ASK A KABABAYAN:"U.S. citizen ako. If I lost my wallet while traveling abroad & can't contact friends and relatives, where can I get help?"

Uncle Sam can rescue you. Or at least loan you some money.

If - traveler nightmare alert - your wallet disappeared while you're out of the country, American citizens can turn to a U.S. consular officer abroad for help.

The American Citizens Services and Crisis Management (ACS) will help by contacting your family, friends, or business associates to raise private funds. They will also help in transmitting these funds to you.

Subject to approval, they can also loan the money to you until your funds arrive.

You can also contact the Overseas Citizens Service if you need help for these emergencies:

-Death of an American citizen abroad

-Arrest/detention of an American citizen abroad

-Robbery of an American citizen abroad

-American citizens missing abroad

-Crisis abroad involving American citizens

-After-hours number for an emergency involving an American citizen abroad

To contact the OVERSEAS CITIZENS SERVICES:

Call 1-888-407-4747 (from overseas: 202-501-4444) or go to http://travel.state.gov/about/info/info_308.html#citizens for more info.

NATALIE COUGHLIN:Filipino American, Champion Olympian

Originally from Concord, California, she started swimming when she was just a few months old. In the last two summer Olympics (Athens and Beijing), she won in every event she competed in, stashing a total of 11 medals.

She is Natalie Coughlin, and yes, the gorgeous, awesome swimmer is also Pinay/Irish American.

In Beijing, she became the first American female athlete in modern Olympic history to win six medals in one Olympics and the first woman ever to win a 100 m backstroke gold in two consecutive Olympics.

"I'm gonna take a long break away from the water for about a year," she says after her triumphant stint in Beijing. "I'd love to do a dance class, just for fun."

Here's a clip of her:



If you missed her recent appearance on Jay Leno's show, here's a link .

Here's an article about Natalie written by Dr. Ludy Ongkeko. "Her parents are Zennie and Jim Coughlin. Natalie has professed how she loves Filipino food and named ‘halo-halo’ and adobo as stand-outs, underscoring her grandmother’s chicken adobo," says the article.



[Picture - that's Natalie in the middle - from olympicgames2008medaltally.blogspot.com]

Filipino Breast Cancer Awareness Day in October

The first ever Filipino Breast Cancer Awareness Day in Southern California will feature screenings and education. It is free & open to the public.

Sunday, October 5th, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
at the Center Court of the Eagle Rock Plaza (in front of Seafood City Supermarket)
2700 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, 90041.

The event is in in honor of, Ms. Alva Marie Argonza, a five-year civil servant for the state of California who passed away in less than two years of being diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. Only 35 years old, she died on June 18 early this year, a loss that devastated her family and friends.

They learned that Filipinos have the highest death rate from breast cancer than any other Asian-American group. As a result, friends and community members rallied together to organize the first ever Filipino Breast Cancer Awareness Day in Southern California. The purpose of the event is to inform, educate, and empower the Filipino community to take charge of their breast health.

Representatives from organizations including Glendale Adventist Medical Center, the American Cancer Society, and Comprehensive Community Health Centers will have booths and offer free health screenings and information. Other collaborating partners include Kiwanis Club of Verdugo Hills, Botana & Gomez Company, Filipino American Business Association of Glendale, Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce, and the Glendale Commission on the Status of Women.

For information, call (818) 409-8100.

[Thanks to Art Pacho for the info.]

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]

BUHAY AMERICA TIP: Another Phone Company Charges 411 Callsbut, FYI, there's also another Free 411 Service

Earlier this year, Verizon started charging subscribers who dialled 411 for directory service. They charge 95 cents to look up local numbers and $1.50 for all others.

Next month, AT&T follows suit by cutting the number of free 411 calls offered to customers each month. You only get one now instead of three.

I wish they'll just divert some of that the money they spend on their ubiquitous TV ads to maintaining this basic service. It's not a big amount, for sure, but the way phone companies are piling on fees is just annoying, isn't it? Have you tried going through your phone bill, line by line? You might get cross-eyed from understanding all the obscure, small charges that add up to a lot.

But there's hope if you want to avoid 411 fees. I already wrote about another firm that offers free 411 call (with ads) before, but here's another one that's supposedly ad-free: it's 1-800-GOOG-411 or 1-800-466-4411. It's from the good folks at Google. There's one rant about it online, but the L.A. Times gave it a rave.

BUHAY AMERICA TIP: You Can Save 20% On Your Gas Bill

A family of four earning up to $43,200 a year may qualify for the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) discount, which provides 20% off your gas bill.

Especially kung bago pa lang kayong nag-ta-try na i-establish ang buhay ninyo sa America at isa lang ang nagtaratrabaho sa pamilya, or you're simply one of many affected by the national econimic crisis, this is welcome help.

If you are approved within 90 days of starting new gas service, you will also receive a $15 discount on the Service Establishment Charge.

TWO WAYS TO QUALIFY:

If you or another person in your household receives benefits from any of these programs:
Medi-Cal, Food Stamps, TANF (AFDC), Women, Infants & Children (WIC), Healthy Families Categories A&B, LIHEAP

OR

Total income for all persons in your household meets the following income guidelines:
Number of persons in household /Household Income not more than

1 or 2 - $30,500

3 - $35,800

4 - $43,200
5 - $50,600
6 - $58,000

For more info, go to their website or call 1-800-427-2200. On their website, there's a link to apply online or to download a form which you can mail.

UPDATE: PHILIPPINE REFUGEES RETURN TO BURNED HOMES

Here's a distressing update to this story:

According to the latest reports today, August 18 PST, guerillas attacked towns in southern Philippines and killed more than a dozen people. The fighting continues as of this writing. Though older rebel leaders have been negotiating with the Philippine government for a ceasefire, reports say that younger rebel leaders have become impatient with the slow progress of the talks. The latest assault led to the burning of more than 20 houses while civilians scamper to seek shelter in evacuation centers. ================================================================

It's the same, sad story. In wars, it's the civilians who usually suffer the most.

After the smoke of the battle between government forces and Islamic separatists in the southern Philippines cleared, more than 160,000 refugees went home to a pile of rubble and ash.

The fighting between government troops and the rebels, which has killed more than two dozen soldiers and guerrillas, destroyed their villages.

"It’s been like this as far as I can remember, we build houses then fighting occurs, we leave and return home and build our houses again," Midsayap resident Rogelio said to Manny Mogato of Reuters. His house in North Cotabato province, about 560 miles south of Manila, was burned down, Reuters reports.

He is one of the refugees who had to flee from their homes and farmlands due to intense military airstrikes and mortar fire aimed at Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels holed up in the area.

In July, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's government agreed to an accord that will establish a Muslim homeland in negotiations brokered by Malaysia. Rebels claimed the area as part of that deal. The Supreme Court stopped the formal signing of the accord after politicians and lawmakers opposed to the deal filed a petition, according to the L.A. Times.

Muslims in the south of the largely Catholic Philippines have been fighting for some measure of independence since the late 1960s.

[photo: tiscali.news]

HOUSEKEEPING

I met a fellow Pinay blogger online (Hi, Avee!) and she gave me some tips on how to add some gadgets on FilipinOnline. Hopefully, I'll be able to follow her instructions because as evidenced by the bare-bones look of this little shingle, I could never be mistaken for a blogging expert.

Anyway-- This morning, I added a 'Latest News' link on the right. I put the keywords 'Filipino Americans' and was pleasantly surprised to see the online version of my Balitang America report about Singgalot in the ABS-CBN site as one of the links. Serendipitous! If you didn't catch that TV report, this short article summarizes the event.

And if you find yourself in the L.A. area, go to Remy's at Temple in Historic Filipinotown and see this Smithsonian Institution exhibit about the history of Fil Ams in the last 100 years. It's terrific, compelling, educational, and touching.

Here's a photo from the exhibit's opening taken by lotusflower252004, sent to me by one of Singgalot's prime movers, Prosy de la Cruz.

ASK A KABABAYAN:"I saw an ad for buying an International Driver's License. Gagamitin ko sana pag-bakasyon ko sa Pinas. Is this valid?"

Nope, they're not valid. Beware of these ads - if you Google "International Driver's License," you will see these scams, too. (Even if you see them in this blog's AdSense list of ads, don't click on them. They are automatically generated based on keywords.)

The Federal Trade Commission strongly advises the public about this.

It's wrong to call it International Driver's License, by the way. To get a legitimate International Driving Permit, or IDP, which allows U.S. motorists to drive in 174 countries, you have to get them ONLY from either of these two organizations: Triple A (American Automobile Association), or the National Automobile Club. They are the only organizations authorized by the U.S. Department of State to issue IDPs.

IDP is a translation of your U.S. license into several languages and is available to anyone over 18 who has had a license for at least six months.

It costs $15 and is valid for a year. The scammers promise that it is valid for 5 years, which is your first clue that it is fake. The permit is not a license and if you drive abroad, you are advised to carry your IDP and U.S. license.

The fake permits advertised by scammers cost more than $100, even as much as $300, and they make you believe that they can be used as substitutes or replacement for a U.S. license or any DMV-issued ID. That's false. They are not valid in an individual's country of residence, i.e. U.S., if you live here.

The US State Department warns about the scams: "...marketers falsely claim that their documents authorize consumers to drive legally in the U.S., even if they don't have state-issued licenses or if their state-issued licenses have been suspended or revoked; can be used to avoid points or fines affecting state-issued drivers' licenses; and can be used as photo ID in the U.S.
FTC officials say all these claims are false.

In fact, if you're a U.S. resident, and you're caught using an IDP in place of your state-issued driver's license, the consequences can be severe. You could be charged with driving without a license or driving with a suspended or revoked license. If you can't produce proof of your identity (for example, a valid driver's license, a state-issued identification card, valid immigration documents, or a passport), the officer can assume that you're trying to withhold your identity and arrest you."

To apply for a legitimate IDP, you will need to fill up a form, present two passport-size photographs and your valid U.S. license.

Visit the office or download an application from:
AAA (American Automobile Association) , 1000 AAA Drive, Heathrow, FL 32745-5063. The application is available on-line.

or
National Auto Club, 1151 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City, CA 94404, tel: 800-622-2136 or 800-294-7000 ; fax: 650-294-7040. Here's the application form.

For more info: http://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpc.html/idpc.html or www.nationalautoclub.com/idp_faqs.htm.

If you've been scammed: To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

[photo: NYTimes]

U.S. Passport Card Acceptablefor Employment Eligibility Verification

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is informing the public that the new U.S. Passport Card may be used in the Employment Eligibility Verification form (I-9) process. Typically, employers ask you to fill up this form when you're a new employee.

The Passport Card is a wallet-sized document for land and sea travel between the United States and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. It is not valid for international travel by air - for that, you need the regular passport.

In July, the Departments of State and Homeland Security announced that the new passport card was in full production. The new card is less expensive and convenient, and will expedite document processing at United States land and sea ports-of-entry for U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

While the new card is not valid for international travel, it is a valid passport that attests to the U.S. citizenship and identity of the bearer. So, the card may be used for the Form I-9 process and can also be accepted by employers participating in the E-Verify program.

The passport card is considered a “List A” document that may be presented by newly hired employees during the employment eligibility verification process to show work-authorized status. “List A” documents are those used by employees to prove both identity and work authorization when completing the Form I-9.

The Passport Card is available for $45 for first-time adult applicants and $35 for children under 16. Adults who currently have valid passports can apply for the passport card by mail for $20.

Para mag-apply ng U.S. Passport Card, or the traditional passport, go to travel.state.gov.

FO PICK: Journey's Arnel Pineda on CNN

The rock band Journey, now fronted by true-blue Pinoy talent Arnel Pineda, will be featured on CNN's "News To Me" this coming Saturday, Aug 9 at 7:30PM & 9:30PM EST.

Thanks to Jon de la Cruz for the tip.

[photo: CNN]

No More DMV on Saturdays

If you have pending business with any California DMV office, you will now need to go on weekdays because they have eliminated Saturday service this month.

Due to the ongoing state budget crisis, the DMV has fired 700 employees, crippling its Saturday operations.

Before this, 53 California Department of Motor Vehicles offices are open one Saturday morning every month. Since Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered the "layoff of thousands of part-time employees, limited overtime and imposed a hiring freeze," many government and government-funding-dependent offices have been suffering.

To avoid the expected long wait, schedule your DMV appointments online or over the phone before your visit.

PACQUIAO VERSUS DE LA HOYA UPDATE

For those who haven't seen Manny Pacquiao fight since his epic battles with Erik Morales, here's one that you should mark as a must-see: his potential non-title Las Vegas bout with Oscar De La Hoya on December 6.

"I would say, cautiously optimistic, there's maybe a 75% chance that the fight will happen," De La Hoya camp's Richard Schaefer said to Los Angeles Times.

FYI: Another Chance For Pinoy Texans to Apply for New Philippine Passport

Here's another opportunity for Pinoys in Texas (if they can't make it on August 9) to apply for the new passport and to avail of other Philippine Consulate services:

The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles is pleased to announce that a Consular Outreach Program will be held in Houston, Texas on 23 August 2008 from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm at the International Food Court, Beltway Plaza, 8388 W. Sam Houston Parkway, Houston, TX 77072 (same building as PNB Remittance Centers, Inc., same complex as Viet-Hoa – off Beechnut and the feeder road of Beltway 9 South).

Interested parties may wish to contact Shirley Camacho of PNB at any of the following email addresses: secamacho@pnbrci.com, Houston@pnbrci.com; or telephone nos.: (800) 762-8788, (281) 988-7575 or 7001; Ethel Mercado of PACC at 214-334-8487; and Tess Tuazon of FACOST at 713-787-1938.

The Consulate will only accept payments in cash, postal money order or cashier’s check. Personal checks will not be accepted.

Application forms and requirements could be downloaded from the website of the Consulate at www.philippineconsulatela.org.

To ensure a smooth and orderly processing of applications, interested parties are requested to contact Ms. Shirley Camacho or the Consulate losangelespcg@earthlink.net), for any questions or inquiries.

For more info on the new Philippine passport application process, here's some.

Fantastic Filipina: MARISA DE LOS SANTOS, Best-selling Author

When her first novel "Love Walked In" was published, Marisa de los Santos hit the literary jackpot - it became a New York Times bestseller.

Since then, it has resided in many other bestseller lists and has been translated into more than 14 languages. The film rights was optioned by Paramount Pictures.

The author did a reading in Historic Filipinotown in Los Angeles to promote her latest book, "Belong To Me".

Incredibly poised and gracious about her success, she is what every young writer, Filipina or not, should dream of becoming.

Both her books have become bestsellers - a lovely phenomenon that surprised Marisa.

"It's been a great surprise…I wasn't a fiction writer at all so I wrote the novel for the pure challenge…Once it got rolling, my biggest hope was to be able to write for a living, which I've been able to do. It's a huge privilege," she says.

Before becoming a full-time writer, she was a college professor. She is also an award-winning poet.

"My dad is really happy for me to be finally making money from my writing," she adds with a laugh. Marisa grew up in Baltimore and Virginia.

Marisa's father, a general surgeon in the U.S., hails from Cebu. Her mother, who's Caucasian, was a nurse. The de los Santoses are now based in Cebu.

The author's next book is partly about the Philippines and will feature some Filipino characters.

But whatever ethnic backgrounds her characters have, in Marisa's mighty pen, they are always interesting. Her two books are filled with people who are both familiar and unique, with situations that are heartbreaking and heart-lifting.

"Love Walked In" and "Belong To Me" deal with the issue of what makes a family. Entertaining, intelligent and warm-hearted, both books are hard to put down once you get going.

As a bonus for us Pinoys, the books' main male character is a Filipino fleshed out in the best possible light: impossibly handsome, strong and kind, and cooks pansit really well!

For aspiring writers, Marisa has this advice:

"When you're writing, don't think about the fiction market. Don't think about getting an agent…Be true to your story, your characters. Write the book you want to write."

A busier schedule notwithstanding, Marisa's priorities remain the same. Her family comes first, she says. Marisa is married to a fellow writer and they have two kids.

She does her promo duties but tries to make out-of-town trips as short as possible.

"My children love it when they see their mom's pictures when we go to bookstores," she says with a laugh.

You Need Philippine Passport? You Need Six Weeks (and a "medium" smile, among other things)

Last June 2, the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles (as well as the Philippine Embassy and other Consulates General in the U.S.) started processing Machine Readable Passports (MRP). Its features are similar to the U.S. passport. The cost is the same - $50, but everything else is not.

"It has superior security features compared to the green passports, which virtually eliminates the possibility of identity theft and acts of fraud," says the consulate.

If you haven't heard about the changes in the 1st-time/renewal application process, here they are:
1. You need to apply in person. Yes, even if you are from Southern Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and the far corners of Southern California. This is for "data verification, finger-printing and signature capture." (The consulate schedules a visit to cities so you can apply then; see info on consular outreach below).

2. It will now take 6 weeks to receive (pick-up or mail) the new passport so don't book that ticket till you have it in your hand. Have an emergency? Bring official documents (death certificate, etc.) that will prove your need. The consulate will do its best to accommodate you if you genuinely need to go quickly, says Deputy Consul General Dan Espiritu. The consulate can also grant a travel document, which is just for a one-way trip, but this is not supposed to replace a passport and is not granted willy-nilly.

Everyone else will have to wait for six weeks. Why that long? Because all applications are sent to the Philippines for processing.

3. Here's the link to the complete requirements, but pay special attention to the photo requirements because they are super-tight. Here are some:

Background – ROYAL BLUE
Size – 4.5 cm X 3.5 cm.
Pose – image of
applicant is 70 – 80% of the photograph
Straight frontal shot (no tilting of head)
“Medium” smile is allowed
Collared shirt / decent attire
Both ears visible

Now, the consulate cannot suggest this, but if I were you, I won't risk wasting money by getting these pics taken at outside places (like Walgreens, etc.) because they'll most likely be different from what's required.

Two friends of mine wasted $40 each because the ones they got outside didn't pass the stringent standards. There are two photo shops operating next-door to the consulate, and they are well-briefed on the standards. One charges $10, the other, $20.

A few weeks ago, I did a report in Balitang America about the frustrations voiced by some kababayans who found the new process tedious. I talked to a family who came all the way from Texas to apply; I also talked to a lolo who was just so frustrated by the lack of information. There were some very confused (hence, angry) applicants because, at that time, the consulate had two websites with conflicting info.

The applicants' concerns were heard and immediate actions were taken by consulate officials. Also, Public Affairs Officer Eric Sierra built a user-friendly and, more importantly, updated website: http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/. If you accidentally click on the outdated website, they provide a link to the new one.

As for the distance concern, the very busy but accomodating consulate does consular outreach & you can apply when they go to your city. This August 9, it will be held in Dallas, Texas from 9:00 am until 4:30 pm at the PNB Remittance Center, Inc., 940 E. Beltline Drive, Suite 130, Richardson, Dallas, TX 75081. PNB’s contact details are as follows: (972) 470-9910, (972) 470-9912, (281) 988-7001, and (800) 762-8788.

In doing the report, I got some tips that I'd like to pass on to you:

1. Bring a photocopy of your old passport.
2. Wear a dress or shirt with collar, if you're planning on getting your photos taken there.
3. Oh, and here's the link to the passport application form that you can print & fill up ahead of time.

4. Don't forget to review the step-by-step procedures. It's just 8 steps! Very easy to follow. This way you won't feel lost when you get to the consulate.

5. Don't bother calling the appointment number. I called that number myself to test it & didn't get a response. Just show up. And avoid coming on Monday mornings. That's when it's busiest.

6. BOTTOM LINE: Don't wait till the last minute to renew/apply for the new passport.

SCAM ALERT: Phony E-mail Promising Additional Economic Stimulus Refund Money

First of all, did you hear about the talks that a second stimulus check is coming this year? This report says it is really being "considered" by Washington leaders.

On to our main topic: Earlier this year, I wrote about the stimulus checks. Now comes the double check incident & a scam to watch out for.

Some Americans are getting second checks (duplicate amount as the first one) by mistake. The bottomline: If it's for a duplicate amount, don't cash it until you've checked if it's not a mistake. The IRS will get it back from you at some point. Here's what to do if you get a duplicate check.

But there are taxpayers who will accurately get a second check starting this month if their "original stimulus payment did not include a payment for their eligible child," according to the IRS.

The two things above are just for some of us, but here's what's going to affect a lot of us: stimulus payment scams.

Today, I got the e-mail (above image). It's official-looking, all right, except for that "Best Regards" gaffe. It said:

"The fastest and easiest way to receive your full refund is by direct deposit to your checking/savings account,as payments continue on a weekly schedule through July.

To properly receive your full refund, fill out the form below and submit before July 24th, 2008 to ensure that your refund will be processed as soon as possible."

I knew it was a scam because the Internal Revenue Services NEVER requests detailed personal information through e-mail, and does not send e-mail requesting your PIN numbers, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts.

When you get the same e-mail, DON'T click on the link. Immediately forward it to the IRS scam reporting email address: phishing@irs.gov.

Here are more info from the government on these types of scam.

Manila Fire Photo on NY Times Front Page

Amazing photo, dire circumstances.

This dramatic shot is on the New York Times front page today. Dennis M. Sabangan of the European Pressphoto Agency caught these Pinoys sa bubong as they "tried to put out a fire with buckets of water in a slum in the capital, Manila."

PASYALAN: Universal Studios

When I was still living in the Philippines, Universal Studios Hollywood theme park was a dream destination. That's why, the first time I got in in 2000, I was like a kid in...Universal Studios Hollywood theme park.

Sure it's a tad pricey (click here for ticket prices info), especially in these economic times, but it is a must-visit whenever you have out-of-town (and country) visitors so it makes sense for us SoCal peeps to have annual passes.

The weekend before the July 4th holiday, we visited Universal Studios in Hollywood. But what put a damper on an otherwise fun day at the world-famous "entertainment capital of L.A." was an incident I witnessed at the gate: at least two Pinoy families were not able to come in because they didn't realize that they came on a black-out date. They drove from far away, with multiple disappointed family members in tow, and didn't realize that their annual passes are not valid on certain dates. Sayang!

Mga kababayan, if you have an annual pass, you have to be aware of the black-out dates. They are specified in your pass cards - the same one you present at the gate. If you'd rather not deal with black-out dates, you should purchase the slightly more expensive no-black-out pass rather than the regular one.

Our passes also had date restrictions but we were able to get in because we had a limited-time-only coupon that allowed us to get in on a black-out day. My best friend (and Universal Studios frequent guest) Teeny clued me in on how to get them AT NO COST: register your annual pass at the Universal Studios website and get exclusive member benefits, which in this case was a coupon for entrance on June's black-out date. Through this, we also got Priority Boarding and 20% discount on food & merchandise purchases.

For one member of our group who didn't have an annual pass, we were also able to save by using a $15 off coupon that I clipped from the L.A. Times Sunday coupons.

It was our second visit this year, and the first ever for my mom. No matter how many times you've been to Universal, the park never ceases to entertain.

The newest attraction was the Simpson's Ride. My friends gave it a two thumbs up - I couldn't go this visit because I was keeping my mom company and she wouldn't be able to stand the ride's sudden movements. But there are plenty of other enjoyable attractions for the whole family: For instance, we all had a blast at WaterWorld. Action, adventure, a handsome cast, and lots of water - what's not to enjoy? (Digression: The guy currently playing Mariner is already worth the price of admission, if you ask the girls in our group. Sigh. What a hunk.)

Of course, a trip at Universal isn't complete without taking the Studio Tour. In fact, on the official studio map given out at the gate, they mention this one as the first thing to do. "See how Hollywood magic really happens. Explore Hollywood's backlot..." Yes, all that & more.

Though I've seen them before, I was still enthralled with the eeriness of the War of the Worlds crash set, still yelled like a little girl at the faux earthquake subway scene, and still got wowed by the two dancing and hurtling cars of The Fast & the Furious. If you're a silly bunch, as we are, the ride could be rife with funny moments: For instance, we are still laughing to this day when we recall how one of our companions, a manly man in all respects, yelped when Jaws suddenly appeared on his side. Ha-ha-ha! I think that's the one that's really worth the price of admission.

The Shrek 4-D attraction is also a must-see for the whole family. It's funny, and I have five words for you: Watch out for the squirts! Also, a tip, when you're lining up outside the auditorium where the "prisoners" are doing their bit, try to get through the middle door as they are the best seats in my experience. Heavily pregnant women & others who can't stand it when the chairs suddenly move can occupy the back seats where they could enjoy the show without the jarring movements.

We ate at Doc's Brown's which has really great chicken & okay prices, but unfortunately, they have uneven service. Tip: When you're lining up to order & you're paying by credit card, you can skip the regular long line & go to the right line where you can pay self-service - so much faster, though we were stuck by a few minutes when the cashier can't complete the transaction for some reason.

At lunch, we were serenaded by an awesome mariachi band. After that, we went around some more, and took photos with the characters. Before we knew it, the day is done! We missed going to The Mummy & Jurassic Park rides & others but our aching feet told us that we've had enough for the day.

If you're planning a visit soon, here's extra info from Universal: "If you are a "Regular Annual Pass" or "2008 Pass" member and you would like to re-visit on a Black-Out Date, there are two ways you can: (1) Purchase a special 1-day upgrade; or (2) Purchase a full upgrade to a "Premium" or "No Black-Out Annual Pass". Both upgrade options are available at the Annual Pass Center near the Universal Studios Hollywood entrance turnstiles when you arrive at the Park."

For the rest of us, there's always (the almost black-out-free) September!

PASYAL TIPS:

1. Go early. The park opens at 9 am so you'll have more chances of stuffing your day with all the park has to offer.

2. Don't forget to get a studio map at the entrance.

3. Bring some light snacks para tipid.

4. You can ask any employee about your fave character appearance times. For WaterWorld, you can pose with the actors right after the show.

5. When you get the Sunday paper, clip the Universal coupon. You never know when you or a friend might need it. Sayang din yung $15 discount per person, di ba?

[The lovely lady up top is my friend, L.T. The other one is of another friend, Nini & her fam. The high-flying girl is from WaterWorld. All PHOTOS are from our February '08 visit.]

BUHAY AMERICA TIPS:Losing (and hopefully, finding) Your Stuff at LAX

I'm sure most of us have had that scary feeling when we're traveling. One moment we're calmly boarding our plane, and the next moment, ay naku! We suddenly realized we possibly left something at the airport.

If it's false alarm, good for you! Pero kung talagang may naiwan ka sa airport, it might not be the last time you see your stuff. All you have to do is find out who to contact and take the time to make the call.

The Los Angeles Times recently published an informative article on what to do when you lose items at the LAX.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the LAX police maintain a lost-and-found departments so if you lose something there, you might have a good chance that you can get it back. TSA hold most items for 30 days, the LAX police holds them for 97 days. Unclaimed items get donated.

The top 5 things they've recovered? Cellphones, luggage, electronics such as cameras & DVD players, laptops, and clothings. Each day, they find about "400 objects from checkpoints."

Writer Jane Engle lists the tips to remember to avoid losing-it hassles and what to do to when it happens:

* Carry on valuables. For every TSA employee who handles a bag, seven to 10 airline or contract employees may also handle it.

* Mark everything with a phone number and an e-mail address. Tape a business card to your laptop.

* Consolidate items. Put your keys and cellphone in your laptop case before going through security.

* Know whom to contact. Each airport may work differently. At LAX, if you think the loss happened at a security checkpoint, call the TSA at (310) 665-7382. Visit http://www.tsa.gov/ for more info, click on "For Travelers" and select "Lost & Found. There you can see the contact info for all airports.

If you think you left your item somewhere other than a TSA checkpoint, contact your airline or the LAX Airport Police Lost & Found; (310) 417-0440, www.lawa.org/lax/lostFound.cfm.

[photo: foxnews.com]

"Filipinos In The East Bay"

Ang di lumilingon sa pinanggalingan, di makararating sa paroroonan.

This popular Filipino proverb teaches the need to look back to guide us in our journey towards our destination. And Filipinos in the East Bay, a new book written by four accomplished Filipinas, does a remarkable job of taking the reader to the journey taken by early East Bay Filipino Americans in the early 1900's (such as the pensionados), then back to the future where many kababayans have found their niche in the mainstream.

The writers, Evangeline Canonizado Buell, Evelyn Luluquisen, Eleanor Hipol Luis, and Lillian Galedo - accomplished Filipinas all - wrote Filipinos in the East Bay because "we knew that if we did not tell our stories in our own voices, the others would tell them for us."

The "vibrant past" of early Filipino immigrants is laid out in evocative pictures. What the images don't tell, the finely researched and succinctly written captions do. Go to page 33 and see a picture of a happy couple – a Filipino and a Caucasian – cutting their wedding cake, and imagine the difficulties that they must have endured back when Filipinos cannot legally marry a white woman.

Go back a few pages, and you will see the work I.D. of Marina Angel, who "worked as a welder in the Richmond Shipyard with other women during World War II."

No white collar jobs were available for Filipinos at that time. They "faced severe discrimination," the book says, and they were "viewed as 'filthy' and suited only for menial work."

The book, with over 200 vintage photographs, culled from what must be baul-baul of Filipino family memories and storage rooms, is divided into four chapters: Journey for Opportunity, Expanding Community, Changing Demographics, and The Journey Continues. From the pictures of early businesses owned by Filipinos to the modern images of notable kababayans, it is evident that their continuing journey remains to be a fruitful and eventful one.

Below is a Q&A with author Evelyn Luluquisen.

The book is published by Arcadia Publishing, the premier local history publisher in America.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Filipinos in the East Bay, $19.99, Arcadia Publishing. Available at local retailers, online bookstores, or through Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com or (888)313-2665.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q&A:

FilipinOnline: Why did you write the book?

Evelyn Luluquisen: When the Filipino American National Historical Society of the East Bay got together to do oral histories in the 1990's, we learned that our people wanted to see their stories in writing. We knew that if we do not tell our stories in our own voices, then others will tell them for us. We would risk losing the essence and truth about the Filipino-American experience. Our stories could fade from memory, and one day our children's children would ask: Who are our ancestors? What were they like? What did they do? And we would not be there to answer their questions and, possibly, there would be no where to look.

What's the biggest lesson that you learned from writing the book?

That it is possible to achieve a major recording of our history through primary sources. The photos and the contributor's in their 80's and 90'shave so much to share about their lives, our culture and history.

What was the most important information that you learned from all the research?

That much of our history is still unrecorded and the time is now to make sure it does not get lost.

PASYALAN: Hollywood

If you think that Hollywood Walk of Fame's bronze-rimmed stars won't be enough to satisfy your appetite for star-sighting, maybe seeing the real kind will.

On a recent trip to see this famous landmark, we shared an escalator ride with Amaury Nolasco (that's Sucre to you, Prison Break watchers) as we came in from the Hollywood and Highland parking structure.

Although there's never a guarantee that you'll be seeing stars in this popular tourist spot, you can be sure that you can literally step in their footsteps. In front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood Ave., you can measure the hand and footprints of mega-celebs like Will Smith, the Harry Potter stars, and Tom Cruise against yours. Morgan Freeman's was most impressive to me.

For souvenir photos, you can pose with the street performers dressed as your favorite movie and TV characters. Caution: you do have to pay at least $1 per photo with these mascots, and some of them can be pushy so prepare for the hard-sell.

Other paid activities include taking the Hollywood bus tours, or if you want to avoid the harsh summer sun, you can buy a ticket for a tour of the Kodak Theater and have your Oscar moment indoors. Outside, for free, you can have your picture taken on the steps where celebrities walk on their way to the theater during Oscar ceremonies.

Don't miss the chance to pose against the Hollywood sign background. Best spots to see the giant iconic sign would be on the California Pizza Kitchen patio on the ground floor, or at the second floor hallway overlooking the fountain.

If you're flush with sightseeing money, you can also go to the Hollywood Wax Museum and Ripley's "Believe it or Not" Museum (a bit creepy for my scaredy-cat taste), or see Wicked in the Pantages theater while you're in the area.

There are souvenirs and shops galore in the Hollywood and Highland (H&H) mall so there are plenty of opportunities to choose a memento to remember your Hollywood visit by.

TIP: To save on parking costs, park inside the Hollywood and Highland parking structure and have your ticket validated by buying water or cookie from any shop that offers validation (almost every shop in the H&H mall does). If you're coming from Hollywood Ave., make a right on Highland and enter the structure on your left. It's a big parking lot so don't forget where you parked!

PASYAL COST:

Validated Parking: $2

Entrance Fee to H&H: None

Kodak Theater tour: Adults $15/kids under 3 Free

FilipinOnline's PASYALAN features fun places to go. I'll include tips to save and where to get the most bang for buck. Write me if you have a Pasyalan to recommend. Don't forget to include pics and enjoyment tips for our kababayans!

[topmost photo from wikipedia]

BUHAY AMERICA TIPS:Receiving Social Security BenefitsThrough Debit Cards

If you or someone you know are receiving Social Security benefits (including SSI), instead of waiting for your paper checks, you can get them monthly through a MasterCard debit card service called Direct Express. The government has made this service available to discourage the use of paper checks which are costly for both the government and the recipients who pay about $6 each time they cash their checks at cash-checking stores. Also, with this service, you don't have to worry about lost or stolen mail or postal delays.

Applying for a card is free, and you also get one free ATM withdrawal per month. Cardholders can also get free cash back with purchases at retail locations, or free cash withdrawals through bank or credit union tellers.

ATM owner surcharges may apply at ATMs outside the Direct Express network. After the first free withdrawal, you will be charged 90 cents per transaction thereafter.

For more info, go to this government website. To apply online, click here, and to sign up by mail, click here.

*Ignore the "Click on..." sign on the photo. That link won't work for this blog.

ASK A KABABAYAN:"My employer doesn't pay me overtime dahil exempt employee daw ako. What does this mean?"

Employees who get overtime pay and whose time worked are recorded as mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act (a federal law that protects overtime rights, among others) regulations are considered non-exempt. Employees who have an exempt FLSA regulations status are not covered by the overtime and record-keeping requirements of the Act. The Department of Labor considers all employees subject to overtime and minimum wage requirements unless their positions have been specifically determined to be exempt.

Binabayaran ka ba ng not less than $455 per week (or $23,660 annually), or if you work in a computer-work category, at least $27.63 per hour? The salary criteria is one of the things that determine if you are exempt, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Exemption is also based on an evaluation of the employee's duties and responsibilities, which may offer an exemption if you are in executive, administrative, professional, or in certain computer-related occupations. Read this comprehensive webpage that details the exempt-employee qualifications.

When I was new in the U.S., unfortunately, I had a boss who placed me and others in this exempt category presumably so that we won't get paid overtime, which, of course, she required on a regular basis. What a rhymes-with-witch. Ultimately, companies that employ people like her lose out because employees who wise up to such backhanded tactics leave the company, or if they can't, they become so frustrated that they turn in lackluster work.

Unfortunately, there are people like my former boss working among us. One of whom might be your boss. BUT don't jump into conclusions until you've reviewed if you really are an exempt employee. First of all, sinabihan ka ba that you are an exempt employee when you started? Usually, we sign a job descriptions page when we start a new job.

All criteria (including salary & job description) for the specified exemption must be met simultaneously to qualify for the exemption. If your job doesn't fit the criteria and you're still not getting overtime pay, maybe you can let your HR manager know that you know the rule. If nothing happens and you want to get more information, here's the Department of Labor contact info: 1-866-487-9243 or go to their website. Good luck!

BUHAY AMERICA TIP: Low-Cost Auto Insurance For Californians

With gas prices getting higher and higher, anything that could save motorists hard-earned money is a great thing.

If you live in California, here's a way to get low-cost auto insurance.

California's Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program provides liability insurance coverage (if you're a new U.S. driver, click this to get info on why you need liability insurance) to qualified applicants for less than $400 a year, depending on which county you live. Halimbawa, if you live in L.A. County, the rate is $350, but if you live in Imperial County, the rate is only $208. San Diego is $265, while Riverside is $243. Here's the list of rates. NOTE: A 25% Surcharge is added to the base rate for unmarried, male drivers ages 19-24.

Do you qualify? You are if you:

1.) Meet low-income requirements (1 person = $26,000, 2 persons = $35,000, 4 persons = $53,000, 8 persons = $89,000)

2.) Meet the good driver standard (no more than one at-fault property damage only accident or more than one point for moving violation in the past three years)

3.) Have not had an at fault accident involving bodily injury or death in the past 3 years.

4.) Are at least 19 years old

5.) Have been continuously licensed to drive for the past three years

6.) Have a vehicle valued at less than the $20,000

How do you sign up?
Go to their website and/or call the CLCA hotline at: 1-866-602-8861.

[picture: CLCA website]

FIL AM I AM: Going Home

I just had a semi-crisis: It's been so long since I posted last that for a moment I forgot my blog password. Thankfully, my morning-brain freeze was only temporary.

So, I went home to the Philippines last month. I found it apt that before both my departure and arrival, I thought of the same thing: "I'm going home." As one quippy Fil Am told me once: "America is our homeland; Philippines is our motherland." We Fil Ams - like many Pinoys who live all over the world but still maintain Philippine roots - have two homes, and we're so lucky.

Manila is so different, and yet it's still the same. Masikip is the best physical description I could come up with as soon as I entered the always-chaotic NAIA terminal. But Manila has always been masikip. Its very limited space is part of its appeal, I guess. If you're poor and un-connected, it is so hard to survive there that some people from the provinces probably treat it as a badge of honor to be able to eke out a living there.

The traffic is as slow as I remembered - but not, I thought, any worse than the 101 freeway in L.A. at rush hour. But the crazy driving and careless pedestrian-crossing are a different matter altogether. The photo I took of this truly Pinoy behaviour (see above pic) was on the front page of Philippine News a few weeks ago. Of course, in true Pinoy fashion, humor seeps through the seriousness of this situation. Tell me you don't get the urge to chuckle when you read the sign. Morbid humor. Pinoys do it best, I tell ya.

The only place I got the time to visit was Malacanang (to interview Press Secretary Bunye), and the popular Mall of Asia. I hope to write about both in later posts.

I wish I have more interesting stories to share today about my trip but since it was short and my time to write today feels shorter, I would include in this post a promise to double my efforts to write more in the coming days.

There's info galore in my Ask a Kababayan and Buhay America Tips folders so please come back later. (I know I'm writing as if I have a steady group of readers, but I can dream, can't I?:)

I also have several Q&As lined up. I've done four or five stories (for PN and Balitang America) since I came back but I didn't even find the time to write about them for my own website. Pathetic, no? While covering those stories, I witnessed a Pinay mom break down after her daughter's and grandson's killer was sentenced to life in prison; laughed at a breakdancing young Pinoy wearing kamisa de chino backstage at a Filipino Cultural Night in Knot's Berry Farm; and hear both Hillary and Obama prominently mention their support of Filipino WWII vets at the historic (if horribly attended) first-ever Asian & Pacific Islander Americans Presidential Townhall.

I'm also busy getting my mom settled here (she's the reason I went home; my petition for her went through fast and without a hitch, yay!) My mom is quickly adjusting to Fil-Am life; you should see her cheering for American Idol's David Cook last night. I myself was cheering for Archie, but what the hey. There were definite Pinoy moments in the show (Ramiele & Renaldo were there, of course) but the best thing for me when we were watching it was seeing her appreciate how in America, everything is possible if you work hard. Say what you will about AI (cheesy, repetitive, with shameless and crass commercialism - all true, BTW) but at its best, it's truly great TV for us impossible-dreamers.

She is still converting everything to pesos and misses her Tagalog soap operas (Have you heard of Lobo? Apparently, wolves roam the Philippines like askals. In TVland, that is.) but she is now addicted to Law & Order and Crossing Jordan reruns on cable. She also appreciates many things about American living. For instance, she was amazed by how quickly the process for applying for a senior ID took at the DMV.

"Lahat mabilis dito. Tsaka lahat malaki," she says while looking at a watermelon double the size of her torso at Walmart.

Through her, I'm gaining a lot of information for new and senior citizen-immigrants that I could share with other Pinoys undergoing/about to undergo similar family petitions. By the way, did you hear about the new H2B ruling? This might help you, so check it out.

All these post-trip activities on top of my regular workload required busier-than-ever multi-tasking that of course pointed out one undeniable fact: I'm home. Time to get crackin'.

BUHAY AMERICA TIP: Intruder Alert for your E-mail Account

Setting up an intruder alarm for your e-mail account is another way by which you can repel ID thieves.

Here's an article written by PCWorld's Erik Larkin - he talks about how it's done (getting a hacker alarm) para malaman nyo kung may tumitingin na iba sa email account ninyo.

Eto ang sabi sa article:

1.) Open an account with OneStatFree.com, and use a disposable e-mail address to complete the registration process.
2.) You'll receive an email from OneStat with an attached file. Save the file, note the account number, and then delete the email.
3.) Rename the file with a name that would catch a hacker's eye like "AccountPasswords." Save the .txt file as an .htm file so it opens up in a web browser.
4.) Send an email with the .htm file to the account you want to monitor. Use a subject title that is eye catching.
5.) Wait for the hacker to take the bait. If the attachment is opened by anyone else but you, the hit counter will record their IP address.
6.) Change your password frequently to something that's a little harder to crack.

[photo: Yahoo.com]

POPULAR PHILIPPINE TOUR FOR FIL AMS READY TO TAKE OFF

By Yong B. Chavez

www.filipinonline.com

"Wag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan."

It's a favorite slogan of nationalists, and many Fil Ams have taken it to heart.

When Philippine tourism officials realized that many Filipinos in America don't relish being strangers to their own motherland any longer, the Ambassadors, Consuls General, and Tourism Directors Tour was born. It is now on its fourth year.

The country might be embroiled in political controversies, but for the tour organizers, the show will go on.

"We are not sidetracked in our mandate – and this is to promote the Philippines as a tourism destination," said Los Angeles Consul General Mary Jo Aragon.

The tour, being lead this year by the L.A. consulate, has drawn hordes of balikbayans and tourists since it began. Each year, hundreds of vacationers enjoy the group trip, which they say is a bargain, considering the itinerary.

The cost of the basic tour, now at $1,610 plus surcharges, has slightly increased due to higher plane fare costs, but the highlights of the tour remain the same: roundtrip ticket, 3-nights hotel stay, a Malacanang Palace visit, business seminars, and day tours.

A Festival of the Philippines soirée at the Sofitel, a beautiful hotel overlooking Manila Bay, will welcome this year's participants.

Many of the early tour sign-ups will visit the Philippines for the first time, but a lot of the travelers are satisfied repeaters. This year, the organizers capped the maximum number of participants to 500. In previous years, they had to turn down last-minute trip bookers due to the enormous response to the project.

Non-Pinoys also enjoy the group trip.

"As a matter of fact, I'm encouraging my friends to go with me because I think it's a very inexpensive way to see the Philippines," said Joseph D'Oliveira, Honorary Consul L.A. Consulate of Guyana.

"It's an experience of a lifetime, once you sign up for it, all you need to do is pack and go. Everything is arranged for you already," said Annie Cuevas, Director and Tourism Attache of the Philippine Department of Tourism in L.A.

The tour will be from July 10 to 15. Optional out-of-town tours from July 15 to 18 is available for an additional cost. Deadline for registration is May 1 ; full payment deadline is June 10.

To register and to get more information:

E-mail:

ambatourla2008@aol.com; acgtour2008@gmail.com

Call:

(213) 487-4525 or (213) 637-3031

Photo credit:

Left, Annie Cuevas being interviewed at the tour launching, taken by Lydia Solis

Above photo, from experiencephilippines.ph

BUHAY AMERICA TIP:Beware of Scammers Stealing Tax Refunds

If you get a call from someone saying that they are IRS agents and asking all kinds of personal financial information in relation to your tax refunds and rebates, hold the phone.

Better yet, disconnect.

Here's a story about how some scammers are targeting people expecting money back from the government. With tax season in full swing, some criminals are having a busy time, too, stealing money from those who are supposed to receive refunds (and soon, rebates).

Some people have received e-mails that looked like they came from the IRS and other government agencies, complete with believable logos, instructing them to click on a special attached form to provide personal information.

Never, ever, ever click. Tandaan ninyo: The IRS will never ask for bank account or similar information over the phone or Internet.

If you ever get this bogus call or e-mail, go to the IRS Web site and report it.

[photo: CNN.com]

PAPAYA DANCE

Pinoys did it again. Through the Papaya dance - dubbed as the new Macarena - we have another viral hit.

The Papaya dance was popularized by a Philippine game show and was recently featured in "Good Morning America." Go here to see Diane Sawyer and co. attempt to do the dance.

Click on the YouTube link above to see a Pinoy family from San Francisco getting jiggy with it.

BUHAY AMERICA TIP: Family Watchdog

FilipinOnline reader Jon Dela Cruz sent this informative link about Family Watchdog, an organization that maintains a website where parents can know where registered sex offenders live in your area.
It's creepy because in one click you can even see the pictures of the offenders, but a useful tool nonetheless for parents who would like to know if any of the offenders live near their home or the child's school.

The Filipino Healing Priest

Text and photos by: Yong B. Chavez

To the church ushers' consternation, the intention of the woman wearing a yellow sweater has skipped their notice. After making her way through the dense crowd, she marched straight to the altar and is now hunched in front of the seated priest, a boyish-looking petite man.

They are talking indistinctly. The mass has just ended and a healing service is about to commence.

"Mga Pinoy talaga, ang hilig sumingit," one of the men says, making jokes but obviously seething. It does look like the woman wanted to bypass the long queue so most of those within the disapproving man's hearing distance nod in agreement. "There's a line, all these people in wheelchairs... She can't just cut. She should wait her turn to be healed by Father," he adds.

"Father" is Father Fernando Suarez, the now-famous Filipino-Canadian Catholic healing priest, who travels all over the world to hold healing services. The 41-year-old man of God was in town for a 2-week stop in Southern California which began in mid-February. He is currently in the country for a multi-city healing tour.

The St. Catherine of Siena church, a good-sized place of worship in the San Fernando Valley, is filled to the rafters despite the rain.

The woman in yellow was led to the microphone by another priest. By the time she began speaking through tears, most have realized that she's no line-cutter. She doesn't need to; she's already healed, she says.

Elvira Lacson, a 58-year-old businesswoman from Rancho Cucamonga, said that before she was prayed over by Suarez in 2007, her left eye was completely blind due to diabetes. She had a host of other ailments, topped off by a mini-stroke.

"After he prayed, Father told me, 'Now, open your eyes,' I did, and then I saw him, I saw the crowd. I saw everything," she said. Her other illnesses? Also gone. "My doctors were amazed. My family was amazed."

It is her first time to share her story publicly but since she became better, Lacson has become some sort of a Suarez stalker, albeit the positive kind.

"Now, I follow Father wherever he goes. When he went to the Philippines, I went there, too," Lacson said.

In this devotion, she is hardly alone.

Since going public with his healing ministry a few years ago, Suarez's miraculous touch has become legendary.

"He's like the Pied Piper. Everyone just wants to follow him," said Vic Perez, a Los Angeles resident. (Perez is organizing a big healing concert for the priest in May 17 to be held at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. Admission is free.)

But instead of drowning those who follow him like in the famous legend, Suarez lifts up everyone he encounters, Perez said.

"When I first heard about him, I didn't believe," Perez said. There are a lot of fake healers in the world, he added. "But upon seeing what he does up-close, it's… I don't know, it's just mind-boggling. My life has changed since meeting him."

Even Suarez did not believe his own gift at first.

Born and raised in a small barrio in Batangas by a tricycle driver dad and a seamstress mom, Suarez did not envision "healing priest" to be his future job title. He was the eldest child and he took the practical route of getting a college degree.

However, there was an incident when he was in high school that made him wonder if he was living the life meant for him.

At 16, he met a paralyzed old woman, and feeling sorry for her, Suarez prayed over her. To both their surprise, she was able to walk right after.

He continued with his studies and worked after college as a chemical engineer, but later on, the young man could no longer ignore the call of priesthood.

"When I was a child, I never thought I would end up in priesthood, but it has given me so much peace and joy that my soul was longing for," he said.

Still, Suarez's road to priesthood wasn't bump-free.

He entered the Franciscan Order but left after less than two years, and his stint at the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) was even shorter: He was asked to leave after 6 months. But although he stayed with SVD for only a short time, it was there that Suarez reported being visited by the Virgin Mary who told him to spread the word of God.

In 1985, Suarez immigrated to Canada where he eventually found his priestly home, the Companions of the Cross. In 1997, he joined this religious community of priests and seminarians.

By that time, many people have told him that his prayer and touch have healed them. Initially, he told those people to keep their healing stories confidential.

"I was confused. I don't know – I just didn't feel worthy. I didn't want to be the center of attention. I was so reluctant to admit it and basically just avoided the issue for a long time. Now, looking back, I realize that I just didn't feel ready to face the challenges and responsibilities of this gift," he said.

"I finally embraced it the day before I was ordained when my spiritual director told me that this gift is not for me; that I have to share it because this is for the people."

Suarez was ordained as a priest in 2002. While representing the Companions of the Cross, he goes to parishes all over the world, performing healing services. He also created the Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation (MMP) which supports a number of indigent families in the Philippines. He is also building a Blessed Virgin shrine in Batangas. Suarez's ministry is supported through donations from many countries.

Since he started traveling, testimonials about the priest's healing touch have multiplied. Some can be read through his website, www.fatherfernando.com.

"Explanation ko dito, healing is possible and it is happening in order for us to know that God is present and He is available and He is alive and is there to help us. Because of this healing ministry, I have the opportunity to tell many people about our faith and the beauty and the gift of being a Roman Catholic," he said.

He conducts the healing service only after celebrating mass.

During a recent homily, he reiterated that "healing flows from Jesus. He is the only one who heals. Jesus will be offended if you go to church only because I am here, and if you go to church only because you're sick. Even when I'm not here, the same God is available to heal you."

But whether he likes it or not, people have been packing churches he visits largely because of him. He dismisses this notion, and even makes jokes about his gift.

"I get people all time telling me that they have a headache, I tell them, 'Then take Tylenol,'" he said while the congregation laughs.

He also loves to tell the joke about how one follower revealed that the reason why the priest is able to get to so many people so fast during the healing service is because Suarez's prayer consists of only one, quickly uttered sentence: "There's nothing wrong with you."

Turning serious, he added, "It's true – for those who believe in God, there's nothing wrong with you."

Suarez is very specific in what he says and doesn't say to those who seek healing. He never promises any miracles.

"I don't give false hope – I never say that if they come, every cripple will walk, every blind person will see, everyone with cancer will be cured. No. I tell them to be open to God. The bottom line is, it's all about God's will. If they don't get healed physically, maybe they'll get healed in other ways," he said.

Suarez adds that more than physical illnesses, more people today are afflicted with emotional and spiritual pain.

"There are a lot of people who won't forgive, who have so much hatred in their hearts, who wishes ill on other people. That's a serious illness." He prays over them just as much as he prays for anyone else, he adds.

The exploding popularity of his healing ministry has recently been met with challenges.

In the aftermath of the healing masses that he recently officiated in the Philippines where tens of thousands attended, Catholic bishops in the country said in January that "while they are happy for Suarez," they will be "watchful" of his healing activities. One bishop has even lodged a complaint against him for not following church rules on healing activities, specifically the one that asks that priest healers first ask "explicit permission" from the governing bishop before conducting a healing mass in his diocese.

A Las Vegas church also cancelled his healing masses last week because, aside from other unnamed reasons, the last time he conducted a service there, the church was displeased with the multitude of clutter left behind by the mass attendees. Suarez has instructed those who invite him in their parishes to follow church protocols but unfortunately this time, this violation caused many Las Vegas devotees to lose out on a chance to attend his healing service.

But those who seek him will get many other opportunities in the future as the priest does not show any sign of slowing down. His schedule is fully booked for 2008.

At the beginning of his healing service at the St. Catherine of Siena church, Suarez sat down on the steps in front of the sick and downed a bottle of water in one big gulp. He looks tired, and he should be. Every single day of the week since he arrived in Los Angeles, he has been officiating healing masses.

At each one, he picks up people in wheelchair in a seemingly random fashion and helps them up to the altar for instant testimonials.

He doesn't know how many he has healed and doesn't sound interested in finding out.

"It's not about me. It's about God," he says. He is aware of skeptics, and he asks them to come to church just the same. "Just come and see the power of God."

He adds that it is there, during the mass, that the biggest miracle happens when the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ.

"Our understanding of healing is very limited," he says. "For a miracle to happen in their life, people just have to open their heart and believe."

After his short rest, the priest stood up, cracked a big smile, and began healing.

[A shorter version of this story currently appears on Philippine News]