FILIPINA FEATURED IN "REDBOOK"

A Filipina mom and entrepreneur is featured in the October issue of Redbook. This awesome Pinay's name is Gena Perdue. Here is her website.





[photo: Redbook.com]

FIRE DAMAGES FILIPINO CLUBHOUSE

FIRE DAMAGES L.A. FILIPINO CLUBHOUSE

Appeals For Help Sought

By: Art Pacho

FilipinOnline contributor

A noon fire broke out at the Los Angeles clubhouse of the Leyte-Samar Association on October 14.

The fire started in one of the rooms located in the second floor of the building. The City of Los Angeles Fire Department responded immediately to the incident and firefighters saved the building from major damage. No injuries were reported. As of presstime, the cause of the fire is still undetermined, but sources indicate that the fire may be due to power overload. While the fire was limited to one room, there were smoke and water damages to the building. Losses are estimated at $50,000.

A two-story Craftsman building is located on 1812 W. 49th Street in downtown Los Angeles . The Leyte-Samar Association is one of the few Filipino community organizations in Los Angeles with their own building. The building has 5 bedrooms and 3 baths with 2,582 sq. ft of space. At the time of the incident, the board of directors of the association was meeting on the first floor of the clubhouse to discuss the activities for the 63rd anniversary of the October 20, 1944 Leyte landing of the U.S. forces in the Philippines during World War II.

The association itself was founded 45 years ago. Its building is also used as a transitional housing for newly arrived immigrants from the Philippines . The clubhouse hosted Filipiniana dancers from the Leyte Normal University during its U.S. tour.

Mrs. Marcelina Ortega Jensen, current president of the association, is appealing for help from any individual or organization in repairing the clubhouse. Donations or offer of materials and volunteer services to the association will be appreciated.

To contact Mrs. Jensen, call 323. 294.8808 or visit the association website at http://www.leyte-samar-association.org/. Email may be directed to Brian Arcadio at leyte.samar.association@gmail.com

[picture: Leyte-Samar Association website]

STORIES TO WATCH OUT FOR THIS WEEK

- I recently spoke with Adela Barroquillo, Filipina survivor of WWII Japanese military sexual slavery, when she came here for a global conference. Her story is heartbreaking, but her courage is awe-inspiring.

- Last night, I interviewed Martin Nievera for Balitang America, and watched his concert, too. I'll do a profile on him later this week. Even as he's facing one of the most controversial times of his personal life, the Philippines' concert king still rocked the house. The concert, benefiting Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches, was held at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center.

- I also have some wonderful news: Meraly Mariano, the little Mangyan girl born with a heart problem whose story touched many people, has successfully undergone a corrective surgery. This week, I'll post her recent pictures and an update on how she's doing now. Here's a link to Meraly's story.

BUHAY AMERICA TIPS: Do Not Call List

Hang up on annoying, unwelcome telemarketing calls:

Register your phone number to the DoNotCall.gov web site.

The National Do Not Call Registry is managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), America's consumer protection agency. The website states that:

"The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. If they do, you can file a complaint at this Website. You can register your home or mobile phone for free. Your registration will be effective for five years."

If you're one of the early birds who signed up for this nifty public service back in 2003, please be informed that your registration is about to expire and you should think about renewing your registration.

photo> msn.com

LETTERS FROM READERS

I recently received these unexpected, heartwarming e-mails. To all FilipinOnline supporters, many, many thanks!

********************************************************************************

Dear Yong,
I find it hard to find the words to describe my feelings. But I need to tell you are a wonderful and blessed person...You are a major reason that Meraly is getting the attention she needs.
I thank you with all my heart talaga. God Bless.

Your Kaibigan Palagi,
Jude Tiner

Here's a link to Meraly's story.

********************************************************************************

Yong,
I want to thank you for a splendidly written article...I was visiting my family on the East Coast (for the first tine since the relapse!) when the first calls and copies about the article came in. We were all impressed by your writing. You did a wonderful job lacing everything together and ending on an inspiring, positive note. I loved reading it.

We also received calls about the video news segment on TFC. I have not seen the video but I heard you did a good job there as well! I just know that the airing of the video moved more people to sign up on the registry!

Thank you so much for coming to the Prom and continuing to make the Filipino Community aware of the need for bone marrow donors. I can shout and plead endlessly for the marrow cause but my words may only reach a few thousand people. When you speak through your media talent, the message reaches millions. Your influence is indescribable. Know that your work inspires others and truly makes a difference in this world. The community needs more people like you.

With much regard and respect,
Christine Pechera

Here's a link to Christine's story.

*********************************************************************************

And finally, from fellow blogger Jason of InterOpNurse:

"I just wanted to congratulate you on a wonderful site. I love every aspect of your site and what you are trying to achieve."
Check out his wonderful website, it is chock-full of information: InterOpNurse

OCTOBER IS FIL AM HISTORY MONTH - SD & LA activities

The Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) San Diego Chapter celebrates Filipino American History Month.

Activities include a film presentation of "Bolinao 52" at the San Diego Asian Film Festival this October 11. Bolinao 52 is a documentary about Vietnamese boat people stranded in the Pacific Ocean in 1988.

For more information on San Diego events, contact: Judy Patacsil ~ jpatacsi@sdccd.edu

In LOS ANGELES, "History in the Moment: A Free Community Symposium in Honor of Filipino American History Month" include sessions on "Filipino American Visual Literacy in Public Art" by Eliseo Art Silva and "Making Their Way Through Southern California : A Photo Collection of the Manong and Manang Generation." The event will be held on October 27 at CSU Northridge Satellite Student Union (SSU) - Fernandeno Room.

FOR MORE DETAILS: Please visit: http://www.fanhs-national.org/ http://www.fanhsla.org/ http://www.csun.edu/

(Thanks to Art Pacho for the info.)

SAY A PRAYER FOR EMIL MIJARES

Emil Mijares, the grandfather of Philippine Jazz, is now under hospice care in Buena Park, California, a statement from JazzPhil USA said.

Mijares suffered a severe stroke in early September.

"He was getting better for a while," the statement added, "however, Emil suffered another stroke after a couple of weeks. The doctors say he has a few days left to live."

The jazz legend had played alongside Nat King Cole, Teddy Edwards, Hannibal Marvin Peterson as well as with other Filipino jazz greats Bobby Enriquez, Romy Katindig, Lito Molina among many others.

Mijares' friends and colleagues are asking for prayers and positive thoughts for him and his family.

To hear a sampling of his talent, here's a link.

photo: emilmijares.com

ASK A KABABAYAN:"Totoo ba na may random IRS audit this year?"

Yup, this is true, so make sure that your tax documents are organized.

Starting this month, IRS will be sending "Dear Taxpayer" letters to 13,000 randomly chosen income taxpayers.

Why are they doing this? To close the $290 billion tax gap, which is the difference between what is collected and what should be collected. To do this, the IRS needs “fresh” data to update their computer program that statistically determines which tax returns to audit in the future to get the most money, according to a report.

In some cases, taxpayers selected for special audit won't know about them because their income and deductions can be verified through W-2 wage statements. But they may be asked by the IRS to submit documents supporting their income and deduction claims.

If you have a complicated tax return and a sit-down with IRS examiners is necessary, you might want to get in touch with a tax professional who has experience in dealing with the IRS.

Should taxpayers be worried? "In most cases, no," an IRS official said to aol.com. "But, let's face it. The IRS doesn't mind if people are a little nervous."

If you purchased a tax preparation software, you might have a built-in support from a tax professional so dig that information out.

To put it in perspective, here's what Turbo Tax says:

"The chance of receiving random audit notice is slim but if you do get picked, don’t panic. Remember your chance of receiving that random audit notice is .0096%. You might have a better chance of winning the lottery!"

Here's a link to tips on avoiding an audit that you can use when you prepare your next tax return.

Lastly, when you hire a tax professional to assist you should you need it, make sure that they come highly recommended. There are lots of unsavory types who prey on people's fears so be careful.

[photo: pbs.org]

CHER CALVIN OUTRAGED BY "DESPERATE" REMARK

By: Yong B. Chavez
FilipinOnline.com

Los Angeles news anchor Cher Calvin of KTLA Morning News joins thousands of Filipino Americans in denouncing the controversial "Desperate Housewives" joke about Philippine medical schools.

KTLA Morning News will talk about the issue at 9 AM PST today in their hot topics segment.

"I am looking forward to representing the Filipino American community as I am outraged as well and thankful for the apology from ABC as my late mother was a doctor at NYU Medical Center in New York," Calvin said.

The Emmy award-winning Filipina anchor started her broadcasting career in the Philippines.

TV NETWORK, PRODUCERS APOLOGIZE FOR "DESPERATE" LINE

By Yong B. Chavez
http://www.filipinonline.com/

For making a joke that put Philippine medical schools in a bad light, the producers of "Desperate Housewives" are saying sorry.

"The producers of 'Desperate Housewives' and ABC Studios offer our sincere apologies for any offense caused by the brief reference in the season premiere. There was no intent to disparage the integrity of any aspect of the medical community in the Philippines. As leaders in broadcast diversity, we are committed to presenting sensitive and respectful images of all communities featured in our programs," Chandler Hayes of ABC Media Relations wrote in an e-mail to FilipinOnline.com.

As of Wednesday night, an online petition demanding an apology from the show has gathered close to 42,000 signatures. The petition was started by Kevin Nadal, a Filipino performance artist and activist.

In last Sunday's episode of the highly-rated show, Teri Hatcher's character (Susan) said this line to her doctor: "Can I just check those diplomas because I just want to make sure that they are not from some med school in the Philippines."

This throwaway line gathered a barrage of negative reactions from the U.S. Filipino community and its leaders.

In a letter addressed to the show, the leader of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) condemned "the racially-biased and culturally insensitive remarks."

"It is outrageous that in this day and age, popular media continue to demean and insult Filipinos in America," Kern said. "For more than one hundred years, we have made valuable contributions to this country, not only as health professionals but as child care providers and home care givers. These dedicated, diligent and competent workers do not deserve to be slandered and stereotyped in such a prejudicial manner if only to evoke laughter."

The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles also sent a letter of protest to the show for the "derogatory remark."

"We wish to point out that the Philippine medical profession is highly regarded all over the world, as evidenced by the high demand for Filipino healthcare professionals in many countries, including this country. The United States recognizes the academic standards of Philippine medical and nursing schools, and in general, does not require additional schooling in this county for Filipino healthcare professionals who wish to work here," Consul General Mary Jo Aragon said.

Many of the show's Filipino fans were turned off by this gaffe but some may not be writing the show off completely.

"Does this mean that I'll stop watching 'Desperate Housewives?' Only if the story lines are boring," said a blogger from FilipinaMoms.com.

When "Desperate Housewives" premiered in 2004, it was lauded for its quirky plotlines and for having a diverse cast. Filipino American actor Alec Mapa has appeared on the show several times.

WWII Filipina Comfort WomanTo Speak This Weekend

Listen to the stories of the survivors of military sex slavery in WW II this Saturday. Our lolas are denied justice to this day. They need every Pinoy's help.

Saturday, October 6, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Manila Terrace social hall
2328 W. Temple St., Los Angeles
(across Rosemont Elem School )

Speakers:
Nelia Sancho, Asian Women Human Rights Council
Adela Barroquillo, Lola survivor
and the delegates from LOLAS KAMPANYERA

Book launching of Justice for Healing
Anthology of stories of Lola survivors of WWII sexual slavery

Sponsors:
People’s CORE, Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace
Filipino American Press Club of Los Angeles
Philippine Press Club, Inc.,
For info, call (310) 987-8886

Philippine Cinderella film

ABADEHA The Philippine Cinderella at NIIVF Film Festival

ABADEHA Neo-Ethnic Rock Cinderella, the first Philippine Cinderella film ever produced is an Official Selection for exhibition at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival at the Sunset 5 Laemmle Theatres in West Hollywood, on October 4, 2007. Laemmle Theatres is the premiere art house chain in Los Angeles.

A recovery and reconstruction of the Philippine version of the most-loved fairy tale in the world, the film ABADEHA Neo-Ethnic Rock Cinderella is a visual re-telling of the age-old Cinderella story of the Philippines. Told with a contemporary interpretation, the story flows through dramatic dialogue, songs, indigenous dance, rituals, folkways, customs, poetry, and the fusion of native and present-day music and sounds.

While consistent with the universal Cinderella themes of mother-daughter conflict, and sibling rivalry, ABADEHA Neo-Ethnic Rock Cinderella is distinctly Filipino.

Interwoven in the story-telling of the film, is the depiction of the environmentally-reverent indigenous Philippine culture. The close affinity with the earth; i.e. reverence for the natural environment and living things, respect for ancestral wisdom, and a strong belief in the human co-existence and harmony with nature inherent in Philippine indigenous traditions are embedded in the film. The central character, Abadeha, the Philippine Cinderella, lives in an environment where the characters practice their indigenous, social, and spiritual values, customs, and traditions.

ABADEHA Neo-Ethnic Rock Cinderella gives new life to the Cinderella story of the Philippines in a contemporary setting with a neo-ethnic concept. Myrna J. de la Paz, educator, author of ABADEHA The Philippine Cinderella, wrote, produced, and directed the film, ABADEHA Neo-Ethnic Rock Cinderella.

For Movie/After Party tickets at the Sunset 5 Laemmle Theatre ($12.00 ) and Opening Night Event and Party at the The Cabana Club ($12.00) please, call (323) 259-8918.

Press Release

IMMIGRATION LAUNCHES PHOTO-VERIFICATION TOOL FOR EMPLOYERS

USCIS LAUNCHES PHOTO SCREENING TOOL FOR E-VERIFY PROGRAM

Photo tool will help employers detect some forms of identity fraud

WASHINGTON- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has launched a new photo-screening tool that will help employers comply with immigration law while also strengthening worksite enforcement. The photo tool will be the first step in giving employers the tools they need to help detect some forms of identity fraud in the employment eligibility process. The photo tool is the first enhancement in E-Verify, the agency's Web-based system that allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of newly hired employees. More than 23,000 employers are currently enrolled in the program - with more than 2,000 more joining each month - and will now be able to access the new photo screening tool to more accurately verify a new non-citizen employee's identity.

"Our current E-Verify system is not fraud-proof and was not designed to detect identity fraud," said USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez. "The photo tool enhancement will give employers an additional resource to help verify identity and employment authorization status and is just one more valuable enhancement to an effective, fair and viable program."

PASADENA SCHOOLS WAITING FOR PINOY TEACHERS

Filipino teachers who were supposed to start at the Pasadena Unified School District have yet to arrive due to immigration and credentialing process delays.

The 20 educators were recruited from the Philippines to teach math, science and special education and were supposed to arrive last August.

But due to processing delays, their trips are still pending. Meanwhile, some of the jobs they were supposed to take have been filled, a school district said in a report. The three teachers who are expected to arrive by early October will still have full-time jobs waiting for them while others might have to start off as substitutes.

A lot of American schools are hiring from the Philippines due to increased teacher shortage in the nation.

Though many thrive in the opportunity to work in the U.S., it's not always the ideal situation for some recruited Filipino teachers. Sources say that they, to start, they have to shell out up to $10,000 in recruitment fees. Once here, they usually are left to fend on their own by recruiters, although this practice is supposedly explained to them before they leave the Philippines.

Apart from the culture shock, a lot of the teachers face unruly students when they start to work in school districts in high-risk areas. One recruit has related an incident when her accent was made fun of by the students. Another one was attacked when students threw books at her when she entered a dimly-lit classroom.

In frustration, some teachers have even tried to become nurses.

In Los Angeles, luckily, they get assistance from a group of Filipino teachers, although not all take advantage of this help.

FILIPINO NURSES HELPED SAVE ALLIGATOR ATTACK VICTIM

By: Yong B. Chavez
FilipinOnline

Filipino nurses on a picnic in a South Carolina park helped save a man after an alligator bit off his arm.

Members of the Bicol Assocation of Charleston were having a Sunday feast, eating and dancing, on September 16 when they saw a bloody Bill Hedden stumbling and grasping his left shoulder. The 59-year-old retired Navy master chief's arm was bitten off by a 550-pound, 11-foot-long alligator while he was snorkeling.

"We saw a guy bleeding profusely. We thought he was just kidding," said Jerome Bien, one of the Filipino picnickers.

Immediately, at least five Filipino registered nurses from the group rushed to his aid. They iced Hedden's wound and worked to stop the bleeding. They kept him awake until paramedics arrived, one of the nurses said to a reporter. Bien later saw the alligator in the lake with Hedden's arm still in the animal's jaw. Officials said that it was one of the worst alligator attacks in South Carolina's history.

"One of [the nurses] keep on encouraging him to breathe because he was turning blue," said Jo Masauding, one of the Filipino nurses on the scene.

A Department of Natural Resources contractor killed the alligator and retrieved Hedden's arm from the gator's belly but doctors were unable to reattach it. Hedden is currently recovering in a hospital and is now listed in fair condition.

Hedden is fortunate to be alive, thanks to the Filipino nurses picnicking nearby, CNN reported in its Heroes segment where the story was first featured.



Here's a video of this amazing story. Thanks to FilipinOnline contributor Art Pacho for the news tip.


[PHOTO: JEROME BIEN]

ASK A KABABAYAN: "I bought a new computer with free Internet protection. Mag-e-expire na yung protection, should I renew?"

You definitely should renew, or purchase a different one, if you find a better product than the one that came pre-installed in your computer. It's necessary. Your computer will always be vulnerable and prone to computer virus and malicious software attacks if you don't have one.

When I first purchased a home computer (back in the '90s), binalewala ko yung alerts that pop up saying that my Internet protection was expiring na. The result: my computer was attacked by viruses and I never got it to run as smooth as before. Sayang. From then on, I always make sure that I update my Internet protection religiously.

I've been using Norton, but there are so many other products to choose from, you can even download them from the Internet pero for your peace of mind, magtanong-tanong ka in person sa mga computer products salespeople kung ano'ng dapat mong piliin. Ang importante, shop around for the best deals and install one before your current Internet protection expires.

NEWS BRIEFS:Asians For Equal Marriage Rights, Arroyo Faces Another Kickback Controversy, and Imelda Gets More Shoes

- A coalition of over 50 local, state, and national Asian American organizations will be filing a legal brief in support of equal marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples in the consolidated California Marriage Cases currently before the California Supreme Court. The brief focuses on past marriage discrimination against Asian immigrants in California, according to the Asian Pacific American Legal Center.

- The Philippine government is strongly defending itself against allegations of multi-million dollar kickback over a controversial telecommunications deal with a Chinese firm. Arroyo's husband is reportedly involved in this deal.

- Imelda Marcos' new shoes won't be quite as expensive and bling-y as her other ones but she sure is happy to get them.

[photo: BBC]

FILIPINO FAMILY SUES U-HAUL

In the course of saving someone's life, Demetrio Nagtalon, 63, lost his.


In December 2006, Nagtalon rented a U-Haul truck. Upon discovering a faulty brake, he sought to have it replaced so he returned it to a U-Haul rental center in San Francisco.


Instead of replacing the truck, a customer representative, Bobby Johnson, tried to repair the brake himself although, reports would later say, he is not a trained mechanic. Johnson also didn't block the vehicle's wheels.


Without turning the engine of the vehicle off, Johnson depressed the parking brake, and then attempted to release the brake with his hand. The handle of the brake came off in his hand. Johnson tried unsuccessfully to reattach the handle, and then went to get a pair of pliers and then continued trying to repair the brake.


When the truck began moving, Nagtalon rushed forward and pushed Johnson away from harm. However, by saving Johnson, Nagtalon himself was pinned between the truck and a steel pillar. He suffered massive internal bleeding and a crushed pelvis.


The father of four and grandfather of 13 died two hours later at a hospital. In a police report, Johnson reportedly called Nagtalon "a hero."


But U-Haul doesn't seem to share Johnson's belief.


The Nagtalon family recently filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against U-Haul, the country's largest supplier of rental trucks and trailers.


In a report, U-Haul indicated that Nagtalon was to blame for his own death.


"The cause of this accident was Mr. Nagtalon's actions, which placed his safety at risk in a situation where his assistance was not required," lawyers for U-Haul and Johnson said in court documents, according to the the Los Angeles Times.

"They've already begun their cover-up," said the Nagtalons' attorney, Matt Kumin. The case is now in the discovery stage and their attempts to interview Johnson has been blocked, Kumin added.


"I think we have a very good case against U-Haul," Kumin said. "They've been putting money ahead of safety."

In June, the Los Angeles Times published a series documenting the safety problems with U-Haul trucks and trailers.


The truck that killed Nagtalon was 13 years old and had logged 180,000 miles and had been in the shop because of the same parking brake problem that he encountered.

FILIPINO WIDOWS FIGHTING GREEN CARD DENIAL

Below is the story I wrote for Philippines News this week.

Purita, 55, spoke to me over the phone while she was on a Northern California train heading to work. At first Purita was a bit hesistant to talk but as she spoke of Richard, her dearly departed husband, her voice perked up. Because she was in transit, her cellphone's reception was choppy, medyo mahina ang boses n'ya, but she was still able to clearly convey her hurt in being "stripped" of her right to be called Richard's wife because he had died.

It was through fate that they met, but it was Richard's dogged determination to win her over that sealed their relationship.

In the early days of her courtship, Richard was hospitalized and when he opened his eyes, the first face that he saw was Purita's.

"He told me then that he will never let me go, that I have to be his wife," Purita said.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Filipino widows file lawsuit over green cards

Yong B. Chavez, Sep 05, 2007
LOS ANGELES — Purita Manuel Poindexter had every reason to be happy. She had found the love of her life, Richard, in the country that she also loves. They exchanged wedding vows on November 6, 2006.

About a month after, Richard, a U. S. citizen, filed a “petition for alien relative” and permanent residency application for Purita. She was scheduled for an interview on February 15, 2007.

Two weeks before the interview, on January 29, 2007, Richard was hospitalized for intestinal bleeding and died unexpectedly.

On March 7, Purita received a letter from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) saying that her application had been denied.

“Doon ko na-realize na lahat wala na (That’s when I realized that everything was gone),” Purita tearfully recounted.

Still reeling from the loss of her husband, she sought legal counsel to find out if she had any other options.

Her stepchildren, Richard’s adult children from a previous marriage, couldn’t believe that she would be deported.

Purita’s lawyer, however, did not think that her case had a chance because under a current immigration law, if the citizen dies before authorities approve the petition, the application is no longer valid.

“But my husband’s daughter told me not to give up. She promised to help in finding a way to appeal my case,” Purita said.

Her stepdaughter found Brent Renison, pro bono counsel of a group called Surviving Spouses Against Deportation. Purita joined the group which seeks to put an end to what Renison calls “widow penalty.”

Renison, together with Los Angeles attorney Alan Diamante, recently filed a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles. The complaint aims to reopen Purita’s and nearly two dozen other cases like hers. They are seeking to challenge the “widow penalty, whereby the USCIS denies legal status to surviving spouses of American citizens due to the death of their spouse during lengthy administrative visa processing.”

“It’s a disgusting practice,” Renison said.

Another Filipina, Sarah Bayor, 40, is also named as a plaintiff-petitioner in the lawsuit. Sarah married Stephen Bayor, a U.S. citizen, in January 2006 and her petition papers were filed the following month.

While waiting for her permanent residency approval, Stephen died. In August, 2007, three months after his death, Sarah received her letter of denial on the basis that she was no longer the spouse of a U.S. citizen.Interestingly, Matter of Varela, a frequently cited legal case in matters involving the death of a U.S. citizen spouse, was about the denial of the residency application of a Filipina widow in 1970. Her husband was a petty officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve and died of a heart attack while still on active duty. After his death, it was decided that she “was not the spouse of a United States citizen. His death had stripped her of that status.”

Currently, there are exceptions made for spouses of military personnel who die in combat. Unfortunately, this did not apply to Venezuela-born Dahianna Heard whose husband died while working for a private security contractor in Iraq. She is also a petitioner of the class action lawsuit.

The immigrants should not be “stripped of the status of a spouse” just because their husband or wife died, Renison said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “It’s nobody’s fault, and no one should be faulted.”

An amendment to change the law was part of the failed comprehensive immigration bill.

Reached via e-mail, an immigration official declined to comment on the issue.“We don’t comment on matters pending litigation,” Sharon Rummery of USCIS wrote. “I don’t understand why they don’t consider me his wife,” Purita said, adding that in every other aspect of her life, she remains Mrs. Poindexter.

It’s a tough battle, Purita admits, but she says she gets her strength from remembering the happy though short life she had with Richard.They met in 2005 and became inseparable almost immediately.

“We liked to talk and argue about politics,” she said. “He had a very sharp mind.”Before his death, Richard was writing a memoir while Purita was also busy writing her own little masterpiece: their love story.

“It was eight pages long,” she said. “Naiiyak ako pag naiisip ko na wala na s’ya. (I cry when I think about the fact that he’s gone.)”

Like the other members of the Surviving Spouses Against Deportation, Purita is pinning her hopes for a bit of a happy ending on the outcome of their lawsuit.

SOMETHING TO SEE:The Filipino Leader of "10th Mountain"

The 7th Annual Valley Film Festival presents:

"The 10th Mountain"'

El Portal Theatre (North Hollywood, CA)

Saturday, Sep. 15 @ 1:30pm $10.00

In the WWII drama "The 10th Mountain," an elite squad from the 10th Mountain division receives a new leader, a Filipino. The squad's mixed views on their new Captain are tested as new orders have them infiltrating a German base in Italy.

For more info, click here.

CONSUMER ALERT: There's only one website where you can get FREE credit reports...

...and that is annualcreditreport.com.

Every consumer is entitled to a free credit report from each of the Big 3 reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. It's good to be always updated with your credit report because it will show whether someone is trying to get credit in your name. Order from a credit bureau every four months. Don't order the reports simultaneously to get continuous updates.

There's one that's called freecreditreport.com which provides a free 30-day trial but after 30 days, if you don't cancel, this company will automatically charge $12.95 per month to your credit card so be careful what you sign up for.

The charge is labeled under another name - CIC Triple Advantage - so if you don't scrutinize your credit card charges, it's easy to miss. Kung hindi malinaw sa inyo na sisingilin kayo after ng trial period, you can ask for a refund.

FPAC TIME!

Come Celebrate Community Spirit at the 16th Annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture !

Community’s Diverse Artistry, Culture, Cuisine and People Converge For Highly Anticipated Festival Weekend Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture
The 16th Annual (FPAC), Southern California 's largest and most lauded ongoing Filipino American tradition, is on! Taking place on Sept. 8and 9, 2007 at breathtaking Point Fermin Park,807 Paseo del Mar in San Pedro, this year’s theme is “Handog,” or “Offering” – in celebration of true community spirit as Filipino Americans from different walks of life gather together to bring you this 16th edition of pure community soul through artistry, culture, and food.

Popular international comedian Rex Naverrete returns to headline FPAC, with multi-awarded singer / songwriter Anthony Castelo and the world Hip Hop champions: Philippine All Stars, making their respective debuts.

Upcoming Jazz singer Charmaine Clamor returns as well. Authentic, traditional music and dance are brought to you by a host of cultural dance troupes in Kayamanan ng Lahi, BIBAK (Benguet, Ifugao, Bontoc, Apayao, Kalinga - 5 major tribes of the Northern Philippines ), Kultura, and others. Demonstrations of the Filipino martial arts, Kali /Eskrima are brought to you by eskrimadors Kapisanang Mandirigma, Pakamut, and Bahala Na.

There's so much in store for everyone, so 'wag n'yong kalimutang pumunta!

Initiated by the City of Los Angeles back in 1990, the stewardship of the Annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture was transferred over to a non-profit organization now called FilAm ARTS – the Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts & Culture.“Still true to its original intent since its inception, the Festival is designed to be a ‘common ground.’ The aim of FPAC is to be as inclusive in every which way possible,” says Executive Director Jilly Canizares.

For more details: http://www.filamarts.org/, or call (323) 913-4663.

DRIVING LESSONS: The Driving Laws Hoax E-mail Edition

I'm sure some of you have already received or heard of an e-mail about "New California Driving Laws effective 7/01/07". Feel free to not believe that. It is a hoax.

Here's a reality check from Triple A:

FALSE: It's a $1,068.50 fine for first-time carpool-lane violation.
TRUE: It's actually about $380.

FALSE: DUI=Jail, and it stays in your record for 10 years.
TRUE: Getting a DUI doesn't necessarily mean you'll do time, but the offense DO stay in your record for 10 years - a fact since 2005.

FALSE: Speeders can only drive 3 miles above the limit.
TRUE: Unlike talipapa prices, wala pong tawad ang speeding violation. There is no "buffer zone" for speeding.

[The picture is, of course, not related to the aforementioned hoax e-mail. It's just a nice image, and it's from a movie featuring Ron and Mrs. Weasley. Go rent it.]

Children's Watering Cans with Lead Recalled

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, today announced a voluntary recall of 6, 000 Robbie Ducky™ Kids Watering Cans.

Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Hazard: The beak of the watering can contains lead in the paint, which violates the federal law prohibiting lead paint on children's toys. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Description: The recalled Robbie Ducky™ Kids Watering Can is yellow with an orange beak and is about 10 inches high by 6 inches wide. "Robbie Ducky™ Garden Collection Duck Watering Can" is printed on a sticker on the bottom of the watering can.

Sold exclusively at: Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores nationwide from February 2007 through August 2007 for about $10.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the watering can away from children and return it to any Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store for a full refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Jo-Ann Stores Inc. toll-free at (888) 739-4120 ext. 7 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or email the firm at guest.services@jo-annstores.com or visit the firm’s Web site at www.joann.com

This latest round of recalls involving children's goods made in China comes amid heightened scrutiny of Chinese exports following Mattel Inc's recalls of millions of toys this month -- some of which were due to excessive amounts of lead paint.

Lead is toxic and can pose serious health risks to young children who often put toys and other objects in their mouth.

Here's an article that lists toys recalled due to lead.

"NEVER ABOUT THE MONEY"

Ruby De Vera explains her reason for taking on City Hall and why she might take them on again; Fil Am community leaders react to her 125K lawsuit settlement

“This outcome proves that my termination was unjustified and confirms legal precedence that no one should ever be fired because of their political activities. I hope my case will encourage more Filipinos to pursue their dreams of running for office and be a voice for their community which has always been my passion,” De Vera stated in her first official statement after being awarded a 125K settlement in a lawsuit she filed against Councilman Ed Reyes and the City of Los Angeles.

It is a vindication, says her Filipina lawyer, Toni Jaramilla.

De Vera filed a free speech lawsuit against Reyes and City of LA for terminating her after running for public office. She was terminated the very day she returned to work after running for an open seat in City Council during the November, 2005 elections. De Vera, who was Reyes’ office manager at the time, did not run against her boss, but rather against Jose Huizar, a candidate Reyes later endorsed and was backed by Mayor Villaraigosa.

“This was an enormous victory, both monetary and symbolically. Ms. De Vera secured another job within days so her economic loss was not significant. $125,000 is therefore very dignified. But it was never about the money. The lawsuit was always about holding a government and its leaders accountable for infringing on a citizen’s free speech rights to run for public office. This was a righteous case and we could not wait to bring it before a jury,” Jaramilla said.

Here's the rest of De Vera's press statement which includes a possible part two to this saga: because a councilmember (Bill Rosendahl) has accused De Vera of "gaming the system," she and her legal team are "examining our options at this point on whether to pursue an action against Rosendahl, and/or have the settlement voided and proceed to trial."

"Councilmembers Bill Rosendahl and Janice Hahn justified De Vera’s termination in their comments to the LA Times (August 18, 2007) that De Vera was an “at-will” employee. Rosendahl went on to say that De Vera was “gaming the system” which De Vera denies. Jaramilla remarks, 'Apparently, Rosendahl and Hahn fell asleep during history class when the U.S. Constitution was discussed. It is appalling that some of our own elected officials cannot grasp the basic concept that just because you are an at-will employee, does not mean you have no protections under the Constitution or other state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination and retaliation in the workplace.'

David Duchrow, co-counsel for De Vera states 'Ruby was an exemplary employee and is beloved in the community as demonstrated by the huge amount of votes she received. This kind of ‘back room brokering’ of elections should not be tolerated in LA. The public, and not government leaders by virtue of their power and influence, should decide who can and should run for political positions.' Regarding Rosendahl’s comment about De Vera, 'We are examining our options at this point on whether to pursue an action against Rosendahl, and/or have the settlement voided and proceed to trial,” says Duchrow.'"


Meanwhile, here are some reactions from Filipino community leaders:

PROSY DELACRUZ:
As a student of leadership development, organizational development and quality management systems, what Ruby De Vera experienced was a profound blow to the civility and humane veneer that LA City municipal government sectors managed to create in its years of existence. Even, myself as an insider and a volunteer member of its boards or commissions, could not imagine that someone would 'retaliate' in such a brazen way to Ruby who was exercising simply her right to participate in a democratic system by running in office to be elected as a councilperson.

I could not understand that someone like Ruby, who put in a decade of service to LA city government, a career public servant, a city government insider, could lose her job over the very essence of exercising her rights to participate publicly in city council chambers, if she had been elected, and literally preempted from functioning, made an outsider, thrown out of a job without a means of livelihood.

Yet, the way the City Council responded to restore her dignity sent a very clear message that this brazen act of retaliation is not condoned nor enabled by this progressive Los Angeles City Council was an honorable act! It restored my faith that indeed this LA City Government, under the leadership of its progressive Mayor and its City Council President is truly serious in pursuing its new pathway of Renaissance, of making this city government no longer an entity frozen in the practices of the 1950s, but a city government that leads us in progressive practices of green living, of healthy development that provides living wages to its residents, and a city government that works for all of its constituents, including the developers, the unions, its city employees and all 4,000,000 residents that come from all corners of the world.

I am proud that this Los Angeles City Council voted to restore faith in the system and dignity to Ruby de Vera, two decades - long public servant who has served this city and our community honorably, respectably and unselfishly!
Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. Commissioner,
Los Angeles City Convention and Exhibition Center Authority ( ID purposes only )
Commissioner Emeritus, Los Angeles City Civil Service Commission, 2005-2007



YEY CORONEL:
There are people who believe that the decision made by the Los Angeles City Council on November 17, 2007 to settle Ruby De Vera’s lawsuit is a victory. Initially, I would have agreed. However, after reading the November 18 LA Times article by Steve Hymon, I became uncomfortable with all the questions that surfaced in my mind. I'm going to mention just three of these questions.

My first question, some will say, is quite obvious given the numerous email responses I’ve been privy to these past few days. Did the Council act with the understanding that Councilman Ed Reyes did something wrong or did they act in the best interest of certain Councilmembers? Janice Hahn’s statement says quite a bit:

It bothered me because I thought it sent the wrong message to our at-will employees that if they were terminated they could sue," Hahn said. "But the case was made to me that we could have a difficult time in court because of things said when she was let go, and I was convinced that this was the best way to put this behind us, especially for Councilman Reyes.
Ruby’s lawsuit would have deposed Councilman Reyes as well as Councilman Jose Huizar, something that elected officials try to avoid as much as possible. The deposition would have confirmed that prior to running for office, Ruby approached Councilman Reyes to let him know of her intentions to run. According to Ruby, Reyes told her that she should talk to Jose Huizar. At the time, certain City employees alleged that Reyes supported Huizar to gain favor with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa since Reyes supported then Mayor James K. Hahn during the previous Mayoral race. According to Ruby, she complied with Reyes’ instructions and Huizar gave her a go signal. So she moved forward thinking that she had crossed her t’s and dotted her i’s. But a week after coming back to work, Reyes fired Ruby for being an “embarrassment”. Who knows what else was said to her? This prompted her lawsuit.
Bill Rosendahl’s statement accusing Ruby of "gaming the system" is a clear indication that not all the Councilmembers understand the real intent behind this lawsuit. Yes, Ruby is an at-will employee who can be fired at any time. In all my years spent in City Hall, I know that she is not the first to be fired for political reasons.

But was Ruby “gaming the system”? There is no one I know who is less capable of this than Ruby de Vera. Ruby has worked for years for the City of Los Angeles - years spent in unwavering loyalty, total dedication and perseverance despite all odds, years filled with hard work and good intentions.

I believe that Ruby’s lawsuit was not about “gaming the system” but rather about reminding the system that even at-will employees have rights that are upheld by the Constitution. Ruby actually confirmed my suspicion that, if she were simply told to leave the office, without any comments being made; she would have simply walked away. Knowing Ruby, if that had been what transpired, there would have been no complaints. If Ruby was about gaming the system, those who know her well can say that she has had many opportunities in the past. With Rosendahl’s accusation, didn’t he just give her an opportunity to slap him with an oral defamation lawsuit? But that isn’t Ruby.

In filing the lawsuit, Ruby has sent a clear statement to the City Council. Whether they heard it or not is their responsibility and your evidence on whether or not they should remain as decision-makers for one of the largest cities in the world.

Now that Ruby’s lawsuit has been settled, I can’t help but ask my second question. Did Ruby receive the appropriate compensation? Settlement, in legal terms, usually applies to taking the lesser of two evils. Rosendahl’s statement that “taxpayers end up paying the bill” was so incongruous it made me laugh in exasperation. We’re talking here about the same Council known to approve the settlement of cases more than fight them in court. Who can really say how much is appropriate compensation in this situation? The Filipino cultural norm is to adhere to a strong sense of honor, dignity and pride. To be called an “embarrassment” as a reason for firing is like the foot that pushes you to the ground after being slapped in the face. This is what Ruby received from the same person whom she helped place in his position of power. What about Reyes, who seems to have surfaced out of all of this seemingly totally unscathed?

So now I have to ask my third question. Who is the real victor in this case? Let me know when you’ve figured it out.


ARTURO P. GARCIA:
De Vera was active during the anti-martial law struggle against the US-Marcos dictatorship and promoted Filipino community empowerment. She was an active supporter of the Filipino World War II veterans struggle and was also active advocate for the disabled community.

JFAV coordinator Peping Baclig, testified at the Los Angeles city council in 2005 to support De Vera for her claims of discrimination. De Vera ran in District 14 where there is a large Filipino American population.
We will always fight discrimination and systemic racism in any form and way. This is a clear that victory inspires us. This is not only for Ruby but also for all in the Filipino community who seeks justice. It’s a victory for Ruby. It is a victory for the Filipino Community!

NEW FILIPINO TEACHERS GET TRAINING ON L.A. CLASSROOM SURVIVAL

It was recently reported that the Los Angeles school district has been recruiting about 115 teachers from abroad - the largest group of foreign hires in more than 20 years - due to teacher shortage.

Here's a report from FilipinOnline contributor Art Pacho about a training attended by the new recruits:


NEWLY ARRIVED TEACHERS GET TRAINING FROM FELLOW FILIPINOS
By Art Pacho

New teachers from the Philippines attended an orientation training on surviving the classroom in Los Angeles. On August 15, about 58 teachers who were recruited by the Los Angeles Unified School District received the training conducted by the Filipino American Educators Association of Los Angeles (FAEALA). A similar training was held in June by FAEALA for 23 Filipino teachers.

The teachers learned basic topics as preparing a resume, classroom management, survival skills, transportation, housing arrangements, and comparison of instructional and discipline practices in the U.S. and the Philippines.

Facilitators of the training were Zaida Monserate JRA, Frances Lacebal, Dan Gumarang, Lucila Dypiangco, Joseph Nacorda, Glenn San Pedro, and Ron Hage. The training was held with the support of the Los Angeles Unified School District, Human Services Department, represented by Imelda Fruto. Erick Mata, a Filipino American principal at Marina del Rey Middle School, was the training coordinator.

Other community service groups which cooperated with the training include the Filipino American Service Group (FASGI) represented by Bernie Targa and Filipino American Library (FAL) represented by Jonathan Lorenzo.

A CBEST review is also scheduled for September 15 and 22, 2007 to be coordinated by Glenn San Pedro, Zaida Monserate JRA and Junnie Verceles. It will tentatively be held at Cochran Middle School in Los Angeles. Passage of this test is a requirement to qualify as a teacher in California.

FAEALA is an organization dedicated to helping the needs of Filipino American educators and promoting Filipino culture and heritage. Zaida Monserate JRA, the current FAEALA president, stated that this was the second training program conducted for free by the organization to help the largest number of Filipino teachers ever recruited by Los Angeles. The training was a community effort to support the newly arrived teachers become successful in the classrooms in Los Angeles.

L.A. FIL AMS "ROCK" THIS PLACE

In Eagle Rock Plaza, you can get designer bags at Macy's, casual chic items at Target, as well as barong tagalog and Chickenjoy and other Pinoy goodies at its seven Filipino stores. It is the only mainstream mall carrying that many Filipino retailers and restaurants.

Here's a nice article in the LA Times about how Eagle Rock is now considered as "ground zero" for LA's Pinoys.

PINAY'S FORMER BOSSES PLEAD GUILTY TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING

By Yong B. Chavez

Former Philippine schoolteacher and Dipolog native Nena Ruiz gets justice.

Her former employers, Elizabeth and James Jackson of Culver City, pleaded guilty Monday to forcing Ruiz to work against her will in their home for months. Federal officials called this case a "modern-day slavery."

In 2004, her case hogged headlines when she was awarded $825 thousand by a Sta. Monica jury. Reportedly, the couple had filed for bankruptcy.

"I think it's a landmark case," said Aquilina Soriano-Versoza, executive director of Pilipino Workers' Center, a Filipino organization that has provided assistance to Ruiz. "It calls for stricter enforcement of trafficking laws."

One of the things that struck Annalisa Enrile, Gabriela Network USA chairperson, in this case was the fact that Elizabeth Jackson is a Filipina and a kababayan of Ruiz. GABNET was one of the first organizations to give aid to Ruiz when her plight was exposed.

"I think it's to our benefit that we are made aware that things like this are not only done by menacing foreigners," Enrile said.

Elizabeth Jackson faces a maximum sentence of 46 months in prison for her forced labor charge while husband James’ sentence will include 200 hours of community service. They are scheduled for sentencing this Nov. 5.

Ruiz is now living and working in Los Angeles with her husband. She is currently employed as a caregiver.

Here's the complete press release from the Department of Justice:

California Couple Pleads Guilty to Human Trafficking Charges
WASHINGTON - Elizabeth and James Jackson, of Culver City, Calif., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Los Angeles to felony charges related to forced labor and human trafficking. Elizabeth Jackson pleaded guilty to a single count of forced labor, and James Jackson pleaded guilty to a single count of alien harboring.

Elizabeth Jackson admitted to forcing a Filipino woman to work against her will in the Jacksons’ home for several months in 2001 and 2002 by creating a climate of fear through threats of abuse of the legal process. James Jackson admitted to harboring the same Filipino woman in the Jacksons’ Culver City home for several months in 2001 and 2002, even though he knew her work visa had expired.

Elizabeth Jackson faces a maximum sentence of 46 months in prison for her forced labor charge. James Jackson’s sentence will include 200 hours of community service, including providing immigration-related legal advice for indigents. Both of the Jacksons are scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 5, 2007.

“These defendants subjected their victim to what amounts to modern-day slavery,” said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. “The Justice Department will remain dedicated to rooting out this horrible crime and prosecuting those who would enslave others.”

“No person should ever be forced to live in a world of fear, isolation and servitude, particularly in a country that prides itself on its freedoms,” said Julie Myers, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “Today’s guilty pleas should send a message to those who traffic in human beings that ICE is committed to protecting those who cannot protect themselves.”

“Freedom is the most basic of human rights and no one has the right to harbor illegal aliens and force them into labor,” said Salvador Hernandez, Deputy Assistant Director for the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI takes human trafficking crimes very seriously and is committed to investigating those involved in the systematic abuse and degradation of this essential right.”

The Attorney General has made the prosecution of human trafficking crimes a top priority. In the last six fiscal years, the Civil Rights Division, in conjunction with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, has increased by six-fold the number of human trafficking cases filed in court.

The case was prosecuted by Special Litigation Counsel Andrew J. Kline from the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit and Douglas Kern from the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Department of Labor.

THE SURVIVOR

We're all familiar with the saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonades."

But for Christine Pechera, a brave and now cancer-free Pinay, a more appropriate saying could be, "When life gives you cancer, kick its behind."

Last week, she related over the phone how ecstatic she felt just being able to do regular things again, like eating at a restaurant and standing under a New York rain.

"It was raining outside so I went out and just stood in the rain. My mom was yelling, "Get out of the rain, get out of the rain!" but I just wanted to let the rain hit my face. [With the second life given to me], I felt like it was a baptism. It was like a moment of cleansing for me."

Her family couldn't be happier now that she's back with them.

"When I arrived home, I had all these home-cooked meals waiting for me. Dinuguan, monggo, adobo - all my favorites," she said.

She is as busy as ever. "I plan to visit the churches and other Filipino communities in the area who organized bone marrow drives. I want to give thanks to all of them for their support," she said.

My piece (see below) about Christine comes out today in Philippine News. I first wrote about her plight back in 2006 in this article.

Christine Pechera’s faith tames cancer

Yong B. Chavez, Aug 22, 2007

LOS ANGELES — Most people usually don’t cry while eating ice cream but that is exactly what Christine Pechera and her mother did a week ago at Friendly’s, their favorite diner in New York.

“We were talking about the last time we were here and then we both just started crying,” Christine said. The Pechera family, longtime East Coast residents, has been affected by the savageness of cancer more than most families. Before she was diagnosed, Christine donated her own marrow to her brother, Francis Rex, who had lymphoma and also needed a transplant. Because of Christine’s donation, Rex went on to live a few more years. Her sister is a current survivor of lymphoma.

It’s been about 21 months since the Pechera women were at the same restaurant, talking about the cold realities of Christine’s cancer relapse. This time she felt that it was more vicious than ever.

Christine thought that it would be the last time she and her mom would be sharing their favorite ice cream treat.

“I told my Mom that and she said, ‘No, you will get well. We will come back here again, you’ll see’. I was crying so hard because, morbid as it sounds, I knew that chances are, I will be coming back home in a box.”

In July 2006, she played her last card: A risky partial match transplant from a donor based in Hong Kong.

When I caught up with her in March of this year, she said that was still not sure if she will make it.

“A simple flu could kill me,” she said then. Her life revolved around visits to the City of Hope hospital.

But 13 months after the transplant, she got the greatest news of her life: Her doctors told her that she is now cancer-free.

“I just couldn’t believe it. I literally went numb. I kept asking my doctor, ‘Are you sure? Are you absolutely sure?’”

Her doctor showed her the scans. It was completely clear.

“The images were a cool blue, a peaceful blue. A vast empty void of pure, unadulterated pristine health…this is beyond miracle,” Christine ecstatically wrote on her blog right after getting the news.

“The results of the “one-year” bone marrow biopsy came back 100% donor. In the past, “100% donor” meant “promising” or “a good sign”. The marrow also came back “clear.” This triple-confirms that the cancer has completely vanished. At 13 months out, it is safe to officially say that the donor marrow has taken and that the transplant is successful,” she recently assured her supporters on her blog, adding that her father broke down on the phone when she told him that her plans of mounting a post-cancer celebration party is pushing through because she is, indeed, a full-pledged survivor now.

Three years ago, at age 30, doctors told Christine that she had a rare and very aggressive form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She was given a month to live. Her father flew to California to bring her home to die.

But after receiving chemotherapy and an autologous transplant (a procedure where the patient’s own cells are used instead of a donor’s), Christine thought she had her cancer licked for good. In December 2005, it was back. This time, she needed a bone marrow transplant, and for that, she needed a matching donor.

Finding a donor is hard enough but as a Filipino, Christine feared that her chances of finding a match were slim-to-none. Among minorities, Filipinos contribute the least to the bone marrow registry.

“I had less than 10 percent chance of surviving,” Christine said. What she did with this knowledge astounded and inspired not only her family and friends but also strangers.

Using her remaining strength, she actively participated in bone marrow drives and spoke at countless church and community events to enjoin Filipinos to sign up. She was relentless.

When I interviewed her last year at a bone marrow drive sponsored by Goldilocks when she had yet to find a match, Christine related her day-to-day struggle with dizzy spells and general weakness brought on by chemotherapy. And yet, her focus to sign up donors didn’t seem to waver.

“Even if I don’t survive, other patients might be if we sign up more people so I have to keep doing this,” she said then.

“Christine was a very open and hardworking patient. She went all out,” said Madhuri Mistry, public relations and South Asian outreach and recruitment coordinator of Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches (A3M).

A3M is a Los Angeles-based organization that recruits donors in six Asian communities to assist patients in finding marrow matches. Information on how to be a donor can be obtained from www.asianmarrow.org and in Filipino events such as the upcoming Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture (FPAC). They are also mounting a fundraising concert featuring Martin Nievera in October to help more patients. Currently, they are helping to find a donor for Hawaii-based Jonah Kalaikai Jr., a 5-year-old part Filipino with acute myeloma.

A3M was able to sign up more Filipinos during the first five months of Christine’s involvement in the bone marrow registry campaign than they had in the last five years.

Her story attracted even the mainstream media, culminating in an appearance on Nightline.

“I saw her on TV and I was just floored by her so I sought her out,” said Jerome Williams, one of many former strangers who are now part of Christine’s life. Williams has leukemia and his own quest to find a marrow donor can be found on his website, www.teamjerome.org.

He was one of Christine’s guests at a thanksgiving party that Christine recently gave after getting the good news that she is now cancer-free.

Jerome smiles widely as Christine takes over the dance floor, swaying to “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” with the gusto of a teenager. The party’s prom theme was Christine’s choice because aside from its fun connotation, it also signifies an ending of an era, in her case, her battle with cancer.

“I saw her when she has no energy, I saw her in her worst times…so it’s great to see her now living and enjoying life,” Williams said. “When you have a success story like Christine’s, it’s exciting. It gives you hope. It lets you know that you just have to keep on fighting.”

Christine’s plate post-cancer is full but there is one thing that she will definitely make time for: Meeting her bone marrow donor. As is the norm for cases like hers, donors are not allowed to be introduced to patients until after a year. A few weeks after the one-year mark, Christine was finally able to communicate with “my angel,” a 36-year-old Hong Kong resident via e-mail. Christine is not sure if he has Filipino blood but she believes that the fact that she is part Chinese accounted for their partial match.

Christine is currently in the East Coast, spending time with her family but she plans to go back to Los Angeles in the near future to resume her career in films and TV. Here, she talks more about her journey.

Yong B. Chavez: How did it feel going back home?

Christine Pechera: It was very emotional. I was so scared when I left 21 months ago. I’m just so happy to be with family again and to do things I haven’t done in a long time.

YC: Like what?

CP: I went fishing. I grew up near the ocean, in Long Island, so I really like fishing. As I was sitting down, I just kept looking at the sky. I was remembering those days when I was confined in the hospital for 145 days, not allowed to leave my room.

YC: What kept you fighting for your life?

CP: What gave me strength through all this was my faith in God. What kept me fighting was all the support and prayers that were sent my way. Just knowing that there were people praying and cheering from the sidelines kept the fires stoked and helped me to focus when things got downright scary.

There were so many people who were fighting for me: my family, friends, my doctors, my church, other survivors, fighters, supporters and absolute strangers. How could anyone possibly give up when there is an ocean of love all around you, candles being lit in countless churches and temples, and letters being sent from all over the world? One thing I learned is that we are loved more than we know. It is too bad that it takes such a potential tragedy to expose the fact that there truly is goodness everywhere and in all of us, especially where you least expect it.

YC: During the whole ordeal, what was the worst thing that you experienced?

CP: Probably when my boyfriend dumped me after my cancer came back. The timing was just terrible. It was a few days after Valentine’s and it was my first day of chemotherapy. But (the experience) actually made me find my own strength.

YC: Are you seeing someone now?

CP: No. I am currently the most eligible Filipino bachelorette. [laughs] Seriously, I’m happily single.

YC: What was the most surprising thing that you experienced?

CP: The most surprising and upsetting thing was hearing stories of potential donors who were contacted and then refused to donate their marrow. Unfortunately this happens more often among the Asian population. Imagine being told, “We found someone who can save your child’s life but they said ‘No.’” I often cry for those patients who never found a donor, which are many. But my heart simply breaks apart for those patients who did find a donor but died anyway because the donor said “No.” The pain this inflicts on the patient’s family is immeasurable. And imagine being the patient. Being told that your life is not worth someone else’s time? Absolutely tragic.

YC: It sounds like you’ve learned a lot in such a short time.

CP: For sure. I’ve learned that life is truly about love and connections.

YC: You’ve met a lot of people since your ordeal started. What were the worst and best things that anyone has ever told you?CP: I used to have a problem asking for help, and one day, a friend of mine, a fellow patient, told me, “You have to let people help you because by allowing them to help you, they become a part of your healing.” He told me that I have to believe that I’m not a burden, that by accepting help I’m giving someone an opportunity to be a better human being. The worst thing that anyone said was at an interview. A reporter asked this question to my mom: “Christine is already the 3rd of your children who got cancer, so does it get easier with each one?”

YC: Whoa.

CP: Yeah, it was really bad. But don’t mention the reporter’s name. [laughs]

YC: How was the Nightline feature experience? Did this and other media exposure help you?

CP: The Nightline piece was such an important moment for me. On the day of the interview, I didn’t know how much time I had left. It was May and rumor had it that I wasn’t going to make it to the end of summer. We still had not found a donor and time was running out. Originally I thought that by going on national TV, I’d find my donor and hopefully inspire more people to sign up with the National Marrow Donor Program. But what actually happened was so much more.

Soon after the piece aired and right up to this day, I hear from other survivors and caregivers who saw the story. To these people, the story was less about me finding a donor and more about not giving up. About keeping the flag flying high and fighting on despite the incredible odds stacked against you.

At that point I didn’t know if I was going to survive, but it gave me solace to know that all this uncertainty, suffering and pain was turning into a story of hope, strength and faith. No matter what God had planned for me, at least I knew that others were being helped.

YC: What’s next for you?

CP: I will go back to work, doing what I love best which is film and TV. I’m also writing. I am a contributor to this book called “Writing for Wellness” coming out in October. I am also looking at several other book proposals. I will also continue to support bone marrow drives and speak on behalf of patients needing donors. We still need to put Filipinos on the registry. I am very busy and I love it. What’s next for me, really, is the rest of my life.

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!