This is a content curation for NaFFAA Region 8’s Evolutionary Files. Shortened URL is http://bit.ly/oIunp6. Please keep checking in for updates. You are welcome to embed the curation below.
See http://www.manilatimes.net/news/topstories/philippines-defies-china/ for an overview of the Spratly Islands issue.
In preparation for the upcoming Global Summit on September 27-29 in Manila, spearheaded by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, a series of town hall meetings are taking place worldwide.
Click here to view the invitation from the Philippine Consul General’s Office in San Francisco, California.
For more information about the September event, click here.
Please check the previous postings for October 2009. This posting will be updated. Please check in again. Thank you.
October 14, 2009
BREAKING NEWS!
From Dexter Ligot-Gordon, former NaFFAA National Youth Chair (on Facebook): Rep. Speier’s H. Res 800 passes House, offers condolences to typhoon victims in the Phlippines, urges administration to maximize relief efforts.
(Editor’s note: Please scroll below for details about the Filipino Community Forum with Congresswoman Speier that will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009.)
From: Megur, Alyson
Date: Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Subject: Speier Philippines Resolution passes House
For immediate release
October 14, 2009
Speier Philippines Resolution passes House
WASHINGTON – Today, the House of Representatives passed House Resolution 800, authored by Congresswoman Jackie Speier (San Francisco/San Mateo County), expressing its deepest sympathies for residents of the Philippines in the aftermath of recent natural disasters.
“The historical and cultural links between the Philippines and the United States run deeper than any flood waters.” Congresswoman Speier said in her speech on the House floor. “I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 800 to show our friends, the good people of the Philippines, that - as they stood with us in World War II - the American people stand with them at this, their time of greatest need.”
Speier introduced the resolution after two monster storms hit the Philippine archipelago in close succession, killing more than 600 people and forcing millions from their homes. “House Resolution 800 recognizes the hardship caused by Tropical Storm Ketsana and Typhoon Parma and salutes the resilience and strength of the Filipino people,” Speier said. “My resolution also urges the United States government to continue providing emergency relief, logistical support and financial assistance and to work with Philippine officials and non-governmental organizations to improve disaster preparedness programs to mitigate the heartbreak, havoc and loss of life that could be caused by future storms.”
The Resolution passed by unanimous consent, with both Democrats and Republicans speaking in support.
A list of aid organizations helping those affected by the tragedies in the Philippines and American Samoa, as well as a video of Rep. Speier’s floor speech this afternoon, can be found at: www.speier.house.gov.
Mike Larsen
Communications Director
Office of Congresswoman Jackie Speier
211 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-3531
(202) 957-4340 (press only)
mike.larsen@mail.house.gov
www.speier.house.gov
* * * * *
COORDINATING MEETINGS AND COMMUNITY FORUMS
Philippine Disaster Relief Coalition
Everyone is welcome to attend these coordinating meetings.
From: Marivic Bamba
Date: Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 5:24 PM
Subject: REMINDER: Philippine Disaster Relief Coalition meeting, WEDNESDAY, 7PM AT GROUND FLOOR
Hello all — Just a friendly reminder about our meeting this Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 7pm at the FIFTH FLOOR (Social Hall) of the Philippine Consulate/Philippine Center, 447 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA.
All Committees should be prepared to give a brief report on their respective activities. The Fundraising Committee has been meeting the past week and this week to finalize the details of the November 28 concert and telethon. A report will be given during the meeting.
Also a few highlights from the last meeting:
1) Consul General Paynor gave the following donation guidelines:
-Clothing donations are prohibited under Philippine Law;
-Donations to DSWD are tax-exempt (although the Office of the President is still paying the taxes)
2) Our group is now named Philippine Disaster Relief Coalition (PDRC)
3) Fundraising Committee is planning a major Live Concert and Telethon on November 28 with Martin Nievera as host. Other celebrities will be tapped and more details will follow.
4) Committee reports:
-Political Committee is hard at work lobbying various elected officials and government agencies;Committee is renamed to Government Relations
-Donation Points is renamed Operations Committee
-Media Committee will publicize activities of PDRC
See you on Wednesday, on the GROUND FLOOR of the Philippine Consulate, 447 Sutter, at 7pm.
Many thanks, Marivic (Viki)
_____
Community Forum with the Filipino American Community & Congresswoman Jackie Speier
Please click here for House Resolution 800.
Media organizations seeking to speak to Congresswoman Speier prior to - or after - the vote should contact Mike Larsen in Rep. Speier’s office at (202) 225-3531.
Alyson Megur Stamos (from Congresswoman Jackie Speier’s office) invited you to “Forum with Filipino Community Members” on Saturday, October 17 at 11:00am.
Alyson says, “Hope you can make it this Saturday to South SF. Please feel free to invite anyone you think would be interested. Looking forward to seeing you there!”. (Note from NaFFAA Region 8 Media Group: Please forward this message!)
Event: Forum with Filipino Community Members
What: Informational Meeting
Start Time: Saturday, October 17 at 11:00am
End Time: Saturday, October 17 at 12:30pm
Where: Joseph A Fernekes Recreation Building
781 Tennis Drive, South San Francisco, CA
To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=152795472314&mid=13f036bG29aa2740G3c76717G7
Thanks,
The Facebook Team
_____
From: PCG-SF: Cultural Section
Date: Thu, Oct 8, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Dear Colleagues,
Attached is the 5th Dear Kababayan Letter signed by Consul General Marciano A. Paynor, Jr., for your information and dissemination, please. Thank you very much.
Lyn Sesante
Cultural Officer
* * * * *
A BLOGGER SPEAKS ABOUT HER FAMILY’S STORY OF SURVIVAL
October 14, 2009 (6:58 p.m., San Francisco)
This just came in from Odette Keeley, the blogger who shares her family’s story of survival in Cainta, Rizal. Odette is the Chief of Staff of New America Media, the first and largest collaboration of Ethnic News Organizations.
By Odette Keeley, Oct 14, 2009 4:58 PM
As Tropical Storm Ketsana’s–“Ondoy”in the Philippines–destruction made headlines all over the world on Monday, Sept. 28th, I could not reach my family in the Philippines. Power and phone lines were down in Metro Manila and the surrounding provinces where my family lives, and cell lines were clogged.
My sister in Los Angeles, “Ate” Reby, had only gotten a text message from my mother the night before: “Reby, pinasukan ng baha yung bahay. Lubog yung kotse. Kami ng daddy na-stranded sa bubong…” [Floods entered the house. Our car is submerged. Your father and I were stranded up on the roof].
Reby and I thought it unimaginable that they would be trapped on our own roof, which tops a 2-story house on the highest point of the subdivision. Finally I reached my sister Jocelyn and in subsequent conversations with my mother, both of us often breaking down in tears, we were able to piece together their terrifying tales. For the first time since any typhoons hitting the Philippines, my family found themselves in Ground Zero, as if they were in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
Continue reading here.
* * * * *
LETTERS
We received this email from Benito Miranda in Southern California. We copied the email’s contents “as is” so there might be some typographical errors. Spain is sending quite a substantial amount of Euros to help out the Philippines.
From: Miranda, Benito M
Date: Mon, Oct 12, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Subject: Letter from Ana Ugarte, Philippine Ambassador to Spain
Sent: Thursday, October 8, 2009 15:31:02
Subject: Letter from Ana Ugarte, Philippine Ambassador to Spain
My dearest Kababayans,
I arrived in Spain to assume my position as Ambassador of
the Philippines to Spain last July 23, 2009. I was told that
technically I could perform my duties as Ambassador however
I wasn’t a full fledged ambassador until I had presented my
credentials to the King. That big day was scheduled on Sept
28, 2009..The activities I attended during the weeks that
lead up to this day have been significant. These included:
my courtesy calls to the Spanish Ministers of20Foreign
Affairs, A visit to the Feria de Madrid for the gifts fair
& meetings with its directors, a visit to the Madrid
Stock Exchange & meetings with its directors, a visit to
the Museo Naval of San Sebastian where I was the VIP visitor
of their ongoing exhibit of the Basques in the Pacific,
attendance of a Filipina nun receiving her temporal vows in
Burgos…
During this little time I realize how genuinely the Spanish
love the Filipinos… They have a sincere “cariño” for our
country and people that is in describable and I have received
NOTHING BUT PRAISES. Our OFW’s are treated with respect and
in many altercations with Spanish authorities are ALWAYS
given the benefit of the doubt. Their childlike enthusiasm
for our country & people is fascinating and most heart-warming. ..
The concern & expression of sadness I have received for
the victims of Typhoon Ondong is beyond belief…The embassy
continuously receives calls from people asking where to send
donations. This morning I was called by the Directora de la
Agencia de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo to
officially give us notice that Spain will be sending 1M Euros worth of aid
to the Philippines. A cargo plane will be departing tomorrow from the military
base at Torrejon. I asked if I could attend to witness the departure and to
personally thank those numerous NGO’s involved with the operation…
Spain is the largest donor of development and emergency aid to the
Philippines in all of Europe. Yet our kababyans do not know this.
We do not see Ambassador Luis Arias photo kissing babies or handing over
emergency kits to those in need. Spain remains under the
radar and does not seek publicity and yet all of their good
will remains unnoticed and on the contrary is always the
butt of criticism by our politicians.
Spain needs proper public relations and I write this hoping
that my friends can assist me in helping a country that
deserves a better image.=2 0I am open to your suggestions. ..I
would like to send press releases and pictures of all our
activities.. Please forward them to your contacts in the media…
Que os parece?
My day with the King was one of the most exciting days of my life….
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas… .y que…Viva España!!
Un abrazo muy fuerte…
Ana
* * *
FUNDRAISING
FROM Isabel Lozano, Charleston Pierce and other Special Friends
WHEN: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 7:00pm
WHERE: TEMPLE, San Francisco
540 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA
FOR MORE INFORMATION: raisinghope.ph@gmail.com
We need to come together as beacons of light, lenders of love, and providers of sanctuary for those less fortunate than us. Disaster has struck undoubtedly due to the climate changing effects of global warming and the realities of a third world country’s unpreparedness to deal with it.
We know many have perished, are missing and that there are those who are in pain, homeless and stricken w/ typhoid from the flood waters of the South Pacific typhoons in Manila and don’t even know it. Then there’s us living here in a land rich with wealth where the worst worry is “where are we going to eat next with our reduced paycheck?”, and not “when are we going to be able to get something to eat?”
Please come out and support the cause by joining us on this very special evening- ’cause IT IS REAL, it’s LIVE, and it is VERY MUCH NEEDED. Your contributions as well as attendance could literally save lives and bring hope to those who need it most.
COST: Only $10 at the door. Please donate more if you would like to and if you can….
From Baylan Megino:
Cordially Invites You to Join Us
for the
OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTER
VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE
Friday March 13, 2009
PHILIPPINE CONSULATE BUILDING
447 Sutter Street, 5th Floor
10:30 AM to 12 NOON
Today the voters can truly vote “in absentia” for the upcoming Philippine Presidential elections. Register at the nearest Philippine Consulate once, and you may vote by mail ever after. For the Philippine Election 2010, voter registration began February 1, 2009 and will end August 31, 2009.
** Bring your Certification of Dual Citizenship **
• If you are a Dual Citizen, register to vote by bringing your Philippine passport and your Certified Order of Approval or Oath of Allegiance.
• If you came to the US as a Visitor and overstayed, you still are a Filipino Citizen. Renew your Passport and register to vote.
• If you immigrated to the US prior to the 1991 Immigration Reform Act and you became a naturalized US citizen, to be a Dual Citizen you will reacquire your Philippine citizenship by applying for a Philippine Passport. Once a Dual Citizen, you may register to vote.
NOTE: You cannot register to vote if:
1) you lost and did not reacquire your Filipino citizenship;
2) you have a criminal conviction punishable by imprisonment of not less than a year; or
3) you are legally declared insane or incompetent of mind.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Joe Robles at JRobles1281@yahoo.com
Ben Menor at BMenor@SBCGlobal.net
Rodel Rodis Law Offices (415) 334-7800
NaFFAAR8.com or FPACC.com.
The Voter Registration Drive is presented in conjunction with
the Federation of Philippine American Chambers of Commerce and
the Philippine Consulate Offices in San Francisco.
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR DUAL CITIZENSHIP ARE FOUND HERE. CONTINUE READING, PLEASE!
Recently, Filipinas Magazine took the time to embed this poem in its online edition. “A Gathering of Heroes” was written and narrated by Greg B. Macabenta in 2004 as a call for Overseas Filipinos (a.k.a. our modern day heroes) to participate at the Third Global Filipino Networking Convention that was held at the Cebu Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City, Philippines on January 20 to 22, 2005. Since then,“Pinoy Power Worldwide” became NaFFAA’s Global Filipino Networking Convention’s theme and logo. DDB Philippines was responsible for “Pinoy Power Worldwide’s” creative work.
This poem is a beautiful tribute to the 8 million-plus Overseas Filipinos and the families they left behind in the Philippines. Click here to go directly to YouTube.com.
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Copyright 2004 © by Greg B. Macabenta
A GATHERING OF HEROES
Where are all my children -
The blood of my blood, flesh of my flesh,
The fruits of my dreams?
Where are the saplings who drew strength from my roots?
The flowers who bloomed from the dew of this land?
They have sailed away with the wind,
In the beaks of swallows
Seeking warmth on distant shores.
On the wings of eagles
Daring to soar to boundless heights.
Come ye my children,
Blood of my blood, flesh of my flesh,
The sweet, ripened fruits of my dreams.
Come ye from far and near,
And hearken to my call.
Come tell us of your triumphs.
Celebrate your conquests,
Bask in the glow of my pride.
Then plant the seeds of your successes
In the soil from which you sprang.
And offer a share of your golden harvest.
At the altar of a grateful Motherland.
Come. Come.
Come for a gathering of heroes.
The Netherlands Report by Lorna Dietz
[Photos and accompanying links will be added later.]
Last October 27 to November 2, 2007, a week-long set of activities celebrating Overseas Filipinos in Europe took place in the Netherlands — from Rotterdam, to Utrecht, and then to Amsterdam.
This wasn’t a luxury week. Oxfam Novib, through its programme officer, Leila Rispens-Noel, had some funding to bring our group of 20 people to The Netherlands. We are eternally grateful for the organizers who formed a logistics team as a virtual organization. Within a short timeframe, each partnering community-based organization took ownership of bringing in a specific number of conference participants for November 2.
Last October 27 to November 2, I participated in a historic gathering of 20 Filipinos based in Europe, the Philippines, Middle East, and the United States except that I was late and missed out on one of the events because I had to be in Washington DC for the Filipina Women’s Network Summit.
I was excited to find out that Victor Barrios and I were the only participants coming from the United States — although I was aware that members of The core-Overseas Filipinos Worldwide (Core-OFW), a think tank of concerned individuals, migrant organizations, NGOs and other members of social-cause oriented groups based in Philippines, USA and Europe had been invited but unfortunately could not make it. We didn’t know what to expect. Both of us knew some of the organizers on a personal basis but had never worked with them before. All I knew is that I had to bring some clear examples of the work that showed the evolution of many Filipino American community-based organizations. After all, as migrants, Filipino Americans had come a long way since the first contract workers were first hired in the pineapple fields of Hawaii in 1906.
Vic, on the other hand, had his Aide Memoire for The Global Filipino Nation with him, especially since the May conference in the Philippines is just a corner away. This was clearly an opportunity for both of us to listen to the other participants, share our experiences, and find out where the intersecting points came in. Simply stated, our goal was to find our “common ground” so we could collaborate on shared initiatives after our historic meeting.
THE FILIPINO EXPERTS MEETING
Theme: Towards an OFW-Driven Strategic Action Plan to advance the Democratic Governance Culture in the Philippines
Let me share with you that coming into the picture with an agenda “to find common ground” was the spark that created the synergistic relationships among the 20 participants.
THE WEEK’S SCHEDULE
Here’s an idea what our schedule looked like. We were dealing with very serious issues, but like many Filipinos, we knew how to be “grim and determined” and retain an optimistic outlook. 16-hour days were the norm in our semi-boot camp, strategic planning retreat, and dorm lifestyle!
We started off in Rotterdam with a Filipiniana celebration to honor the Filipinos and Filipinas who serve as seafarers. Did you know that there are a quarter of a million Filipino seafarers worldwide and another 250,000 waiting to be hired?
