NEW YORK, NY – The Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) climaxes its commemoration this year of the 115th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine Independence with a star-studded Philippine Independence Day on Sunday, June 2, 2013.

On tap for the day are the traditional trio of events:  the all-day Independence Day Street Fair, the 2013 Philippine Independence Day Parade led by Grand Marshal Dr. Rebecca Castro Rivera and the Cultural Festival with appearances and performances by Philippine movie stars and celebrities Aga Muhlach, Sharon Cuneta, Derek Ramsay, Gary Valenciano, Marian Rivera, Rafael Rosell and Bong Revilla, among others.

Also at the lead of the Parade, along with other important guests are specially invited guests re-electionist Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who will be accompanied by Heart Evangelista, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III, two-term PIDCI President Fe Martinez and Philippine Consul General in New York Ambassador Mario Lopez  de Leon, Jr.

CHICAGO (FAXX/jGLi) – Ten senatorial candidates backed by administration party’s Team PNoy trounced handily the opposition's United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial candidates in partial returns from Washington, D.C.’s Philippine Embassy and various consulates in the United States, Caribbean, American Samoa and French Polynesia as of 7 p.m. Monday (May 13), according to the Philippine Embassy.

Re-electionist Sen. Chiz Escudero (Ind.) was the leading vote-getter when he tallied 2,180 votes, followed by two other re-electionist Senators Loren Legarda (Nationalist People’s Coalition) and Alan Peter Cayetano (NP) with 2,164 and 2131 votes, respectively.

They were followed by Grace Poe (Ind.), 2,026; Koko Pimentel (Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan), 1,999; Ramon Magsaysay, Jr. (Liberal
Party), 1962; Edgardo Angara (Laban ng Deomokratikong Pilipino), 1,918; Benigno “Bam” Aquino (LP), 1,818, Antonio Trillanes, IV, (Nationalista Party), 1,678; and Risa Hontiveros (Akbayan), 1,336.

CHICAGO (FAXX/jGLi) – Keeping up with her previous records of helping Filipino World War II veterans, Sen. Mazie K. Hirono [D-HI] followed this up by beating the 5 p.m. deadline last May 7 to insert an amendment to Sen. Bill 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, that will enable the children of Filipino World War II veterans to get permanent residence even if the veterans are either dead or alive.

This amendment would have to be either inserted into the 867-page omnibus bill or rejected on Tuesday (May 14) when the U.S. Senate Committee on Judiciary, of which, Senator Hirono is a member, resumes committee hearing of the bill.

According to the amendment, it will “exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas” in the “comprehensive immigration reform and for other purposes.”

CHICAGO (FAXX/jGLi) – The three Filipino caregivers of an elderly Chicago senior citizen pleaded not guilty during their arraignment Thursday (May 9) before Illinois Associate Judge Joseph Michael Claps of the Cook County Circuit Court at 26th and California in Chicago’s southwest side.

Wearing blue jump suits, Carmelita Pasamba and her younger sister, Jocelyn Vargas Baker and Pasamba’s husband Edgardo Pasamba dressed in a brown prison uniform pleaded not guilty when apprised by Judge Claps of the criminal charges of financial exploitation against them. They were accused of embezzling Marshall F. Davies of more than $350,000 of his retirement money.

Mrs. Pasamba and Jocelyn Baker were represented by Attorney Purav Bhatt while Edgardo Pasamba was assisted by Attorney Donald Rendler-Kaplan during the arraignment.

CHICAGO (FAXX/jGLi) – The Coroner of the County of San Mateo released Tuesday (May 7) to the media the list of all the names of the five fatalities on board a bridal limousine that caught fire last Saturday (May 4) night at San Mateo-Hayward Bridge in Redwood City, California.

At the same time, Corner Robert J. Foucrault announced that the cause and manner of the victims’ death are still under investigation pending toxicology results. The coroner’s final report is due in three to four weeks.

In a press release faxed to this reporter, the Coroner’s office said the fatalities are Michelle Estrera, 35, of Fresno; Anna Alcantara, 46, of San Lorenzo; Felomina Geronga, 43, of Alameda; Neriza Pobre Fojas, 31, of Monterey; and Jennifer Balon, 39, of Dublin; all of California. They are all Filipinos and are mostly nurses.

CHICAGO (FAXX/jGLi) – A part-time Filipino American limousine driver in the Bay Area, whose brother owns a limousine service, said Monday (May 6) the driver of a limousine, which caught fire that killed five Filipino women, should have familiarized his passengers first of the presence of fire extinguisher and telephone hotline inside the limousine before taking them to their destination.A small fire extinguisher is usually located at the right side of the limo near the rear if the passenger is facing the front of the limo.

The same driver, who refused to be identified said, the passengers should have also been told by the limo driver that in case they wanted to talk to the limo driver, they could just have picked up the receiver of the telephone that is located just in front of the fire extinguisher by the mini bar. The telephone is a hotline of the passengers to the limousine driver.

MANILA – The last-minute, unverified disclosure of the source code by the Dominion Voting Systems (DVS) to the Philippine Comelec failed to reassure election watchdog AES Watch that the votes this coming May 13 would be properly counted. On the contrary, IT experts from the election watchdog grew more alarmed.

Bobby M. Tuazon, co-convener of AES Watch, said the supposed disclosure of the source code by Dominion only bolsters their contention that both Comelec and Smartmatic are liable for automating the elections of 2013 without a source code. “The last-minute disclosure of the source code even if true will not extricate Comelec and Smartmatic from legal liability,” Tuazon said.

CHICAGO (FAXX/jGLi) – A bridal limousine turned into a rolling coffin when it caught fire killing five Filipinos, mostly nurses, including a bride, at San
Mateo-Hayward Bridge in Redwood City, California Saturday (May 4) night, according to friends of the victims.

Sgt. Diana McDermott, spokesperson of the Golden Gate Division of the California Highway Patrol, however, in a phone interview with this reporter, did not identify the names of the fatalities, hinting their names could be released during a press conference Monday morning at the CHP office in Redwood City.

Only one was identified by Officer Art Montiel in the “Report of Collision – News Release” received by this reporter. She was Jasmin Desguia, 34, of San Jose, California, who suffered smoke inhalations and burns.

CHICAGO (FAXX/jGLi) --  The wife of Cezar O. Mancao II said Friday (May 3) she fears for the safety of her husband, who had “come home (to the Philippines) to tell the truth. Now, it (the Philippine government) has abandoned him and discredited him. (The) [g]overnment is duty-bound to keep him safe.”

In a statement from her United States-based lawyer Arnedo S. Valera, U.S.-based Maricar Mancao was quoted as saying that her “family fear for her husband’s life. Her husband has refused to be transferred to the Manila City jail for fear of his life. He was out of NBI custody after the government delisted him as state witness to the murders of Salvador ‘Bubby’ Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito.”

Jersey City, NJ –   The Jersey City Council unanimously approved an ordinance, sponsored by Councilman-at-Large Rolando R. Lavarro, Jr., to create the state’s first Immigrant Affairs Commission (the “Commission”).   Supporters staged a rally in front of City Hall, where the “Gang of Eight’s” comprehensive immigration reform bill was also at the fore.  With last week’s vote, Jersey City is expected to become the first municipality in New Jersey to form such a Commission.

Lavarro stated, “Comprehensive immigration reform is coming, but it will only be the first step.  Jersey City must be ready for immigration reform – so that our immigrants can actually qualify for citizenship.  We need to start looking at social services such as English training, citizenship courses, and quality legal help so that our immigrant friends and families can seize the opportunity when it arrives.  The Immigrant Affairs Commission will be key and in the forefront in addressing these issues.”

CHICAGO (FAXX/jGLi) --  Myrla Baldonado of Chicago, Illinois wants to raise the standard of salary of caregivers, including the grant of overtime pay for live-in caregivers and vacation leaves, while Catherine Eusebio of Fremont, California wants to “promote change that starts with empowering the most impacted (young) people to lead.”

Baldonado and Eusebio are two Filipino out of the fifteen Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women, who will be honored as “Champions of Change” at the White House on Monday, May 6th.

The ceremony is part of the White House’s observance of AAPI Heritage Month, which recognizes Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women, who are doing extraordinary things to create a more equal safe, and prosperous future for their communities and the country.

CHICAGO (FAXX/jGLi) – Pat Sampan, a native of Southern Leyte in the Philippines, is still waiting for the visa of her child so her child can come to the United States.

As a result, even if she is already 83 years old, she decided to volunteer to carry the banner of the Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrants Rights and Empowerment (AFIRE) during the May Day Immigration rally last Wednesday even if there was prediction of a rainy weather.

“Hindi naman ako napapagod kasi gusto ko lang na makarating na rito ang aking anak,” (I am not really tired walking for as long as this will help my child come over here.), according to Sampan, now a long-time resident of Chicago, Illinois, who walked three miles from Union Park at the intersection of South Ashland corner of Lake Street in the west side of Chicago to the Federal Plaza at 230 South Dearborn in the heart of Chicago.

CHICAGO (FAXX/jGLi) – Even if China will not participate in the international tribunal brought by the Philippines to settle their maritime dispute in the Philippine Western Sea (South China Sea), the Philippines is bent on pursuing the arbitration.

And even if Asean countries ask the Philippines to “slow down” in its claim, the Philippines has no plans to do so.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. told a Kapihan hosted by Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim of the Philippine Consulate of the Midwest held in the new office of the Consulate in Chicago, Illinois April 25 that under the mechanism that the Philippine government lawyers have chosen to file a claim, China doesn’t have to be present.

But China is going to be given one more chance to participate when all the members of the arbitral tribunal are appointed this April “and we will give them the opportunity to participate.”

Cuisia said, “Even if China refuses to participate, it (China) will probably start (to make) its decision in a few months time and it (this non-participation) will shorten process. We want to proceed with and pursue the code of conduct. And we are not prepared to withdraw our claim.

“ASEAN is trying to slow down our claim and we are not willing to do that and we will pursue and participate actively in discussion on code of conduct. We want to have good relations (with China). But we cannot allow them to continue to violate our territory. They have three vessels in Scarborough shoals which is within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines.”

Ambassador Cuisia added, “we have tried diplomatic, political means thru Asean but we are not getting anywhere that is why the Philippines was forced to file the claim before an international arbitral body.”

CHICAGO LEG OF THE ROADSHOW

Ambassador Cuisia is in Chicago at the head of a powerhouse delegation that is luring more investments from American and Filipino American businessmen to seriously consider putting their money in the Philippines. The trip is dubbed as 2nd Philippine Investment Roadshow organized by the Philippine Embassy with the Philippine Consulates Generals in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. Thursday’s Kapihan was the Chicago leg of the roadshow attended by select community leaders and members of the media.

“We are confident that more investments from the US will be coming in, especially after we heard the enthusiastic response of not only American corporate and government executives but also Filipino-American businessmen in the West Coast who listened to us share the good news about the Philippines,” Ambassador Cuisia said at the end the delegation’s visit to Chicago. 

The business delegation, which is headed by Ambassador Cuisia and prominent Filipino economist Dr. Bernardo Villegas, will head off to Boston as part of a private sector-led effort to promote the Philippines as an investment destination.

Aside from Ambassador Cuisia and Dr. Villegas, the other members of the delegation are Benjamin Philip Romualdez, President of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines; Isidro Consunji, President of DMCI Holdings; Roberto Dispo, President of First Metro Investment Corp.; Rainerio Borja, President and Country Head of EGS Philippines; Dan Lachica, President of the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, Inc. and Jesus Zulueta, Jr., Chairman of ZMG Ward Howell.

ROADSHOW TO IMPROVE TRADE TIES WITH U.S.

Ambassador Cuisia said he expects the roadshow to further improve trade with the US, the country’s third largest partner as he cited statistics from the US Trade Representative which pointed to growing two-way trade between the two countries—from $13 billion in 2009 to $15 billion in 2010; and $22 billion in 2011.

On Tuesday, the delegation met with around 130 representatives from a number of US and Filipino-American companies in a forum organized by the Council on Trade and Investment for Filipino-Americans and the Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County.

On Monday, the delegation met with officials of the Port of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and University of California Los Angeles Smart Grid Energy Research Center. They also attended the Town Hall Meeting or Pulong Bayan with Filipino Community organizations led by the Filipino-American Chambers of Commerce and the emerging generation of Filipino-Americans in Los Angeles.

According to Consul General Hellen Barber-Dela Vega of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, the delegation launched the roadshow in Los Angeles because of its role as the primary gateway of the Philippines for trade with the US since 1992. She said Los Angeles handles 25 percent of total US trade with the Philippines, which is also its 16th largest trading partner.

Consul General Barber-Dela Vega said that in all their meetings, the delegation urged American and Filipino-American businessmen to seriously consider investing in the Philippines, which is now considered as the “Rising Tiger of Asia.” They cited the positive economic indicators in the country that have been made possible by government’s efforts to increase infrastructure spending, achieve fiscal sustainability and fight corruption, among others.

Consul General Barber-Dela Vega said the delegation will stay in Chicago until Thursday before proceeding to Boston for the last leg of the roadshow.

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Photocaption:

COMMUNITY:  This is part of the community who attended the Kapihan at the Philippine Consulate General of the Midwest in Chicago, Illinois last April 25 while Consul General Leo M. Herrera-Lim (left) and Roberto J. T. Dispo, President of First Metro Investment of Makati, look on. Photo shows Mr. Joe Mauricio (left foreground), of Via Times and CPR TV. (FAXX/jGLi Photo by Joseph G. Lariosa)

CHICAGO (FAXX/jGLi) – Overseas Absentee Voters (OAV’s), who are hesitant to drop their ballots in the snail mailbox because doing so could risk exposure of their signatures to identity thieves, should still go ahead in dropping their ballots in the mail without anything to worry about.

Midwest Philippine Consul General Leo M. Herrera-Lim, also a Philippine lawyer, said any OAV, who does not want to take chances that he could expose his signature to identify thieves, may enclose the envelope containing his ballot inside another envelop and his ballot will still be considered valid.

This was Herrera-Lim’s clarification during Kapihan held Thursday (April 25) at the Philippine Consulate General’s office in Chicago, Illinois in the presence of Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose L. Cuisia, who led a powerhouse delegation that is luring more American and Filipino American investors to seriously consider putting their money in the Philippines.

CHICAGO (FAXX/jGLi) – A Filipino woman home healthcare owner in Chicago, Illinois suburbs had pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicare of millions of dollars after signing up to a plea agreement. Her Filipino co-defendant has not yet come up with a plea.

Nelia Laurel, a resident of Chicago’s suburban Glenview, Illinois and owner and operator of Omega Healthcare Network, both based in Glenview and suburban Evanston, Illinois, faces a maximum of 57 months (4.75 years) imprisonment during her sentencing on July 9, 2013 before Judge Robert M. Dow, Jr. of the Eastern Division of the Northern District of Illinois of the United States District Court in Chicago.

She signed the plea agreement last April 3, 2013 assisted by her defense lawyer Brooke L. Lewis and co-signed by Acting U.S. Attorney Gary S. Shapiro and Shapiro’s assistants, Kruti Trivedi and Rick Young, for the Northern District of Illinois before the case goes on jury trial.

NEW YORK – The Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) honored the Grand Marshal of its coming Philippine Independence Day Parade Dr. Rebecca Castro Rivera with a full of fun ‘n’ frolic profusion of flowers Grand Marshal Gala Gabi ng mga Bulaklak at the Grand Ballroom of the Renaissance Newark Airport Hotel in Elizabeth, New Jersey Saturday.

The night’s program was highlighted by the Investiture ceremony where the Independence Day Parade Grand Marshal Dr. “Dolly” Rivera was bestowed her sash by last year’s Grand Marshal Dr. Prospero Lim, Consul General Mario de Leon, Jr.and PIDCI President Fe Martinez.

Immediately after the Introduction of the Grand Marshal, the Gabi ng mga Bulaklak took hold of the growing crowd of revelers with the Parade of Flowers that were set in tall vases, later to be set down as center pieces on the dinner tables.

MANILA — Filipinos in Hongkong expressed their dismay over the use of non-indelible ink during the overseas absentee voting, which started on April 13.

“We are not only disenfranchised in this election, but also discriminated. Our right to vote is being shortchanged,” Eman Villanueva, third nominee of Migrante Partylist who is based in Hongkong, said.

The overseas absentee voting was first implemented in 2004 to reach out to Filipinos residing and working abroad. But, Migrante Partylist said, the lack of support by the previous and current administrations “to ensure the maximum participation of OFWs in the election has disenfranchised many Filipinos of their right to suffrage.”

CHICAGO (FAXX/jGLi) – The bipartisan immigration reform bill introduced April 17 morning by the Senate “Gang of Eight” has been broadly criticized in the afternoon as “non-inclusive” by eliminating among others the ability of a U.S. citizen to petition siblings as U.S. permanent residents and  the inability of Filipino World War II veterans to petition their children.

Filipino American Lawrence Benito, chief executive officer of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), told this reporter during a 
press conference Wednesday in his office in downtown Chicago, Illinois, “The proposed  legislation is not yet a bill. We need to ask the American people to call their  senators and their congressmen to pass a bill that will be inclusive.

CAROL STREAM, Illinois (FAXX/jGLi) – Filipino American business tycoon Loida Nicolas Lewis, co-leader of the U.S. Pinoys For Good Governance (USP4GG), disclosed here on the eve of the start of the absentee voting for overseas Filipinos on Friday (April 12) that USP4GG is endorsing at least eight of the 12 Team PNoy senatorial candidates. The endorsement is to give President Noynoy Aquino a majority in the Philippine senate for the next three years. But she clarified the endorsement should “not let [President Aquino become] a dictator but only to get things done properly.”

The ageless and tireless civil rights activist said USP4GG would also be campaigning for the election of two Independent candidates (Edward Hagedorn and Bro. Eddie Villanueva) “who are straight (honest) at hindi ipagbibili ang bayan (who will not betray the people). But she will be campaigning against a senatorial candidate accused of murdering an actor during martial law (Rep. Jack Enrile).

The credibility of the USP4GG gained traction in 2010 elections when majority of its endorsed senatorial slate in the 2010 won in the presidential elections, including then Sen. Noynoy Aquino, who won the presidency. But its vice presidential bet, former Senator and now DILG Sec. Mar Roxas, lost to former Makati City Mayor Jojo Binay. There are about 900,000 Filipino overseas voters.

CHICAGO (FAXX/jGLi) – Filipino and American survivors of Bataan Death March were urged to perpetuate their memories of World War II by coming forward with their experiences during the war while they are still alive.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who is also the State Librarian and Archivist, told the dwindling survivors of Bataan Death March, who attended the 71st Commemoration of Bataan Day: Day of Valor (Araw ng Kagitingan) held Monday, April 8, in Chicago, Illinois at the new address of the Philippine Consulate of Midwest at 122 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago, the need to document their sufferings in order to inspire the next generations, who are not aware of their sacrifices and heroism.

In brief remarks during the annual observance of one of the greatest sagas of World War II, Secretary White said the “Secretary of State is collecting stories from military people. We want you to share your stories to us. We will provide your stories to the Library of Congress. We will cover as many stories of the Armed Forces as we can.