dancers, an eight-year-old guitarist, a three-year-old drummer, a seven-year-old pianist, a ten-year-old who plays the accordion, the youngest film director in history, a two-and-a-half-year-old pint-size prodigy who can identify more than 100 countries on a map and a fourteen-year-old international best-selling author. Also, a nine-year-old dancing phenomenon nicknamed “happy feet” teaches Oprah how to do the Cha-Cha slide.

Abigail Breslin and Willow Smith, daughter of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, will join the show via satellite to discuss their upcoming film project An American Girl. (www.asianjournal.com)

(Catch Charice on The Oprah Winfrey Show on Monday, May 12, 2008 – check your local listing)

An 11-year-old Filipino Tennis Champion

By Malou Liwanag-Aguilar/Asianjournal.com

SACRAMENTO - He has been playing tennis for most of his life and has won tournaments in the Philippines and Asia, but competing with other seasoned players here in the US has never occurred to Vince Marc “Mac-mac” Tabotabo. He is, after all, only 11 years old.

Mac-mac, however, proved himself wrong after his short stay in the US, winning two titles and one runner-up slot, and earning an entry to the Little Mo national finals slated this year, following the sectionals the other week at Folsom, where he topped.

The Little Mo tennis tournaments is the premier challenge for young kids across the US to compete at the sectional, regional and national level. The diminutive Mac-mac was able to end his stint in the Southern California Sectionals at 4th place. But the sweetest victory was at the end of his US sojourn, grabbing the Boys 11 division title at the Laguna Creek Junior Creek Open at the Laguna Creek Racquet Club in Elk Grove, California last May 2. Mac-mac defeated a much bigger and experienced Avery Moor with a 6-4, 6-4 victory.

But Mac-mac’s journey to the US was not easy. Together with his father Titus Tabotabo, who used to be a tennis trainer at the Ding Velayo Sports Center in Manila, they hurdled through the same trials of struggling athletes in the Philippines—the lack of support from the government and athletic organizations, including funding for equipment, facilities and financial back-up. However, these did not stop father and son to step up to challenge and reach for their dreams.

Hailing from Tuburan, Cebu, the provincial government, led by Governor Gwen Garcia and Vice Governor Greg Sanchez, was the one who supported the Tabotabos’ trip to the US. Though the funds was spent mostly covered airfare, the father-and-son received aid from fellow Filipinos.

“Malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa mga tulong ng mga Pilipino dito, (I am very thankful for the support and help of the Filipinos here),” said Titus in a telephone interview with the Asian Journal. “Marc has built a fan [club] based here in Northern California, especially in the Filipino community.” In fact, Mac-mac’s victories has pulled in Filipino crowds to watch him play.

“Sinasabi nila, the boy from the Philippines is beating everybody,” said Titus proudly about his son. “Magaling daw. (They said he is good.)”

Reaching out to anyone or any organization for more support, Titus hopes that this will not be the end of Mac-mac’s tennis career. It was a sad story, he said, relating his experience where they live. Titus, who had also competed in the past, is training the kids in his hometown for free. “There is no interest to support these kids,” he said in Filipino. “I am hoping that Mac-mac’s achievements can make them wake up, support us by helping us in training, equipment and supplies.”

Mac-mac will return later this year to play in the nationals. This is a bigger achievement compared to last year, where he had to fight for a slot to the main draw of the Little Mo nationals.

Moreover, Titus dreams to have an organization or club which will help in honing his son’s talent. “Sana matulungan si Mac-mac na dito makapag-aral (I wish that they can help Mac-mac study here). My son is promising, has talent.”

(www.asianjournal.com)

US Army Vet Sentenced to 18 Years for Beating to Death Pinay Wife

by Miko Santos/Asianjournal.com

JERSEY CITY — A Jersey City man and army veteran was sentenced to 18 years for mercilessly beating to death his Filipina wife in a jealous rage last year.

A forlorn Nicaragua-born Eddy A. Casco, 29, of Sip Avenue, Jersey City wept openly as State Superior Court Judge Peter Vasquez read the sentence, 18 years, the maximum recommended by the state in the plea agreement.

Casco pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in the death of Teris Casco, 33, who suffered 21 rib fractures, a broken nose and brain damage at the hands of her husband in their apartment early on Jan. 20, 2007.

“I knew what I did was wrong,” said Casco, almost too emotional to speak, before being sentenced. “I never meant to hurt my wife. Sometimes people say things to each other, you don’t’ know how they are going to react to them.”

“I just want to get this over with, move on with my life,” said Casco.

Mitigating Factors

The defendant’s lawyer, Peter Willis said that he did his best to get him the plea deal as he believed that if they went to trial the results would be devastating to Casco and would cause undue stress to his family.

Willis said that Casco in his grief and remorse attempted suicide by tying a rope on a light fixture and tried to hang himself but due to his weight the fixture gave way.

Willis in a further attempt to reduce the sentence mentioned Casco’s 9 years of service to his country, the 911 call, the emails that proved Teris’ alleged affair that led to the brutal killing, and his statements to  authorities.

Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Steven Dill refuted the statements made by Casco’s lawyer, saying that there were no marks at all on Casco’s body regarding his attempted suicide.

Dill also mentioned the time lapse from when Casco called 911, he did so by 11am the next day, when his two kids went to see their mom and asked if she was alright.

Dill also noted that Casco’s service in the army, not being shipped to war but being stationed the whole time in Hawaii.

Dill likewise noted how a lot of people have known of the abuses but no one came forward, no one went to the police.

“The saddest thing about it was this was something that was increasing and eventually he was going to snap and no one who knew about it picked up a phone and called police,” Dill said.

Nina Nguyen Lagac of the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) made a statement on behalf of Teris Casco’s family urging the court to impose the maximum penalty.

“We urge this honorable court to impose the maximum sentence as recommended by the state in the plea agreement.  We further believe that such an apt
sentence will be a deterrent to batterers and would encourage victims of domestic violence to come out, speak up and no longer be afraid,” Lagac said.

Casco was given the chance to speak and said that he was remorseful and wanted this to be done and over with and for him to get on with his life.

In the end, Vasquez gave the maximum sentence of 18 years with a chance of parole after serving 15 years.

Reaction

Teris Casco died at the hands of her husband, suffering broken ribs, broken nose, and brain hemorraging in their apartment in Sip Avenue, Jersey City early on Jan. 20, 2007.

The couple were happily celebrating Teris’ 33rd birthday at a bar near their home the evening of January 19. When they got home, reports say Casco confessed to an affair, which he said he had already ended a month earlier.

Teris told her husband she wanted to go to Hawaii for two weeks to be with her family and to sort things out. The discussion about the future of their relationship turned violent.

Casco admitted in court that he and his wife were arguing in their bathroom when he struck her at least three times in the face and she fell into the bathtub. He then stomped on her several times before picking her up and carrying her to the bed. Once in bed, he elbowed her in the face at least three times and heard her nose break.

Later that day the couple’s two young sons returned home from a baby-sitter. One of the boys saw his bloody mother in bed and asked what was wrong. Casco told the boy she was sick, then called 911, but it was too late.

“The tragedy of Teris’ death is that individuals who knew about the domestic violence in the Casco home never picked up a phone and called police. Teris did not have to die, and her death is an example of how silence can kill,” the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) said in a statement.

One relative told police on the day of the killing that Eddy Casco had assaulted Teris in the past but police had never been notified, reports said.

“Individuals and organizations came together to find ways on how to break the silence, the cycle of shame and to effectively confront the high incidence of domestic violence in Filipino homes,” said Marily Mondejar FWN head.

(www.asianjournal.com)