Filipina gets $125K in lawsuit

Posted below is the story I wrote for Philippine News about Ruby De Vera's case. I'm hoping to hear back from her soon to get more details so that I can write the update where I will include reactions from Filipino community leaders.

Filipina gets $125K in lawsuit
Yong B. Chavez,
Aug 22, 2007
LOS ANGELES — Ruby De Vera, a former Los Angeles councilman office manager was awarded a $125,000 settlement last week by the City of L. A. after she alleged in a lawsuit that her former boss fired her because she ran for office against a candidate he was endorsing.

"It’s a victory for our Filipino community," said De Vera.

Philippine News ran a story about her firing in 2005 where De Vera related what her boss, Councilman Ed Reyes, gave as a reason for her firing.

"He just told me I embarrassed him when I ran for office," De Vera said at the time.

In 2005, De Vera was working as Reyes' office manager when she ran for the City Council's 14th District, an area where many Filipinos reside. She came in third among 12 candidates. A candidate that Reyes was backing won the seat.

Elected officials in Los Angeles can hire and fire at will without dealing with civil service requirements but Reyes' council colleagues reportedly voted 9 to 2 to settle the case. Without the settlement, the case would go to court and Reyes and possibly other council members would probably have to testify.

De Vera had been working for the City for about 10 years. After her firing, De Vera went to work as a clerk/typist at the City controller’s office.

In her lawsuit, De Vera asked for compensatory, injunctive and punitive damages for, among other reasons, labor code violations and discrimination based on race/ethnic origin. Her legal filing, posted on a prominent Los Angeles political blogsite, also mentioned that "throughout her employment with the city, Plaintiff had always performed her duties competently, received favorable performance evaluations, and maintained an unblemished work history.

Plaintiff was terminated not only because of her political activities and affiliations, but also because of her race (Filipino). Defendants treated non-Filipinos more favorably by, among others, paying them higher salaries despite holding the same or less senior position than Plaintiff. Plaintiff was also terminated because she was a visible and vocal member of the Filipino community, and was involved with various activities which supported the Filipino
community."

HOW TO AVOID FORECLOSURE

Sawa'ng-sawa na ba kayo sa mga balita tungkol sa real estate crisis?

These days, news about home foreclosures is like traffic in L.A. - you just can't avoid it.

But it's one thing not being able to avoid hearing about the increasingly alarming foreclosure stories, and quite another to actually avoid becoming a statistic in this ongoing saga.

So, here are some tips to avoid foreclosure per Parade Magazine:

1. As soon as hindi na kayo makabayad ng mortgage ninyo, contact your lender.

2. Sagutin ninyo lahat ng sulat na pinapadala sa inyo ng lender ninyo. Sa umpisa, they will send you tips on how to avoid foreclosure; pag hindi pa rin kayo umaksyon, legal notices na ang dadating sa inyo.

3. Know your rights. Basahing maige ulit ang inyong loan documents.

4. Prioritize spending. This goes without saying - pero kung nahihirapan na kayong magbayad ng mortgage, tama na muna ang shopping. After healthcare expenses, pambayad sa bahay kaagad ang isigurado ninyo.

5. Avoid foreclosure-prevention companies & scams. You don't have to pay fees to get help. Wag na wag kayong pipirma ng anumang dokumento sa sinumang nagangako na they will stop foreclosure for you. They will end up getting your house, and kayo pa ang lalabas na may utang. Napakaraming TV commercials na nag-o-offer ng tulong kunwari sa foreclosure pero lolokohin lang kayo. Mag-ingat din kayo sa mga "We Buy Houses" signs dahil karamihan scams lang ito. Here are two articles (this one and this one) about these scams.

6. Humingi ng tulong sa gobyerno. Pasalamat tayo at nandito tayo sa America kung saan merong lehitimong mahihingan ng tulong gaya ng HUD. Sa Department of Housing and Urban Development, makakakuha kayo ng libre o murang foreclosure counseling. Tumawag sa 1800-569-4287 o bumista sa http://www.fha.gov/.

RUBY GETS PAID

This week's Good For You award goes to Ruby De Vera.

De Vera, the tough Pinay who took on City Hall when her boss, Councilman Ed Reyes, fired her allegedly for "embarrassing him" when she ran for public office against a Reyes-backed candidate, is going to get $125,000 in a lawsuit settlement.

I first wrote about De Vera's firing in this story back in 2005.

In her lawsuit, De Vera asked for compensatory, injunctive and punitive damages for, among other reasons, labor code violations and discrimination based on race/ethnic origin.

A Los Angeles political blogsite posted her Federal complaint which mentions that "throughout her employment with the city, Plaintiff had always performed her duties competently, received favorable performance evaluations, and maintained an unblemished work history.

Plaintiff was terminated not only because of her political activities and affiliations, but also because of her race (Filipino). Defendants treated non-Filipinos more favorably by, among others, paying them higher salaries despite holding the same or less senior position than Plaintiff. Plaintiff was also terminated because she was a visible and vocal member of the Filipino community, and was involved with various activities which supported the Filipino community."

I will be posting the complete story about her victory soon. In the meantime, congrats, Ruby!

PERA PARA SA 'YO?

Here's an interesting piece from FilipinOnline contributor and SoCal resident Art Pacho:

I was surfing the net and found http://scoweb.sco.ca.gov/

Home Depot owes my wife a refund of over $300 and it is now in the hands of the state so I went to this government website.

Try typing your last name and city, and you might also have some money waiting for you.

When I looked up under Business Name and typed in Filipino American, I came up with a list of 23 unclaimed property. The unclaimed amount totalled $6,697.75 representing 23 organizations in California. The amount ranged from the highest of $2,223.78 to the smallest which was $41.00 (or an average of $291 for all organizations).

These organizations can claim their money by filing the proper form to the Bureau of Unclaimed Property under the California State Controller. If after a time, the property is unclaimed, the state can take ownership. Most of the property was for a dormant checking or saving account in the bank or credit union; payments by vendors; court settlements; or insurance refunds. The Filipino organizations are located in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Jose, Alameda, Tracy, Carson, Porterville, Garden Grove, Wilmington, Novato and Oakland. Their treasurer or officer should begin to make a claim before the expiration date.

The names of some organizations are: Filipino American Chamber of Commerce, Filipino American Democratic Club, Filipino American Political Association, Filipino American Senior Citizens, Filipino American Service (Group, Inc), Filipino American Club of Southern California, and Filipino Americans for Good Government. The Filipino American Chamber of Commerce in Carson can claim $2,223,78.

One suggestion for these organizations which have no interest in these unclaimed funds:

How about donating the money to a non profit organization in California? We have Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, Filipino American Service Group, Inc., or Filipino American Library, etc. that need support.

Thanks for the tip, Art. To see the list of Filipino American orgs with unclaimed property, here's the link.

PINOY HOLLYWOOD: HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL'S VANESSA HUDGENS

If you have a preteen or a teenager at home, you probably already know Vanessa.

This beautiful Salinas, Calif native is going places in Hollywood due to her widely popular High School Musical projects. Part 2 is premiering today on the Disney Channel.

Ang nanay ni Vanessa ay si Gina Guangco, who's also part-Chinese.

The 19-year-old actress-singer is also a regular fixture on showbiz mags because she is dating costar Zac Efron.

Harassed Gabriela Leader Back in L.A.

Anna Lisa Enrile, GABNET chairperson back in L.A.

By Fe P. Koons
For FilipinOnline

At the LAX, Dennis Garcia, the husband of Anna Lisa Enrile, national chairperson of the Gabriela Network (GABNET), embraced his wife and the happiness on Dennis’ face is seen. Anna Lisa herself smiled to GABNET members, friends and relatives who welcomed her arrival at Los Angeles airport.

Dr. Anna Lisa Enrile experienced harassment in the Philippines when she was not allowed to board the Philippine Air Lines and head for LA last Aug 5 and was informed that she was on a “watch list”. Dr. Enrile was never clearly told why she could not go back to the U.S. With her, were writer Ninotchka Rosca and Judith Mirkinson, both of GABNET. The three women leaders were in Manila to attend the WISAP international solidarity conference of GABRIELA Philippines. Enrile also led a medical mission to needy areas in the Philippines, together with her USC students who were learning about social work.

In Los Angeles, some 100 supporters from many organizations, SIPA, Pilipino Workers Center, UCLA, Alliance for Lasting Peace and Justice, People’s CORE, KmB, ANSWER LA, GABNET school chapters, PAGE, and the students of Dr. Enrile at USC held a candlelight vigil infront of the Philippine Consulate on Wilshire Blvd.

Philippine Consul General Mary Jo Aragon extended her assistance upon talking to the family of Enrile, Ivy Quicho, GABNET LA coordinator and members of the press last August 13. Aragon called the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila and expressed her support of Anna Lisa and urged them to allow Anna Lisa to come to Los Angeles.

Anna Lisa Enrile said that the harassment will not prevent her from going back to the Philippines and in exposing the political killings in the Philippines. “I will go there every year.”
Philippine Party List Representative Liza Maza and GABRIELA lawyer Alnie Foja intervened for the GABNET 3 who were delayed for an hour by the Bureau of Immigration officers who insisted that the three were”connected with the Taliban”.

The targeting and harassment coincide with the implementation of the RP Human Security Act that went into effect last August 11. Since Gloria Arroyo Macapagal took office in 2001, there have been 900 murders and disappearances of Filipino activists, clergy, labor leaders and 90 of them were GABRIELA members or affiliates. The Philippines has been called as the most dangerous country for journalists after Iraq.

At the IHOP Westchester, Anna Lisa’s parents are smiling. They are now glad that their daughter is with them. But the incident in Manila is just the beginning. Anna Lisa will be reporting back about the WISAP conference, and for sure, will continue to monitor and expose the human rights violations in the Philippines.

[photo courtesy of Al Garcia of People's CORE, taken at the protest vigil at the LA Phil Consulate]

MAG-INGAT: ATM SCAM ALERT

This particular scam has been around for quite sometime now pero marami pa ring nabibiktima so please tell everyone you know to be extra vigilant. Thanks to FilipinOnline reader Levi G. for forwarding the alert e-mail.

Here's the original scam notice from the University Of Texas Police Department:

Bank ATMs converted to steal bank customer IDs

A team of organized criminals is installing equipment on legitimate bank ATMs in at least two regions to steal both the ATM card number and the PIN. The team sits nearby in a car receiving the information transmitted wirelessly over weekends and evenings from equipment they install on the front of the ATM (see photos). If you see an attachment like this, do not use the ATM and report it immediately to the bank using the 800 number or phone on the front of the ATM.

The equipment used to capture your ATM card number and PIN is cleverly disguised to look like normal ATM equipment. A “skimmer” is mounted to the front of the normal ATM card slot that reads the ATM card number and transmits it to the criminals sitting in a nearby car.
At the same time, a wireless camera is disguised to look like a leaflet holder and is mounted in a position to view ATM PIN entries.

The thieves copy the cards and use the PIN numbers to withdraw thousands from many accounts in a very short time directly from the bank ATM.

YAHOO'S GREEN CALL

The Internet giant is kicking off a call for designs for an icon that best symbolizes “green.”

For artists and green-minded people out there, here's what they want:

"We’re looking for a graphic that will be used to flag simple, eco-friendly things you can do all over our network, so that everyone knows the many green choices and options available on Yahoo!. That could include everything from making green purchases to finding the most fuel-efficient cars.

You don’t have to be a professional to design an icon. You just have to make a clear, strong visual sign for “green” and send it in. The chosen design will be seen possibly billions of times on Yahoo!’s product pages, by a global audience of more than 500 million people.

If your design is chosen, not only do you get to brag about it — the environmental nonprofit of your choice will receive a $20,000 grant from Yahoo!. If your design is a runner-up (two will be chosen), your designated nonprofit will receive $5,000."

Click here for more details.

Low Income Medicare Part D Beneficiaries Can Now Change Plans ANY TIME

If you know someone who is a low income Medicare Part D beneficiary, here's some welcome news for them from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services:

Dealing with the Medicare Prescription Drug Program (Part D) just got a little easier for people with low incomes. Low-income Medicare Part D beneficiaries now enjoy a new, important right to change plans at any time during the year. Previously, many of these Medicare beneficiaries could only change plans once a year, during the fall enrollment period.

The expansion of enrollment rights was announced by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services last month and takes effect immediately. Under the expansion, all Medicare Part D beneficiaries eligible for the Low Income Subsidy, also called “extra help,” (1.1 million Californians, 9.2 million beneficiaries nationwide) may switch plans as often as once a month. The new right is most helpful to those who are in a plan that is too expensive or does not cover all of their drugs. An individual who changes plans in August can be in a new plan as of September 1.

This continuous special enrollment period has many benefits. If a beneficiary finds that his or her plan does not cover a necessary drug, it may be easier to switch plans than to seek an exception to the plan’s formulary. Because of the plans’ intensive, at
times misleading marketing efforts, many individuals have joined plans that they do not understand or that they later realize do not meet their needs. The continuous enrollment period makes it easy for them to switch to a better plan.

Advocates nationwide support the enrollment right expansion as an improvement to the Medicare prescription drug program.

“This change is a step in the right direction. It will help many low income individuals who have been trapped in a plan that does not cover their drugs,” says Katharine Hsiao , Staff Attorney at the National Senior Citizens Law Center , a member organization of the California Medicare Part D Language Access Coalition. “It is very important to spread the word about this new
development, especially to low-income communities, including limited-English proficient communities. This change is likely to assist thousands of individuals across the country.”

“This change will help many in our community get access to the drugs they need,” says Caroline Lee, Health Access Advocacy Director of the Korean Resource Center in Los Angeles .

“Last week, a couple came in because they could not afford to buy a newly prescribed heart medication that was not covered by their Part D plan. Because of the enrollment right expansion, they were able to change to a plan that will save them over $300 a month. Getting accurate information about Part D has been even more difficult for limited-English proficient clients than for English speakers. We need to spread the word about changes like this one that can help low-income individuals.”

The California Medicare Part D Language Access Coalition is a coalition of advocacy and service providers working to improve access to Medicare Part D for limited-English proficient beneficiaries. Some of the members are the Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Asian Pacific American Legal Center , the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, the Center for Health Care Rights, the Health Rights Hotline, the Korean Resource Center and the National
Senior Citizens Law Center . For a fact sheet on these new enrollment rights, or for a copy of the Coalition’s recent report, “Medicare Prescription Drug Plans Fail Limited English Proficient Beneficiaries,” see http://www.nsclc.org/areas/medicare-part-d.

SOURCE: Asian Pacific American Legal Center

WANTED: Filipino Teacher

Job opening:

Teaching Filipino part-time at Granada Hills Charter High School in Los Angeles or Full-time (Filipino + another subject).

Sixty students are waiting for a Filipino teacher. If they do not find a teacher, they will have to wait until next year. School begins on August 13th, so candidates are needed ASAP.

Contact person: Brandon Zaslow, Chair - World Languages & Cultures Department at:

bzaslow@ghchs.com

[File picture: Ginang Oliva teaching Filipino classes at Cerritos]

EARLY BUZZ: Toxic Printers, Risky Houses, Timing yourself, and Hello Kitty cops

- Are printers hazardous to you health? A study says it is while HP denies. Per article, "Office printer could be posing as much danger to the lungs as a drag on a cigarette, according to air quality tests by Australian scientists. An investigation of dozens of laser printers revealed that almost 30 per cent emit potentially dangerous levels of tiny toner-like material into the air."

- According to Forbes, today's riskiest housing markets are: Miami, Orlando, Sacramento and San Francisco.

- What's the best time of the day to do stuff? This article IDs them. Who knew that 4 p.m. is the best time of the day to clean the house? It's a handy guide for many of us who've always thought it's at quarter-to-never.

- Finally, here's a unique way to clean up dirty cops: Offending Thai cops will have to wear Hello Kitty armbands. "Police officers caught littering, parking in a prohibited area, or arriving late — among other misdemeanors — will be forced to stay in the division office and wear the armband all day." Meow!

WHO'S GONNA BE YOUR DADDY? Not Laptop Users, A Study Says

This CNN piece, sourced from the Oxford Journal Human Reproduction, says that there's truth to this urban legend: Laptop computers may lower sperm count. Click here to find the, um, full monty.

KULTURA JUNIOR

Delight in the sounds of gongs, guitars and bamboo pipes, as Kultura Junior showcases the “Rhythms of the Philippines” at the Ford Amphitheatre on Saturday, Aug. 4 at 10 a.m. Dressed in vibrant costumes inspired by the tropical Philippine islands, Kultura Junior performers will journey through the landscape and mimic the movements of native birds and fish.

This 2007 “Big! World! Fun! Family Series” event is FREE to all children. It’s a fun way for the entire family to see cultures from around the world and receive prizes.

WHO: Kultura Junior of Kultura Philippine Folk Arts
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
WHERE: Ford Amphitheatre 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. EastHollywood , CA 90068 Just off the 101 ( Hollywood ) freeway across from Hollywood Bowl and south of Universal.
WHAT: Kultura Philippine Folk Arts is a community-based non-profit organization founded in 1992 to educate all California audiences and to enhance appreciation of Philippine culture through folk music and dance. The children’s program, Kultura Junior, began at the Pacific Asia Museum in 1994 to instill pride in their roots and heritage. The Kultura morning show is a prelude to the evening performance. It is the fourth of eight events in the “Big! World! Fun! Family Series,” which continues through Labor Day weekend. Presented by the Ford Theatre Foundation, this year’s theme is “All Aboard the Arts Express!” Kids and parents take an imaginary journey by train to Mexico , Germany , the Philippines , India , Nigeria , Korea , Japan and China , and the United States .

Attendees have a chance to win prizes! Kids check in at the “Ford Arts Express” booth to get their Arts Express Ticket punched for every event attended and become eligible to win prizes including train whistles, an engineer’s cap and a free Ford T-shirt. Model trains are on display on Edison Plaza before and after the show. For Edison Plaza photos, visit http://www.fordamphitheater.org/en/events/bwfphotos.asp.

HOW MUCH: Children admitted for FREE. $5 per adult. Ticket reservations are strongly recommended. Parking is $1 per vehicle.
NOTE: A sunshade covers the audience at the outdoor, morning performances of Big!World!Fun!

PURCHASE/RESERVE TICKETS: (323) 461-3673

These events are part of the Ford Amphitheatre 2007 Season, a multi-disciplinary arts series produced by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission in cooperation with Los Angeles County-based arts organizations. For complete season information log on to http://www.fordtheatres.org/.
For the Big!World!Fun! Series schedule, visit: http://fordtheatres.org/en/events/Family.asp

[PRESS RELEASE]

Balita Ngayong Umaga: Roberts, Buses, Federline, Pesticides

- U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts is doing okay, according to (Doctor) President Bush. Roberts was hospitalized Monday after a seizure. Go here to read the full report.

- If they can only promise that you won't have to sit next to a crazy tranny and the even crazier bum, it will be perfect. These buses are a part of a new nonstop line from Los Angeles starting next week, serving seven cities with a handful of fares as low as $1. It will take L.A. commuters to San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Las Vegas, San Diego and Phoenix.

- Mr. Federline is not Mrs. Spears anymore.

- Good Morning America's Robin Roberts has breast cancer.

- A study finds that women who live near California farm fields that use certain pesticides may be more likely to give birth to children with autism. Go here for the complete report.

STEPHANIE'S DREAM: A Filipina UCLA student, an undocumented immigrant, testifies for California Dream Act

"Stephanie was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States with her parents when she was three years old. Stephanie is a junior at a University of California institution majoring in English (creative writing). As an AB 540 student, she is forced to take up to a year off from school in order to work. The money that she earns working two or three minimum-wage jobs helps her to pay off tuition for one academic term. Stephanie dreams to one day become a copy editor for a major newspaper. "

- excerpted from "Undocumented Students, Unfulfilled Dreams"

Stephanie has always been an excellent student. She started high school at 12, and entered college at 16. Because she is ineligible to get student aid, she is currently not enrolled.

Stephanie's story is part of the recently released report called "Undocumented Students, Unfulfilled Dreams". The report includes testimonies of 12 undocumented high school and college students and recent college graduates, detailing their personal stories and struggles with being undocumented in the American higher education system. Their stories are tied by a common thread: they came to America as children. Most are "honor students, athletes, student leaders, and aspiring professionals."

The California Dream Act (SB 65) would provide undocumented students access to institutional merit-based scholarships and aid, and Cal Grant B, now unavailable because of their immigration status.

The bill is currently stalled in the Assembly Rules Committee and is waiting to be introduced by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez. State Senator Gilbert Cedillo, the California Dream Act’s chief senate sponsor and Assemblymember Mike Eng are its chief supporters.

BABY EATING LEMON

Good morning! Here's a cute little video to get you through the Monday morning brain clog.

POP KENDI: BEST OF THE WEEK

Best Movie:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on IMAX

I saw it first on regular theaters on the first day of its run but a friend said it looked so much better on IMAX, and she was right. When the 3D part came up, a loopy teen in front of me kept reaching up to touch Harry's face because it looked so near.

I also enjoyed (on DVD): Starter for 10, a pretty okay movie with awesome '80s soundtrack.

Best TV Show:

History Channel's Human Weapon featuring Escrima

It was such a thrill to see a whole episode of an American TV show shot entirely in the Philippines and featuring talented Pinoys. The Pinoy escrima martial artists were amazing, and the countryside sceneries were breathtakingly beautiful. Go here to see a clip from the show. The episode will re-air in August so check your local listings, and Tivo or DVR it! My favorite part was when a manong escrima master scolded the American hosts of the show as they were 'artfully' wielding the arnis instead of whacking away like they apparently should: "Don't dance! It's not a dance."

Best Website: SingShot

This karaoke website will let me (and you) record and share my (and your) most gutsy rendition of, let's see, ooh! "I Will Survive"! Bring out the ear plugs!

Best Book: Still Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

I've never re-read a book so quickly after the first go but I just love love love this book.

I'm also reading: Good Grief by Lolly Winston

PHISHING

It sounds like the water-related activity but as many phishing victims have discovered, there's nothing remotely enjoyable about phishing. And if you get hooked and your personal and financial information are phished, your life will be just as wet and soggy.

Ano ba ang phishing?

Per Wikipedia: "Phishing is a criminal activity using social engineering techniques. Phishers attempt to fraudulently acquire sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords and credit card details, by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. eBay and PayPal are two of the most targeted companies, and online banks are also common targets."

A few years ago when information about phishing is not yet as prevalent, a friend of mine was victimized when he received a seemingly legitimate e-mail from his bank asking him to confirm his account info. He obliged. His account was stolen.

Here's an example of a phishing e-mail. Note the ominous warning:

"Your account has been randomly flagged in our system as a part of our routine security measures. This is a must to ensure that only you have access and use of your North Island Credit Union account. We require all flagged accounts to verify their information on file with us. To verify your information at this time, please visit our secure server webform by clicking the hyperlink below: http://www.z220.com/www.myisland.com/sampleonly

If you choose to ignore our request, you leave us no choice but to temporarily deactivate your account."

Similarly, many have reported that their e-mail addresses were hijacked by spammers when they logged into a web page very similar to Yahoo's but is actually a fake (see picture).

With a lot of people doing online transactions now more than ever, phishers are raking it in while innocent and hardworking people are left crying.

So paano mo pro-protektahan ang sarili mo against phishing?

Here are some tips:

1. Wag, wag, wag kang mag-respond to requests for personal information via e-mail. Never click on any link that these kinds of e-mails provide.

2. If you need to visit a web site where you need to enter confidential information, type the URL (the one that starts with www) into your address bar.

3. If you need to enter any personal info, find the "lock" icon. This will help ensure that the web site is using encryption.

4. Lagi ninyong review-hin ang inyong credit card and bank statements.

5. Report to the proper authorities. Call your bank or online retailer immediately if you suspect that your account has been phished.

ALSO:

Here's a TEST designed by software giant McAfee that will help you spot fake websites. You gotta see it to believe how the fake websites are so similar to the real ones.

MERMAN IN CEBU?

Apparently, an e-mail containing photos of this "merman" has been circulating for quite sometime now. What doesn't get old is its ability to hook e-mail recipients into "is it real or is it peke?" squinting at the photos.

A movie prop? Perhaps. I say it's a couple of years late from the "Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire" auditions.

THRILLER: THE PINOY PRISON MUSICAL

Guess which YouTube post has gotten more than a million views as of today? A video showing 1,500 Cebu prison inmates performing a well-choreographed "Thriller" dance routine. The link has been mentioned in many popular U.S. blogs including USA Today and Mo Rocca's column. I loved Mo's title most of all: "So You Think You Can Dance: Filipino Prison Edition."

It looks like the dancers are having fun (beats cleaning up the toilet, I bet), so the cringe factor is minimal. I did stop watching before the icky final scene where the "zombies" dance the part where they "attack" the "woman".

Heartbreaking Sodas

I'm a regular Coke drinker so this bit of news about soda being linked to heart problems is killing my fizz.

"Over the four years of the study, people who consumed more than one soft drink of any kind a day were 44 percent more likely to develop metabolic syndrome than those who didn't drink a soda a day," according to a medical study.

Metabolic syndrome is "a cluster of risk factors linked to the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease."

I'm Back!

Hey, there. My blogging break is finally over. I'm glad to be back.

So many things happened while my blogging hands were getting some much-needed rest, and I'm very excited to start sharing entertaining, informative and hopefully inspiring news, links and thoughts here on FilipinOnline once again.

Magandang araw sa inyong lahat, have a great day today!

Ingat lagi,
Yong

US CITIZENSHIP PILOT EXAM Q & A

If the coming increased fees for US citizenship has you scrambling to file that application, also remember to set time to review for the citizenship test. Many fail this test because they think they can pass without studying. Well, good luck with that.

Anyway, late last year, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released 144 questions and answers for the pilot test of a new naturalization exam.

USCIS included new questions that focus on the concepts of democracy and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. It will refine the exam before it is fully implemented nationwide in the spring of 2008.

Here's Part 1 - the first 25 questions. I'll post the others within the week.

Pilot Exam Questions and Answers
1. Name one important idea found in the Declaration of Independence.
A: People are born with natural rights.
A: The power of government comes from the people
A: The people can change their government if it hurts their natural rights.
A: All people are created equal.

2. What is the supreme law of the land?
A: The Constitution

3. What does the Constitution do?
A: It sets up the government.
A: It protects basic rights of Americans.

4. What does “We the People” mean in the Constitution?
A: The power of government comes from the people.

5. What do we call changes to the Constitution?
A: Amendments

6. What is an amendment?
A: It is a change to the Constitution.

7. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
A: The Bill of Rights

8. Name one right or freedom from the First Amendment.
Speech, Religion, Assembly, Press, Petition the government

9. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
A: Twenty-seven (27)

10. What did the Declaration of Independence do?
A: Announce the independence of the United States from Great Britain
A: Say that the U.S. is free from Great Britain

11. What does freedom of religion mean?
A: You can practice any religion you want, or not practice at all.

12. What type of economic system does the U.S. have?
A: Capitalist economy
A: Free market
A: Market economy

13. What are the three branches or parts of the government?
A: Executive, legislative, and judicial
A: Congress, the President, the courts

14. Name one branch or part of the government.
Congress, Legislative, President, Executive, The courts, Judicial

15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
A: The President

16. Who makes federal laws?
A: Congress
A: The Senate and House (of Representatives)
A: The (U.S. or national) legislature

17. What are the two parts of the United States Congress?
A: The Senate and House (of Representatives)

18. How many United States Senators are there?
A: 100

19. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
A: Six (6)

20. Name your state’s two U.S. Senators.
A: Answers will vary - check online. [For District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories, the answer is that DC (or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. Senators.]

21. How many U.S. Senators does each state have?
A: Two (2)

22. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
A: 435

23. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
A: Two (2)

24. Name your U.S. Representative.
A: Answers will vary. [Residents of territories with nonvoting delegates or resident commissioners may provide the name of that representative or commissioner. Also acceptable is any statement that the territory has no (voting) representatives in Congress.]

25. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
A: All citizens in that Senator’s state

U.S. CITIZENSHIP FEES JUMPING TO $675

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the agency that processes immigration-related applications and petitions will dramatically increase fees on applications effective July 30, 2007.

The naturalization application for citizenship will become $675. It is currently set at $400 ($330 filing fee plus $70 “biometrics” fee), almost a 70% increase.

Other fee increases:
Green card renewals ($370), petitions to immigrate family members ($355), appeals of citizenship denials ($605), and green card applications ($1,010, which also covers employment authorization and advance parole). To see a list of the final fees, go to www.uscis.gov.

The Asian Pacific American Legal Center is encouraging immigrants who are qualified for citizenship now to file their applications as soon as possible rather than waiting until July 30. APALC will continue to offer free citizenship application workshops throughout the year for Los Angeles County residents who need assistance with the application. Applicants are required to make an appointment by calling APALC’s Immigration and Citizenship Project at (213)977-7500, ext. 217 or ext. 247.

CHECK YOUR BEEF: Some Albertsons and Save-A-Lot beef might be contaminated

If you have some Moran's ground beef in 1- to 5-pound varieties in your fridge, be sure to check the label. Some may be contaminated with E. coli and are being recalled.

News reports say that the affected products had sell-by dates from April 20 through May 7.

The UPC numbers of the recalled products are: 34779 60501, 34779 60000, 34779 96000, 34779 91000, 34779 60010, 34779 96194, 34779 21117.

Also recalled was Albertsons 90/10 Sirloin fresh hamburger patties.

HE-HE-HE: PINOY HUMOR

(Someone forwarded this to me. If you happened to receive humorous Pinoy e-mails, send them over to: ybchavez@gmail.com, and I'll print the funniest ones.)

Nag-aaral ako sa La Salle.

Ang dami kong kaklaseng Intsik. Apelyidong Uy, Lim,Tan, Co, Go, Chua,Chi, Sy, Wy, at kung anu-ano pa.

Pero sa kanilanglahat kay Gilbert Goako naging malapit. Mayaman si Gilbert kaya mangyari pa, madalas siya ang taya sa tuwing gigimik ang barkada.

Isang araw na-ospital ang kanyang ama. Sinamahan ko siya sa pagdalaw. Nasa ICU na noon ang kanyang ama dahil sa stroke. Naron din ang ilan sa kanyang malalapit na kamag-anak.Nag-usap sila. Intsik ang kanilang usapan.... hindi komaintindihan.

Pagkatapos ng ilang minutong usap-usap, nagkayayaan nang umuwi. Maiwan daw muna ako at pakibantayan ang kanyang ama habang inihahatid nya ang kanyang mga kamag-anak palabas ng ospital.

Lumipat ako sa gawing kaliwa ng kama ng kanyang ama para ilapag ang mga iniwan nilang mga gamit na kakailanganin ng magbabantay sa ospital.

Nang akmang ilalapag ko na ay biglang nangisay angmatanda. Hinahabol nya ang kanyang hininga... Kinuyom nya angkanyang palad at paulit-ulit siyang nagsalita ng wikang intsik na hindi ko maintindihan.

"Di ta guae yong khee"..... "Di ta guae yong khee"..."Di ta guae yongkhee".. paulit-ulit nya itong binigkas bago siya malagutan ng hininga.

Pagbalik ni Gilbert ay patay na ang kanyang ama. Ikinagulat nya ang pangyayari ngunit marahil ay tanggap na rin nya napapanaw na ang kanyang ama. Walang tinig na namutawi sa kanyang bibig. Ngunit iyon na yata ang pinakamasidhing pagluha na nasaksihan ko.

Nagpa-alam muna ako, dahil siguradong magdadatingan uli ang kanyang mga kamag-anak. Sumakay ako ng taksi pauwi. Habang nasa taksi, tinawagan ko ang iba pa naming kabarkada. Una kong tinawagan si Noel Chua.

Dahil marunong si Noel mag-intsik, tinanong ko muna kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng "Di ta guae yongkhee".

"Huwag mong apakan ang oxygen. "

Nyikes !

INGAT PO TAYO:CANCER KILLING ASIANS

Cancer rates in Asian nations are expected to raise over the next decade.

The culprit: adopting bad Western habits that greatly increase the risk of the disease.

Smoking, drinking and eating unhealthy foods will lead to Asian cancer rates to go up 60 percent by 2020.

Unlike in wealthy countries where good medical care can be accessed, prevention or treatment available to people from many Asian countries is a problem.

Increases in cases of stomach, lung and colon cancers in Asian countries are feared if people don't improve their current lifestyles.

According to the World Health Organization, almost 40 percent of cancers worldwide can be prevented by exercise, eating healthy foods and not using tobacco.

SWEET!

Libre Alert, mga kababayan: It's Free Doughnut Day at Krispy Kreme today.

FALLEN FIL-AM SOLDIERTO BE LAID TO REST

Corporal Mark Ryan Climaco Caguioa, who died serving in the Iraq war, will be laid to rest Saturday afternoon at the San Francisco National Cemetery.

News reports have indicated that the 21-year-old soldier died after receiving a wrong blood transfusion in Iraq in the course of receiving medical treatment due to the injuries he suffered from an improvised explosive device in Baghdad on May 4.

"Mark found his calling, he loved to be a soldier... I wasn't angry with Bush. It was the choice of my son [to serve]. [However,] I did not approve of the Iraq war," Mark's mother, Maria Lourdes Climaco, said at his memorial service.

President George W. Bush met with Mark's family at the Bethesda Naval Medical Center the day after Mark died.

===============================================

Photo: Mother Maria Lourdes Climaco & sister Connie Climaco hold Cpl. Mark Ryan Caguiao's photos after his memorial service, Bethesda Naval Medical Center, May 26, 2007.

PHOTO/INFORMATION from:
ERIC LACHICA, Executive Director American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc.

NEWS BRIEFS

YAAAH!

The world's first martial arts musem to open in Santa Clarita, Calif. in June. One of its main draws will be the history of Filipino martial arts. Might be cool - if they're going to have wax figures of Rey Malonzo and Ramon Zamora wielding nunchucks.



IMMUNITY FOR RALSTON?

The Washington Post has a piece about Susan Ralston, Jack Abramoff's former assistant and the highest-ranking Filipino American in the administration. She is reportedly requesting immunity to testify before Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman's investigating committee.

A MIRACLE FOR MERALY

Brave Mangyan Girl Desperately Needs Help and Heart Surgery

By Yong B. Chavez
FilipinOnline.com
ybchavez@gmail.com

Like most children her age, Meraly Garcia Mariano is a fun-loving bundle of energy. The 6-year-old girl is a lovable spotlight hog who enjoys singing her heart out at school programs.

A stranger might say that her contagious joy must have come from having an easy life and a solid family background.

Unfortunately, that is not the case for Meraly.

At an early age, Meraly has already survived an unspeakable heartbreak: A few years ago, she witnessed her mother commit suicide.

On top of that devastating trauma, every single day, this brave little girl also deals with the pain of having, literally, a broken heart.

Meraly, who belongs to Occidental Mindoro's Mangyan-Iraya tribe, is suffering from a rare heart condition called pentalogy of Fallot.

"Her heart has two holes, one hole is bigger, and there are three other parts (in her heart) that needs correction," said Criselda Malicdem, a Filipino social worker from Teknotropheo Missions, a Philippine mission group that helps tribal children.

Meraly needs an expensive open-heart surgery which her caregivers couldn't afford.

Without it, doctors say that Meraly would be lucky if she can survive till her 16th birthday.

Currently, she already looks much smaller and thinner than her classmates. Malicdem says that doctors attribute Meraly's growth problem to her heart ailment.

"She also easily gets sick because of her very low immune system," Malicdem adds.

Teknotropheo and the Nangka Mangyan Tribal Community in Mindoro have been taking care of Meraly ever since she was brought to their community center by her family in 2005.

Meraly's family was worried about her frequent fainting spells.

She was brought many times to a government hospital but Meraly never received a complete diagnosis from them.

She became weaker. On several occasions, she lost consciousness.

Malicdem then brought her to a private doctor who immediately diagnosed her congenital heart disease. She was prescribed medications to help with her symptoms.

"Since then we have been taking care of Meraly and everything she needs including her food and medicines. But we could not afford her surgery," Malicdem said. "That is why we have been asking help from others."

Malicdem's organization, which helps many other Mangyan children, has very limited funds. They couldn't even afford a regular doctor for Meraly.

"Her doctor changes every check up because they are resident doctors in the outpatient department of the Philippine Heart Center," Malicdem said.

In her quest for a miracle for Meraly, Malicdem has found an ally in Jude Tiner, a New Jersey native and a Vietnam veteran who traveled to the Philippines last year on a personal goodwill mission.

The good Samaritan is a member of City Chapel where he first learned about the plight of Filipino children in need in some areas in the Philippines through its Filipino parishioners.

Tiner, who works as a longshoreman in New Jersey, is currently coordinating efforts to find donors in the U.S. for Meraly's surgery.

He also sits as a board member of Bishop Amigo Foundation, a non-profit organization. Its vision, according to its website, is "to provide a holistic development program to children and youth living under specially difficult, harmful and risky conditions in the Philippines."

Although Tiner and Malicdem have been tirelessly working to find sponsors for Meraly, they have yet to find enough people and organizations to help her.

With so many other organizations all over the world asking for help for so many people in need, getting donations, even for someone with a serious condition like Meraly, is not an easy task.

In the meantime, they are growing increasingly worried because Meraly's condition, if left untreated, could easily take a turn for the worse. Her very low immune system is a constant concern.

As it is, Meraly's growth is already somewhat stunted. She is shorter and weighs less than other kids her age.

But this does not dampen their belief that with the surgery, Meraly can make a full recovery.

"She is able to walk, she's not bedridden anymore. She's allowed to play also, although it's limited because if she gets too tired she might collapse," Malicdem said.

Her physical limitations notwithstanding, Meraly inspires everyone who meets her with her indomitable spirit.

The eldest of two girls, Meraly was born into a household where family members considered themselves lucky if they ate their meal of mostly just cassava and root crops twice in a day.

When Meraly was younger, his father was unable to adequately provide for the family, sources say. He was a farmer who grew crops on a very small piece of land in the mountains.

Meraly's mother took the brunt of the family responsibilities. When it all became unbearable for her, the Mariano family's life took a turn for the worse when she hung herself.

Meraly's mother apparently suffered from an undiagnosed post-partum depression, a social worker who interviewed family members later said.

A few months after the tragedy, Meraly's health problems grew more serious.

And yet despite the hard hits that life has dealt her, this spunky girl, all of 35 pounds, is undeterred in her active fight to live, and to be as happy as she can be.

"She's so different from other Mangyan kids who, by nature, are timid and quiet. Meraly is not shy and could connect easily, even to strangers," Malicdem said. "She's also a leader. She leads other kids when they play."

Meraly is aware of her serious health problems. Finding joy even in unlikely places, she looks forward to her trips to Manila, her greatest luxury, for her check-ups. She follows her doctors' instructions to the letter.

Meraly is audacious in her hope that one day soon, her dream of being treated by the best doctors in the U.S. can come true.

“Punta ako America, dun ako magpapa-opera para gumaling ako,” she said.

Meraly's supporters are hoping that kindhearted Filipinos can help make her dream come true.

===========================================================

Anyone who wants to help Meraly can send donations to pay for her immediate surgery, either in the Philippines or in the U.S.

The Philippine Heart Center has asked for at least $8,500 to schedule her surgery.

Donations can be sent through bank transfer. Make sure to indicate that it is for "Meraly's Surgery":

Bank: PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK

Branch: SSS EAST AVE.QUEZON CITY

Branch Account Name : TEKNOTROPHEO

Account No.: 260-8303270

Donors should inform Criselda Malicdem of the donated amount and the date it was sent to the bank. They could e-mail her at crismalicdem@yahoo.com or text/call text her at 639175211150 or 639106338405 or call landline no. 6329242023.

U.S.-based donors can also contact Jude Tiner at 201-7799426; address: 546 Kennedy Blvd., Bayonne, NJ 07002; e-mail: jude173@optonline.net

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Update: Several individuals and organizations have come together to find a miracle for Meraly. The Bayonne Rotary Club has taken up the cause to ensure that her surgery will take place in the U.S. Her airfare will be shouldered by Knightsbridge International . Jude Tiner will be hosting Meraly and her gurdian when they arrive for the operation. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 226 will be hosting a fundraising dinner for Meraly to cover other expenses. Additional funding is still very much needed.]

LEYTE HOSPITALS RECEIVE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

The Leyte Provincial Hospital located in Palo, Leyte received medical equipment and supplies from Knightsbridge International and Worlds Apart-One Heart Inc. of North Carolina, USA.

The much needed medical equipment which had an estimated value of $200,000 were turned over on March 30, 2007 in Palo. On hand to receive the equipment were Doctor Linda Teresa Astorga, Provincial Health Officer, and Doctor Josenilo Bunado, Leyte Provincial Hospital Director. The Carigara District Hospital was also a recipient of the donated medical equipment. The equipment were donated by Dr. Patrick Ballen, Naomi Ballen, Moses Cone Health System and various individuals. Rene Cone and Ms. Hankins collected the equipment and facilitated their transfer. Tom and Rene Cone’s family paid for the shipping of the equipment to Manila.

Knightsbridge is a non-profit organization located in Los Angeles, California providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief worldwide. Under the auspices of Sir Ed Artis, the organization extended help to the recent calamities in Southern Leyte and the Bicol region, and in Southern Mindanao.

Leyte Provincial Governor Carlos “Icot” Petilla expressed gratitude for the donation and welcomed the generosity of Filipino Americans, who want to help improve the health services in the province.

The turnover was facilitated with the support of Mr. Orlando Uy of the Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Mr. Alfredo Pacho from Pricon Microelectronics Inc.

Ms. Hankins who hails from Carigara, Leyte is committed to giving medical assistance to Leyte after her sister died in 1999 from pneumonia without receiving any medical help. Sadly, she could not afford antibiotics that resulted in her untimely death.

Ms. Hankins’ visit to Leyte from March 26 thru April 10 included a two-day medical mission which provided surgery and treatment to many patients from Carigara. Doctors, nurses, and one dentist from Leyte and Samar volunteered for the mission, in addition to nurses and parademic from North Carolina. Brad Cone, son of Rene and Tom Cone shouldered most of the expenses on a major operation of one patient. Ms. Hankins also donated books to a library and computers to schools.

PRESS RELEASE

A QUESTION O F PATRIOTISM : WHEN NATIONAL SECURITY & CIVIL RIGHTS COLLIDE

The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County presents this panel discussion that promises a compelling and thought-provoking examination of the intersection between race and national security, the treatment of Asian Americans caught up in the justice system due to alleged security breaches, the government's attitude towards U.S. permanent residents/citizens who are natives of Asian countries that are at odds with the U.S., the government's interests and perspectives on security issues, free speech and military justice, and what role a vigilant public can play to ensure that justice is served even in times of war.

CONFIRMED PANELISTS:
ARIF ALIKHAN - L.A. Deputy Mayor, Homeland Security
RANJANA NATARAJAN - Staff Attorney, ACLU of So. Cal.
ERIC SEITZ - former Attorney for U.S. Army Lt. Ehren Watada
BRIAN SUN - Attorney for Wen Ho Lee, Noshir Gowadia, and former FBI Agent James Smith
CHAPLAIN JAMES YUSUF YEE - former U.S. Army Capt. & Muslim Chaplain at Guantanamo

• Thursday, May 31, 2007 - Registration - 5:30 pm Program - 6:30 pm
• Japanese American National Museum, 369 E. First Street Los Angeles, California 90012
• RSVP BY MAY 25, 2007 — president@apabala.org
• FREE ADMISSION — MCLE credit available at no charge for APABA members and $10 for non-APABA members.

Light dinner will be available for purchase before the program. No host reception will follow the program.

BUHAY AMERICA TIPS: HELLO! TAO PO!How to reach a human when calling customer service

Inis na inis na ba kayo dahil pag tumawag kayo sa customer service ay laging automated na boses ang sumasagot sa inyo?

Para hindi kayo abutin ng siyam-siyam bago may makausap na tao, i-click ninyo ang website link na ito at malalaman ninyo ang pinakamadaling steps para makakonekta kayo.

Gethuman.com was created by a dissatisfied customer who compiled a list of phone numbers and the codes that you need to get out of voicemail and get a human voice on the other end of your line.

They have practically every company and government agency phone number, but here are two examples from the site:
US Citizenship & Immigration - 800‑375‑5283 - Select language; press 2; press 4; at prompt press 0.

Verizon Wireless - 800-922-0204 - Press 0 at each prompt, ignoring messages.

US-Based Company Expands Operations in the Philippines

Texas Instruments to Expand Operations in the Philippines
Will Employ 3,000 Pinoys

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Texas Instruments (TI), a Dallas, Texas-based company that has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25 countries, announced recently that it will expand its assembly/test operations in the Philippines with a new site that aims to be the most environmentally efficient assembly/test site in the world.

At 77,000 square meters in size, the site within the Clark Freeport Zone is expected to eventually employ about 3,000 workers and will double the capacity that TI has in the Philippines. The announcement was made at a ceremony with officials from the Philippines government and senior TI representatives.

PRESS RELEASE

FILIPINO CAMERAMAN INJURED IN L.A. MAY DAY MELEE

By Yong B. Chavez

FilipinOnline

ybchavez@gmail.com

[UPDATE: In a press conference, LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa discussed accountability measures taken by LAPD following the May Day clash. He said: "We are not going to shift responsibility down the chain of command. Accountability begins at the top. What happened on May 1 was wrong, and we are taking immediate action to address it."

Also, LAPD chief William Bratton reassigned two high-ranking police commanders for their role in overseeing the violent police response to the rally.]

Ricky Morales, a Los Angeles-based Filipino freelance videographer for various media companies (including The Filipino Channel), was among those hurt during the recent immigration rally clash in Los Angeles.

Morales said that, without any provocation, he was pushed and hit by policemen as he was shooting footage for a news report.

The May 1 rally was organized by immigration reform proponents who are mostly Latinos but which also included Filipino groups such as Alliance (AJLPP), People's CORE, Pilipino Workers Center, GABRIELA Network, Samahang Pilipino, Pesante-USA, Ecumenical Fellowship, United Health Workers-West, and Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV).

According to Art Garcia, People's Core coordinator, "there were at least 100 of us who joined the march from Historic Filipinotown to MacArhur Park" where the event occurred.

Los Angeles Police Department Chief William Bratton has apologized for the policemen's actions after the rally turned into a melee which left several reporters and rally attendees injured.

The Metropolitan Division officers could be seen on videos attacking attendees - even reporters in so-called safety zones - with batons and foam bullets.

The clash at MacArthur Park started when the police tried to disperse demonstrators and several people at the rally threw rocks and bottles at officers.

But it does not excuse the subsequent attacks done by the police, said Bratton.

He had ordered about 60 officers "off the streets" while the case is being investigated.

As to why the incident occurred at all, Garcia has a theory.

"I believe that anti-immigrant reactionary forces are trying to discourage immigrant rights mobilization," he said.

(Photo courtesy of Ricky Morales and Art Garcia)

BALITANG FILIPINO ONLINE

HOODWINKED?
A report says that US insurance companies have used improper hard-sell tactics to persuade Medicare recipients to sign up for private health plans that are not all that good as they were made up to be.

PINOY HOSTAGES' FATE IN NIGERIA STILL UNCLEAR
Sadly, over the weekend, negotiations for release of Filipino hostages in Nigeria has failed again. The Pinoys, together with three South Koreans, were kidnapped several days ago in Nigeria. They are employees of Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co. In January, 24 Filipino seafarers were also taken hostage by Nigerian militants. Another Filipino, instrumentation engineer, Winston Helera, was abducted February 6 and was released a month later.

THIS NEWS STINGS
By now, you must have heard that bubuyogs are mysteriously disappearing. One report asks if it's because of cell phones.

MALABON KIDS

This photo of Filipino kids living in a garbage dump in Malabon was featured in Yahoo's "This Week in Photos" segment over the weekend.

Their smiles, unbroken by extreme poverty, are heartbreakingly hopeful.

NEED A PHILIPPINE BIRTH CERTIFICATE?Have lots of patience, a balikbayan says

THERE'S NO EASY WAY TO GET A PHILIPPINE BIRTH CERTIFICATE

By Art Pacho
Special to FilipinOnline

These days, anyone wanting to deal with Social Security must present an original birth certificate. This is very important to those who are about to retire or in need of Social Security benefits, including medicare. The change was recently adopted by Social Security as a response to homeland security issues and the hard line posture on immigration by the current U.S. administration.

How does one get a birth certificate if one is now a Filipino-American but was born in the Philippines?

It is not a simple and easy task as one would think.

In April 2007, I was in Manila for a visit. One of the things I had to do was to get birth certificates from three places for my wife, sister, brother, two brothers in-law and one sister in-law.

The assignment sounded really simple: go to a city or municipal hall and apply for the certificate.

Not so fast, buddy.

First, I was advised to start with the National Statistics Office (NSO) where I stood in line and paid 125 pesos for each application. You have to stand in line four times for four steps of the process (interview, application, payment, and release of document).

The NSO centralized all the civil registry services with the aim of automating all personal records (birth, marriage and death) in the country.

Someone advised me to go early to a provincial NSO where the lines are somewhat shorter so I went to the NSO in Tacloban where I was also visiting.

However, all I got from the NSO was a document telling me that they had no records for all the applications I made, including the two who were born in that city.

This all I got after they took my payment and my afternoon.

One is supposed to go to your own municipal or city hall, get supporting documents, and return to NSO to apply for delayed registration.

This means you have to deliver to NSO the very information that they are expected to have or should have gotten in the first place from all over the Philippines.

The next step was to go to each city hall of the birth places of the people needing the birth certificates.

Since I was in Tacloban that week I first applied for the certificate of my brother and sister at the civil registry in city hall (cost: 50 pesos per certificate).

They asked me to return in a week and since I did not have enough time, I asked my cousin to do that. My cousin later sent me the documents to Manila via a courier service.

Before that, I also went to our hometown parish church and got the baptismal certificates. Fortunately, this was easily available through the church records (cost: 100 pesos). I am hoping that these church documents would be sufficient for SSS purposes because Tacloban eventually told me they did not have the original records.

As for the other applications, I went to the City Hall of Quezon City where people were waiting in long lines, a chaotic and cramped place with some applicants sitting on broken benches.

It took me three days and three visits to Quezon City to get the certificates (cost: 40 pesos per certificate). Fortunately, the people at the counter were very cordial and helpful despite working in a crowded and almost squalid office.

I also went to the City Hall of Manila. There, the lines are a lot longer than at Quezon City but at least you are in an air conditioned place with nice and clean benches with polite attendants herding people in line, and the office looking orderly.

However, I waited for almost two hours there only to be told that I could not get what I came for because I needed authorization letters from my in-laws.

Frustrated, that same day I had an alternative, following the advice of my brother.

He said, go see the Secretary to the Manila City Mayor who is a good friend of my brother and request him for constituent help. Through his kindness he sent a note verifying my request and seeking for consideration. I went to Manila three times trying to get the certificates. The cost in Manila was 110 pesos for 1 certificate. Of course, I also spent for transportation.

I got the certificates I needed which were authenticated or certified from the original by a local government agency. The NSO certificate would have looked original since it is not a certified copy of the birth certificate.

At no time did I offer anyone extra to expedite the process (meaning no bribe). I did not hire anyone from outside to get the documents. As a tidbit, in Quiapo I spoke to someone who claimed he could get a birth certificate from NSO for 500 pesos in 1 week, just like at the fake document alley in the Alvarado area in Los Angeles.

The certificates I got in the Philippines did not cost that much in dollar terms. But you certainly have to suffer through long lines waiting to be served and returning to pick up the documents when eventually found and completed.

One person I spoke to at the Manila City Hall told me he missed his overseas job because he could not complete the birth certificate requirement on time due to an error in the form he received.

People have to suffer just to get a piece of paper: traveling from their barrios or towns to NSO or city hall, waiting in line, looking for supporting documents, and paying for the certificate.

There is no reason to require applicants to go to NSO in the first place when the documents are right in your own municipal or city hall. NSO is an extra bureaucratic layer and an attempt to centralize a local service and create a massive automated data base at the people’s expense. It is also a form of added taxation on the very people that the government has to serve.

At the local civil registry offices, searches are still done by hand shifting through dusty old records and log books.

Fees and requirements differ in each civil registry.

Here are my tips from this experience:

- Bring the right information as to the correct full name, date of birth, name of father and mother, municipality or city of birth, and exact place where born (name of hospital or home address if delivered at home).

- Remember to send a letter of authorization if requesting someone else to secure the certificate for you.

- Mention the purpose of the birth certificate, for example for retirement, claim benefits, securing a loan or whatever.

- Have a lot of free time and patience.

- For an extra fee, one can also apply online from NSO but there is no guarantee you can get the information or the certificate you need since the reply may be "no record available." You will still have to go to the local civil registrar for verification of records and endorsement of the records to NSO.

In parting, I have to ask our kababayans: How can the quality of service be improved for the Philippine civil registry? Let me hear from others their experiences and suggestions.

About the author:
Arturo Pacho just retired from the LAPD as a civilian adjutant in the Hollenbeck Area. He lives in Glendale, California with his family. He has a keen interest in public policy and administrative issues. Art recently returned from a visit to the Philippines to fulfill some errands, such as acquiring birth certificates. He does not think it is amusing that many Filipinos have to endure the indignities of going through a tangled bureaucracy just to get a piece of paper, although a very important one. Despite this experience, he firmly believes that there is a promising future for the country despite all the shortcomings at this time.

To contact Art, please e-mail yourkababayan@gmail.com and put ART PACHO on the subject line.

PINOY HOLLYWOOD: David Magdael

In this Los Angeles Times special report, Filipino American publicist David Magdael talks about his passion for movies.

Magdael heads the L.A.-based firm, David Magdael and Associates, which focuses on campaigns for documentaries and independent films. One of his most succesful projects was representing Morgan Spurlock's Oscar-nominated (and McDonald's-slamming) documentary "Supersize Me."

In the article he talks about connecting Asian American filmmakers and films with Asian American filmgoers. He is the co-director of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, or VC Filmfest which runs till May 10.

(Magdael and Spurlock's photo from indiewire)

4 FILIPINOS DEAD IN IRAQ ROCKET ATTACK

By Yong B. Chavez
FilipinOnline.com
ybchavez@gmail.com

Four Filipino contractors working for the American government were killed when a rocket attack hit Iraq's Green Zone on May 2.

The identities of those killed have not yet been released.

According to a report, the extremists' attacks started three days before the deaths.

The U.S. embassy in Baghdad has been quoted as saying that Wednesday's attack left it "with a profound sense of sadness and regret'' over the loss of Filipinos who "were integral members of our embassy community.''

The Green Zone, also called the International Zone, home to the U.S. and British embassies, American troops and major US consulting companies, is a heavily guarded area of closed-off streets in central Baghdad. It is also where the main palaces of former President Saddam Hussein can be found.

It has numerous armed checkpoints, coils of razor wire, chain link fences, and is surrounded by reinforced and blast-proof concrete slabs.

But according to a report, two Americans were killed in late March in the Green Zone also due to a rocket attack. In the same week, two suicide vests were found unexploded in the area.

The embassy statement did not provide other details about this recent attack.

Philippine president Gloria Arroyo expressed her sadness over the tragedy and ordered the country's Department of Foreign Affairs to repatriate the remains of the victims.

No data was immediately available as to how many Filipinos have died since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq started.

In 2004, Rodrigo Reyes, a 52-year-old truck driver was the first Philippine casualty in Iraq. He was killed in an ambush in northern Iraq while working for a U.S. firm.

The same year, the Philippines banned deployment of workers to Iraq after extremists abducted another Filipino truck driver, Angelo de la Cruz.

His captors demanded for early withdrawal of a small Philippine peacekeeping contingent from Iraq. Arroyo granted the kidnappers' demand to save his life which earned the ire of Washington officials.

Robert Tarongoy, a Filipino accountant, was also abducted by Iraqi militants and held captive for almost eight months.

There are about 5,000 to 6,000 Filipinos who are employed in U.S. military camps across Iraq, according to reports.

Despite the Arroyo government's Iraq deployment ban, many Filipino workers slip into Iraq through neighboring countries such as Jordan.

(Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

Mixed Emotions for Filipino Virginia Tech Student

By Yong B. Chavez
FilipinOnline.com
ybchavez@gmail.com

The day that 32 of his schoolmates were murdered, Romeo E. Capuno, Jr. overslept and narrowly missed what could have been the most tragic day of his life.

Due to a tiring night spent cooking Filipino food for an international food fair, Capuno, president of one of Virginia Tech's Filipino student associations, had a late start Monday morning, April 16, thus avoiding any chance encounter with Seung-Hui Cho and his murderous rampage.

"On my way to class, I always go by Norris Hall so any other day I could have been there," he said. "I really feel fortunate that I didn't go that morning. But at the same time, I feel so sad for the victims and their families. I still find it hard to accept that this happened at my school."

The April 16 massacre in West Ambler Johnston Hall and Norris Hall at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia which claimed the lives of 33 people, including the shooter, happened a mere five minutes away from where Capuno lives.

Cho, an American of South Korean descent, was a mentally ill Virginia Tech student who was able to easily purchase guns and ammunitions.

The tragedy shook its students' lives. Days after, they were still shaking.

"We became fearful. Every time we hear any unusual sounds… It was difficult." Capuno said.

Capuno, who's been going to Virginia Tech's graduate school for two years now, learned of the attacks through television and the Internet like the rest of America and the world. Because information from the school took a while to get to the students, some of them were among the last to know even though they lived near the university.

"We were shocked. We knew about the bomb threat the week before [the tragedy] but we got an e-mail Friday night that classes would resume Monday so we thought it was safe," he said.

The fact that the students were not informed immediately after the first attack disappoints him.

When the police learned of Cho's second and much bloodier attack, officers patrolled the area around the university and announced on loudspeakers that all students should not leave their buildings.

This was a warning that came much too late for 32 innocent, young lives.

"There's so much pain and sorrow," Capuno said. He knew some of those who were killed.

When the gunman wasn't identified yet and the media just identified him as "an Asian male," the thought that the perpetrator could be Filipino bothered Capuno a little.

He also worried if there were Filipino victims.

Before he called his mother in the Philippines to let her know he was safe, he called every Filipino student whose numbers he knew to make sure that they were.

But the relief that he felt in knowing that his fellow Pinoys were okay was tempered with a great sense of sadness when he saw the victims' families and friends. Their faces were broken with grief.

What are the odds that on one seemingly normal Monday morning, their lives could be permanently altered, Capuno wondered.

Though not as directly hit as them, he said that the events changed him too.

"I learned that everyday you should be prepared," he said. "I now pray a lot. I thank God for saving us."

(Picture of Filipino Virginia Tech students, courtesy of Virginia Tech, through Romeo Capuno, Jr.; picture of candlelight vigil, from Wikipedia)