Filipino talents, generous spirit shine at the Golden Globes

A "Global" Coup


Filipino talents, generous spirit shine at the Golden Globes


By Yong Chavez
www.FilipinOnline.com


Millions of television viewers worldwide were once again treated to the glitz and glamour of the Golden Globes. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) throws the glitziest, most fun party during the awards season. Every year, every star and their agent clamor to get the coveted Globe invite.

HFPA is an elite group of foreign journalists reporting from Hollywood.

Ruben and Janet Nepales, veteran journalists, are its only Filipino members.

They play big roles during the Golden Globe award ceremonies, but they say the most challenging work happens before the awards night: dealing with celebrity demands.

Though the day's tasks can be daunting, they admit that working with the biggest stars to stage one of the biggest nights in Hollywood is a nice job perk.

They also get to observe these A-listers, warts and all, behind the scenes.

The husband-and-wife team, well-known in the Los Angeles Fil-Am circle, generously shared the rare experience of mingling with the stars with community members.

Through their work with the Golden Globes, they also promote Filipino talents such as fashion designers Carlyn Nuyda-Calloway, Alan del Rosario, and Oliver Tolentino. The three joined Monique Lhuillier in the elite list of Fil-Am designers whose creations were worn by Golden Globes attendees. Amber Riley. Glee actress, wore a stunning Oliver Tolentino gown while Alan del Rosario, a 2009 Oscars Designers Challenge contender, custom-created the dress of a former Miss Universe.

Filipino Nurses Sue Over English-Only Policy

By Yong Chavez

Here's my exclusive report on Filipino nurses suing a California hospital for discrimination.



And here's the Tagalog, TV Patrol version.

Family of murdered Filipina American still seeking justice and closure

By Yong B. Chavez

www.FilipinOnline.com

It's been 5 years since the lifeless body of Sharon Anne Santos was found inside her car's trunk but her family's search for justice continues.

"I still miss her. I still think of her everyday," her sister Sandra Santos says.

Although a suspect in her killing is in jail for unrelated charges, the fact that no one has been charged with her death adds to their pain. The family is hoping that the Filipino American community will help them in their quest to push the Burbank Police Department to actively pursue Sharon's case just like they did at the beginning when even mainstream media was reporting about the tragedy.

Sharon's mother Edna is living every mother's worst nightmare. Every day she can't help but think about Sharon's last moments as she fought for her life.

Please watch my complete story on Sharon Anne Santos tonight

on Balitang America.

NURSING A DESIRE TO HELP

Filipina Nurse Heads a Charitable Group of Health Professionals

By Yong B. Chavez
FilipinOnline.com

Las Vegas resident Nenita Rattanopas is a mother of two, a registered nurse, a dreamer, and a big-hearted Filipina.

She leads From The Heart Charitable Group, a nurse-organized organization, in its mission to "serve the community and/or people from other countries by coordinating acts of charity or volunteer work from individuals or groups."

Theirs is a small yet steadily growing organization that has big philanthropic plans.

They recently lent a helping hand to a 6 month-old Filipino child named Mikayla Faye Kaiama who needed a liver transplant. The group has also raised funds for the American Cancer Society.

To help more people, this October 11, they will hold their annual charity ball at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. [To donate, visit their website From The Heart Charitable Group, or contact Nenita at nenita_r@fromtheheartcharity.org.]

In this Q&A with FilipinOnline, this admirable Pinay reveals more about their group and their plans.

FilipinOnline: Tell me all about your organization.

Nenita Rattanopas: From The Heart Charitable Group is composed of a multicultural group of healthcare professionals whose vision is to become a premier nurse-organized and nonprofit charitable group supporting other established organizations or individuals to improve quality of life and alleviate suffering. We carry out this mission through fundraising activities, volunteer work or medical missions.

What is your motivation in starting this organization?
In my line of work, I‘ve seen so much pain and suffering. I want to make a positive difference and help improve people’s quality of life.

What are the challenges you've encountered since starting the organization?
Our biggest challenge, of course, is raising the money needed to carry out our mission. We are spending our own money for the most part. We are a “young group” with no prior experience about fundraising, but we are all learning together. Our common and primary goal is to help others who genuinely need help.

What are your dreams for the organization?
My dream for this organization is to eventually get all of the healthcare professionals in Southern Nevada, especially nurses, involved in working, donating or volunteering for a good cause. We plan to do four small projects and one huge event each year.

Tell me about the charity ball. Who will it benefit?
Our 2nd annual charity ball event will be on Oct 11, 2008 from 7 PM to 11 PM at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino. Tickets cost $95 per person that includes a nice dinner, entertainment, fashion show with cancer survivors as models, and dancing. We are expecting 250 guests and proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society.

Would you like to make an appeal to our kababayans to help?
To our kababayans, let’s get involved. We are lucky to have stable jobs. Let us give back to our community, let us help the “not-so-lucky ones” and let us make this world a better place for our children and our children’s children.

Filipino American Lives:UNDERGROUND UNDERGRADS

At age 6, Angelo Mathay [pictured] traveled with his mother from the Philippines to the U.S. for a vacation. He has not returned, not even for his father's funeral. He is a "TNT" - tago ng tago - an undocumented immigrant.

Angelo is also a student of the UCLA, one of the country's most prestigious schools. His story is included in Underground Undergrads: UCLA Undocumented Students Speak Out, which profiles plight of undocumented college students who were brought as young children to the U.S. and their struggle to complete their educations.

They are unable to legally work, obtain drivers licenses in California, and are barred from many other rights afforded their classmates. Because the students are “out-of-status,” they are ineligible for any government financial aid and struggle to stay in school by taking jobs where they are paid "under the table," living with family far from campus and taking long daily commutes on public transportation, and withdrawing from school when funds are low.

At the book's launching in Historic Filipinotown early this month, he told the audience, “Filipinos believe “tago ng tago” (hide and hide) our status, but we have to come out of the shadows if we want to change immigration policy.”

Together with community leaders, the students are lobbying for the California and federal Dream Acts which would respectively provide government financial aid and a path to citizenship for undocumented college students. Currently, there are more than 300 undocumented UCLA students.

At the same event, Stephanie Solis, a Filipina student, also spoke. Solis did not learn she was undocumented until she was 18 and announced to her parents that it was time to apply for a driver’s license, passport, and college. They finally disclosed to her that because of her status, she was not entitled to many of these rights. She admitted, “Yes, it is scary to stand at press conferences, or hearings, or speaking engagements and be identified as undocumented, but it would be much more scary if we didn’t speak out.”

http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/ideas/aboutus.html

[text and picture Marshall Wong/APALC press release]